AKB48 – Heart Ereki (Type-4) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. ハート・エレキ – AKB48
2. 快速と動体視力 – AKB48 (アンダーガールズ)
3. 清純フィロソフィー – AKB48 (Team 4)
4. ハート・エレキ off vocal ver.
5. 快速と動体視力 off vocal ver.
6. 清純フィロソフィー off vocal ver.

DVD INFO: 16:9 LB, Region 2, Duration: 1:05:24

1. ハート・エレキ Music Video
2. ハート・エレキ Music Video – Dance ver.
3. 快速と動体視力 Music Video
4. 清純フィロソフィ Music Video
5. チーム4・研究生オーディション ~卒業を前に伝えたい想いがある~

AKB48 returns with their 33rd single titled “Heart Ereki” (Heart Electric or in this case “Electric Guitar”) after the huge success of their 32nd single “Koi Suru Fortune Cookie”.

The single was a surprise to a lot of people who were watching the annual “Janken Taikai” (rock-paper-scissors tournament) held in September, because the center of the single was first generation AKB48 member, Haruna Kojima. Which many fans took to the Internet thinking that because Kojima is one of the oldest members of AKB48, she will be the next person that will be graduating from the group.

Also, what made it a bit interesting for fans is that each member was using English names instead of their real Japanese names during the performance. Kojima going by the name of Michelle, Takamina as Linda, Oshima as Cindy, Kashiwagi as Catherine, Mayuyu as Elizabeth, Paruru as Angelina, etc.

And AKB48 has continued the streak of selling over a million copies alive as “Heart Ereki” sold 1,021,000 copies in its first day of release.

Also, the “Heart Ereki” single will mark the beginning that there will be four CD+DVD releases and one theater edition release. (note: This is because there are now four AKB48 teams: Team A, Team K, Team B and the new incarnation of Team 4).

The version that I will be reviewing for this single is “Heart Ereki (Type-4)” which features Rino Sashihara, Yuko Oshima, Haruna Kojima, Minami Takahashi and Yuki Kashiwagi clasping their hands on top, while Rena Matsui, Haruka Shimazaki, Mayu Watanabe, Jurina Matsui and Yui Yokoyama in a pose with their hands up near their head. While the rear cover features Anna Iriyama, Minami Minegishi, Sayaka Yamamoto, Aika Ota, Miyuki Watanabe and Rina Kawaei.

Unlike the previous three CD+DVD releases which were quad-fold insert, this insert is a 12-page booklet with lyrics and production credits with a few images.

The single kicks off with “Heart Ereki”, a catchy, upbeat rock track with cool guitar playing and features wonderful vocals from each member and also with each member singing in unison. The song is about loving someone so much that it becomes suffocating. And with their index finger pointing right at the person is an L sign and wanting people to feel the electric (or electric guitar). And how she feels inside, she can only express her true emotion through her index finger.

The second track on the single is titled “Kaisoku to Doutai Shiryoku” (which translates to “Express Train and Dynamic Vision”) performed by the Undergirls. The song is an upbeat idol pop song and is a song about one-sided love. About how one sees the guy she likes through the express train that has passed by. And why she goes to school at a certain time, because she can catch the person she likes through the window of the express train. And she hopes one day, when she sees him and sees her, their eyes will meet. But can such a relationship start from this? Probably not but it’s a dynamic vision for now.

The third vocal track is “Seijun Philosophy” (which translates to “Innocent Philosophy”) and is a pretty good single debut for Team 4.  The vocals for this upbeat pop track are very well sung and hearing them in unison is very good.  The song is about one wanting to maintain their purity and wanting to stay pure until they graduate.

The final three tracks on the single are the instrumental songs of the first three tracks on the single.

As for the accompanying DVD, there are a total of five DVD tracks.

The first DVD track is the long version(2o-minutes) of “Heart Ereki” and it features a story about a group known as “G. Fingers” and the leader/drummer/vocalist Catherine (portrayed by Yuki Kashiwagi) being asked about who the next lead vocalist will be for the group. Behind closed doors, Catherine surprises everyone by selecting keyboardist/vocalist Michelle (portrayed by Haruna Kojima). But lead vocalist Sandy (portrayed by Rena Matsui) is very upset by this decision and it leads to a heated argument among Sandy and lead guitarist Linda (portrayed by Minami Takahashi), while bass guitarist Lucy (portrayed by Yuko Oshima) tries to cool both of them down.

Sandy can’t accept Michelle being the new vocalist and she leaves the everyone on the bus. Eventually after a long discussion, Sandy comes to her senses and accepts Michelle as the new lead vocalist and together, they all perform their new song “Heart Ereki”.

It’s important to note that directing this music video was Shusuke Kaneko (director of the live-action adaptation of “Death Note” and man of the Giant Monsters films).

The second DVD track is the dance version of “Heart Ereki”. No drama or featuring the group with instruments, this is dance-only portion of the music video.

The third track is for a nearly 12-minute drama music video for “Kaisoku to Doutai Shiryoku” which features the AKB48 Undergirls. The video features Rena Kato looking very depressed and we learn that she got into an argument with her friend (played by SKE48 member Akari Suda) about her friend not being there for her. And then we see all the girls at art school and everyone noticing the friction between Rena and Akari but we learn that the reason why Akari has not been in school or putting a lot of time into her art work of late is because her father has been hospitalized and she has been spending time with him in the hospital.

And then the music video features the AKB48 Undergirls performing and eventually, we see Rena trying to patch things up between her and Akari.

The fourth DVD track is “Seijun Philosophy” featuring Team 4, as Minami Minegishi is sitting in class and new members are coming to class and we see the rest of Team 4 coming to the class and everyone becoming friends.

The fifth and final video track is a 23-minute video which took place in August 2013 and the Team 4 and AKB48 Kenkyuusei receive word that an audition will be held for two members to become part in a AKB48 Team K music video and to judge the audition and select the lucky two are former Team K members and graduating AKB48 members Sayaka Akimoto and Tomomi Itano.

It’s important to note that this is a region 2 DVD and will not play on a region 1 player (unless you have a non-region DVD player) but can be played on a MAC or PC using free video playing software such as VLC or Daum PotPlayer.

Overall, “Heart Ereki” is an entertaining CD+DVD release. It’s important to note that the other three will have more in DVD content and that all will have the long version and dance version of “Heart Ereki” and this release will also include the track and music video for “Kaisoku to Doutai Shiryoku”

The primary reason one would want to select Type-4 (if they have to choose one over the others) is for the Team 4 tracks and the music video for “Seijun Philosophy” and the Team 4/Team Kenkyuusei (research students who are not a member of a main AKB48 team) audition to be a part of a Team K music video.  Also, it’s one of the final videos that one will get to see Team K’s Tomomi Itano and Sayaka Yamamoto on an AKB48 CD+DVD.

So, if you are a Team 4 or Kenkyuusei fan, then “Heart Ereki (Type-4)” is recommended!

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