Destiny Line – Ai no Matador –

Ito Yuna’s 4th single, entitled Stuck on You, was released on 08.09.06. These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ was used in a Daihitsu CM for the new COO car. The single was limited to 70000 copies and was part one of the “hot and cool” series, this one being the hot single.

Stuck on You is a fun dance song and is her first one to be an A-side. The song starts off with a fun and interesting instrumentation that sounds like it belongs in a circus before the song’s sweet and cute pop instrumentation starts. Then the first verse comes in and Yuna seems to be holding back vocally so that she can match that sweetness of the instrumental. The chorus stands out as she provides stronger vocals and some English phrases like “kiss me baby” and “hold me baby,” which stand out nicely. The pure instrumental section is a little lacking but it does fit with the overall theme of the song. This song is very catchy and while it’s not her strongest upbeat number, it’s worth checking out.

The B-side of this single is Yuna’s cover of the famous song These Boots Are Made For Walkin.’ Yuna’s vocals on this song were really smooth and sneaky, managing to push the attitude and sass of the song very nicely. Of course her pronounciation was strong so that also helps. It’s a really good cover even though the music is a little iffy.

In order to promote the single, a PV for Stuck on You was made. There is no true plot to the video but it just features Yuna in various pretty scenes such as when she looks in the mirror or lays on the bed and talks to her friend. This video also features Yuna dancing in a corset with female backup dancers. The video ends with Yuna talking to her friend and telling her that she’s in love so she doesn’t care if he’s good for her or not.

Single Ranking: B +

Stuck on You is a nice opportunity to put upbeat Yuna in the A-side position but unfortunately it’s not as strong as her previous singles. Her cover of These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ was enjoyable and a nice way to compliment the A-side. It’s not her best single but it’s a nice one.

Ito Yuna’s 3rd single, entitled Precious, was released on 05.03.06. The title track was used as the theme song for the movie Limit of Love: Umizaru.

Precious is a gorgeous love ballad. The song begins with the first verse and Yuna’s vocals are very soft and fragile here, which suit the very pretty instrumentation. What makes this song stand out is the chorus, in which Yuna belts out some powerful notes. There is a really grandiose and wonderful feeling here as Yuna hits her notes fantastically and allows the listener to feel the emotions of the song so strongly. The third verse features a slightly different instrumental and it works perfectly to re-introduce the chorus with a light and soft instrumental to put the focus on Yuna’s vocals. Precious is a great ballad and certainly one of Yuna’s most known songs for a reason. Her vocals are great and the emotions come pouring out on the chorus. It’s another strong song from Yuna worth checking out.

The first B-side is I’m Free. The song starts off with the first verse and immediately the listener picks up on the fun upbeat atmosphere of the song. She opens with “fly high to the sky with the wind,” which reflects a certain freeing atmosphere. Yuna manages to show off her vocal range here, reaching high on some notes and powerfully on others. The instrumentation during the verses is just so relaxing and addictive that the listener falls in love with it. The chorus feels just a little cheesy but it works with the overall atmosphere of the song so it doesn’t stand in the way, despite not being as strong as the verses. The pure instrumental section is nice because there is that jazzy element to it that gets to shine. I’m Free is a wonderful upbeat number that sounds great and compliments the A-side strongly.

Secrets is the second B-side of the single. Opening the song is an interesting and quirky poppish instrumental that tells a story. Then the first verse starts and her vocals are very smooth and pretty, complimenting the instrumentation perfectly. Once again, the chorus is a little cheesy but there’s something about it that is very loveable and that works with the overall atmosphere of the song. Although it’s not as strong as I’m Free, Secrets is an enjoyable song that has that cute element to it.

In order to promote the single, a PV for Precious was made. The video is gorgeous, featuring various scenes of Yuna in very pretty outfits. One scene features Yuna in a wedding dress surrounded by rose petals as she sits on the floor. Another scene features her in a field with an absolutely gorgeous view. This video is wonderful and is a strong visual representation of the beauty of the song.

Single Ranking: A –

Yuna continues with a string of good singles. Precious is a wonderful ballad with an emotional presence that stands out proudly. The two B-sides allow the listener to see the more upbeat side of Yuna. I’m Free is the stronger one with an addictive instrumental while Secrets is a cute number. Overall it’s a strong single that is worth checking out for any Yuna fan or one wanting to explore some of her sounds.

Ito Yuna’s 2nd single, entitled Faith / Pureyes, was released on 03.01.06. While Faith was used as the ending theme for the dorama UNFAIR, Pureyes was used as a promotional song for BIOCLEN ZERO contact lenses.

Faith is the sorrowful love ballad. The song begins with a melancholy instrumental that strikes the listener’s heart right away. Then Yuna comes in and as she sings the first verse, the listener can really feel the emotion in her voice and it comes across as believable and real. On the chorus, she maintains her strong vocals and the instrumentation becomes more diverse. Somehow the instrumentation takes on an even prettier tone while still portraying the emotions so the listener really falls into its sound. Near the end, she does some great vocalizing that really catches the listener’s ear. Faith is a great song and it suits Yuna’s voice better than previous A-side, ENDLESS STORY.

Pureyes, the second B-side, is the upbeat A-side. The song opens up very quickly with Yuna speaking in English as she sings “What you gonna do? Touch me baby” and immediately, the listener becomes intrigued by this combination of sweetness and flirtation. After the chorus ends, the instrumentation becomes more fun and happy, which really goes perfectly with Yuna’s voice. On the verses, there is a nice relaxing feeling and Yuna continues to give sweet and alluring vocals that support the atmosphere of the song perfectly. That pure instrumental section is so addictive and fun that the listener can’t help but love it. Pureyes is an insanely catchy number and one of Yuna’s best efforts thus far so it’s definitely worth the listen.

In order to promote the single, a PV for Faith was made. In fitting with the sorrowful atmosphere of the song, the video features Yuna all alone without love. There are scenes of her dressed in dark clothing against a dark background as well as scenes of her all alone in the city. It’s a very good representation of the song and Yuna looks great.

Single Ranking: A

Faith / Pureyes is a huge stepup from Yuna’s first single since we get the opportunity to see two sides of her. Faith gives us the emotional Yuna who is so good at delivering the emotions for the listener while Pureyes gives us the fun and sweet Yuna with a hint of flirtation. Both songs make this one unforgettable song.

Ito Yuna’s debut single, entitled ENDLESS STORY, was released on 09.07.05. The title track was used in the movie, Nana, which Yuna starred in herself [thus the reason the single was released as Reira starring Ito Yuna].

ENDLESS STORY is a heart-touching ballad packed with emotions. The song begins with the piano, giving a very grandiose and powerful emotional atmosphere for the listener to sink into. Following is the first verse and Yuna’s vocals are very pretty here, portraying the emotions of her character very well. It’s also nice to have those English phrases such as “If you haven’t changed your mind” because they really pop around the rest of the Japanese lyrics. On the chorus, there is a more grand feeling as the instrumentation becomes more diverse and involved and Yuna’s vocals become stronger. The pure instrumental section is fantastic, allowing the guitars to really shine and open up another layer of emotions before the chorus returns.

Journey, a driving midtempo number, is the single’s B-side. An almost eerie instrumental opens up with the album before the song’s true beat comes in. When the music comes in full effect, it sounds a little cheesy and predictable but it’s nice to hear something upbeat from her. On the verses, Yuna’s vocals are enjoyable and go very nicely with the very natural atmosphere of the instrumental. It really evokes the feeling of taking a drive, which works with the whole theme of the song. The chorus isn’t as enjoyable since her vocals sound a little nasal so it comes off as awkward sounding. Unfortunately, this song doesn’t come even close to the level of the title track and it doesn’t really compliment ENDLESS STORY.

In order to promote the single, a PV for ENDLESS STORY was made. The video primarily features Yuna performing the song live but there are also scenes of Yuna looking absolutely gorgeous in front of a dreamy pink background. There are a few too many close-up shots but it’s a pretty enjoyable video.

Single Ranking: B +

ENDLESS STORY was a pretty good song to debut with since it shows Yuna’s ability to bring emotions to the listener’s ears. Journey wasn’t a very memorable song but on the other hand, it’s nice to hear something upbeat.