Not yet – Naminori Kakigori (Type-B) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. 波乗りかき氷
2. フェルメールの手紙
3. ギリシャの貨物船
4. 波乗りかき氷 off vocal ver.
5. フェルメールの手紙 off vocal ver.
6. ギリシャの貨物船 off vocal ver.

DVD INFO: 16:9LB, Region 2, Duration: 40:22

1. 「波乗りかき氷 」Music Clip メイキング映像
2. ドキュメンタリー「優子の軌跡」

Leave it to producer and AKB48 creator Yasushi Akimoto create a side-unit featuring Yuko Oshima, Rie Kitahara, Rino Sashihara and Yui Yokoyama.   But to name them “Not yet” because their dancing and singing skills were “not very good yet”.

But the fact is that Akimoto did put together four popular members from AKB48 and with top ranked member Yuko Oshima as lead, things were about to go well for the group.

And as 2011 has been a solid year for AKB48 thus far and Not yet’s first CD single “Shumatsu Not Yet” debuting at #1 on the Oricon and Billboard charts (and selling over 247,000 copies), it looks like the group has duplicated their success for their second CD single “Naminori Kakigori” (which translates to “Surfing and Shaved Ice”) which debuted at #1 on the Oricon CD Singles Charts and Billboard Japan Hot 100 and also selling over 200,000 copies.

A total of three versions of “Naminori Kakigori” were released.  All three come with an exclusive third track but Type-A and Type-B come with DVD’s.  Type-A with a “Shuumatsu Not Yet” event digest and Type-B with the Yuko Oshima Documentary.  The third version comes with no DVD.

The version I will be reviewing is Type-B which features a quad fold with lyrics on one side, a solo shot of each member and a front cover featuring Yuko Oshima walking a dog, Rie Kitahara with a surfboard, Yui with a beach ball and Rino with a bike.  The single also comes with a large obi featuring Yuko Oshima riding on a surfboard.

The single begins with “Naminori Kakigori”, a pop idol track with electric guitars and a summer pop feel.  Featuring good vocals from each of the four members, “Naminori Kakigori” is a song about a girl who knows that surfing and shaved ice is what her guy friend likes the most but she also wants him to also fall in love with her.  She’s a bit sad because she cheers for him when he surfs but he doesn’t notice her at all.  Her back is sunburned because the guy doesn’t help apply suntan lotion on her back.  But when he returns from surfing, he acts like a child, wanting his shaved ice.  But she wonders if they have anything in common, so she knows that surfing and shaved ice is what he loves, but she wants to be loved.

The second CD single is “Vermeer no Tegami” (which translates to “Vermeer’s Letter”),  a sweet ballad that is in reference to Jan Vermeer’s 17th century painting “Vermeer’s Letter”.  About a person loving someone else (despite having been with another) and involved with another man, who is writing her letters.  But the person feels they are in a similar predicament as Vermeer’s letter, possibly being with someone but met someone else. She knows it is not right but she does not regret meeting the guy either.  Especially if it’s her destiny.

The third single is “Greece no Kaotsusen” (which translates to “Greek Freighter”) and is a slow ballad about falling in love with someone and standing with them near the ocean watching the Greek freighter passing and just being in love.  Standing together and watching the blue and white flag of Greece on the freighter and wanting someday to live with the person they love far away.

The remaining three tracks are the instrumental tracks of the first three songs.

As for the DVD, the first video track is the making of “Naminori Kakigori” and how the members had to film in very cold weather, yet have to get splashed with water and play in the beach, while Yuko Oshima had to learn how to ride a surfboard.  This video is about 15 minutes long.

The second video is about Yuko Oshima and features her audition and how she became a member of AKB48 and features footage from when she audition for AKB48 in 2006 and being interviewed in 2011 and talking about her earlier years of AKB48.  A fascinating documentary for those who want to see the moment when Yuko made it into the group but also seeing footage of other AKB48 members during their earlier years.  This documentary is about 35 minutes long.

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, “Naminori Kakigori” (Type-B) is a fun CD single.  A summer single that comes with two ballads, I enjoyed the single for its vocals but also it’s sweetness courtesy of the vocals of the four members.  As for Type-B of this single, it’s recommended to those who are Yuko Oshima fans.  The documentary really goes far into showcasing Yuko’s growth as a member of AKB48 and becoming the #1 member in the Senbatsu elections in 2010 and eventually becoming part of the sub-unit, Not yet.

But this CD+DVD single is pretty enjoyable, a bit Yuko-centric but three awesome tracks.  If you love Not yet and Yuko Oshima, “Naminori Kakigori” (Type-B) is for you!

BUY THIS CD SINGLE from cdjapan.com:

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Naminori Kakigori [CD+DVD / Type-B]

Not yet (Yuko Oshima, Rie Kitahara, Rino Sashihara, Yui Yokoyama)