AKB48 – Koi Suru Fortune Cookie (Type-K) (A J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

And with the 32nd single “Koi Suru Fortune Cookie” (which translates to “Love’ Fortune Cookie”), AKB48 has managed to reach #1 with this single and it becoming the 14th #1 million selling single for AKB48 but also their 12th consecutive single at #1 on the Oricon Singles Charts tying a record set by rock band B’z.

The single will be released in seven versions. There will be the limited and regular editions for Type-A, Type-K and Type-B with different covers (and these three include a DVD with an exclusive track) and a theater edition (which includes no DVD) with an exclusive third track.

The version I will be reviewing is the limited edition version of Type-K which features a pink cover with Yuko Oshima as center, Yuki Kashiwagi, Sae Miyazawa, Jurina Matsui are next to her. A large obi featuring Yuko Oshima is included. And unlike other AKB48 CD+DVD releases, the insert cover is actually a poster. The poster features the cover of the single on one side, while the other side of the poster features each 16 senbatsu members with their individual photo. The lyrics to the songs are included on the inside back cover.

The single begins with addictive disco pop song “Koi Suru Fortune Cookie”. I don’t know how many times I have listened to this song but I absolutely love it! The song is pretty much a positive song about having a positive attitude, not matter how bad things can get in life, move on, smile and you will get good luck because the future isn’t that bad. So, like love’s fortune cookie, it’s time to break out of that shell.

The second track is “Ai no Imi wo Kangaete Mita” (which translates to “Thinking about the Meaning of Love”) and performed by the AKB48 Undergirls. An upbeat track which is an awesome pop track that is catch and addictive.  The song is about a person pondering on the meaning of love and understanding that one must go through pain and sadness to find love but no matter what, there are people there to support you and you are never alone.

The third track is “Suitei Marmalade” (which translates “Approximately Marmalade”). The sweet idol pop song from the Future Girls and how a girl compares her love to her boyfriend like marmalade.  Is it sweet, is it bitter or is it sour?  And as she tastes the marmalade, and the song goes into how she and the guy did not get along but one day, they grew closer to one another.  And one should take a chance at new discoveries, like marmalade.  Just try it, you may like it.

The song is about the journey together with your friends. How the journey wasn’t all fun as there were sad times as well. But looking back, you look at the good memories. And the song goes into how it’s OK to cry, all the tears that you have in your heart, to let them out and saying thank you to everyone who has joined you on the journey but letting go of all the things that will soon disappear. A beautiful song.

The next three tracks are the instrumental “off-vocal” versions of the first three vocal tracks.

As for the DVD, the first music video features the music video for “Koi Suru Fortune Cookie” and features AKB48 performing the song with a large crowd behind them and videos of the group visiting schools and work areas to teach people the KFC dance. A fun music video and one of my favorite AKB48 music videos ever made!

The second music video is for “Koi Suru Fortune Cookie” in “Dance Evolution Arcade” video game fashion, three AKB48 members via Team K led by Yuka Tano and two others dancing to the song. A great way for one to learn the dance moves!

The third music video is “Ai no Imi wo Kangaete Mita” and features the Under Girls an idol group preparing to go out in front of a live audience for their first major performance. As the group has pre-performance jitters, they go out and perform and we see flashback of the blood, sweat and tears of the audition process, learning the choreography and members having heated arguments with each other. But the hardwork has paid off for this concert performance as a team. The video also mirrors reality as Minami Minegishi gets rid of her wig and talks about the importance of being an idol.

The fourth video is for “Suitei Marmalade” and features the Next Girls singing the song  to the camera in a variety of locations.  It’s a cute and sweet music video as the others are acting but for the most part, everyone is looking very sweet and cute!

The fifth and final video is for the second part of the stage drama of “SF shojo drama series ADS77 part 3” featuring a few AKB48 and Kenkyuusei members taking part in a stage play. If you want the other parts, you need to purchase Type-A and Type-B.

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, I really enjoyed the “Koi Suru Fortune Cookie” (Type-K) CD+DVD single!  While Type-B is my favorite and the most different compared to the other two types, Type-A and Type-K do share the same first and third video.  While Type-A features the Next Girls and Type-K features the Future Girls for the third exclusive music track and music video.

But if you buy one, one shouldn’t be disappointed with Type-K because you get great music and video content.  Recommended!