French Kiss – Kakko Warui I Love You (Type-B) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. カッコ悪い I love you!
2. 君なら大丈夫
3. カッコ悪い I love you! (Instrumental)
4. 君なら大丈夫 (Instrumental)

16:9 LB, Duration: 5:51 Min., Region 2

1. 君なら大丈夫 Music Clip

The fourth sub-unit from AKB48, known as French Kiss began just last year.  A trio featuring Yuki Kashiwagi (who is the official main center performer of the group), Aki Takajo and Asuka Kuramochi.

The first debut single from French Kiss was “Zutto Mae Kara” (used as an ending theme for the anime series “MAJOR”) and their second single released earlier this year titled “If” would reach #2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and #1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.

And now, the group has released their third CD single titled “Kakko Warui I Love You” (which translates to “How Uncool, I Love You”) and similar to their last single, also debuted at #2 on the Oricon Weekly Charts.  And the first single for the pop trio to sell over 100,000 copies.

There were four different CD single releases.  Type-A and Type-B would feature a regular and a limited edition cover, include a exclusive second track and a DVD.  A normal version would be a regular and limited edition with no DVD, while the Theater Edition will not include a DVD release but unlike the normal version, is limited to only 12,000 copies and will only be available through the online store Chara-Ani.  So, if you want them all, there are actually seven total if you include the cover variations.

The first press edition will include one original trading card out of four versions and there were 10,000 event tickets and 200 2-shot tickets randomly included in the first press copies.

The version I will be reviewing is the Type-B version featuring Aki Takajo in the center.  The version I have came with an Aki Takajo card.  CD insert is a bi-fold with lyrics and production credits and a photo of the three members.

The first track on the single is “Kakko Warui I Love You” has received a good amount of hype since it was used as a theme song for the anime series “Sket Dance” (note: French Kiss’s second anime collaboration with “If” being used for the OVA of “Kyo, Koi wo Hajimemasu”).  The track is an upbeat but yet cute J-Pop song from French Kiss with electric guitar kicking off the song but the song is entirely pop with a cute and catchy chorus.  The song is about how a guy and girl who didn’t get along at first, but as time went on, the guy (or girl) started to take notice in the other.  At first trying to ignore the person but despite the two being like water and oil, the person realizes they like the other person and is thinking, “How uncool…I love you!”.

The second track is titled “Kimi nara Daijoubu” (which translates to “If It’s You, It’s Okay”) and is an upbeat pop song and is a cute song overall, with cool electric guitar and synth arrangement. The song is a happy track about looking up into the raining sky and slowly gaining courage.  And the person realizing that if they are with that other person, they find courage and strength to look ahead into the future and thinking “If it’s you, its okay”.

The next two tracks on the single are the instrumental versions of “Kakko Warui I Love You” and “Kimi nara Daijoubu”.

As for the DVD, the DVD features the music clip for “Kimi nara Daijoubu” and the video features French Kiss performing while children are seen watching on the background and begin dancing along with the trio.  We also see adults writing an inspirational message about teamwork on a white board and then seeing members of French Kiss writing an inspirational message and each holding a message, along with everyone in the background.  It’s important to note that several professional athletes took part in this music video and are featured writing and holding a sign.

Overall, “Kakko Warui I Love You” is a pretty cool single and the c/w song “Kimi nara Daijoubu” is actually pretty good and I find myself often listening to it more than the title track.   But this is probably my favorite French Kiss CD single so far.  It’s important to note that if you want the music video for “Kakko Warui I Love You”, you need to purchase Type-A, while Type-B features the music video for “Kimi nara Daijoubu”.

“Kakko Warui I Love You” is an upbeat J-Pop song and with “Kimi nara Daijoubu”, overall it’s a wonderful third CD single from French Kiss!

If you you are fans of Yuki Kashiwagi, Aki Takajo or Asuka Kuramochi, this single is for you!