Earlier this year Japanese idol group Kamen Joshi, or Mask Girls, released a track, "元気種☆" or "Genkidane☆," which is now No. 1 on Japan's Oricon Singles Chart.
Mask Girls are made up of three Japanese idol groups -- Alice Juban, Steamgirls, and Armorgirls. "Genkidane☆" is a Babymetal-inspired romp that switches on a dime from cheery positivity to hardcore, boot-stomping metal.
The lyrics in "Genkidane☆" are designed to inspire -- pump you up, get you excited about life. Kamen Joshi are basically singing random positive phrases. The song's title means "happy/energetic."
Kahn helped translate some of the song's lyrics, which alternate between Japanese and English, to help us nail down its basic theme.
After all that sunshine comes a dark cloud by the way of intense guttural screams and a dramatic shift in mood to wash away whatever posi-vibes the song's beginning may have built up.
Then it's back to Pleasantville... a Pleasantville stocked with teenage Japanese girls dressed like Sgt Pepper ballerinas who were put on earth to do the bidding of Jason Voorhees.
The song continues: "Scream it to the sky every day! [In English] Rock this valley! Scream it again and again so it resounds! [In English] Rockin' Body!"
"Today you're a small seed/ Show off how important you are/ Don't be afraid, go forth confidently into the unpredictable world!" they sing.
Words to live by.
Watch the video in full below.
View this video on YouTube
And sleep tight in the knowledge that you now have a new theme song for the year.
