AKB48 – Ponytail to Shushu (Type-B) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

AKB48 is back with their 16th major CD single “Ponytail to Shushu” (which translates to “Ponytail and Scrunchie”) and from the title and the CD cover, you know right away that this is a summer single!

And with the cover featuring the members in a bikini may have generated a lot of attention as this single sold over 513,000 copies in its first week, the first single for a female idol group to achieve these type of sales since Morning Musume’s “Ren’ai Revolution” in 2000 and since Hikaru Utada’s “Can You Keep a Secret?” in 2001.  Suffice to say, the number of CD’s sold, also did better than their last single “Sakura no Shiori”, so this is good news for AKB48 fans who have wanted to see the group grow in popularity.

With “Ponytail to Shushu”, there are three CD singles available.  The TYPE-A and TYPE-B (each having a different third song and have an included DVD featuring music videos for the three songs and first pressing coming with a handshaking event ticket, senbatsu election code for fans to vote and also a store-exclusive picture) and the Theater Edition comes with all songs featured on TYPE-A and TYPE-B minus the off-vocal instrumentals and the first pressing coming with a handshaking event ticket and a random AKB48 17th Senbatsu Election poster.  Also, the Theater Edition is much cheaper as well!

The version I am reviewing is the Type-B version which features the primary reverse cover of Yuki Kashiwagi, Haruna Kojima, Tomomi Itano, Mariko Shinoda and Rie Kitahara.  On the insert cover is Minami Minegishi, Erena Ono, Aki Takajo, Sae Miyazawa, Tomomi Kasai and Miho Miyazaki.    The insert is a four-fold that features close-up images of the 16 members of AKB48 and the reverse features the lyrics and production credits.

The first track “Ponytail to Shushu” is an enjoyable, catchy summer song.  The song is about going to the beach and wanting to see a girl at the beach, splashing the water with your feet, seeing her ponytail swinging in the wind while running on the sand.  But also wanting to tell her that you like her but know that you can’t and for the moment, you are just friends.  But in your dreams, you can see her in a ponytail, in a scrunchie and just enjoying the moment of watching her on the beach, fun, free and being herself.

The second track is titled “Nusumareta Kuchibiru” and this translates to “Lips That Were Stolen” and is performed by the AKB48 Undergirls (those who placed at #17-32 in the Senbatsu Elections).  And the song is another summer song in which you lay side by side with a person you care about on the beach and sharing that first kiss together and wanting to be kissed again.  The song is an OK pop song.  I like the lyrics but I wasn’t really into the musical arrangement all that much for this track.

The third song “Majijo Teppen Blues” which translates to “Maji High’s Top Blues”) is the theme song for the AKB48 drama “Majisuka Gakuen”.  A TV Tokyo drama in which the AKB48 members are Yankee students and are troublemakers and rival gangs fight for superiority.  The song is quite fun if you are familiar with the drama series but for the most part, the members are in character and make a comment that relates to an episode from the series or a comment that character typically makes.  So, the song has some singing parts but primarily a lot of speaking segments from each AKB48 member who is featured in the series.

And the remaining three tracks are the off-vocal, instrumental versions of the first three tracks.

As for the DVD, the DVD features three music videos.  The first is “Ponytail to Shushu” which begins with the group changing and undressing in the gym while a chihuahua is watching them.  When the girls try to get near it, the dog angrily barks at them and the girls run into the shower room which is running and all are wet.  The video then transitions to the girls in their bikini’s performing on the beaches of Guam (or perhaps Saipan or the Philippines) in their bikinis and also clips of the group having fun around the area.  May it be getting a cold snack, taking part in a car wash or getting a ride from a local.  A fun summer video overall.

The second music video is for “Nusumareta Kuchibiru”and it showcases a lighthouse on the beach.  We then see the AKB48 Undergirls dancing on a windy night at the beach (in their bikini or outfit) with the camp fire blowing in the wind.

The third music video is for “Majijo Teppen Blues” features the girls as their characters from the drama “Majisuka Gakuen”.  The music video begins with DJ Miichan (Minami Minegishi) playing the song over the school’s loud speakers but suddenly a gang featuring Aki Takajo, Moeno Ito and Rino Sashihara come to confront Miichan.  The video then transitions to all AKB48 members in their “Majisuka Gakuen” outfits performing “Majijo Teppen Blues” and seeing the various groups confront each other and also showing clips from the drama.  A fun video for those who enjoyed the drama or AKB48 in costumes portraying yankees (Japanese gangster girls).

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, AKB48 “Ponytail to Shushu” (Type-B) is a fun CD.  The main song “Ponytail to Shushu” is a fun summer song and possibly the first time I have seen members featured in their bikinis (note: If you purchase the TYPE-A or TYPE-B singles, you will see the music video of the members performing their song sporting in their bikini on the beach).  Also, a good variety of tracks that deal with one’s first kiss and a friend or parent supporting someone, while you get the theme song of the drama “Majisuka Gakuen” included in this single as well.  As for the DVD, you get all three music videos and for the single and for those who want to see AKB48 in bikini, this video gives fans a chance!

As for which version is worth getting, pretty much deciding factor is whether or not you want “Majijo no Teppen Blues” which is the third track and music video featured on Type-B or “Boku no YELL” which is featured on Type-A.  And also if whoever is on the cover makes a difference to you.  Otherwise, if you just want the music, no DVD and want to save your money, then the Theater Edition should be enough for you.

A fun upbeat summer CD+DVD single worth recommending to AKB48 fans and fans of the drama series “Majisuka Gakuen”.