AKB48 – Mae Shika Mukanee (Type-C) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

The single will be released in three CD+DVD types and one theater edition. 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, plus a single CD with an exclusive track) and a theater edition (which includes no DVD) with an exclusive track.

The version I will be reviewing is the limited edition version of Type-C which features Yuko Oshima by herself on the cover, while the back features Yamamoto Sayaka playing the drums.   When you open up the single, the cover is a 5-fold with photos of 16 AKB48 members and lyrics and production credits on the opposite side.

The single begins with rock track “Mae Shika Mukanee” (which translates to “Needing to Face Forward”) and the rock track is possible their most electric guitar-driven track.  But this is a track that showcases Oshima Yuko at the vocals and everyone having fun singing the track.  The song is quite positive about taking a path and moving forward.  How you hung around a friend during your younger years and knowing that life is going to change and that the fun happening at the present can’t last forever.  And moving forward, with or without your friend, one must survive and look forward to the future and prepare for a new chapter in one’s life and a new world, since there is no going back.

The song continues to the “Sakura” graduation theme that is part of AKB48’s February single releases, despite not having the word “Sakura” integrated into the lyrics this time around.

Overall,  a touching song for Yuko who has been an integral part of AKB48 and has been one of the more popular, bold members, there is no doubt that it’s quite sad to see her leave AKB48.  But at the same time, with a younger generation coming into AKB48, it’s Yuko’s time to shine, may it be as an actress or a solo singer.

The second track is “Kino yori Motto suki” (which translates to “Love You More than Yesterday”) and is performed by the Smiling Lions. An upbeat idol pop track about loving someone so much that it hurts.  The love is one-sided and loving that person more than yesterday.

The third track is “KONJO” (which is a term used to describe will power) and is performed by the Talking Chimpanzees.  The pop track is catchy and has become my favorite track on the single.  The song is another positive track about believing in one’s self, working harder, trying harder and using your own will power to overcome challenges.

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 long version of “Mae Shika Mukanee”.  The video features the girls walking in a post-apocalyptic area of Japan and discovering a freeway with overturned cars and people who may be deceased.   Meanwhile, as Yuko is the leader in the group, there is friction as Jurina wants to head one way and Yuko the other, so the groups end up splitting up.

As Yuko, Yui, Rino and Paruru find shelter and food, they receive a distress call from the other group and they fear that perhaps Jurina may have died.  As Yuko walks around near the building, she discovers a secret room and images of fans screaming for her come to mind. And she starts singing “Mae Shika Mukanee” with the other ladies.

The second music video features the “Make Shika Mukanee – dance version-” without the drama elements.

The third music video is for “Kino yori Motto suki” and is performed by the Smiling Lions.  The song features various AKB48 members in their classroom and a few start singing.  And transitions to the group performing in front of a sakura tree.

The fourth music video “KONJO” is performed by Talking Chimpanzees and this video features various AKB48 members who are part of a volleyball team and all are working hard during their workouts to become better.  The girls are then singing and dancing.

The fifth and final video is “Tentoumu Chu! in Hawaii”.  The video features five members from the sub-unit in Hawaii and must take on various challenges from food challenges or staying inside a shark cage and more.

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.

I enjoyed “Mae Shika Mukanee” but is it as good as other AKB48 CD singles, that is definitely subjective.  Especially as “Heavy Rotation” will always be my favorite AKB48 track featuring Yuko as a center.  But as this single is her last, personally as a fan of AKB48, it was going to be a must-buy no matter what.

As for the single, I did enjoy “KONJO” the most as it was a track that I found catchy and addictive.  And as for the DVD, on all three types, the first three tracks are the same.  But what may make one purchase Type-C is the fact that it features the “KONJO” music video but also the five members of Tentoumu Chu! in Hawaii.  Otherwise if you are a Mariko Nakamura  fan, Type-A is what you may want to go for and if you are a Rina Hirata fan, then Type-B is what you want to go for.

But overall, “Mae Shika Mukanee (Type-C)” is an enjoyable single with enjoyable DVD content, but Type-C is definitely recommended for the track “KONJO” and the “Tentoumu Chu! in Hawaii” video.