2007…what a year for H!P: Addition of JunJun and LinLin, graduation, serious scanals, resignation, pregnancy, marriage…and last but not least, Hello! Project’s 10th anniversary. In the midst of everything, Mikan’s energetic anthem plays on.
Intro. The single begins with a brief but beautiful melody on the piano, the first few seconds quite reminiscent of KoiING’s intro. Then enter the rapid beats of the drums, and the spirit of Mikan is unleashed with the voices of Koharu and Aika; it’s that vibe you get when you watch a new anime opening. Your heartrate is rapidly increasing to the beats of the drums.
Verse. Following the opening are especially memorable and catchy lines led by Ai-chan. This is also my favorite part of the song. In the back of my mind, it was the tune that repeatedly played itself over and over. The next few solo lines featured Eri, Gaki-san, Sayu, Reina, and Koharu, which is always good news to those who aren’t so pleased with line distribution. When comes time for pairs to sing the pre-chorus, I can just imagine fans clapping three times to every part (darn the concert rip!).
Chorus. Then comes the main tune rocking on – it’s the definition of upbeat. Because of its celerity, I also imagine it as the most difficult part to perform live. The chorus shows no mercy when it comes to breathing, yet the most insight when it comes to meaning: Jinsei wa igai…life is one time.
Now look back on every piece of news recorded on the front page of Hello!Online this year. It’s got every kind of news you expect, or not expect. What Mikan proclaims is a simple, timeless lesson in life: You’ve only got one. It’s full of ups and downs and will be incomplete if you decide to give up when you fall. No matter what, you will get a chance to experience the best of life.
Some have judged it by the melody, others the lyrics. Some have embraced this single with joy, others have decided that it simply sucks, period. There are those who thought it was somewhere in the middle as well. Whatever you think of Mikan, in terms of lyrics, it deserves the king’s seat. Tsunku reminds MM through Mikan’s lyrics that, in the midst of everything that’s happened so far in 2007, they’ve got to carpe their diem – they’ve got to seize the day in spite of the downs of life. Morning Musume is not quite finished yet.
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