3 minute active - Tokyo Jihen

It has be a LONG time since I last heard of Tokyo Jihen. After the supposedly failure "Variety" (personally, I don't think it is a failure. It was just an experiment), they are finally back to the old track (again, I don't think so. It's just what people think in the forum). Well, in my opinion, this is just a hybrid of both "Variety" and a bit of "Adult". It's the extremely funky track that has all the essence of old 80s-themed "Mirrorball" with a little bit of disco from "Get it up for love" (could not remember the Japanese title). The corny, overly cute melody that was last heard in Variety is tuned down with more sophisticated touch of bass and more solid support from drum. The dreamy accompany of keyboard and woa-woa effect from the guitar really push the envelop, making the groove totally addictive and sensual. It's a very brilliant idea to have Uki's voice at the background. I think that's the whole point of having a band and everyone starts crossing each others' field, having the time of their life trying something they have rarely done before. Otherwise, Shiina could just get the whole freaking super-band ensemble consisting of her friends, alleged lovers, brother's friends and brother's friends' friends to make her solo album. All that I am expecting now is to see Shiina playing the drum. Actually I've seen it before when she acted along her best friend Tomosaka Rie in a side project. But that's the girl thing. Playing drum with TJ members are definitely sicker and more exciting.

The PV of "3 minute active" was already released. It's an interesting video given the fact that recently Shiina alone has been really put off from really performing in her own PVs , using only metaphoric presentation or really abstract idling unexplained actions. Weird.

This video is interesting. Although for me it's not really impressive. The idea is somewhat a refreshing and cooler recycled version of Madona's "4 minutes" (did similarity in the titles ring a bell ?) although to be fair, with that kind of title and probably the same concept of "limited value time", even the most creative director might be bound to do so. In (lame) comparison, of course, TJ's version is 10 times more intriguing than the Westerner counterpart.

Basically, the PV are switching between different time slots in each of which Ringo sings with each of the remaining members of TJ performing with their own gear. The cut transitions were made so smooth with the intention of giving you the feeling that everything is happening continuously. However, in the end, Shiina reacts differently to different members. She was cool with Kameda, danced around Uki, however, angrily threw and smashed a bouquet of roses onto Izawa (bitch!!!) and flirtatiously played with Hata's yellow hair (yes, it's yellow, not blond). Probably it describes various complicated relationships that a woman can get involved in. Friendship, Platonic love, Hate-love relationship, or Fancying a man at her workplace. With each, she only has a very little time to deal with. It's an indulgence, obsession or misery. I don't know.

Anyway, there's a random moon-walk. With the groovy music, I think this PV is specially dedicated to KOP MJ. That's very meaningful and COOL (for the lack of a better word)

So I let you enjoy it now!



Live version is even better