Rōdō Sanka

"Rōdō Sanka"
Cover for the Regular Edition
Single by Momoiro Clover Z
from the album 5th Dimension
B-side
  • Santa-san
  • Bionic Cherry
ReleasedNovember 23, 2011 (2011-11-23) (Japan)
GenreJ-pop
LabelStarchild
Songwriter(s)I PArton, K Otsuki
Momoiro Clover Z singles chronology
"D' no Junjō"
(2011) 		"Rōdō Sanka"
(2011) 		"Mōretsu Uchū Kōkyōkyoku Dai 7 Gakushō 'Mugen no Ai'"
(2012)
Music videos
Rōdō Sanka on YouTube
Santa-san on YouTube

"Rōdō Sanka" (労働讃歌, "Hymn to Labor") is the 6th single by the Japanese female idol group Momoiro Clover Z, released in Japan on November 23, 2011.[1]

Release

The single was released in three versions: the Limited Editions A and B and the Regular Edition. The limited editions came with a DVD featuring a music video, but contained only two different songs on the CD in comparison to three on the regular CD-only edition.[2][3]

Songs and music videos

Title track

The title track praises the nobility of labor.[4] The lyrics repeat "Hatarakō, hatarakō" (働こう, "Let's work!").[5] The lyrics were written by Kenji Otsuki,[6] the music and arrangement were by Ian Parton from the UK band The Go! Team.[1]

The music video for the song features the five group members working in an office in so-called "energy-saving suits" (省エネスーツ) and on a construction site in workwear.[4] The "energy-saving suits" are half-sleeve tropical salaryman suits, worn with short-sleeved open-necked shirts. This kind of suit was heavily promoted by the Japanese government in the 1970s as a means to save energy on air conditioning at the time of the oil crisis.[7]

B-sides

The B-side "Santa-san" was produced by Kenichi Maeyamada, who had written for Momoiro Clover such trademark songs as "Ikuze! Kaitō Shōjo", "Coco Natsu",[4] and "Z Densetsu: Owarinaki Kakumei".[8]

The Regular Edition also features a third song titled "Bionic Cherry", which was a theme song for the movie Salvage Mice.[9]

Promotion

The promotional campaign for the single included a competition titled "Momoclo Painting Contest". The group announced that it needed a different promotional poster for each of 47 prefectures and invited people to submit their works.[10]

The title track "Rodo Sanka" was premiered live on the rooftop of the From Chūbū building in Tachikawa, western Tokyo. The group wore "energy-saving suits".[11] The concert was held on November 3 and included a total of 13 songs plus 3 for an encore.[11]

Reception

The CD single debuted in the 4th place of the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.[12] The limited edition B was the highest selling of the three in that first week of sales.[13] In 2012, fans voted "Santa-san" to number one on the Momoiro Clover Z Request Countdown, aired on Space Shower TV on August 31, 2012.[14][15]

Track listing

Limited Editions A, B

CD
No.TitleLength
1."Rōdō Sanka" (労働讃歌) 
2."Santa-san" (サンタさん) 
3."Rōdō Sanka" (off vocal ver.) 
4."Santa-san" (off vocal ver.) 
Limited Edition A DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Rōdō Sanka" (Music Video) 
Limited Edition B DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Santa-san" (Music Video) 

Regular Edition

CD
No.TitleLength
1."Rōdō Sanka" (労働讃歌) 
2."Santa-san" (サンタさん) 
3."Bionic Cherry" (BIONIC CHERRY) 
4."Rōdō Sanka" (off vocal ver.) 
5."Santa-san" (off vocal ver.) 
6."Bionic Cherry" (off vocal ver.) 

Chart performance

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Oricon Daily Singles Chart 1
Oricon Weekly Singles Chart[12] 4
Oricon Yearly Singles Chart 158
Billboard Japan Hot 100[16] 13

References

  1. ^ a b "ナタリー - [Power Push] ももいろクローバーZ (1-4)" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2011-11-22. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  2. ^ "ももクロ「労働讃歌」ジャケ解禁、Xmas仕様の新衣装も" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2011-10-26. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  3. ^ "DISCOGRAPHY 週末ヒロイン ももいろクローバーZ オフィシャルサイト". Momoiro Clover Z official site. Stardust Promotion.
  4. ^ a b c "ももクロ「労働讃歌」でオーケン＆GO! TEAMと異色コラボ" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2011-10-30. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
  5. ^ ももクロ 受験生応援のためライブ当日に『労働讃歌』歌詞変更 (in Japanese). Gadget Tsūshin. 2012-09-01. Archived from the original on 2012-09-03. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
  6. ^ "「いま、会える記者」ももクロ、大槻ケンヂを直撃取材だZ" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2011-11-22. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  7. ^ "Is a Salaryman Without a Suit Like Sushi Without the Rice?". New York Times. 2005-05-20. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  8. ^ "ももクロZ、新曲"労働讃歌"で大槻ケンヂ&THE GO! TEAMイアンとコラボ". Tower Records Online (in Japanese). 2011-10-31. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
  9. ^ "ももクロ新曲「BIONIC CHERRY」で正義の怪盗を応援だZ". Natalie. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  10. ^ "ももいろクローバーZ 新曲のタイトルは「労働讃歌」！ 省エネスーツで労働力をアピール" (in Japanese). Livedoor News. 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  11. ^ a b "ももクロ"国立川"で盛りだくさんのダブルイベントだZ". Natalie. 2011-11-04. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  12. ^ a b "CDシングル 週間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング / 2011年11月21日～2011年11月27日のCDシングル週間ランキング（2011年12月05日付）". Oricon. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  13. ^ "2011年11月21日～2011年11月27日 調査分 週間シングルランキングTOP20". SoundScan Japan. Retrieved 2012-10-13.
  14. ^ "途中経過1位は「サンタさん」スペシャももクロPV人気投票". Natalie. 2012-08-14. Retrieved 2013-04-17.
  15. ^ "途中経過1位は「サンタさん」スペシャももクロPV人気投票".
  16. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 2012-12-28.