I was shuffling through my J-pop playlist recently and this song popped up. Although according to iTunes I had listened to it a couple times, it hadn’t made that much of an impression. I wonder what changed, but this time one line really jumped out at me and had me Read more…
I’m not very familiar with ラストアイドル (Last Idol), other than apparently it’s a group formed via a reality TV show. Over the last couple years it seems the concept has evolved from a small Produce-sized lineup into a larger group with dedicated sub units. 青春トレイン (seishun TOREIN / Youth Train), Read more…
Here’s a quick one — and come to think of it another Theater Edition song! My wife fell in love with the 2019 Request Hour performance of 抱きつこうか？ (dakitsukou ka? / Should We Embrace?) by the AKB 16th gen members, and eventually it pulled me in, too. To be fair, Read more…
Been super busy, so all my translations have been languishing. Well let’s get back into it with another bouncy song. 法定速度と優越感 (houtei sokudo to yuuetsukan / The Speed Limit and a Sense of Superiority) by the AKB48 17-and-under senbatsu. I liked this song and MV as soon as it came Read more…
Sometimes you just want a bouncy idol song, and the AKB songs with a younger member senbatsu usually deliver. So I’ll probably translate a few of the recent ones here, starting with 最強ツインテール (saikyou TSUINTEIRU / Mightiest Twintails) from AKB48’s NO WAY MAN Type-D. The lineup here is the top Read more…
One of the cruel, and initially bewildering, things about Japanese pop music is the proliferation of slightly different versions of the same release. Regular and Limited, Type-A through Type-F, Anime Edition, Theater Edition, first-press pack-ins with various items…. The tragic thing for overseas fans is that the “Theater Edition” of Read more…
The third team song from NMB48’s latest single (check here for Team M and Team B translations) is Team N’s がっつきガールズ (gattsuki GAARUZU / Greedy Girls). It’s upbeat and summery, so I guess it’s a good contrast to the previous two Ota Yuuri centers (the fluffy 職務質問 and the black Read more…
Following after the Team M song, Team B’s ジュゴンはジュゴン (JUGON wa JUGON / Dugong is a Sea Pig) is my second favorite on NMB48’s latest single. Not being sure exactly what ジュゴン was supposed to mean, I found the song a bit mysterious — until I sat down and looked Read more…
The team songs on NMB’s new single, 母校へ帰れ！ (bokou e kaere! / Return to Your Alma Mater!) are fantastic. I like catchy songs, fun lyrics, and cute MVs, and all three deliver. These feel very much in what I think of as the spirit of NMB in general. My favorite Read more…
I think Cage surprised a lot of people — both in the tone and visuals and in the choice of unit. It comes on Hinatazaka’s 2nd single Doremisolasido, which seemed to promise just more cheerful, colorful tunes. Cage isn’t too dark, but it feels nice and strong more in the Read more…