Morning Musume’s ‘Mikan’ miracle

Way back in December, this modest corner of the blogoshpere made a bold prediction – that Morning Musume’s “Mikan” would be the best song performed in the Hello Project Winter 2008 Awards Show the next January at Yokohama Arena. This prophecy was fulfilled and then some. “Mikan” was the best song performed. Nothing touched it.

 

Why? Because Morning Musume again proved all the naysayers wrong. You know, those who fret over the worthless, rigged Oricon ratings every week, continually whining about lack of sales of “Mikan” and, therefore, the inevitable fall and disbanding of Morning Musume forever.

 

The reason why “Mikan” crackled – both at the Awards Show and at the earlier smaller-venue concert series, Wonderful Hearts – was because of the following:

 

*** LinLin and JunJun, the much-maligned Chinese newcomers of last year, finally kicked it into high gear. They not only tore it up during the early part of the show, they killed “Mikan” and exploded on “Bomb Girl.” It was a big, big month for the Pandas.

 

*** The Buck Rogers-style rocket suits worked, much better “live” than in the somewhat deceptive PV for “Mikan,” which lacked a suitable backdrop to the science-fiction nature of the silver-velvet-sheen unis (and overcoats, for good measure, especially under hot lights and especially with arm-crazy dances).

 

*** The much-criticized long chorus. The straightarm-crazy choreography was ideal for both the big arena and tight theater. The wotas never wanted the salutes to end! It worked so, so well – but was tedious on the PV.

 

*** A great dance break. Most dance breaks are simply that, breaks, but this dance break was the dance break of all dance breaks. All nine Momusu twisted themselves into slipknots while the wotas, already wild, lost it completely. It was like a chorus line on steroids, a pom-pon squad gone berserk.

 

*** “Mikan’s” lyrics are eternally upbeat and optimistic, like everything penned by Tsunku (except for the angst-ridden Berryz Kobo teen tunes and a couple cutsie °C-ute numbers). Maybe too optimistic. Hey, where’s the depression? Have to have some of that in this day and age, don’t we? Not on this stage you won't!

 

Bottom line, all the crybabies should shut the hell up and just enjoy the following translation of “Mikan,” courtesy Projecthello.com:

 

Mikan

みかん

"Mandarin"

 

A chance on a bright morning
Oh yeah you'll get a chance
A chance the day you set off on a journey
Oh yeah you'll get a chance
Oh yeah

 

I've seen dreams countless times
I can't give up on them
Whether you're a girl or a boy
it's the same thing

 

Born on the planet I love,
meeting the person I love;
Because this path lasts for less than a century,

 

There will be sadness
and joy;
become gentle

 

Oh yes
Come to love all humans
Life is one time
Good fortune comes to the homes of those who smile
Life is one time

 

Like an infant crying
so that it may live,
have a freshly born
pure heart

 

A chance on a bright morning
Oh yeah you'll get a chance
A chance the day you set off on a journey
Oh yeah you'll get a chance
Oh yeah

 

I've tripped over love countless times
But surely I'll always stand back up
Whether you're a great adult or a beginner,
it's the same thing

 

When I fell in love for the first time,
I didn't know what I should do
I listened to song with the volume cranked up

 

Because they're
people you can't stand,
they're important

 

Oh yes
Live positively
Life is one time

People gather around those who smile
Life is one time

 

Today, tomorrow, and each day,
they're all 24 hours
Anyone is enveloped in
the morning sun

 

Come to love all humans
Life is one time
Good fortune comes to the homes of those who smile
Life is one time

 

Like an infant crying
so that it may live,
have a freshly born
pure heart

 

Live positively
Life is one time
People gather around those who smile
Life is "Oh yeah, one time"

 

Today, tomorrow, and each day,
they're all 24 hours
Anyone is enveloped in
the morning sun

 

A chance on a bright morning
Oh yeah you'll get a chance
A chance the day you set off on a journey
Oh yeah you'll get a chance
Oh yeah

 

There is nothing more to be said. There is nothing more that can be said.

 

This is Radicalipton signing off – for now.