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Wonder Woman promoted in Japan with idol song 'A Woman Can’t Sleep Alone,' angering some fans

14 Comments
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24

Wonder Woman doesn’t have much of an existing position in the Japanese popular imagination, but a number of Japanese fans who are familiar with the character weren’t pleased when some ads made a noticeable point of her lack of romantic experience. Now, though, it’s the film’s Japanese language image song that some are saying betrays the essence of the character, due in no small part to its title, “Onna ha Hitori ja Nerenai,” which translates to “A Woman Can’t Sleep Alone.”

The song is by idol singer unit Nogizaka46, the “official rivals” of AKB48 (though producer Yasushi Akimoto is in charge of both groups). Nogizaka46 is also acting as Wonder Woman’s “official ambassadors, in Japan” participating in cross-promotional projects, one of which is “A Woman Can’t Sleep Alone” being designated as the “image song” of the film.

Those critical of the musical tie-up say it runs contrary to Wonder Woman’s strong, independent personality to promote her film with a song claiming a woman can’t sleep by herself.

▼ Video for “A Woman Can’t Sleep Alone”

Online criticisms have included:

“This is Wonder Woman we’re talking about. She should have a stronger-sounding song.”

“If you’re going to choose an image song for Wonder Woman, shouldn’t it be a powerful song about the beauty of life?”

“You’re saying Wonder Woman can’t sleep alone? Please, don’t put this image song in the Japanese-subtitled theatrical release.”

“As someone who likes both Nogizaka46 and American comics, I’m really disappointed by the title and lyrics.”

“The song’s guitar and strings are a good fit for Wonder Woman, so I really wish Akimoto had given it a proper title and lyrics.”

Speaking of those lyrics, which Akimoto wrote himself, they translate as:

"The searchlight shines on the steel beams of the construction site

What dream did they have for this city’s future?

A heavy love hangs on the rooftop crane

Where will it be carried to?

Even if I turn my eyes above, darkness is all there is

The only flashes of light are beyond that

A woman can’t always sleep by herself (love gets in the way)

What should I do?

My feeling are stirring, and I can’t sleep (something in my heart is crying out)

I’m not not not lonely. I want to be with someone

A siren calls out as dawn come to the street corner

What have I given up on since yesterday?

The warmth that came from my stubborn beliefs

Is laughing with my cold bedsheets

Even if I try to stop it, things end up the same

I’m shackled by my foolish love

Some day, a woman can sleep alone (once she stops dreaming)

Until then, she sleeps with her eyes open (this world is just an illusion)

I’m not not not lonely. And I don’t cry

I want to be strong

I won’t rely on anything in this lonely world

My desire excites me

A woman, a woman, can’t always sleep by herself (love gets in the way)

What should I do?

My feeling are stirring, and I can’t sleep (something in my heart is crying out)

I’m not not not lonely. I want to be with someone.

I’m not not not lonely. I want to be with you."

In the video’s defense, the visuals don’t do anything to imply that the women portrayed (members of Nogizaka46 living in a dystopian future) need a man’s help, as they’re shown to be capable of medical care, botany, melee combat, and magically controlling the powers of fire and ice, As a matter of fact, the only male characters who show up at all in the five-minute music video are a team of semi-demonic assailants, all of whom are killed off-screen by the armed idol singers.

Even still, some online commenters have interpreted the lyrics as an association that women are inherently weak, and say the song is putting a damper on their excitement about watching Wonder Woman’s first solo film.

Source: IT Media

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Cross-dressing talent Matsuko Deluxe: AKB opening the Tokyo Olympics “would embarrass Japan”

-- Woman on commuter train thinks she’s getting a romantic kabe-don, seems guy would rather beat her

-- Steamy Heinz Japan commercials urge married women to have affairs with handsome pig【Videos】

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

14 Comments
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Pass the sick bag.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Their first and biggest mistake was choosing an idols group for a movie like Wonder Woman. Which we all know they're all young (underage) sexy candy for "grown up" males. They portray nothing of being a strong independent woman.

16 ( +16 / -0 )

lol!

Their first and biggest mistake was choosing an idols group for a movie like Wonder Woman. Which we all know they're all young (underage) sexy candy for "grown up" males. They portray nothing of being a strong independent woman.

Hit the nail right on the head!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

How the hell can they miss so very, very badly on this?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

My wife can't sleep alone. Sometimes her masseur stays the night, sometimes her beautician.

Yet she's fast asleep next to me... like a board, or a fridge....

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Two factors:

1) Atsushi Akimoto is chief propagandist for Japan Inc.'s determination of what women are and can be.

2) Japan Inc. wants everyone to believe that the primary way for women to be empowered is by pleasing men with a careful blend of naiveté, servility, and sluttiness.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Leave it to Japan to interpret a movie that plays largely on women's rights and female empowerment to choose a song like that, by a group that has to sign a contract saying they're not even allowed to have their own love-lives.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

"THE UPLOADER HAS NOT MADE THIS VIDEO AVAILABLE IN YOUR COUNTRY"

Please do

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

A Woman Can’t Sleep Alone”

Funny how Batman wasn't promoted as "A Man Can't Sleep Alone".

some online commenters have interpreted the lyrics as an association that women are inherently weak, and say the song is putting a damper on their excitement about watching Wonder Woman’s first solo film.

Not at all. I don't have to listen to the song. The theme for the last Bond movie was daft but I still enjoyed the movie.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Speaking of those lyrics, which Akimoto wrote himself, 

So a woman isn't even allowed to write the theme to "Wonder Woman". Female empowerment, Japan style.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

its a movie, can we worry about things that matter?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

its a movie, can we worry about things that matter?

The topic is in the entertainment section. Does exactly what it says on the tin, y'know?

Although; if you like - there is the controversy over Gal Gadot's IDF stance. But I fear that would be a tangent too far.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Somebody must have made a ton of money slapping this ridiculous titled song to a blockbuster movie. What a shame.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

So... someone forgot to do their homework. The tribe of amazon women that Wonder Woman belongs to see men as nothing more than breeding stock. Men are killed when they enter the territory or land on their island (depends on which story you are reading/watching) they are killed on sight. LOL.... If I'm mistaken sorry, but I doubt I am.

So I would say the song missed it by a few ... miles.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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