Ongaku Cafe (2010-2019): no3b - Kirigirisu Jin (January 2013)

Upbeat pop tracks, no3b’s ninth CD single “Kirigirisu-Jin” (Regular Edition) is a fun CD single, but I prefer the c/w track “Iin Ja ne” the most. But overall, two upbeat pop tracks that should satisfy no3b fans!

GROUP: no3b (no sleeves/ノースリーブス)

CD SINGLE: キリギリス人 (Regular Edition) / Kirigirisu Jin (Regular Edition)

LABEL: Epic Records

CATALOG #: ESCL-3970

DURATION: 18:50

RELEASE DATE: January 16, 2013

キリギリス人
いーんじゃね?
キリギリス人 -Instrumental-
いーんじゃね? -Instrumental-

Reviewed back in January 2013

After a one year break, No Sleeves (no3b) are back with their ninth CD single “Kirigirisu Jin”!

In 2008, AKB48 creator/producer Yasushi Akimoto created a subunit from AKB48’s Team A first generation members Minami Takahashi, Haruna Kojima and Minami Minegishi known as No Sleeves (no3b) for CD release and Persona for their initial digital release.

The idea of no3b came with Akimoto wanted to create a group that featured members without the AKB48 uniforms. This time sporting outfits with no sleeves. And thus, no3b was born. As for Persona, the group revolves around the male characters that the three AKB48 members play in the drama series “Men-Dol”.

For “Kirigirisu Jin”, a total of four versions of the single were released. Type-A, Type-B and Type-C limited editions would feature three vocal tracks and include a DVD with three video tracks and each cover would feature a member of the pop group. Each would come with a poster and a single no3b collector’s card (there are a total of nine available). The fourth version would be a regular edition with no DVD and comes with a collector’s card for the first press release and two songs including the instrumental versions of the songs.

The version that I will be reviewing is the regular edition which comes with a large rear obi with the members saluting. The front cover of the CD features the three standing with Haruna Kojima holding a very large flag. The eight page insert features a photo of each member, the lyrics to the songs featured and production credits.

The first song on the CD single is “Kirigirisu Jin” (which translates to “Grasshopper People”). The song is an upbeat pop track with plenty of brass and cool underlying guitar and bass groove. The song is about how one should not live life boringly and that life is short, while people are living in their youth, let’s have fun and let’s dream! So, let’s get up and sing, dance and be like grasshoppers. So, don’t go home, you only live once, so keep partying and having fun. Let’s party!

The second track on the single is “Iin ja ne?” (which translates to “Won’t it be fine?”). Similar to “Kirigirisu-Jin”, the song utilizes deep bass groove and brass. And I must admit that I actually prefer the coupling track “Iin Ja Ne?” more than “Kirigirisu Jin”. The song has an ’80s pop style feel to it and I love the vocals for this song and the electric guitar solo.

The track is about a bad girl, who wears her sunglasses, heavy makeup, mini skirt and drives her convertible on rain days, wears a raincoat on sunny days…so, goes the rumors about her. Returning back home, she realizes that that people have been talking behind her back and it’s not friendly gossip. But she is a person who likes to sleep with the guys and she wonders if she betrays someone, would it be fine as long as she is having fun? Even if people stare or talk about her, she doesn’t mind. Because she can’t stop her selfishness and she doesn’t want to be in love.

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

Overall, “Kirigirisu Jin” is a good single form no3b. Both songs are a bit wild (in terms of lyrics) and while both songs are upbeat, the first track is more about partying and forgetting one’s troubles. Just dance like grasshoppers and just enjoy life and who cares what people think. While the second track “Iin ja ne?” is about a bad girl who gets around and knows that people talk about her. But the different in tracks is style and arrangement. The first track is more brass-driven and happy, while the second track has a nice bass groove but I prefer the vocal arrangement and vocals to the c/w song.

For the most part, the regular edition is good. Of course, it’s much cheaper than the limited edition versions, but fans of no3b may enjoy the limited edition version which comes with a DVD with two music videos and a third video track featuring each member plus an extra song.

But if you don’t need the DVD version, because of its lower price, no3b’s “Kirigirisu Jin (Regular Edition)” should satisfy fans!