AKB48 – Ue Kara Mariko (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. 上からマリコ – AKB48
2. ノエルの夜 – AKB48
3. èµ°ã‚Œ! ペンギン – (Team 4 + 研究生)
4. 上からマリコ off vocal ver. – AKB48
5. ノエルの夜 off vocal ver. – AKB48
6. èµ°ã‚Œ! ペンギン – (Team 4 + 研究生)

AKB48 will release one more single to end 2011 and their 24th single will be “Ue Kara Mariko” which translates to Mariko is on Top” or “Mariko from Above” and this single with a song’s title featuring a member’s name.

And the reason why Mariko Shinoda is prominently featured in the single is that in September, she was the big winner of the Janken Senbatsu tournament in which members competed to become the center position of the CD single and also giving AKB48 members who are placed low or not placed at all in a Senbatsu single to be featured as one of the main members of a song.

And with the winning streak that AKB48 has been on in the past year, once again, “Ue Kara Mariko” has sold over a million copies which is the fourth single by AKB48 to achieve such a magnificent feat. in today’s Japanese music market.  It’s unheard of and the fact that AKB48 continues to be a marketing powerhouse, it definitely shows with the amount of singles being sold.

Meanwhile, its coupling track “Noel no Yoru” has also been prominently featured in the group’s 7-11 Christmas commercials airing in Japan. So, both tracks are getting a good amount of airplay in Japan at the moment!

The version that I am reviewing is the Theater Edition (No DVD) of “Ue Kara Mariko” as I am unable to obtain the TYPE-A, TYPE-K or TYPE-B CD+DVD versions of the single at this time. But similar to previous AKB48 releases, each single has a different third track as the Theater Edition features the track “Hashire! Penguin” while TYPE-A features “Rinjin wa Kizutsukanai”, TYPE-K features “Zero-sum Taiyouo” and TYPE-B features “Yobitsute Fantasy”. And part of the reason why these CD+DVD’s are selling out is because not only are all three music videos featured on each DVD, similar to “Chance no Juuban”, the Janken Taikai documentaries are split up into each DVD. So, if you want to watch the complete documentary, you need all three TYPES.

So, for those who don’t want to spend all that money on the CD+DVD’s, fortunately, there are the Theater Editions.

The first track “Ue Kara Mariko” is a pretty cool tribute by Akimoto Yasushi for AKB48’s eldest member but also a fan favorite who is known as the 1.5 generation member because she got in by fan write-ins who voted the cafe staff member to become the next member of AKB48. It is said that Mariko had to learn 12 songs in four days and also the choreography and if she could do it, she would become a member of AKB48 and sure enough, she accomplished that feat.

So, in many ways, Mariko winning the Janken Taikai is a wonderful testament for the member who worked hard to get where she is. And as for the single, the song revolves around an older girl named Mariko and how she is a tease. Always teasing as if she wants to be kissed, but is it a joke or is she serious? A fun, upbeat song and while I’m not sure if Mariko is in fact “sadistic” or a “tease” as the lyrics show, it’s a fun upbeat track that Mariko Shinoda fans will surely enjoy.

The second track is “Noel no Yoru” which is a Christmas song that translates to “Noel’s night” and a song about being together with the person you love during Christmas day as the snow falls, Christmas songs playing on the radio and how couples all over the world will be kissing each other, exchanging presents with one another and wanting to be together forever. A pretty cool and enjoyable Christmas song.

The third track “Hashire! Penguin” which translates to “Run! Penguin” was originally supposed to be the main single release but was changed to be a coupling song to be sung by Team 4 for the theater edition.

The single is an upbeat idol son about one having to compete with others for one’s affection. But that person is unable to break the ice and it seems hopeless. And the song refers to a penguin, to make a move and not be useless.

The remaining three tracks are the off-vocal instrumental versions of the three previous songs.

Overall, “Ue Kara Mariko” is an enjoyable single. Three solid tracks but I have to admit that my favorite song is “Noel no Yoru”, followed by “Ue Kara Mariko”. But overall, I enjoyed the tracks on this CD single and a track that I can easily recommend!  And also a wonderful single for AKB48 to end their phenomenal 2011!

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