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Shamrock 5th single This singles is definitely a must-buy, especially if you can find a limited edition of this singles. I really regret becoming an UVERfan only around September, where all the shamrock limited edition singles are all sold out. The arrangement for the tracks in this singles is a really clever tactic. Shamrock and =, which is of a pretty similar genre would have overshadowed each other and = would stand out less considering it is a Bside. However, by placing Boku ni Kanasette Kuru Ima in the 2nd track, all songs are given an equal chance to express themselves. This tactic also made it possible for many to keep playing these 3 songs over and over again without getting tired of it. Personally, the play count of all the songs in this singles is enough to beat the play count of all the songs in Timeless. Now you see how much I love the 5th single of UVERworld. The limited edition DVD comes with a 15 minutes long live digest of the timeless tour in Shibuya-AX. Even though the running time is very short, the transitions between songs are really smooth. The video and audio quality are excellent and it makes you feel you are really in the concert itself. This DVD is no doubt an excellent extra that is worth spending a little bit more money on. For those who are curious, the songs inside the DVD includes a part of just Melody, Mixed up, Burst, Yasashisa no Shizuku, CHANCE! and a complete performance of D-tecnoLife. If you miss the limited edition of this single, you can watch the whole timeless tour at Shibuya-AX by buying UVERworld's first DVD which features a COMPLETE footage of the tour.
• Reviewed by Evelyn SHAMROCK is a really good song and along with Colors of the heart, it is rated 10+ in my personal rating system. You can continue listening to this song for hours without getting tired of it, especially if you are an UVERfan (my record is 3 hours). Of course it is a matter of opinions. Nonetheless, this song is worth a try. Till date, sie and I managed to turn quite a number of people into UVERfans or SHAMROCK!fans with this song alone. There are quite a number of highlights that people should pay attention to when listening to this song to truly appreciate Shamrock. 1. Takuya's vocal parts. At the beginning of the song, Takuya once again displayed his competency in beatboxing. It has been missing for quite some time and I am glad it is back. You should really appreciate this because you will never hear any of such things in the next single - kimi no suki na uta. The next part I would like to bring in is the part that I doubt anybody would have missed. It is when Takuya started singing with an extremely low voice (affectionally dubbed as cookie monster Takuya). Don't ask me how he does it because I also wants to know. This is another prove that Takuya's singing ability is indeed above that of any other vocalist. 2. The instrumental. This song can be quite similar to CHANCE! in terms of the rhythm but Shamrock makes use of more variation in its melody line. However, the pretty common melody line is the main reason why I prefer Colors of the Heart to Shamrock. Nonetheless, this type of melody line is pretty catchy and easy to remember. This is how Shamrock manage to get stuck in many people's head for a long time easily. Even so, UVERworld never fails to go an extra mile to make their song special by incorporating Shintarou's (mad) drumming skills, giving the whole song a nice rhythm. 3. The lyrics. It is meant to be an inspirational song that fits with the theme of the Jdrama Dandori ~Dance Drill~ (according to the interview). At first, I had some problems understanding what the lyrics truly mean because the translation wasn't that clear. I wouldn't blame it on the translator but on the language gap between Japanese and English which makes it quite difficult translating some stuffs from Japanese to English. Some time ago, I came across the Chinese translation and indeed, the lyrics is meaningful. Upon knowing the real meaning behind Shamrock, I constantly use this song to push myself to try harder (especially during my morning run with my dad. laugh.) People who listen to Shamrock should never take this song for granted, listen and understand the true meaning behind the message UVERworld wants to convey to us. You might want to check the interviews section once in a while to see if any of our staff members has translated the shamrock interview. To top it all, SHAMROCK has a piano version to it! It is a beautiful piece that can bring tears to your eyes (when you are being emo). Unlike the original version, it is played in C major, 2 semi tones higher than the original B major, giving it a lighter feel. Give this piano version a try and you will be amazed on how an energetic song can be turned into a song full of emotion. You might also realise Shamrock has a drama version that comes together with Dandori ~Dance Drill~ original soundtrack. If you prefer a shorter version of Shamrock in case you are the type who gets bored of one song easily, you should get this version instead. Sadly, it does not include the part where Takuya makes his voice very deep.
• Reviewed by Evelyn , Join the Shamrock fanlisting. This song is definitely one of my favourite B-sides. In fact, I feel that this song is almost good enough to be an A-side but the oh so awesome Shamrock overshadow this song, making it less stand out. Even for those who really enjoy this song, such as myself, you can't deny the fact that after hearing Shamrock, this song doesn't feel that special anymore. Nonetheless, you should never belittle UVERworld's Bsides because they do not think Bsides are just fillers for a complete single. Give this song a try. At first, you might find it pretty boring due to its monotonous rhythm and melody line. The instrumental is pretty boring, probably trying to put more emphasis on Takuya's vocal parts. The vocal parts are also nothing compared to Shamrock's, just monotonous singing from Takuya's parts. However, these are actually the highlights of the song itself. By using simple rhythm and little instrumental, UVERworld managed to pull it off nicely. I can't really explain why I love this song a lot. It is probably the light feeling this song gives me, a totally different feeling Shamrock gives. I find myself having to rely on this song to calm myself down. I can't say anything about the lyrics because I can only understand some parts. Excuse me for my close to zero knowledge in Japanese.
• Reviewed by Evelyn Another excellent Bside that can pass of as an Aside. A pretty similar case with Boku ni Kanasette Kuru Ima, Shamrock is simply an excellent Aside that take people's attention away from the other 2 Bsides. My most favourite part is the rhythm in the chorus. Even my tone deaf brother (oops) would hum to the chorus whenever I play this song. His equally tone deaf sister (points to self) will find herself unconsciously following the rhythm. The vocal parts are pretty similar to Boku ni Kanasette Kuru Ima, doesn't really show Takuya's singing ability. However, you might want to pay attention to the chorus if you really love UVERworld's music because it is a pretty unique style that Takuya picks up. Kind of remind me of Asian Kung-fu Generation's style. One part that I am not particulary fond of is the interval between the verse and chorus. Personally, I think it would have been much better if the interval could be slightly longer. Either that, they should have done something to give a cue that they have ended the verse and are going to enter the chorus. If you are not really paying attention to the song, you probably would have mixed up the chorus with the verse. I won't say anything about the lyrics as well .__. And don't ask why I keep mentioning Takuya. I am no expert in drums, guitars nor bass. • Reviewed by Evelyn |
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