[GENERAL] The AKB48 Thread

Whatever one thinks about KFC it'll never be as bad as Kokoro no Placard

 

It's not just about it being overplayed. I still love Heavy Rotation for example, but I never liked KFC. It was and is an annoying song to listen to, which just makes how overplayed it is that much more grating.

But yes, at least it's not KnP

Spoiler

Or KnBMB

 

Not their worst song but definitely one of their most boring songs.

 

down to the root of problems, japan entertainments arent really looking out for worldwide fans and getting recognition from world isnot even in their target. no matter who in charge, young or old, as long as the mindset 'we can get money easily from local' is there, there will be no change at all. however, can someone tell me why so far(i think), only 48/46 groups that upload short version instead of full version in official channel while many other japan artist has upload full version of their song and MV?

 

I don't even think the problem is about trying to appeal to worldwide fans. if anything, it matters more for these groups to have bigger fanbases in Japan than outside. The thing is if that uploading full versions of music videos can be a big help for the popularity and interest in Japan as well. We were talking about 365 or Saikyou Twintail, 2 songs popular with the japanese audience, so it's about Japan and management not caring to capitalize on the attention (and success) that AKB can get in Japan. I don't know other groups who waste chances like this :/

 

I think the full MV thing is more of a recent trend. I used to be really into Flower (a sub group of E-girls) and they only have short version or 3/4 versions of their songs on youtube as well, with a couple of exceptions.

AKB48 has been around since a time when that was the norm so I guess they just haven't found a reason to change their upload pattern.

 

The 48 Groups upload the full version of their A-sides right when the singles are released. The short version thing (and releasing the full version when the following single comes out) is a thing of the past. The coupling songs tho...

 

But when Team B performed KnP in Kumamoto together with Kumamon I think it's ok.

 

KnP is a song that had the potential to be better.


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KnP was IMHO a case of something that was trying too much of the same as something already so successful that still hadn't tapered off yet in terms of being hot and trendy to likewise take off. The song itself makes for a nice easy listening in many a location and under many a scenario (I.E in an elevator/stairwell/hallway while traveling through an apartment building or college/university campus, in a waiting room at the doctor's office/hospital/clinic, on short or long drives in your car (especially if you happen to have rain as your backdrop because the weather's being rude), while reading a book/magazine/newspaper if you're into doing that and more so if you're into doing it with music on, etc etc). I honestly wish I could say KnP was a flop outside of the financial side of the equation due specifically to the song being some kind of travesty, but the song itself really just was not the problem.

 

KnP was the first AKB48 song I ever heard and indeed the first MV I ever saw, and it was the MV which made the big impression on me with the dancing, the colourful costumes and the very pretty girl as the center. However from a music point of view - well, let's just say that my fandom of the group didn't kick in until the release of the following single (Kibouteki Refrain).

 

i think kokoro no placard is a great song actually but wasn't really enough for an ssk single if that makes sense? idk i don't think it's b-side worthy but also not ssk worthy. and it came literally a year after koichun which made the attempt at recreating the former's success just super blatant. so basically what i'm trying to say is it would've worked as any other a-side but not really an ssk a-side. but otherwise i really love it, i don't think it has the viral power of koichun but rather is something to listen to in the background or calm down to?? at least that's how it is for me lol. i actually consider shitsuren arigato in the same way

 

Sustainable also falls under that category of more easy listening. I also think the fact that KFC is a bit more upbeat made it so people would actually want to dance along to its simple choreography. Making it just upbeat enough was its secret saving grace. If not for that I think it definitely would've gone closer to the way of KnP, Sustainable, and Shitsuren Arigatou.

@David61 - That's interesting. I wonder what hooked you musically about Kibouteki Refrain that didn't about KnP. I mean Kibouteki Refrain is kind of J-idol bubblegum pop done at its finest. Scarily generic and basic despite being a fun bop and telling an interesting story within its PV.

 

I think you've probably summed up why it appealed to me! However more importantly it inspired me to start to discover the group's back catalogue of A-sides. Nowadays when I listen to KR I get mostly a 'nostalgia' vibe from the time my proper fandom started, not just of the group but also of Mayuyu and Sakura, two very special idols in my music life.

 

I know exactly what you mean. Sousenkyo singles are among the best a-sides, imo. I had a playlist just for sousenkyo a-sides (probably still do but it's buried among all the other playlists). It was my least favourite single until Sentimental Train came along. I'm aware that people will most likely have different tastes to me but for me it goes

Gingham Check > Iiwake Maybe > Flying Get > Heavy Rotation > #SukiNanda > Koi Suru Fortune Cookie > LOVE TRIP >>> Halloween Night > (Shiawase wo Wakenasai >) Kokoro no Placard > Sentimental Train

EDIT: Up until LOVE TRIP, I genuinely love all the songs. Halloween Night is obnoxious and the other three are just a bit boring to me.

 

Flying Get, was a cultural reset ok.

It was such a hyped MV and song. I vividly remember an early performance of Flying Get where Yukirin messed up the ending pose and it has stayed in my head forever cause it was a cute mistake, but also it was like the golden era and everyone's eyes were on AKB. The talk of the town honestly.


KnP and Iiwake Maybe are like my least fav SSK songs. Halloween Night is a jam and I will not tolerate blasphemy.

 

The thing about the SSK victory A-sides is that starting with KFC they played them very experimental and save for a viral hit in KFC and a lukewarm reception for KnP everything else sort of just coasted along and fell by the wayside because they were a little 'too much this or too much that, too little this or too little that'. Of the ones after KnP I think #SukiNanda and Sentimental Train had the most to offer and while Halloween Night was interesting my first memory of it any time I happen to think about it is about how it would be better served had it released closer to the celebration in question. Meanwhile I don't enjoy saying this, but I barely think about Love Trip and Shiawase wo Wakenasai.

Something I think is worth mentioning is that after the lukewarm reception to KnP they kind of stopped making sure to shove the SSK victory A-sides down our throats at every opportunity. From 2009 - 2013 the moment the SSK victory A-side was released they made sure we couldn't escape it for the rest of the year and into part or all of the following year, but the lukewarm reception to KnP in 2014 made them take the opposite approach with not only it, but every SSK victory A-side that came after it treating them more like they treated the Janken Taikai victor's A-Sides.

 

In my opinion, Love Trip, #Sukinanda, and Sentimental Train are legit golden era quality songs. Like if they were released during the early 2010s, they would definitely belong among the classics.

Sentimental Train though has the unfortunate drawback that the beginning of the chorus sounds similar with a Nogi song that's more known to people, so yah.

 

I can't agree with you there but you sure as hell made me laugh

While I might not enjoy Halloween Night itself, I recently discovered this gem of a b-side from Halloween Night. I found AKB after the release of Halloween Night and don't like the a-side so I never really listened to its b-sides, but I'm in love with this song:


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IMO that's the best of the songs by the SSK units but my top favourite of all the B-sides on that single is Ippome Ondo (and not just because it was centered by Mayuyu!), I like so much the traditional style of the song. (Wasamin also recorded a solo cover of it.)


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