Post by ᗪ卂ᐯ丨ᗪ on Aug 26, 2020 13:33:36 GMT -5
Soda - "Sodapop" (1999)
Sodapop is the debut album of the eurodance/bubblegum dance group Soda, it contains 13 tracks + 1 bonus track which is a Forever remix (which is only present in the Japanese version of Sodapop). Certainly, it is a very well produced album with great songs and, through it, Soda consolidates his unique style to call his own, making 'Dance-pop happy' songs (as was the group's own expression). This album is not entirely bubblegum dance, as it is based more on Eurodance, Reggae and Dance-pop, attending the trends of the time.
1. "Saturnight" - is the opening song for this album which is definitely a good Eurodance/Euro House song. However, it is not at all memorable, and they do not have a very catchy melody so you can hook your listener.
2. "2 Cool 2 B Cool" - for sure, this song is one of the biggest hits of this album, since it presents great musical arrangements, accompanied by an impeccable melody, with very positive lyrics, besides presenting a pop beat that reminds of other artists of the time, such as Lou Bega, Christina Aguilera, Space Girls etc. I doubt you hear that song and don't go around humming for a few hours (and why not dance too? Lol). The pre-chorus and the chorus of this song, is really very contagious! My favorite track!
3. "Hey You" - this song is the cutest on this album, and it must have been written with a lot of love, because that is what is demonstrated. He is a great 'Bubblegum reggae' that will please any Bubblegum Dancer, because the strident sound of the piano (which reminds us of beaches) and the captivating melody makes us want to be where the vocalists are. I love it when the music bridge arrives, which happens around 2:13, because that's where the friendliest melody is!
4. "Happy People" - for sure, this is the only track on the album where the male vocal is widely used, with Anne Judith providing her sweet vocal only in the pre-chorus and chorus. The song starts with a good melody that creates an expectation for the song, however, when the song evolves, other melodies are unnecessarily added, leaving the song (and me) a little disoriented and disorganized. But even more is a good choice!
5. "Summer Delight" - it is without a doubt, one of Soda's most well-known releases, because its reggae beat with Bubblegum dance style leaves the song with a friendly and contagious atmosphere, which makes us want to dance and sing. The male vocals on that song are excellent, however, I really didn't like Anne J's 'kid vocals' in the chorus, since it wasn't really necessary, and it came to make the chorus a bit boring. I think she should have used the same more mature tone of voice (which she used in 2 Cool 2 B Cool) for the chorus. Still, it is a beautiful and well-produced song, although Anne J's vocals as I mentioned, were not so perfect.
6. "I Say I Do" - at just two minutes and fifty-nine seconds, the shortest song on the album is the most annoying of all the tracks. Really, the lyrics that are presented in the chorus, do not match the melody, and the chorus takes a long time to finish. Apparently, I Say I Do was only in the title.
7. "Dream Boy" - is the only song on the album that resembles a little bit with the same sound that was used by Aqua. When the song starts, we are already faced with an extraordinary melody of pure Bubblegum dance and so we think it will extend throughout the song, but that is not what happens. Because it drastically changes in the first verse to an unpleasant and meaningless melody, but there comes the pre-chorus and saves that song. More so, it is a beautiful and great song.
8. "Forever" - it's a very pleasant and relaxing song, however, I think they should have added some more lyrics for the chorus, it would be great!
9. "Far Away" - it really is a song for my ears! The synth blocks after the chorus were very extraordinary, in addition to the vocalists' vocals (which are impeccable), and without forgetting the Rap block and the notes that are altered near the end of the song. It's one of my favorites.
10. "Please Don't Tease" - in a way, it is a song that tries to be as sexual as possible (it even has a groan that is present in the chorus, did anyone hear?!). However, she became the funniest of all. Really songs with sexual references do not match the style of this band, which sounded strange when I heard it. I loved it.
11. "Tell Me" - it's a very wonderful song! I really like your chorus and the way Anne J shouts "Tell Me!".
12. "I Wanna Be (The One)" - This release better presents Anne J's vocal techniques, although this song is not very impressive in terms of melodies and lyrics. But she really is adorable.
13. "One Day" - I loved that song! At the beginning, we are surprised by a harmonic piano that has a very lovely sound, then we are taken to the first verse where it is filled with captivating melodies, and that is until the song ends. It was a good idea to leave this song for last. I think that if the chorus melody were based on the piano I mentioned, it would be even more extraordinary and sweet. It is a note 10, or better, NOTE 1000.
14. "Forever" (Grow Sound Mix) - this track is only available in the Japanese version of Sodapop. I believe it was not a good choice, this Remix is not very attractive musically and I detested it. I think an Extended Version or a Radio Edition would be much better.
Sodapop is a very incredible and sensational album that, due to some errors, almost failed, the main mistakes being: excess or absence of melodies in some songs and tone of voice not so adequate. Technically analyzing this album, I couldn't give it a grade less than 6 (because it would be unfair), but I also couldn't give it a grade higher than 9 (because it would also be being unfair), so my grade is:
Sodapop is the debut album of the eurodance/bubblegum dance group Soda, it contains 13 tracks + 1 bonus track which is a Forever remix (which is only present in the Japanese version of Sodapop). Certainly, it is a very well produced album with great songs and, through it, Soda consolidates his unique style to call his own, making 'Dance-pop happy' songs (as was the group's own expression). This album is not entirely bubblegum dance, as it is based more on Eurodance, Reggae and Dance-pop, attending the trends of the time.
1. "Saturnight" - is the opening song for this album which is definitely a good Eurodance/Euro House song. However, it is not at all memorable, and they do not have a very catchy melody so you can hook your listener.
2. "2 Cool 2 B Cool" - for sure, this song is one of the biggest hits of this album, since it presents great musical arrangements, accompanied by an impeccable melody, with very positive lyrics, besides presenting a pop beat that reminds of other artists of the time, such as Lou Bega, Christina Aguilera, Space Girls etc. I doubt you hear that song and don't go around humming for a few hours (and why not dance too? Lol). The pre-chorus and the chorus of this song, is really very contagious! My favorite track!
3. "Hey You" - this song is the cutest on this album, and it must have been written with a lot of love, because that is what is demonstrated. He is a great 'Bubblegum reggae' that will please any Bubblegum Dancer, because the strident sound of the piano (which reminds us of beaches) and the captivating melody makes us want to be where the vocalists are. I love it when the music bridge arrives, which happens around 2:13, because that's where the friendliest melody is!
4. "Happy People" - for sure, this is the only track on the album where the male vocal is widely used, with Anne Judith providing her sweet vocal only in the pre-chorus and chorus. The song starts with a good melody that creates an expectation for the song, however, when the song evolves, other melodies are unnecessarily added, leaving the song (and me) a little disoriented and disorganized. But even more is a good choice!
5. "Summer Delight" - it is without a doubt, one of Soda's most well-known releases, because its reggae beat with Bubblegum dance style leaves the song with a friendly and contagious atmosphere, which makes us want to dance and sing. The male vocals on that song are excellent, however, I really didn't like Anne J's 'kid vocals' in the chorus, since it wasn't really necessary, and it came to make the chorus a bit boring. I think she should have used the same more mature tone of voice (which she used in 2 Cool 2 B Cool) for the chorus. Still, it is a beautiful and well-produced song, although Anne J's vocals as I mentioned, were not so perfect.
6. "I Say I Do" - at just two minutes and fifty-nine seconds, the shortest song on the album is the most annoying of all the tracks. Really, the lyrics that are presented in the chorus, do not match the melody, and the chorus takes a long time to finish. Apparently, I Say I Do was only in the title.
7. "Dream Boy" - is the only song on the album that resembles a little bit with the same sound that was used by Aqua. When the song starts, we are already faced with an extraordinary melody of pure Bubblegum dance and so we think it will extend throughout the song, but that is not what happens. Because it drastically changes in the first verse to an unpleasant and meaningless melody, but there comes the pre-chorus and saves that song. More so, it is a beautiful and great song.
8. "Forever" - it's a very pleasant and relaxing song, however, I think they should have added some more lyrics for the chorus, it would be great!
9. "Far Away" - it really is a song for my ears! The synth blocks after the chorus were very extraordinary, in addition to the vocalists' vocals (which are impeccable), and without forgetting the Rap block and the notes that are altered near the end of the song. It's one of my favorites.
10. "Please Don't Tease" - in a way, it is a song that tries to be as sexual as possible (it even has a groan that is present in the chorus, did anyone hear?!). However, she became the funniest of all. Really songs with sexual references do not match the style of this band, which sounded strange when I heard it. I loved it.
11. "Tell Me" - it's a very wonderful song! I really like your chorus and the way Anne J shouts "Tell Me!".
12. "I Wanna Be (The One)" - This release better presents Anne J's vocal techniques, although this song is not very impressive in terms of melodies and lyrics. But she really is adorable.
13. "One Day" - I loved that song! At the beginning, we are surprised by a harmonic piano that has a very lovely sound, then we are taken to the first verse where it is filled with captivating melodies, and that is until the song ends. It was a good idea to leave this song for last. I think that if the chorus melody were based on the piano I mentioned, it would be even more extraordinary and sweet. It is a note 10, or better, NOTE 1000.
14. "Forever" (Grow Sound Mix) - this track is only available in the Japanese version of Sodapop. I believe it was not a good choice, this Remix is not very attractive musically and I detested it. I think an Extended Version or a Radio Edition would be much better.
Sodapop is a very incredible and sensational album that, due to some errors, almost failed, the main mistakes being: excess or absence of melodies in some songs and tone of voice not so adequate. Technically analyzing this album, I couldn't give it a grade less than 6 (because it would be unfair), but I also couldn't give it a grade higher than 9 (because it would also be being unfair), so my grade is:
7.8/10
