SDN48 – Kudokinagara Azabujuban duet with Mino Monta (Theater Edition) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. 口説きながら麻布十番 duet with みの もんた – (SDN48)
2. やりたがり屋さん – Undergirls  Team G
3. カムジャタン慕情 – Undergirls A
4. カシャーサで自白する – Undergirls B

Back in 2008, AKB48 producer/creator Yasushi Akimoto wanted to create a more sexier idol group and one that would perform only on Saturday night at 10 p.m. for audiences over 18.

The group would be known as SDN48 (Saturday Night 48) which he would send a few AKB48 members to the new group and hold auditions. Former Team K member Kayo Noro would become the team captain and would also feature Team K member Megumi Ohori.

And so far, the group has done well with their first three singles “Gagaga”, “Ai, Chuseyo” and “Min Min Min” which debuted at #3 on the Oricon Charts.

And now SDN48 has released their new single “Kudokinagara Azabujuban” which also debuted at #3 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and is their first collaboration with a talent, in this case TV host Mino Monta (who has the Guiness Word Records as a TV host with the most live TV appearances in a week (at 22 hours and 15 seconds).

“Kudokinagara Azabujuban” was released in three different versions. Type-A would feature the third track “Kamujatan Bojou” featuring Undergirls A and Type-B would feature an “Kashaasa de Jihaku suru” by Undergirls B. The third version is the Theater Edition which comes with no DVD but features both Type-A and Type-B exclusive tracks.

The version that I will be reviewing is the Theater Edition of “Kudokinagara Azabujuban”.

The insert is a bi-fold which features eight of the members of SDN48 with Mino Monta, the other side features another photo with 12 members of SDN48.  But as one can expect with a collaboration with Mino Monta, you are getting almost traditional, not enka, Japanese style of music which was common in the ’70s and ’80s.  But modernized for today’s audience with the sexiness of SND48 and their lyrics with the added collaboration with one of the most recognized legends of Japanese entertainment.

The first track “Kudokinagara Azabujuban” (which means “To be seduced in Azabu No. 10”, Azabu is a district of Minato-ku, Tokyo and “No. 10” is a neighborhood, best known for its clubs and the home of “Sailor Moon”.   But the song is about two people who are sexually attracted to each other and the two individuals ask where each are going and they end up going to Azabu-Juban together.  And a fun interacting between SDN48 and Monta as they discuss who’s home will they be going to.  A fun track overall, but I have to say the collaboration was unexpected.  As for the lineup, interesting is that there are only eight members of SDN48 featured on this track.  The music is in line with traditional enka (especially music from the ’70s in Japan) but you have the modernized vocals of SDN48, not so risque lyrics due to the collaboration, but a fun near traditional Japanese style of track.

The second track “Yarigatariya-san” (which translates to “I want to go shopping”) and is an upbeat dance track featuring cool beats and cool vocals by SDN48 Undergirls Team G.  The track is about a woman who suddenly got kissed and embraces the man during the rain.  And the song really plays out as a person making love with someone by the lyrics: Let’s kiss again (aiyaiyaiya), keep your eyes open (aiyaiyaiya), the two of us getting wet (aiyaiyaya), more…more (aiyaiyaya).  And the music video for this song actually quite sexy as the women are having fun in front of a camera and then they start taking off their clothes and start taking pictures of themselves.  Granted, of you want the video, you’ll need to check out Type-A or Type-B.

The third track is performed by Undergirls A and is titled “Kamujatan Bojou” (longing for “Kamujatan” which is a Korean dish) and almost has a modernized enka style to it.  But with its arrangement, more modern and suited for an idol group.  It’s a very good song and its about a person in Myeongdong, Korea a person who came to Korea to find her dream guy and longing for Kamujatan.  This is my interpretation and I feel the song is about the women in Japan who have been swept by the Korean wave and those who have traveled overseas in hopes to find a Korean man (or even the celebrity) and immerse themselves in Korean culture.  That is my opinion of what this song is about.

The fourth and final track is “Kashaasa de Jihaku suru” (and is a song about confession with Cachaca, a liquor from Brazil).  A pop song that tries to incorporate a samba style, the track is about being at a carnival in Rio and one night, just dancing to the rhythm of the samba.  And at the old bar, the person decides to get drunk with Cachaca.  Wanting to fall in love and even though he just met another person, he confesses his love thanks to the Cachaca.  And the person continues to sing of how Cachac is like an aphrodisiac and asks the other person he likes if they would like another cup.

Overall, the theater edition of “Kudokinagara Azabujuban” was rather intriguing. But with rumors that this is the last single for SDN48, I hope it’s not.  I have watched Mino Monta many times on television, but it would be an odd final CD single to go out with a modernized song of a traditional Japanese music style that doesn’t exactly fit as a goodbye single.  But overall, the four tracks are good…just not “Min-Min-Min” good!

While the songs are very good on this theater edition, for those who are into SDN48 for their sexiness and presentation will probably want to go for the Type-A and/or Type-B singles.  Especially for the track “Yarigatariya-san” which no doubt is the more upbeat track on this CD single and one of the group’s sexier music videos.  Otherwise, if you have no need for the DVD’s and don’t want to spend that much on either type, then definitely go for the theater edition with four good tracks.   While I enjoyed it, I suppose I had high expectations for SDN48’s latest single, because I felt “Min-Min-Min” was a song that suited the group amazingly well, but this latest single goes in a different direction.

Otherwise, a fun single overall!

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