Ongaku Cafe (2010-2019): Nishino Kana – Always (November 2012)

An enjoyable single overall, Kana Nishino’s “Always” is a single worth checking out!

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ARTIST: 西野カナ (Kana Nishino)

CD SINGLE: Always

LABEL: SME Records

CATALOG #: SECL-1207

DURATION: 13:58

RELEASE DATE: November 7, 2012

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1. Always
2. Happy Song
3. Love you, Miss you

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For several years, I have had the opportunity to listen and watch pop singer Kana Nishino grow as a music artist.

Signed as a teenager with a recording contract with SME Records and having seen her evolve in her pop music as a vocalist and a writer, Kana returns with her 18th major label CD single titled “Always”.

Now sporting blonde hair, Kana Nishino’s CD single comes with three tracks and an eight-page insert booklet with photos, lyrics and production credits.  But also a sticker sheet and a promotion for her fan club and her “Kanayan Tour 2013 ~Spring~”.

The first track on the CD single is “Always”, a different style from Nishino’s R&B dance tracks.  Featuring a more of rock ballad, “Always” is a bit reminiscent of “Every Little Thing” style of ballads.  But the song has a beautiful melody and is about finding a person you love, someone that you can love forever and always.  How always, this person next to you will make you smile and will be by your side.

The second track on the single is “Happy Song” and is an upbeat, happy track.  The song is about ridding yourself of negativity, getting rid of frustrations and clapping your hands, spreading your arms and everyone clapping their hands forever.  And if things don’t work out one day, there is always tomorrow.  Interesting enough, of the three songs on the single “Happy Song” is currently the #1 song on iTunes and is the most popular track on the single thanks to the Sony Walkman F Series Play You commercial.

The third and final track on the single is the upbeat dance track “Love you, Miss you” and is probably the more consistent sound that Kana Nishino fans are used to hearing.

Upbeat, catchy and a mature song about a young woman who fell in love with an older guy or guy who prefers mature women.  And she wants to be recognized as a mature woman and doesn’t want to be treated like a child.  And she really loves the guy and wants to be by his side and wonders what kind of woman he likes and feels that age difference doesn’t matter when you are in love.

Overall, Kana Nishino’s single “Always” is an upbeat single that shows her diverse style of taking on different musical genres.  Not to be the one to be pigeon-holed with a certain musical genre but while her music is more upbeat, dance-driven, it’s nice to have something fresh and new with “Always”.  And for those who enjoy her more familiar style, there is the track “Love you, Miss you”.

But surprisingly it’s here happy upbeat song “Happy Song” that is leading people to the purchase of this single or that certain track.  And it goes to show that in Japan, even if it’s not your main title track, if a song is used in a commercial, even if it’s a c/w song, people get hooked quite easily.  And in this case, thanks to the latest Sony Walkman F commercials, more and more people are discovering Kana Nishino’s music.

An enjoyable single overall, Kana Nishino’s “Always” is a single worth checking out!

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