Takahashi Ai is graduating from Morning Musume. If you didn’t already know that, this article probably isn’t for you to begin with. Even though my love for Morning Musume has long since waned (what with no Yossi, no Eri, no Pandas), I feel like this is really the end of the era. Without Takahashi, I can’t really see Morning Musume lasting much longer. But, I digress. With Ai-chan’s graduation comes, of course, the graduation single, Kono Chikyuu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterun Da yo!
The title track is actually not that bad. It’s nothing special; I would describe it as pretty normal Morning Musume fare, really. I guess that is to say, it’s generic, but nothing too horrible. The verses are something kind of disco-y. High pitched, over active synthesizing play around a dirty, crunchy bass line. These synths could’ve been handled a bit better I think, maybe a nice horn line or something. Arpeggios of other melodic synths come in and out as the samba-tastic percussion lays the beat for the track. The chorus is almost from another song, but still fits just enough for it not to be too jarring. The song is just very Idol in nature. I can’t really knock it—that bass is kicking.
Kare to issho ni Otana ga Shitai is the b-side to Takahashi’s last recorded romp as a Musume. The song is a lot more fun and a lot more how I like to think Idol music should be these days. It’s high energy, effervescent, well produced—a lot better than its top billed counterpart and actually reminds me of something he would give to one of his younger groups, Berryz or C-ute. It’s something almost Jerry Lee Lewis like in overall feel. Boogie-woogie piano muted below crashing drums and the ever popular clap-along keyboard program. There are also some more high pitched synths that again could’ve been made more realistic with a nice horn section that would’ve put this song over the top for me. The guitar wankery is also almost out of place, but I like it dipped in with the rest of the loud fun. I can already picture this song being performed, lots of jumping around and crowd participation, that great type of party song the girls perform well live. I also really like, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, Sayu’s vocals on the track. The song fits her rather well and I actually don’t think another girl could pull of the same type of blending as she has with the backing. Tsunku, you can still impress me.
Also featured on another edition of the single is Takahashi Ai’s solo song JishinMotte Yume wo Motte Tobidatsu Kara. Right from the get go, the first thing I thought was, “Yep, that’s a Hello!Project soloist right there.” I never realized that H!P soloists really have a certain production sound. I could really hear any other soloist singing this track back in the day, Goto Maki or Matsuura Aya for sure. Of course Takahashi kills the track, her voice is golden as always. The backing works well with her, too. Rockish guitars and fast paced drum rhythms really set the song off. I’m glad they gave her something like this instead of a sappy ballade. We all know the girl can sing, so it’s great to not have it shoved down our throats with ballade after sweeping ballade to show off her pipes. You can still sing a great upbeat number these days. Stay the course, Ai-chan.
While the title track isn’t that fantastic, I can’t say it’s bad either. It’s on the better side of the middle, and I suppose that’s better than being forgettable. But the two b-sides are really very good and if Tsunku could keep producing tracks like this, I wouldn’t mind being a Hello!Project fan again. I would whine about this being Takahashi’s final single, but her solo b-side is good enough that it’s okay that the a-side isn’t as strong. Here’s to you, Ai-chan.
INFORMATION
Morning Musume
Kono Chikyuu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterun Da yo!
released 2011.09.14
Tracklist
01. この地球の平和を本気で願ってるんだよ!
02A. 彼と一緒にお店がしたい!
02B. 自信持って 夢を持って 飛び立つから
03. この地球の平和を本気で願ってるんだよ! (Instrumental)
04. 彼と一緒にお店がしたい! (Intrumental)
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