Alright, who receives CDs as a Christmas present nowadays they don't even have CD players at home now.

But I DO~!!! *dabs* So yeah, we will talk about more music to end the year! Still riding that Christmas fever though mostly not on this blog you can see my social and you will get what I mean, but still, we gotta keep this train a-going!

To end the year of Klassic Note reviews though, I will talk about... subpar is already a very nice word to use here to be frank, but considering this year's songs are averaging within this range, I'm surprised I'm still reviewing singles, to be honest.

I just don't want to mention the MusicRay'n generation difference here lmao what of it *laughs* I will though, show the differences of going against AND going full on idolism, and you will know why real quick. *wink*

IT'S THE SAME DAMN SH*T- (haha yeah, yeah)

(Close-ups are better but this isn't a choice so I'll take two of them thank you and you are welcome)

Origin: You might be less familiar with Natsukawa Shiina in Anime and more acquainted with this Japanese voice actress and the freedom of her solo music career where she gets to do whatever she wants. And yet in this new single she has announced earlier this year, she has chosen yet again, to make a statement. She has done this a couple of times over the years showcasing how much impact she can make in emotional songs, and this is no exception. Maybe me talking about how much I like her isn't as important as I can talk about the creativity that is in this woman, then later we can talk about what I like about her style in general. But first, we should talk about why she caught my attention once again.

(1) "later"

From 2nd chorus:

I was initially surprised though disappointed by a simple melody, and yet somehow the song production which we have heard from a familiar producer, and how the overall feels are on this disregarding the music video which looks like I'm being watched, is somehow making me stay. Maybe even the song title can explain my experience with this song in general as I hesitate to give the get-go, though I have been convinced over time that this short and fast-paced song sticks better than I initially though. The lyrics spell a different story though, coming in from Natsukawa herself, she tells us a story of communication, rejection and association with regards to the drags of relationships in life, she may have pinpointed all the struggles we have and placed it in a song. But above all, that hesitation in communication (as stated by the title) is its own weakness, and regret may be what we have left, as hinted by its verses. Overall, a song that makes you think but also makes you fall in love with the real her while appreciating the fullness of this song.

Rating: Creepily Average

(2) Like Life Rhyme

From 1st chorus:

Not surprising, the B-side is what got me into this release. What attracted me as I recall when I first listened to this without early previews and such, is the upbeat melody. Though I would argue that rapping isn't Natsukawa's forte and/or does it sound good on her to be frank, but we have heard of her sing such songs before, so this style comes as attractive more than surprising at this point. The melody is catchy I can only find flaws in the notes, but the lyrics is probably where it shines more. Speaking of her being her own lyricist, she has made this once again, very relatable to all of us, talking about living life not under the eyes of others, and ironically living life your way and not just pleasing everyone just to follow the norms. It's ironically relatable even rebellious, and it shows a lot about her feelings towards life in general, and it is always interesting to get a peek into that, whether you think that is for better or worse.

Rating: Relatable Average

Conclusion: This is a very average single, just like everything about her and all of us in general. Yet her mind is filled with emotions she wants to convey and relate to us, which resulted in one of these emotional titles once again. This is not down deep in the depths of sadness, this also doesn't overstay its welcome. It's enough to make you think and hesitate, and I think it has served its purpose. If I have to convince you to give Nan-chan a chance here, it is that comfort songs with deep meaning is a good reason to walk her own path unlike many artists of her calibre, and I think this is yet another one of those attempts to convince the world of what she can do. To that, my weak heart will take the bait again.

AND LET ME BRING YOU BACK 15 YEARS AGO TO- (lol)

(This really feels like those spirits that came back from that other world, but I'm just getting nostalgic, to be frank with you guys)

Origin: Okay this might have been a while, so let's talk about who they are. They are arguably one of the first voice actress idol groups which made it further than many have I would argue even the early day ones back in the early 2000s, as the power of their motivation and emotions that exist during the late 2000s to the 2010s, and I'm glad to be part of it. Starring (from top to bottom on cover) back then one of the most popular voice actress in Japan Tomatsu Haruka you might have seen her in Anime, wild rock star Kotobuki Minako who went as far as overseas and still produced content during the pandemic period, group leader Takagaki Ayahi knows for her more matured voice and acting, and arguably one of the most unique yet adorable voices in Anime and my personal favourite Toyosaki Aki, the first generation of MusicRayn's super idol voice actress has only shown us more than just greatness when it comes to Anime theme songs and their own originals even after all these years of inactivity here and there, unwavered by current events. There is a lot to talk about them, but I will hold them back. But now that they are back from that other world we know and love, maybe we touch a bit on their past, present and future.

(1) Shining days, shining stars!

From 2nd chorus:

This song, just like many originals which were written and produced I think by the same composer and lyricist where they helped write the debut song, their 5th anniversary song which was also distributed this way but I did not buy just because there were for editions to purchase so I held back, but this time around, they have made miracles yet again, to no surprise. Their style in terms of composition has always been this stable uprising and motivating feel, and along with its fantastical lyrics of travelling to another world as the group was based on that many years ago... This is how they get us pretty much every time, it's a formula of success, I can still experience what they made to create those feels. This song truly has idols written all over it, even after all these years. The music video also carried on the tradition of them singing and dancing though without a strong theme, which might be the only weakness in this overall package of a song, but I'm just nitpicking.

Rating: Gloriously Average

(3) Shining days, shining stars! Minako main mix

(4) Shining days, shining stars! Ayahi main mix

(5) Shining days, shining stars! Haruka main mix

(6) Shining days, shining stars! Aki main mix

I would like to talk a little about this, if you don't mind. The way it was produced for each of the members is worth mentioning, where choruses were made in unison, cheers were added as a way to transition between parts of the song which will no doubt be used for the audience response in their future lives... There is a lot of good just talking about the melody itself. Each member of course having different vocals, did not just make them sing everything because of certain parts of the song better in chorus, so they left that in to make each version sound unique despite being the same song. It's just an interesting thing I noticed even after all these years.

Conclusion: It made me shed a tear writing this and talking about the greatness that is voice actress group sphere. This has so many feels, you just need to serve a normal good song, and I'll be crying all over the place. It has always been worth celebrating even after all these years seeing all of us grow, and I still like how after all these years, we still have those emotions within us. That, is worth those shining days with these shining stars, I'll tell you that. If you have not heard of them before, this is peak 2010s where music is pop, everything is still not virtual, and we still base things on how motivating and emotional we can touch the hearts of people. If you like those like I do, feel free to give them a listen.

- Aozaki Shouhei, on the Klassic Note

PHEW now that we are done, let's talk about the pain to get all these!! *laughs*

THE PACKAGE

Okay off the bat, I could not get these together mainly because it's my fault. *laughs* If only I knew to wait even a week more for the sphere's single so that I can give it the thumbs up which I eventually did as you can see, but despite my hesitance for holding back buying Nan-chan's single for weeks just because no one is buying them (OOF haha), did not consider that I could wait a little longer just to buy them with sphere's single which, by the way, will NOT get me any free gift bromide photos. *laughs* So yeah, that is when I felt somewhat relieved even though I wanted the Animate version for sphere also which we will talk about first, I also wanted one without signing so HMV and Sony Music Shop ones were very enticing. But I think my argument to myself back then (lol) was that Gamers was cheaper in local shipping? *laughs* Then again and this is rant time don't mind me, the photo taken on these are as blurry as with my memories of them 15 years ago (lol) and probably the best album special gift postcard looked better but that because not like I fancy their married faces now- WOAH IS THAT A MINA-CHAN TRADING CARD?? *laughs*

Yeah, so side note, I did not notice this until I opened the booklet up (which has all of their faces so this booklet is thicker than Nan-chan's somehow lol) and looks like with every purchase comes with a random trading card of 5 different types which, I'm glad I got Mina-chan instead of in case you lost count, there's likely a group photo one inside which will likely be the bromide photo I have if my luck is anything to go by. *giggles* I think we have talked about their single enough, so uh... let's move on, shall we? *giggles*

For Nan-chan though, this was a more straightforward story. My target for Animate is certain yet obviously overrated because this store's special gift is also one you see the most often on sale... illegally (lmao) which for my story is most relevant as this is rather representative of her solo music career sales, as I can take my time way over just to get whichever special gift I want though not Sofmap I don't know why this reminds me of the sad Pepe spilling their food meme lol, I did fancy HMV (umph) (haha) and Gamers even the Toranoana one but you know we can't get the latter no more. *sob* Seeing that those are already out of stock by the time I can even choose from them, and seeing that the upcoming package ie. this one will kickstart with her single which will have to sit to wait to ship out a month later which is impossible by forwarding service standards... I made the wiser choice to delay this (even though it's already in) and then purchasing from Animate our most reliable source here, like, 3 weeks after release date? Yeah, I can't get the application for more free gifts anyways, not even the digital wallpaper which everyone will get as long as you register. *silence* Anyhow, imouto is imouto, I did get what I want eventually, so all is well, I don't want to elaborate more. *thumbs up* Wait for me to use this in a future episode of the fanfic series I have been doing over the past 2 years, won't ya? *laughs*

Okay I'm done for today I need to prepare for the Song Awards now that I'm in a totally different operating system and it can't do sh*t and I have to take a trip back to the old PC. *laughs* This review really reminded me of how I used to like such songs more, though. Ironically I'm giving cr*p like nasuo-san now. *laughs* (lol gottem) Anyways, enough of self reflection for today damn even my long run idol group is making me sad somehow. *giggles* I will show more of this unboxing process here tomorrow though, where we talk about possibly our final voice actress photobook because honestly? I think I'm running out of unique women to like. *laughs*

Three reasons to like Yukimura Eri? Uh, first reason is, um... (I will come up with something by tomorrow *cringe*)

P.S.