AKB48 Team Surprise – Namida ni shizumu Taiyou (Web Version) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. 涙に沈む太陽

DVD INFO: 16:9 LB, Region 2, Duration: 4:04

1. 涙に沈む太陽 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 via a CD+DVD single each week 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.

One of the cool aspects of AKB48 Team Surprise is the ability to create groups or pairings that you would probably never see from AKB48.  And for the fourth AKB48 Team Surprise single, we see Mariko Shinoda, Yuki Kashiwagi and Sae Miyazawa being featured as a trio for the CD+DVD single “Namida ni shizumu Taiyou”.

The version of “Namida ni shizumu Taiyou” that I am reviewing is the Web version and features images of the group members on an 8-page booklet featuring lyrics, production credits and liner notes from Ishigami. The back cover of the CD features three members: Rena Matsui, Haruka Shimazaki and Mariko Shinoda (note: by putting all 12 CD’s together, like a puzzle, you can see a complete image). Also, by visiting the official website for “Namida ni shizumu Taiyou”, you can get access to liner notes, gallery (a few photos are what is featured in the CD insert), wallpaper and poster.

“Namida ni shizumu Taiyou” (which translates to “The Sun Sinks into Tears”) is a sultry and sexy single from the trio.  According to Ishigami, the single has the feeling of Japanese music from the mid-to-late ’50s, a time that featured people doing Go-Go dances.  The song is about a breakup and a person talks about walking on the empty beach alone and memories of a relationship turned bad.  And how this summer, there is nothing left of the burning love from teh summer.  The beach house, the lifeguard tower and the person you spent time with is all beyond the waves.  And how love has become a “No Swimming” sign and because how quickly the love ended, the sun sinks into tears.

As for the DVD, the music video features a “Dream Girls” style of performance with the trio wearing short gold skirts and performing on stage.  Definitely the sexiest music video I have seen Shinoda, Yukirin and Sae take part in and I enjoyed that ’50s vibe.  The choreography is cool and love the hair extensions on Mariko Shinoda.  But it’s a pretty cool, stylish music video!

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 I have to say that “Namida ni Shizuma Taiyou” has become my favorite AKB48 Team Surprise CD+DVD single so far.  Putting Mariko Shinoda, Yuki Kashiwagi and Sae Miyazawa is a bit unexpected but they did a wonderful job on this song!

“Namida ni shizumu Taiyou”, the fourth AKB48 Team Surprise CD+DVD release is recommended for AKB48 fans!