Otome Sensō

"Otome Sensō"
Regular Edition 1 cover
Single by Momoiro Clover Z
from the album 5th Dimension
ReleasedJune 27, 2012 (2012-06-27) (Japan)
GenreJ-pop
Length6:55
LabelStarChild
Momoiro Clover Z singles chronology
"Mōretsu Uchū Kōkyōkyoku. Dai Nana Gakushō «Mugen no Ai»"
(2012) 		"Otome Sensō"
(2012) 		"Saraba, Itoshiki Kanashimitachi yo"
(2012)
Momoclo Tei Ichimon singles chronology
"Nippon Egao Hyakkei"
(2012)
Music videos
Otome Sensō on YouTube
Push on YouTube
Mite Mite Kotchichi (choreography video) on YouTube
Alternative cover
Regular Edition 2 (Pokémon Edition) cover
Alternative cover
Limited Edition A cover
Alternative cover
Limited Edition B cover

"Otome Sensō" (Z女戦争, "Girl's War") is the 8th single by the Japanese female idol group Momoiro Clover Z, released in Japan on June 27, 2012.[1] It became Momoiro Clover's first single to be certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for shipments of 100,000 copies.[2]

Release

The single was released in four versions: Limited Edition A, Limited Edition B, Regular Edition 1, and Regular Edition 2 (Pokémon Edition). Each version has a different cover. The limited edition A came with a DVD featuring the music video for the title track, the limited edition B with the music video for the B-side "Push", but the limited editions contained less songs on the CD in comparison to the regular CD-only edition.[3][4]

Music

At over 7 minutes long in the music video version, the song is unusually long for a single.[5] It was written by Etsuko Yakushimaru a.k.a. Tika α,[6][7] who had composed for such artists as Tomohisa Yamashita and SMAP. When the title and the cover art were made public, she hinted at what the song was like by describing its outlook of the world as "When this battle is over, we are all going to a chorus contest."[8] The song is a mosaic of Japanese-oldies-style melodies and contemporary music. The song can be interpreted as Momoiro Clover's (whose popularity is rising) proclamation of war for the top of the Japanese idol music scene, as a declaration of war for an ultimate idol showdown.[5]

The B-side "Push" is a cheer anthem.[9] It was used as an advertising song for an ice cream product called "Sō" by Lotte.[3][9][10]

"Mite Mite Kotchitchi" is included on the regular editions only. It is an ending theme for the TV anime series Pokémon: Best Wishes! and for the Pokémon theatrical film Meloetta no Kirakira Recital.[5]

Cover art

There is a secret hidden on the cover of the Limited Edition B. If you look closely at Reni Takagi who is lying on the grass, there's an Sō ice cream treat nearby. On the edition's back cover, the girls form the ice cream's name, the character "爽" (Sō)[11]

Music video

The "Otome Sensō" music video switches between Momoiro Clover in school uniforms praying that their bittersweet youth won't be destroyed and Momoiro Clover in combat armor fighting affectionately.[12] The combat costumes were drafted by Sushio, an animator who worked on such films as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gurren Lagann, theatrical versions of One Piece.[13]

Critical response

Yūki Sugioka from Hotexpress gives the single a highly positive review. She notes that the title track, written by Etsuko Yakushimaru, is completely different from the band's previous work. In the song, she counts roughly six or seven distinct parts, one of which, in her words, "is a melancholic ennui melody that will definitely put a smile on the face of a Sōtaisei Riron fan." (Sōtaisei Riron is the band where Etsuko Yakushimaru is the lead singer.) Overall, she defines the title track as a "mix of high-calorie youth anthems", and the B-side "Push" as a "fast-paced inspiring fight song". She adds that what is most important is that the whole single, every track on it, really makes you adore Momoiro Clover Z.[14]

Reception

The CD single debuted at the 3rd place in the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, selling 67,596 copies in that first week. It tied for Momoiro Clover's highest position with "Ikuze! Kaitō Shōjo" and "Mirai Bowl / Chai Maxx", but could not do better because of new songs by KAT-TUN and Girls' Generation[15] that were released on the same day. In the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, the title track debuted also in the 3rd place.[16]

Track listing

Limited Edition A, Limited Edition B

CD
No.TitleLength
1."Otome Sensō" (Z女戦争, "Girl's War")6:55
2."Push" (PUSH)4:34
3."Otome Sensō" (off vocal ver.) 
4."Push" (off vocal ver.) 
Limited Edition A DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Otome Sensō" (Music Video) 
Limited Edition B DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Push" (Music Video) 

Regular Edition 1, Regular Edition 2 (Pokémon Edition)

CD
No.TitleLength
1."Otome Sensō" (Z女戦争, "MaidenZ War")6:55
2."Push" (PUSH)4:34
3."Mite Mite Kotchitchi" (みてみて☆こっちっち)3:52
4."Otome Sensō" (off vocal ver.) 
5."Push" (off vocal ver.) 
6."Mite Mite Kotchitchi" (off vocal ver.) 

Chart performance

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Oricon Daily Singles Chart 3
Oricon Weekly Singles Chart[17] 3
Oricon Monthly Singles Chart[18] 9
Oricon Yearly Singles Chart[19] 76
Billboard Japan Hot 100[16] 3
Billboard Japan Hot 100 Airplay[20] 12
Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales[21] 3
Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay[22] 39
RIAJ Digital Track Chart 14

"Mite Mite Kotchitchi"

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Billboard Japan Hot Animation[23] 2
RIAJ Digital Track Chart 20

References

  1. ^ "ナタリー - [Power Push] ももいろクローバーZ「Z女戦争」インタビュー＆やくしまるえつこへ20の質問 (1-4)" (in Japanese). 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  2. ^ 一般社団法人 日本レコード協会｜各種統計 (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  3. ^ a b "ももいろクローバーZの新曲「Z女戦争」のPVをフル公開" (in Japanese). Ota Suke. 2012-06-13. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  4. ^ "やくしまるえつこが楽曲提供! ももクロ新シングル"Z女戦争"の詳細判明" (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan Inc. 2012-06-01. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  5. ^ a b c "注目の新譜 ： ももいろクローバーZ 新曲「Z女戦争」はアイドル頂上決戦に向けた宣戦布告？" (in Japanese). MANTANWEB. 2012-06-27. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  6. ^ ももクロ、新曲は「Ｚ女戦争」 やくしまるえつこが楽曲提供. Oricon (in Japanese). 2012-06-01. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  7. ^ "ももクロ新曲「Z女戦争」やくしまるえつこが楽曲提供". Natalie (in Japanese). 2012-06-01. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  8. ^ "ももクロ8thSGタイトル曲は「Ｚ女（オトメ）戦争」！強烈ビジュアルの最新アー写＆ジャケ写も解禁！" (in Japanese). Listen Japan. 2012-06-01. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  9. ^ a b "Momoiro Clover Z Publish "PUSH" Video Clip on YouTube!". Cool Japan Inc. 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
  10. ^ 朝日新聞デジタル：キングレコードＺ女戦争＜通常盤1＞ - ショッピングコラム「テレビで話題の商品」 (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. 2012-10-30. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  11. ^ ももクロのニューシングル「Ｚ女戦争」初回限定盤に隠されたヒミツ (in Japanese). Nifty. 2012-06-28. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  12. ^ "ももいろクローバーZ、8thシングル「Z女戦争」のMVを公開" (in Japanese). Mynavi News. 2012-06-13. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  13. ^ "ももいろクローバーZ、8thシングル「Z女戦争」の衣装原案を公開" (in Japanese). Mynavi News. 2012-06-20. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  14. ^ Yūki Sugioka. "レビューリスト-音楽情報サイトhotexpress". Hotexpress (in Japanese). Retrieved 2012-12-29.
  15. ^ "ももクロの新曲「Z女戦争」が週間チャートで自己最高位タイの3位" (in Japanese). Ota Suke. 2012-07-04. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  16. ^ a b "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2012-07-04. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  17. ^ "CDシングル 週間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. 2012-07-04. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
  18. ^ "CDシングル 月間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. July 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-12-15. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
  19. ^ "年間ランキング特集『ミリオン8作！AKB48とMr.Childrenが2012年音楽シーンを牽引』-ORICON STYLE ミュージック" (in Japanese). Oricon. 2012-12-20. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
  20. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Airplay│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2012-07-04. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
  21. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2012-07-04. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
  22. ^ "Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
  23. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2012-07-04. Retrieved 2012-12-15.

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