Great, Another Sun Song- Oh Wait, This is Good!?

It's autumn now! Let's talk about a summer single!

More specifically, let's talk about a sun-themed single. Shouldn't be too hard to narrow down, right? Taiyou to Kimi ga Egaku Story, Boku no Taiyou, Taiyou no Kiss, Taiyou Scandalous, there sure are a lot of summer idol songs about the sun! What's the deal!? It's not like the sun fuels all life on planet Earth or anything...

Well, SKE48 has jumped on the bandwagon of sunshine with Bukiyou Taiyou or "Clumsy Sun" in English. Literally the only thing I can picture is the sun wobbling and falling out of orbit. Then something similar to what happened in The Twilight Zone episode "The Midnight Sun." I really don't understand how my brain works. Anyways, Bukiyou Taiyou is the kind of single that's to be expected from SKE48. If there's one thing that ties all the '48 groups together, it's their collective release of summer singles. Even Nogizaka46 gets in on the action! As for HKT48, give them time. The summer offerings the '48 groups brought us this year were... honestly pretty underwhelming. I've shat on Labrador Retriever enough times, Ibiza Girl was decent but not very memorable, and Natsu no Free&Easy was disappointing coming from Nogizaka46. So that leaves SKE48. Their summer single laster year, Utsukushii Inazuma was an interesting, but successful, turn for them in terms of image. The song itself had some great energy, even if the more serious, intense dance sound was rather different for the usually upbeat, cheerful SKE48. Honestly, Utuskushii Inazuma sounded more like it would be an NMB48 song.

So naturally, it's fitting that SKE48's summer song this year sounds like a Nogizaka46 song!

My personal theory is that there's someone on the AKS production team flitting back and forth between the groups' agencies, switching data around and wrecking havoc. It's the only plausible explanation! No, what probably happened is much more mundane and market-incorporated. I like my theory better though. Whatever went on behind the scenes, the final product we have is Bukiyou Taiyou. Were this not a good song, I wouldn't be reviewing it nearly two months after its release. But yeah, of the batch of AKS summer singles this year, Bukiyou Taiyou is probably my favorite. I mentioned a few sentences ago Bukiyou Taiyou sounds like a Nogizaka46 song. Were this 2012, that would be my way of saying Bukiyou Taiyou is a bland piece of crap. Thankfully, the times have changed! Bukiyou Taiyou is a surprisingly calm song to come from SKE48, not ballad-calm but definitely not possessing the same energy as some of their past summer singles. I kind of like it though. The arrangement flows very evenly without getting too slow.

You know what's weird? Natsu no Free&Easy sounds like it could be an SKE48 song. I'm telling y'all, conspiracy. Don't let the truth be concealed!!! In all seriousness though, I really am surprised that SKE48 got a song like Bukiyou Taiyou and Nogizaka46 got Natsu no Free&Easy. It doesn't help that the dozens of girls singing together makes distinguishing both groups difficult. I guess I should complain that Bukiyou Taiyou doesn't fit SKE48's sound but honestly? I've noticed that all the songs I really like from SKE48 don't fit their sound. Kataomoi Finally, Utsukushii Inazuma, a lot of the Akagumi B-sides, none of those songs match the peppy sound SKE48's typically associated with. I love Banzai Venus-type songs too, but I also love their darker, more serious songs. So if Aki-P wants to give SKE48 random songs like Bukiyou Taiyou, if they're good songs, he can go right ahead. It's eons better than the summer song by the-group-that-shall-not-be-named-lest-I-provoke-the-wrath-of-that-one-reader-again. Bukiyou Taiyou makes me wonder what kind of song SKE48 will whip out next year. Of course, now that I've pointed this out, their next summer single's probably going to be blander than a cardboard box.

This summer though, Bukiyou Taiyou is my favorite summer song from any of the AKS groups. The competition isn't exactly fierce, but it's still worth something. I keep pretty low expectations of idol summer songs because they're hardly groundbreaking works of musical genius, even by idol standards. But Bukiyou Taiyou is still a pretty good song, even really good at parts. The lead into the first chorus gave me chills. It sounds like someone put passion into Bukiyou Taiyou, something I did not find with the other AKS summer songs from this year. The only iffy part of Bukiyou Taiyou is when the girls are speaking; it comes off as a little hokey. Those parts only last a few seconds though; I can listen to the speaking parts for just a few seconds. For the most part, Bukiyou Taiyou is a very pretty ballad-like song that leaves a peaceful impression. It's different from the usual SKE48 fare, but a kind of different that works well! Now I'm not sure what my favorite idol summer song was... I was thinking it was Final Dance by BiS, but Bukiyou Taiyou comes close... I think I'll have to stick with Final Dance, but Bukiyou Taiyou still gets a thumbs up from me!

Keeping in the trend of not seeming like something SKE48 would release, let's look at the music video for Bukiyou Taiyou! I swear to you right now, it's not a Nogizaka46 music video. Even if Matsui Rena is in both.

Oh hey, a natural back light! We learned about that in film class!

We did not learn how to read kanji though.

Since this PV's sun-centered, maybe it's a re-enactment of The City of Ember!

It's not Shatner-level acting, but I can tell Jurina's supposed to be upset with her stock boyfriend!

Oh boy, sparklers! They're very sparkly.

...is this the same building used in Dareka no Sei ni wa Shinai?

This PV's about as gloomy-looking as Dareka no Sei ni wa Shinai.

I missed bang-less Jurina. Her forehead makes her look slightly closer to her age!

Meanwhile, Rena remains immortal.

Oh right, Milky's in SKE48 now. Meh, I'd have preferred Sayanee (just like I'd have preferred her getting a solo debut).

I am watching an SKE48 PV, right? Are you sure this isn't Nogizaka46?

Well, there's a bikini. Maybe this is an SKE48 PV!

Still, this is a remarkably subdued PV for SKE48...

Poor SKE48, unable to perform their annual summer single due to the elements.

But hark! The sun appears!

That's definitely not a spotlight. Yep, the sun totally shines that way!

Man, those sparklers sure last a long time.

Okay, the sun coming out is awesome and all...

...but did it really warrant an entire music video?

I guess it's the subject of the song and everything but still.

Here we see the main members of SKE48 performing a yearly sacrifice!

This ensures prosperity and better sales!

Fun as those pyrotechnics were, have some more lyrics!

Okay, I'm running dry on stuff to talk about.

I can only write about the basically the same shots in so many different ways.

Hrm. Can I talk about the upcoming Perfume 3rd World Tour?

Because man, am I excited for it! I wonder if the concert will have an opening act or not...

Oh, something's actually happened! Jurina's boyfriend returned!

Yay, I guess?

Now I'm certain they'll get married and have lots and lots of children that will look older than their ages!

Like the song, the PV for Bukiyou Taiyou is a fairly different turn for an SKE48 summer song. The biggest thing is the lack of bikinis, or any fanservice in general. Unless you have, I don't know, an hand fetish. I can't believe it. That makes two of the four AKS "summer" singles that don't use bikinis in the music videos or promotional material! Unlike Natsu no Free&Easy though, there's not even a dance shot in Bukiyou Taiyou. 90% of the shots in Bukiyou Taiyou are still shots of either one member of the group or a handful. Even the shots showing Jurina, Rena, and/or Milky wielding sparklers are pretty still. Watching Bukiyou Taiyou is like watching a moving picture, kind of how Perfume's Kasuka na Kaori was. However, Kasuka na Kaori still had a larger variety of scenes and the editing was faster. Bukiyou Taiyou lingers on its shots, the stillness of the scenery and the idols making these shots feel longer than they actually are. Like I said, this is a surprisingly neutral music video for SKE48 compared to their previous summer singles.

The problem is Bukiyou Taiyou is a boring music video.

I get what the PV is going for. The song is very slow and calm, and the music video reflects the tone of the song. However, there's just not much going on in this music video, and the shots aren't visually striking enough to hold their own. The colors in this music video are incredibly muted too, which doesn't help the groggy pacing. There are some pretty shots in this PV; the sparkler scenes were the ones that held my attention the most. Having the girls stand around doing nothing but look slightly bemused when the sun comes isn't the best way to hold the audience's attention. Luckily, the general audience is hardcore otakus, so they don't need much. That doesn't change the fact that I do not pay close attention to this PV. The concept behind Bukiyou Taiyou is pretty weak; the sun comes out. That's kind of a hard thing to give captivation to when the stakes aren't high and the circumstances are dreadfully mundane. This PV is five minutes long; I can only watch girls marveling at the same thing that I can go outside right now and stare at for so long. There are some PVs I screencap that are a gold mine of witty comments; Bukiyou Taiyou is a desert. With tarantulas. Boring tarantulas.

And yet... I don't hate this music video.

Because while Bukiyou Taiyou's PV is a dull music video, it is a tasteful one. Like I said, it's a stark contrast from the flashy, fanservice-filled fare SKE48 usually gets for their summer singles. Bukiyou Taiyou doesn't even take place on a beach. I think we see a shore for one shot, but otherwise, the PV shows about as much beachiness as Natsu no Free&Easy did. It's obviously still a summer PV; the sparklers and the emphasis on sunshine prove that. But compared to NMB48's and the other '48 group's summer PVs, Bukiyou Taiyou is much more... I don't want to say classy but something along those lines. There's this quiet dignity to Bukiyou Taiyou, and I think the song helps. So conceptually, I think the PV for Bukiyou Taiyou is pretty decent. As a consumer though, the PV fails to hold my attention. Maybe I have the attention span of a 7-year old child and that's why I find the music video so slow. There are some pretty shots, and the atmosphere is great, but I have watched much more interesting summer music videos this year. As a PV to wrap up idol summer PVs, Bukiyou Taiyou is a good enough turn, especially for the normally cheery, energetic SKE48. Maybe not my favorite summer PV from this year, but still offering some nice visuals!

So I guess four apples? I debated giving Bukiyou Taiyou three and half, but the song is really good. The music video is a little too dreary and dry for my tastes, but it's still a different direction for SKE48 which I always like to see. Bukiyou Taiyou in general is different for SKE48, or for an SKE48 A-side at least. I know everyone's got pumpkins and leaves on their minds right now, but what was your favorite idol summer PV this year? Or if we want to make this more about me (which I know everyone wants to do), what's your favorite summer PV I reviewed?

Yufu Trades Guts & Gore for Pastel Fruitiness

In BiS's ever-changing member lineup, Terashima Yufu was always my favorite, her and Tentenko. I loved Yufu's distinctive voice and her appearance. Even if she and Pour Lui got along horribly behind the scenes, I was still sad to see her depart from BiS.

Of course, things got better when I found out she was going solo.

And so here we are to Terashima Yufu, post-BiS and singing solo, and her second single, Campanula no Yuuutsu! In hindsight, I regret not reviewing her first single, #Yuflight. At the time, I just felt there wasn't much I could say about it. It's a good song, with some nice strings; it sounds like something I'd hear from ClariS. So there you go, a one-sentence review of #Yuflight! Now let's talk about Campanula no Yuutsu! Yufu's first attempt at a summer single, Campanula no Yuuutsu is quite a change from BiS's music. I was expecting that though; this single just confirms that Yufu plans on staying far, far away from the same style(s?) of music BiS released. Instead, Yufu seems to be going the traditional idol route with catchy pop songs and a much more approachable image. Which is perfectly okay! I love my catchy pop songs, and it is kind of fun seeing Yufu do something much more lighthearted in contrast to her involvement in BiS! I know I keep bringing up BiS (definitely not because I miss them or anything), but I feel like I kind of have to. When I listen to Yufu or even any other post-BiS units, I keep making comparisons subconsciously. So I may as well get said comparisons out of the way right now.

Okay, moving on from BiS (and definitely not with a heavy heart yearning for a reunion), how does Campanula no Yuuutsu stand as a solo idol song? As I mentioned before, it's a summer song, and it's got that light, happy sound you hear with so many idol songs. That being said, I think it is one of my favorite summer songs I've heard this year. The competition's not too high, so standing out isn't much of a challenge for Campanula no Yuuutsu. Still, I really do like this song. It has kind of this Hawaiian sound; you know, the sort of thing you'd hear at a luau. Maybe a luau in Japan. Do they have luaus in Japan? Oh well, that's what Campanula no Yuuutsu sounds like. I blame the xylophone and the bongos. Actually, there's a nice variety of sounds in this song; there's the aforementioned percussion, some brass, even some strings! Yet with all the instrumentation, the song still sounds very laid back. It's the kind of song you're supposed to chill to on the beach. And hey, since I'm at a college by the beach, maybe I will chill to Campanula no Yuuutsu sometime. Probably during the off season though.

Now if this song wasn't sung by Terashima Yufu and just some generic idol, would I devote time to reviewing it? I'm not sure. What draws me to review new idols are songs that stand out and/or eye-catching music videos. Campanula no Yuuutsu is a good song, but it wouldn't stand out enough to draw me in had Yufu not been the idol singing. However, what makes Campanula no Yuuutsu work is Yufu's voice. This was also what prevented #Yuflight from sounding like a generic anisong single. Yufu's voice is not only very pretty but also very recognizable. I could always identify Yufu's solos in BiS, and her voice shines even more as a soloist. Yufu's never had a resonant, powerful voice, but Campanula no Yuuutsu works in her advantage. The song is soft and laidback, making Yufu's voice stand out even better than it did in BiS. Campanula no Yuuutsu may not be as impressive as the songs she did in BiS, but the song has its merits. If you are looking for some BiS-inspired material, Campanula no Yuuutsu is sadly not going to fulfill those expectations. Maybe go check out Pla2me's debut single. Overall, I liked Campanula no Yuuutsu, and I could see it growing on me in the future. Even as a summer song, it's worth checking out!

Another reason I didn't review #Yuflight was because the music video was a little basic. Campanula no Yuuutsu on the other hand has a music video with a little more... pizzazz. And pastel. Lots and lots of pastel. But why waste time telling you what's in this music video when I can show you?

We start our PV with a black and white title drop!

Then we cut to that fight scene from Kill Bill- oh wait, that's just Yufu!

Oh hey, they got the guys from Utsukushii Inazuma!

Awesome!

So... are we yay or nay on that fruit basket skirt?

Oh hell, Yufu could somehow make a trash can look fashionable.

Why the sudden flames? We're not going back to hell, are we!?

Tea Time with Terashima Yufu!

Projection images: the poor man's location shooting!

No, this is seriously cool. It reminds me of that Faint Star PV.

This one!

Yufu prays to the gods for more success than BiS!

I could totally see Matsuura Aya wearing this outfit. She probably did at some point.

...the producers really loved the title of this song, didn't they?

And I think they adored those Cheerio-shaped special effects.

These shots feel so vintage. I blame the pastel. Pastel just makes things look dated.

See? I give you Exhibit A of the power of pastel!

Trumpet Guy is gettin' it in the background! You go, Trumpet Guy!

In fact, let's all give a moment of appreciation for the backing band in this PV.

It's a little hard to be noticed when you singer is wearing one of the five food groups.

Okay, this is... different. Kind of seductive and... hellish.

I guess I should take this opportunity to ask what the hell is going on?

I'd say this makes more sense in context... but it doesn't. It really doesn't.

A quirky mascot!? I'll watch I Kyarypamyupamyu PV if I'm looking for a quirky mascot!

????????????????????????

I... got nothing. Someone take over for me.

Okay! Now this screencap is back on track!

These visuals effects will hypnotize us into forgetting that whole interlude!

I love these little drawn effects! They add a touch of cuteness to the PV!

Trumpet Guy is my favorite person in this PV.

Don't be sad, Torch Man. BiS will return someday. They must!

And we end Campanula no Yuuutsu on one final pose! Voila!

It's pretty obvious that Yufu's production team doesn't have a lot of dough to work with. Luckily, they're good at making an engaging PV that doesn't look tackily cheap! For a summer PV, Campanula no Yuuutsu is definitely one of the more scant ones. Everything takes place in a studio save for that one outdoor shot with the giant Pokemon-thingy (and maybe the scenes with Torch Man). They do put some effort into making the main set look tropical though with a few random palm trees and a backing band dressed up like a safari crew. And Yufu herself definitely looks very... nutritious. I'm still not sure about that outfit. Anyways, the whole set is kind of bare-bones. I feel like there was at least some effort put in to it. And that at least counts, right? There's a nice mix of shots in this PV! My favorites are the ones where Yufu stands in front of a blank board with images project over her. It's a simple effect that never fails to look cool and artsy to my eyes. I mean, the designs look so cool. There are so many of them too! It's kind of hypnotizing to look at them! I bitch about cheap PVs all the time, but throw some pretty visuals in front of me, and those complaints are magically forgotten...

So is Campanula no Yuuutsu a good summer PV? Well, it's definitely not an overtly summer PV. The colors and some of the scenery do give off a summer vibe, the same kind of laidback summer vibe the song has. But you know what? For a summer PV, parts of Campanula no Yuutsu are just plain weird. The backing bad alone is doing all kinds of crazy antics. Pay attention really close to them next time you watch the PV. They're always doing something random like jumping or spazzing out or just... acting strange in general. Special mention goes to Trumpet Guy. Then the band have that whole bit during the interlude where they run around in a circle which is never explained or seen again. And did I mention that hellish red lighting in the interlude too? The interlude in general just has all sorts of weird stuff that wouldn't be weird if this wasn't an idol PV. But I went into this PV expecting traditional idol summer stuff, not a crazy backing band and a giant quirky mascot that's only ever seen twice in this PV! You could make the argument that those weird little moments make Campanula no Yuuutsu a more memorable, but that still doesn't give me an explanation!

Admittedly, weirdness and cheapness included, I like the PV for Campanula no Yuuutsu. Is it my favorite music video of this summer? Psh, no way does this summer PV overshadow Nettaigyo no Namida. But it's better than Labrador Retriever! Besides, even if this PV had as much extra stuff as #Yuflight did, its one highlight would be Yufu herself. I think the PV for Campanula no Yuuutsu made me remember why Yufu was my favorite member of BiS! No matter what music video she's in, whether she's covered in blood, wearing a fruit basket, swinging a spiked baseball bat, Yufu always manages to look good. Effortlessly good. She's incredibly photogenic, and she knows how to work the camera to her advantage. Along with her voice, Yufu's presence alone is what makes me think she makes a good soloist. She never feels trumped by the screen, even in those big projection image shots. Even doing that oddly choreographed dance, she somehow manages to exude charisma and confidence. I can see her going far in her solo career.

My final verdict on Campanula no Yuuutsu's music video is a thumbs up. No, this is not a groundbreaking music video nor is it the most summery of summer PVs. It's a low-budget music video that works as well as it can with said budget. The final result is a nice-looking music video with a nice color palette and a handful of strange, random moments. The strongest aspects of Campanula no Yuuutsu's PV are Yufu herself and a nice overall aesthetic. I really do love the colors in this music video, and again, those projection images are so entrancing. Other than that, this PV offers what you'd expect from your traditional idol PVs. Fans of Terashima Yufu in her BiS days may be a little jarred by the lack of shocking imagery and general friendliness. But if you look past that, you'll see a fun music video from a solo idol with a lot of potential. I don't know how much of Yufu I'll review in the future, but I hope to see her release further material! After a promising debut and a decent follow-up single, I'd love to see where she goes next! If you're still craving a summer PV, then pop by Yufu's Youtube channel and watch Campanula no Yuuutsu!

Maybe it isn't BiS, but Terashima Yufu's Campanula no Yuuutsu is a good release in its own right! It's a four apples kind of release. As a summer song, Campanula no Yuuutsu is of the calmer sort but still enjoyable. And it comes with a fun, low-budget music video that still manages to have its own quirky moments. If you're looking for the solo equivalent of BiS, this is not where you want to go. But if you're looking for idol music sung by a talented individual, check out Terashima Yufu and Campanula no Yuuutsu. And while you're at it, look at #Yuflight!