Watanabe Mayu’s last single “11gatsu no Anklet” is a final reminder of what AKB48 was all about

 

 

Honestly i was expecting AkiP to destroy Mayu’s graduation by giving her a meaningless commercial/drama-tied song. However, he must be feeling guilty for shoving Mayu behind the curtains all these years because the last single “11gatsu no Anklet” (“November’s Anklet”) is a nostalgic return to AKB48’s idol roots.

The composers of this song are Marutani Manabu and APAZZI. Marutani san is actually the same guy behind previous AKB48 songs like “Eien Pressure”, “Heart Eleki” and “Labrador Retriever”. Personally i liked most of them so i’m glad he delivered with “11gatsu no Anklet” too. Lyrics wise, i can finally see AkiP actually working hard because not only are they meaningful but also gives room for lotsa imagination.

Translation of Lyrics:

Wow wow wow wow
Wow wow wow yeah

With a semi-bob fringe and you smiling during the weekend
You suddenly asked to meet, what’s up?
An overcrowded beach house, a meeting way past its time.
The pancake we liked is still not coming.

Raising your left hand and showing me your ring finger
Did you want to say you’ve found a new boyfriend?
Ok! You Win!

November’s anklet, i still haven’t taken it off.
It’s the secret that you gave me(I’m sorry~)
Saying Hi to Bye
If you meet someone kinder than me, I can’t do anything about it
Will i be able to give up?

Wow wow wow wow
Wow wow wow yeah

It was supposed to be a happy news, but we’ve lapsed into silence
I want to stop you but it feels like i’d be chided for it
In the compact terrace cafe, on the other side of the windows
It seems like the colors of the sky and beach have faded
Miss you! He’s won! 

The Anklet from that summer, should i take it off now?
It’s swinging when i run on the beach
The memories of my ankle, under the blinding sun
Even the ripples from the waves are becoming sad as well

[Mayu’s solo] I planned to sort out my memories with you someday
I’ll just send them to his house.
Anklet anklet on my left ankle (Regret~)

November’s anklet, i still haven’t taken it off.
It’s the secret that you gave me(I’m sorry~)
Saying Hi to Bye
If you meet someone kinder than me, I can’t do anything about it
Will i be able to give up?

Wow wow wow wow
Wow wow wow yeah

Writing lyrics that paint a picture is actually what i love about 48Group songs, with my favorite piece of work being SKE48’s “Bukiyou Taiyou”. Even if the story is simple, it’s much more meaningful to listen to compared to the so-called hits “Koisuru Fortune Cookie” or “Heavy Rotation” which are basically empty in substance.

In “11gatsu no Anklet”, as usual, AkiP starts off writing from the perspective of a guy(shaded blue). The guy is a little nervous because he’s been called out to meet his ex-girlfriend. He realises she’s found a better someone and feels somewhat bitter because he’s still not over her. AkiP represents these feelings with a pretty catchy line “Ok! You Win!”

The guy ponders over his feelings for the girl while looking at his anklet, a couple item his ex gave. I particularly like how AkiP writes “Saying Hi to Goodbye” to represent the guy’s withdrawal from his ex.

Moving on the 2nd half of the song shaded red – this is where the lyrics get more ingenious. I’ve seen fans in China and Japan discussing what perspective the lyrics are being written from. Simply looking at it, it could still be the guy. But some think it was written from the ex-girlfriend’s perspective. And if that’s the case, the ex-girlfriend has remaining feels for the guy too which makes this an incredibly heart-tugging story.

Overall, the feelings of this guy is pretty much like how fans of Mayu would feel with her graduation. Sad, not so ready to give her up.