French Kiss – Saisho no Mail (Theater Edition) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. 最初のメール – French Kiss
2. 真夜中の歯磨き – Yuki Kashiwagi
3. 最初のメール (Instrumental)
4. 真夜中の歯磨き (Instrumental)

In June 2010, the fourth sub-unit from AKB48 was born.  Known as French Kiss, the trio would feature 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 since then, the group has released two more singles: “If” and “Kakkowarui I Love You!”.

With their new fourth single “Saisho no Mail”, there will be a total of four versions released.  Type-A, Type-B and Type-C will feature a third exclusive track on the CD, while the DVD will feature the music video for “Saisho no Mail” and different content for its second video track (Type-A comes with the music video for “Candle no Shin”, Type-B comes with the French Kiss Offshoot Collection and Type-C comes with a Tour of Korea shoot).  The fourth version will be the theater edition which comes with no DVD but comes with the main track and an exclusive track titled “Mayonaka no Hamigaki”, a solo song sung by member Yuki Kashiwagi.

The version I will be reviewing is the Theater Edition of “Saisho no Mail” which comes with a bi-fold with lyrics and production credits.  An insert for Watanabe Girls Official Mobile.

The first track on the single is “Saisho no Mail” (which translates to first e-mail).  The song is an upbeat track pop track that feels like an AKB48 song in terms of arrangement but overall a a good upbeat idol pop track.  The song is about a person who confessed her love to the person she likes via e-mail.  But the first reply was that the first felt the same and from that moment, the two confessed that they have been in love with each other since the beginning.

The second track is rathering intriguing because you can’t get it on the other three CD+DVD versions of “Saisho no Mail” but only in the theater edition.  So, if you are a Yuki Kashiwagi fan, you’ll definitely want to pick up this single for her solo song “Mayonaka no Hamigaki” (which translates to “Midnight Toothpaste”).

The track is a mellow ballad about a girl who likes a guy so much and after hanging up the phone with him around midnight, she became lonely.  So, she brushes her teeth while crying and while looking at the mirror, she feels that she has nothing and can never forget him.  She just wants to be by him and hear his voice.  And she can’t go to sleep, so she continues to brush her teeth and cry.

Overall, “Saisho no Mail” was a good single but I wished there was another track included.  Granted, this theater edition is primarily targeted for Yuki Kashiwagi fans as it is the only way to obtain her single track of “Mayonaka no Hamigaki” or for those who want the single without spending so much for the CD+DVD versions.  And I have to admit that I prefer Yukirin’s solo song much more than “Saisho no Mail”.

But if you are a French Kiss or Yukirin fan, this theater edition version of “Saisho no Mail” is for you!