Uta no Prince-sama - Maji Love 1000% - Idol Song Hijirikawa Masato CD review

Title: Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000% Idol Song Hijirikawa Masato
Artists: Hijirikawa Masato (Suzumura Kenichi)
Release date: 03 August 2011
Version: n/a

Packaging: All the singles in the Maji Love 1000% Idol Song series have basically the same packaging. It is all rather plain with the major differences between each single being the color used, which for Masato HIjirikawa is his image color of blue, and the same artwork that is used for both the front and back cover. That said the cover image of Masato like the rest in this series does a good job of giving a sense of the character's personality

Tracks:

1. Knocking on the mind
The song that is used in the Maji Love 1000% anime series but the full version instead of the shortened version featured in Masato's episode. It starts off softly with the piano, which is the instrument that is associated with Masato, and from there builds with tempo and additional instruments. I really enjoy this song and it has a nice uplifting tone to it, which makes sense as Masato is trying to cheer Haruka up with it in the anime. I really just love the contrast of the softer verses with the stronger chorus and it is one of my favorite Masato songs.

2. Mostフォルティシモ (Most Fortissimo)
Instead of a building start this song starts right off at the main tempo of the song. It has a rockish flair to it but the vocals are stronger to match the more driving music of this song compared to the other. It stands as a good contrast to the other song on this single as this is more energetic with a much quicker tempo. That said I prefer Knocking on the mind, as it makes me think of the character much more than this one that sounds more like it could have been given to a few of the other guys and still worked.

3. Knocking on the mind (off vocal)
4. Mostフォルティシモ (Most Fortissimo) (off vocal)


Overall: While the packaging is rather basic being a part of a series there were to be no surprises on that front.

Both songs are enjoyable and Suzumura's tone is an easy one to enjoy. While Knocking on the mind sounds like the better fit for the character of Masato, Most Fortissimo is nice to have there to show off Suzumura's vocals as well as avoid having Masato's songs sound too much alike. That said the song does not seem to have that feel that it had to be for the character but it is not a bad song.

Still a good CD to have for Uta no Prince-sama fans and of course Masato fans.