Insightful as usual. I had not seen the English translation and the song resonates so much more with understanding. The dramatic rise continues apace. I will say ''h''i if I see you at The Chicago show. Notable in that the venue has a 5k capacity. They are playing venues across the States many times larger than the first small tour. Im not sure if you read TheJapanTimes lengthy review of Summersonic but according to them..''If Summer Sonic had one monocultural, you-had-to-be-there moment, though, it would have been the whirlwind set provided by Atarashii Gakko!''
Not sure how to describe it exactly but they have such powerful energy. Something about the rapid transition from scene to scene in this one and in Tokyo Calling really makes it feel larger than life. Bringing in ordinary people contributes a lot to that I think.
"The fake self The suffering self Towards an extraordinary self The chaotic world This age of confusion Towards a passionate future" A message of awakening
And now I really want to see the film “Moshimo Tokugawa Ieyasu ga Souri Daijin ni nattara” as this song was chosen as the theme for that movie. I want to see how this theme of change is incorporated in the movie. I love Atarashii gakko so much
The "dolly track" also evokes Western Railroads and the vast change they brought to the Great Plains which is reinforced with the desert image and the damsel on the train tracks being saved by AG! Of course the "change" chant works well with the theme of the film "What if Tokugawa Ieyasu Became Prime Minister?"
@@AndrewHartley The TV show that goes with this song expresses a desire to change modern Japanese society by wondering what it would be like if historical figures were running things and maybe going back to the "Pax Tokugawa" of the Edo period. AG! often subvert Japanese norms and their desire for people to be freer to express themselves and their emotions sort of goes along with this change theme, but AG! probably wouldn't have done well under Tokugawa.
@@cuttysark8017 True. As with most historical drama, writers/producers kind of pick the bits they like or which look cool when framed by a largely contemporary context. I'm a fan, but as insight into actual history it's always indirect at best :)
@@AndrewHartley Actually there is a live performance of this song which was released on AG! channel 4 wks ago (Live at SUMMER STATION LIVE Arena) and a dance practice video (with some extra goofy faces)
Now that I've read the lyrics, the chorus repetition makes a whole lot more sense. I mean I already dig the chorus repetition before, but now you really understand why they have to repeatedly chant the chorus.
I want to read the Rolling Stone profile on Atarashii Gakko written by Dr. AJ Hartley. Given your years of AG evangelism and bff status with Money Mark - I would think it should be easy to secure an interview during their upcoming US tour. Given their growing global popularity - it should be easy for a writer of your stature (university literature professor, personal/academic/business connections with Japan) to convince a major media outlet (Rolling Stone, Atlantic, NewYorker...) to support the resulting article. Given backing from a major media outlet, a proficient translator, demonstrable appreciation and knowledge of the historical and literary references in their art - you should be able to switch these young women into their serious interview mode that I've only seen in a few Japanese interviews. No one else in this world is in the position to get such an interview or write the resulting profile.
Wow, that's very generous of you. Thank you! I'll certainly try to get a sit down with them on their tour, but I don't have official contact channels so it's very much a long shot. Appreciate the suggestion!
Hi Professor, I saw this song had dropped and I deliberately didn't watch/listen to it because I knew that you would be onto it like a flea on a dog. So, I held back and was delighted to see that I didn't have to wait long. Wow, am I glad that I waited for your video to watch the song for the first time. This is the type of video that makes your channel so interesting, I don't know of anywhere else on UA-cam that I can get an instant in-depth breakdown of the core elements of the song under the spotlight. I would never be able to glean these insights on a first listen, so you have saved me a lot of work. Thanks for this reaction, I will go watch the video another 10 or so times. I have run out of superlatives for Atarashii Gakko, so I will just say I loved this song, and I love their new direction. Oh, and anyone who reads this, vote for Hideki Smith at the Dragon awards, I did, and it was surprisingly simple. Good luck Professor.
Thanks so much Len! I was torn about posting a reaction quickly, but figured that if I waited too long it would get buried in all the other video responses out there from people with much bigger channels. So of course, as soon as I posted I started thinking of all the additional things I should have said... but that's the nature of the beast. I also deliberately tried to keep it short, but I don't seem capable of NOT talking when an idea occurs to me, while the most watched reactions seem to be very short, low on talk/content and high on enthusiasm. I think I'd need some kind of personality transplant to make that approach work for me, so expect this channel to stay small :)
"And these children that you spit on As they try to change their worlds Are immune to your consultations They're quite aware of what they're goin' through"
I actually meant to include that picture and forgot. I know it's just a backstage snap of two bands who played the same stage, but I'd love it to be more, and the cavalry dance made me think about how they might overlap if they played/recorded together. I think we're ready for a collaboration!
My take: The MV has two mini-stories, each cleverly playing on the railroad theme suggested by the dolly track. For the depressed salaryman, it’s the subway track that symbolizes the rut he’s caught in. The woman’s story seems a little more complicated - Rin’s newscaster raps about a scandal, likely this poor woman has been publicly humiliated by a cheating spouse - the press is putting her through the mill. She’s caught in an endless loop of self-pity and pretending to be brave to her public. The “western” backdrop and her figure collapsed on the track shows she sees herself as the helpless damsel in distress, in a cliched melodrama like The Perils of Pauline. The salaryman imbibes the elixir of Change and is magically rejuvenated. The celebrity takes a hard look in the mirror, steps out that door, reinvents herself (new haircut, new look), and gets back out on the stage and knocks ‘em dead.
…then AG dials it back down to the everyday: The salaryman’s miraculous new approach to life manifests in truly enjoying a bowl of beef noodles at one of those solo dining joints. The celebrity may not be a “real” celebrity after all - that stage looks an awful lot like a karaoke box. But dammit, they’ve changed for the better.
Ingenious! I'm a little wary of being over specific in the narrative since the lyric--as in Tokyo Calling, where the examples are representative--seems deliberately general and therefore open to association from anyone who hears the song, but I like the attention to detail, and I think it fits my general sense too. Thanks!
Thanks for the review and analysis. Just listening to it the chorus was seeming a bit repetitive. But with the subtitles and your insight, i can see the bigger message and enjoy the song a lot more. I do hope you have some insights to share on the collab song they did with Sheena Ringo earlier this year.
If I'm brutally honest I have to admit that I don't really feel the new AG stuff (including most of the new album) - it's too rhythm-centric for me and I miss the catchy melodies. But your analysis is great as always of course. 🙂
Fair enough! I get that, and I would like more melody too, though I am enjoying the new sound and simpler energy. I think it's also indicative of the band being more involved in the song creation, which I take to be a good thing.
Insightful as usual. I had not seen the English translation and the song resonates so much more with understanding. The dramatic rise continues apace. I will say ''h''i if I see you at The Chicago show. Notable in that the venue has a 5k capacity. They are playing venues across the States many times larger than the first small tour. Im not sure if you read TheJapanTimes lengthy review of Summersonic but according to them..''If Summer Sonic had one monocultural, you-had-to-be-there moment, though, it would have been the whirlwind set provided by Atarashii Gakko!''
That's very cool. Thanks! I hadn't seen the Japan Times piece.
Not sure how to describe it exactly but they have such powerful energy. Something about the rapid transition from scene to scene in this one and in Tokyo Calling really makes it feel larger than life. Bringing in ordinary people contributes a lot to that I think.
agreed
"The fake self
The suffering self
Towards an extraordinary self
The chaotic world
This age of confusion
Towards a passionate future"
A message of awakening
And now I really want to see the film “Moshimo Tokugawa Ieyasu ga Souri Daijin ni nattara” as this song was chosen as the theme for that movie. I want to see how this theme of change is incorporated in the movie. I love Atarashii gakko so much
The "dolly track" also evokes Western Railroads and the vast change they brought to the Great Plains which is reinforced with the desert image and the damsel on the train tracks being saved by AG!
Of course the "change" chant works well with the theme of the film "What if Tokugawa Ieyasu Became Prime Minister?"
Yeah, I forgot to mention their lifting her up. The whole thing emphasizes supportiveness, inclusivity and kindness. Should have said that expressly.
@@AndrewHartley The TV show that goes with this song expresses a desire to change modern Japanese society by wondering what it would be like if historical figures were running things and maybe going back to the "Pax Tokugawa" of the Edo period. AG! often subvert Japanese norms and their desire for people to be freer to express themselves and their emotions sort of goes along with this change theme, but AG! probably wouldn't have done well under Tokugawa.
@@cuttysark8017 True. As with most historical drama, writers/producers kind of pick the bits they like or which look cool when framed by a largely contemporary context. I'm a fan, but as insight into actual history it's always indirect at best :)
"How great will this be live?" Massive, no doubt. 🎉
As a former trombone player, I love that they have again incorporated brass into their music.
Agreed!
@@AndrewHartley Actually there is a live performance of this song which was released on AG! channel 4 wks ago (Live at SUMMER STATION LIVE Arena) and a dance practice video (with some extra goofy faces)
Now that I've read the lyrics, the chorus repetition makes a whole lot more sense. I mean I already dig the chorus repetition before, but now you really understand why they have to repeatedly chant the chorus.
Yeah, I think the song has more weight than is initially apparent.
Great commentary!
Glad you enjoyed it
I want to read the Rolling Stone profile on Atarashii Gakko written by Dr. AJ Hartley. Given your years of AG evangelism and bff status with Money Mark - I would think it should be easy to secure an interview during their upcoming US tour. Given their growing global popularity - it should be easy for a writer of your stature (university literature professor, personal/academic/business connections with Japan) to convince a major media outlet (Rolling Stone, Atlantic, NewYorker...) to support the resulting article. Given backing from a major media outlet, a proficient translator, demonstrable appreciation and knowledge of the historical and literary references in their art - you should be able to switch these young women into their serious interview mode that I've only seen in a few Japanese interviews.
No one else in this world is in the position to get such an interview or write the resulting profile.
Wow, that's very generous of you. Thank you! I'll certainly try to get a sit down with them on their tour, but I don't have official contact channels so it's very much a long shot. Appreciate the suggestion!
The trumpet was great. Always bring me happiness.
A powerful music video with a very relevant message! Atarashii Gakko did it again!!!🤩👏
I love how you referenced David Bowie's Changes towards the end of your analysis. V-v-v-very apt! 😊
Thanks. As @rickwagner- pointed out, the lyrics are very apt.
As usual love your review.
I appreciate that!
👍An awesome video and great message. Atarashii Gakko delivers again. Great reaction. 🖖❤
Thank you 🙌
Hi Professor, I saw this song had dropped and I deliberately didn't watch/listen to it because I knew that you would be onto it like a flea on a dog. So, I held back and was delighted to see that I didn't have to wait long. Wow, am I glad that I waited for your video to watch the song for the first time.
This is the type of video that makes your channel so interesting, I don't know of anywhere else on UA-cam that I can get an instant in-depth breakdown of the core elements of the song under the spotlight. I would never be able to glean these insights on a first listen, so you have saved me a lot of work.
Thanks for this reaction, I will go watch the video another 10 or so times. I have run out of superlatives for Atarashii Gakko, so I will just say I loved this song, and I love their new direction.
Oh, and anyone who reads this, vote for Hideki Smith at the Dragon awards, I did, and it was surprisingly simple. Good luck Professor.
Thanks so much Len! I was torn about posting a reaction quickly, but figured that if I waited too long it would get buried in all the other video responses out there from people with much bigger channels. So of course, as soon as I posted I started thinking of all the additional things I should have said... but that's the nature of the beast. I also deliberately tried to keep it short, but I don't seem capable of NOT talking when an idea occurs to me, while the most watched reactions seem to be very short, low on talk/content and high on enthusiasm. I think I'd need some kind of personality transplant to make that approach work for me, so expect this channel to stay small :)
なんと！ なんと！ デビットボウイのChangesを初めて聞きました。 それはまるでATARASHII GAKKO！ の登場を予言しているような、この楽曲へのアンサーソングなのではないかと思えるような内容でした。 いつもどおり、教授の深いAG愛情を感じる解説に敬服いたします。
ありがとう！このスレッドで誰かが言っていたように、ボウイの曲の歌詞はAGの雰囲気と呼応している！若者は、変化を好まない年配の大人たちから相手にされるために、いまだに戦わなければならない。
I love how they incorporated filming the video into the video 😄 Mizyu was the one pushing the dolly grip. 😄
Yes!
AG! are stars
Yep!
What do you think of this recent AG Colab '椎名林檎と新しい学校のリーダーズ - ドラ１独走'? And I would love a translation of this song. Thanks
I actually like that song a lot. You're the second person on this thread to request a discussion of it, so I guess I'll have to get on that :)
素晴らしい解説で勉強になります。
ありがとう！応援に感謝します
"And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through"
Right? Perfect. I'll bet they know Bowie.
The recent photo of them with BABYMETAL is awesome. My two favourite Suzukas in one photo is almost too much to handle lol.
I actually meant to include that picture and forgot. I know it's just a backstage snap of two bands who played the same stage, but I'd love it to be more, and the cavalry dance made me think about how they might overlap if they played/recorded together. I think we're ready for a collaboration!
@@AndrewHartley Yes pls. Certainly seemed to be synergy between Moa and Mizyu
My take: The MV has two mini-stories, each cleverly playing on the railroad theme suggested by the dolly track. For the depressed salaryman, it’s the subway track that symbolizes the rut he’s caught in. The woman’s story seems a little more complicated - Rin’s newscaster raps about a scandal, likely this poor woman has been publicly humiliated by a cheating spouse - the press is putting her through the mill. She’s caught in an endless loop of self-pity and pretending to be brave to her public. The “western” backdrop and her figure collapsed on the track shows she sees herself as the helpless damsel in distress, in a cliched melodrama like The Perils of Pauline. The salaryman imbibes the elixir of Change and is magically rejuvenated. The celebrity takes a hard look in the mirror, steps out that door, reinvents herself (new haircut, new look), and gets back out on the stage and knocks ‘em dead.
…then AG dials it back down to the everyday: The salaryman’s miraculous new approach to life manifests in truly enjoying a bowl of beef noodles at one of those solo dining joints. The celebrity may not be a “real” celebrity after all - that stage looks an awful lot like a karaoke box. But dammit, they’ve changed for the better.
Ingenious! I'm a little wary of being over specific in the narrative since the lyric--as in Tokyo Calling, where the examples are representative--seems deliberately general and therefore open to association from anyone who hears the song, but I like the attention to detail, and I think it fits my general sense too. Thanks!
Thanks for the review and analysis. Just listening to it the chorus was seeming a bit repetitive. But with the subtitles and your insight, i can see the bigger message and enjoy the song a lot more.
I do hope you have some insights to share on the collab song they did with Sheena Ringo earlier this year.
Yeah, I meant to get to that one a while back but it's been a crazy summer.
@@AndrewHartley Glad to hear it! Yeah, I figured from all your travel videos. Hope you had a great time.
Mizyu is very beautiful
If I'm brutally honest I have to admit that I don't really feel the new AG stuff (including most of the new album) - it's too rhythm-centric for me and I miss the catchy melodies. But your analysis is great as always of course. 🙂
Fair enough! I get that, and I would like more melody too, though I am enjoying the new sound and simpler energy. I think it's also indicative of the band being more involved in the song creation, which I take to be a good thing.