Search - Yoko Ishida :: Para Para Max Us Mix 1

Techno on steroids, featuring the 1 & only Yoko Ishida

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 01/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

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Until Yoko Ishida comes out with the official followup to the brilliant All Of Me, the so-far trio of Para Para remix albums will have to satiate fans. Ishida became the featured vocalist accompanying the Para Para dancers on their worldwide tour. Para para is basically J-pop anime themes on steroids, making it more oontsa oontsa music. There are 21 songs on the first volume, with the songs seguing into one another to make it one heck of a-well, if this is a dance album, I don't know what the Pure Disco or techno compilations are. In terms of energy, this kicks the collective posteriors of the Pet Shop Boys, Stock-Aitken-Waterman, Rednex, Steps, and most techno remix albums I've heard. I shiver and shake with anger whenever DJ [insert name here] has done a techno version of a song from my heyday, i.e. the 80's, yet Para Para is basically the same thing, and I don't mind. Must be because of Yoko Ishida and the fact Para Para is a Japanese phenomenon.



The para para version of the opening theme to Shinseiki Evangelion, "Cruel Angel's Thesis," is the main reason I bought this, having seen a clip of the Para Para tour on Sam Goody TV. It's speeded up, with the flurry of varied keyboards and pop-rock guitar, and with Ishida's great-as-usual voice singing a song originally done by Yoko Takahashi.



"Leave It to Cha Cha" from Akazukin Cha Cha is really speeded up techno/Stock-Aitken-Waterman pop with a cute "magical princess" refrain. The equally vivacious "If You Dream About A Dream."



Hearing some of the tracks makes me want to hear the original versions and also see their associated series. One is the really go-getting "Get the World" from Bakusou Kyoudai, and the hyperactive synth-laden "Right!" from Super Doll Rika-chan. I hope the synth didn't melt and lie down with the crazy tempo on this song! However, despite the energy of "Aim To Be A Pokemon Master," watching the series will not be an aim of mine.



Another clip SGTV showed was the rendition of "For Real" from Saiyuki. I didn't know which anime it was from and bought this on the off chance it would be on there.



I haven't heard the originals of the remainder of this album, meaning I haven't seen the series themselves, but Ishida and the musicians make the music enjoyable. Those who have heard the originals and seen the respective series, may have more fun assessing which version they like better. Included in the booklet are the Para Para dance moves, Romanized Japanese lyrics, and their English translations.



Para Para remixes are the next stage in techno, relying on synthesizers on steroids or ecstasy. What's next, I wonder?

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