#16th Thats Jpop

[koinodancesite]

“Renai Destiny ~Honne Wo Ronjitai~”

Released: March 31, 2021

Featured in: 16th ~That’s J-pop~

Members: Akane Haga, Ayumi Ishida, Chisaki Morito, Erina Ikuta, Homare Okamura, Kaede Kaga, Maria Makino, Masaki Sato, Mei Yamazaki, Miki Nonaka, Mizuki Fukumura, Reina Yokoyama, Rio Kitagawa, Sakura Oda 

An exciting selection in recent Morning Musume live sets has been the inclusion of “Koko Ni Iruze!” Though it was released during the Golden era, still the group’s most widely celebrated period by the public at large, more titles from that time rank higher in popularity, so the decision to feature it in their festival sets reads like a salvaging of an old favorite. It even seems purposeful as they slot it as the show closer. The gesture especially left a mark on me at last year’s Hina Fes during the first weeks of worldwide quarantine, the group’s lyrics “spread the wings of love / I’m here, I’ll scream it right here right now” echoing as they exit the stage. 

I wonder if “Koko Ni Iruze!” was on the mind of Tsunku when he was writing “Renai Destiny ~Honne Wo Ronjitai~.” He has shared that the music in the group’s new album 16th ~That’s J-Pop~ was ready even before their Rock’in Japan 2019 set, where I first saw that they brought the Golden era single back into their repertoire. But that rock swing calls to mind “Koko Ni Iruze!” and nostalgia punches through even harder as it arrives after an intense synth intro. The song teases yet another EDM cut in the vein of their output from their last few years only to reveal an entirely different track that harkens back to another period.

The tone of their lyrics, too, reflect more of the optimistic attitude heard in the Golden era. “Don’t give up / it’s still a bit too early / look, they even look like / they want to give up / now’s the time to get over this hump / the chance to step outside the lines,” they sing. They cheerfully advise as though we have nothing to lose by trying, and they go on as if admitting defeat is a ridiculous idea especially with so much potential still left unfulfilled. Morning Musume only see possibility and the room to do better.

The group’s outlook remains bright enough in “Renai Destiny” for them to deliver their more conflicting moments with the same inspiring aura. Even when they sing about an overwhelming clash of emotions, it reads like a necessary step to become the better version of themselves. “This sorrow / this passion overflowing from my heart / or this feeling of doubt / can I rise above it?” They wonder, but it’s immediately followed by powerful clarity delivered in the chorus, bursting with blinding synths and thrashing drum beats. Their lack of understanding ends up being the very key to realizing the mission stated in the subtitle: “I want to debate what’s true.”

All that said, “Renai Destiny” is not so much a revival of the past than it is an update of ideas by building off of the highs of different eras. The early Numeral era, particularly “Oh My Wish!” and its desire to improve, is equally represented in the song as much as “Koko Ni Iruze!” By shedding the shadows of doubt looming in the former and straightening the posture of the latter, you can argue it has become the best of worlds. The center of this Venn diagram is where you can find one of the most memorable lyric of the track: “zenbu yattarou / zenbu yattare,” or “watch me do everything / I’ll do everything.” They drop their formalism to reveal a truer language, like this is for real now. Morning Musume is ready to tackle the unknown in “Renai Destiny,” and they sound invincible as they face the challenges.

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#Morning Musume #Morning Musume 21 #16th Thats Jpop