Yui is a Japanese pop singer who originated from Fukuoka, Japan. She sings, plays acoustic guitar, and began writing poetry in the ninth grade. Aspiring to become a professional musician, Yui began carrying around her guitar and singing at the sea shores of Shingu and the rice fields of Kaminofu.
From Me to You is Yui's debut album, released on February 22, 2006. Since then, it has been selling quite well, reaching 9th on the weekly most sold album charts. Currently, she is on a nationwide tour promoting her new album.
One reason the album is doing so well is because Yui's voice, simply put, is beautiful. Her voice is solid and she displays great mastery in switching between her powerful voice and her wispy and raspy styles, especially before she rips into a chorus. Her voice does sound like a young girl's at times but given that she is only nineteen it's not that big of a deal and radiates a more natural feel. Yui's voice is not overproduced, generating a "live" feel, as though she is really sitting in your living room singing.
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Yui's songwriting is simply superb. Her lyrics are excellent, and her choruses are so powerful, they'll haunt you in your sleep for the next six months. Doubtful? Give a listen to "Merry Go Round" or "Feel My Soul," songs that start out slow until they hit the chorus and then explode. Yui has a definite talent for writing sensational vocal hooks in her repertoire. The song "I Know" has one of the catchiest vocal intros ever. Her slow ballads are also full of emotion, "Tokyo" and "Blue Wind" are songs that will, without a doubt, tingle your spine. Yui proves that music really is universal. It doesn"t matter if you do or don"t understand Japanese, because when you hear her sing, you will understand her songs from the heart, and in the end, that's all that matters.
From Me to You is a pop album, however, there are definite roots embedded deeply in rock. Although, the background music is played out by studio musicians, Yui writes the music and lyrics, and continues playing her acoustic guitar at gigs.
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The music on this album is brilliant. Unlike many pop acts in the States where the percussion is either a machine or a musty musician, the drums on this are anything but stale. Drummer Masayuki Muraishi, incorporates ghost notes, doubles, buzz rolls, and various hi-hat syncopations with an assortment of crash accents into simple beats, that make the drums roar to life! The bassist, Tatsuhiro Endo, syncs with the drums to play a vivid purring intro in "Just My Way" and plays marvelous fills throughout "Life." Hideyuki Suzuki, plants simple but spectacular guitar solo’s in various songs through out the album; his intro to "Spiral and Escape" is also very simple but astonishingly catchy. These musicians play off each other extremely well, each complimenting the others style while supporting Yui"s stunning vocals.
If you ever see this album, buy it. Even if you have never listened to a pop album in your life. Even if all you ever listen to is death metal. Buy it. Download it. Steal it from your friend. However you must obtain it, get it. This is that one hidden album sitting on a shelf worth a thousand times more than its retail price.
It will change your life.
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Hits
Merry Go Round
Feel My Soul
I Know
Just My Way
Tokyo
Blue Winds
