TOP TEN OF AI OTSUKA – Set 1: Less known and underrated

Today I’m starting a new series of articles on Ai Otsuka Love Blog – TOP TEN of Ai Otsuka. We’re starting off with a list of ten less known and therefore underrated songs from Ai-chan’s discography. All of these songs have something very special about them, but for certain reasons they became album tracks or B-side, so they had no chance to be promoted. It’s a pity, because some of them could have become very successful singles...

Let’s go~!

This is a digital single released in 2010, Ai-chan’s last single to date. Despite the endorsement deal with Panasonic, the song didn’t chart well – maybe because of its specific style, more similar to LOVE-chan’s releases than to Ai’s. I love it anyway. I used it as a ringtone in my mobile for a very long time :)

Natsuzora was released in 2005, as a B-side to Ai’s single “Neko ni Fuusen”. For me, it should have been a single instead of “Neko” or at least the second A-side. This song is great – romantic, nostalgic and full of emotions. Its mood reminds me a little of “Kingyo Hanabi”.

This song is the last track on Ai’s debut album “LOVE PUNCH”. It features piano and a small choir! Moreover, you can find there one of the most developed ad-libs Ai has ever done. I like it and this upbeat feeling this song gives me every time I listen to it.

“Kurage, Nagareboshi” was a marvellous single. It’s too bad that despite its finest quality and being the 5-year anniversary single it didn’t sell so well. I loved the music, artwork and the PV. "H2O" is one of B-sides featured in this release. As “Kurage, Nagareboshi” was a rather slow, grand and beautiful ballad, “H2O” goes in a different direction – it has a funky rock vibe, interesting arrangement, awesome vocals and amusing lyrics comparing love to a chemical reaction! :)

This is an intro to Ai-chan’s third studio album “LOVE COOK”. It’s a very unusual composition and truly one of a kind. It starts with a strange mood and gives a really night / dawn feeling. Then the song develops into a powerful rock number in which Ai’s cute voice reveals its hidden power. I love it and I think she really needs to more such songs in the future!

Come to think of it, "360°" is definitely one of the most mature and unconventional songs Ai has created so far. It’s exquisite and refined, aggressive and yet delicate. The message of this songs is conveyed in the way it was arranged. Before reading the lyrics, I felt that it was about some uncertainty and indecisiveness in feelings and emotions. Ai sings: “I love you and I hate you”. The way this song was sung and arranged truly gets the message across. You can almost physically feel the pain Ai is singing about...

This song was included in Ai’s second studio album “LOVE JAM”. It’s somewhat pop-rockish, moody, melancholic and kind of sad. Otsuka sings about being strong and overcoming various obstacles that appear in our life. It’s no surprise that our weaknesses and our endless struggle to improve can make us tired, hopeless and sad. This song reveals that life is not only about happy things, but it also has a darker side that all of us have to face.

I can’t believe that this song didn’t become a single! It’s so damn beautiful! It’s easily one of my favourites... I love the imagery of the lyrics – the winged egg wants to see the sky, the world and experience all flavours of life. Isn’t it similar to a fable or a fairy tale? Also, the feathers falling down from the sky during the performance at LOVE COOK Tour additionally highlight the delicacy and tenderness radiating from this song.  I love it, just love it.

Another highly underrated song. This time it comes from “LOVE PiECE” album which didn’t have many album tracks, because it was composed mostly of singles. Luckily for “Kumuriuta”, it was given a PV which has Ai-chan soaked in rain and diving in a pool (trying to sing underwater, too). It’s another song filled with sadness and overflowing emotions. Ai-chan asks the sky not to cry over her, because her heart is still strong. This is my favourite line which always makes me emotional and gives me hope.

As I said before, “Kurage, Nagareboshi” was a great single, not only because of the wonderful quality of the A-side, visual framework and the PV, but also because of the amazing B-sides. “Ame no Tsubu” is a renditon of Ai-chan’s song titled “LOVE MUSiC” which appeared both in “LOVE COOK” and “AI am BEST”. “LOVE MUSiC” was cute, nice and very Ai-chan, but in this version she took this song and squished it like a lemon to show its true essence. This was one great job, because Ai-chan was able to transform one of her not-bad songs into one of the greatest musical achievements she’s done till now. “Ame no Tsubu” radiates with maturity and refined taste, showing Ai’s artistic development, increased sensitivity and truly musical soul. The song is just too lyrical. Everything about it is lyrical – starting from the text to the strings appearing in the verses, to the quiet recitation to the refreshed chorus. This is a very rainy song. I love to listen to it when it’s raining and I’m feeling romantic :)

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This list is a highly subjective set of songs chosen by me, so you might or you might not agree with this particular choice. You’re welcome to add your types in the comments :)

You can also suggest another sets for TOP TEN! :) Your ideas will be appreciated~