SKE48 – Aozora Kataomoi (Regular Edition) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. 青空片想い – SKE48
2. バンジー宣言
3. 青空片想い off vocal ver.
4. バンジー宣言 off vocal ver.

DVD INFO: 16:9 LB, Region 2, Duration: 20:46

1. 青空片想い (music video)
2. バンジー宣言 (music vide0)
3. Senbatsu documentary

SKE48, the sister idol group of AKB48 that is based in Nagoya returns with their 2nd CD single “Aozora Kataomoi”.

For those who are not familiar with SKE48, AKB48 creator/producer Yasushi Akimoto wanted to develop SKE48, centered around young teenager Jurina Matsui who was featured as a dual member for SKE48 and AKB48.  Jurina made her debut in the AKB48 single(“Ogoe Diamond” and would eventually become the first collaboration for SKE48 and AKB48.

With “Aozora Kataomoi”, Akimoto wanted to use the senbatsu system for SKE48’s second single.  With the title track “Aozora Kataomoi”, Akimoto selected seven members to perform the track: Jurina Matsui, Rena Matsui, Kumi Yagami, Yukiko Kinoshita, Manatsu Mukaida, Akane Takayanagi and Shiori Ogiso.

For the c/w track “Bungee Sengen”, ten members were chosen and would be known as Team BLT (Beautiful Lady & Television).  The ten chose to sing this track were Mizuki Kuwabara, Haruka Ono, Rikako Hirata, Masana Oya, Shiori Takada, Akari Suda, Kanako Hiramatsu, Airi Furukawa, Anna Ishida and Rina Matsumoto.

“Aozora Kataomoi” debuted at #3 on the Oricon charts and two versions were released.  A regular edition with a DVD and a theater release without a DVD.

The version I will be reviewing is the regular edition of “Aozora Kataomoi” with the DVD . The single comes with an eight-page booklet with photos of each member of SKE48, lyrics and production credits.

The single begins with the title track “Aozora Kataomoi” which translates to “Blue Sky One-Sided Love” or “Blue Sky Crush”.  The track features an upbeat dance track from the mini-senbatsu group and is about a person watching a person they like walking with their school uniform.  Watching them far away and under the blue sky, falling in love.  It’s a one-sided love but one of these days, the person wishes they can meet them and really love them.  But for now, that person who likes the other will share the same emotions.  If they look sad, the person will be sad.  If that person passes by them, the person will feel encouragement towards that person.

The second track on the single is “Bungee Sengen” (which translates to “Bungee Declaration”) performed by TEAM BLT and I have to admit that of the two songs on this single, I prefer “Bungee Sengen” the most.  More of an upbeat, cute idol pop track.  I love the unison of each member performing the track and its quite catchy.  The song is about a person wanting to know if a person likes them and with the bungee declaration, the person wants to know right now.  The person is not scared about the answer but wishes if that person loves him/her, the person will jump right in!

The remaining two tracks on the CD single are the instrumental versions of the first two tracks.

As for the DVD, the DVD begins with the music video clip for “Aozora Kataomoi” and features SKE48’s mini-senbatsu group performing on top of a very tall building and performing on a platform surround by fans cheering for them.  While a helicopter flies above them, recording them from afar.

The second music video is for “Bungee Sengen” featuring Team BLT performing on stage with lights, balloons and an inflatable rainbow behind them.  A cute, simple music video.

The final video track (duration: 11:34 minutes) is the 2nd single senbatsu announcement.  All members of SKE48 come in to a room and are not sure why cameras are all around filming them.  They soon find out that Yasushi Akimoto has decided on the seven members who will be performing “Aozora Kataomoi” and the ten members who will be part of TEAM BLT and perform “Bungee Sengen”.  We see the announcement and members discussing the surprise senbatsu selection.

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, “Aozora Kataomoi” was a good single.  A different type of single since only seven members are performing on the main track.  And while it was good, I found myself liking the  Team BLT song “Bungee Sengen” much more.  I suppose because the c/w track had a more idol pop sound and was catchier than the other, but I’m sure it’s subjective to the listener.

As for the DVD, both music videos are fun.  “Aozora Kataomoi” was a bit classy with the performance on a highrise but the video that I was more impressed with, was the “senbatsu documentary”.  The faces of the members when the first seven members were selected for the second single track.  But then the announcement of Team BLT and of course, the faces of those who were not selected for either group, which was a bit sad to see.  I have to admit that with the senbatsu selection, I think it was a given that Jurina, Rena, Kumi and Yukiko would be selected.  The other three were from Team KII was not so much of a surprise but they were visible members of that team.  But the last three were quite a bit of a tossup and was surprised to see the young 13-year-old Manatsu Mukaida as part of the mini-senbatsu.

Overall, “Aozora Kataomoi” was a fun single worth checking out and I recommend the CD+DVD version!