Love language - Umi
Track List:
Love Affair
Sukidakara
Runnin’ (feat. Yeek)
Breathe
Before listening:
This was a suggestion by my stepdaughter. When I first met her she was a 9 year old little girl who was trying to play a little toy keyboard. She had the experience of getting to ride in cars with me as a DJ for many years while I had the pleasure of watching her grow into the amazing young woman that she has become. She turned 20 last week and I am excited to see how she continues to grow. This is going to be a new one for me. I’ve not heard of Umi before. I really don’t know what to expect, I didn’t look up anything about Umi before my listen.
Love Affair
I like the sounds the lofi drones used from the start of the song. The singer switches from a strong voice to a whisper. The lyrics seem to tell a story of developing feelings in a relationship that the narrator wasn't expecting to develop. Almost as if she is trying to avoid feeling that way.
Sukidakara
Well I don't speak Japanese. I actually recognize that this is Japanese. The background music is very similar to the song Love Affair. The English part has the narrator asking someone if they notice her.
Translating the song:
Do I like you
Because I want to hear your voice
I'll wait forever
I'll wait
Why doesn't everything hurt?
Will you hurt me someday?
Is it a wound?
Will it hurt someday?
Because I like you
Forever, forever
I'll keep waiting for you~
Every day
I’m sitting here helpless, I’m hopelessly waiting
Know that I see you but do you even notice me? Yeah (Do you notice me? Yeah)
Do you even notice me?
'Cause (Notice me)
Do I like you
Forever, forever
I'll keep waiting for you~
Because I like you
forever, forever
I'll keep waiting for you~
The story seems to continue from the last song, the narrator is trying to assess her feelings as part of the relationship. Perhaps the songwriter has some ties to Japan either as part of her heritage or maybe the other partner's heritage in the relationship.
Runnin’ (feat. Yeek)
I really like the weird sounds the keys make on this one. They drive the song as much as the lyrics and the drums. The male vocals are heavily affected which isn't my favorite thing but overall in the soundscape it works. The song is quite catchy. I think the lyrics tell a story about the ending of a relationship.
"You came up on some new
I know I shouldn't feel blue
Cause I was running out of time for you"
Sounds like both partners were aware that the relationship was ending and now it is finally happening. That combined with the verses it's almost like the narrators are afraid of changes.
Breathe
I was prepared to say Runnin' was my favorite off this album but this song beats it. The lyrics detail being in a relationship with someone who is using drugs to deal with their past. The narrator confirms she understands why their partner uses but asks them to assess their life and their actions to see if they are actually improving their life.
Reflections
Yes, I am calling an EP an album for this, I’ve got commitments today that will not allow for me to listen to a longer album. This was a departure from what I normally listen to both for this project and what I normally listen to in my day to day life. I have enjoyed this brief exposure to Umi and will likely add her debut album to my list of albums to listen to one day. I do wonder if all the songs here are related in the sense of the same relationship or if they are each reflect upon different relationships in this woman’s life.
