Ongaku Cafe (The 2000s) – AKB48 – River (Theater Edition) (October 2009)

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“RIVER” is a fantastic CD single that I found myself listening to a lot!  First AKB48 single that really caught my attention and I hope they continue to make music this catchy and addictive.  They have come along way since I reviewed their earlier work and I look forward to hearing how AKB48 will follow up to this fantastic single!

GROUP: AKB48

ALBUM: River (Theater Edition)

LABEL: King Records

CATALOG #: NMAX-1087

DURATION: 21:43

RELEASE DATE: October 21, 2009

  1. RIVER – AKB48
  2. 君のことが好きだから – (AKB48 Undergirls)
  3. ひこうき雲 – (Theatergirls)
  4. RIVER off vocal ver. – AKB48
  5. 君のことが好きだから off vocal ver. – AKB48 (Undergirls)
  6. ひこうき雲 – (Theatergirls)

The female idol group known as AKB48 has finally done it! The group achieved their first single to top the Oricon Weekly Charts with 179,000 copies sold, which in today’s Japanese music industry… fantastic!

Their 14th major single “RIVER” also was the first single I have listened to over and over again probably over 50 times already today. It’s upbeat, positive, catchy and addictive!

The version I will be reviewing of “RIVER” is the theater edition (no DVD) but does come with a handshake event ticket for Tokyo Big Sight or SKE48 Theater, a special performance ticket for the lottery (which one can win a chance to attend a live stage performance, karaoke competition or AKB meeting) and a random photo.

It’s important to note that the CD+DVD version of “RIVER” features music videos for all three tracks plus a special featurette.

The CD insert is a gatefold which features lyrics on one side and the other side features all top 16 Senbatsu members.

The first track is “RIVER”, one of the more inspirational songs I have heard released in Japan in my decades of reviewing Japanese music.
The song is practically a song about hope, one should always dream, and with the rapid river, don’t be scared crossing it, believe in yourself in trying to cross that river and reaching the other side where the future exists.
Inside your heart is a flowing river, sometimes it can be painful and things may not go well, but you can try again and do better the next time.  Do not give up!   Upbeat, positive and addictive, I love this song!
The second track is “Kimi no Koto ga Suki Dakara”, an upbeat idol song that translates to “Because I Love You”.  Another positive song but this one deals with hoping for ones happiness and no matter what, that person will love you and will always be there for you.
And pretty much being thankful to be in love with someone even if that person doesn’t recognize you in that same way.  What’s interesting about this song is that you think it’s about a couple, until the final lyrics which the lyrics reveal it’s a one-sided love.  Overall, a fun, happy upbeat track!
The third track is “Hikoukigumo” which translates to trail of vapors or vapor trail and is sung by the theater girls.
The song is pretty much and ended relationship or a person saying goodbye.  One of the people in the relationship wonders by looking at the vapor trail in the sky, does anyone’s feelings still remain after both sides have said goodbye.  While a sad song, the song is slightly upbeat and a touching song overall.

The remaining three tracks are the off-vocal instrumental versions of the three previous songs.

Overall, “RIVER” is a fantastic CD single that I found myself listening to a lot!  First AKB48 single that really caught my attention and I hope they continue to make music this catchy and addictive.  They have come along way since I reviewed their earlier work and I look forward to hearing how AKB48 will follow up to this fantastic single!

Recommended!

 

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