Keyakizaka46 – Fukyouwaon Review

Relese Date: April 5, 2017

Track Listing

Type A

1. Fukyouwaon
2. W-KEYAKIZAKA no Uta
3. Hohoemi ga Kanashii (Techi & Neru)
4. Fukyouwaon (off vocal ver.)
5. W-KEYAKIZAKA no Uta (off vocal ver.)
6. Hohoemi ga Kanashii (off vocal ver.)

Type B

1. Fukyouwaon
2. W-KEYAKIZAKA no Uta
3. Tuning
4. Fukyouwaon (off vocal ver.)
5. W-KEYAKIZAKA no Uta (off vocal ver.)
6. Tuning (off vocal ver.)

Type C

1. Fukyouwaon
2. W-KEYAKIZAKA no Uta
3. Wareta Smartphone (Aozora to MARRY)
4. Fukyouwaon (off vocal ver.)
5. W-KEYAKIZAKA no Uta (off vocal ver.)
6. Wareta Smartphone (off vocal ver.)

Type D

1. Fukyouwaon
2. W-KEYAKIZAKA no Uta
3. Bokutachi wa Tsukiatteiru
4. Fukyouwaon (off vocal ver.)
5. W-KEYAKIZAKA no Uta (off vocal ver.)
6. Bokutachi wa Tsukiatteiru (off vocal ver.)

Regular Edition

1. Fukyouwaon
2. W-KEYAKIZAKA no Uta
3. Eccentric
4. Fukyouwaon (off vocal ver.)
5. W-KEYAKIZAKA no Uta (off vocal ver.)
6. Eccentric (off vocal ver.)

Digital Special Edition

1. Fukyouwaon
2. W-KEYAKIZAKA no Uta
3. Hohoemi ga Kanashii (Techi & Neru)
4. Tuning (Yuichanzu)
5. Wareta Smartphone (Aozora to MARRY)
6. Bokutachi wa Tsukiatteiru
7. Eccentric

Review

Keyakizaka46’s latest single goes back to the defiant feeling of their debut song, Silent Majority. This time out, there is an added sense of urgency to the song thanks to the musical framework that sounds like a jacked-up distant cousin to AKB48’s Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai. The lyrical content conveys the message of resisting the urge to conform and embracing individuality. Combined, it makes for a rather bombastic 4 minutes of pop music.

The b-sides mostly align with the light and airy music the Sakamichi Series groups release. The sub-unit songs Tuning (performed by Imaizumi Yui and Kobayashi Yui) and Wareta Smartphone tend to stand out in this particular single package. (performed by Shida Manaka, Sugai Yuuka, Moriya Akane, Watanabe Risa and Watanabe Rika)

Tuning sounds like something you would hear used as background music for a Japanese morning drama. Or, for those who don’t watch those programs think of something you might hear on your local lite music radio station or in a coffee shop. For some, it may not be the most exciting song; for others, it might be refreshing to listen to and relax.

Wareta Smartphone, on the other hand, makes use of a catchy swing beat, some electronic music elements, faux horns and even a short guitar solo to grab your attention. The only snag with this track is that vocals are probably not as tight as those in Tuning. Something feels off about the harmonies. But not enough to be completely distracting.

The final track to make a note of is Eccentric. It is a full-on excursion into House Music, a genre not regularly visited by idols not named Tokyo Girls’ Style. The opening rapping/spoken word sections are a little rough and somewhat offbeat, but once it gets to the first bridge and onward, the song starts to pick up steam and settles into a nice groove. Combine this with the a-side, and Keyakizaka stretches out further than they have in their previous 3 singles.

With that said, when you look at the entire single package, it is not as consistent across the board as their last release Futari Saison. It is mostly carried by the a-side and a few select b-sides. You are best off getting Types B, C and the Regular Edition if you want the most value.