AKB48 Team Surprise – Heart no Vector (Web Version – #15) (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 15th AKB48 Team Surprise CD single has been released and this time around, it’s a sweet and cute, dance pop single!

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, “Heart no Vector” becomes the third single Team Surprise of the year and 15th 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.

The version of “Heart no Vector” that I am reviewing is the web version and features a pink cover with Atsuko Maeda, Mariko Shinoda, Yuki Kashiwagi, Haruka Shimazaki, Yui Yokoyama and Rena Matsui, these are the primary vocalists on this single.

Inside is an 8-page booklet featuring lyrics, production credits and liner notes from Ishigami. The back cover of the web version of the CD features four members: Aki Takajo, Rie Kitahara, Rena Matsui and Haruka Shimazaki (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 “Heart no Vector”, you can get access to liner notes, gallery (a few photos are what is featured in the CD insert), wallpaper and poster.

“Heart no Vector” is a sweet upbeat song but it’s actually a rare type of AKB48 song because the vocals are split into duo’s.  Atsuko Maeda with Rena Matsui, Mariko Shinoda with Yui Yokoyama and Yuki Kashiwagi with Haruka Shimazaki.

The song is a sweet love song about a girl who rides a train, a guy who rides a bike and each time she waits for the guy in the station.  Everyday, they both go home but he on the bike, she on the train on the same schedule as if their hearts are on the same vector.

It’s important to note that with this version, included is a off vocal version (instrumental track) of “Heart no Vector”.

As for the DVD, the music video for “Heart Vector” with the six rehearsing with many women in the audience.  And all are doing synchronized dancing, but it’s also a fun video as Atsuko Maeda and Mariko Shinoda are joking around with each other and not sure how much is real or improvised.

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 absolutely enjoyed “Heart no Vector” because it’s a playful song with unusual pairings but at the same time, everyone just having fun and it shows on the music video!  Another Team Surprise CD single worth owning!