Reviews written by Victor Gan
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Heart (ALBUM+DVD)(First Press Limited Edition)(Hong Kong Version)
Heart (ALBUM+DVD)(First Press Limited Edition)(Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(1)Our Price: US$17.99Related promotions:August 27, 2007 Not to be MissedMy affair with Yuna's work is much like the one I have with Utada Hikaru - Her songs can be hard to grasp at first, bombarding you with almost non-formulaic arrangements that can be a little off-putting at first. But upon repeated listenings, the melodies reveal themselves to you and you can begin to start to appreciate all the other little touches that Yuna and the composers added into it.
The first time I heard Yuna's singing was listening to the theme song of "Limit of Love", PRECIOUS. Frankly, I became almost annoyed at the apparent sheer plainness of her vocal style. It also bears no resemblance to the shrill timbre and untrained style employed by most Japanese singers I've heard. Her voice is very much an american product, but what's different is she somehow manages to infuse into it an Asian-ness she presumably inherited from her parents.
The result is a dull, flat tone at first listen, but during choruses quickly adapts into a soaring voice with a gentle brightness that is unhindered by the same strain evident in singers like Onitsuka Chihiro and Ayumi. This rare quality took me many attentive sessions to notice and is what got me addicted to Yuna Ito in the first place. Juxtaposed to this almost opera-like stature is an earthy breathiness and vitality that makes no attempt to hide its youthfulness, but rather is complemented by it.
Her DVD includes videos that are harmonious in artistic expression and each possess an unforgettable simple beauty about them (most notably Precious, which you can look up on youtube.com, and Losin 'it). Likely the best I've seen coming from Japan, bar Utada Hikaru's Kaz trilogy.
The tenderness of a girl, the strength of a Diva. 9 out of 10 from me.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
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United States - English
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