Remioromen - Tatsunda Joe

Three-piece rock band Remioromen's first single of 2010 was released on July 28th. Chosen to advertise a well-known brand of Japanese beer, Tatsunda Joe is a lively and jovial affair.

This release is definitely one of Remioromen's more lighthearted ones. It contains a bit more synth than their usual offerings: a four-note repeating keyboard riff is heard at the start and continues through most of the song. It is also joined by a programmed drum beat that supports Jinguji Osamu's conventional drum kit. The main tune is delivered by Fujimaki Ryota in quite a playful way, which suits the comical nature of the song. Although the lyrics are strong and motivational, there is a hint of tongue-in-cheek as well - the "Joe" mentioned could possibly refer to the one from famous boxing manga/anime "Ashita no Joe." Together with the triumphant chorus, it all culminates in an infectious, bouncy pop tune.

The B-sides are the Tatsunda Joe (Kaaltechs Remix) and the live recording of the song from their 2010 Kachoufuugetsu tour. The instrumentals of the remix are pretty bright and garish, obscuring Ryota's vocals: they include a deep, looping arpeggiator sequence reminiscent of 80's dance hits, a thudding bass beat and a grating, buzzing synth. With the original version being so upbeat already, this mix just takes it over the top.

The live recording is not very different from the CD version as it is essentially played the same. A minor complaint would be that the balance could be better, as Ryota's voice is a bit too prominent.

While not the deepest or most heartfelt of their singles, Tatsunda Joe doesn't try to be more than a bit of fun, and in that sense it succeeds completely. The addition of a new song as a B-side would have added to the package, but this single is still worth checking out.

The limited edition of the single comes with a DVD of the very humorous music video and a "making of" feature.