YUI – “Rain” single review

Limited edition cover.

“Rain”
YUI

Release date: November 24th, 2010

Tracklist:
1.  Rain
2.  a room
3.  How crazy ～YUI Acoustic Version～
4.  Rain ～Instrumental～ 

DVD:
1.  Rain PV
2.  Please Stay With Me PV

YUI’s last single release of 2010 and 17th overall. The limited edition, which is what I got from HMV, comes with a DVD containing the PV of the title track along with the PV of another song that appeared on her album “HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN“. “Rain” was used as a theme song in a Japanese drama and has lyrics relating to Christmas time.
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1.  Rain

A lively track with some catchy guitar riffs. The song has a nice rock edge and its flow is impeccable. It transitions from the verses into the choruses perfectly. I love the subtle piano notes that play during the verses. YUI does a great job singing and her voice fills the track with emotion. The bridge leads nicely into the guitar solo with her emotional climaxing voice, and the guitar solo itself is short and sweet. It’s nothing flashy, but gets the job done. Overall a strong, quality track that is what we’ve come to expect from YUI.

2.  a room

In stark contrast to “Rain”, this track is mellow and laid-back. It is quite soothing to listen to and would make for great sleeping music. The acoustic guitar is a great addition this time, and along with the other instruments creates a rich sound.

3.  How crazy ～YUI Acoustic Version～

While it’s really cool to be able to hear acoustic guitar-only versions of YUI’s hits, this song has never really struck a chord with me. The original song is from her 2nd album “CAN’T BUY MY LOVE“, which is sort of weird because usually all of her acoustic versions that appear in each single is of the previous single’s title track. Even so, there’s nothing like hearing beautiful acoustic guitar strumming. This track isn’t anything extraordinary but makes for a nice addition to the single.

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With this single, YUI surely closed out 2010 with a bang. Ever since her foray into electric guitar, she has released a myriad of popular hits, and this single is just another testament to that. It is quite impressive to say the least, taking into consideration both her age and the fact that she writes all her own material, from the music to the lyrics.

The final verdict: a must for YUI fans and something any casual listener of Japanese music can enjoy.

 
Limited edition: HMV Japan
Regular edition: CDJapan, YesAsia, HMV Japan