Well, I had predicted that Atarashii Gakko no Leaders（新しい学校のリーダーズ）would make it onto the Kohaku Utagassen and that's what they did a week ago. It was nice to see them as the top batter, to boot. And it was indeed quite the year to see and hear the ladies bring forth "Otonablue"（オトナブルー）and its neck jive; to think this was a single that was released all the way back in 2020.
The Leaders have of course released multiple songs and albums since "Otonablue" and I imagine that they will continue to thrill audiences the world over (I've still yet to see their appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live") this year. I can even believe that Suzuka and the gang will make a second showing on the 75th edition of the Kohaku at the end of 2024 to sing "Otonablue" again although if they did show up, I would prefer a new song or even one of their earlier tunes such as "NAINAINAI", the first song that I posted up about them.
For today though, let me go with "Seishun wo Kirisaku Hado" (The Tide Ripping Through Our Youth) which is a track alongside "Otonablue" on their April 2023 album "Ichiji Kikoku"（一時帰国...Temporary Homecoming）. In comparison with the funky "Otonablue" and the technopop "NAINAINAI", "Seishun wo Kirisaku Hado" is totally growly rock written and composed by producer and guitarist Kenta Matsukuma（松隈ケンタ）of the band Buzz72+. As the title might indicate, the song is a primal scream about teens and their tribulations getting through stormy seas as intact as possible.
There have been two official videos for "Seishun wo Kirisaku Hado". The above is known as the choreography video with the the Leaders whooping it up inside a mall in Tottori Prefecture. Meanwhile, the one below is the official official video along the beach. Although I don't know where that video was filmed, I could totally see it being done along the Tottori coastline in terms of keeping production costs down.
The song was also used as the theme for the Lemino streaming service live-action drama adaptation of the manga "Tai Ari deshita. Ojousama wa Kakutou Game Nante Shinai"（対ありでした。 〜お嬢さまは格闘ゲームなんてしない〜...Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games） which has been running since May last year. I would think that the song would also be perfect for any anime adaptation.
J-Canuck you are a real prognosticator! I wound not have guessed that 'Atarashii Gakko no Leaders' would make onto the Kohaku Utagassen.
ReplyDelete