I'm back!

I'm back from a shopping trip to KL and then a trip to Sibu for the Chinese New Year. It's quite tiring to be off a plane back from KL to Kuching and then onto a plane to Sibu the next day.

Chinese New Year was like always, it's great. But the angpow amount this year decreased again (like I expected). And I thought I could do some more shopping for the coming academic semester, lol. Some things on my mind like comfortable shoes, new bag, and new hair color which I might have to hide from my mum. Stuff like books and pens.

Since I was in Sibu for the past week or so, I've been deprived of internet surfing, which is my night time hobby. So instead, I annoyed my aunt by reading her Doraemon comics: 'Perang Terakhir antara Syaitan dan Manusia' XDDDDDDD (it's in BM language haha) and not switching off the lights until late night while she tried hard to sleep with the lights on. I am quite sorry for that. And I borrowed one of her books home. Some "Words of wisdom: Tales from ancient China" title while ignoring her "Where did you dig that up from" face.





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Since I can online today, I'm very happy to be able to log into my forums and to discover that Mika Nakashima's new single has been leaked already! I've waited so long for it, and very very excited that Mika is releasing new material.

Let me show you the new single cover:

Here. It's not that good of a single cover; this cover doesn't do Mika justice at all. She's had much much much much much (times a gazillion) better single covers than this one. They decided to go all natural for this album cover I guess, since the cover of Eien no Uta (the last single) had lotsa art incorporated.

See? Eien no Uta cover. Very pretty cover art right?


Okay, show you the promo picture now:

On one hand I think that this promo picture is better than the album cover, but on the other hand when it's not enlarged or if you see from afar this picture makes her look like a dead person T_______T

I hate to be saying things like this about Mika when I am such a big fan of her and when she is such a beautiful person T________T

Like one forum initiate said: "The Japanese like ugly covers". So lets just hope that with this "ugly" cover, this single will be able to sell well and top the charts =D

Besides not doing Mika any justice at all, the cover also doesn't do the songs on it any justice. As the saying goes, 'Do not judge a book an album / a single by it's cover'.

Like anyone who knows me well would know, I had the songs on this single playing in a loop since I downloaded it. And I love love love love this single cause the songs are just so goood!!!!!!

Tracklist:
1. SAKURA ~花霞~
2. SAKURA ~花霞~ (DAISHI DANCE)
3. conFusiOn

I'm happy that Mika is releasing another ballad (cause many fans are waiting for one!). The title track, SAKURA ~花霞~ (Sakura ~Hanagasumi~) is the ballad every fan of Mika's ballads are waiting for (exaggerate a bit). A very good ballad which are as good as (if not better than) her other famous ballads (Yuki no Hana, Hitori, Sakurairo Maukoro) This song focuses on her unique haunting voice with piano music normally used in her ballads.

The Daishi dance remix is a really good remix, so although it's 6 minutes long you really won't feel bored with it at all. Some forum initiates even said that the Daishi dance remix of Sakura ~Hanagasumi~ is better than the original version. In my opinion, it's up to personal preference really. I find both equally exceptional (not because I am a BIG Mika fan). If you like the true Mika ballad, then go for the original; if you like a more upbeat tune, go for the remix. When I first listened to the original and it's remix, I thought the remix was a different song (which would be perfectly fine too if it is), which is a pleasant surprise.

conFusiOn? I like this B-side a lot. Again, Mika explored a different type of music style which isn't the normal Jpop we usually listen to (honestly I don't much like the normal Jpop). Mika's music is somehow an acquired taste, cause her music is a potpourri of jazz, soul, R&B, reggae, ballad and rock. This is what I love a lot about Mika, she's able to interest her fans into other types of music by incorporating them into her songs. I really hope this song is gonna be in her new upcoming album, since this song is used in her Kanebo KATE CM (her KATE CMs usually appear in her albums). Login to the Japan Kanebo KATE website to watch the CM, or search for it on youtube!

With the tie-ins with commercials for the songs in this single, (Sakura ~Hanagasumi~ for Panasonic and conFusiOn for Kanebo KATE) I hope this single will sell well by itself and propel Mika up the charts!

I am THAT excited with this single that I am able to write a review about it (which is very rare of me to be that hardworking) and I thought "Why stop there?" so here are the links to download the song....(Credits to FoxxyFuyumi from AHS). And since I don't do reviews that often, sorry if my review is boring; it's my personal opinion only. I'm not very good at describing what I listen to except saying "It's so good!" ="= You'll have to decide if you like the songs by listening to them.


Links:
1. SAKURA ~花霞~
2. SAKURA ~花霞~ (DAISHI DANCE)
3. conFusiOn