Atarashii Gakko no Leaders -- Omakase

 

Well, I just checked on J-Wiki, and it's confirmed (to no one's surprise) that NHK's Kohaku Utagassen will be coming onto screens on December 31st this year for its 75th edition. Last year, the top batter was one of the 2023 darlings of the Japanese pop culture world domestically and overseas, Atarashii Gakko no Leaders（新しい学校のリーダーズ）with their "Otonablue"（オトナブルー）. We're still weeks away from finding out who will be on No. 75 (probably won't be announced until mid-November) but Mizyu, Rin, Suzuka and Kanon are to show up in Toronto next Sunday to do a one-night performance at the History venue.

I'm pretty sure that the gang will be performing "Otonablue" along with this track from their June 2024 digital album "AG! Calling", "Omakase" (Leave It To Us). With words and music by the group, yonkey and Yoshio Tamamura, the song might be called a reassurance, temptation or an invitation down a slippery slope. So, when the chips are down, AGL is exhorting folks to give into their vices whether it be shredding voices at karaoke or diving into comfort food with abandon...and worrying about the guilt later. Just as an aside, I've abandoned Pringles chips for a few months now, but it hasn't changed my shape any.😡

The arrangement is interesting as it sounds like a mix of matsuri music and an old-fashioned Keiko Fuji（藤圭子）Mood Kayo given some extra oomph through a techno beat. As for "AG! Calling", it hit No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Download Albums chart. Anyways, I hope those in the neighbourhood who have tickets to the October 6th show, please enjoy yourselves! And as for the group itself, please get to History early since traffic is so horrible in our city.