Beyond the 5th Dimension…
The release of 5TH DIMENSION in 2013 landed MOMOIRO CLOVER Z with their first No.1 position on the Oricon charts, shifting over 235,000 copies. It’s time to catch up with what our colourful 5-piece outfit have been up to since.
Keeping themselves busy, Momoclo already had new Buddhism-inspired single ‘GOUNN’ out before the end of 2013, which reached a respectable No.2 in the charts. ‘GOUNN’ also became the theme of the outfit’s Japanese tour at the time.
Their newest single release ‘Naite mo Iin Da yo’, which arrived in May, accompanied 5TH DIMENSION at the No.1 spot, shifting 67,000 copies in the first week. So now Momoclo not only had their first No. 1 album, but their first No. 1 single to boot.
As a song, ‘Naite mo Iin Da yo’ continues Momoiro Clover Z’s talent for widescreen J-Pop with catchy hooks and a stirring chorus. The song was penned by songwriter Nakajima Miyuki, with the tune getting its first airing at the group’s first live concert at the National Olympic Stadium in March. The song is the theme for the new Akumu-chan: The Movie (aka ‘My Little Nightmare’) release, based on the popular Japanese drama. Regular visitors will of course be aware that the Momoclo/Hotei composition ‘Saraba, Itoshiki Kanashimitachi yo’ was the theme of the TV version.
The single includes the song ‘Doudou Heiwa Sengen’, used as the theme song in the film Idai Naru, Shurabon (penned by Chinza DOPENESS and composed by MICHEL☆PUNCH/KEIZOmachine! from HIFANA/EVISBEATS). A third bonus track, titled ‘My Dear Fellow’ was specially composed for baseball player Masahiro Tanaka (a well-established Momoclo fan) and played for him at New York’s Yankee Stadium in April.
March also saw Momoclo team up with Akumu-chan actress Keiko Kitagawa to form a one-off outfit titled ‘Kimoclo’ together. Kitagawa sported her own special colour (black) for the unit which was put together to perform a version of ‘Saraba, Itoshiki Kanashimitachi yo’ as part of a TV special based on Akumu-chan.
Certainly better news for Team Momoclo since Sasaki Ayaka had the unfortunate luck to fracture her foot at the start of the year. Sasaki herself has kept herself busy outside of Momoclo duties by lending her voice to anime film Saint Seiya LEGEND of SANCTUARY (and even attended the premiere in a wheelchair due to her injury).
And on the topic of anime, Momoiro Clover contributed the theme song to the new Sailor Moon series Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal (which also features the musical talents of Yasuharu Takanashi – better known for his contributions to Pretty Cure and Fairy Tail).
5TH DIMENSION was an impressive release which proved that Momoiro Clover Z still had the chops to go up against more established J-Pop acts (and are also a positive argument against the tired old moans about outfits like AKB48 dominating everywhere). Let’s hope there’s just less of a gap as there was between 2011’s Battle And Romance and 5TH DIMENSION.
