Beverly(ビバリー) - Awesome Album Thoughts(J-pop)

Track List

1. Tell Me Baby
2. Too Much
3. I Need Your Love
4. Dance In The Rain
5. Mama Said
6. Unchain My Heart
7. 今もあなたが…
8. Nowhere To Go…
9. Empty
10. Never Ever
11. Just Once Again
12. Sing My Soul

  Beverly Caimen is a Filipino singer that was signed by Avex after she was discovered singing in vocal competitions. In Japan, she goes under the stage name Beverly and got her big break when actor Oguri Shun went to one of her live shows. He then asked the director of the drama Crisis to use Beverly's newest lead single as the opening theme for the show. This boosted the singer's popularity in Japan greatly as I Need Your Love topped many online charts. The release of Awesome also saw good sales on it's day of release landing in the top ten on the Oricon chart.

  I Need Your Love is a hit song through and through. The production of the instrumental unfolds like a DJ is playing at the flow of the music. Its a track that starts with a high intensity as a dance pop number. Piano mixed with a loud techno beat compliments Beverly's strong vocalization during the track's play through. Whoever produced this titles track knew how to create music that lets Beverly stretch out her vocals. She goes crazy here to show listeners that she can sing all those hard notes that other female singers would not attempted in their sleep. I can't say that Beverly gets to spread her wings effectively throughout the whole length of the album though. Besides songs like Just Once Again or Empty, Awesome comes across as a powerhouse vocalist singing childlike songs. The production of most of Awesome makes me think of a Disney channel singer in those cheesy musical movies that are always on there. The music isn't strong enough to me but what make matter's worse is she sings more than half of the tracks in English. Which continues adding to the idea that Awesome is for kids when its not. I would have enjoyed awesome more if it was a mini album since only about three of the tracks match with I Need Your Love. Those tracks are Just Once Again, Nowhere To Go, and, Empty. Just Once Again is a ballad where Beverly's vocals will make you tear up even if you don't want to. She hits the chorus so beautifully. Empty hits in all the right places rhythm wise and vocally too. I love the growl Beverly has when she sings the chorus. Nowhere To Go causes Beverly to show more control in her higher vocal range. I really like this track because of the lyrics. They talk about a girl that is used multiple times by her boyfriend. Thank God this album had some good tracks that fit what I was looking for from her.

   Beverly did her part on Awesome by giving her best vocal performance. All the describing in the world could not take away from the fact that she's a fantastic singer. Her album not being my cup of tea isn't her fault either. I blame the producers for not taking more time to develop her own personal style. You can tell that Avex heard her voice, then took her right into the studio to record something really quick for an easy buck.


   Awesome wasn't the best debut album despite having four sold tracks. I'm kind of worried about the future of Beverly's career in Japan. I can't tell you how many singers debut in Japan using the popularity of a drama to sell more album units but ultimately don't maintain that popularity later on. Hopefully, Producers work with her to give her a more solid sound that will keep the masses in Japan interested.