moumoon – Let’s dance in the moonlight (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. Let’s dance in the moonlight
2. うさぎ (Usagi)
3. Let’s dance in the moonlight – English Version
4. Let’s dance in the moonlight – Instrumental

YUKA and KOUSUKE MASAKI aka moumoon are back with a CD single titled “Let’s dance in the moonlight”.

But this single is not through their usual label avex trax but through the Avex sub-label Avex Infinity and the single is focused towards the children and is a joint compilation single between the store MONO COMME CA (a lifestyle goods shop which many international shoppers will find at Narita airport and other locations) and the Japanese pop duo, moumoon.  So, for those who are looking at this song on YouTube or hearing it for the first time and are shocked by the content, it is important to note that this is not part of the usual moumoon offering via Avex Trax but a side project created for Avex Infinity.

“Let’s dance in the moonlight” and “Usagi” are tracks not written by YUKA of moumoon but by Toshio-chan and the English version by Toshi-chan and Richard Broadhead.

The song revolves around a little rabbit named “15″ (or “Ichigo”) who doesn’t want the moon to be sad, so he is joined with Mr. Monkey, Mr. Fox, Mr. Raccoon and Mr. Frog and despite their differences, they are living together in this world and are friends.  And the hope is that children can be the same way as Ichigo and his friends and everyone can get along and dance in the moonlight.

“Let’s dance in the moonlight” is a song that starts off with KOUSUKE MASAKI on piano and transitions to an upbeat track.  It’s obviously a fun, light children’s track and the first track is in Japanese but by the third track (the English version of the song), it is evident by the lyrics of how this single is for the children as it is about Ichigo wanting his friends to be happy together and to stop fighting.  The fourth track is an instrumental version of the song.

As for the second track “Usagi”, it’s a :28 second track with only four lines and is a short folk song (lyrics and original music is unknown).

As for the DVD of “Let’s dance in the moonlight”, you get the music video which a viewer can select the Japanese or English version and optional English subtitles.

The music video shows Ichigo who is sad because the moon is sad that his friends are all fighting.  But Ichigo manages to get everyone together, despite having their own differences and being friends and dancing under the moonlight.   The characters and environments is provided in CG and is directed by play set products and production by simo:gumi.

As for the CD insert, you get the Japanese and English lyrics to “Let’s dance in the moonlight” and included is an insert promoting moumoon’s mini album “Sunshine Girl”.

For a children’s song, “Let’s dance in the moonlight” has a positive message and for it to be sung by moumoon in Japanese and English is pretty cool, but for those expecting one of moumoon’s more beautiful arranged songs, this is not one of them. This single is for the children and the content (music and the DVD) is pretty much geared for children and it is what it is.  It’s an OK, average single.

But for those who are moumoon fans, if you have to own all there releases, then I can see the importance of this single to have in your collection.

Overall, moumoon’s “Let’s dance in the moonlight” is a safe, upbeat children’s single release.

BUY THIS CD SINGLE from cdjapan.com:

Let’s dance in the moonlight

moumoon