YUKI's first solo album was excellent. After releasing a couple of decent singles, she surprised everyone with an album that turned out to be the surprise hit of 2002. Luckily, she decided to release another single eight months after the album, rather than dropping her solo project. I hope she is planning to release a second album, because that would really be reason to get excited. Unfortunately though, YUKI was five months pregnant at the time this single was released. (She probably recorded it a bit earlier in her pregnancy.) Whether she comes back again after her pregnancy will be the real test of whether or not her solo career is here to stay or not. Unfortunately, I think this will be her last release for a while. 
A shot from the "STAND UP! SISTER" promotion video. |
"STAND UP! SISTER" is a song in the same vein as "wakusei ni nore" from her album, but not quite as good. YUKI's vocal style and the slightly dissonant sound of the chorus is what makes it resemble "wakusei ni nore". Surprisingly, the "sister" she is referring to in this song is actually a nun; not just a cool girl she's calling "sister". The arrangement is a light combination of acoustic guitar and bass. It is a fun song that retains the same style that we loved on her album, but she doesn't manage to achieve the same force that she did with songs like "wakusei ni nore", which makes it ultimately less memorable. The second track, "koibito yo" has a reggae-style arrangement, with a member of the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra as a guest performer. The vocals, however, are anything but reggae. They are surprisingly reminiscent of the cute slow songs she used to do in JUDY AND MARY. The echo added to her voice helps to reinforce the JUDY AND MARY-style sound here. If you were a fan of lesser-known JUDY AND MARY songs like "yuugure" (the B-side from "DOKIDOKI"), you should be happy with this song. The song ends with a sudden loud burst of guitar. Overall, I can't quite decide which of the two songs I prefer. This single doesn't quite capture the magic of the album, but she continues the same style of musical innovation that made her album a winner. If you're really hungry to hear more of her work, go ahead and pick up this single.
Buy it here.
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