Bonnie Pink [Golden Tears] (Seventh Album)

So Wonderful
Paradiddle-free
Coast to Coast
Addiction
Mirror
Nichi Nichi So
Robotomy
Monster
Rise and Shine
Cotton Candy
Nocturne
You Got Me Good
Believe

The album starts off with the feel-good So Wonderful. This has to be a summer song, if its not, somethings wrong with me. The arrangement is so lively and refreshing in a sense, it gives one the feeling of being on the beach, splashing in the water with the sun glaring overhead. Bonnie’s vocals were nice, but she sounded muffled to me for some reason, it was almost like she was having such a good time that she couldn’t stop herself from laughing, like laughing and singing at the same time. I’m not holding that against her, its good to know she enjoyed recording this, as I enjoyed listening to it. I mean the song is pretty weak, but I like the whole carefree vibe of it, even if: ‘you’re soak and wet, so wonderful!’ doesn’t make any kind of sense. I mean he’s wonderful because he’s soak and wet?

The next track on the album is the calm Paradiddle-free. Ah, Rie Fu’s a master at calm songs, but its just something about the way Bonnie does them that makes them play so nice that you want to loop them so they’ll play forever. I have no clue what ‘paradiddle-free’ means, but if everyday was like it, I’d never worry about a thing. The arrangement is a mellow drum and bass that fits and plays so good on the ears. Bonnie’s vocals are laid-back and fitting. I also like how her vocals rose a bit during the chorus. This song is quiet and only a select few will really enjoy it, I’m certainly one of those people.

The next track on the album is the light Coast to Coast. I use to really dislike this song, but I think it has finally after so long, grown on me. The arrangement is really simple, but it definitely gives off that coast feel and it makes the atmosphere rather relaxing. Bonnie’s vocals are simple as well, I love how she chose to sing this song, not doing too much or too little. I use to think her vocal performance was so dead and boring in this song, but she sung it just right. I still don’t too much care for this song, but its a nice listen every once in a while.

The next track on the album is the hazy Addiction. Oh, I’ve never really paid attention to this song, like never. The first time I actually really listened to this track I remember thinking: ‘why do i never listen this?’ the arrangement is very druggy, as in everything about it is so appropriately sluggish, yet crisp and it really does give you this addiction type of feeling. Bonnie’s vocals manage that as well especially when we get to the chorus and she says: ‘its called addiction’ this song is really neat. I didn’t too much like the, ‘la,la,la’ taking the song out, but it fit in well enough.

The next track on the album is one of my favorites, Mirror. I really do love songs like this. The arrangement is pretty simple, but its fitting and nice on the ears. Bonnie sings this song in full English, a lot of the time I had no clue what she was saying, because it seemed like she was just saying things, but I thought her vocal performance was genuine. I love the: ‘i am who i am, can you be yourself right next to me?’

The next track on the album is the somewhat mid-tempo Nichi Nichi So. This is one of those songs that go completely over your head, but I’ve always found that I liked it. I’ve noticed however that my love for this song is beginning to fade, because it offers nothing. The arrangement is quirky, I keep thinking harpsichord when I hear those strings? It makes me think of green grass for some strange reason. Bonnie’s vocals are fine, though the verses are a bit on the unmemorable side, the chorus more than makes up for that by being rather catchy. I always wonder if she’s saying: ’say good-night daddy, take it real slow’ …hmm?

The next track on the album is the boring Robotomy. This is a pretty dull song and I listened to it twice to make sure. I’m not sure what Bonnie was going for, but I don’t think she hit her mark. The arrangement was some sort of stagnant and plain drum piece and then her vocals were decent, but I don’t know, she wasn’t making any kind of sense. I guess she was singing in English, but all I caught was: ‘bible’ or something, it was like she was saying a whole bunch of nothing and I was waiting for the song to go somewhere and it really never does.

The next track on the album is Monster. This is a song that I’m fond of, even if it doesn’t seem to go anywhere or do anything that we haven’t already heard from her. The arrangement is similar to the previous, the main instrument being the drums, but I heard the cymbals more than anything. Its plain and doesn’t do much, but its effective. Bonnie’s vocal performance was pretty good in this, she seemed to be into the song, though the best and most memorable part is the chorus: ‘ i created a monster…’

The next track on the album is the mid-tempo Rise and Shine. I always think this song is going to be more mellow than it is. The arrangement is synth and it makes it sound a bit computerized, but the beat pounds into you in such an unobtrusive way so its nice and different. I liked Bonnie’s vocals in this, casual but with enough edge to match the arrangement. I like the whole flow of this slow, it always seems to take me by surprise.

The next track on the album is the moody Cotton Candy. This is one of the first songs by Bonnie I ever heard and not only that its one of my favorites and one of her best. The arrangement is pretty dark, I just adore the drums because they create such a climactic atmosphere within the song that brings a lot of depth to it. Bonnie’s vocals seem to reflect it, she sings low on some parts and then her voice rises and the whole effect is just so very engaging. This is a really good song and I wish she would have released it as a single.

The next track on the album is Nocturne. I really like the title, nocturne is just such a gorgeous word. I always expect this song to be more down-tempo than it is, but I’m actually quite glad that its not. The arrangement is very interesting in a sense that there’s more to it than meets the eye and it gives off a distinct nightly feeling, if that makes sense. Bonnie’s vocals are nice, I didn’t have a problem with them. I love the chorus, all around good song.

The next track on the album ups the pace a tad with You Got Me Good. I always find Bonnie’s up-tempo tracks a bit awkward, but she seems to always manage to pull them off. This isn’t up-tempo, more around the mid-tempo range. The arrangement is a bit interesting and fitting, funky in a sense. Bonnie’s vocals were as they always are: good. This song stands out because of the chorus, otherwise it would be a pretty forgettable track.

The last track on the album is Believe. This song really brings back memories as its one of the first songs I ever heard by her and it certainly sticks out despite not being all that memorable. The arrangement is really nothing I haven’t already heard, its fitting but its not very interesting. Bonnie’s vocals are decent, but she didn’t bring much to this song vocal-wise. This track comes across as very boring, but I like the ‘believe’ of the chorus and its pretty inspirational if you look at it in that way. Its a somewhat nice ending to the album.

-GRADE: B+
Rating: **1/2 stars

Bonnie Pink’s seventh album Golden Tears was a good album, but that’s really no surprise. It seems like such a long time ago when I was just getting into Bonnie Pink and this album came out, I was so excited for it, because then I loved every song from her. My favorite Bonnie Pink album is Present and though I like the title and most of the songs on this album I’ve never really cared for it or even paid much attention to it. This is a nice quiet album that should be listened to by all fans and even non-fans of Bonnie, but I have to say it offers nothing we haven’t already heard and that in turn makes it very unmemorable. I wanted to rate it higher because it does have some really good tracks the stand out definitely being Cotton Candy, however, I can’t be bias even if she is my favorite JPop singer. Golden Tears still offers some great tunes though, despite playing like all the rest.

Bonnie Pink [Evil and Flowers] (Second Album)

Evil And Flowers (piano version)*
Forget Me Not
Your Butterfly
Hickey Hickey
He
Eve’s Apple
Kingyo (金魚; Goldfish)
Meddler
Masquerade
Quiet Life
Only For Him
Fallen Sun
Evil and Flowers*

The album starts off with the interlude like song Evil And Flowers (piano version). Its a pretty basic tune, with Bonnie Pink singing all sadly in English. It can come across as very boring, but I fine it meaningful.

The next track on the album is the nutty Forget Me Not. I cannot stand this song, why? Because its so frickin’ ANNOYING. I mean the arrangement is so odd, that I can’t even bother to care for it. I can’t even remember it really, though it sounded like something you’d hear at the Country Club. Bonnie’s vocals aren’t bad, but at the same time the way she sings this song just always irritates me like nothing else. At the end the arrangement and her vocals become so high-pitched and alien that it feels like my ears are going to bleed or my brain will pop. This song is just awful and way to weird for me.

The next track is the soft rock-ish Your Butterfly. I don’t particularly like this song, but it isn’t a bad song and I like it more than I dislike it. The arrangement is very basic, and has a bit of a country flare to it, with the guitar thrumming throughout. Bonnie’s vocals are pretty laid-back, the song never goes above mid-tempo and Bonnie actually keeps this song going when it would have long ago grown boring or forgettable. I’m inclined to like this track. The easy-going-ness of it is really appealing to me.

The next track on the album is the brief Hickey Hickey. This song has always been very weird to me, because it just never made any sense. ‘Hickey hickey on my Island?’ Its like, ‘what are you talking about?’ I mean I know what a hickey is, but I doubt its the hickey she’s talking about. The arrangement is simple, but it works. Bonnie’s vocals are nice, they got high at some points but it didn’t ruin the flow of the song, and everything stayed consistent. The song has that laid-back vibe to it that I like, so despite how weird it is, I like it. Its an interesting kind of weird.

The next track is the laid-back He. I have always rather liked this song, even though nothing much really happens. The arrangement is pretty laid-back and casual. Bonnie’s vocals are good, and she sings this song in an almost bored way, but it doesn’t come across as boring. Towards the end of the chorus when she says that one note, her voice goes high and it sounds rather desperate. The beat of the song is pretty rhythmic and keeps this song from becoming too boring or monotonous.

The next track on the album is the down-tempo Eve’s Apple. This is another song that doesn’t really do much, but I’ve always rather liked. The arrangement is pretty simple, but it does work, and creates a very somber and heavy atmosphere. Bonnie’s vocals were pretty OK, I mean they weren’t great, but she sung this song the way it was suppose to be sung. I mean she sung this song in such a slow way as to make it boring and or monotonous, but I like the way she sung this, because its like she’s giving the words time to sink in, which in a sense makes this song a bit depressing.

The next track on the album is the pretty bland Kingyo (金魚; Goldfish). This is a song that I normally like when I listen to this album, but for some reason both times I listened to it for this review I was irritated. The arrangement is pretty raw-sounding, I didn’t really care for it, though it did set a certain kind of mood that can be described as thoughtful isolation. Bonnie’s vocals were all right I guess, but her voice, mostly during the chorus, got loud for some odd reason, which caused strain and just really got on my nerves. I kind of expected this to be a more down-tempo song, and not so monotonous and bland sounding. It just seems so out of place to me, and just oddly irritating and stagnant.

The next track is the basic Meddler. This song is oddly brief, and very basic in every conceivable sense of the word. There really is no arrangement, it sounded like one lone instrument, maybe a guitar and that was it. Then Bonnie’s vocals were very quiet and low, as if she was just sitting down and reading them off of a sheet of paper or something. This song is boring, and for some reason the ‘meddler’ part sounded repetitive to me, and not to forget it seems to end making the song seem shorter than what it is, because for a song that’s sung in such a slow and sure way it seems to go right over your head. Forgettable.

The next track is the brief and dull Masquerade. I’ve always disliked this song, because it offers nothing. Its just a song that consists of Bonnie saying, ‘masquerade!’ over and over again, in a falsely energetic tone, and mad basic beat. Its not even three minutes long, so it plays like a interlude-song and it comes across as so very pointless. Its like why did you even bother to include this song on the album? It offers nothing, and played like straight wasteful filler.

The next track is the down-tempo Quiet Life. This is actually one of my favorite Bonnie Pink songs, I really do love this song. Its one of the first Bonnie songs I ever heard, and one of the ones that got me so interested in her music. The arrangement is a simple and mournful piano arrangement, that really works to this songs advantage. Bonnie sings this song in all English, and though some of the words were a little strange: ‘ask an old goat?’ I still thought she sung this song very well. My favorite parts of this song are: ‘i never can touch your face/i forget everything, even a bitter smile/i never can hear your voice/i forget everything, even your way of waving’ and of course the chorus.

The next track is the dull Only For Him. The song starts off with the arrangement, which is all right, but it goes on for far longer than it should, and you’re wondering after a while when the song is going to start. When the song starts, Bonnie’s vocals are very slow and in a sense very bored. It sounded like she was really disinterested in this song and that in turn made me disinterested in the song. Its not a bad track, it actually has a pretty decent and laid-back flow about it. I feel it’ll grow on me.

The next track is the tepid Fallen Sun. This song is really hit or miss. I mean some people would like the acoustic vibe of this song, and Bonnie singing in very casual, if not slightly broken English. Other people, such as myself, would find it very boring and dull. I just really dislike the whole flow of this song, and find it a very tedious listen.

The last track on the album is the piano-less version of Evil and Flowers. I didn’t like this at first, I always thought the piano version had more depth, but this one is quite good as well.

-GRADE: C
Rating: *1/2 stars

Bonnie Pink’s second album Evil and Flowers was a pretty dull and boring album. I guess I can’t blame Bonnie fully, its said that Bonnie went to the Swedish Alps to find inspiration but got depressed instead. I mean normally when people get in that sort of mood they come out with some great songs, but instead it seemed like Bonnie channeled all that sadness in a negative instead of positive way and went in the studio and recorded her worst and most forgettable album to date. I can’t imagine why anyone would listen to this album more than once, because the songs offer nothing and after a while become rather redundant. The only songs that really stood out were: He, Eve’s Apple and Quiet Life. Everything else seems to fade into the background and become forgotten. Evil and Flowers had the potential to be a lot more than what it was, but instead because of Bonnie’s weak frame of mind going into it, its crippled and limp.

Bonnie Pink [Kane wo Narashite+Ring a Bell] (24th Single+1st Digital Single)

Kane wo Narashite (鐘を鳴らして; Ring a Bell)
Pump It Up!
A Perfect Sky (Björn Remix)

Bonnie Pink’s 24th single starts off with the a-side Kane wo Narashite (鐘を鳴らして; Ring a Bell). This was used as the theme for the Japanese version of Tales of Vesperia. I thought this song was pretty interesting, but different from the Bonnie Pink I’m so used to hearing. I don’t think that’s a bad thing though. The arrangement has a lot of variety, but even so it still manages to be incredibly bland. Bonnie’s vocals are good, she has a very unique voice, but at the same time its like she has this sound that makes her so different, so that when she sings you know its her. That quality in her voice makes this song sound very strange and monotonous to me, even though she put a bit of energy into this and sounds like she’s into the song, her voice just gives me the impression that she’s not. It makes this song kind of lank and a bit of a chore. I still like it though, mostly because of the chorus.

The next track is the singles b-side Pump It Up!. ‘You complete me boy!’ I liked how club friendly this song is, and how it just embodies having a good time. It has a very retro 80’s like vibe to it, that I really enjoyed. The beat was interesting, and consistent, and you can move your body to it. Bonnie’s vocals didn’t sound so monotonous in this, and she actually put a little bit of personality into this song to make it stand out and play better than its accompanying a-side. I didn’t think I was going to like this song, but its quite a good and fun song.

The last track on the single is a remix, A Perfect Sky (Björn Remix). This is a rather childish and weird (even for me) remix. I don’t like it.

-GRADE: B+
Rating: ** stars

Bonnie Pink’s 24th single Kane wo Narashite is a pretty decent single, but not one that I particularly care for. The a-side was pretty OK but not a song by her I would listen to often. Pump It Up! is more closer to what I’ve come to expect from Bonnie, and the song is pretty darn good and catchy. The remix was just way odd, boring and forgettable. I’m anticipating more material from her, because I love her, she’s my favorite J-singer.

Ring a Bell

This is Bonnie Pinks 1st digital single, and it was used for the English opening of Tales of Vesperia. Speaking of TOV I did not think this was the right song for it, it didn’t go with it well at all, I think that’s one reason why my discontent is so high with this song. I wasn’t too enthused with Ring a Bell when I first heard it, and I’m still not. A lot of what I want to say about this song I’ve already said about the Japanese version, so I’m not going to repeat myself. I will say that Bonnie Pink has some great English, I can’t find a trace of an accent, and I still wonder why she’s never bothered to put out an English album, at least to see how she would do. Hmm? This is an all right song, but still just like Kane wo Narashite, its not one I would listen too often.

-GRADE: B
Rating: ** stars

Bonnie Pink [Even So] (Sixth Album)

Private Laughter
Ocean
New Dawn
5 more minutes
The Answer ~Hitotsu ni Naru Toki~ (ひとつになる時; When We Become One)
I Just Want You to Be Happy
Mint
1 2 3
Last Kiss
Walk With You
Shinsei Game (人生ゲーム; Life Game)
Bedtime Story

The album starts off with one of those songs that I am almost certain I will never like, Private Laughter. I LOVE the title, and the song starts off so good, with this great violin stretch, that sounded so alien. Then we go to the verses which are tolerable, I liked the verses, actually–but then we go to the chorus, which I HATE, because it’s grating and chaotic. It was like Bonnie couldn’t figure out which tone she wanted to set her voice too so she just decided to go with every one. I believe it’s the chorus that ruins this song for me, because I’m into it, and then the chorus starts and I just don’t bother with it anymore.

The next track is the wonderful Ocean. For some reason I always mix this song up with Bonnie Pink’s Coast to Coast, one of the few songs by her that I can’t stand. Anyways, this one is very calming and beautiful, especially the lyrics: ‘when I hold you in my arms, all the secrets are revealed/when I hold you in my arms, it’s warm and cold, like the ocean’. I always enjoy listening to this.

New Dawn the next track is not a song that particularly stands out, or grabs your attention. I think that’s where it works, it doesn’t try so hard, but works with what it’s got: a smooth beat, a nice inspirational message, and of course Bonnie’s great vocals. I like this song, because it could easily fade into the background, or become forgettable, but it has just enough going for it, to prevent that from happening.

I love the next song, because it is just so TRUE! 5 more minutes, is basically Bonnie Pink wishing that he had stayed for just a little bit longer, particularly ‘5 more minutes’ so she could tell him that she forgives him. Sometimes a little extra time is needed, because sometimes you don’t know what to say immediately, and then when they’re no longer there, you really wish that maybe if they had gave you more time, things could have been different.

The next track is one I can never remember liking, or paying much attention too. Listening to it again for this review, it’s grown on me. The Answer ~Hitotsu ni Naru Toki~ (ひとつになる時; When We Become One), starts off rather nicely with the the airy piano based instrumental, and Bonnie’s strong vocals during the first verse. It’s not enough to keep your interest for long though, so luckily Bonnie decided to kick it up a notch with the chorus, which along with the bridge makes this a pretty good track.

Next up is a down-tempo track and my favorite Bonnie Pink song, I Just Want You To Be Happy. I heard this song for the first time a few years ago, and couldn’t help but be so emotionally moved by it. No other Bonnie Pink song has even touched me like this one has, and Bonnie Pink has some GREAT touching songs. I just always loved how her approach to this song was very slow, not rushed at all, even when she picks it up towards the bridge, it still maintains that sense of calm control. It’s almost placating in a way, ‘I just want you to be happy’ I love that line, because it’s so true. I also love when she says, ‘I don’t think I can make you though’, this will always be my favorite song by her.

Bonnie picks it up a lick with Mint, one of my favorite songs by her. I mean it starts out on a pretty boring, but relevant note, ‘I hate my hair, I hate my nails today, too many things to bring me down’ and then she of course picks it up with the chorus, which is still rather slow-paced in a mid-tempo kind of way, but I really love when she says, ‘nothing else matters when you’re around’, and the bridge is love.

The next track is one that took a while to grow on me but it finally did, 1 2 3 is really fun, catchy and upbeat. I really like this song…now.

I remember listening to this song for the first time a long while back, when the anime Gantz first came out. I really liked the TV edit of Super Shooter, but I wasn’t really as much of a fan of Bonnie Pink then as I am now, so I had no idea she was the one who sang the ending. I remember falling in love with this song, because it has such a quiet strength about it that makes it such a great song. Lovely vocals and arrangement. Bonnie Pink pulled this off like no other, and it was the perfect ending to Gantz.

Another of my favorite Bonnie tracks is the fresh, Walk With You. This song sounds very summer-y to me, and not because it has ‘walk’ in it. Everything from the simple vocals, to the simple arrangement, just screams: ‘wow, it’s a nice day for a walk’ and what better way to take a walk than with someone you can trust. ‘You need a real friend who will walk with you, at then end of the day’ I love that line, and this song.

The most up-tempo song on this album would have to be, Jinsei Game (人生ゲーム; Life Game). I always thought this song was just so fun and catchy, and I always get this ‘gamblers’ vibe when I hear it, though it has nothing to do with that. The best part about this song is the chorus, because Bonnie’s voice really shines, but my favorite part is the end when Bonnie sings: ‘Can you tell me, what do you believe in your life!’ because she really gets into it!

The last track on the album is actually one I hated with a passion a few years back when I first heard it. Bedtime Story, was at one point one of the most boring, and dragging songs I had ever heard, and I was determined not to like it. However, as of this review, it has grown on me. The lyrics are wonderful, and I absolutely love these two lines: ‘catch that blurry star/shoot it while you can’.

-GRADE: A
Rating: *** stars

What can I say? Bonnie Pink is my favorite J-singer, and she never disappoints. OK, I won’t go as far as to say that, I remember being very disappointed with Thinking Out Loud, but that’s another review. Even So is a great album, because it’s just such strength here, though it’s very quiet. It doesn’t try too hard, or too less, but does what it can, and I admire that. You don’t always have to have flashy arrangements, or glass-breaking vocals, every time; all you need is heart and passion, and you’ll produce gold every time. I just loved every song on here, (excluding Private Laughter) and even found myself giving in to Bedtime Story, a song in which I thought I would never like. Bonnie has such talent when it comes to her music, which is always heartfelt, inspirational and tells some sort of story. I love her because she does what she does, well. Her music is consistent, and it sticks. What more could you ask for from an artist than 100% and she gives that amount every time.