Emyli [Day by Day] (5th Single)

Day by Day
Shake the Habit

Emyli’s 5th single starts off with the a-side Day by Day. I’ve never particularly liked this song, but during this listen I found myself leaning more towards liking it and then I listened to it again. This song is really just fail and its disappointing because this could have been a good song had it been executed correctly. Emyli’s vocals are strain city, but that’s really not the problem, the problem is the rather tacky, clunky and generic arrangement. I mean did no one care while it was being put together, it just made the song very annoying. Emyli’s vocal performance in this track was also quite odd, she went from forcing herself to sing, to quite natural singing even managing to sound a bit like the 90’s Mariah during a certain ad-lib towards the latter half of the song, it really blew my mind. This song is just very hit or miss and I’d have to say its a miss for me.

The next track on the single is its b-side Shake the Habit. The b-side should be the a-side, because it plays a whole lot better. Its boasts a better arrangement and vocal performance. The rnb of the track is obvious, but I liked the attitude Emyli exuded in this, the chorus standing out and the arrangement actually carrying the song.

-GRADE: C
Rating: * star

Emyli’s 5th single Day by Day is pretty underwhelming. Day by Day is just over four minutes of absolute confusion and should have been relegated to a b-side or better yet nothing at all. Emyli’s all right vocal performance couldn’t save this song from being annoying and unmemorable. Shake the Habit is a lot better, because it comes at you harder than the a-side, but its not all that memorable either, though it would have made a better a-side.

Emyli [Come Home] (3rd Single)

Come Home
I Do

Emyli’s 3rd single starts off with the a-side Come Home. I was pleasantly surprised by this song, and more surprised by the fact that I really enjoyed it. The arrangement has a very winter-y appeal to it that I liked and a sparkle like quality that makes it ooze of longing for someone you really love. Emyli’s vocals were really good in this, I loved her tone changes. She sung this song mostly in English, but a bit of Japanese slipped in and I thought it was a nice touch. I love how this song just really gives you this feeling of waiting for someone: ‘I still love you, baby I do’ and then she ends it softly with, ‘come home…’ I second that.

The second track on the single is the b-side I Do. I thought this song was good as well, surprise surprise. The arrangement sounds so very familiar, or maybe that’s because it sounds like your typical up-tempo rnb beat. I like that it has a bit of variety and you can dance to it. It was pretty mellow and not overtly interesting, but you could still find yourself getting into it. Emyli’s vocal performance was good in this song as well, it seemed like she was really into the song and it kept you somewhat engaged and interested. Its not better than the a-side, but its definitely a nice follow-up to it.

-GRADE: A
Rating: **1/2 stars

Emyli’s third single Come Home was quite the surprising little single. I’ve already said that I love Emyli’s voice, but she doesn’t really come out with anything that I would automatically think was going to be good. Come Home is a nice little down-tempo song about waiting for a lover to come back. I Do is a nice little up-tempo song that is bound to get your body moving somewhat. I thought this was a really solid single.

Emyli [Flower of Life] (First Album)

You & I
Blue Bird
Someday (Album Mix)
I Don’t Wanna Lose U
Koi No Kesetsu
Luv Me Right
Rain (Album Version)
Whenever U Call My Name
Eien Nante
If I Could
I’m So Glad, I’m So Sad
Yubiwa; Ring
Rain (English Version)

The first track on the album is the down-tempo rnb tune, You & I. The arrangement of this song is very airy and breezy, and it almost makes you give way to a fond smile. I love how Emyli started off the song, talking, normally this would throw me off, but it sounds natural and not as if Emyli is trying too hard. Her vocals are quite good as well. Nice start to the album.

The next track on the album is the mid-tempo, Blue Bird. I never really paid much attention to this song, with earlier listens I’m always undecided but decide to just like it. In truth, it’s a really good song. I love how upbeat the arrangement is, it really reminds you of summer, walking down the street and hanging with friends. The chorus is pretty catchy. Emyli’s vocal performance is even better in this track than it was in the previous, since it’s a lot less longing and a little more fun.

The next track on here is one of my favorites, the down-tempo Someday. It has this very 90’s feel to it and it reminds me of Monica’s old songs, Before You Walk Out My Life and Why I Love You So Much. I thought the ’someday’ at the beginning was a little annoying but Emyli’s vocal performance in this song is spot on, I really loved it, especially during the chorus. The arrangement was very soft, and really gave you this feeling of being in love: ’someday we’ll be together’.

We pick the pace up with the next track, I Don’t Wanna Lose You. It’s a mid-tempo track, with this very urban Spanish-like vibe going for it. The arrangement is very fun, and moderately danceable. The vocal performance from Emyli was also all right. I like this song, but at the same time it’s a song that can get old fast, and pretty dull.

koi no kisetsu is a pretty interesting song. It has the typical snap and clap beat, but it also has a really nice and gentle rhythm going for it. Emyli’s vocals are somewhat high in this song, and that suits it, and really brought warmth to the lyrics. The chorus was nice, ‘what can i say’, it’s a pretty basic song, but it’s an enjoyable one.

The next track follows the same path as koi no kisestsu in terms of the pace. Luv Me Right, is a nice song, but I don’t like how slow-paced the verses are, it nearly ruins the song. I like the ‘luv me right’ in the chorus, and how Emyli uses some interesting tones. I also thought the high note she hit towards the end of the song was rather good.

The next track is the first song by Emyli I heard and my favorite, Rain. When I first heard this song, I was blown away by how good Emyli’s voice was. I’m not sure I like this version, it just doesn’t seem to have the power the video version does, and seems watered down. Emyli’s aud-libs seem to be absent as well, since I didn’t hear as many in this version. Her voice also doesn’t seem as strong. It’s still a good song, just this version is not good enough.

Emyli goes a little acoustic with the next track, Whenever U Call My Name. Which is all in English accompanied by a piano. I don’t like this song, because simply put, it’s boring. Emyli’s vocal performance is not up to par, because it sounds like she is trying too hard, and can’t really keep up with her English pronunciation’s. I really hate the chorus in the background, what was the point of that? It just distracted you from Emyli’s voice, and zeroed you in on how sub par their voices are. Forgettable, and nearly painful song.

The next track eien nante, got a little more pep in it than I Don’t Wanna Lose You. It’s a lot more interesting too. I like Emyli’s vocals in this song, even if at times they were unclear, as where she sounded muffled, mostly during the chorus. I also feel that she could have put more emotion and feeling into the song, since the arrangement gave you the impression that this was going to be an up-tempo, dance-like track. It’s not. It’s more like a mid-tempo song of love. It’s still good, though. It’s one of my favorites off this album.

We slow it down with the down-tempo ballad, If I Could. I like Emyli’s vocal performance in this song, but at the same time its a really boring and rather uneventful song, because it never goes anywhere. The arrangement is practically none existent, and the background vocals are awful and off-key. If I Could is still a nice listen though.

The next track picks up the pace a little, but only a little. I’m So Glad, I’m So Sad is a song you wouldn’t normally pay attention too, and write off as an all right song, and probably forget about it. It had an all right arrangement, and an all right vocal performance, but nothing other than the fact that it’s an OK listen, stands out.

The second to last track is the down-tempo, yubiwa. This track sounds familiar, like one of her other songs on this album, and that’s a little unsettling. It’s a forgettable song, everything about it is average, and nothing about it jumps out and catches your attention. The vocal performance is nice, and it’s an all right listen, if anything.

What possessed Emyli to put this horrible English rendition of Rain on her album? Ugh. Utter crap, and better off forgotten.

-GRADE: B+
Rating: ** stars

I’m a little disappointed in Emyli’s debut album. I’ve always enjoyed Flower of Life and thought it was a really good album, that showcased Emyli’s urban roots and her vocal prowess. However, listening to it from a critic’s perspective and not as a fan, it’s not really all that good. There’s no variety. Every track sounds the same. The arrangements are terribly basic and the songs are average or below. I also didn’t like the albums version of Rain which sounded a lot better on video, but it seems like they tweaked it somewhat, and made it sound like a more duller version of the original. Then to make it worse, they added the English version which was crap, and completely ruined the song for me. Emyli’s English isn’t bad, but I’m guessing that it just didn’t translate well. Despite the album being somewhat boring and forgettable, Emyli does have some good tracks on this. You & I, I Don’t Wanna Lose You, Luv Me Right, Eien Nante and let’s not forget the stand-out track, Someday. Flower of Life started off on a good note, and ignoring the English version of Rain, ended on a lukewarm and forgettable note. It’s not a bad album though, and is worth a listen or two, for Emyli fans or those who enjoy J-Urban music.