NMB48 – Virginity (Type-C) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. ヴァージニティー (NMB48)
2. 妄想ガールフレンド (NMB48)
3. 砂浜でピストル (Namba Teppōtai Sono Ichi)
4. みるきーのちゃぷちゃぷ (Type-C)
5. Spending All My Time -Original Instrumental-
6. ヴァージニティー off-vocal version
7. 妄想ガールフレンド off-vocal version
8. 砂浜でピストル off-vocal version

DVD INFO: 4:3, Region 2, Duration: 49:02 / “NMB48 feat. Yoshimoto Shin-kigeki Vol. 4” Duration: 1:18:20

1. ヴァージニティー (ミュージックビデオ)
2. ヴァージニティー (ミュージックビデオ ダンスミックスバージョン
3. 妄想ガールフレンド (ミュージックビデオ)
4. 砂浜でピストル (ミュージックビデオ)
5. NMB48 feat.吉本新喜劇Vol.4 (特典映像)

It has been a little over a year since AKB48 creator/producer Yasushi Akimoto created NMB48, the idol group which belongs to Kyoraku Yoshimoto Holdings Co., Ltd. (a joint corporation of Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd. and Kyoraku Sangyo Co., Ltd.).

And before anyone gets confused between the various idol groups with the “48″ attached to it. For NMB48, it’s best to remember that NMB stands for “Namba” which is in the Minami district in Osaka. So, NMB48 is the main Akimoto-related idol group being showcased in the Kansai area and is the second sister group, after SKE48 (which are based in Nagoya).

While NMB48 is known for its captain Sayaka Yamamoto (of Team N) and Team N member Miyuki “Milky” Watanabe, as more NMB48′s singles continue to chart at #1 in the weekly Oricon CD Single Chart rankings, there has been more exposure for the group and its members.

And with the success of their previous four CD singles, NMB48 has once again scored a #1 hit with their fifth CD single “Virginity” which sold over 300,000 copies on the day of their release.

There were four different versions of the single released. Type-A, Type-B and Type-C will each come with a DVD and feature an exclusive third track. Also, included with each Type is a “Milky no Chapu Chapu” track, which is a track under a minute with sounds of Milky taking a bath. The Theater Edition will come with no DVD will come with Type-A and Type-B exclusive tracks but also an exclusive third track.

The version that I will be reviewing is “Virginity” (Type-C) which features Sayaka Yamamoto holding a sad Miyuki Watanabe (an image from the drama). The four-fold insert features images from the music video and closeup pictures of a member plus lyrics and production credits on the other side. Also, a flyer promoting Kyoraku Yoshimoto’s upcoming plays for 2012 and 2013. The rear CD jacket features the image of Namba Teppoutai Sono Ichi group in military fatigues for the music video of “Sunahama de Pistol”.

The first track on the CD single is “Virginity”. A track that utilizes electric guitar and synth brass and the song is catchy and upbeat! The song is about one about the pressure of wanting to kiss, wanting to love someone but the thoughts of love, sex….can one even engage in the discussion of virginity. And as one kissed the person they liked, in exchange for love, the person gives virginity.

The second track on the single is “Moso Girlfriend” (which translates to “Delusional Girlfriend”) and is the sugary idol pop track of the CD single. And is a song about a one-sided love of falling in love with a idol girl you see on TV and calling her your girlfriend and that the person will love them forever and feeling that you and the girl would make a perfect couple.

The third track on the single is “Sunahama de Pistol” (which translates to “Pistol on a Sandy Beach) performed by NMB48’s Namba Teppoutai Sono Ichi team.   A sweet pop track with interesting use of bass before transitioning to upbeat, idol pop.  A fun summer track about a guy who fires a love (kiss) bullet with his pistol (thumb and index finger) on the beach, in hopes that person will feel his love with that one shot.

The fourth track is not a music track but a 43-second audio track of Milky taking a bath.

The next three tracks are the instrumental off-vocal versions of the first three tracks.

As for the DVD, the first video is a 32-minute drama and is a story about the life of four sisters (Sayaka Yamamoto, Nana Yamada, Miyuki Watanabe and Eriko Jo) and the challenges that these teenagers face in their personal lives, at school with friends or at their jobs.

The second video track is the dance remix music video version for “Virginity” which features clips from the special drama and NMB48 performing the song. The single probably is the group’s best choreography I have seen on a music video thus far.

The third video track is the music video for “Mosou Girlfriend” and features Milky walking through an alley way and sees a cat. When she goes to pet it, the cat bites her and Milky’s outfit turns into a sexy magical girl outfit with cat ears and a tail (that is in the shape of a heart). Milky is seen jogging through the city and the countryside and members of the members of SKE48 are then bit by Milky who become neko magical girls who then bite other SKE48 members. Then all SKE48 members have a cat tail and ears and magical girl outfits and perform the song on a hillside. A very cute music video!

The fourth video track is for Namba Teppoutai Sono Ichi team’s “Sunahama de Pistol”.  The video begins with a Senbatsu storyline as Riho “Ripopo” Kotani is announced as #1 on the Senbatsu elections and the artist giving her speech and woken up from her dream.  And remembering that she is part of NMBT and are targeting the top NMB48 senbatsu girls. Riho and her group are in combat fatigues performing and dancing to the song and are preparing to embark on their mission.

The fifth video can only be accessed on the main menu and is “NMB feat. Yoshimoto Shikigeki Vol. 4” and features members of NMB48 taking part in a theater program for “Yoshimoto Shin-kigeki” in front of a live audience.  Yoshimoto Shin-Kigeki are comedians who are part of a theater group that performs at the Namba Grand Theater Kageki (NGK) in Osaka and performs three times a day.

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, “Virginity” (Type-C) is a pretty solid CD single. You get a 32-minute drama special, three music videos and just when you think it’s all done, there is a 1 hour and 18-minute “NMB feat. Yoshimoto Shikigeki Vol. 4” segment. So, you’re getting a single with a lot of content.   With that being said, I do prefer Type-A and Type-B for two parter showing what NMB48 members do before they go to sleep, but for those who understand Japanese and want to see the NMB48 members take part in theater, will probably enjoy Type-C much more.

But for cool music and contant alone, if you are an NMB48 fan, “Virginity (Type-C) is highly recommended!

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