A few reasons why you should buy the Himawari gumi DVD
Hi everybody! Since my computer is acting up and I haven’t slept in a week for various reasons, this will be pretty short. I plan on doing a very very detailed review of both Himawari-gumi casts, but this is just so you can preview the songs and know what to expect of them. The main message is PLEASE BUY! This is a wonderful DVD, and if you’re not an AKB fan, it will convert you for sure! Also, it’s great because since both teams are mixed, you get to see ALL of the Team A and K girls, and they work great together. Also, you get to see the alternative cast version, with the girls who aren’t all that popular, but surprisingly enough (I mean, some of them were surprising to me) can hold an amazing concert by themselves effortlessly! The links lead to the Youtube videos of said songs, and they open in a new window 
Disclaimer: All lyrics taken from AKB48 Lyrics Paradise http://stage48.net/lyricsparadise/ They belong to their rightful translators/romanizators
0. Overture: “Here in world famous Akihabara, these angels have come down to perform for you!” Team 1 Well, the Overture is a classic! It’s also very helpful when you’re a n00b because the names of the girls appear in romaji, so you can finally know who the hell is who This is very cool, and it sets the mood for all of AKB48’s DVD
1. Dreamin’ Girls: “Becoming the lead role for song and dance, I dream it all in front of the mirror” Team 1 I LOVE this song so much! It’s also great because it helps to prove the point that lots of this girls are really talented singeres! This is sung completely a capella, with claps and tapping of the feet as the background. The use of harmonies is beautiful, and the lighting is also amazing! It creates a very “dreamy” feel somehow. Also, the lyrics are very nice, about working hard to be an idol, the lessons, how there’s almost no free time and the such… It kind of makes you feel like you’re closer to the girls or something
2. RUN RUN RUN: “Love always is an unexpected thing. Continuously unexpected, right?” Team 1 Ok, so those aren’t exactlt the deepest lyrics ever, but this is a fun and energetic song about falling in love and telling the person you like about your feelings. (Aitakatta 2?) I like how bubbly and catchy the tune is.
-Watch Overture - Dreamin’ Girls - RUN RUN RUN Team 2 Version-
3. Mirai no Kajitsu: “The times can be sad, of this I’m sure, but thanks to the tears the dream is gradually nurtured” Team 1 I dare you to listen to this song and not have “Boys & Girls” stuck in your head for like a week! It’s that catchy. This was the B side for Boku no Taiyou (I believe…) and while it’s nothing spectacular, it’s very happy and it kind of cheers you up. I like the choreography, it’s pretty simple but works perfectly with the song!
4. Viva! Hurricane: “The pride of my feet sways / I’m almost to the point of losing everything / And yet it can’t be stopped” Team 1 This song begins with SUCH a ridiculous music intro! It reminds me of sentai shows of the 70s or something, but then the girls start singing and it’s a very different song from what it sounded at the beginning, with a little mishcievousness thrown in. What is really awesome about this song is the choreography! The girls swing and sway and there’s a little break when they dance as if they were blown by the wind, it’s very entertaining! Also, I have to say that this is the most random song ever (70s + Rap + Tropical sounding stuff) but I love to watch it nonetheless! Oh, this was the C/W to Yuuhi wo Miteiru ka BTW
-Watch Mirai no kajitsu - Viva Hurricane Team 2 Version-
5. IDOL Nante Yobanaide: “More than being loved, they want to love. From a far away place they yearn. They can’t admit that it’s an unrequited love” Team 1 “Don’t Call me an Idol” is a perfect explanation of why I like AKB48 The lyrics of this song are very in-your-face, about how idols, don’t really like their stalkers and how they are puzzled by the extreme affection of a lot of strangers at handshaking events and the such. It goes even as far as critizicing the “pure” image of idols and how they can’t fall in love!!! I was shocked when I read the lyrics, but then I was even more shocked when I saw the song performed, because it’s a typical TYPICAL idol number! Girls in pink poofy dresses, with high boots and a silly girly choreography! This song is a slap in the face for wotas, disguised as an innocent idol number. Funny thing is that, this is one of the songs where wotas chant the most… Are they THAT blinded by their love of these idols? Here’s the (lyrics translation) in case you want to read the whole thing
6. Boku to Juliet to Jet Coaster: “This young love, in order to shake free from adults, earnestly drinks the poison” Team 1 If you are going to watch just one performance, make it this one. The song is AMAZING and the girls do an excellent job at singing and dancing the flashy choreography perfectly. The lyrics are sad an beautiful, in contrast to the vivid pop music. Both teams do a great job at this, even though Team 2 had a SEED for a member of the subunit! Even so, if you’re going to pick, I’d recommend that you watched Team 1 version, because the star power of Yuko, Rina and Haruna is incredible!
-Watch IDOL Nante Yobanaide - Boku to Juliet to Jet Coaster Team 2 Version-
7. Higurashi no Koi: “If I dissappear, this neighborhodd will become quiet. Like this, a cicada can be heard in the distant sky” Team 1 I was lying before, if you’re going to watch just one, watch this one. This is a slow song, but it’s so incredibly haunting and beautiful! team 1 features the best singers of AKB48 (Takamina and Masuda Yuka) and they are absolutely perfect in their performance. Team 2 features a now graduated SEED (who is amazing!) and Ohe Tomomi, whose voice is very peaceful and pretty as well. This is how ballads should be done, it never gets boring!
8. Itoshisa no Defense: “Without you ever falling in love with my real self, I drag you along a chain” Team 1 Aaaaand the stage starts getting sexy with this one! The song is nice, but what’s really amazing is the choreography here! Very hot!!! Also, if you’re wacthing only one version of this one, I recommend the one with Team 2 because Hana is TOO HOT TO BE TRUE!!!!
- Watch Higurashi no Koi - Itoshisa no Defense Team 2 version -
9. Himawari: “In order for you to be you, I’ll be waiting until you stand up Even in the far side of the starry sky Surely the sun is waiting” Team 1 This song could be considered the typical “cheer up” stuff, but it’s not that simple really, there’s something about it that makes it really stand out… I don’t know, maybe those guitar riffs? I have to say that this is one of the most even line distributions I’ve seen as an idol fan, which made me happy because all of the girls chosen for this song are great singers. I really like it, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside, so you should watch it too to see if it works for you
10. Takeuchi Senpai “With a shy expression on my face, I definitely look like your junior. All through the high school You’re popular among the girls” Team 1 Remeber how Kinjirareta Futari was a song about lesbians? And so was Boku no Uchiage Hanabi (well, kind of), well, third’s a charm, so here’s Takeuchi Senpai, ladies and gentlemen! To be honest, there isn’t much in the lyrics that I can interpret as Takeuchi being a girl, but Maimai did a drawing of the song, and it was a girl in a football (soccer, for all of you US people) uniform, and Tomomi (I don’t remember if it was Itano or Kasai) said “ehhhh? a girl??” And Mai nodded. Ok, make what you will out of that, but isn’t it so much more fun if those “Love me! Hold me!” are girl on girl? (Ok, that sounded SO wrong… but whatever)
- Watch Himawari - Takeuchi Senpai Team 2 Version -
11. Sonna Konna wake de “As for a summer man, his hands move too fast. Seaside Love” Team 1 Sexy! I like the costumes a lot, they are very very sexy in a naughty catholic schoolgirl kind of way XD This is a song about uh… Seaside Love. Literally. It’s a very hot performance, trust me.
12. Deja Vu “Déjà vu, this nostalgic pain… The days gone by are a vague reality. The same future, even though it repeats, I want to fall in love” Team 1 I really really like this song. It might be one of my favorite group songs ever (for AKB48) It has dramatic music and a very simple choreography with hand movements that work really well with the song. Also, I love how the girls are really into it, so it makes for a spectacular performance!
- Watch Sonna Konna Wake de - Deja Vu Team 2 Version-
14. Yuuhi wo Miteiru ka “Because everyone is a weak creature, We’re supporting each other” Team 1 Er… you’ve all seen Yuuhi wo Miteiru ka, this is a performance of said song.
15. Lay Down! “If you bite back at me, This dormant whip will fly! Who is, who is, who is your woman? [...] Kneel! I’m your queen. Kneel! You’re my pet. Lay down, Lay down” Team 1 This son is SO much flith… You know, my recommended performances are written above, but Lay Down is SUCH a filthy song full of leather and loli fanservice that you will really regret it if you don’t watch it… I remember some weeks ago I wrote about the 10 AKB48 songs that I felt people should listen to in order to get a bit familiar with their style, and in Ray’s comment of the post said “All I need is an S&M song to go with the enjo kosai song!” Well Ray, you might rejoice, Lay Down is the S&M song you’ve been waiting for so long XD
- Lay Down! - BINGO! Team 2 Version -
And Team 1 Version, you know you want it!
Ok, now that we’ve all watched (and enjoyed) Lay Down, here are the bad news: I won’t be including BINGO and Boku no Taiyo because I’m tired and it’s late and I have to wake up early and… well, you’ve all watched those elsewhere, right?
Ok people, that’s it for now! Bye bye!