YUI-LIFE

Sawajiri Erika’s last song was the chart-topping drama theme song “Taiyou no Uta”, released under Amane Kaoru, her character’s name in the drama. “Taiyou no Uta” ended up selling 481,000 copies, making it 2006’s top-selling single by a Japanese female artist. Now going by just ERIKA, she is releasing her debut single FREE on 2007-7-4.

FREE is a song with high pop sensibilities. The rhythm is strong, and the melody is catchy. Erika’s voice constantly modulates between whispery and confident, and it is truly a captivating voice. Compared to the more acoustic Taiyou no Uta, FREE is a rockin’ song.

In the PV, Erika has changed her image. Whereas before she was snowy and pure, she is now bronzed and sexy. During the numerous scenes in which she is lying on a bed, she faintly resembles a tanned Reon Kadena.

Without the backing of a drama and with the abandonment of her image, FREE is a experiment in change. The great thing that Taiyou no Uta had was a soulful synergy between girl, drama, and song. The acoustics of FREE are nearly on par with Taiyou no Uta, but it feels like something is missing.

Still, the song sounds good, Sawajiri Erika has a major fan base, and there’s a curious air about this debut release. How far will it go up the Oricon charts (I’m guessing 125,000 copies sold)? I can’t wait to find out!

Erika – FREE lyrics:

Nee kikoeru? Kono koe ga
Furitsuzuku you ni kimi ni made tooku todoku kana?
Mou ano basho ni wa kaerenai
Kaze ni kieru negai
Kimi ga iru dake de boku wa toberu yo
Itami sasu basho e doko made mo
Tsunaide itai tsunaide itai
Mada aenakutemo inori nagara hibikiwataru sora e
Aa koko kara dakedaseru chikara ga hoshii yo
Te no hira no mirai sore dake de
Ushinatte kitamono
Te ni shita mono
Zenbu idaite hashiru
Kotae ga aru kara ima wo ikiteru
Mamoritai mono ga koko ni aru
Tatoe ima ga kioku no naka kara kiesattemo
Kimi no koto wa koko de oboeteru yo…
Itsuka deau hi ga kite
Sono te ni furerareru no nara
Yasashiku kono te wo nibiri kaeshite yo
Kimi ga iru dake de boku wa toberu yo
Kienai itami nara sono mama de
Tsunaide itai tsunaide itai itsuka aemasu you ni
Inori nagara hibikiwataru koe de
Ano hibi
I wanna be free…
Ano hibi

作詩：ERIKA・白鳥マイカ 作曲：COZZi

ねえ　聴こえる?　この声が
降り続くように　君にまで遠く　届くかな?

もうあの場所には　帰れない
風に消える願い

君がいるだけで　僕は飛べるよ
光挿す場所へ　どこまでも
つないでいたい　つないでいたい
まだ会えなくても
祈りながら　響き渡る　空へ

ああ　ここから駆け出せる　力が欲しいよ
手のひらの未来　それだけで

失ってきたもの　手にしたもの
全部抱いて　走る

答えがあるから　今を生きてる
守りたいものが　ここにある
例え今が　記憶の中から　消えさっても
君のことは　ココで　覚えてるよ…

いつか　出会う日が来て
その手に　触れられるのなら
優しく　この手を　握り返してよ

君がいるだけで　僕は飛べるよ
消えない痛みなら　そのままで
つないでいたい　つないでいたい　いつか会えますように
祈りながら　響き渡る　声で

I Wanna be free…

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 1st, 2007 at 1:54 am and is filed under japan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.