The first CD single “Juuryoku Sympathy” from AKB48 Team Surprise is an upbeat pop track that fans of AKB48, especially Atsuko Maeda fans, will want to check out! Atsuko may have graduated from AKB48 but these singles will be her final songs with the group and this first single is a great way to kick off the Team Surprise project!
GROUP: AKB48 Team Surprise (AKB48 ãƒãƒ¼ãƒ サプライズ)
CD SINGLE: é‡åŠ›ã‚·ãƒ³ãƒ‘ã‚· (Pachinko Hall Version) / Juuryoku Sympathy (Pachinko Hall Version)
LABEL: AKS
CATALOG #: AKBS-20001/2
DURATION: 3:35
RELEASE DATE: September 9, 2012
- é‡åŠ›ã‚·ãƒ³ãƒ‘ã‚·
DVD INFO: 16:9 LB, Region 2, Duration: 3:45
- é‡åŠ›ã‚·ãƒ³ãƒ‘ã‚· Music Clip
To commemorate the release of the Pachinko AKB48 game machine and a tie-in with Pachinko company Kyoraku, 16 senbatsu members of AKB48 would form a special team known as “Team Surprise” and a total of 12 songs featured in the pachinko game will be released each week via a CD+DVD single beginning in September 2012.
The members to participate in this special project are (note: the lineup is before their fall 2012 lineup change):
Team A: Maeda Atsuko, Takahashi Minami, Takajo Aki, Shinoda Mariko, Kojima Haruna, Team K: Oshima Yuko, Itano Tomomi, Yokoyama Yui, Miyazawa Sae, Minegishi Minami; Team B: Watanabe Mayu, Kashiwagi Yuki, Kitahara Rie; Team 4: Shimazaki Haruka; SKE48 Team S: Matsui Rena and HKT48 Team H: Sashihara Rino
Each week from September through mid-November, a single plus its music video was released via a pachinko hall version (which can be won or sold at pachinko halls) and a web version, each featuring two different covers and will come with exclusive collectors cards for the pachinko hall and another for the web version.
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.
Because the songs were planned and recorded before Atsuko Maeda’s graduation, Atsuko Maeda would be featured on several of the CD single releases.
And this is the case for the first AKB48 Team Surprise CD single titled “Juuryoku Sympathy”, a song that translates into “The Gravity of Sympathy” and is sung by all 16 members of the group.
The single that I am reviewing is the pachinko hall version and features images of the group members with a red swirl background behind them. The 8-page booklet featuring lyrics, production credits and liner notes from Ishigami and pictures of the group on stage. The back cover of the CD features part of the legs of two members (note: by putting all 12 CD’s together, like a puzzle, you can see a complete image).
Also, by visiting the official website for “Juuryoku Sympathy”, you can get access to liner notes, gallery (a few photos are what is featured in the CD insert), wallpaper and poster.
“Juuryoku Sympathy” is an upbeat pop track. According to Ishigami in the liner notes, he mentioned that the song is reminiscent of a song such as “Iiwake Maybe”, especially for choreography. But the beats per minute are much faster
The song is about a one-sided love. A girl who likes a guy (or vice versa) and how close they sit to each other on the bus, they are still far apart. The person wonders if they should confess their love to that person, the gravity of sympathy the person has towards the other is strong. And even if the person doesn’t know of the other’s existence, it would be fine.
As for the DVD, the music video features the group in their red and black Burberry style outfits performing on stage. An upbeat performance featuring all 16 members and other possible AKB48 members are featured in the background dancing (unfortunately, you can’t see their faces). But it’s a straight up-dance performance.
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, the AKB48 Team Surprise CD singles may not be for everyone, primarily because there is only one song and one music video and they cost the same price of a regular single. But yet, if you are an AKB48 collector and you gotta collect them all, this is a pretty cool upbeat single and probably among the last few singles that will feature Atsuko Maeda. So, if you are an Acchan fan, it’s definitely worth recommending but also for a song featuring the AKB48 Team Surprise group, it’s pretty cool!
“Juuryokyo Sympathy”, the first AKB48 Team Surprise CD+DVD release is recommended for those who don’t mind that there is only a single track on the CD and DVD!
