Younha- SONGS -Teen's Collection-

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Younha is about to turn twenty, so she realesed this "best of" album to celebrate/ get more money from the music she released in her teens. Released on 2008.03.26 it is a collection of her previous singles as well as some new songs. The only Younha I've listened to is "A perfect day to say I lvoe you" which sounded too much like Kelly clarkson for me to like, however due to the pretty cover I'm willing to try out Japanese Younha.

The album starts with the Japanese version of Yubikiri. This song starts off with a nice electric guitar part before younha comes in. Her voice sounds very deep and smooth, yet she still hits the higher notes nicely. However, the higher notes in the middle of the verses sound a little out of place. The chorus is very expressive and sung well, but overall this is a standard pop song and nothing really stands out from it. The ending is quite pleasant though with the added dynamics.  Still, really nothing special so far.

Next up is HoukiBoshi. HoukiBoshi was the  second official single from Younha and is well known for it's association with bleach.  It starts with furious and fast paced guitar and piano then younha comes in and she is also singing very fast. The chorus is awesome with the prolonged notes and once again is very expressive. However, I still can't feel that this is anything more than an average pop song. A nice listen but nothing more.

Looking at the cover of HoukiBoshi compared to the cover of this teens album shows striking contrast to how Younha has certainly matured.

Anyway, after HoukiBoshi is Motto Futari de, her third official single. It stars off with the piano then adds in a jazzy sort of part. Younha's vocals sound very pretty in the verses, and slighlty more polished than in Yubikiri and HoukiBoshi. At first I didn't really like the staccato in the chorus, but it will grow on me I think. This is certainly a lively and lighthearted pop tune. Strings are used well in this song and it's a pleasant listen once again: and maybe better than Yubikiri. The piano part at the end is excellent and adds a cool variation.

Track four is Touch, her fourth official single and a cover of song by Iwasaki Yoshimi in 1985. It starts with the electric guitar and then Younha comes in. Overall, it has a strange atmosphere, almost something comedic about it, and certainly sounds remiscent of something you could get in the 80's: even if the only J-music I've heard from that time isn't much. This song comes across as very flat and as I mentioned, it sounds quite...strange...for a reason I can't place. Naturally, her singing is excellent and  also you can note that so is her english.

Yume no Tsudzuki is track five, and is a change of pace for it's slow ballad that relies on accoustic guitar, piano and soft, bitter vocals from Younha.  This was the B-side to Touch.  the chorus is very dragged out though and it comes across as very boring. Younha does capture alot of the emotion of a ballad well, she sings it well and dynamics are also used well but I've never liked ballads unless they are exceptional, and this presents nothing new.

 Track 6 is My lover which has a strange english introduction and sounds a little like something Avril Lavigne would do. Younha sounds a little more tougher here, a little rebelious. This was her 5th single and also the opening to a bleach game. I don't like this song as it's flat and boring. The distorted english is also quite stupid and unncesary.

Te wo Tsunaide might just be a track that I really like. Younha sounds very mature, as do the backing instrumentation. I would compare this song to  Aya Kamiki in style, as it sounds almost gritty and pretty angry.  It was her sixth singl and also the ending song to the anime Jyu Oh Sei. Jyu oh sei is quite a dark anime so this might explain the sudden turn in style for Younha. No matter what, I like the gritty feel  and  mature bitter vocals from Younha. I think there might be some english in the chorus, but her higher pitch distorts the lyrics slightly. Either way if there is english it's effective.  I really like the ending instrumentation, even if it's feel like the song could have gone on longer after that.

You can tell by the cover too Te wo Tsunaide that Younha is growing and maturing as a artist.

Ima ga daisuki starts and continues with some very strange sounding instrumentation. Younha however still maintains her more matured vocals, and this is once again a pleasant pop song. I don't think there was any need for the sudden reach up in pitch at the end of the chorus, and the church bell (neh?) sound is a little odd.

Inori starts like it's going to be quite a dark sounding song, but then Younha and piano come in and it becomes quite light-hearted. This, I think, is a new song. It's nice and all, and the bridge at the end is pretty cool but really nothing special.

Hakanaku Tsuyoku has a cool guitar opening and when Younha comes in her vocals are very deep and like Te wo  Tsunaide, this is a darker and more mature song.  This is her latest Japanese single to date, released in 2007. I like the guitar part and the darker sound of this song. Younha's vocals are very strong, she prolongs the notes wonderfully,  as is  the guitar and percussion making this almost a pop-rock song. almost. I think Younha should definitly experiment in pop-rock, it may suit her deeper vocals.  : )

Next up is Scratch on the heart, which may or may not be a new song. Younha's vocals again are very powerful, and are the hightlight of the song. Guitar is very prominent, as is the piano but I personally find the flat guitar part boring  and annoying in many ways. The piano sort of fades into the background. As I said, this is worth a listen for Younha's part alone.

Kono Kokoro starts of quite nicely, and I like the background instrument that creates the feel of a heartbeat fitting to the title, but I don't like the sudden use of brass. Thankfully the brass fades out and Younha comes in and she sounds excellent as usual. The chorus is very powerful and the high notes sound far smoother than in previous songs. The english "I love you every day" and "I want to be with you" are very well pronounced. I suppose this is a hopeful love song, a girl in love with a boy but perhaps unrequited? At some points Younha sounds quite bitter, almost longing  so I'd presume it's unrequited  or not to be. The brass is very annoying in this song otherwise it's really good and I love Younha's vocals, especially at the end. 

After Kono Kokoro is the  Japanese version of Password 486. I wasn't a massive fan of the original but it was afun love song worth a listen.  This version isn't much different except it's in Japanese. After  being used to the Korean version  the Japanse sounds strange, I also think Younha is singing her part a little too high in the begining of the chorus'.  The  energy  of the Korean version seems lost in this one... I really do think they've slowed it down and it's a shame as it comes across as feeling dragged on and lacking the hyper energy of the Korean verison.

Lastly is Yubikiri...again.  I suspect it's in Korean, and after checking on wiki.ppn it is. This was her first single, released before her official debut.  I think Younha sounds far better in Korean, as does this track. It's far more expressive and a little more interesting than the original.  Her deep vocals really shine and dynamics are used wisely and to good effect.

Overall: (8/10) (It's decent and there are a few really good tracks)

Overall this album is a pleasant listen, and could be effective background music and if listened enough perhaps would be catchy. There are no real bad tracks on the album, apart from my lover and the Japanese version of Password 986 which I really didn't like. There are some highlights on this album too, mainly Te wo Tsunaide and the original Yubikiri.  I don't regret not listening to Younha for so long, but I'm glad I've discovered her. I will certainly be listening to this album more and I'm sure that tracks I've not liked that much will grow on me. Tracks such as Yubikiri (Korean) and Te wo Tsunaide already have a place on my playlist.  Her music is very pleasant (as I've mentioned numerous times...) and I think this could be a good introduction to Younha's Japanese music career.