TUBE -- Natsu da ne （夏だね）

It's been officially summer now for over 12 hours. Therefore, I think it is that time of year to bring in another TUBE tune.

Considering the overall melodic familiarity of the TUBE discography, I sometimes think that listening to an entire BEST compilation of the band can reach a certain level of monotony. However, in short bursts and with the appropriateness of the season, Nobuteru Maeda（前田亘輝）and his crew can bring on that appreciated feeling of summer into our ears.

Case in point: "Natsu da ne" (It's Summer). This was their 14th single from May 1992, and I guess this would be the ideal song for a sunset on the beach. Something about that soprano sax brings that feeling for some reason. I'm not a Kenny G. fan by any stretch of the imagination but having it included in this beach ballad helps things go down nice and smooth, and it's always reassuring to hear Maeda issue in the season.

Written by Maeda and composed by TUBE guitarist Michiya Haruhata（春畑道哉）, "Natsu da ne" was used as a campaign song for a Pocky commercial, although I would have thought the famous Japanese confection would have been more for a season other than summer. Y'know...I'm not sure how long a Pocky stick would last in the sun, especially in Japan.

Maeda may have gained some weight over the years, but his voice is still in fine fettle. So, hopefully, TUBE will continue to entertain audiences on the beaches everywhere in Japan, Hawaii and other tropical climes. The song peaked at No. 2 on Oricon and became the 24th-ranked entry for the year. "Natsu da ne" was also included on TUBE's 12th album from June 1992, "Noryo"（納涼...The Cool of the Evening） which got as high as No. 3 on the album charts and then finished the year in the 31st position.