Oretachi ni Asa wa Aru was the very first song I ever liked from Johnny Jimusho’s crowning group SMAP, although the title was so long and full of confusing kanji, I couldn't figure out what the song was called, and simply referred to it as the “Some Guys” song.
The theme song for the Kimura Takuya / Hamada Masatoshi j–dorama Jinsei wa Jojo Da (Friends in Need, for you KIKU TV fans out there), there were actually two versions of this song, an album version as well as a single version, and they were both quite different in their own ways...
At the time I fell in love with the song, I didn’t realize there were two version- When I first decided I liked the song and wanted a copy of it, I went to my friend Golden, to this day probably the biggest SMAP fan I know, and he made a copy of the ALBUM version onto a cassette for me. The ending of the song went right into a song called “Anata No Yuuki Ni Naritai” by Mochida Maki, and I thought that was a PERFECT segue! Months later, when I found the SINGLE, I was disappointed to learn that the ending was different, and didn’t match my cassette version! Komatta! So two versions were needed!
Just how different were the two versions?
The single version begins with a staccato guitar-riff which leads into the song, and ends with a decidedly grungy guitar crunch. This one seems a bit more in the poppy style of most Johnny Jimusho groups.
The version off SMAP's 8th Album TACOMAX (SMAP 008) begins with a drum snap that leads right into keyboards that take you into the first verse, and ends with someone (probably Takuya) groaning like someone slugged him in the gut! Also prominent use of saxophones and horns. Also, the song arrangement is different, and the verses/bridges are in different order!
I remember we rented a MUSIC STATION Special and took the tapes to make copies of our favorite performers. We taped Namie Amuro. We taped Mr. Children. We taped Chisato Moritaka. We taped TRF. Then SMAP came on, and I said "Hell, tape this one for me, too", to which they went, "HUH? Are You Serious?!" I told 'em I was, much to their disapproval!
Of course, in the coming years, SMAP really grew as artists, and started releasing the most terrific songs! Even they had to admit liking them later! Nowadays almost everyone loves at least ONE or two SMAP songs, and many of these songs will probably appear on my blog, as well