Let's Groove

*I Want You*  (2003)
 Just To be Close To You

**"Let's Groove"** is a song by Japanese - American singer Viper Hamato from his second Studio Album, Burning Flag (2004). The song was released on February 10, 2004, through joint partnership Sony Music America and Hamato Records, as the second single from the album. Written and Produced by Hamato, the song is noted for being produced at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch with the drum and sound of the tracking sound similar to a modern Jackson track. The lyrics mainly center around good times, and partying. Much like Hamato's previous tracks.

The songs music video, much like the previous one, was shot with the use of a green screen with various locations of Melbourne including the well known West Gate Bridge with various shots of the Melbourne skyline. The song was once more prompted more heavily in Australia due to it's music video being shot in Australia.

## Critical reception

Much like the previous single, the song received better reviews than the one previous. Many music critics had stated that Hamato was 'picking out the best songs in ways that they could be marketed with ease'. Upon first listen, Paul James from Pitchfork, once again, covered the singles release, much like the previous album with I Want You. Stating that 'the song has definite progression when it comes to the release of the singles'. Frank Thomas of Yahoo! Music pitched in and even wrote a review in stating that the song was 'going to be, when looking back, a song that will be remembered in his early blueprint of hits'

## Chart performance

**"Let's Groove"** was yet another chart running hit. Becoming Hamato's first Top 10 in New Zealand and even his first Top 20 in Many countries including Australia and the US where Hamato had struggled to gain any traction past the Top 40. The song, however, didn't drop out of the charts in the Hot 100 the next week however, falling only to 27 the next week which gave Sony and Hamato the hopes of it's staying power before it's album launch.

The single, much like it's previous one, became another global hit and reached in the Top 15 in Japan, Number 18 in Australia, which was a lot more impressive compared to the debut of Number 50 with Hamato's previous single, even charting at Number 62 on the Billboard Brazil Hot 100. This had left a good mark with Sony which were now predicting that the next single to be released could either be a Top 10 or debut at Number One in many countries.

## Remixes

Unlike, the first single from Burning Flag, remixes were not pushed as much for Let's Groove, more so, opting in for three remixes for the song. The 747 Remix has a dance oriented background from using the line "like a 747" as it's main background for the beat. The Melbourne Night Remix was a more heavily R&B ballad oriented remix in which uses a slower beat. Radio edits and the original instrumental are also part of the remixes. Hamato, unlike last time, done both the remixes for the single.

## Music Video

With the major compliments that Hamato got in directing his last single's music video with how life-like it looked. Sony gave the pre-approval for him to do it in the same style around the same location. Filming began on January 16th once more at Dockland Studios where Hamato filmed a majority of his music videos, the music video encompasses Hamato once more against a green screen and various shots of him in Melbourne at the time. Behind the scenes footage also shows Hamato being stopped for signatures from some Australian fans before shooting some of the music video.

## Formats and track listings

**Let's Groove - Single (International version)**

1. "Let's Groove" [Album Version] - 4:17
2. "Let's Groove" [Single Edit] - 4:00
3. "Let's Groove" [Instrumental] - 4:17
4. "Let's Groove" [Like a 747 Mix] - 5:22
5. "Let's Groove" [Melbourne Night Remix] - 5:05