[WORLD GROOVE] Currently listening to BeForU – Strike Party!!!
October 5, 2007 by Dennis Amith
GROUP: BeForU
CD SINGLE: Strike Party!!!
LABEL: avex mode
CATALOG #: AVCA-26115/B
RELEASE DATE: January 17, 2007
DURATION: 15:22
- Strike Party!!!
- BALA=BALA
- Strike Party!!! (instrumental)
- BALA=BALA (instrumental)
DVD: Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 15 minutes
- Strike Party!!!
- Making of
“Strike Party!!!” is the second CD single release for the six member female dance group known as “BeForU”.
Known for their work on the popular Bemani video games such as “Dance Dance Revolution” and “Beat Mania”, the group came out with this second CD single back in January of 2007 and was used for the ending theme of the baseball anime series “MAJOR”.
Their music combines a bit of the hyper Eurobeat/techno style with some rock music influences.
For “Strike Party!!!”, you get that style of music and to be truthful, you either love this music or you don’t. In a way, the music tends to sound alike each time I review their CD singles and album but I do enjoy it because it is fun and catchy.
For “BALA=BALA”, very cool J-POP song that kind of reminded me older MAX and SPEED (Go Go Heaven) music. For this coupling song, it has more of an electric guitar rock edge to the overall music.
But for this CD single, I feel the strength is the CD+DVD release because unlike their previous release (and latest release), the DVD showcases the different sides of the women in the group.
Also, to see how they interact with each other while filming the music video, how they play with the dogs and which girls seem to be closer friends and also a cool moment where each member talks about their experience of the video and photo shoots. More or less group interaction and group dynamic and seeing how each of these six women work together.
With many female idol groups in Japan, you kind of like to know more about the group because with the music, despite me enjoying it, all women… I really can’t decipher who is singing what because sometimes they all sound alike.
So, this music video is definitely one of the better CD+DVD releases from the group.
As for the CD insert, it features the group’s lyrics and also a plug for the group’s first album.
As mentioned earlier, with BeForU’s music, you either like it or you don’t? It’s J-POP with a heavy Bemani influence that even past MAX and Forever Blue music are not even in the same category.
It’s fun/catchy and I like the music a lot. But for me, I wanted to see more of the group dynamic and know more about BeForU than toss them in the side and see them as just another female pop idol group.
BeForU has established a sound that other female groups in Japan are not doing which is nice but for “Strike Party!!!”, a very good catchy song and the DVD version, even much better because it shows the women in a different light and you get to see the group interact and also talk about their experiences shooting the music video.
I’ve been a fan for a long time of BeForU, and all the members are doing solo projects as well. they all have their own sound.
Hi Eloy, Thanks for the heads up. Yeah, I have all their CD’s but I just received this one last and I like it because the DVD actually shows them interact with each other. But so far, for me, I’m not sure who sings what until I saw the music video but I do enjoy their music.
Nice review! Although, this makes it sound as if the only releases that they have are their newest ones (on Avex)…. not so, of course! Even their Avex album is titled “BeForU III ~Breaking Into The Probability Changes~” to signify that it’s the follow-up to the “BeForU II” album!!
Yeah, I’ve read about their past releases and have heard it from DDR fans but have never really heard their early stuff.
I do know that “BeForU” has been in discussion of one of the groups to bring into the US for a performance but wasn’t sure how their fandom was in the US because people tend to ask about Hello! Project artists or Hinoi Team.
But I do like their music. I still have more stuff to review for them though… Maybe I’ll give one of you fans a shot and you can do the review for me, since I’m backlogged..hehe…
I like the new third gen Beforu, my fave is Hiromi Nishiura, pretty and she can sing too
http://japansugoi.com/wordpress/beforu-jpop-idol-group/