Happy! Happy! Happy! (國府田マリ子) Konami KICS-7601 released 1996.07.24 3000 yen

This is a solo album by Kouda Mariko (國府田マリ子) .

The songs are as follows.

1. Doushiyou (どうしよう)
2. 9 Gatsu no Natsuyasumi (９月の夏休み)
3. Watashiga Tenshi Dattara Iinoni - Album version -
   私が天使だったらいいのに〜Album version〜
4. Binzume no Uchuu (びんづめのうちゅう)
5. BAND de Wakeari (BAND でワケあり)
6. -Message- (〜メッセージ〜)
7. Sobani Iteyo (そばにいてよ)
8. Kanojo ga Irunoni (彼女がいるのに)
9. My Best Friend
10. Hoshifuru Namida no Yoruno Kanata (星降る涙の夜の彼方)
11. Happy! Happy! Happy!

[comments below by Joe Petrow]

I held off buying this album for a long time, because I didn't like my last Kouda Mariko purchase (Pure) at all. But I do like her single "Watashi ga Tenshi dattara ii no ni", so I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did, this album rules!

Or rather, I should say that this album rocks. There a couple of obligatory slow songs, but for the most part it's lots of fast songs. And I can't believe it myself, but all of them were done very well!

"Dou Shiyou" is a quick, catchy song that immediately sucks you into the album. "Ku-gatsu no Natsu Yasumi" is a mid-speed song that has sort of a du-wop 60's feel to it. "Watashi ga Tenshi dattara ii no ni" is a great fast love song; I can see why it was chosen to be the single from this album. "Binzume no uchuu" is a weid, funky song with lots of voice distortion, but is somehow very catchy. "BAND de wakeari" just jams. It's a song about a band, that starts off sounding kinda like Aretha Franklin's "Pink Cadillac", but starts to rock like some B-52's song.

"~Messeji~" is Kouda Mariko's impersonation of Alannis Morrisette. And it is a darned good one! Makes me want to see her cover a real one. "Soba ni Ite yo" is the first song that can really be called slow, and it seems a little out of sorts here. "Kanejo ga iru no ni" picks right back up. It kinda reminds me of the Ranma OAV opening song. "my best friends" starts like a slow song, but this picks up soon, and holds it for six minutes! "Hoshifuru Namida no Yoru no Kanata" is a slow song, but doesn't last even three minutes. And the title song is a genki way of telling us to be "Happy! Happy! Happy!"

There isn't a song on here I don't like, and most of them I like a whole lot. If you are a seiyuu fan, I guarantee that you will like this CD. But I was surprised to find that her current single, "Yume ha Hitori Miru Mono ja nai" is not on here. Oh well.