Ongaku Cafe (2010-2019): Nogizaka46 – Oide Shampoo (Type-A) (May 2012)

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1. おいでシャンプー
2. 心の薬
3. 偶然を言い訳にして
4. おいでシャンプー off vocal ver.
5. 心の薬 off vocal ver.
6. 偶然を言い訳にして off vocal ver.

DVD INFO: 16:9LB, Region 2, Duration: 1:14:57

1. おいでシャンプー music video
2. 偶然を言い訳にして music video
3. Ikuta Erika x Hiroshu
4. Ito Marika x Arimoto Sayaka, Yamamoto Masaki
5. Eto Misa x Ninomiya Takashi
6. Kawago Hina x Yamada Atsuhiro
7. Kawamura Mahiro x Watanabe Nao
8. Saito Asuka x Aso Kumi & Saltfilm
9. Saito Chiharu x Ogata Miyuki
10. Saito Yuuri x Sakae Ryota
11. Sakurai Reika x Uchimura Hiroyuki
12. Nishino Nanase x Hagiwara Kenta
13. Matsumura Sayuri x Sato Yuichiro

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Nogizaka46, the new idol pop group created by Onyanko Club and AKB48 creator Yasushi Akimoto. But where his other groups represent a region of Japan, Nogizaka46 was created as the official rival to Nogizaka46 and the “Nogizaka” named after the place where Sony Music Japan’s office (the SME Nogizaka Building) is located. And the number “46” was chosen as a number to become a direct challenge to AKB48.

With the success of the group’s first single “Guruguru Curtain” which debuted at #2 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and sold over 136,000 copies, Nogizaka46 has now released their second single “Oide Shampoo” (which translates to “Come on Shampoo”) and debuted at #1 on the Oricon CD Singles Charts and sold 155,677 copies in its first week.

The single was promoted on television as “Oide Shampoo” would be taking on AKB48 member, Rino Sashihara’s debut solo single “Soredemo Sukidayo” and the result was Nogizaka46 selling 111,222 copies on the first day of release vs. Sashihara’s 56,879 copies.

Suffice to say, Nogizaka46’s popularity has increased but along with this single, there was criticism because as part of their choreography, the girls lift up their skirts and expose their petticoats. Some feel that scene was sexually suggestive and thus some felt the choreography was obscene and would inspire young girls to follow what they see on television.

Interesting enough, producer Yasushi Akimoto had some sharp words to say on his Google+ site, especially at Sony for the making of the music video and how he told them that the dance movements woulds be unfavorably received. But he also says the choreography is not the fault of Sasuga Minami but it doesn’t fit the concept of Nogizaka46 and that the production team doesn’t understand the concept of the group.

As for “Oide Shampoo”, there are four versions of the single that were released. TYPE-A, TYPE-B and TYPE-C each come with the CD+DVD and would each feature the music video for “Oide Shampoo” and each version would come with a different third track, and the DVD’s would feature a music video for that third track. But also, each of the three versions would include a video of each member on DVD in a skit segment. The fourth version would be the theater version which would not include a DVD but would come with the first two tracks as the other CD’s but also a different third track.

The version I will be reviewing is “Oide Shampoo” (Type-A). The CD insert features members Rina Ikoma, Reika Sakurai and Kana Nakada on the front cover and comes with a 16-page booklet with the lyrics to each of the three songs, production credits plus solo photos of four members and photos of other members of the group.

The first track on the album is “Oide Shampoo” (which translates to “Here Shampoo”) and the song is an upbeat idol pop track. And the lyrics reads like an American shampoo commercial mixed with a teen summer film. The song is about a person cleaning a pool and he spots a girl that he likes. And he sings about “Here Shampoo” as the girls hair sways and and how the scent of her long hair makes the person feel good. And the person is wondering if he’s falling in love with the girl. But a catch hook, with a good chorus, overall a fun song overall.

The second track is “Kokoro no Kusuri” (which translates to “Medicine of the Heart”) and is another idol pop song featuring more unison vocals from its members. But despite the upbeat, happy vocals, it’s actually a positive song about how when people are hurt and their confidence is broken and whenever you feel like crying, that no matter how depressed one will get, they will rise again. And to get healthy and move forward, one should be given a medicine for the heart.

The third track on this CD single is “Guuzen wo Iiwake ni Shite” (which translates to “Using Chances as an Excuse”) and is a pop song with auto-tune CAPSULE like track featuring Mai Shiraishi, Kazumi Takayama, Nanami Hashimoto and Sayuri Matsumura. The track is actually pretty catch and cool and one of the few songs to feature only a few members of the group.

The lyrics to the song seems more of a fan-based track of wanting to meeting a celebrity and feeling scared about meeting an idol you like in a crowd of other people. And how if you met this person at campus, they probably wouldn’t speak to you, but this is the only chance the person will get a chance to meet and talk to that person. So, one must use this chance as an excuse to summon the courage to meet that person.

And the remaining three tracks are the instrumental versions of the first three songs.

As for the DVD, this is where Nogizaka 46 fans are going to be thrilled with either Type-A, Type-B and Type-C releases. Suffice to say, fans are getting their money’s worth and they probably may want to buy all three versions.

For Type-A, the first video track is the music video for “Oide Shampoo” and while the choreography for the dancing scenes are cute, the music video revolves around about the students at school rebelling against the administration and teachers after one of the students collapses after being so worried that she may be kicked out of the school. It’s a rebellious video of the students pretty much destroying school property, beating on their teachers and quitting school. Interesting is the short cameo appearance of AKB48 member Rino Sashihara.

The second video track is for “Guuzen wo Iiwake ni Shite” and features the four members singing together and dancing in a moving set. Despite some members being slightly late in the choreography, it’s a fun video!

The next eleven video tracks feel like the AKB 1/48 video games where you go out on a date with a member of Nogizaka46. May it be riding a ferris wheel, going out to lunch or dinner with the member, going shopping, going out for a walk, etc. And some where the girl gives her confession to you. These are not DVD games but straight up short videos of several members. And of course, to get more videos, you will need to purchase the Type-B and Type-C CD+DVD’s.

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, “Oide Shampoo” is a solid single. Each of the music tracks are upbeat, fun and the music video DVD’s are packed with a good number of videos and are great for fans who want to see more of their favorite members of the group. Of course, while one CD+DVD would suffice, if you are just wanting “Oide Shampoo” and its music video but like other Akimoto groups and their CD+DVD releases, because content is spread out to different DVD’s, hardcore fans will have to shell out more money. The good news is that with each CD+DVD release for “Oide Shampoo”, fans are getting their money’s worth with a lot of videos included on the DVD.

But for those who still like the idol pop sugary, sweet songs that resemble AKB48’s older style of music, will enjoy Nogizaka46 and this second single.

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