Review: Kami wa Saikoro wo Furanai - Meguru Meguru
These days, K-Pop fans are used to luxury. We get articles and interviews translated. Hardly any song does not get some form of major translation, even b-sides from unheard-of groups, and the agencies cater to us. Many K-Pop fans don't remember that it was not always this way. In the first generation, and the earlier days of the second generation, the MVs were not often posted on YouTube, few groups had English-friendly names, and the songs did not always get English translations. It was only due to financial downturns that the K-Pop market moved internationally. J-Pop currently reminds me of those earlier K-Pop days.
Kami wa Saikoro wo Furanai and their recent single are proof of this. The song and artist only have Japanese names, and the lyrical MV are regionally blocked. It almost is like they don't care about the international market. And that is somewhat true. J-Pop is thriving in Japan, and there is no reason for them to move internationally at the moment. Due to this, J-Pop is somewhat several minor industries operating independently. Kis-My-Ft2, AKB48, and Official Hige Dandism all top charts, but they have different industry expectations, act in different ways, and have different markets.
One of the many minor, yet growing J-Pop markets is that of melodic, surging male idol tracks. Blending a timeless sound similar to Nogizaka46 with a surging tempo and an aggressive yet peaceful vocal performance. Meguru Meguru opts for such a style, and to great success. It doubles down on the best moments of similar tracks of last year, such as M!LK's Winding Road. The strumming beats are driven by a yearning and hopeful performance, led by Shusako Yanagita.
The song's arrangement has a pleasant and natural bop, popping up, but never fading for other instruments. It could all be overcrowding, but it holds together remarkably as there are centerpieces to grab onto. Some of those are the percussional synths, the strumming guitar, and Yanagita himself. Sometimes, the verses exist exclusively for the build. This does occasionally harm them, but it just allows for the hopeful (if slightly cliche) lyrics to thrive.
The chorus opens with an anthemic chant of "Let's run far away" and lives up to this thriving declaration, but never staying put. The call-and-response refrain allows for dynamism, while the backing vocals build the hopeful atmosphere. It is a thriving moment, flying and alive, with a pulsating heart. While this certainly is a commercially written pop song (and a TikTok advertisement, for that matter), this authenticity cannot be sought, only gained.
If there was one major thing I wish Meguru Meguru would do differently, it would be a better bridging of the song's moments. A solid pre-chorus build is surprisingly lacking, but it overall works nonetheless. The bridge itself suffers from a forgettable melody, even if the arrangement is stunning.
Overall, Meguru Meguru is an excellent surprise (thanks to Nick James of The Bias List, I discovered the song through his review). J-Pop had some underwhelming moments this year, but this song reignites the spark from March. It was technically released in April, but I will count it as a May single in my blog... because I can. But make no mistake, Meguru Meguru is a gem worth a listen.
Many so-called "veteran fans" pride in the amount of "peace, tranquility and harmony" the K-Pop sphere was back then. Yes, there was so much peace INTERNATIONALLY. Not DOMESTICALLY where stabbing, blackmails, rampant sasaengs, poisonings, misogyny, queerbaiting, racist appropriation, and even cultural appropriation. Well, it is a dark and bad past that should be remembered and let us be reminded that the future is better, and the present is well, better.
ReplyDeleteK-Pop back then was a niche now it is an industry full of bright stars and artists that need recognition. It was very hard to even break the barriers but now it is through the power of fans to elevate that artist's potential. I agree, it was so hard before...
Another amazing Japanese gem. I mean having the likes of WADACHI, Renegades, My War, Universe, Stop for Nothing, BAN, Bokuwa Bokuja Naimtaida, Bokuwa Bokuo Sukininaru, and so much more classic songs in one year. It is amazing at this point. 2021 is like a whirl of amazing songs from everywhere.
Meguru Meguru is definitely getting a review and boy, this year is about to be mental for my award shows. I'm seriously considering making a second Japanese award show. 😅
This has been a crazy good year for J-Pop. Stop For Nothing grew on me too, and the trio of Wadachi, One Last Kiss and My War are excellent. Ban is not really my gam though.
DeleteYeah, kind of tired of some old fans looking to the second generation as a more peaceful time. We had Seckskies vs. HOT, SNSD's various controversies for no reason, and annoying fans too. Thankfully, the music was really good. It is just sad that the artists suffered so much for it.
In that way too, modern J-Pop is very similar to old K-Pop. The music is great, but the mistreatment for idol artists especially is truly, truly horrendous.
Human beings tend to glorify the past to show the sufferings of the present. Many look to ancient times as better than the pandemic ones, but at least we don't die by paper cuts these days.
This era too has several music issues though which are new and need to be addressed. Streaming and obsessive fans is one. But I won't go too deep down this rabbit-hole, that is a post for another day!
Indeed! As I agree, in life we really haven't learned much and that is because it is a cycle of new fans and old fans. There is no forever in the world, but one thing is sure. The artists' legacy will continue and will thrive. That is the only thing that will stay.
DeleteFandoms are very amazing, dark, and deep to understand. The internet has cultivated this sense of fandom which is basically anarchy (since it is the internet after all) plus the benefit of anonymity. It is so intrinsically destructive but at the same time an organic movement that doesn't come up out of nowhere. It creates time to grow and to mature. We also need to broaden our minds and of course relate to the energy they feel.
Music discourse has been always about fans, the public and the critics. It was a three-piece game of chess that will either result in a checkmate or a catastrophic loss. Indeed, music is a soul. A soul that connects all of us together.
Very interesting points. I wonder how future generations would react to the early internet. Who knows, they may view it as an anarchist wild west...
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