Hetaretachi yo

"Hetaretachi yo"
Theater edition cover, featuring Yumiko Takino and Nana Okada
Theater edition cover, featuring Yumiko Takino and Nana Okada
Single by STU48
B-side
  • "Kōkai Nanka Aruwakenai" (Type-A)
  • "Yume wo Glass Bin no Naka ni" (Type-B)
  • "Ki ni Naranai Kodoku" (Theater)
ReleasedOctober 20, 2021 (2021-10-20)
GenreJ-pop
LabelKing Records
Lyricist(s)Yasushi Akimoto
Producer(s)Yasushi Akimoto
STU48 singles chronology
"Hitorigoto de Kataru Kurainara"
(2021) 		"Hetaretachi yo"
(2021) 		"Hana wa Dare no Mono?"
(2022)
Music video
"Hetaretachi yo" on YouTube
"Yume wo Glass Bin no Naka ni" on YouTube

"Hetaretachi yo" (Japanese: ヘタレたちよ, lit. 'Hey, Losers') is the seventh single by Japanese idol group STU48, released on October 20, 2021. Yumiko Takino served as lead performer for the title song. The single is the last one featuring Nana Okada, the group's first captain. It topped the Japanese music charts in its release week.

Production and release

The music video for the title song depicts a glamping trip at the uninhabited Kujira Island in Okayama Prefecture and features the members enjoying activities such as fishing, kayaking, and barbecue.[1] For the campfire scene, Takino wrote an actual letter on the shooting day to read to Okada.[2]

The B-side "Ki ni Naranai Kodoku" (気にならない孤独, lit. 'Unconcerned Solitude') is a solo song performed by Yura Ikeda, who took first place at the third AKB48 Group No.1 Singing Ability Contest in December 2020.[3] "Kōkai Nanka Aruwakenai" (後悔なんかあるわけない, "There is No Regret") is Okada's farewell song, performed by all members.[4] "Yume wo Glass Bin no Naka ni" (夢をガラス瓶の中に, "Dreams in A Glass Bottle") was performed by the subunit Katte ni! Shikoku Kanko Taishi, and the music video features the appearance of selected fans, who appeared on the backdrop screens via Zoom video conference.[5]

The album was released in three editions, five including Limited Editions.[6]

Setorock contest

In November, the group announced the Setorock contest, where high school bands from the Setouchi region were invited to send their cover versions of the title song for the chance to serve as backup band at the STU48 Christmas concert and win audio equipment from contest sponsor Yamaha.[7] The group's own rock band subunit, Aoi Himawari, also published their cover version on November 26.[8] The band Crampton from Hiroshima Funairi High School won the contest and performed with the group at the Okayama Civic Hall on December 24, 2021.[9][10][11]

Reception

"Hetaretachi yo" sold about 235,000 copies in its release week according to Billboard Japan[12] and placed first in both the Oricon Singles[13] and Billboard Japan Hot 100 charts.[12]

References

  1. ^ STU48の7thシングル「ヘタレたちよ」MVロケ地は無人島“KUJIRA-JIMA くじら島”／岡山県倉敷市 [STU48's 7th single "Hetaretachi yo" music video was filmed on the uninhabited island Kujira-jima in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture.]. 瀬戸内Finder. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  2. ^ 日本テレビ. 岡田奈々“ラストシングル”のＭＶ撮影参加. 日テレNEWS (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-18.
  3. ^ アイドル人生を変えた優勝から1年 STU48池田裕楽に新たに芽生えた“歌い手の自覚”. ENCOUNT (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-18.
  4. ^ AKB48・岡田奈々「後悔なんてあるわけない」 兼任のSTU48ラスト公演で熱唱 卒業生も登場！ - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能. スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  5. ^ STU48勝手に！四国観光大使、ファンと一緒に作り上げた「夢をガラス瓶の中に」MV完成（動画あり / コメントあり）. 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  6. ^ STU48 7thシングル「ヘタレたちよ」. STU48 OFFICIAL WEB SITE｜STU48 FAN CLUB (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  7. ^ STU48 クリスマスコンサート開催決定、高校生バンド募集企画「SETOROCK」の詳細が発表 | ENTAME next - アイドル情報総合ニュースサイト. entamenext.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  8. ^ 『ヘタレたちよ』 青い向日葵 from STU48 ver. ーSETOROCK(セトロック)出場者募集中！ー, retrieved 2022-07-21
  9. ^ 「ヘタレたちよ」SETOROCK STU48 Christmas Concert 2021 (夜公演) ver., retrieved 2022-07-21
  10. ^ "STU48 Christmas Concert、瀬戸内にエンターテイメントの光を取り戻すHAPPYなステージ". ドワンゴジェイピーnews. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  11. ^ @crampton_rnkky (December 25, 2021). 12/24 最高のクリスマスイブでした！ありがとうございました！！ (Tweet) (in Japanese) – via Twitter.
  12. ^ a b 【ビルボード】STU48『ヘタレたちよ』初週23.5万枚でシングル・セールス首位 [[Billboard] STU48 "Hetaretachiyo" top single sales with 235,000 copies in the first week]. Billboard Japan. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  13. ^ 2021年10月18日～2021年10月24日 オリコン週間 シングルランキング. Oricon. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.