It has been an exciting week for MNL48 fans as MNLife has finally given us the information we’ve all been waiting to hear: MNL48 hard at work for their first single Music Video, their new uniforms, and Sensei Moe coming to work on the girls.
Shot in Fort Santiago and nearby MAPUA, the music video seems to have been the reason why the girls were awake for 27 hours last week. Shooting a Music Video is really tough whatever your genre is. The availability of the location, the time limit, the per-hour rent of the equipment, the welfare of the talents, staff, and crew, and the fact that the vast majority of the MNL48 members are doing this for the first time.
As you would expect, the fans are trying to catch every detail that can be used as an indication on what the actual first single will be. We know they already have three, and probably has a few more in reserve for use in events. Some fans think that it will be ‘Aitakatta‘ based on the very short behind-the-scenes footage, while some swear to ‘River‘.
Whatever the song actually is, it seems to bring in the good vibes from the fans. It seems that some of the production crew are Japanese and it got some fans excited. We can’t confirm yet if this crew has worked with AKB48 before as well as how many Japanese were actually part of it. I personally don’t care if MNL48 works with a Japanese or Filipino production team as long as the product is well-made, but I admit that bringing in a Japanese crew is a nice touch from HHE.
Another interesting feature in the footage is that the girls now have a new uniform! With a blazer, a logo, a necktie and plaid skirts, the girls now look every like bit a 48 Group idol. Some fans say that the uniform resembles AKB48’s too much, but I personally don’t see that as a bad thing. A huge part of what goes in on a costume design is that it should not only look good, but provide a connection to something.
MNL48 is a member of the 48 Group, let that sink in for a moment. While many changes towards the structure has been – and will still be – made, the group needs everything it can to connect itself to AKB48. Not just the songs, the dances, the hand-shake events, the merchandise, and the whole “Idols you can meet” concept. Even a seemingly small thing such as the like the uniform can leave a lasting impression and if you are HHE, you would like to impose, reinforce, and promote that connection.
I find it likely that the group still isn’t finished with its flurry of activity. This is just the senbatsu, and we still have the Under Girls and the Next Girls who each are supposed to have their own songs. No wonder that they remain missing from MNLife.
MNL48’s choreographer, Moe sensei, has arrived in the Philippines. Her first time here, Moe sensei immediately went to work with the girls, even commenting at how stiff their movements are. Japanese idol choreography works very differently from what we’re used to. There’s a lot of subtle movements that complement the song over the deliberate, sharp movements of the western style of dance that we are used to.
I would like to think that there’s also the factor of tension among the girls because here is the Japanese choreographer they’ve been told about, who has worked with AKB48. They’ve been helped by their coaches, and they’ve accomplished a lot, but here’s their actual choreographer, and the stakes might have gotten a little higher. We can also add the fact that fatigue is starting to set in after their marathon of activities.
Things are really coming together now, and people are dying to see the MV. Single is done, MV is probably in post-production, Moe-sensei has taken direct control of the girls’ training, and new uniforms to boot. The only thing missing is the Theater, but maybe – hopefully – that’s next.
