So you want to learn about AKB48...
Following the tradition I started with themagicalfaggy and meow_bunny in converting people to Jpop acts, I bring you my small introduction to AKB48, largely pre-fanservice era.
Granted, AKB48 has always centered around fanservice, but I loved them before thats what they were largely known for, when they were causing a different sort of controversy. Videos and helpful links underthe cut.
So here I present to you my, personal five favorite AKB48 singles, why they are my favorite, and why they are a show of AKB48's musical talents and capabilities.
We are going to go about this in an odd way, and remember this is an intro for their music not the members, I'll provide links for posts about the members though.
This is the first single of theirs that ever got my attention, actually it was the first single that got a lot of people's attention. Seifuku is their fourth single and alludes to voluntary teenage prostitution(or so they speculate) the video is one of the few to actually have a plot, or so. It features the main girls in various situations where they are alone and sad looking (wandering through an arcade etc) before they are contacted by males of one age or another. Though the lyrics are seemingly just about a girl wanting to do the nasty with her boyfriend, the video alludes to otherwise. For a Jpop song to talk about a girl trying to embrace her sexuality in a world that doesn't want her too, though she is going through puberty and it is inevitable, was quite surprising at the time, and caused some controversy.
Prostitution aside, the video is beautiful, highlights the girls who can sing well while still giving screentime to those who cannot. At this point in time Team B was still forming so the amount of girls wasn't particularly overhwhelming. The song itself is catchy, with a clear climax, unique(relatively, at least) instrumental, a distinctive rhythm and a catchy chorus. Though it has the AKB48 signature Seifuku and bits of fanservice, it is hardly predominant throughout the video.
Their single that came out right afterwards, is my favorite of theirs.
Keibetsu addresses the subject of teen bullying and the constraints of the Japanese social class system in school and otherwise, and with desparaging text messages flashing on a cell phone throughout the video, it gets the point across like a knife in your gut. Its distinctive, catchy, and the girls(both in the video and in the song) project the emotions of the song very well so that you feel the distress of the girl in the story. This video, also, obviously as an amazing plot with an astoundingly crafted setting.
Ah, Bingo!, what can we say about you? I love this single, heck, I own this single, its in my CD binder...somewhere, and I still have the photocard that came with it. The girls are captured in a slaver boat, and subsequently escape and are so happy about it they magically are clean, with happy, brightly colored dresses and they dance on the beach and sing about love. There is no deep symbolism behind this, and I'm still not sure why they say Bingo Bingo~ in the chorus, other than the fact that its catchy, but the vocals are top notch and the song is just...Happiness inducing.
I really, really love River, although to be fair, there are few who watch/hear it who dislike the single. The catchy, semi-non repetitive song is different, with a mixed style of 'belting/shouting' style of singing and the more delicate sounding singing type we were use to from them. Its an empowering song, about following your own path and having courage even if you have to cross a River (a bridgeless one at that!) to get to where you want to go, because there will always be obstacles in your path. Just watch it, its awesome. Apparently HD pvs of River are an endangered species, but the performances are amazing too!
Also, there was a USA version of the PV made which is quite, erm, different than the Japanese. The girls are seen in african inspired makeup, which they are very enthusiastic about. http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/7SDr5TUsMHg/ -- I can't find it on youtube ;~;
Finally....
Chocolove was a subunit of AKB48, but I still think they blong here becasue these are AKB girls and are from the same company (obvs) so they still show what the group/agency is capable of. The song is beautiful, not very fast, but a good balance of deeper, strong voices and softer, feminine sounds. Its lovely, with an inspiring message and a strange, but captivating PV.
Helpful links!
Pimp Post!
Team K
Acchan pimp post; with links to posts about other AKB girls
So listen, keep an open mind, and support them <3 Also, comment here cause I'm special kekeke.
Granted, AKB48 has always centered around fanservice, but I loved them before thats what they were largely known for, when they were causing a different sort of controversy. Videos and helpful links underthe cut.
So here I present to you my, personal five favorite AKB48 singles, why they are my favorite, and why they are a show of AKB48's musical talents and capabilities.
We are going to go about this in an odd way, and remember this is an intro for their music not the members, I'll provide links for posts about the members though.
Click to viewThis is the first single of theirs that ever got my attention, actually it was the first single that got a lot of people's attention. Seifuku is their fourth single and alludes to voluntary teenage prostitution(or so they speculate) the video is one of the few to actually have a plot, or so. It features the main girls in various situations where they are alone and sad looking (wandering through an arcade etc) before they are contacted by males of one age or another. Though the lyrics are seemingly just about a girl wanting to do the nasty with her boyfriend, the video alludes to otherwise. For a Jpop song to talk about a girl trying to embrace her sexuality in a world that doesn't want her too, though she is going through puberty and it is inevitable, was quite surprising at the time, and caused some controversy.
Prostitution aside, the video is beautiful, highlights the girls who can sing well while still giving screentime to those who cannot. At this point in time Team B was still forming so the amount of girls wasn't particularly overhwhelming. The song itself is catchy, with a clear climax, unique(relatively, at least) instrumental, a distinctive rhythm and a catchy chorus. Though it has the AKB48 signature Seifuku and bits of fanservice, it is hardly predominant throughout the video.
Their single that came out right afterwards, is my favorite of theirs.
Keibetsu addresses the subject of teen bullying and the constraints of the Japanese social class system in school and otherwise, and with desparaging text messages flashing on a cell phone throughout the video, it gets the point across like a knife in your gut. Its distinctive, catchy, and the girls(both in the video and in the song) project the emotions of the song very well so that you feel the distress of the girl in the story. This video, also, obviously as an amazing plot with an astoundingly crafted setting.
Ah, Bingo!, what can we say about you? I love this single, heck, I own this single, its in my CD binder...somewhere, and I still have the photocard that came with it. The girls are captured in a slaver boat, and subsequently escape and are so happy about it they magically are clean, with happy, brightly colored dresses and they dance on the beach and sing about love. There is no deep symbolism behind this, and I'm still not sure why they say Bingo Bingo~ in the chorus, other than the fact that its catchy, but the vocals are top notch and the song is just...Happiness inducing.
I really, really love River, although to be fair, there are few who watch/hear it who dislike the single. The catchy, semi-non repetitive song is different, with a mixed style of 'belting/shouting' style of singing and the more delicate sounding singing type we were use to from them. Its an empowering song, about following your own path and having courage even if you have to cross a River (a bridgeless one at that!) to get to where you want to go, because there will always be obstacles in your path. Just watch it, its awesome. Apparently HD pvs of River are an endangered species, but the performances are amazing too!
Also, there was a USA version of the PV made which is quite, erm, different than the Japanese. The girls are seen in african inspired makeup, which they are very enthusiastic about. http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/7SDr5TUsMHg/ -- I can't find it on youtube ;~;
Finally....
Chocolove was a subunit of AKB48, but I still think they blong here becasue these are AKB girls and are from the same company (obvs) so they still show what the group/agency is capable of. The song is beautiful, not very fast, but a good balance of deeper, strong voices and softer, feminine sounds. Its lovely, with an inspiring message and a strange, but captivating PV.
Helpful links!
Pimp Post!
Team K
Acchan pimp post; with links to posts about other AKB girls
So listen, keep an open mind, and support them <3 Also, comment here cause I'm special kekeke.