Labrador Retriever (song)

"Labrador Retriever" (ラブラドール・レトリバー, Raburadōru Retoribā) is the 36th single by the Japanese idol girl group AKB48. It was released in Japan on May 21, 2014 by King Records. This single was first performed at AKB48's concert in the National Olympic Stadium on March 29.[1] It was the best-selling single of the year in Japan, with 1,786,825 copies.[2]

"Labrador Retriever"
Type-A Regular Edition Cover
Single by AKB48
from the album Koko ga Rhodes da, Koko de Tobe!
B-side
  • "Kyō made no Melody"
  • "Itoshiki Rival"
  • "B Garden"
  • "Heart no Dasshutsu Game"
  • "Futari wa Dekiteru"
ReleasedMay 21, 2014 (2014-05-21)
GenreJ-pop
Length4:55
LabelYou, Be Cool! / King
Songwriter(s)Yasushi Akimoto (lyrics)
Producer(s)Yasushi Akimoto
AKB48 singles chronology
"Mae shika Mukanee"
(2014)
"Labrador Retriever"
(2014)
"Kokoro no Placard"
(2014)
Music video
AKB48 "Labrador Retriever" on YouTube

Synopsis

The song tells the story of two young lovers who meet again at the beach resort where they had first met during the previous summer. They have arrived early this year, because they had not had enough time together the year before for their relationship to even progress to their first kiss—she asks if they should do that now. They had met when chasing the girl's childhood pet, a Labrador Retriever, as he played along the water's edge; this inspired her to give her new love the nickname "Labrador." The three of them chase across the beach as they had that first day, and she calls her love into her arms and asks (for the third time) if they should have their first kiss.

This song plays on not only the theme of first love, but also of the ways that people will "break the ice" by finding outside factors—in this case, chasing the dog—upon which to focus as an excuse to slowly come closer to a relationship. Her fear is exhibited by making a point of wearing a less-revealing 1970s-style bikini, then suggesting that she wore it because it's HIS favorite style. Having arranged to meet early (before their parents had arrived), the dog is once again the outside factor that provides a non-embarrassing reason to be together, while trying to overcome their inexperience with love. The protagonist is eager yet shy, so she talks about her pet as she works up her courage to call him into her arms, then to ask for that first kiss.

Music Video

The promotional video for Labrador Retriever begins with a woman in a kitchen, as she pours dog food into a metal bowl. The sound echoes through the house, surrounding sleeping teen girl Mayu Watanabe, and inspiring a dream in which she and other members of the group dance on a beach, in 1970s-style bikinis. As they dance, a Labrador Retriever approaches some of those same girls "in town," wearing street clothing. The dog is wearing a distinctive necklace, which is recognized by one of the girls as having been worn by their friend. As the dog runs away, they follow. The dog makes contact with other groups of girls, who take up the chase. As they arrive at the beach, the "town girls" and dancers pause to look at each other in confusion, then the Labrador runs toward the dancers. As the girls from town follow, the dancers hold out their arms in invitation and we then see that those running are now dogs. As they reach the dancers, they are once again girls, prancing like dogs excitedly greeting their people; visual effects make it possible for girls to be with themselves. The dancers are suddenly again with dogs, who run away and return to their earlier activities (this time as dogs rather than as girls). Watanabe wakes from her dream, and sits up in bed, as her Labrador watches. She turns to smile at the dog—then barks!

While not obvious the first time the video is viewed, a connection is easily made in subsequent plays when the Labrador first appears, running away from the dress and girl's shoes that Watanabe wears as a "town girl."

Background

The lyrics were written by Yasushi Akimoto. In this single, Watanabe returns as the center of the main song after the release of "So Long !" 1 year and 3 months earlier.[3] The main song in this single, "Labrador Retriever", was revealed to the public on March 29, 2014 during the encore session of their first concert at the National Olympic Stadium.[1]

This single will be released in five types; Type A (Normal / Limited Edition), Type K (Normal / Limited Edition), Type B (Normal / Limited Edition), Type 4 (Normal / Limited Edition) and Theater Edition.[4]

The first presses of the single came with a ticket to vote in the AKB48 37th Single Senbatsu Election (to choose the members to be featured in the next AKB48's single, to be released in the summer.)

AKB48 has been releasing a summer-themed CD in May every year since "Ponytail to Shushu", which was released in May 2010. 36 members were chosen to participate in the A-side song "Labrador Retriever", which has the same number as their 2012 single "Manatsu no Sounds Good!", but 4 more than last year's summer single, "Sayonara Crawl", that featured only 32 members.[5][6]

Track listing

The first two songs on the CDs and the first two music videos on the DVDs are the same for all versions.[7]

Type A

All lyrics are written by Yasushi Akimoto.

CD: KIZM-283, KIZM-90283[n 1][n 2]
No.TitleMusicPerforming unitsLength
1."Labrador Retriever" (ラブラドール・レトリバー)Manabu Marutani  
2."Kyō made no Melody" (今日までのメロディー, "The Melody Until Today", Yuko Oshima's graduation song)Yoshimasa Inoue  
3."Kimi wa Kimagure" (君は気まぐれ, "You Are Fickle")Shintarō ItōTeam A 
4."Labrador Retriever" (off vocal ver.)   
5."Kyō made no Melody" (off vocal ver.)   
6."Kimi wa Kimagure" (off vocal ver.)   
DVD: KIZM-284, KIZM-90284[n 1][n 2]
No.TitleDirectorLength
1."Labrador Retriever Music Video"Tatsuyuki Kobayashi 
2."Kyō made no Melody Music Video" (今日までのメロディー Music Video)  
3."Kimi wa Kimagure Music Video" (君は気まぐれ Music Video)  
4."Nakamura 'Kengai' Mariko's Hosaremen Talk" (中村"圏外"麻里子の干されメン講座)  

Type K

All lyrics are written by Yasushi Akimoto.

CD: KIZM-285, KIZM-90285[n 3][n 4]
No.TitleMusicPerforming unitsLength
3."Itoshiki Rival" (愛しきライバル "My Dear Rival")Fuku TakafumiTeam K 
6."Itoshiki Rival" (off vocal ver.)   
DVD: KIZM-286, KIZM-90286[n 3][n 4]
No.TitleLength
3."Itoshiki Rival Music Video" (愛しきライバル Music Video) 
4."Making of Labrador Retriever First Part" (Making of ラブラドール・レトリバー 前編) 

Type B

All lyrics are written by Yasushi Akimoto.

CD: KIZM-287, KIZM-90287[n 5][n 6]
No.TitleMusicPerforming unitsLength
3."B Garden" (Bガーデン)Katsuhiko YamamotoTeam B 
6."B Garden" (off vocal ver.)   
DVD: KIZM-288, KIZM-90288[n 5][n 6]
No.TitleLength
3."B Garden Music Video" (Bガーデン Music Video) 
4."Making of Labrador Retriever Latter Part" (Making of ラブラドール・レトリバー 後編) 

Type 4

All lyrics are written by Yasushi Akimoto.

CD: KIZM-289, KIZM-90289[n 7][n 8]
No.TitleMusicPerforming unitsLength
3."Heart no Dasshutsu Game" (ハートの脱出ゲーム "The Heart Escape Game")Fuku TakafumiTeam 4 
6."Heart no Dasshutsu Game" (off vocal ver.)   
DVD: KIZM-290, KIZM-90290[n 7][n 8]
No.TitleLength
3."Heart no Dasshutsu Game Music Video" (ハートの脱出ゲーム Music Video) 
4."Yuria Kizaki's Team 4 Music Video Micchaku Report" (木崎ゆりあのTeam 4 Music Video密着レポート) 

Theater Edition

All lyrics are written by Yasushi Akimoto.

CD: NMAX-1166[n 9]
No.TitleMusicLength
3."Futari wa Dekiteru" (2人はデキテル, "We Were Cheating")Kazuya Izumi 
6."Futari wa Dekiteru" (off vocal ver.)  

Members

"Labrador Retriever"

The center performer for the title track is Mayu Watanabe. The list of performers is as follows:[1][3]

"Kyou Made no Melody"

Yuko Oshima's graduation song.

"Kimi wa Kimagure"

"Itoshiki Rival"

"B Garden"

"Heart no Dasshutsu Game"

  • Team 4: Saho Iwatate, Rio Okawa, Miyu Omori, Ayaka Okada, Nana Okada, Rena Kato, Yuria Kizaki, Saki Kitazawa, Riho Kotani (NMB48 Team N), Marina Kobayashi, Haruka Komiyama, Yukari Sasaki, Kiara Sato, Ayana Shinozaki, Nagisa Shibuya (NMB48 Team BII), Yurina Takashima, Mizuki Tsuchiyasu, Miki Nishino, Mitsuki Maeda, Minami Minegishi, Mion Mukaichi, Yuiri Murayama, Shinobu Mogi

"Futari wa Dekiteru"

Release history

DateVersionCatalogFormatLabel
May 28, 2014 Type-A First Press Limited Edition (KIZM-90283~4)[n 2]

Regular Edition (KIZM-283~4)[n 1]

CD+DVD King Records
Type-K First Press Limited Edition (KIZM-90285~6)[n 4]

Regular Edition (KIZM-285~6)[n 3]

Type-B First Press Limited Edition (KIZM-90287~8)[n 6]

Regular Edition (KIZM-287~8)[n 5]

Type-4 First Press Limited Edition (KIZM-90289~90290)[n 8]

Regular Edition (KIZM-289~290)[n 10]

Theater Regular Version (NMAX-1166)[n 9] CD

Charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
Billboard Japan Hot 100 1
Oricon Daily Singles Chart 1
Oricon Weekly Singles Chart 1

References

Releases
Other references
  1. "AKB48 36thシングル発表でセンターはまゆゆ渡辺麻友!大島優子卒業楽曲も収録に". 芸能ニュースラウンジ. 2014-03-29. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
  2. "2014年 年間音楽&映像ランキング発表 2ページ目". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. 2014-12-20. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23.
  3. "AKB48、大島優子不在の新曲初披露 まゆゆが単独センター". Oricon. 2014-03-29. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  4. "AKB48 36枚目のシングル、表題曲タイトルと各Type名が決定!". KING RECORDS. 2014-03-29. Archived from the original on 2014-03-31. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
  5. "AKBまゆゆセンターの新シングル初披露". Nikkan Sports. 2014-03-29. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  6. "AKB48 36th Single [Labrador Retriever] Senbatsu". MELONS no Michi. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  7. "Watanabe Mayu becomes the center for AKB48's upcoming 36th single". tokyohive. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
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