"Communication in the entire group deepens in 2019"
--Please tell us about the new single "Otona Survivor" that will be released on April 17th. What was your impression when you first hear it?
Midori: We can sell Last Idol with this. I got the impression that it's the first step on the path to being able to sell.
--What part did you like the best?
Midori: It wasn't so much an impression. Even though it sounds like a cool song, we say "Hey, hey".
It's a little different, isn't it? Last Idol is a little different. For example, the costumes for "Bandwagon" are cute with white high socks. It's also interesting when we sing "I like it, I like it allot" and say "I Like it" so many times in a row. Something has changed a little bit with this. There's nothing like Last Idol. If this song can spread, then Last Idol can become famous little by little, so I felt that I had to sell this.
--How about you Abe-san?
Abe: I thought it was cool when I listened to it, and I could see hope just as Midori said. I felt confident I could handle this song, and decided I should do my best from now on. 52 people are dancing in this song, so it will absolutely be cool. I think it's a song that will catch on/take off if allot of people know about it, so I want to do my best.
--When did you find out you were going to be the Center?
Abe: I wasn't told properly about the Center position. When everyone was assigned their positions, I was in the middle, so I was like "Really? I'm the Center?" (laughs). It's a little weird, but it takes the form of a pyramid. I take the lead as we move forward. I felt allot of responsibility, so I had to re-focus in order to lead the performance.
(*Where Abe says "re-focus" she used the phrase "body tightens" or "self tightening". It's sort of like re-committing yourself to a job. You've just been given a promotion, and now you're reaffirming your commitment to doing your best from this point moving forward)
--The "Art of Walking" was adopted in the choreography. Was this difficult?
Midori: It was very difficult. There's usually only positions in the front, but this time we took a new approach and added "depth". For example, up to this point, there was no intention to line up two rows. This time, we have enough depth to do it properly. I had to memorize both, but I don't like thinking like a graph, so I couldn't get it, and was panicking at that beginning.
Moe: Because the formation moves so much, and there are also 52 people, it took some time just to remember the positions. Once that was sorted out, I thought it would be okay.
--Please tell me about the coupling songs. What kind of song is the 1st Gen.'s "If Someone's Dream Comes True"?
Abe: "Otona Survivor" is in a cool style, but this song is more in a cute style with a refreshing feeling. It has a high sound. It's the highest we've done up to this point, so the recording process was very difficult.
--What kind of song is the 2nd Gen.'s "Lollipop"?
Misaka: "Lollipop" is a pretty song just like the title says. It's a sudden change from the 2nd Gen.'s song "Love Has No Weapons". It's a love song, and has phrases like "first love" and "unrequited love", so it's very cute. Moe: Right before the Sabi drops, there's a solo part where I get to sing by myself for the first time. The voices of the girls have many characteristics, so I think you will enjoy it.
(*I haven't heard the song, but I think Moe means that each member gets a solo part so you can hear each of their voices. I can't be sure until I hear it though)
--2018 was a year in which the unity of each Unit was strengthened by battles over the title song. So far in 2019, we've seen the "Art of Walking", the recording of this single, and there's been an increase in activities which call for the unity of the entire group. Have there been any changes in the group?
Midori: Everyone's getting along so well, that I think it was good that we stopped the individual Units for now.
--Is the distance between the 1st and 2nd Gen. also been reduced?
Moe: It's definitely smaller. I used to feel like I was on a cloud that was so far away that I couldn't get close. We originally watched the show on TV, so there's still the image that "The 1st Gen. members are amazing". Because all 52 of us were able to work together as one group on "Otona Survivor" without competition, we had an opportunity to get to know each other and make friends.
(*Where Moe says "Because all 52 of us were able to work together as one group on 'Otona Survivor'", she actually says they worked in a "Flat shape". I believe what she means is a "Flat Organization" which is a business term. I'm probably overthinking this, but there might be a bit more to what she's saying.
Last Idol Family is structured sort of like a Division Organization:
A division organization is an organizational structure divided by related business units, such as business types, sales regions, and product types. It is often found in companies with multiple businesses. Each business has the necessary functions, and each has the right to make decisions, allowing business units to make flexible and quick decisions.
Another advantage is that competition by division leads to increased employee motivation. However, since one function is divided into multiple divisions, there is also the disadvantage that it is difficult to increase the expertise of each function. Another problem is that each department has its own goals, which makes it difficult for management to control the direction of the company.
A Flat Organization is much simpler:
A flat organization refers to an organization structure with few or no levels of management between management and staff level employees. The flat organization supervises employees less while promoting their increased involvement in the decision-making process.
Not only is Last Idol Family divided into Units, but there is obviously a hierarchy. You could break it up into a pyramid like this from top to bottom. Even within Generations, there is a hierarchy with LaLuce and the 2nd Gen's main group at the top of their respective blocks.
/ 1st Generation \
/ LaLuce \
/GT - CCR - SS - LC\
/ 2nd Generation \
/ Main Group \
/ Unders \
I think Moe is saying that that there is a clear boundary between the 1st and 2nd Gen., so by working as one group, those walls have come down and everyone is accessible)
--After looking at the 1st Gen., what impression do you get about the 2nd Gen.?
Misaka: Young (laughs). We're really young, so many of the girls need help when they get confused.
That's not the case with me. I'm more of an introvert. It's also very interesting when we take a picture.
For example, Takahashi Minori will say "The picture's nice, isn't it. Okay, I'm going. Let's go. 1, 2, 3"
she's like her own self shutter (laughs). If you hear a voice that sounds like a Cicada, then that would be Suto Moe (laughs). There's allot of high tension girls with a school like feeling, so I think Last Idol has become brighter.
(*Self shutter is the Japanese term for the timer on a camera. I went with "Introverted" but Misaka specifically says "locked in her shell" which is close enough)
Midori: When we held the 1st Anniversary concert at Tokyo Diver City, many of the 2nd Gen. members had no experience as Idols, so some of the girls didn't know how to rehearse well. Even though I thought they were "a bit of hindrance" in such a narrow space, I didn't say it. On the 2nd and 3rd day, I noticed they started doing better. They even properly organized their luggage, which I thought was cute. Also, because we all rehearsed together while being sweaty, when the 2nd Gen. members saw us like that, they said "we respect you", so I was very glad.
Abe: I've been an Idol for a long time, so when the girls who've never been Idols joined, I felt nostalgic about my early days, and remembered why I decided to become an Idol in the first place.
--Abe-san, you're a shy person, but what do you think about the 2nd Gen. members?
Abe: Yes. Hashimoto Momoka and I often use Line. If we're at an event and staying in the same Hotel, she'll say "let's go back together", and we'll walk back together. Oishi Natsumi from LaLuce is very friendly with the 2nd Gen., so you when you are with Natsumi-chan, you can interact with the 2nd Gen. (laughs).
No comments:
Post a Comment