entertainment

NMB48 song tops Oricon chart

30 Comments

The newest song by NMB48, a sister group of AKB48, has risen to the No. 1 spot in Oricon's rankings for Feb 20. "Junjo U-19" is the third single in a row from NMB48 to occupy the No. 1 spot.

The group is based in Namba, Osaka. Members of the group said that it is like a dream.

The No. 1 ranked album is L'Arc~en~Ciel's "BUTTERFLY." The group hasn't held the No. 1 spot since late 2007.

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AKB48, biggest pop group on Earth! ;-)

0 ( +1 / -2 )

The sad decline of music quality and the epic rise of produced fluff. Japan sets the bar again for vacuous entertainment.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

The agencies that create Japanese pop groups are staffed by some of the most creative and vibrant people in the world. See what they did there? They ascertained that one massive girl group was popular and had the number 48 in its name.

They then ran with that idea and created something entirely different - a massive girl group that has the number 48 in its name but ALSO has the letters N and M in the title, which you will note are not in the name AKB48.

It is such an exciting time to be living in Japan when all this creativity is in the air. I imagine Vienna in the 18th century when Mozart and the other greats were coming up with their own creative works must have felt quite the same.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

It is such an exciting time to be living in Japan when all this creativity is in the air. I imagine Vienna in the 18th century when Mozart and the other greats were coming up with their own creative works must have felt quite the same.

I agree it is fascinating to live in this era and witness what is happening here. However, while AKB48 and their distinctively different, yet equally ingenious, sister group NMB48 have certainly demonstrated talent and creativity that far surpasses anything accomplished by British and American artists in the 1960's, it might be a stretch to compare them with 19th century Vienna -- but I admit it is debatable.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Senseiman I sincerly hope that post was in the sarcastic vein it sounds like.

It is an exciting time to be in Japan. Where teenage girls are idolized by 30-40's something guys and promotional agencies objectify young girls to keep those guys coming back for more.

And it is so wonderful to see the same idea replicated endlessly until all bands in the world contain the number 48 and are filled with fluffy child stars singing songs that were written in an hour with the lyrical depth of teaspoons.

Yes, modern Japan is a marvel of culture equaled only by the dark ages. What a time to be alive.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

The company should be renamed from Oricon to "Lori-con" (Lolita complex).

6 ( +8 / -2 )

It is all about our legs and looks guys. We got what you want. The creators of these groups are a lot smarter than most other people here in Japan. Imagine if we could get them to make the nuclear industry and politics more fun.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I agree it is fascinating to live in this era and witness what is happening here. However, while AKB48 and their distinctively different, yet equally ingenious, sister group NMB48 have certainly demonstrated talent and creativity that far surpasses anything accomplished by British and American artists in the 1960's, it might be a stretch to compare them with 19th century Vienna -- but I admit it is debatable.

The fact that I cannot detect sarcasm from this passage is..disturbing.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

AKB48 & NMB48 are working well for Japan. How about 48 super nano nuclear arsenal with beautiful and attractive delivery system (legs) as deterrent, and for defensive purpose only (Chinese style political language). In doing so, Japan will survive and maybe ichiban again?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Agree this is just (pubescent) tits and ass with little or no discernible musical value. But a lot of the rubbish that tops "Western" charts is also pretty awful. and doesn't look half as good.......

3 ( +3 / -0 )

JapanGal. But when those legs are attached to children and teenagers, it isn't something guys should be wanting. Right?!

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

tkoind2 wrote: It is an exciting time to be in Japan. Where teenage girls are idolized by 30-40's something guys and promotional agencies objectify young girls to keep those guys coming back for more.

Could you specifically identify what problem that is causing outside of your own personal headache? Do you really think anything is changed in world? Do you really think anything is worse?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

electric2004 wrote: The company should be renamed from Oricon to "Lori-con" (Lolita complex).

Why? All they do is amass statistics on music like American Top 40. So NMB48 made it to number one this week? Next week it will be SMAP, Kumi Koda, or Chage and Aska.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

GKB47 is also rising up the charts... could be the next number 1...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@senseiman

That was hilarious ... more like that please

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The chorus of this song is "steel panties" refering to their collective intention not to take them off for their boyfriend until they are 20 years of age. The song's title means "Pure (i.e. non sexual) emotion or affection, and the "U19" probably means under or equal to 19, since the lyrics mention adulthood which is considered to be from 20. The boyfriends are going to have a long wait in some instances because at least one of the members is 13 years old. 13 years old.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Having seen the video, it seems that it has been created with the intention to include as many ways as possible of allowing the viewers to feel that they can or will see the "steel panties" refered to the in the lyrics, with low camera angles, miniskirts, rotating girls, grils lying down, hanging from wires, rolling over balls, on tightropes, podia, and finally fired from a circus cannon. I think it is very inventive, but not musically, and not to my taste.

I agree with a non-sarcastic interpretation of Senseiman. Japan is just bursting at its creative seams. See Donald Richie's "The Image Factory: Fads and fashions in Japan." It is just that the myriad images that Japan makes are different, and not popular among those with Western sensitivities.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

timtak wrote: The chorus of this song is "steel panties" refering to their collective intention not to take them off for their boyfriend until they are 20 years of age.

What a horrible message! Promotions of sexlessness is about the last thing this country needs right now.

I would say the chances of making female who was sexless until 20 into a fully sexual woman are about as good as making a man raised by apes until 20 into a fully civilized human being. Funny thing is though that that is the real Japan (sexless) and has been for a while, which is why sexual frequency is down, why the birthrate is down, why the sperm counts are down, and why so many gaijin males complain that their Japanese wives don't do it any more (they never really wanted to do it in the first place!).

Again, what a horrible message! Sex is a use it or lose deal, and Japan needs to use it, because its definitely losing it.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I would say the chances of making female who was sexless until 20 into a fully sexual woman are about as good as making a man raised by apes until 20 into a fully civilized human being.

What an extraordinary co-incidence. On my way home this evening I was trying to think of a way of explaining the lolicon phenomena and I thought to do it by using "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes."

First of all, we must take now that both Tarzan (or James Bond, or Jesus) are mythic narratives that concern social ideals rather than normal humans. The members of NMB48 do not wear steel panties.

A big problem for human society, perhaps the biggest, is encouraging men and women to cooperate. There are two extremely effective ways of doing this. 1) Persuade all members of society that they are neutred men. 2) Persuade all members of society that they are wombless, bloodless women. The West takes the former route, Japan the latter. In each case it is imperative that the unattractive parts of the idealised sex are banished: their desire in each case is taboo. Jesus was a man in his ability to lead, be righteous, brave, and strong but there was no one iota of lewdness about him. The idealised woman in Japan is similarly, self-sacrificing and supposedly berift of desire. The Western "gentle" man, and Japanese "idol" stop at the waist, they are castrated, spayed, anemic, and perfect.

This repression however, gives rise to even greater desire for its disolution, for (in the West) a gentleman who is also an ape man; Tarzan/Earl Greystoke a combination of pure male sex and complete gentrified repression. I think that NMB48 are the Japanese equivalent of Tarzan/Greystoke, pure sex, and pure chasity rolled (often literally) into one steel pantie.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

TImtak, so you are saying that NMB48 are the idealized synthesis of purity and sexuality?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yes, Thank you. Ranger Miffy2, that sounds like a good way of putting it.

'Idealized syntheses of purity and sexuality' exist of course in the West too, such as in the form of the characters portrayed by (and perhaps the person of) Audrey Hepburn who is idolised in Japan, to an extent Marylyn Munroe though she was a little too sexy, and not quite pure enough for Japanese taste, and Lady Gaga who almost seems a little Japanese. Howevfer, In Japan I think that the synthesis is more extreme. In NMB48 there are thirteen year old chidren, in miniskirts, singing about sex, wearing "steel panties".

0 ( +0 / -0 )

NMB48 rock!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

It is all about our legs and looks guys. We got what you want.

On teenagers body, don't forget, ha!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

But timtak, are they singing about sex, or about NOT having sex? Its not like at 13 they have no clue, or should. In Japan, I believe they have had some form of sex ed, yes?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@timtak

pure sex, and pure chasity rolled (often literally) into one steel pantie.

Great bit of psychoanalysis. I would add that the AKB/NMB product is designed to make (some) men fantasize about being the one who will defile the pure virgin. That's why such a big deal is made about the no boyfriend rule -- the girls are saving it up for that special you.

Very unhealthy, I think.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Sex education starts in the 4th grade of primary school. Strange to say that somewhere within that education the desire to look 'cute' suddenly becomes de rigeur....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The chorus of this song is...

I find it amazing that someone has actually bothered to listen to the lyrics, let alone analyze them.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@plasticmonkey - exactly, and precisely why the guillotine was recently brought down on two members of AKB48 for the shocking offense of being photographed hanging out with guys - not lewd, not naked or even close, just hanging out, in a group no less. But otaku illusions were shattered in an instant, and untold potential revenue lost. Remember, these groups are selling a million singles IN A DAY. Ka-ching!

Lest we forget, this whole concept is nothing new and goes back to Onyanko Club in the 80s and hits like セーラー服を脱がさないで/"Don't make me take off my sailor suit" The continuation is fully illustrated by this AKB48 version of the same song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njl0-jpuRhY

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The idiots are winning !

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The idiots are winning !

Well, the idols are anyway.

Some of these girls are underage, some are not. They sing pop songs that are at times too sexed up and that are not really appropriate for the younger ones. However, try getting your minds out of the gutters and take it for what it is; pop music that is just mindless entertainment. An hour surfing the Internet can do much more damage to kids than these harmless groups could ever do.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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