C-ute: Edo Style!

REVIEW: I’m a pretty big fan of C-ute and I eagerly await each one of their releases. I’m the kind of fan who stays up late to see if Dohhhup! has uploaded the PV yet, listens to horrible concert previews, dodgy radio rips … that kind of stuff. Pretty much an average C-ute fan ;)
C-ute released their 6th major single Edo no Temari Uta II last week and like all C-ute releases, I was really into it from the get go!

SINGLE REVIEW

Edo no Temari Uta II: The thing I like about C-ute is that you never know what you are going to get. From Namida no Iro’s Latin flavour to Tokaikko Junjou’s dance beats to Meguru Koi no Kisetsu’s happy style, every song of theirs is unique and set apart from the rest. Edo no Temari Uta II is no different, with a track which I can’t really specify a genre for. It seems to have elements of blues and traditional Japanese but the finishing product is very unlike anything I’ve heard before.
Temari Uta, or handball songs, are traditionally very slow, however C-ute’s version of this song is titled II as it is a remake (of an unreleased song, mind you) with a more upbeat, fairy tale styled arrangement. I definitely think it suits C-ute to a tee and the quirky nature of the song makes it a hit from the beginning.
I have to make note that EVERY girl gets a solo line in this song, a first for C-ute and I could not be more pleased. The fact we get to hear from Erika, Kanna and Chisato is amazing, not to mention that they all sound really great. The usual singers are good as always and the mix of vocals just adds to the strangeness of the song, from Chisato and Maimi’s smooth vocals to Mai and Saki’s cute voices, and then Kanna who seems to not fit any category and at the same time fit them all. Strange girl that one. Chisato's vocals shine and she really should be a regular lead for all C-ute songs. Airi as usual, is very good.
I also enjoy the story behind the song, the Meireki Fire which wiped out much of Edo Japan in one disastrous event. The style of the song may not suit the sadness of the situation but the thought behind it is a pleasant change from the nonsensical lyrics of most H!P songs.
Something most people seem to be down about is the length. The song is short, there is no way around it. At 2:31 it does leave you wanting more, but I personally would not want to substitute quality for length. Another set of verses could have been added on the condition that it aided the song’s story. I wouldn’t want the chorus to repeat another 5 times though. It’s fine how it is.

Wasuretakunai Natsu: This track is the theme song for C-ute’s upcoming Summer concert tour and it epitomizes Summer in its laid back style. The song isn’t overly catchy but it is pretty nice and reminds me of an anthem rather than a pop song, mostly sung by the whole group. It’s uplifting and sweet. You have to love when the girls sing “in my heart” – too kawaii! It’s not a song you’re going to have stuck in your mind but it’s great background music, not overly intrusive and nice for a b-side.
Something of note is that Chisato and Saki sing the only solos towards the end which is another nice change from the usual vocal patterns.

PV REVIEW

The high point of this single release for me is the PV. It truly is one of the best PVs to come out of H!P this year, perhaps on the same level as Resonant Blue’s Another Ver. (which I liked).

The first thing that is so great about the PV is the setting. The backdrop of the danceshot is just incredibly intricate and beautiful. Clouds, Sun rays, fluorescent lit symbols, shiny black stage, the random H!P posters, it really has a lot of work put into it. The edit of the PV takes full advantage of the beautiful backdrop, with shots of the silhouette trees against the suns thrown in during the course of the PV. The florescent lights on the bottom of the set reflect in the floor giving a great aeffect as the girls dance in front of them and look great in the close-up shots too. The spotlights on the centre of the suns, was another really nice touch. All in all I am very impressed with the effort put into the setting of this PV, it is much more planned and thought out compared to some recent PV backdrops.
The outfits have been a large talking point amongst H!P fans and I am on the side which likes them (surprise, surprise). Alone they look a tad eccentric, but together, with the backdrop, the colours all melt into this gorgeous eclectic painting of Edo wonder! The costumes themselves are very intricately made, if you see close up shots you can see they have beautiful patterns and a lot of detail. I also like that every girl’s outfit is unique from the other’s and it makes each member stand out from the others equally.
Now we have the dance which is unusually sombre for C-ute, who tend to have very advanced dances. I really love the moves at the beginning during the intro. The rest of the dance is made up of very static, small moves, mostly involving the girl’s arms. I actually think that in the midst of the backdrop, the style of the song, the outfits etc that the dance fits really nicely. I imagine it has some sort of Edo influence and it does look like a nice mix of traditional and modern. It’s not Tokaikko Junjou or Namida no Iro but it is becoming in its own special way.
I really love this PV as you may have noticed. It’s right up there with Tokaikko Junjou.

ROUNDUP

Edo no Temari Uta II for me is a wonderful release. I can imagine that the style may not suit everyone but I do think it is a nice homage to the Edo era released in a modern mix that can appeal to current audiences. I think fans of C-ute who admire the bravery and uniqueness of their releases are sure to love this new release just as much as past ones.

Edo no Temari Uta II: A-
Wasuretakunai Natsu: B
Edo no Temari Uta II PV: A
Overall: A-