Umeboshi
Onigiri perfectly describes this song. A quick glance would have you
think its a plain dish, but one only needs a couple bites to be
transported to a whole new world.
If something starts out
“unremarkable”, when it becomes “remarkable,” that moment has a more
lasting impression. Playing with expectations leads to delightful
moments. If you have ever eaten Onigiri, you know the rice is too bland
on its own, but at the same time, the filling is too flavorful on its
own. However, if you eat Onigiri from top to bottom, at first you only
get rice. As you go further down, you get nori mixed in the bites as
well… then and as you eat further you stumble upon a bit of the filling.
At last, the bottom is nothing but rice and nori. That is this song, in
a walnut shell.
This song works so brilliantly to me because the
verses are so bland, that the dance solo (bridge) stands out like a guy
walking around Walmart in a bespoke Armani suit. For the majority of
the video, the background coloring on the set is standard white light.
However, in the dance solo, the lighting has this tasogare, dusky kind
of “sun in the sky” feeling on he set, to let you know the flavor here
is going to be stronger. The verses are so generically typical, so
closely adhering to the “idol guidebook” that its almost as if they are
mocking other idol groups or something. Like, at H!P we can do “run of
the mill” typical idol stuff, too, we can cram a bunch of pretty girls
on stage, too. We will give you guys a “safe” song, a “safe” routine"
with “safe” little outfits, just like other idol groups. In the end,
however, in true Tsunku fashion, the song ends up being so much more
nuanced than most idol pop (for example with lyrics that appear to be
Tsunku talking to his self about what he has accomplished over these 20
years), so much more layered than idol pop (for example the subtle vocal
harmonies in the verses), and to have much deeper meaning than most
idol pop (for example the impending transfer of the H!P leader torch
from Ayacho to Fuku-chan).
Tsunku has really been experimenting
with counterpoint these days (Tsubaki Factory’s Date no Hi also had a
bit of counterpoint in its verses). Please pay close attention to the
harmonies the strings have together in the dance solo (bridge) before
the piano comes back in. The dance solo part is the Umeboshi deep inside
the Onigiri. In fact, this wota would listen to this song, just for
that little morsel.
What do you guys think about H!P 55? Would you
like H!P as much if the girls were bundled up like this, instead of the
discreet groups they are in now (sonically, visually, and
personality-wise)?
Omake: Here is a video with just the dance solo… I… certainly have not obsessively been watching it…
Comments
Post a Comment