Mika, oh, Mika… I know you said that you were tired of the whole NANA thing. You did some Big Band sound with “Black & Blue”. Tried the Japanese Gospel fad with “All Hands Together” and “Cry No More”. A little reggae with “My Sugar Cat”. Rocked out again with NANA2 and “Hitoiro” even tho you might not have wanted to. Got romantic with “Sunao na mama”. Got a little dancey up tempo with “Life”. Crooned your way into my heart with “Sakura -Hanagasumi-” Got a little off track with “I Don’t Know”. Won me back over with “Orion”. I know Mika’s got nothing left to prove. Girl can sing. But “Overload”? Somehow this week’s new single sounds a little old and recycled.

I much more prefer the b-side “No Answer”. It’s a great track that could have easily been an A-side release. “Overload” and “No Answer” are both rhythmic tracks but “No Answer” has got the catchier hook.

And “Overload” is just so busy. Mika’s singing and there’s strings and synths and guitars and background vocals all firing off at once. A lot of instrumentation can’t make up for a weak hook. The Kenmochi Hidefumi Remix strips out a lot of the excess instrumentation for better results, but I’m still sticking with “No Answer” as the better track. Oh well. This is officially the “Overload” single now. =/

Mika, oh, Mika… Bring back NANA just one more time!