Keyakizaka46 – Sekai ni wa Ai Shika nai Review

Release Date: August 10, 2016

Track Listing

Type A

1. Sekai ni wa Ai Shika nai
2. Kataru Nara Mirai wo…
3. Shibuya Kara PARCO ga Kieta hi (Hirate Yurina Solo)
4. Sekai ni wa Ai Shika nai (off vocal ver.)
5. Kataru Nara Mirai wo… (off vocal ver.)
6. Shibuya Kara PARCO ga Kieta hi (off vocal ver.)

Type B

1. Sekai ni wa Ai Shika nai
2. Kataru Nara Mirai wo…
3. Mata Aette Kudasai (Nagahama Neru solo)
4. Sekai ni wa Ai Shika nai (off vocal ver.)
5. Kataru Nara Mirai wo… (off vocal ver.)
6. Mata Aette Kudasai (off vocal ver.)

Type C

1. Sekai ni wa Ai Shika nai
2. Kataru Nara Mirai wo…
3. Aozora ga Chigau
4. Sekai ni wa Ai Shika nai (off vocal ver.)
5. Kataru Nara Mirai wo… (off vocal ver.)
6. Aozora ga Chigau (off vocal ver.)

Regular Edition

1. Sekai ni wa Ai Shika nai
2. Bob Dylan wa Kaesanai
3. Hiragana Keyaki
4. Sekai ni wa Ai Shika nai (off vocal ver.)
5. Bob Dylan wa Kaesanai (off vocal ver.)
6. Hiragana Keyaki (off vocal ver.)

Review

Sekai ni wa Ai Shika nai is the second release from Keyakizaka46, and it was used as the theme song for the drama Tokuyama Daigorou wo Dare ga Koroshitaka?

Keyakizaka46’s second single is more optimistic than their defiant-sounding debut single. You figure a song whose title translates to “There Is Only Love in the World” should probably be positive, right?

Anyway, the verses use quickly spoken word passages before transitioning into singing throughout the bridge and chorus sections. It might be a bit odd to hear on first listen, but it does add a distinctive type of flow to the song. Still, those looking for an easy karaoke song should probably not choose this due to the possible tongue-twisting lines one has to say before signing.

The b-sides on this single are a little more exciting than their first outing and, for the most part, still follow the Nogizaka style of productions. Kataru Nara Mirai wo is the primary b-side that is common on all versions of the single. It’s a song that has a blend of acoustic and string instruments with mid-tempo dance music.

Speaking of acoustic instruments, the regular edition contains the folksy Bob Dylan wa Kaesanai. It’s a stark contrast to the other secondary songs offered on the other versions, opting for a minimal musical backdrop for the group to wrap their vocals around.

Lastly, included in Types A and B of this single are the first solo songs from Keyakizaka46 members. Type A features Hirate  Yurina, and Type B features Nagashima Neru. Both songs have their charms, and I prefer Hirate’s song Shibuya Kara PARCO ga Kieta hi myself.

Sekai ni wa Ai Shika nai can be seen as another small step in the development of Keyakizaka46. The material here may be a little too close to the older music of their elder group, Nogizaka46, but that’s okay.