SKE48 – Utsukushii Inazuma (Type-A) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. 美しい稲妻
2. JYURI-JYURI BABY (SKE48 – Team S)
3. スルー・ザ・ナイト (SKE48 – Selection 8)
4. 美しい稲妻 off vocal ver.
5. JYURI-JYURI BABY off vocal ver.
6. スルー・ザ・ナイト off vocal ver.

DVD INFO: 16:9LB, Region 2, Duration: 1:06:43

1. 美しい稲妻 music video
2. JYURI-JYURI BABY music video
3. 「無礼講でお祭り騒ぎの大宴会!」前編 (特典映像I)

SKE48, the sister idol group of AKB48 that is based in Nagoya returns with their 12th CD single “Utsukushii Inazuma” (which translates to “Beautiful Lightning”), a track which becomes the group’s eighth CD single to reach #1 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and their second single to sell over 600,000 copies in its first week (first week total was 632,994, their last single “Choco no Dorei sold 671,623 copies).

The single will feature new changes with the group as Mina Oba of AKB48 will now be part of Team KII and with the nine graduations earlier this year, the group has now promoted nine kenkyuusei members to the team.  And now Yuka Nakanishi will become the Captain of SKE48 and Team S, Akane Takayanagi as captain of Team KII and Rena Matsui as captain of Team E.

With “Utsukushii Inazuma”, a total of four CD single versions were released. TYPE-A, TYPE-B and TYPE-C (Note: Limited and regular edition of all three types have different covers) will include a DVD.   The theater edition comes with the main title track, an exclusive Kenkyuusei track and a SKE48 12th Single Medley. Also, it does not come with a DVD.

The version I will be reviewing is “Utsukushii Inazuma” (Type-A). The CD insert is a tri-fold featuring Jurina Matsui as the center on the cover. When opened up, all 16 members are featured on one side, while lyrics and production credits are featured on the other side. Reverse cover on the back features a photo of Team S.

The first track on the single is “Utsukushii Inazuma” (which translates to “Beautiful Lightning”) and the sound is upbeat pop but with a sense of maturity when compared to “Kiss Datte Hidarikiki” and also “Choco no Dorei”.  While I do like the beats, immediately I felt it was a song that would showcase strong choreography but also wondered if fans would miss their sweet idol pop style of music.

The summer track is about loving someone and struck by a beautiful lightning, struck by love and on the beach the heightening of emotions to be close to that person you love.

The second track is titled “JYURI-JYURI BABY” and is performed by SKE48’s Team S.  The synth dance track is actually very well-done and I enjoyed the song much more than “Utsukushii Inazuma”.  I have to admit that when I heard this track, I wondered if this song was about Matsui Jurina, but after hearing the lyrics, I realized the answer was “nope”.  The song is from a perspective of someone who is wondering how much the person she likes, really knows her.  But she is a person that can’t just be held or kissed, she needs time.

The third track is titled “Through the Night” and is performed by SKE48’s Selection 8.  A group that SKE48 member Aki Deguchi was hoping to see happen in 2012 and that was to feature the well-endowed members of SKE48.  And in 2012, it became a reality and in 2013, due to the fans loving it, Selection 8 lives on!

The song has a SND48 feel, not necessarily sexually-suggestive but it’s an upbeat pop idol track about two individuals as they are driving in their speeding car, wanting to go through with it and wanting the guy to invite her tonight and wanting to have fun until the morning comes.

The remainder of the three tracks are the instrumental versions of the first three vocal tracks.

As for the DVD, the DVD begins with the music video of “Utsukushii Inazume” and focuses on SKE48 performing dancing on the beach, while guys are playing with fire in the background.  The girls are looking sexy as they role in the sand or are in the ocean.  I actually love the close-ups for this video, definitely great in showcasing the members eyes.  The choreography was very cool and I have to admit that the music video made me enjoy the music video much more.

The second music video is for “JYURI-JYURI BABY” performed by SKE48’s Team S.  The video begins with a drama that features Jurina Matsui coming into a well-guarded facility to talk to a person about Team S.  The video then transitions to Team S performing their song and waiting for a guy’s answer to their performance.

The third and final video on the DVD features part 1 of a special titled “SKE48 Team Taikou! Inazuma! Gachi Cooking Battle” which begins with SKE48 coming into ZEPP and Team S, Team KII, Team E and Team Kenkyuusei find out they must take part in a cooking battle and impress the judges for the first round.  The special is to be continued on “Utsukushii Inazuma” Type-B and Type-C.

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.

“Utsukushii Inazuma” (Type-A) is a pretty cool CD+DVD but while I enjoyed the music videos for the single, I felt that “Utsukushii Inazuma” was good, but it’s Team S coupling song “JYURI-JYURI BABY” was much better.  But compared to other SKE48 songs, it is a much more mature, upbeat dance track but I think it will be a song that will be subjective for SKE48 fans, especially for those who love songs such as “Aishiteraburu”, “Kiss Datte Hidrikiki” and “Choco no Dorei”. Not that its an extreme departure but it’s a different SKE48 type of sound.

With that being said, the DVD content included with “Utsukushii Inazuma” was fun to watch.  The sexy beach choreography and closeups in “Utsukushii Inazuma” was cool and it was good to see a Team S music video included.  I would have loved to see a music video included for “Through the Night” as well featuring Section 8 but the first round of the SKE48 “Gachi Cooking Battle” was fun to watch each teams compete.

Overall, “Utsukushii Inazuma” (Type-A) is a solid CD+DVD single from SKE48 with three good songs and cool DVD content.  But when compared to other SKE48 releases, “Utsukushii Inazuma” is not capturing my attention and found its coupling song “JYURI-JYURI BABY” to be much more enjoyable.  But as an overall CD+DVD package, SKE48 fans should love the content!

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