Ongaku Cafe (2010-2019): AKB48 – Beginner (Type-A) (October 2010)

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1. Beginner – (AKB48)
2. 僕だけのvalue – (AKB48 Undergirls)
3. 君について – (MINT)
4. Beginner off vocal ver.
5. 僕だけのvalue off vocal ver.
6. 君について off vocal ver.

DVD INFO: 16:9 LB, Region 2, Duration: 21:41

1. Beginner Music Clip (DVD Version)
2. 僕だけのvalue Music Video
3. 君について Music Video
4. Beginner (フォーメーション映像) <前田敦子センターver.>
5. Beginner (フォーメーション映像) <板野友美センターver.>
6. Beginner (フォーメーション映像) <高橋みなみセンターver.>

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Reviewed back in October 2010

A year after AKB48 released their positive, upbeat 14th single “RIVER”, for 2010, AKB48 has returned with their 18th CD single “Beginner”.

And is the biggest selling CD single for the group so far!  Selling over 826,000 copies for its first week, “Beginner” has surpassed SPEED’s “All My True Love” as the best selling girl group CD single since 1998 and the third best selling single in its debut week for a female artist after Hikaru Utada (“Addicted to You”, 1.06 million copies sold) and Namie Amuro (“Can You Celebrate? – 828,000 copies sold).

And similar to previous AKB48 CD singles, there are three different versions of the CD single (five cover variations).  So, if you are a hardcore AKB48 fan, prepare to spend quite a bit for these five singles.  Type-A and Type-B come with a DVD with different content and also a handshake ticket for the limited edition version, while the theater edition is much cheaper, no DVD but includes the c/w songs by MINT and DIVA.

The version I will be reviewing is “Beginner” (Type-A) which features Yuko Oshima, Atsuko Maeda, Minami Takahashi and Tomomi Itano on the front cover.  Included is a handshake ticket, promotional for AKB48’s programming on Hikari TV, a promo for the 2011 official calendar and also voting code for “AKB Request 2011”.

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 “BEGINNER”, a wonderful upbeat, fierce pop track that continues the inspirational track that “RIVER” had.  The song is about taking on challenges and facing tomorrow and in life, we start over from the beginning.  Also, for those who lived reckless lives or were controlled of making their own decisions, they can start over as a beginner and be alive!  Awesome track and similar to “RIVER”, I’ve listened to this track over and over!

The second track is “Boku Dake no Value”, an upbeat idol song performed by AKB48’s Undergirls (who are the next 16 who did not place in the top 16 of the senbatsu elections).  The song is about having a friend who is not popular at school, an average person.  But you look at the person as the most beautiful person in your life and how this person makes you happy.  No matter what people may say about this person that you like, you still love that person because each person has their own value.  Another upbeat, fun AKB48 track from the Undergirls.

The third track is “Kimi ni Tsuite” (which translates to “About you”) which is performed by MINT (Atsuko Maeda, Haruka Katayama, Moeno Nito, Sakiko Matsui and Tomomi Kasai) and was selected by a fan vote held on Ameba Pigg.  The song is about a person you like.  A person who enjoys tea, a person who likes to cut their bangs and a person into pilates.  And the person reflecting how much they know the other.  But it’s a one-sided love but the person just enjoys spending time with that person and learning more about them.   A mid-tempo sweet song from MINT!

And the next three tracks are the off-vocal instrumental versions of the the first three tracks.

As for the DVD, there are a few things I must mention.  “Beginner” had a music video that was created and it would feature the girls as regenerating characters of a video game but somehow gain a conscience and now they want to leave the video game, so they longer get killed or are hurt.    Because the music video features the members as video game members getting killed (ie. a spike goes through Yuko Oshima’s character, Haruna Kojima has her head sliced off, spikes penetrate Mayu Watanabe all over her, etc.), the video was pulled from the DVD release due to worries of its violence and was only featured online.

So, for Type-A and Type-B DVD releases, the music video for “Beginner” (DVD version) features the dance portions of the music video, plus behind-the-scenes footage of the members rehearsing their lines and dance moves.

So, the first video kicks off with this DVD version of “Beginner” which is a tame and fun video as we see the girls rehearse their lines and dance moves. A cool dance video but having seen the original, I prefer the original, violent version much more but I can understand why the video was pulled and if some fans are angry because the original video is not included.

The second video is for “Boku Dake no Value” and features the Undergirls.  We see members of AKB48 Undergirls as two group of cliques that seem to not get along.  And these girls must take part in activity day at school with an outdoor marathon run.  The video then transitions to the girls performing on a building rooftop and also back and forth videos of the marathon run in which trouble between Aika Oota and another girl develops (the girl trips Rabutan).  But colored balls start falling from the sky and everyone becomes friends.

The third video is for MINT’s “Kimi no Tsuite” and begins with discussion of the final single for MINT and Atsuko Maeda is interviewed about the group releasing their final single.  Acchan is talking to the other members (which include Haruka Katayama, Moeno Nito, Sakiko Matsui and Tomomi Kasai) who are checking their blog for fan comments and everything about the group seems sad and not as happy as it used to be.  The video features Atsuko Maeda visiting their group website and going through their past singles on their official website.  And as Atsuko Maeda clicks back on previous singles of the group, she reads back on the happy comments that were posted on their blog by each member.  The video is actually pretty cool as each time Acchan clicks on the previous singles, we see clips of past music videos and showing the change within the members and how happy they were when they first started.  So, a better production for this music video, a cool storyline and fitting final video for MINT.

The fourth, fifth and sixth video on the DVD features on a various member and their dance formation for the “Beginner” music video.  The fourth video focuses on Yuko Oshima, the fifth video features Mariko Shinoda and the sixth features Jurina Matsui.

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, “BEGINNER” (Type-A) is an impressive CD+DVD single from AKB48.  The three tracks on the single are upbeat, catchy and enjoyable as with the DVD content.  While some may feel a bit of disappointment towards the original music video of “Beginner” not being included, you do get the DVD version along with three dance formation videos.  Plus you get a pretty enjoyable video from the AKB48 Undergirls and MINT.

But for “Beginner” alone, I can easily see why these young ladies are really starting to surge in popularity in Japan.  Unlike the past idol groups I have reviewed and watched in concert, these young ladies are driven, they can dance, they have personality and I can really see them going far.  They have improved a lot in these past few years and I look forward to seeing them grow in 2011.

AKB48’s “Beginner” (Type-A) is recommended!

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