Mondai Girl

"Mondai Girl" (もんだいガール, Mondai Gāru, lit. "Problem Girl") is the tenth physical single by Japanese singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, released on March 18, 2015.[1] Released in both CD and digital editions, the single contains the A-side song "Mondai Girl" along with three B-side tracks. The single's title is a pun, coming from the phrase "mondai ga aru", literally "there is a problem".[2]

"Mondai Girl"
Limited Edition Cover
Single by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
from the album KPP Best
B-side
  • "KISEKAE"
  • "My Room"
ReleasedMarch 18, 2015
RecordedJuly - December 2014
GenreJ-pop
Length31:08
LabelUnborde
Songwriter(s)Yasutaka Nakata
Producer(s)Yasutaka Nakata
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu singles chronology
"Kira Kira Killer"
(2014)		 "Mondai Girl"
(2015)		 "Crazy Party Night ~Pumpkin no Gyakushū~"
(2015)
Music video
"Mondai Girl" on YouTube

"Mondai Girl" is used as the theme song for the Fuji Television drama series A Restaurant With Many Problems.[3] The other tracks, "My Room" and "KISEKAE" are used in the CHINTAI room rental service and the New Nintendo 3DS commercials respectively.

Background, Production & Release

This is Kyary's first release in nine months following her June 2014 release Kira Kira Killer. In the meantime, Kyary went on two arena tours and released her 3rd studio album Pika Pika Fantajin. During one of her arena tours entitled "Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Colorful Panic Toy Box" She revealed at the last stop of the arena tour that she had been experiencing the darker side of fame saying that her privacy had been invaded and she simply had enough.[4]

The first song, "My Room" was revealed in a commercial for CHINTAI room rental app service. The second song, "KISEKAE" was first revealed at the commercial for the New Nintendo 3DS before the handheld's launch at October 11, 2014,[5] It was soon followed by a Christmas version in December 2014. In the same month, Kyary announced the next single's title and will serve as a theme song for the TV drama A Restaurant with Many Problems, which aired on January 15, 2015.[6] Both KISEKAE and My Room are included as B-side tracks. Also included is a remix version of Kyary's 2012 single Candy Candy.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Yasutaka Nakata.

CD
No.TitleLength
1."Mondai Girl" (もんだいガール Mondai Gāru; lit. "Problem Girl")4:36
2."KISEKAE"4:06
3."My Room"4:34
4."CANDY CANDY -remix-"4:32
5."Mondai Girl" (instrumental)4:36
6."KISEKAE" (instrumental)4:06
7."My Room" (instrumental)4:34

CD Artwork Personnel

Steve Nakamura – Art Director, Designer

Shinji Konishi – Hair & Makeup

Iijima Kumiko – Stylist

Music video

The music video describes the concept of "strong woman" in three different worlds, in accordance with the kanji quadrigram "三者三様”, which translates literally to "three people three styles" and means "everyone's different, to each his own".[7] The first character in the video is Kyary in a completely pink outfit, as a young actress chased by paparazzi.[8][9] The second one is a Kyary wild and free, dancing however she wants with foreign dancers.[8][9] The third character, clad in all manners of black clothes,[9] is Kyary fighting in a majestic animated world.[8] Several scenes show Kyary and her problems, all in typical Kyary humour.[8][10] The doll she is holding is similar in style to characters by famous Japanese artist Takashi Murakami.

Collaborating with the staff that has been present since her debut, and strictly following schedule, the scenes for the video were shot in one day in February 2015.[11] First, in the cold metropolitan outdoors, they shot the scene where she's a celebrity wearing an outfit referencing "Legally Blonde", with a puppy plush toy and with a splash-curl (外ハネ) hairstyle.[11] The shooting then moved to the studio in Kanagawa, to the scene featuring the outfit with the main pastel colors.[11] While the color patterns are soft, with washed pink and soft yellow, the concept of "strong woman" is brought out with angular objects complexly handled.[11] Then, with animation and a black outfit, a striking new side of Kyary is expressed.[11] Then, as foreign artists are first brought into a Kyary production, a scene depicting difficulty in synchronizing hand gestures is shown.[11]

The scene in the video where she sings in a microphone shaped like a walkie-talkie is a direct reference to Sekai no Owari's music video for Dragon Night, as Kyary had been dating singer and songwriter Fukase, and she wanted to make this fact public herself.[12] Quotes from Kyary on the matter: "The point was to try and feature some personal and societal concerns in the video in a unique way." "Talking with music producer Yasutaka Nakata and video producer Jun Tamukai, I said 'Kyary has to do it that way', and many scenes barely got included" [13]

Credits for the music video:[11]。

  • production - direction - Jun Tamukai
  • stylist - Kumiko Iijima
  • hair & makeup - Minako Suzuki
  • producer - Hiroshi Takayama (TC MAX)

References
  1. "Kyary Pamyu Pamyu to Sing Theme Song for TV Drama for First Time". asobisystems. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  2. "Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's New Single Mondai Girl to be Released in March". HARAJUKU KAWAii!! STYLE. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  3. "A Restaurant with Many Problems". Fuji Television Network. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  4. "Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Talks Challenges Past Thoughts Of Retirement". 13 November 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  5. "Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Plays Dress-Up in New Nintendo 3DS Ad". Anime News Network. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  6. "Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's Upcoming Single "Mondai Girl" To Be Used For TV Drama Series". HARAJUKU KAWAii!! STYLE. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  7. "きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ「もんだいガール」PVフル尺公開". ナタリー. ナターシャ. 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2015-04-19.
  8. "きゃりー、問題シーンだらけの「もんだいガール」MV全貌公開". Musicman-NET. 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2015-04-19.
  9. "きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ、「もんだいガール」のMV全貌公開". MTV JAPAN. 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2015-04-19.
  10. "きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ、パパラッチされまくりの"もんだいガール"のMV公開". Rockin'On Japan. ロッキング・オン. 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2015-04-19.
  11. "きゃりー「もんだいガール」MV全貌公開　本人コメントも到着「私なりに攻めた作品にしてみました」". リアルサウンド. 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2015-04-19.
  12. "きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ、セカオワ意識のPVに「恋愛商法は危険」「別れたら黒歴史」の声". サイゾーウーマン. CYZO. 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2015-04-19.
  13. "【エンタがビタミン】きゃりー新作MVで「お気に入りのシーンは全裸」。やっぱり『もんだいガール』". Techinsight. メディアプロダクツジャパン. 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2015-04-19.
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