Ongaku Cafe (The '90s): Something ELse - Last Chance (December 1998)

Granted, not many bands get an opportunity or a second chance after sales of previous singles don’t go well. But with the help of the TV show “Denpa Shounen”, Something ELse were given a last chance to prove that they can break into the Oricon top 20 and are deserving of their recording contract. This single proved that they can do it…but can they continue to do it? We will see… But for now, “Something Else” is a pretty solid single for the trio!

BAND: Something ELse

CD SINGLE: ラストチャンス (Last Chance)

LABEL: TOSHIBA-EMI

CATALOG #: TODT-5235

DURATION: 14:36

RELEASE DATE: December 23, 1998

ラストチャンス
ラストチャンス (Acoustic Version)
ラストチャンス (Instrumental)

Something ELse is a band which consists of lead vocalist Nobutaka Okubo, guitarist Daisuke Itou and bass/keyboardist Chihiro Imai. The group formed back in the early ’90s as I/O EXIT and then EXIT LINE, the group would perform in front of the public in various areas of Japan and were literally street performers. Back in 1996, the band received several offers from labels but Toshiba EMI felt that their previous name EXIT LINE was a bad name and in 1996, the band changed its name to Something ELse. The EL capitalized stands for the band’s previous name EXIT LINE.

Unfortunately, the trio did not do well and were in danger of losing their recording contract with TOSHIBA-EMI. But life changed in Sept. 1998 when the trio were featured on the popular television show “Denpa Shounen” and were given a second chance…a last chance to prove to Japan that they should not lose their recording contract and that they can sell a fixed number of CD singles and also, their first single must place in the Oricon Singles Charts top 20.

The group went on to create their sixth single titled “Last Chance”, appealing to the viewers of the show and their fans to please give them a last chance and sure enough, fans and supporters from all over Japan supported the band by having their DJ’s play the song “Last Chance” on the radio and sure enough, the band landed on the Oricon top 20 and their contract with TOSHIBA-EMI continued.

I happened to be in Japan when the special episode of “Denpa Shounen” on Something ELse was being aired and walking into the music stores in Tokyo, you can see the signs promoting this single.

For the most part “Last Chance” is a entertaining rock single featuring solid vocals from Nobutaka Okubo and if anything, the three members of the group have great chemistry and have done a solid job in showing that they deserver a recording contract.

I was more into their acoustic version of the song which played on television and fortunately, you also get the acoustic version included on this CD single. The third track features the instrumental version of “Last Chance”.

Overall, a good single but time will tell if people who supported them, will continue to support them for their future singles. We’ll see…