Nogizaka46 – Guru Guru Curtain (Regular Edition) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. ぐるぐるカーテン
2. 左胸の勇気
3. 白い雲にのって
4. ぐるぐるカーテン off vocal ver.
5. 左胸の勇気off vocal ver.
6. 白い雲にのって off vocal ver.

Nogizaka46, the new idol pop group created by Onyanko Club and AKB48 creator Yasushi Akimoto. 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.

The group’s debut single is “Guru Guru Curtain” which debuted at #2 on the Oricon Week Singles charts and did quite well as it sold over 136,000 copies.

In Japan, four versions of “Guru Guru Curtain” were released. Similar to the AKB48 releases, there were three types released which include an exclusive third track plus a DVD.  The regular edition does not include a DVD but also includes an exclusive third track.

The version I will be reviewing is the regular edition which comes with a 14-page booklet with Eri kuta, Rina Ikoma, Minami Hoshino and Mai Shiraishi on the front cover.  The booklet features lyrics and production credits plus solo images of Mai Shiraishi, Sayuri Inoue, Yuuri Saito, Kana Hakada and the top 16 members of the group plus another page featuring the other 17 members of Nogizaka46.

The single kicks off with “Guru Guru Curtain” (which translates to wrap the curtain).  The song has a gentle, idol pop feel and is about two girls needing a place to hide, so they spin and wrap a curtain on themselves, talking secretly together about a guy that one of them likes.  A cute song overal.

The second track is titled “Hidari Mune no Yuuki” (which translates to “The Courage On the Left Side of My Chest”) and is an upbeat, pop track.  Where “Guru Guru Curtain” is sweet, idol pop, “Hidari Mune no Yuki is driven by its beat and dance arrangement. The song’s brief arrangement for the chorus does remind me of Yasushi Akimoto’s older idol group Chekikko’s song “Dakishimete” a little.

The song is about a person telling someone to put the palm of their hand on top of their heart and feeling their heart pound.    The person is afraid of being defeated and being left behind.  The person is weak but feels that they can go on if that person is with them and so they can get back on their feet and keep trying and to never give up and be positive.

The third and final vocal track on the single is “Shiroi Kumo ni Notte” (which translates to “Ride on the White Clouds”).  The song is a happy, upbeat pop song.  Where “Hidari Mune no Yuuki” is driven by the song’s dance beat, “Shiroi Kumo ni Notte” is synth pop that showcases the group’s vocals.  The song is about one wanting to ride the white clouds, looking towards the future and going to a world where little birds chirp and where flowers smell sweet.  A place where people, cats and dogs are smiling.  To get away from sadness and quarrels and imagine a happy place.

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

Overall, Nogizaka46’s single is sweet and upbeat and shows promise for the group.  Where AKB48 has grown to be more dance-based which I like, for those who enjoyed the group’s original style of sweet, idol pop tracks will surely enjoy Nogizaka46’s debut single.

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