Customer Reviews

Keep Tryin

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've previously written reviews supportive both of Hikki's Japanese-language cuts and of her USA debut EXODUS (2004). Post-EXODUS, she is back recording in Japanese for that market. Interestingly, her musical style picks up directly from her pre-EXODUS recordings (such as the 2002 album DEEP RIVER), with sophisticated melodic ballads with an underlying contemporary production (e.g., synth programming), but no hint of EXODUS's electronica-dance elements which divided her existing fans via being quite a departure from her previous music.

The lyrics are sung in Japanese once again, unlike EXODUS. For those who think highly of her DEEP RIVER-era music, this single is highly recommended for the two new tracks "Keep Tryin'" and "Wings" (there is also a karaoke version of "Tryin'" to round out the CD5). Or else, wait to see if the tracks show up on an upcoming full-length album.

Since her return to Japan, Utada has taken a bold new direction in her compositions. Keep Tryin', in particular, exhibits her command of musical conventions and her imagination in creating melodic phrases. This ranks as one of her most ingenious creations yet. Though, with her recent slew of massively popular songs, including Passion and Be My Last, it appears that the 23-year-old writer is just beginning.

Although keep tryin' failed to top Oricon's charts, only hitting number two, the song proved an astounding success with paid digital downloads, coming out at over two million downloads. With such a commercial success, one might also question the song itself, claiming it to simply be mainstream trash. In no way has Utada ever been trash. This song proves that she continues to evolve as a musician, expanding her musical stylings from the R&B of her teens into a more poppy experimental tone. If you like R&B more than over all pop, you may want to buy one of Utada's early albums (either First Love or Distance). I would also not suggest buying this song alone- Utada has come out with a new CD, ULTRA BLUE, which contains many of her recent singles, such as Be My Last and COLORS, and new tracks, including This is Love, One Night Magic, Kairo, and others. In my opinion, Keep Tryin' has been Utada's strongest single since COLORS, re-establing her as the queen of J-pop. Buy the song if you want to expand your horizons with pop or international music. Keep in mind, the song is in Japanese except for the chorus. Otherwise, it's a must have, but try to get it on ULTRA BLUE instead.