Release Date: February 17, 2016
Track Listing
- Boku wa Koko de Ikiteiku
- I Believe
- Yuizakura
- Tabidachi no hi ni
Review
Chris Hart is an American musician whose career started in 2011 when a YouTube video he made was noticed by executives from the Nippon Television show Nodo Jiman Za! World, a reality contest that features non-Japanese singing Japanese songs.
Since then, he has released several cover albums, one original content album, collaborated with Matsuda Seiko and the Gospellers and performed at the 64th annual Kohaku Uta Gassen.
His first single release of 2016 is Boku wa Koko de Ikiteiku. It is also the first song where Hart himself wrote the lyrics. They express his resolution to keep living in Japan even though he is far from his home country, the United States.
For those unfamiliar with his original music, it’s a blend of adult contemporary pop and R&B. Boku Wa Koko de Ikiteiku does not deviate from that formula. It’s a pleasing mid-tempo track with emotive vocals accented by a dramatic musical setting. Granted, this probably won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you enjoy some grown-up pop music, this certainly fits the bill.
The video for the a-side features NGT48 captain Kitahara Rie, who was offered the role after her move to Niigata to lead AKB48’s newest sister group. It marks her first appearance in a music video for another artist. So idol fans, you get thrown a bone here and hopefully, it leads to you getting into Chris Hart’s music in the process.
As for the b-sides, they fall squarely into what sounds like inspirational ballad territory. All three are nice enough songs, but to be honest, they could also bore one to tears if you are not in the right mood for such listening. Should you be interested, the final song in this single package (Tabidachi no hi ni) offers the most out of the remaining songs.
This is a fairly pleasant collection of songs that lean heavily towards the softer adult contemporary sound. If that type of music lives somewhere in your playlists, then certainly give this single a go.
