ONE OK ROCK - Taking Off / Bedroom Warfare

With ONE OK ROCK’s 2017 North American Tour right around the corner, it’s a perfect time to take a look at the band’s newest singles, “Taking Off” and “Bedroom Warfare”.
 
True to its title, “Taking Off” starts off slow but builds up enough momentum to eventually take flight. A leisurely winding rock melody and Taka’s soft vocals put the song down a plodding path but as the chorus hits, the energy of the song climbs up to a whole new level. The tension in the music is manifested by the heated kiss between the couple in the music video. The song comes to its proper crescendo as Taka sings “Drag me all the way to hell” and pauses as the vehicle the two are kissing in explodes into a breathtaking ball of flames. An impassioned song about the downward impact of a detrimental relationship, “Taking Off” exhibits an acknowledgement, but lack of concern, for the crash. The passionate kiss between the lovers is an embodiment of the chorus, “We’re taking off together even though we always crash and burn. Tonight you and I will fall from the sky.” In retrospect, the initial touch between the couple happens as Taka sings, “Realizing, everything I love is slowly killing me.” implying that their love will only cause their eventual destruction.

With a powerful video and lyrics, the music behind “Taking Off” is just as potent. Taka’s vocals range from muted during the verses to forceful during the chorus to drive home the moving lyrics. The instrumental melody follows the same pattern - making the chorus far more heated and memorable. A particularly catchy song, the overall feel is more melodic and less rock than ONE OK ROCK’s typical soundtrack. Perhaps a bit of influence spilled over from 5 Seconds of Summer during their collaboration on ONE OK ROCK’s upcoming album “Ambitions”. Either way, the sound is solid, catchy, and in-line with the band’s distinct rock motif that it is sure to be a crowd-pleaser in their 2017 North American tour.

ONE OK ROCK - Taking Off MV

Following the same trend of a twisted love affair, “Bedroom Warfare” employs a couple’s fervent dance in the music video to symbolize the song’s lyrics. A cursory listen to this track will leave the listener believing that the song is simply about a couple’s bedroom fights. But the two dancing figures in the video along with the lyrics, “It’s not a fair fight when you’re already naked. Your body language is so persuasive. We go hard ‘till the morning light - we battle nightly.” reveal that there is a deeper level of sexual friction that acts as a battleground for the lovers. The venereal attraction that cannot be destroyed between the two is highlighted even more through the tightly hugging dance moves and the lines, “I cut you off but you’re still here...Out of nowhere you come back into my life.” “Bedroom Warfare” is a melodious tale of lovers who have become enemies during the daylight but in the middle of the night reunite in their carnal desire for one another.

Musically, “Bedroom Warfare” is drastically different from anything released thus far from ONE OK ROCK. Similar in some aspects to a pop song, the melody is softer and slow than the band’s typical fanfare. But Taka’s quintessential vocals paired with the band’s consistently strong sound help shape this song into a ONE OK ROCK chart topper.  
 
More about the Singles:
“Taking Off” is the first single from their upcoming 8th album “Ambitions” and it released on September 16, 2016 under Fueled by Ramen, an American record label under Warner Music Group. The song was used as a theme song for the Japanese thriller movie “Museum” that released on November 12, 2016. “Bedroom Warfare”, the second single off of “Ambitions”, came out on November 18, 2016. “Ambitions” is set to release next year on January 11th - you can preorder your copy here.

-Christina (JRockinLA)

Sources: @FueledbyRamen @OneOkRock

ONE OK ROCK - Bedroom Warfare