Special Interview


Kou Shibasaki

Kou Shibasaki’s new single <Lover Soul> melts electronic element into the rock tone, which is a conceptive work depicts various love modes.
The title song <lover soul> created as the theme song of the drama <Otomen> (Fuji TV) expresses a pure straightforward feeling.
And the later one <Sweet Dream> depicts the one-sided love, while <Nervous> depicts the exclusive and sad love.
So right now what kind of love mode are you in?
 
I prefer the man who is generous (laughing)  
 
――Have you read the original comic book of the drama <Otomen>?
[Shibasaki] Yes, I have. There’re a lot of handsome boys in the story, so when I was reading I worried and asked myself “Am I the right person to write the theme song?” (Laughing), anyway the story happens in the same time-background of now, so I decided to write a love song based on this.
 
――How do you think about the Otomen who are good at cooking and tailoring? It’s similar to the recent topic Soushoku Danshi (men who are not aggressive in romance).
[Shibasaki] I think it’s nice to be skilful, but if they’re doing this even better than their office work, the power between men and women got unbalanced, which is a horrible thing. To my personal opinion, I can’t say I am an active person, so I prefer the men who're generous (laughing).
 
――So the main character in your new single <lover soul> is a girl?
[Shibasaki] At the beginning, I didn't care if it should be a boy or a girl; I just wanted to write something about one who can't talk to the other one face to face. It turns out I used a lot of words like “Atashi” and “Kimi”, which sounds the main character is a girl, anyway I think it’ll be fine as long as it relfects all kinds of way that girls and boys fall in love with each other in school time. That’s why sometimes I can feel Shibuya Girl-O (man who imitates girls in dress, hair style, etc) also appears in the song. Once you see them, you will wonder are they really in love? But they do get well with each other. You will also see the character that is fighting with parents and saying “don’t decide my way without asking!”
 
I wanted to make something about love
 
――Maybe because of it’s based on the love of teenagers, it feels very forthright and sincere.
[Shibasaki] That’s right. The love of school time is kind of straightforward that no matter how the past and the surroundings are. Even for myself, I finally understand about something I couldn’t understand at that time. Somehow I should examine my own conscience, however most of the time I was quite reckless, I really feel the strength of being straightforward. At that time I thought if I fall in love with some I will want to be with that person forever. Well, I’m still the one I was, but I think the power of firmness is a little different now.
 
――Which part of you has still not been changed?
[Shibasaki] I think the pattern of love is always as is. Basically I’m the one who’re always chasing. I will think passively as before that we don’t know what will happen tomorrow.
 
――The 2 songs included in the coupling are also love songs, right?
[Shibasaki] Yeah, I want to make the single something to do with love. So far the songs I have written are kind of heavy lyrics, and the philosophical lyrics of self-denial, so I want something light and lively. <Sweet Dream> is a sweet pop song with the theme of one-sided love, and the main character is an active girl who believes in herself and encourages herself. <Nervous> is basically about one-sided love, but it’s kind of the relationship that falling in love with someone who only cares about himself, and it probably doesn't work out, and will be over sooner or later. The character in <Sweet Dream> is very fictive, but I think the one in <Nervous> is so similar to me. A little withdrawal, thinking deeply but dillydally at home, complaining a lot with an expressionless face (laughing). And the track 4 has a different arrangement from “lover soul”, so I will be very happy if you can loop playback, add your own lyrics and listen it in your own love mode.
 
(By: Atsuo Nakahori)
(Photo by Kenta Yoshizawa)
 
 
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