Single Nogizaka46 32nd Single [Hito wa Yume wo Nido Miru] (2023.03.29)

Oricon 4th day sales: 9,154 (Total: 501,185)

Source: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/d/2023-03-31/

Yay! Double platinum!

 

Oricon 5th day sales: 8,425 (Total: 509,610)

Source: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/d/2023-04-01/

 

I was happy about a Kuboshita w/center but honestly, I am underwhelmed by the song. It's just...flat and forgettable.

It's really been a while that I felt satisfied by a Nogi A-side. They still make good songs, I personally really liked Zetsubou no Ichibyoumae and Boku ga Te wo Tataku Hou E lately, but A-sides are underwhelming after underwhelming.

Even if Nogi is not the same without original members, I still root for them. There are girls form 3ki and 5ki that I like, but I hope they will improve in serving quality or they will get more and more uninteresting to me.

 

I think i agree with some of your points, for me the last A-Side that i liked was Boku wa Boku wo Suki ni Naru, the melody/instruments esp in the chorus really reminds me of the Nogi songs circa 2014-2017, or the era when Center Nanase was at her peak which i really enjoyed...Boku-Boku reminds me of not necessarily the A-Sides back then, but more like Kikkake, Hane no Kioku, those B-Side gems.

 

Management was probably left traumatized that things went so wrong with Actually, which is the only time in forever they have tried something different and risky. And that's why we've had a year of super safe and boring songs. They are still good, even great songs but as one comment said, they are too cookie cutter. A Nogi cookie cutter song will never be able to complete with the classics just by nostalgia alone, even if is as good or better than older songs.This is talking only about the A-Side which is ultimately what matters the most. I actually think they've had a lot hidden gems in coupling songs over the past singles which makes the boring A-Sides all the more frustrating.

When they finally give Nagi and 5ki in general the reign of the group (we all know that's coming) it better be with something bold and different that makes the group stand out. They need to put their money's worth on all that "new Nogizaka" talk.

 

I think the weekly sales will be lower than KimiShika but it more than Actually so it's maybe OK lol (but this is only Oricon maybe the billboard sales is better?)

 

Personally I think Nogi A-sides has always been a hit or a miss for me since the beginning. So I feel nothing has really changed now.
In the past, these are some A-sides that I would consider kami songs: Nandome, Sayoimi, Synchronicity, Sing Out.
Some that are pretty good, e.g. Imahana, Inochi, Seifuku, Kaerimichi.
Some that are total missed, e.g. all their summer songs (Girls Rule, NatsuFree, Taiyou, Hadashi, Jikochuu), Baretta, Shiawase.
Everything else are in between (mediocre).

Compared with the recent songs (pandemic era onwards), I still discover some kami songs, e.g. BokuBoku, SaigoTightHug, Kokoni (these 3 are still in my playlist).
Pretty good songs: KimiShika, HitoYume
Total missed: Actually, Sukirock. The rest are mediocre songs.

I feel older songs tends to get an added value of nostalgia... Oh those good days...!! especially now that those good days are over. I'm probably minority that don't really do nostalgia and prefer to move forwards.

On this single topic, the sales from day 2 onwards have been the slowest since pandemic era (26th onwards). I think losing all their original aces hit them hard. Hopefully next single will be better. And yeah, 5ki time should come soon.

 

Oricon 6th day sales: 7,232 (Total: 516,842)

Source: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/d/2023-04-02/

 

I don't remember this, new outfit?
Anyway, Utacon with a live band is always great. But I guess it's the song

 

New outfit for Kimi no Na as well I believe.

edit
Seira said it was new outfit in her mobame

 

Outfit looks like SukiRock but whiter. Maybe similar pattern?

Anyhow, I like how the orchestral version from the Utacon band sounds just like the original!

 

if the video does not show watch the video here
Gotta share this. A beautiful part of the dance.

 

I'm still hoping there'll be the 5th MV. Is this the first time there are only 4 MVs in a single?

 

Oricon 1st week: 516,884

 

KuboShi will be out for tomorrow’s MSte performance. Rururu will take her place!

 

I wonder if it's for her acting role? Anyhow, here's her blog post about it: https://www.nogizaka46.com/s/n46/diary/detail/101374?ima=3612

I can only think of one time when the center wasn't there for a TV performance.

Also, as much as it's great for Runa, as a Yamashita oshi, I wish they'd have chosen Riria as it would've been a delight for Mizuki.

 

That would’ve been great. I’m just happy for Runa since she may have been down in the dumps and she hasn’t been updating her blog until the other day. Hopefully this opportunity can lift her back up.

 

Riria subbed for Mayutan. So she was there too! Sucks that Kubo could not make it but Runa did a good job as nervous as she was.

Anyhow... for their performances on the music shows they've released a brilliant set of YouTube shorts the members have done showing off their costumes of the day. And if you hadn't seen it, they're quite dumb but fun and funny.


if the video does not show watch the video here
Miku kicks it off....


if the video does not show watch the video here
Not a Yume peformance but really knocks it out of the park


if the video does not show watch the video here
Ume doesn't get into it as much

I am loving the unnecessary English! Kawachi!

 

Yeah you can tell Rururu was really nervous but I’m happy she performed well. Some fans were commenting that the cameraman was focusing on Mizuki more but I didn’t think so. I’ll have to rewatch and see if that’s the case.

 

Overall focus they did focus more on Mizuki but Runa did get some decent camera time, good camera work from Mste though.