Monday 23 January 2012

SKE48 8th Single [Kataomoi Finally] PV's out!




SKE48 are kicking other bands out of the water with this controversial PV and song. I can only hope that this isn't just used for fanservice, but also to highlight awareness for LGBT issues in Japan, a country where it's still considered taboo to be gay, and not many people even understand the background and think it's a lifestyle choice.

This isn't for any religious reasons or anything, as we all know Japan is very secular, it's because they aren't educated. It's not included in any school education, and people who are gay or fall into the 'not straight' category often hide their feelings and live very unhappy lives.

This is more true for girls rather than guys, unfortunately. Gay men are more accepted than lesbians, which doesn't surprise me really. As Japan is still quite backwards when it comes to women's rights, they never had the 60's and 70's feminism age that West went through. So it is taking tiny steps at a time that we can create a better life for LGBT people in Japan.

This release from SKE48 is helping, rather than hindering, as it is very tastefully done and with a really touching story. Aki-P has touched on this kind of subject before (with the Team K song 'Kinjirareta Futari') - but never with this kind of push. I hope this means that he is for LGBT rights and not just after wota's money.

On to the PV's! First we have their title track 'Kataomoi Finally':

WATCH ME!

Me when I first saw this video clip:



Juritan is a pimp and seems to like all the girls. (Just like in real life?) While Rena and Akane get their hearts broken, there are other pairings and such, and it's very well done. Real emotion is put into this and it shows just how good the girls are at acting as well as singing and dancing. The uniforms for this PV are also unbelievably cute.

Next, onto Shirogumi 'Hanikami Lollipop':

WATCH ME!

An extremely cute song taking influence from the war years for it's storyline, Juritan has to save everyone from being in black and white. The outfits are gorgeous, and I am glad to see a decent amount of Anna in this clip, she's so pretty and deserves more screentime. Of course Juritan saves the day, as she always does, with her power to turn things back to colour after a little boy (Who seems to be speaking English with a German accent) approaches her in a cafe and gives her what must be a magic flower of some sort. Gorgeous, and in my opinion, the better out of the two B-side PV's, but I may just be being bias.

Next up, Akagumi's 'Koe ga Kisareru Kurai':

WATCH ME!

A strange PV where each girl seems to be representing a soft drink can in a vending machine. As each girl gets bought by a different customer, she gets warm clothes to survive in. Rena is the last one standing, it seems nobody wants to buy her, her friends offer her warm clothes but she doesn't want them until eventually a kind truck-driver offers her the same clothes and she accepts. Not super sure what is really going on but it's a cool concept nonetheless. Aki-P has also approached this concept before in B-side to 'Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru' - 'Namida Uri no Shoujo' - but again he has changed it slightly and made it a completely different song.

This release is really, really good and we only have a few days left until it's release. So let's all buy a copy and support SKE48!

6 comments:

  1. SKE definitely delivers with this amazing single!

    Kataomoi Finally -- simply beautiful. I love how they tackled the common issues and emotions of love through a medium that can cater to the LGBT community as well. And it's great that it wasn't just baseless fanservice either! It was so tastefully done! The only thing that could have made this pv any better...was if it was even longer. @__@ <3

    Hanikami -- OMG! I can't get over this song's awesomeness!
    The opening. The sweet, sweet opening music made me feel like I was sitting in a theatre about to watch some wicked Disney film. Too bad this pv wasn't in Disney realD 3D. Would be heavenly.

    The outfits were cute, the girls were cute, the song is cute and Juritan with fringe & that beret was just so.....<3

    Koe Ga -- such a random pv. But definitely enjoyable nonetheless. If I were to pass by an Akagumi pop-machine I wouldn't hesitate to buy Deguchi Aki @__@

    The two coupling tracks are great as well.

    All-in-all, a dynamic single that certainly deserves a debut at #1. *crosses fingers*
    I'm more than glad to help support the girls in getting there.

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    1. I think this will sell better than any of their previous singles! It's just incredible!!! <3

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  2. Hi, I've already watch the new PV's and are pretty well done just a little taste of cuteness and gorgeus outfits.. I hope this goes top charts right away..

    I've found the lyrics roughtly translated of kataomoi finally in this blog http://okotteiru.tumblr.com/post/14455604833/kataomoi-finally-lyrics
    all the credits to their repectives owners & translators...

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    Replies
    1. Thanks very much! That's great! I love these PV's too. I'm hoping this is their best selling single yet. <3

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  3. Song is really catchy and the pv is EPIC. Wow. I think I might order this!
    Will have to check out their previous releases :D

    Yeah I totally agree that Japan is behind in any type of feminist movement. The idol culture pretty much says it all. But it's awesome seeing idol groups step out of the cutesy role and create songs and PV's like this, hopefully there will be more to come in the future.

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  4. Adorable and wonderful as always. :)

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