CD Singles
Please choose a CD single below. New singles are always displayed on the first page.
There are two ways you can sample the songs:
1) HTML: This is the original way I had it set up, where you'll have to manually download and listen to each file. Also,
if you hover over the links, you'll see the kanji title of each song.
2) Flash Player: This flash player will let you listen to each sample in REAL TIME. (^^) Occasionally you can choose between different playlists
(especially if the CD is a remake/tribute to another artist's work).
Here's a quick summary of how the flash player works (image opens in a new window)
Click on
to access the lyrics. ALL lyrics will open in ONE popup (i.e.: all of the lyrics share the same popup). This way, you won't have a TON of popups open. Besides, you can't read two lyrics at the same time, right? (^^) But if you want to open the lyrics in more than one window, feel free to right-click the links and choose "Open in New Window".
Lastly, to make the pages load faster, the singles will be split into several pages (hence why I will alternate/color-code the links).
13 SINGLES
regular text (no link) = song not available yet
NEWEST RELEASE
uta o utaou
(CD Single #13)
+Produced by: avex trax
+Catalogue #:
AVCD-48280 [CD + DVD],
AVCD-48281 [CD Only] - has 1 bonus track
+Release Date: December 14, 2011
+More Info:
This is moumoon's 13th single. Its DVD has 4 tracks: the "uta o utaou" PV (and its "making of" video); and the live version of "Chu Chu" and "moonlight" (which were recorded from one of their Fullmoon Live concerts).
Sadly, there is NO "English version" of any song included on the CD single...but the "CD Only" release does have a bonus, "live" version of "Chu Chu"
(which I'm assuming was recorded from the same Fullmoon Live concert).
"uta o utaou" was quite a pleasant surprise. First of all, no one even KNEW about the title track; moumoon hid it from us well. So in a way, this was like a "Christmas present" to us. (^^) Secondly, the song -- and
its PV -- were created as a "winter ballad", which means it's a slow rock song. Which also means it sounds like something "the old moumoon" would do. "uta o utaou" was given a more mature sound; it's not a cutesy song like "Sunshine Girl" was.
But fear not, if you enjoy the sweet cuteness of "Sunshine Girl"! The second track, "MAKARON (Macaron)" is just what you need to satisfy your sweet tooth. In fact, the song was named after an actual sweet: "macaron" is the French word for "macaroon", which is a delicious treat that's made similar to a cookie
(but it looks like a miniature hamburger).
Just like an actual macaron, the song is very light and sweet. It sounds like a mix between the music of "Sunshine Girl" and the chorus of "My Darling". I'm not really a fan of overly cute songs, but this one will grow on you after a while. moumoon has a tendency to write really catchy lyrics that get stuck in your head. >_<
The live version "Chu Chu" sounds almost as good as the studio/CD version of the song. And overall it's just like "Macaron": light-hearted, sweet, not really my favorite, but DARN is it catchy and BOY did it grow on me.
I enjoyed this single a lot. All of the lyrics are very touching
(even for the "super sweet" songs; you'd be surprised how deep those lyrics are!), and I really love "uta o utaou". I suggest you get a copy...or perhaps wait until their next album comes on
(so that way, you can get ALL of these songs bundled onto one CD).
(top of page)
Flowers/pride
(CD Single #1)
+Produced by: voicellar records /
GATE RECORDS, Inc.
+Catalogue #: GAGH-0020
+Release Date: July 26, 2006
+More Info:
This is moumoon's first CD single, which was released on an independent label. (^^) It had a limited release of 5,000 copies...and it did extremely well on the Oricon Indies charts (it ranked #7!).
The title track, "Flowers", would later
(i.e., on their next CD single) be
remade in English (you can also hear the English version in the Flash player). This started a trend where moumoon would release the current single's title track in English...on their
next/upcoming single. So, the title track for CD Single (CDS) #2 would have an English remake on CDS #3, and so on.
(top of page)
Do you remember?
(CD Single #2)
+Produced by: avex trax
+Catalogue #: AVCD-31344 [CD + DVD],
AVCD-31345 [CD Only]
+Release Date: December 5, 2007
+More Info:
This is moumoon's 2nd single...but their first major release single (i.e., they're no longer on an Indie label; they're on avex, a major label). This single also features an English version of "Flowers", the title track from their first single. Plus, this single has instrumental tracks on it, AND a CD-DVD version. (^_^) The DVD has only 1 track: the music video/PV for "Do you remember?".
Two more random comments:
- The PV for "Do you remember?" is SO BEAUTIFUL. It combines manga, live action, a variety of colors, and stop animation (that said, please realize that the video is supposed to look "choppy" and "sluggish"). I highly suggest you watch it! =D
- If you flip between both CD covers, it looks like YUKA is rowing a boat. (xD) I even made this animated GIF so you can see for yourself. (Yes, I made the GIF out of boredom, hehe.)
(top of page)
Tiny Star
(CD Single #3)
+Produced by: avex trax
+Catalogue #:
AVC1-31446 [CD + DVD #1] - Tsutaya Online EXCLUSIVE,
AVCD-31427 [CD + DVD #2] - also on iTunes (w/ bonus track!),
AVCD-31428 [CD Only]
+Release Date: June 4, 2008
+More Info:
This is moumoon's 3rd single. Like the previous single, it also has instrumental tracks...and it features an English remake to the last single's title track (i.e.: "Do you remember?"). You can also hear the English version in the Flash player. ^^
This single is also unique because it has THREE versions:
- CD+DVD (Tsutaya Online): The CD contains a bonus track, "Sunrise". The bonus track does NOT have lyrics included, but they were eventually released on "moumoon", their self-titled (and third) album. The DVD features a live recording of "Tiny Star". It was recorded from their "Full moon Live" 2008 tour, which started February 21, 2008 and ended August 17, 2008. (^^) This CD+DVD is ONLY available from Tsutaya Online (an online store).
- CD+DVD ("Regular" Version) - "Sunrise" is not included on the CD. The DVD contains the PV/music video for "Tiny star". This CD was also released in digital/MP4 format on iTunes; however, the iTunes version does NOT have a DVD (or video clip). But it DOES include a bonus track: "Tiny Star ~Full moon Live ver.~" It's basically the same song from the Tsutaya Online DVD, so this could be considered an "audio rip".
This bonus track/audio rip was eventually re-released on a special, iTunes Exclusive album called "moumoon -FULL MOON selection EP" -- it's a collection of previously released songs, but in a new track order. You can learn more about this CD on the Albums page.
- "CD Only" version
Believe it or not, if you live outside of Japan you CAN get both exclusive CDs! For the iTunes release, you'll need a Japanese iTunes card -- which you can purchase
here (the vendor/site is 100% English, and it gives you detailed instructions!). And thanks to
websites like this one, you can order the Tsutaya Online version. (^^) This site has people in Japan order the CD for you, then ship it to your home. Be warned though:
both sites are a bit expensive to use.
Thankfully in this instance, I was able to get "Tiny Star ~Full moon Live ver.~" from iTunes...and my friend Infinitylight donated "Sunrise". So you can download both songs from the Downloads section if you want. ^^
(top of page)
more than love
(CD Single #4)
+Produced by: avex trax
+Catalogue #:
AVCD-31487 [CD + DVD], AVCD-31488 [CD Only]
Also on iTunes (w/ bonus track!)
+Release Date: October 15, 2008
+More Info:
This is moumoon's 4th single. (^^) The DVD has 3 clips on it: the music video/PV for "more than love"; a documentary film called "Tiny Star: beside FULLMOON (Part 1)". Part 2 was released on "moumoon", their 2nd (and self-titled) mini-album (which came out one month later). The DVD also has a special "offshot" video for "more than love". I'm not sure what an "offshot" is; maybe it's special live footage of YUKA singing in the studio? (^^;) But anyway...there's also an iTunes version of this single; it has a special, exclusive bonus track: "more than love (acoustic ver.)".
When this CD was first announced, there were two possible names: "more than love", and "Aoi Tsuki to Ambivalence na Ai". I have no clue where that second title came from, but WOW -- what a difference between the two! And for some reason, YesAsia still lists the second title on their site. (o_O) But now, we know that
"Aoi Tsuki to Ambivalence na Ai" is a separate, demo song (which you can learn more about on the Special Songs page).
Overall, "more than love" is a nice single. It's not quite as unique as "Do you remember?"
(I loooove that song so much!), but it's not a disappointment either. (^^) The title track has a nice "old-school" '90s vibe to it
(like something Madonna or Selena would sing), and I really like the way YUKA hits certain notes. The second track reminds me of "good night"
(due to the rapping/singing), but the melody and singing is completely different. It's a nice song, but unlike "good night", it's not too unique or memorable.
Then there's the English version of "Tiny Star". You should already know that moumoon usually does an English version of their CD Single title tracks. The English version of Tiny Star is nice, although the English IS a bit awkward. Most English songs have a rhyme scheme, and these lyrics don't. Not only that, but the English lyrics aren't as deep as the Japanese lyrics, and they tell a slightly different story. Compare part of the chorus and see for yourself:
Japanese Chorus
Tiny Star --
Take a look...
Oh, shining stars
We are one of you.
...
|
vs. |
English Chorus
Tiny Star --
Round and round
Twinkle in the sky
So fleeting, bright
Look up and let's count them: one, two, three...
...
|
These issues are minor, however...especially when you hear the music and YUKA's singing. (^^) Overall, this single was good, and it ranked pretty well on the Oricon charts (#27)! They're moving
up in the mainstream charts, and that's a good thing!!
(top of page)