An Earnest Competition Keeps Buono! #1
So, 2 weeks after the single’s release and creeping upon the release of the Single V, I am finally getting around to reviewing Buono!’s latest single, ‘Gachinko de Ikou!’ (translated as “Let’s Compete Earnestly!” on projecthello, thus the post title).
I must say that this single is absolutely amazing! I am currently torn trying to decide if this is my favourite H!P release of 2008, or if High King still holds that title. What has me unsure is the strength of ‘Gachinko’s c/w, because the a-side definitely holds its own against ‘C\C Cinderella Complex’. Let’s see if writing this review can finally set me straight.
The Song
Again, we are treated to the rock/pop feel that Buono! is known for. While others say they’re getting tired of this style continuously coming from Buono!, I’m still completely in love with it.
The song opens with a quick guitar arpeggio and goes straight into a strong drum beat with a nice guitar riff. I really enjoy the instrumental in this single, as I have with the previous Buono! releases.
However, what really gets me in this release is the melody. It is extremely catchy (it’s constantly running through my head) and flows so well. The verses sound soft and hopeful, which leads into a pre-chorus that sounds more reflective. We then get a a chorus which is full-force GO!!! which then leads back into more of a reflective post-chorus. I’ve looked over the translation at projecthello.com, and the lyrics seem to follow this pattern.
The tempo goes hand-in-hand with the melody. The verses and pre/post chorus have notes which are held longer, which go with the more contemplative mood of those sections, while the chorus just speeds on through.
Seriously, this song is just so awesome! All the girls sound great in it! As always, Momoko works so much better for me in Buono! than she does in Berryz Koubou. We’ll see if this patten continues when Berryz 5th album comes out next week. No complaints about Airi. Her voice isn’t too nasally for me here… And do I ever complain about Miya’s voice on an album or single? XD It is definitely my favourite a-side released from all of H!P this year.
The b-side
The b-side is called ‘Lady Panther’ and this is a fun, lively song. I feel like you could break out into an awesome jive with this song.. A very quick jive, which would probably leave me tripping all over my feet. XD But this song definitely gives me the feel of swing/big band/jive.
I feel like this is the kind of song that would drive me up the wall in a game like DrumMania (’Gachinko’ on the other hand seems like it would be indescribably fun to play on DrumMania).
Unlike ‘Gachinko’, ‘Lady Panther’ is non-stop high energy the whole way through. What I love about this song are the “Gao!” bits. Reading the translation, I see that “Gao!” is “Roar!”, and I just find that so adorable!! Singing “Roar! Roar!” or “Growl! Growl!” in English would just sound stupid… But “Gao!” sound so cute. Though, to a person who speaks Japanese, “Gao! Gao!” may sound stupid… Who knows. XD I also love Miya’s lines of “mada mada mada mada” and “goro goro goro goro”. I don’t know if it’s favourtism on my part, but the other 2 don’t have the lines, so I can’t really compare it.
I would put this down as a strong c/w, but the question is, does it outdo High-King’s ‘Kioku no Meiro’? Seriously, the c/w for High-King is just so awesome (as I explained in my C\C review) I don’t think Lady Panther could beat it. So for the battle of c/w’s, High-King’s stays at my number 1 spot for 2008.
The PV
Now what is there to say about this PV, other than that Miyabi looks AMAZING in it?! XD I’ve read most (if not all) of the ‘Gachinko’ reviews out there from other blogs, and off the top of my head, I’d say about half of the bloggers expressed surprise at how awesome Miya looks in it… All I can say is that Miya’s been hot for quite some time now! 
But it’s better late than never to realize the greatness that is Miya, right?
She’s looking gorgeous in the casual clothes and lighter hair.
Don’t get me started on the hat… XD
Miya pulls of pouty and disappointed quite well.
The dance is cute, but not too intricate. I’m planning to learn this one eventually… Particularly since the instrumental break has a really simple dance going for it. Even I could learn that… XD
One thing I seriously do not understand within this PV is the mosquito biting Momoko… Really now, what’s up with that? o_O It bites her, she kills it, and there’s nothing to follow up with on that… What was the point of it all?
All the games the girls play are so cute! The seriousness at which they play cards, throw darts and play jenga is adorable! As for the barrel Buono! game… So AWESOME! Where can I buy one?!
Miya loses here… But that’s okay. Though, really, what was she thinking taking the card that Momoko was practically begging her to pull? >_<
Concentrate!
Look at Miya’s eyes widen! XD
The expression on Airi’s face is just hilarious!
Haha! Momoko loses this one!
What is this game called, anyway? I can’t think of it off the top of my head… But I want the Buono! head version!
And finally, the band scenes… They’re just pure awesome. The girls look like they’re having so much fun! Also, just a side note, but Buono! did a fan club concert recently (last week, I think) and in it, Momoko played the drums a little, Miya the bass (I’m almost positive)… and I’m assuming Airi played a little electric guitar (but I haven’t actually seen pictures of her holding a guitar from the concert). I MUST WATCH THIS CONCERT!!! XD I mean com on, fully Buono! preforming pretty much every album song and single… That’s just so much awesome that it’s ridiculous! I do hope that it comes out on DVD eventually…
Wrap-up
So, in the battle for my top H!P release for 2008, Buono! gets the a-side (by a fairly large margin), High-King gets the b-side (by a reasonable margin) and Buono! gets the PV (by landslide)… So, taking those 3 factors into account, Buono!’s ‘Gachinko de Ikou!’ wins the battle for my current favourite H!P release for this year. Good job girls!! This was definitely an earnest competition and they were able to get away with the win!
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
[...] An Earnest Competition Keeps Buono! #1 [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Miya can definitely walk better in those heels than Airi can.
Plus, she looks hotter with them on than Airi does…
Plus, she has good sense of style….
and its orange.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:46 am
This video could be analyzed to death. I want it to be a reference to some movie, but I have no idea what it is. The game they are playing is Jenga. I was hoping this might mean something in Japanese by coincidence, but I don’t think so.
They hit the targets “golfclub”, “balance ball” and “pajyama”. The last one being most exciting of course. I love this and can’t even guess what it means.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:41 am
@SB: Yes, YES, Yes and Yes XD. LOL
@jim: Lol. I know Jenga. XD I meant the game with the barrel and the swords. I’ve seen it before, but I can’t remember what it’s called for the life of me.
Hmm… Maybe Airi doesn’t want to go miniputting anymore, Miya doesn’t want to exercise and Momoko’s happy that she just gets to go to sleep (I’d be jumping too)… (This is me assuming that you listed them in the order that the girls threw the darts. :D)