Flower-Sakuranka- by GIGS

Although I had meant to post reviews on Sanada's album and OVA Vol 2 before I get to the GIGS single, I got so excited at receiving this today, which is just one day after its release on 31 May so I decided to let this single "jump queue".

It's easy to see why I'm enthusiastic about this CD because my Top 3 favourites are singing together for the first time! Oh well, Echizen is also in GIGS but don't get me wrong, I don't dislike him at all. It's just that being the lead character, Echizen gets to bask in the limelight all the time so I thought it would be better to let the three bucchous to enjoy it exclusively this time round. Whenever there's Echizen, everything good goes to him as what Momo said before. It may be selfishness on my part since we are talking about my Top 3 favourites here but Echizen does seem like the odd one out because the other three are in the same year and hold the post of captain in their respective teams (well, Sanada is the vice-captain though). I can't help but think that his inclusion in this group has a lot to do with his status as the leading guy in Tenipuri.

Coming to the song itself, I bet everyone who has watched the OVA Ep 1 to 3 so far should have heard it before although what we get is only the TV-size version. You would get to hear the entire song in this single which only contains the track "Flower-Sakuranka-" and its instrumental version. It's a very catchy and fast-tempo number which should be easy to remember even at the first listening. Since my Top 3 favourites are singing this, I managed to pick out the individual parts they sang since I know the voices of these seiyuus i.e. Okiayu Ryoutarou, Suwabe Junichi and Kusunoki Taiten pretty well. Of course, for Minagawa Junko, that's also easy to pick out since her voice is rather distinct. Fortunately, everyone gets to sing a couple of solo lines so there's not much of an issue when it comes to whether favouritism is practised here.

With regards to the cover, my only grouse is why must Sanada be made to kneel on the floor?! If everyone gets to show off their coolness while standing, this puts Sanada in a very awkward pose. Maybe those designing the covers should take care in future to prevent any controversies.

As a special treat or should I say because of my Top 3 favourites, I actually sat down to write the romaji lyrics of this song and will indicate the sections which the characters sang so that you can use it as a guide when listening to the song. Please do not reproduce this anywhere without my permission, thanks.

Flower-Sakuranka- by GIGS (Atobe Keigo, Echizen Ryoma, Sanada Genichirou & Tezuka Kunimitsu)

Donna iro de kikazareba jibun rashiku irareru (Echizen)
Biru ni kaketa ano sora wa oshiete wa kurenai (Atobe)

Mayoi konda meiro ni mo kanarazu deguchi wa aru (Tezuka)
Tachi tomatte shimattara kotae ni wa tsukenai (Sanada)

Motemeteru mono ga nan datte (Tezuka & Echizen)
Ketsumatsu wo isoija (Atobe)
Ima ga tsumaranai ze (Sanada)

Saki midarete karei ni mae (All)
Puraido wa nugi sutero (Atobe)
Hokori takaku kokoro moyase (All)
Kazari no iro ja (Sanada)
Honmono ni wa nare ya shinai ze (Echizen)

Ima sugu ni hoshii mono wa hontou wa wakkatte iru (Tezuka)
Karada ga furuedasu hodo no saikou no suriru (Echizen)

Tadori tsuku basshou ga doko datte (Tezuka & Echizen)
Ketsumatsu wo isoija (Tezuka)
Asu ga tsumaranai ze (Echizen)

Itoshii hodo mune wo kogase (All)
Yuutsu sae maki konde (Sanada)
Kuruoshikumo kirei ni nare (All)
Itsuwari no iro ja (Tezuka)
Honmono ni wa nare ya shinaize (Atobe)

Katachi no nai hikari ga sasu basshou de kimi wo matte iru (Echizen)

Saki midarete kirei ni mae (All)
Puraido wa nugi sutero (Atobe)
Hokori takaku kokoro moyase (All)
Owaranai tabi e (Echizen)

Itoshii hodo mune wo kogase (All)
Yuutsu sae maki konde (Tezuka)
Kuruoshikumo kirei ni nare (All)
Itsuwari no iro ja (Sanada)
Honmono ni nare ya shinai ze (Echizen)