Single Nogizaka46 25th [Shiawase no Hogoshoku] (2020/03/25)

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Anastasia MV

 

Wow!

 

Okay, Anastasia is. . . bloody fantastic.

So, the coupling tracks are better than the main track again. It's really weird that this is a thing now with a lot of these 46/48 groups - weaker main song, significantly better coupling tracks. In this case, that's 3 Nogi singles in a row where the B-sides have been better than the A-side.

 

Definitely my favorite coupling so far. The MV made me really emotional, and the song perfectly fits the theme (some scenes reminded me of Blanco). Would love to see another center beside Miona but she is fine too I guess.

Anyways, what is the reasoning behind the backwarded instrumental at the beginning? I thought it was really interesting.

 

Anastasia, really, really good song! Love it!

 

The song is kinda boring imo, but the MV is really nice.

 

Nice song 2ki and the scene when 2ki members see the sky together is so good. The ending reminds me of Live Kami song

 

Everything is beautiful. The song, the video, this group of girls. I got a bit emotional watching this. This single keeps on getting better. I hope 3rd gen doesn't disappoint. And the highly anticipated Maiyan solo.

 

Anastasia MV remind me of Kenkyuusei individual (or group precisely, because I saw many of Kenkyuusei in it) PV for one of Nogi single in the past, I don't remember which single. The title has 未来 (Mirai) or Future word on its title, if I'm not mistaken. This MV also has that kind of vibe, and even similar costume, or maybe scarf (?). Anyway, this is very good MV.

As for Anastasia song, unfortunately, it doesn't show the eccentric side of 2ki like what Border, Live Kami and Scoutman did. It is too ordinary.

 

In this case, I dream of that strange coincidence. Eizouken op is just too overpowered.

 

The Hebrew/Japanese at the beginning of Anastasia is the description of the Tower of Babel from the Bible, Genesis 11:4. I don’t know what the fish-looking thing at the top is though. Here's the King James Bible version for maximum dramatic effect:

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

 

If you can't read the messages, it doesn't meant they have no messages.

 

honestly, its hard for me to say what i feel about the MV. the song is alright, its not the best, its not the worst. it has some similarities with Settei Ondo.

The MV, i'm a bit conflicted, i like it but at the same time i don't. the setting is great, it looks beautiful, the pacing is great, and it tells a great story. 2 part that i really like is when the under member greeted the senbatsu members (Miona, Kii, and Maichun) and when Miona was helped by the other to carry her bag. the Miona one was especially touching because of the meaning behind it. Miona struggling to carry her bag and being helped by the other member, it basically shows the burden that she hold being the ace of the 2nd gen and has to carry her genmate, and being helped by the other shows that miona is not alone, everyone else is also helping her, very touching. i also like the many culture they show in this MV, its a japanese idol MV but has hebrew and russian writing. and the costume of the final dance scene seems to be inspired by Indonesian traditional clothing "Kebaya" and the room looks like it has dutch architecture from the 1800s.

but, at the same time, i don't think the MV suits the song very well, it doesn't feel as grand as the song, i was hoping something more. i don't know, maybe its just me.

look man, sorry to disappoint you, there's just soooo much more effort they put into making Shiawase no Hogoshoku than Anastasia. just because it was shot indoors it doesn't mean its easy. the amount of precision camerawork they have to do, figuring out how to connect one shot from the next. also, how do you think those background panel move in Shiawase no Hogoshoku? magic? no, there's a dude (maybe even multiple dudes) behind every single one of those panels, mirrors and platform that they have to move just at the right time to the right place. doing a long one-shot sequence is already hard enough, now try to coordinate multiple people carrying multiple panels and platform to be pushed and pull to the right place at the right time while also having the camera to shoot at the right place and move to the right spot and the lighting to also shoot the right spot. not to mention that you also have to coordinate 20 odd members to be in the right place at the right time. and oh, if you mess it up, you have to do the entire sequence all over again
while anastasia, its very basic film making to be honest. the camera work isn't very fancy, the editing isn't very fancy apart for the dance part in the 1st chorus. its just basic film making done well to create a beautiful shot.

also,there is way way way more message and story in Shiawase no Hogoshoku than in Anastasia, you're just being ignorant.

 

It's cuneiform, the writing system of the Sumerians.

 

Being a player of a game that is currently airing its anime adaptation where the setting is ancient Babylonia, it's a shame I don't recognize it at first despite I feel like I saw that scripture somewhere.

I think I like Anastasia the most amongst especially 2nd gen songs so far. The song and the mv scenery looks grandeur and serene just like another favourite song of mine from AKB48. Remember Yuuhi Marie? It has the same vibe.

 

Anastasia also mean ressurection in greek.

Almost everything sound underwhelming now, but the problem i think was my personal expectations either too high or off kilter exclusively for maiyan's graduation. In the end it's just nogi being produced by ak-p.

 

I think that's Kitano. Miona was in front of the line.
It's the reason Ki got flu. They gave her all the heavy lifting. Just kidding
Too bad she couldn't join her fellow 2nd gen and missed their first Senbatsu performance. Hope she gets well very fast.
Btw, Kichan is really cute in this MV especially when they were looking up at the other 6 members. Love that scene.

Spoiler

Personally, I'm happy so far. The title track is just fine to me, except for one not so Fantastic song, I like all coupling songs a lot. I'm excited for the remaining two and three more MV to go.

 

it is actually, my mistake.
i guess its a reference to the time where she took her hiatus, in a way she did get left behind but her genmate was always there to cheer her up (help her)

 

I am wondering what is actually written though, now that I think of it. I know that the earlier Tower of Babel accounts have a couple of things in common, but not the exact phrase as is written in Hebrew and translated to Japanese. The Sumerian account is called Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta for those who are interested. It deals with the confusion of languages but there are 2 interpretations; one of them is that one of the Gods unified the language so that people could build a tower together, the other says the languages are confused because people build a tower together. The latter one is obviously closer to the biblical interpretation, but the symbolism in the MV, where it seems the 2nd gen is building a tower to make a name for themselves is something that is not told in the Sumerian account.

I also wonder what the tower represents. The gateway to the Gods, in this context known as 1st gen?

 

If you're referring to the anime's OP, Easy Breezy, then you're right. That's one hella ear worm ain't it? Nogi's trying to have the same energy. We'll have to see if it works. Anyway you look at it, their Eizouken will be compared with the anime. I think they'll be at a disadvantage as to evoke the imagery of the worlds the eizouken create is going to be goofy in live action. The anime nerds will have a field day criticizing the live action...