Balalaika (song)
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Balalaika
| cover = Balalaika J-pop.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Regular edition cover
| type = single
| artist = Kirari Tsukishima starring Koharu Kusumi (Morning Musume)
| album = Mitsuboshi
| A-side = Balalaika
| B-side = Mizuiro Melody
| released = October 25, 2006 {{small|(CD single)}}
November 8, 2006 {{small|(DVD single)}}
| recorded = 2006
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = J-pop
| length =
| label = Zetima
| writer = Shigeki Sako {{small|(track 1)}}
Katsuhiko Kurosu {{small|(track 2)}}
| lyricist = Bulge {{small|(track 1)}}
Makoto Furuya {{small|(track 2)}}
| producer =
| prev_title = Koi Kana
| prev_year = 2006
| next_title = Happy
| next_year = 2007
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Kirarin Revolution
| type = single
| prev_title = Koi Kana
| prev_year = 2006
| title = Balalaika
| year = 2006
| next_title = Happy
| next_year = 2007
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|SYLWe09cOjc|"Balalaika"}}|header=Music video}}
}}
{{nihongo|"Balalaika"|バラライカ|Bararaika}} is the second opening theme song from the Japanese anime Kirarin Revolution. The song was released on October 25, 2006 and is performed by Koharu Kusumi from Morning Musume, credited as {{nihongo|"Kirari Tsukishima starring Koharu Kusumi (Morning Musume)"|月島きらり starring 久住小春(モーニング娘。)}}. The song was released as Kirari Tsukishima's second single, who Kusumi portrays in the show.
Background and release
"Balalaika" is the second opening theme song to Kirarin Revolution and is performed by Koharu Kusumi from Morning Musume, who voices the main character, Kirari Tsukishima.{{cite news | author=Pirosue | title=Buono!、きら☆レボから、こぶしファクトリーまで ハロプロ×アニソンを俯瞰する | url=https://realsound.jp/2016/07/post-8494.html | language=ja | work=Real Sound | date=2016-07-26 | accessdate=2019-01-16}} The song was released as the character's second single and Kusumi is credited as {{nihongo|"Kirari Tsukishima starring Koharu Kusumi (Morning Musume)"|月島きらり starring 久住小春(モーニング娘。)}}.{{cite news | author=Junko Yano | url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/061025_03.html | title=月島きらり starring 久住小春（モーニング娘。）『スーパーアイドル・きらりの2ndシングルPV到着！』- | language=ja | work=Oricon | date=2006-10-25 | accessdate=2018-12-27}} The song borrows influences from Russian folk music.{{cite news | url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000027815 | title=14歳のキラキラがいっぱい！ 久住小春の新曲「バラライカ」フルPV公開！ | language=ja | work=Barks | date=2006-10-30 | accessdate=2019-01-02 }}
The single was released on October 25, 2006, under the Zetima label. "Mizuiro Melody", the third ending theme song to Kirarin Revolution, was included as a B-side and performed by Kusumi under her character's name. The limited edition featured an alternate cover with an exclusive version of Takara Tomy's paper doll Millefeui Card from Kirarin Revolution.
A video single was released on November 8, 2006.{{cite web | title=シングルV「バラライカ」 | url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/393070/products/677419/1/ | language=ja | work=Oricon | accessdate=2018-12-31}}
Music video
The music video was directed by Hideo Kawatani and produced by Tetsushi Suehiro.{{cite web | url=http://d.hatena.ne.jp/htandescondor/20070723/1185288557 | title=ハロプロ関連楽曲PV監督（楽曲大賞1997-2006 PV部門用） | language=ja | work=Fraction Collector | date=2007-07-23 | accessdate=2019-01-02 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web | url=http://hatch-co.com/#works | title=株式会社 ハッチ HATCH CORPORATION - WORKS | language=ja | accessdate=2019-05-07}} It features Kusumi dressed up as her character, Kirari Tsukishima, and dancing at a magic show. A version featuring the choreography was released with the video single.
Reception
The CD single debuted at #8 in the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and charted for 23 weeks.{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2006-11-06/|title=
Editors at Barks noted that the song's "Hoo! Ha!" chanting reminded them of "Koi no Dance Site" by Morning Musume. In their review, they commented Kusumi's music video was "not erotic" compared to recent Hello! Project music videos, such as "Some Boys! Touch" by Maki Goto and "Melodies" by GAM. The editors noted that compared to their videos, Kusumi's image, physical features and smile evoked fond memories of "that girl you used to like" in elementary or middle school and exuded a "sparkle."
"Balalaika" became associated with the "Yaranaika?" Internet meme after a fan-made parody version with homoerotic lyrics was used as the meme's theme song.{{cite web|url=http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/3951096/|title=【DEEP】地上最強のアニヲタ長島☆自演乙、谷川FEG代表の目前でK-1制圧を宣言！|publisher=livedoor Sports|date=2008-12-23|language=ja|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206234256/http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/3951096/|archivedate=2009-02-06}}
Track listing
=Single=
{{Tracklist
| all_writing =
| extra_column=Arrangement
| total_length=
|title1= Balalaika
|lyrics1= Bulge (Takahiro Hosoki, Rie Tanaka)
|music1= Shigeki Sako
|extra1= Shigeki Sako
|note1={{lang|ja|バラライカ}}
|length1=
|title2=Mizuiro Melody
|lyrics2= Makoto Furuya
|music2= Katsuhiko Kurosu
|extra2= Daisuke Kato
|note2={{lang|ja|水色メロディ}} {{literal translation}} Aquamarine Melody
|length2=
|title3=Balalaika
|lyrics3=
|music3= Shigeki Sako
|extra3= Shigeki Sako
|note3=Instrumental
|length3=
}}
=DVD single=
{{Tracklist
| all_writing =
| extra_column=Arrangement
| total_length=
|title1=Balalaika
|length1=3:42
|title2=Balalaika
|note2=Dance Shot Ver.
|length2=
|title3=Making Of
|note3={{lang|ja|メイキング映像}}
|length3=
}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Single=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!Chart !Peak position |
| scope="row" |Oricon Weekly Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/393070/products/678029/1/|title= |style="text-align:center;"| 8 |
|---|
{{col-2}}
=DVD single=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!Chart !Peak position |
| scope="row" |Oricon Weekly DVD Chart
|13 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- Up-Front Works Discography: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070225105243/http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/s_40/ CD entry], [https://web.archive.org/web/20070926233646/http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/29/v_72/ DVD entry]
{{Kirarin Revolution}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs about musical instruments
Category:Children's television theme songs