℃-ute Day: A Short Retrospective on a Decade of Classic ℃-ute Songs

| Hello! Project | Posted by Kai Okudara on Sep.10.2015

Sponsored Links

September 10th is known as “℃-ute Day” because 9/10 can be read as “kyuu-to” and so this is a once in a year chance to celebrate one of the most popular and talented idol groups in the world (but then again, fans of ℃-ute celebrate them everyday, right?). Here are 10 classic songs from their illustrious career.

“Massara Blue Jeans” (release date: May 6, 2006)

This was ℃-ute’s first single before they made their major label debut and Megumi Murakami left in the autumn of 2006. Everyone was so young and tiny back then! Mai Hagiwara’s sunglasses were so big too!

“Wakkyanai (Z)” (release date: July 29, 2006)

This one is full of mixed feelings as it was the first original song that ℃-ute received but, Megumi Murakami left the group a few months after this performance at Saitama Super Arena as the opening act during Morning Musume.’s “Morning Musume. Concert Tour 2006 Haru ~Rainbow Seven~”. Seeing how warmly they were received was just a glimpse of what would be in store for them in the years to follow.

“Tokaikko Junjou” (release date: October 17, 2007)

A classic song in the ℃-ute discography, They show off their cool side as they walk around the waterfront. Maimi Yajima begins and ends this aggressive dance tune with straightforward intense heartfelt monologues that pierce as sharply as the group’s dance moves. Even though she is the leader, it isn’t clear why she steals Chisato Okai’s ball and throws it into oblivion! Why did you do that?

“Koero! Rakuten Eagles” (release date: March 30, 2008)

Even if you knew nothing about Japanese baseball, if you were a Hello! Project fan during the mid-2000’s, you had plenty of reasons to support the Rakuten Eagles. Forth in a series of songs which included Morning Musume’s “THE Manpower!!!” (release date: January 19, 2005), DEF. DIVA’s “LET’S GO Rakuten Eagles” (release date: March 25, 2006) and GAM’s “Daisuki Rakuten Eagles” (release date: March 24, 2007), it was finally ℃-ute’s turn to don the red and gold.

“Edo Temari no Uta II” (release date: July 30, 2008)

The MV for this jazz x traditional Japanese x hip-hop mishmash is stunning visually with its bright colors and imaginative costumes. Imagine the surprise fans got when seeing that the super limited fanclub only “Kurofune version” of the MV (only 100 were made) was just one of the backup dancers performing to the instrumental of the song!

“Dance de Bakoon!” (release date: August 25, 2010)

Despite not being one of the highest selling singles in ℃-ute’s history, “Dance de Bakoon!” remains one of their popular songs for fans to watch and perform. Although it seems like a nice gesture to show the members in different outfits as they did in the MV, when both versions are in 480p, it might be better to watch the Dance Shot and concentrate on their energetic performance? If you get a chance to see it live, you may never be the same again! Jaan! Jaan! Jaan!

“Sekai-ichi HAPPY na Onna no Ko” (release date: September 11, 2011)

This blindingly colorful MV shows ℃-ute as they stood on the border between adulthood and adolescence in their 6th year. Even though they had starting showing off their grown-up side, ℃-ute proved that they could still be as fresh as the idols that came after them.

“Kokoro no Sakebi wo Uta ni Shite-mita” (release date: March 5, 2014)

As all the members of ℃-ute began approaching adulthood, they also began taking on a more mature sound but, they managed to do so without suffering the slump that Morning Musume. experienced when they attempted to reinvent themselves a few years earlier. It is also one of the rare MVs featuring them filming in an outdoor location.

“Kanashiki Heaven” (release date: July 16, 2014)

Originally released as a B-side to “Aitai Aitai Aitai na” (release date: September 5, 2012), “Kanashiki Heaven” became so popular that it was re-released with “The Power” as a double A-side single. The official MV that was released at the time was excellent but, it doesn’t really compare to the live version filmed at the 2012 ℃-ute Day live at Shibuya AX.

“Tsugi no Kado wo Magare” (release date: April 1, 2015)

In celebration of their 10th anniversary, ℃-ute released a triple A-side single overflowing with contributors from all over the music world. While it was interesting to see them as grown up young women in “The Middle Management~Josei Chuukan Kanrishoku” and reflecting on their past in “Gamusha LIFE”, “Tsugi no Kado wo Magare” is possibly the strongest track.

With 10 years and more than 30 singles spanning their career, ℃-ute continues to be the standard that other groups work to attain. They are most likely your favorite idol’s favorite idols and for good reason. It will be exciting to see where ℃-ute goes as they turn the corner on their 10th year and beyond.

Related Links

℃-ute Official Site: http://www.helloproject.com/c-ute/

℃-ute Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cute_upfront