This put up is simply barely overdue, contemplating I slightly over a month late with reporting on the most recent developments of SG5 – or as of April twenty sixth 2024, F5VE (pronounced fi • vee). Barely previous to this date, some sharp eyed followers seen that SG5 was archiving and or deleting posts on Instagram, after which shock! A re-brand!
Within the second, which for me was in the course of my commute, this was an enormous shock. As WordPress’s #1 resident F5VE professional and full-time skilled Hello-5 (F5VE’s official fandom title) – this was completely insane! Based mostly on the graphic we have been lastly getting the a lot anticipated launch of fan favourite observe “Lettuce” quickly! The brand new idea stored the weather of house, desires and woman energy, simply with out the Sailor Moon branding. To not point out it was all so cute!
Nonetheless, on the life like aspect this rebrand isn’t totally out of the blue. SG5 dropping “Firetruck” again in March 2023, after which having extremely restricted promotions afterwards was not ultimate. They did have a couple of occasions together with “An Night with SG5” in LA on April nineteenth 2023, and I imagine a visitor look at a Tokyo membership in December* however that was about it. There was the discharge of the UMRU remix of firetruck as properly. An inconsistent launch of brief kind content material adopted as properly, however their social media posts on twitter fizzled out round mid-June of 2023. Related circumstances relating to their Instagram.
Once more, whereas disappointing for followers of SG5 particularly, this was not sudden. Members Miyuu, Kaede, Sayaka and Ruri have been busy wrapping up actions with their former group Happiness, together with Japanese fan conferences and ultimate live performance. Rui, who can also be concurrently a member of the group iScream, was busy with the promotional cycle for iScream. Along with actions held collectively with Girls². All these actions notably going down after SG5’s radio silence, and lengthening into mid-fall.
As to why SG5 rebranded to F5VE – there’s solely hypothesis. Whereas I do have my private pet theories, however I cannot be discussing these right here. There’s been sufficient hypothesis already, and I don’t need to contribute to any misinformation or unfounded rumors. F5VE’s social media, has kind of answered with the road “sizzling women don’t clarify themselves” (their reply to the remark below “We’d like to know the explanation tho”) or just replying the 5 emoji. For sure, there’ll almost certainly not be any official public statements from F5VE or administration relating to this.
I’ll miss SG5. They have been gone too quickly besties! I’m extremely excited to give attention to what F5VE brings to the desk. If you’re interested in my ideas on SG5, please try my weblog “The Legend Continues! – Ideas on SG5’s debut single “Firetruck”“.
In any other case, from that April twenty sixth 2024 sudden rebrand, Hello-5’s didn’t have to attend lengthy for music. Their debut single “Lettuce” dropped on Might third, 2024. With out additional ado, let’s check out what I assumed!
For transparency sake, I’m going to cram all of the SG5 verses F5VE comparisons into this starting paragraph. Based mostly on the older performances the road distribution was stored about the identical, which I’ll speak extra about later. They did change the combo from pre-debut to this observe, and I feel for the higher. It did heat my coronary heart they stored the Japanese intro with “SG5 FM” even after rebranding. It’s candy for Hello-5’s. Though the crucial a part of me is aware of they extra possible stored it in as a result of they didn’t need delay the discharge additional by chopping it and re-recording. “Lettuce” shouldn’t be solely catchier than “Firetruck” however quite a bit simpler on the ear as properly. You wouldn’t imagine how typically I mutter ‘you eat a lotta lettuce, however you’re poisonous’ below my breath when cooking any type of veggie because it’s launch.
Instrumentally, I acknowledge that bloodpop’s type within the beats. It maintains the extra intergalactic parts with the metallic feeling, however considerably extra refined this time. I feel the keyboard traces added much more to the female however otherworldly route F5VE’s going for. I might need some blended emotions on the opening and shutting sound edits. An area ship zooming, the xylophone run, and the cartoony winding as much as run impact are all a bit a lot on the ear. Nonetheless, it does give “Lettuce” an all vital branding. You possibly can’t mistake this observe for anything.
Lyrically, I’ll admit “Lettuce” kinda stumped me a bit. It’s catchy, principally in English, and straightforward to bop alongside too with none deep ideas to it. Nonetheless my first few listens, with out shut captioning or lyrics to reference (I used the official visualizer video as a reference now) I used to be slightly misplaced. It got here off as fairly nonsensical, if not a contact goofy. I wasn’t actually positive how “Lettuce” tied into the opposite traces of the tune…
Contemplating that’s what F5VE’s social media is saying the observe is about… I’ll take it? I’m nonetheless not a 100% bought, as F5VE’s X account would go on to agree with different interpretations posted by Hello-5’s. Not each tune must have the deepest meanings or commerce marked references put into it. So far as I can inform, the Japanese and English connects properly grammatically which is one other bonus. For me at the least, “Lettuce” is a bop that’s enjoyable to sing alongside too.
Nonetheless even was WordPress’s most vocal Hello-5, we’re working into a couple of points that we had within the earlier period. The vast majority of the tune continues to be sung by Rui, there’s no denying it. As a little bit of reduction the echo’d and repeated components “Like Me”, and “Uh-oh” are collectively sung by the opposite members. As soon as we cross across the 1:15 mark, these verses are cut up line by line by the remainder of the members. The order being Ruri, Miyuu, Sayaka, after which Kaede, with the ultimate refrain that begins with “you eat a lotta lettuce” being handed again to Rui.
That could be a marked enchancment from their earlier launch. It’s nonetheless not fairly balanced, as once more I’m begging F5VE’s workers to please make the most of Ruri extra at the least, but it surely’s progress. I’ve a couple of gripes with pronunciation although. I can inform what accents they’re having F5VE sing in. Sadly even with vocal teaching, it may be obscure what every member is singing with out trying on the lyrics. I’m not marking this as a complete fault, as I’ve cause to imagine this recording is a 12 months (or extra) outdated at this level. I don’t doubt that their pronunciation has improved since then and can proceed to take action.
As for the music video itself, because the tremendous Hello-5 I’m: I can inform that they’d the kitchen components of the music video filmed at the least a 12 months in the past based mostly on the member’s hair shade + size, make-up kinds, and the refined SG5-esque energy references, tucked in on the finish. This was not directly confirmed by F5VE social media with the discharge of this explicit reel. That’s not a jab at F5VE in any respect both. I’m glad they stored it and re-worked the supplies they’d. It provides loads of distinction that highlights the modifications between then and now.
I can inform from the pre-debut movies, to the official launch that the choreography was stored principally the identical. There are a couple of modifications in formations or timing variations, all of those being so slight that solely people with dance backgrounds would decide up it. Altering issues like that can also be frequent follow usually. F5VE’s strikes are sharper, and extra assured than earlier than. To not point out it appears to be like like loads of enjoyable to carry out as fellow Hello-5’s have posted some nice covers already.
The video itself, is a bit more whimsical than I anticipated. The kitchen scenes are actually sharp, a mixture of inexperienced display and actual areas. I just like the black and white outfits since F5VE completely serve in these. The dream land of lettuce canines and extra was completely beautiful. The fantasy, the drama, and their outfits have been completely beautiful. I might in all probability cross out if I ever noticed any of the members in these outfits in particular person.
My ultimate ideas are slightly difficult. I’m undoubtedly 150% biased to F5VE and completely need them to succeed. I would be the most annoying Hello-5, with out crossing the road into something bizarre or unsettling, as attainable. “Lettuce” shouldn’t be an prompt basic for me, it took a bit for me to heat as much as it. It has some points that have been seen of their earlier period, that I can solely hope will reduce with extra releases.
I’m sincerely begging F5VE’s administration once more to fairly please with lettuce on high, make the most of Ruri’s vocals extra. And to extremely contemplate biting the bullet and re-record any tracks from SG5 period – particularly eyeing “Too A lot” because it appears more likely to be their subsequent launch.
All that mentioned, I’ll maintain you guys updated on something and every thing associated to F5VE. Make sure to maintain your eyes peeled for these updates. Test the hyperlinks beneath to comply with something and every thing F5VE associated! In any other case, I’ll see you subsequent put up!
Official Hyperlinks to remain updated on all issues F5VE
Web site / Youtube / X (previously Twitter) / Instagram / Fb / Spotify / F5VE’s Official Linktree for much more streaming choices!
Official Profiles
LDH Leisure / Three Six Zero / Satellite tv for pc 414 / FAKE STAR USA
F5VE Particular person Member’s Accounts
Sayaka: Instagram
Ruri: Instagram
Miyuu: Instagram
Rui: Instagram
*Relating to the December membership look: I recall a put up made about this on their official accounts. Nonetheless I imagine it’s been misplaced or archived presently. If I can discover it I’ll after all hyperlink it.
