Jul 28
「≠ME - Ai Kudasai Mase (Please give me your love)」
seen from China
seen from Maldives
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seen from China
seen from China
seen from Australia
seen from Maldives
seen from France
seen from China
seen from Maldives
seen from United States
seen from United States
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「≠ME - Ai Kudasai Mase (Please give me your love)」
「一口で食べる🐧」
"Chocolate Melancholy" by Not Equal Me [single, 2022]
"Ai Kudasaimase" by Not Equal Me [single, 2026]
Discovering ≠ME - Part 12
We have arrived to their 1st (and only as of yet) full album Springtime in You! Released back on March 20, 2024, it has 14 songs on the tracklist with 5 of them being completely new to us, and if you were lucky enough to buy the limited-edition Blu-ray Type A, you could also enjoy the 26 performances they did during their 2023 National Tour...what an album...
Now, what to expect? Pretty much anything, 5 new songs released over 2 months can be eerily similar, nothing alike or everything in between so...maybe something spring-like? (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) I just know it will be amazing and fun hehe.
Update: We began kinda meh in school, hit a few home-runs in adulthood and ended relaxing on the beach...quite the journey...a ♥♥♥♥ journey you could say hehe.
Last Chance, Last Dance - 1st Album Lead (2024.02.17) ♥♥♥
If you wonder what a basic idol love song is, this is your answer. It's pop-y, energetic, girly cute, school-focused, talking about an unrequited love...really, this should be used as the dictionary definition. And sadly, this means it's a nothing-burger-song for me (￣ ￣|||).
The lyrics don't touch my heart they way other songs have, the instruments are playing very safe melodies and the MV is...really bright?? Too bright for my eyes when they're dancing in that empty pool actually, it's quite blinding haha
What's the strongsuit for this release IMO? The choreo, hands down. IT'S SO COMPLICATED. So many position changes, fast hand movements, fun group formations and I swear they're idol hopping ALL THE TIME. Nanaka, the center you are...I respect you so much (//▽//).
Guuzen Symphony - 5th Co-Center Song (2024.03.17) ♥♥♥
Hana and Hitomi's center song...it's a little bit gay (*ﾉ▽ﾉ) yipeeee. I gotta say the chorus is quite catchy, but maybe it's because "suki da x 4" repeats over 5 times and the same scheme twice in every chorus (suki da, kimi ga or suki da, kore ga)...like, it's impossible to forget. And the voices are so prominent that I constantly forget to focus on the music ･ﾟ･(｡>ω<｡)･ﾟ･.
And why do I find this classic young love song kinda gay? Well, maybe 'cause during the whole MV, Hanyatan looks completely lovestruck with Hiichan ahaha. Hiichan smiles, Hana smiles; Hitomi runs, Hanyatan runs after her; Hiichan leaves to talk to the other girls about some guy, Hana gets sad; and the cherry on top: Hanyatan tries to read a shoujo manga while looking absolutely bored while doing so, with images of a happy Hiichan appearing on her head. I totally get you Hana hahahaahha oh to fall for a pretty lady, tale as old as time.
Date Zenya Requiem - 10th Unit Song (2024.03.19) ♥♥♥♥♥
HOLY SHIT, TIME TO ROCK!! The cutest trio, with gothic lolita dresses rocking out? It's more likely than you think (⁄ ⁄>⁄ ▽ ⁄<⁄ ⁄)!!! Wow, this is so good, the electric guitar and drums going full throttle, with a very powerfull bass and magical keyboard...are they trying to rival Guilty Kiss or something????!!! Like, check out that guitar solo at 2:17 ٩(♡ε♡)۶And the hardcore instrumental with the cute voices, truly a match made in heaven hahaha Miruten really surprised me, what happened to her nasally voice? She sounds so grown-up here (❤ω❤) Hiichan and Sayayan must have taken her under their wings and taught her the range an idol can have...
And Miruten dominates with her stage presence, like Saya and Hitomi are really good too, but wow Miyuki entered the zone, she takes control of the camera every times she appears...
Marcato - 11th Unit Song (2024.04.03) ♥♥♥♥♥
I'M TOO GAY FOR THIS, ARE THEY TRYING TO KILL ME?! It's so chic, dark, cunty, and THAT KEYBOARD THO (or synthethic xylophone??). The verses have such a misterious flow, and paired with the rocky pre-chorus makes everything feel so elegant and mature; AND THE EDM BRIDGE THAT COMES OUT OF NOWHERE??? Also, Nanaka and Nattsuu's vocals are too die for (//ω//). The only part I quite don't vibe with is the empty chorus and the fact the song ends very abruptly, like, that's it? (￢_￢;).
So, why 5 hearts instead of 4? BECAUSE THE MV IS GORGEOUS, AND ELEGANT, AND MINIMALISTIC, AAAAAAAAHHHH. The red background in the middle of the desert, with the black outfits with dark green accents, laced boots, GOLD ACCESORIES...they look like empresses (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄). Nanaka embodies her queen status, Shiorin looks sharp af, Kirarin is a siren AND NATSUMI DYED HER HAIR BROWN-CORAL PINK AND LOOKS SO AAAAAAHHHH (you'll have to see the video to appreciate it, because in the photoshoot for the album, her hair was brown).
Haru no Koibito - 12th Unit Song (2024.04.05) ♥♥♥♥
I present to you, #Ofushorunitto calm sister ╰(▔∀▔)╯instead of starting the group date at Tokyo Station, we begin on Shinjuku Station xD
The song is quite cute and soft, despite the trumpets and very full production, and Moeko girl-next-door-image fits the vibe perfectly, with my favourite part being all the girls voices blending on the chorus. The lyrics sell the mood really well too: "I'm not scared, with you, I can go anywhere", "This spring is a little hot, it's because of the two of us", "An angel is blushing at the two lovers". A perfect spring song, very flowery ヽ(o^ ^o)ﾉ
The MV, like I hinted before with my comparison with #Ofushorunitto, consists of a group date between Moeko, Momokyun, Hanyatan, Nacchan and Mirei, enjoying trains rides, flower fields, the beach and viewing cherry blossom trees, while ocasionally dancing with 50's style dresses hahaha #girlhood.
Discovering ≠ME - Part 11
Hi everyone! I took a 6-months-break without meaning to hahaha (⌒_⌒;)...anyway, last release of 2023, and it's Anti Confiture, the 8th physical single by ≠ME, which was released on the 20th of December...right on the edge of the year hahahaha perfect for a last-second-Christmas-gift though.
I already learned that the cover only represents the vibes the A-side is going to have, while speaking nothing of the B-sides so, I'm now making my guesses more focused on the title track. This image gives me elegant, pure but hauntingly vibes, with maybe youth and abandonment centered lyrics, because of all the flowers surrounding the girls...maybe that last one is a reach hahaha I'm excited either way!! Let's listen ♥
Update: Pondering the scores...we get ♥♥♥♥ overall!! The more I listen to the songs, the more I like them, so I'm truly grateful for this release (´꒳`)♡. Now, what's next?
Anti Confiture - 8th Physical Single (2023.11.28) ♥♥♥♥♥
The way I knew this would be peak the moment I pressed play and listened to the first second. You know the Glowing Man meme? I was him with just the first seconds of the piano playing, and THEN, the choir started and I swear to the goddess, I started levitating. This song is mostly piano, a fast melody paired with dark chords, and a heart beating bass drum during the verses, just soft piano keys with haunting FINGER SNAPING in the pre-chorus and a sort of runway-meets-orchestra when we reach the chorus...this song is a whole experience!!! (⊙_⊙).
And LET.ME.TELL.YOU about the vocals!!! First, the choir -> I need that injected into my veins right fucking now. Second, the background voices whispering and mumbling in the second verse -> gives me goosebumps (//ω//). Third, Nanaka's and Momokyun's high note just before the chorus hits, with Moeko following closely behind -> absolute madness!
The cinematography is also one of the best (if not THE best) ≠ME has had since their debut. The flower portraits, the dark hallway of "statues" (especially when they start finger snaping), the close ups during the whispering section...uf, the director, QQQ, brought their A game for this MV ( ´ ▽ ` ).｡ｏ♡.
Also, the girls commented we should pay special attention to the choreography, so I did, and they really surpassed themselves (*¯ ³¯*)♡ Like, the neck isolation?? the clockwork formations?? the delicate and elegant arm movements in the verses to then go full force in the last chorus?? These girls are going to make me lose my mind...
Hatsukoi Comeback - Tanizaki Saya's 2nd Center Song (2023.12.17) ♥♥♥
Woah high-school first love meets adult setting...cute (///￣ ￣///). While the production and melody of the song doesn't surprise me or change my life, it's still a pretty nice and soft love song, definitely enjoyable. However, the lyrics and MV are the real treasure IMO.
"Nostalgic purikura, old instant camera, winter sky, just the two of us walking to and from school" or "I found joy in the changing seasons, the two of us slowly changed and drifted apart", just some lines to show how the song tells a whole love story, from when they were just friends in school, the classic one-sided-love BUT THEN the adult class reunion, and wait, sparks are flying?! (❤ω❤) with the MV selling the nostalgic concept, with the girls (and guys with no faces hahaha) having fun drinking as adults juxtaposed with their hangouts as teenagers in school.
Sayayan also shines in this song, she really embodies a highschool lovestruck girl well, and the rest of the girls look so lovely in their uniforms and one-pieces, especially Shiorin...and Moeko WITH HER BROWNISH RED HAIR (ᗒ⩊ᗕ). Just look at the photo!!
Heroine to Ookami - 4th Co-Center Song (2023.12.19) ♥♥♥♥
HAHAHAHAA why furries tho?! The song is surprisingly soft and vibey, especially with that bass and trumpets, it reminds me A LOT of QU4RTZ actually...maybe that's why I really enjoy this one \(^ヮ^)/. The choir chants are really fun too (woo woo!, hey hey! chu chu ru), and the electric guitar is so funky??? Shiorin keeps getting better with her singing, perfectly blending her soft low voice with Miruten cute nasal tone...I strongly recommend this one if you're looking for a happy funky song (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧.
Now, the MV...again, why furry????? That wolf is so mean, leading on my sweet girls with his games (＃`Д´). "You said you'd be kind to me and now you're smitten with another girl!", truly unforgivable (ﾉಥ益ಥ)ﾉ. What I don't get is their kemonomimi outfits? And why yakisoba pan and badminton for courtship? Yoshikawa Eri, I'm afraid I don't get your vision :c
"Haitateki Fighter" by Not Equal Me [single, 2025]