AKB48 Team Surprise – Dessan (Web Version – #14) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. デッサン
2. デッサン-off vocal ver.-

DVD INFO: 16:9 LB, Region 2, Duration: 4:10

1. デッサン Music Clip

The 14th AKB48 Team Surprise CD single has been released and this time it’s a ballad titled “Dessan” featuring AKB48’s Minami Takahashi and HKT48’s Rino Sashihara.

For those not familiar with the AKB48 Team Surprise releases, these singles were to commemorate the release of the Pachinko AKB48 game machine and a tie-in with Pachinko company Kyoraku.  A total of 16 members of AKB48 would form a special team known as “Team Surprise” and the songs would be featured in the pachinko game.

In 2012, a total of 12 CD singles were released, in both pachinko and web version (same CD single and DVD but different cover) and each featuring different collector cards. And in 2013, “Dessan” becomes the second single Team Surprise of the year and 14th single overall. It’s important to note that because these releases are not sold in regular stores, the best way for those living outside of Japan to purchase these singles is through eBay.

The members selected to participate in the Team Surprise special project are (Family name first, first name last):

Team A: Atsuko Maeda (member has since graduated from AKB48) , Minami Takahashi, Yui Yokoyama, Mariko Shinoda (member has since graduated from AKB48), Haruna Kojima, Mayu Watanabe, Team K: Yuko Oshima, Tomomi Itano (member has since graduated from AKB48), Rie Kitahara, Team B: Yuki Kashiwagi, Haruka Shimazaki ; SKE48 Team E: Rena Matsui, HKT48 Team H: Rino Sashihara, SNH48 member Sae Miyazawa,  JKT48/AKB48 Team B member Aki Takajo and Team 4 member Minami Minegishi.

Please note that the songs released in 2013 were recorded before some of the members graduated from AKB48.

And this is the case for the 14th AKB48 Team Surprise CD single “Dessan” (which translates to “Sketch”) which features Minami Takahashi and Rino Sashihara.

The version of “Dessan” that I am reviewing is the web version and features Minami Takahashi in white and Rino Sashihara in black with a light background behind them.

Inside is an 8-page booklet featuring lyrics, production credits and liner notes from Ishigami. The back cover of the CD features four members: Mariko Shinoda, Mayu Watanabe, Minami Takahashi and Atsuko Maeda (note: by putting all CD’s together, like a puzzle, you can see a complete image, but they must be of the same type ie. all web or all pachinko version).

Also, by visiting the official website for “Dessan”, you can get access to liner notes, gallery (a few photos are what is featured in the CD insert), wallpaper and poster.

“Dessan” is a beautiful slow ballad with piano, acoustic guitar and electrical guitar gently played in the background.   The song features the first time I have ever seen Minami and Rino singing together in a track as a duo.  The song is about a person waiting for someone at their ballet class and wanting to apologize to that person.  Like a sketch, if one makes a mistake, you can redo it and the person wants to sketch out “love”.  But the song is about people having their disagreements and arguments, forgiving each other and like a sketch, knowing that mistakes can be corrected, fix and in this case, arguments can be forgiven.

It’s important to note that with this version, included is a off vocal version (instrumental track) of “Dessan”.

As for the DVD, the music video is reminiscent of the Team Surprise video for “Omoidasu tabi ni tsuraku naru” featuring Haruna Kojima and Atsuko Maeda separated by a sheet, but in this case, the beginning begins with Minami Takahashi and Rino Sashihara separated, until both find a way to reunite and begin dancing with each other.

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 admit that I was taken back by seeing Minami Takahashi and Rino Sashihara doing a duet.  But at the same time, I was quite thrilled to see how their chemistry would be together and in the end, it’s a beautiful ballad that I enjoyed and listened to many times.

For Minami or Rino fans or those who are into the AKB48 Team Surprise releases, “Dessan” is another single worth having in your AKB48 music collection! Recommended!