It is barely two months since MNL48’s first single was released and here we are now reviewing the second. Officially unveiled during the “Aitakatta-Gustong Makita” Handshake Event, “Pag-Ibig Fortune Cookie” is one of AKB48’s most successful singles, and one that the international sister groups have all had their own versions of.
While “Aitakatta-Gustong Makita” received surprising success, the expectations – and hopes – for “Pag-Ibig Fortune Cookie” (or “PFC” as called by the fans) are so much higher because all of its existing versions were hits. If “Aitakatta-Gustong Makita” was supposed to be a “proof of concept”, then PFC is supposed to be the real deal.
Unlike the first single, there were no delays with this one. As mentioned, it was announced during the Handshake Event, pre-orders ran for a week (exactly one week too) with the pre-order bonus being an extra handshake ticket.
But the biggest thing going for this single is MNL48’s tie-in with Lawsons convenience store chain, which will now sell MNL48 merchandise including copies of the new single. As such, many fans already got their hands on the single by December 1 (me included).
Packaging
The packaging style is pretty much the same as the first single. It comes in a booklet form which includes photos of the teams and its members. The biggest addition is the inclusion of a double-sided poster. One side features the PFC senbatsu, and the other, the whole group.
In my review of the “Aitakatta-Gustong Makita” single, I gave minus points on this type of packaging because I felt that the CD pocket doesn’t really protect the CD itself from scratches. But after my experience with that single, I can say that I underestimated its viability. The CD pocket CAN be fine after all, and while still not ideal, it has been proven quite adequate.
The only problem I have now with this kind of packaging is its vulnerability to water. But even plastic cases provide no real protection from the elements, if you think about it.
I am beginning to think that this packaging is being used to keep costs down, allowing fans and hardcore wotas to buy copies by the bulk. If that is the case, then it will do its job wonderfully well.
A new addition to the packaging is the inclusion of a holder for the Handshake Event Ticket. No longer is it just included in the CD pocket like an afterthought, it now occupies a pace of honor in the packaging.
The Visuals
Unlike the first single, “Pag-Ibig Fortune Cookie’s” design is very colorful. All the versions of the song had colorful packaging, and MNL48 sure does keep in line with the “tradition”.
Where the previous color scheme seemed muted and cool, this single is brimming with color and life.
The same is true with the actual CD itself. The previous CD only had a consistent blue throughout. This time, it is very colorful.
Audio
Here is where this single’s kinks show. For some reason, the instrumentals in the songs were extra loud, somewhat drowning out the vocals in parts of the second and third songs.
This is surprising, because the previous single has very clear vocals. It seems that someone had an idea to make the music really loud to complement the “dance-track” nature of the songs. But I feel that it is unlikely.
It is pretty hard to follow with a song whose vocals you can barely hear at parts. And although the main song was mixed better than the other two, it’s a shame because “Palusot Ko’y Maybe” (Iiwake Maybe) and “First Rabbit” are superior to the previous single’s B-sides.
The Songs
As you may have noticed, I separated the audio quality review from the songs themselves. This is because this single has two faces: one, a superior set-list and packaging, and the other, of mediocre mixing.
It’s quite unfair to score down the songs themselves on the basis of poor audio mixing, especially since these songs are essentially better than the previous single’s. So I decided to pick on the mixing in another criteria, while I talk about the songs themselves.
Before I begin nit-picking the individual tracks, I’d have to say a few things first:
- The songs aren’t shy in retaining certain Japanese terms. Unlike the first single, where they really used Tagalog terms, the composer decided to retain the original terms where they are appropriate, whether because the Tagalog equivalent does not fit the song, or because it simply preserves the flow.
- As a whole, the songs were “owned” by MNL48 in such a way that it suddenly develops a life of its own, somewhat independent of the originals.
- Like the first single, this one basically only has two line-ups: the media senbatsu for “Pag-Ibig Fortune Cookie” who also performed “First Rabbit“, and Team N-IV for “Palusot Ko’y Maybe”. Again, that’s almost half of the group without participation. From press-releases, it seems that the members underwent an audition to determine the line-up. That’s understandable with regards to the media senbatsu, but “First Rabbit” could have been open to another audition taken from the girls who failed the senbatsu try-outs.
Anyway, let’s proceed with the songs.
“Pag-Ibig Fortune Cookie” is a classic AKB48 song, not only because it became super big, but also because it is so catchy that even people who are otherwise not into idol songs can latch on to it.
The same is true of its tagalog version. It is catchy, the lyrics is pretty easy to get into, and it’s really fun to dance with. The new senbatsu features new faces who are also known for having strong vocals, but this single is still owned by Sheki Arzaga, center for the second straight single.
It’s not that the others aren’t good enough, it’s just that Sheki’s skill far surpasses the others. Given her vast stage experience and vocal training, it’s going to be hard to take her seat at the top. However, that might not necessarily be a bad thing: Sheki is a “triple threat” when it comes to talent, and the way she’s handled being center endeared her to a lot of fans which now also include wotas.
Unlike “Aitakatta-Gustong Makita”, I can hear the others singing in “PFC”. I can faintly make out the voices of Sela, Kay, and Brei.
PFC as a song is actually tailor-made for Sashihara Rino, who bested current and annointed members to snag first place in AKB48’s 32nd Single General Election, thereby making her the center for this single. From being teased for her being “ugly” (she’s not as cute as Mayuyu, or Acchan, but she’s certainly not ugly), to figuring in a scandal that saw her being sent to HKT48 on the other side of Japan, Sashihara seemed to have a serious case of bad luck, but still snagged number one nonetheless.
“Palusot Ko’y Maybe” is the unfortunately named tagalog version of “Iiwake Maybe”. If Team L performed “Umiindak na Saya” in the first single, this time it’s the turn of Team N-IV. This team had good singers in Team Captain Ecka, Belle, and Brei, so there’s a bit of an expectation there.
I can make out the voices of Ecka and Brei, but I can’t really place Belle as well as the others. Not surprising as I’ve rarely heard some of them sing. The song itself uses a lot of auto-tune like the original. And I feel that the girls were made to sing “cutesy” reminiscent of how AKB48 did some of their early singles, instead of using their natural voice range.
Again, that’s not necessarily a bad thing: Ecka, for example, has enough vocal range to go from ballad to cute, with a touch of playfulness that the song requires. More importantly, that’s how the song was meant to be performed, so it’s no surprise that MNL48 members will try to replicate it, even if it means going against their natural vocal range.
“First Rabbit” is another revelation for me. Just like how “Umiindak na Saya” warmed me up to a song I previously didn’t care for, I fell in love with “First Rabbit” even though I’ve never quite liked the original.
The message of the song really resonates with me, with its message of not being afraid to be first, not giving up the fight even though you’re hurt and do not know what will happen.
“First Rabbit” may possibly be the perfect MNL48 song that will tug at the heart-strings of those who are going through a lot in life.
The Bottom-Line
MNL48’s seem to tell a story: of where the group is currently at, and where they wanted to go. “Aitakatta-Gustong Makita” was a proof of concept that also works as an “introduction”. “Pag-Ibig Fortune Cookie” on the other hand, is a single that is definitely aimed at everyone, from the catchy pop tune of the title track, to the pure-idol sound of “Palusot Ko’y Maybe“, to the deeper “light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel” message of “First Rabbit“.
I now understand – and accept – the decision to keep to the booklet-type of packaging, welcome the colorful design, as well as the strong choice of songs. The only negatives that I can see is the less-than-stellar mixing and the lack of representation from other members of the group.
“Pag-Ibig Fortune Cookie” is a great second effort to a growing arsenal of MNL48 songs. I am hoping that the next single, they figure out a way to fix the mixing, and with the right songs, might just have a breakthrough single….if they didn’t break through with this one, that is.
