Ongaku Cafe (The 2000s): EXILE – The Birthday ~Ti Amo~ (September 2008)

“A wonderful, well-produced and well-performed CD single celebrating the group’s 9th Anniversary.”

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GROUP: EXILE

CD SINGLE: The Birthday ~Ti Amo~

LABEL: rhythm zone

CATALOG #: AVCD-46035/B

DURATION: 40:24

RELEASE DATE: September 24, 2008

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1. Ti Amo
2. SUPER SHINE feat. VERBAL
3. 24karats feat. J. Soul Brothers and DOBERMAN INC
4. Your eyes only ～曖昧なぼくの輪郭～ (Aimai na Boku no Rinkaku)
5. Ti Amo (Instrumental)
6. SUPER SHINE feat. VERBAL (Instrumental)
7. 24karats feat. J. Soul Brothers and DOBERMAN INC (Instrumental)
8. Your eyes only ～曖昧なぼくの輪郭～ (Instrumental)

DVD: Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 17:07

1. Ti Amo Chapter 1 (Video Clip)
2. Your eyes only ～曖昧なぼくの輪郭～ (Video Clip)
3. EXILE information

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Reviewed back in 2008

On Sept. 2008, the R&B group known as EXILE had such an impressive year at that point (eventually winning the most coveted music prize in Japan for Best Artist of the Year), it seems that in 2008, the group was on Sky Nine. The group has since changed its dynamics in 2009 as it fused with the group J-Soul Brothers and have now become a significant large R&B group.

But before the changes, the group released a CD single to celebrate their 9th Anniversary as a group. The CD single “The Birthday ~Ti Amo~” (their 28th CD single overall which charted at #1) features a total of eight tracks, four which are excellent vocals and the other remaining tracks being instrumental.

The first track features “Ti Amo” which sports a Spanish style of acoustic guitar playing with a cool mid-tempo groove and wonderful vocals. The song was written by Kiyoshi Matsuo and music by Jin Nakamura and Kiyoshi Matsuo. “Ti Amo” is just a wonderful ballad that benefits from the group’s silky smooth, romantic vocal style. While Gen Ittetsu Strings plays in the background and guitar playing by Masato Ishinari.

The second track “SUPER SHINE” features a collaboration between EXILE and m-flo’s VERBAL. Words are by michico and music by T. Kura and michico. Overall, an upbeat R&B track featuring an addictive hook and chorus.

The third track is a track that has received many versions from EXILE, “24karats” this time features the J Soul Brothers and DOBERMAN INC (previous versions have featured color and sowelu). A track that puts emphasis on J Soul Brothers (who eventually fused with EXILE in March 2009). Overall, same upbeat, attractive beat and well-performed like the previous versions.

The fourth track “Your eyes only ～曖昧なぼくの輪郭～” features a slow R&B ballad sung by Atsushi and Takahiro. Overall a smooth R&B track written by Kenn Kato and music by Face 2 (fAKE). Awesome vocal track!

The remaining four tracks are the instrumentals of the first four vocal tracks.

The CD+DVD version comes with two music videos. Included on the DVD is the music video for “Ti Amo”. A well-produced theatrical style music video that takes place in China around the 1930’s. Beautifully shot (and obviously a big budget music video), the music video revolves around a woman accompanying her date to a show as they watch Chinese gymnasts performing on stage and seeing a man she loves in the audience with his girlfriend (or wife). Seeing him with her tears her apart and she remembers the passionate nights she had with the man and when she goes to the restroom, she comes in contact with her former lover alone in the hallway.

The second music video is for “Your eyes only ～曖昧なぼくの輪郭～” and the video is more or less a compilation of clips of EXILE traveling to different areas in Japan, performing live and rehearsing.

The third video is information on recent EXILE music releases and EXILE fashion.

As for the CD insert, the insert is a tri-fold with lyrics and production credits on one side and a picture of the group and an image on the other side. Inside the CD insert is a flier promoting the J Soul Brothers upcoming release and also a flier promoting rhythm zone releases at that time. Also, the CD comes with a cardboard slipcase (with the same image from the cover on the slip case).

Overall, EXILE’s “The Birthday ~Ti Amo~” has been on my playlist for months and overall, this is a solid CD single release from the group. A good balance of R&B grooves and slow ballads, I found the single to be well-produced, well-performed and a CD single that is definitely worth checking out!

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