OverView: Stereopony Music, Vol. 4

With honest, open words, we want to try and speak our minds

It all passed too fast. Bestselling singles, powerful hits, Oricon chart positions; and soon enough, Stereopony was set to hit another milestone: the release of their first record album. Hydrangea ga Saiteru hit the stores in June 17th, 2009, in its English version, A Hydrangea Blooms. The title may seem irrelevant to anyone unfamiliar with Stereopony’s history, but it is symbolic and carries the weight of these girl’s dreams and then some. That is because their journey started at a studio in Okinawa called “Ajisai”, meaning “Hydrangea”, the flower. The studio was home of every music lover that lived around the area, but only Stereopony was able to reach stardom. Undoubtedly, the impact it had on the girls was considerable, so A Hydrangea Blooms came to represent Stereopony’s very essence. Additionally, we are led to believe that the album’s title refers to the band’s process of maturation as musicians; gradually revealing their talents, and laying out the path for a bright future. All music and lyrics credit go to AIMI.

Stereopony’s first full album comes with 13 tracks originally, including all of their singles at the time. However, for operational purposes, we are going to split this review into two parts; the second part of this review will be released next week. Also, we won’t revisit some of the songs included here, like “I do it” or “Namida no Mukou”, as good as they are and we would love to talk about them again; mostly because we already talked about them before while reviewing the singles. So, that means we are left with the brand new additions to the album, all lovely, exciting songs.

“Seishun ni, Sono Namida ga Hitsuyou da!” is one of Stereopony’s most fresh and youthful songs. It comes as no surprise that this song was used several times to open their concerts, including their two Live DVDs. Its fast drum hits, accompanied by AIMI’s much stronger guitar riffs, provide an atmosphere of charged energy that we have only heard similar in “I do it”. The lyrics talk about the novelty of spring, a season that often brings new starts, friends and, hopefully, lovers to young hearts. “Tears are needed in Youth!” AIMI excitedly sings at the end, closing the first song of the album with a smile and a promise of even greater music to come. It may be evident by now, but I am very fond of this whole album, and this song in special.

Next, we have “Komorebi no Journey” following an “I do it” reprise in the tracklist. “Komorebi” has a sweet tune, great to enjoy on a lazy day. AIMI’s guitar stands out during most of the song, and tends to pop on your head on occasion once you finish listening to it. I have caught myself humming the melody several times these days. It really sticks. The lyrics, on the other hand, talk about the determination to follow your dreams. With simple words, it conveys that yearning feeling one has at the beginning of a journey; you know where you want to go, but you don’t really know how to get there. AIMI’s performance gives life to the lyrics, sweetly following the tune. It is a good song, overall.

“Otomegokoro Hey Hey Hey” is another fun song to listen to, and an even greater performance to watch. It carries a cheerful tune that complements the lyrics well. AIMI’s vocal performance makes everything even greater, as she delivers the lines just as you would imagine someone teasing another, or just having fun with a friend at the expense of a third party. That is because the lyrics talk about a boy’s inability to understand the signs that a girl gives when she is interested in him too: a typical case of young love. Lightheartedly, the lyrics go on at the poor boy’s expense, all through the point of view of the girl. As it is an important part of growing up, it is easy to relate to, and fun to reminisce about the stories we heard or were a part of while in school.

“Nakanaide” comes last in today’s OverView, and I believe it is the first of two ballads in the album. Surprisingly for a ballad, the pace is set by SHIHO’s drums instead of the notes on AIMI’s acoustic guitar. This worked well, especially if you get to watch it on Stereopony’s first live DVD, and I am pleased with the final result. This is also the performance I feel where AIMI really puts her heart into, because it is clear that she is feeling every line she is singing, and her performance alone sells the song, without us even needing to know the lyrics. But as the lyrics are an important part, it is nice to know that it tells us a story about two people who care about each other but are separated by distance, and one of them is trying their best to comfort the other through the phone line. It is a moving song, and I have come to appreciate it more after I knew about the lyrics.

In retrospect, the first half of A Hydrangea Blooms delivers what it has promised: a collection of Stereopony’s hits accompanied by new, fresh songs. Out of Stereopony’s work so far this is their best, proving that the girls have worked hard, always looking after ways to improve either their style or their techniques. Let’s see what the second half brings us next week!

About the author

wannasalad is a Very Good Days member from Brazil. Her “OverView: Stereopony Music” feature is published every Monday, starting at the beginning of September 2013 and going until the end of December 2013.