Nogizaka46 – Girl’s Rule (Type-A) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. ガールズルール
2. 世界で一番 孤独なLover
3. コウモリよ
4. ガールズルール off vocal ver.
5. 世界で一番 孤独なLover off vocal ver.
6. コウモリよ off vocal ver.

DVD INFO: 16:9LB, Region 2, Duration: 1::01:06

1. ガールズルール -Music Video-
2. 世界で一番 孤独なLover -Music Video-
3. 16人のプリンシパル@PARCO劇場 (ダイジェスト)

Nogizaka46 is back with their sixth CD single “Girl’s Rule”.  But with this latest single marks a change in center as Shiraishi Mai was voted #1 center for this single, while Matsumura Sayuri took #2, Hashimoto Nanami took #3 and previous center for the majority of the Nogizaka46’s singles, Ikoma Rena dropped to #4.

And it seems that fans have been responsive as last single “Kimi no Na wa Kibo” which was the best selling Nogizaka46 single with 232,961 copies sold during its first week, was surpassed by “Girl’s Rule” which sold over 331,000 copies its first week.  Which is a significant jump!

And I expect things to be brighter for Nogizaka46 in 2013 thanks to their new variety show “NOGIBINGO”, the fact that there are tie-ins with Nogizaka46 and the AKB48G (Groups which consist of AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48).

What is Nogizaka 46?

Nogizaka46, the idol pop group created by Onyanko Club and AKB48 creator Akimoto Yasushi . But where his other groups represent a region of Japan, Nogizaka46 was created as the official rival to Nogizaka46 and the “Nogizaka” named after the place where Sony Music Japan’s office (the SME Nogizaka Building) is located. And the number “46” was chosen as a number to become a direct challenge to AKB48.

But things have changed a little in 2013 as the group have been more friendlier towards each other despite being a separate unit from the AKB48G although they are produced by the same producer, Akimoto Yasushi.

Like previous singles, there are four versions of “Girl’s Rule” that were released. Type A, B and C would come with a DVD but also feature an exclusive third track. While the regular edition comes with no DVD and an exclusive third track.

The version I will be reviewing is “Girl’s Rule” (Type-A). The CD insert features features Nogizaka46 ace (center) Shiraishi Mai swimming and looking directly at the camera.  Insert booklet comes with a 16-page booklet featuring lyrics and photos of the group and also individual members Sakurai Reika, Ikoma Rena, Ito Marika and Nishino Nanase.

The first track on the album is “Girl’s Rule” and is an upbeat summer pop ballad.  The song is about the bus arriving to the beach and the girls changing into their swimsuits to head to the beach.  But each hope they can fall in love during the summer and then graduate.  And Girl’s rule because when they fall for a guy, they can cry about it together or congratulate each other.  They talk about secrets and while they are on the sand, they can just have fun and enjoy the waves until the guys arrive.

The second track on the single is an upbeat dance track titled “Sekai de Ichiban Kodoku na Lover” (which translates to “The World’s Loneliest Lover”) and is a song used on the NTV drama “Bad Boys”.  The synth driven dance track is about a girl who is upset towards a guy who she was once with.  She just wants to fade from his view and can’t stand it when he tries to act nice and feels his words doesn’t flatter anyone because he’s the world’s loneliest lover.  But no one is to blame for their relationship ending as both met too early and maybe someday, they will fall in love again.  But in truth, she knows that her heart is wanting to be with him and she is the world’s loneliest lover.  But she desperately wants to forget that guy.

The third track on this CD single is “Koumori Yo” (which translates to “Bat”) and is an interesting track because it’s a hard rock song and the way the musical arrangement is with the drums and guitar reminds me of an X-Japan song with the rapid, Yoshiki-like drums and hide guitar.  The song is about the person feels sorrow in the darkness, and like a bat, spreading their wings through the night sky and trying to avoid a tear to flow down her cheek.  But like a bat, to fly together in the sky and fly away freely towards love.

And the remaining three tracks are the instrumental versions of the first three songs.

As for the DVD, the first video track is the music video for “Girl’s Rule”.   The summer video features shows a group of girls from the country side who watch a group of girls playing in swimming pool.  Matsumura Sayuri is filming everyone with her digital video cam and everyone is having fun.  While Shiraishi Mai is feeling down that her friend Ikuta Erika is doing much better in archery and she’s not.   The video then cuts away to the girls dancing in a shallow pool and the girl’s teaming up to argue with faculty.  Definitely one of the more rebellious Nogizaka46 videos I have seen.  A side note for AKB48 fans who watched Kitahara Rie in the reality TV show “Terrace House”, the young man who fell for her, Sugaya Tetsuya, was cast in the music video as a guy that Matsumura Sayuri has her eyes on.

The second video track is the music video for “Sekai de Ichiban Kodoku na Lover” and features an individual member dancing in Tokyo, while a guy is riding his bicycle really quick past each member who is dancing.  I actually love this video… love the upbeat dance track but it’s great to see each member separated from each other, dancing on their own and wearing regular clothes instead of all members wearing the same clothing.

The third and final video was shot in August 2012 through May 2013 and features the continuation of the “16nin no Principal”, a Nogizaka46 musical about a group of girls who take part in the audition process.  The unique thing about this musical is that its first act features the 30+ members but in the second act, 16 members will get to participate in the second half by votes by audience members who attended the show.  The video shows how each member feels about being chosen as center for the role of Alice.    But you realize the stress that these girls face as they only had a week to to know all 16 positions.

And the stress and frustration that various girls had faced, especially to be on stage and some not being prepared for the role.  You can see how much of an emotional toll it took on various members.

A reminder 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, “Girl’s Rule” (Type-A) is a very fun and enjoyable single that gives us three different styles of music from Nogizaka46.  Idol pop, dance and a rock track!

But also including a DVD that features two enjoyable music videos but also giving  fans insight to the “16nin no Principal” musical and seeing how challenging, how difficult and how emotional it was for various members to be on stage, learn various positions in short time.  But it also shows you the diversity of each member and also a side of each member’s talents that I have never seen before from previous singles or on television.  I was very impressed!

This is a fantastic single that Nogizaka46 fans will definitely appreciate!  Highly recommended!

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