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

1. 美しい稲妻
2. 2人だけのパレード (SKE48 – Team KII)
3. 青春の水しぶき (SKE48 – Boat Pier Senbatsu)
4. 美しい稲妻 off vocal ver.
5. 2人だけのパレード off vocal ver.
6. 青春の水しぶき off vocal ver.

DVD INFO: 16:9LB, Region 2, Duration: 52:43

1. 美しい稲妻 music video
2. 2人だけのパレード music video
3. 「SKE48 チーム対抗!稲妻!ガチクッキングバトル」中編 (特典映像II)

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-B). The CD insert is a tri-fold featuring Rena Matsui as 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 KII.

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 “Futari dake no Parade”(which translates to  “A Parade for the two of us”) and is a cute, upbeat idol pop track from Team KII. And while I love Type-A’s “JYURI-JYURI BABY” dance track, “Futari dake no Parade” felt right as an idol pop track consistent with SKE48’s past music.  The song is about a new couple and the person is waiting on how long the other will kiss them.  But both love each other and have the same feelings for each other.  But it’s a new love for the couple and both are on a parade of love and while it’s easy to fall in love, it’s difficult to make it last.

The third track is titled “Seishun no Mizushibuki” (which translates to “Spray of Youth”) performed by SKE48’s Boat Pier Senbatsu.  A special unit who took part in a commercial for Boat Pier Nagoya and features Team S member Masana Oya, Miki Yakata, Team KII’s Akari Suda, Akane Takayanagi, Airi Furukawa, Team E’s Rena Matsui and Kaori Matsumura of Kenkyuusei.

The upbeat pop track is about everyone gathering by the pool and like a spray of youth, a person jumped into a pool and feeling alive and the person wishing they can swim in the pool.

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 “Futari dake no Parade” performed by SKE48’s Team KII and focuses on team captain Akane Takayanagi, Akari Suda and Mina Oba as they walk on the pavement and the rest of the Team KII members walk through a desolate road, dancing and singing their song while tossing around a yellow stuffed animal.

The third and final video on the DVD features part 2 of the SKE48 “SKE48 Team Taikou! Inazuma! Gachi Cooking Battle” which is about 42 minutes long. Who will win? Team S, Team KII, Team E or Team Kenkyuusei?

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-B) is a pretty cool CD+DVD and I felt the Team KII was one of my favorite songs next to SKE48’s Kenkyuusei’s “Yuudachi no Mae” (featured on the theater edition), but it’s a fun track! Also, it was cool to see the track “Seishun no Mizushibuki” from the Boat Pier Nagoya CM make it to the single.

With that being said, the DVD content included with “Utsukushii Inazuma” was fun to watch and I like the energy and playfulness of the Team KII music video.  And most people who want the full presentation of the “Inazuma! Gachi Cooking Battle”, will want to get all three types and Type-B features round 2!

Overall, “Utsukushii Inazuma” (Type-B) is a solid CD+DVD single from SKE48 and I have to admit that I probably am listening to “Futari dake no Parade” much more than the title track but for an SKE48 CD+DVD, it’s a solid release overall but when compared to previous releases, it’s very good, just not great.

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