°C-ute’s ‘Jump:’ Greatest song ever?

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°C-ute, the world's best singing and dancing ensemble.

If a single pop song can change the world, it’s “Jump,” which is, in my view, one of the most significant pieces of vocal music ever composed, arranged and performed. Hello! Project’s °C-ute did the honors in its February and April concerts, and Hello! Project’s summer concert in July moved the song up as one of the concluding elements, drawing a thunderous response (and quite possibly a low-level earthquake under Saitama Super Arena with 20,000 people jumping at the same time).

There is so much energy, philosophy, social commentary and raw optimism packed into this one song, it’s hard to know where to start (all following translations provided courtesy www.projecthello.com). To wit:

“I’ll never, ever give up.” (Hagiwara)
“Time will erase sadness.” (Chisato)

°C-ute made history and soared to record heights with 'Jump!'

This is how “Jump” kicks off – appealing to, encouraging and consoling the downtrodden. Next:

“I can’t recognize defeat.” (Saki)
“I decide who wins.” (Kanna)
“I’ll laugh in the end for sure. For sure.” (Umeda)

How inspiring can you get? Don’t mess with these girls; they’ll kick your ass as soon as look at you, pal. Nothing can stop them. This is a recurring theme in Japanese literature, particularly in many anime plot lines – the young and the strong sweeping in to save the day from an ossified, clueless and hopelessly corrupted older generation. And the Umeda line appears to be taking a blunt, sarcastic, between-the-eyes howitzer shot at all detractors – including pessimistic and negative adults.

“I get good at what I like.” (Saki)
“So I can always go on.” (Umeda)

Geez, is this ultra-self-confidence or what? And is it a universal cure for depression as Umeda implies? Hell yeah, people. Listen and learn from the young, wise ones.

Now here’s the kicker:

“I want to be taught a lot.” (Suzuki)
“By the neighborhood grandfathers.” (Maimi)

Encores and curtain calls are nothing new for °C-ute.

Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about! Where in the world of pop music are you going to get any reference at all to older generations, much less veneration as exists here? As a new granddad, I appreciate this single line the most. A similar reference exists in “It’s All Right,” but that’s a separate subject for a later time.

Finally, does Tsunku take an indirect rip at the war in Iraq, and to the general insolence of the United States and its corporate criminals? All seven °C-ute members collaborate in unison on this one:

“There are many tears on this planet.
So, we can become gentle.
I want to change everything.
I’m entrusting my hopes for the future,
In the mysteries of life.”

Wars, pestilence, storms, global warming, you name it, yes a lot of “tears” are being shed by the people of this planet. °C-ute’s solution? Be gentle. I’m not sure the precision of “becoming gentle” as it relates in this song, but I think °C-ute is taking it upon itself (and perhaps the optimistic philosophy of H!P overall) to provide a solid blast of desperately needed, therapeutic goodwill in its own flashy and cocky, yet demure, way.

And, regarding the last line, throwing out all conventional thinking and casting your future to the cosmos at large. Just letting go. Might as well. Nothing else appears to be working.

It’s songs like this that are making °C-ute an almost surreal phenomenon. The “Sweet Seven” are quickly becoming one of the most concentrated sources of pop music talent ever seen on this earth, to the point where we might all start getting along – and drying our own tears.

This is Rad signing off -- for now.