Review for Morning Musume’s 50th single One・Two・Three / The Matenrou Show:

Outfits

Individual Member Pictures

For the most part, outfits for this single were a bit surprising since instead of going for a cool casual and stylish outfit that would relate well with the song they instead went for goth loli styled dresses. It’s a pretty interesting idea but it works since the song’s modern style fits well with the high boots, black dresses, and white corsets. The use of the member color with the outfit is a pretty good idea as well since it makes the members seem a bit more unique instead of only going for a standard outfit.

As for the members themselves, I really liked how great Sayu, Mizuki, Eripon, Ayumi, and Kudou looked for this release since the styles look perfect on them. Sayu’s cute ponytail is a good change since we usually see her wearing her hair straight, while Mizuki’s curly pigtails were a nice look that made her look a bit more mature. Eripon has adopted a sexy and fun personality that she has been using in MVs and this style definitely makes that stand out even more, and while Ayumi’s hair is a bit weird at first glance, the use of her hair to make a bow was interesting and fun. Kudo surprised me the most since her look was really well done, although her height and age do seem to make the look seem a bit too much at times.

There were some looks that I disliked, like Kanon’s somewhat weird ponytail or Harunan’s hair which stood out from among all of the other members. They were interesting although it seems like using a more modern style would have looked even better. Reina’s look hasn’t changed at all with a giant bow and her hair to one side, but at least it’s a look that fits her perfectly.

Covers

Top (from L to R): Regular, Limited A, Limited B
Middle (from L to R): Limited C, Limited D, Limited E
Bottom: Limited F

With 7 different editions this release features quite a large amount of variety, and it’s not surprising to see since after all this is the 50th release for the group. They definitely went above and beyond with a Regular version as well as two Limited versions each for the Rokkies, Kyuukies, and Juukies, giving each of them their own cover as well as some pretty interesting group covers on Regular, Limited A, Limited C, and Limited E.

The regular cover is a bit too plain for my taste but it’s still pretty good since we get to see all of the members in a cute way, looking at the camera from behind some blue pillars. It’s a fun look but it’s a bit too plain in a way since it uses a bit too much blue, although it’s a great cover for the normal version. Limited A is definitely among my favorites since we get to see the members in their already colorful outfits along with a unique style we don’t see that much. The use of colored tiles is a bit confusing sometimes since the members are already wearing the colorful outfits, but it’s a cute way of showing off the group as they pose happily together.

Limited C features a similar colorful look, and it’s an interesting cover since most of the color comes from the background, although it’s simple and gives us a somewhat more elegant look. The flower patterns really make it stand out from among the rest and the poses from the members give it a cool look. Limited E would have to be among my favorites since it has a nice catchy look to it. The dark background along with the rainbow of colors make the cover match the song’s coolness pretty well, while the square of close-up pictures give us a chance to see each member clearly in a cute or sexy pose.

Each generation got two different Limited versions with their own different styled song, meaning that they each got one cover where only the members of that generation appeared. It was a nice touch for this kind of milestone release since it highlights each generation in a different style. The Rokkies have a cool and modern look with them posing with sexy expressions, and for the most part I loved the cover since it highlighted the two while reflecting their age pretty well. The Qki’s look is a bit more elegant with all of the members wearing a white dress and drinking tea in a similar pose, and while it seems a bit out of place I really liked how cute it looked. The Tenkigumi is similar in a way since it has an elegant look, but with a more casual and young look.

Each cover featured a different theme, giving everyone a chance to find just the right cover and while it will probably be quite some time until we get to see another 7 covers, it’s a milestone release for the group so I’m glad to see that they treated it in a special way.

Single

> One・Two・Three

The song is probably one of the most surprising releases that Momusu has had in years, simply because it shows off a new style that we haven’t heard from the group. At first I thought it was going to be a cute upbeat song due to the name but it turned out to be a Kpop inspired song with a cool modern sound, and while it was a big change compared to their previous single I loved it the moment I heard the intro.

The vocals are dominated by Reina and Riho, something which was expected and not surprising although we get to see some other members sing lines, most notably Sayu who gets some auto tuned lines. Despite that the style of the song is the main star with the instrumental featuring a electro heavy instrumental with a R&B style that’s quite impressive, something which the vocals reflect since there are some parts of the song where the vocals get the same auto tuned style so they blend in perfectly with the song.

A group that has released 50 singles at a glance sounds like they would have some trouble keeping up with the most popular sound, but Momusu has shown us that they are versatile as always by releasing this song. Sure, the style is a bit new compared to Renai Hunter or Pyoko Pyoko Ultra but it’s the rapid changes of genres that make the group so interesting since we have no idea what to expect next.

> The Matenrou Show

This song features a funky sound that seems to fit the H!P sound a bit better, with an instrumental full of trumpets, drums, and other similar sounds. It’s an interesting contrast since One Two Three features a new more modern sound while this song features a more H!P styled sound so to those who didn’t like the new Kpop oriented style will still have something to look forward to.

For the most part I enjoyed it since it has a funky sound, but apart from that it doesn’t have that much of a hook since the instrument doesn’t change much. Despite that it’s a high quality song to look forward to since it shows off the variety that the group has, while conserving the same quality as a stand alone single.

Tsunku has shown us that while he likes to experiment with new genres he still has a certain sound he likes to stay in, and I’m glad to see that he does since it’s that particular sound that makes Momusu who they are. This song is most likely a safe way of pleasing those who didn’t like One Two Three, and while it doesn’t have that much of an impact it’s still a great song worthy of being called an a-side.

> Watashi no Jidai!

A song performed by the Rokkies (Reina and Sayu) sounds like something many fans will probably look forward to since they’re the only remaining Platinum Era members and have quite a lot of experience when it comes to performing, and not surprisingly it’s among the best songs of the album due to the large amount of energy that Sayu and Reina have.

The vocals are upbeat and fun to listen to, even if Sayu and Reina contrast a bit too much at times due to their different tones. Something which stood out was just how much Sayu has improved in terms of singing, with her singing being on level with Reina. Apart from that the upbeat instrumental was quite catchy, with synthesizers and a very fast paced style that fit really well with their age.

It’s hard to believe Reina and Sayu being in a duet but surprisingly it works quite well, and thanks to the instrumental it seems like this song will probably be among the favorites of many thanks to it’s energy.

> Aisaretai no ni …

A song performed by Qki (Mizuki, Eripon, Riho, and Zukki) at first sounds like a upbeat song compared to Watashi no Jidai! but surprisingly it seems like they got the ballad styled mature song, and I’m really happy they did since it fits them perfectly.

It has a similar electronic instrumental as most of the songs on the single, but instead of going for a fast pace it has a similar sound to One Two Three, meaning that it has a mature tone to it. This along with a focus on vocals by the four members made this song among my favorites since it’s rare for us to see this generation sing in this style alone.

I’m a big fan of Mizuki so I’m glad to see that she finally gets to sing in a tone that suits her best. Zukki at first seems like she wouldn’t fit that well in this style but it seems like I was wrong since she did a great job with her lines. If you enjoy a more laid back ballad with an upbeat edge to the instrumental then I strongly recommend this song since the mature sound makes the vocals stand out perfectly.

> Seishun Domannaka

The Tenki (Iikubo, Ayumi, Masaki, and Kudou) are the youngest generation of the group so naturally the song was destined to have a younger tone to it, and I’m glad to see that it has since, as Tsunku mentioned, this generation is best fit for more upbeat styles that don’t talk that much about love.

The vocals are playful and fun with the added effects and spoken lines adding a bit more of a sweet side to this already overly cute song. The instrumental features an upbeat style that’s filled with bells and other happy instruments, and while it’s a bit too much at times I have to admit that I enjoyed it since it didn’t feature that many instruments and let the vocals stand out on their own.

If I had to sum up the song I would describe it as a song you would listen to in an anime series for girls, and while the overly sweet instrumental might be a bit too much for some it’s still a good song since it fits their style and vocals quite well.

MV

For the most part the MV features a somewhat simple theme: close-up shots of the members singing and a dance shot featuring mostly just the singing, all covered by quite a lot of lens flare and sparkles. Despite having more snowflakes than a holiday video and more sparkles than a teen vampire movie it did turn out quite well, with the shots having a fashionable look that resulted in a fun and cool MV for this modern, K-pop styled song by the reborn Momusu.

There aren’t that many different shots in total, with only the dance shot, model pose, and close-up shots being the ones that stand out the most, while the rest are just different angles. It’s the quality of the shots that stand out the most however and I have to admit that I loved every second since we get to see all of the members singing as well as dancing.

One of the main things that stood out is how fast the MV progresses, since the longest shot was around 3 seconds long, with almost all lasting around 1 second. It was a pretty interesting style since you quickly focus more on the song and you rarely get bored at watching the same shot, making it fun to see from start to end.

The effects were overdone since it was hard to enjoy the MV well without worrying about the quality of the MV, since it has to be seen in 720p at least to reduce the blurriness and pixelation caused by all of the effects. Despite that it’s an overall pretty good video for this release since we get to see all of the members various times in visually amazing shots while singing. Sure, it didn’t have that many shots but in the end it’s the quality of the shots that determine how good the MV is, and they managed to do an incredible job with it.

Overall

It’s hard to imagine a group releasing 50 singles over a span of 15 years to continue to have a fresh and modern style, but Momusu has shown that they are capable of that and much more. With a cool modern sound done in a somewhat loose Kpop style, goth loli outfits, a bright and fashionable MV, as well as a funky and very catchy a-side, this single has shown us that Momusu has been reborn into a group that not only follows their own style but also has enough talent and energy to go against other top selling groups.

Momusu might be close to their 15th year anniversary but from this release they have shown that they are far from being outdated. Sure, AKB48, Super Girls, and other idol groups might be selling quite a bit more, but not many groups can continue to experiment with interesting and new styles for every release without going for a mainstream sound once they reach enough popularity.

That’s what makes Momusu among the best idol groups there is, not because of their sales but because of their sound. With each release we get a different sound that pushes the boundaries for the group, giving them a well rounded look and sound that not many others have, with this single being the latest and best example of this.

I strongly recommend this single for everyone to check out since it’s a great sign of what we can expect to see from the new reborn Momusu, with the sales reflecting that by outselling the 1st week sales of all of the singles in the past 9 years in just a few days. With a cool catchy sound and another more funky song with a traditional H!P sound, this release is well worthy of the title for 50th release of the group since it shows everyone what Momusu is capable of, while providing it in a style that many fans love.

Buy

	Regular	EPCE-5881	¥1,000
	CD One・Two・Three The Matenrou Show One・Two・Three (Instrumental) The Matenrou Show (Instrumental)		DVD None

	Limited Edition A	EPCE-5872～3	¥1,600
	CD One・Two・Three The Matenrou Show Watashi no Jidai! Morning Musume Rokkies One・Two・Three (Instrumental) The Matenrou Show (Instrumental)		DVD One・Two・Three (Another Dance Shot Ver.)

	Limited Edition B	EPCE-5874	¥1,000
	CD One・Two・Three The Matenrou Show Watashi no Jidai! Morning Musume Rokkies One・Two・Three (Instrumental) The Matenrou Show (Instrumental)		DVD None

	Limited Edition C	EPCE-5875～6	¥1,600
	CD One・Two・Three The Matenrou Show Aisaretai no ni… Morning Musume Qki One・Two・Three (Instrumental) The Matenrou Show (Instrumental)		DVD The Matenrou Show (Dance Shot Ver.)

	Limited Edition D	EPCE-5877	¥1,000
	CD One・Two・Three The Matenrou Show Aisaretai no ni… Morning Musume Qki One・Two・Three (Instrumental) The Matenrou Show (Instrumental)		DVD None

	Limited Edition E	EPCE-5878～9	¥1,600
	CD One・Two・Three The Matenrou Show Seishun Domannaka Morning Musume Tenkigumi One・Two・Three (Instrumental) The Matenrou Show (Instrumental)		DVD One・Two・Three (Close-up Ver.)

	Limited Edition F	EPCE-5880	¥1,000
	CD One・Two・Three The Matenrou Show Seishun Domannaka Morning Musume Tenkigumi One・Two・Three (Instrumental) The Matenrou Show (Instrumental)		DVD None