2nd W
Encyclopedia
2nd W is the second album by the Hello! Project
duo, W, and the first to be recorded (except for one song) and released after its members, Ai Kago
and Nozomi Tsuji
, "graduated
" from Morning Musume
in August 2004.
Unlike their first album Duo U&U
, which was all cover material, 2nd W contains a mix of both originals (composed by mentor and Hello! Project founder Tsunku
) and covers of classic Shōwa period
female pop duo songs. Three of the songs, the Tsunku originals "Ai Ii na!" and "Robo Kiss", and a cover of The Peanuts
's "Koi No Fuga", were released as singles in the months prior to the album; the latter selection was also the single released in advance of the album.
Many of the songs on the album, both originals and covers, center around the topic of becoming, or about to no longer be, the age of seventeen. At the time of the album's release, Ai Kago had turned 17 a month prior, while Nozomi Tsuji would turn 18 that June.
Another track, "Da-bu-ru-yuu Joshi Koutou Gakkou Kouka", is the mock-theme song for the fictional "Dabaruyuu Girls Senior School" (The nonsense word
"Dabaruyuu" being a corruption of the duo's name) and ties in with the album cover concept depicting Kago and Tsuji at a school ceremony.
The duo would release one more single while retaining their earlier cute image, "Ai no Imi wo Oshiete!". Their following single, "Miss Love Tantei
", would see the pair utilizing a more mature look and sound.
Hello! Project
is the umbrella name for all female idol Japanese pop recording artists collective that are under contract with the Up-Front Group. The "mothership" group of Hello! Project is the super-group Morning Musume. Hello! Project's current leader is Risa Niigaki, the leader of Morning Musume...
duo, W, and the first to be recorded (except for one song) and released after its members, Ai Kago
Ai Kago
is a Japanese singer, actress, author and former Guinness World Record holder.At age 12, Kago won the 4th National Audition of Morning Musume held by Up-Front Works Agency in 2000, which led to her admission into the extremely popular idol group as a 4th generation member. In the same year, she...
and Nozomi Tsuji
Nozomi Tsuji
, known professionally by her birth name of is a Japanese tarento and a former member of the pop idol group Morning Musume, its subgroup Mini Moni, and the duo W. She has participated in the shuffle groups 10-nin Matsuri, Odoru 11, and 11Water, H.P...
, "graduated
Sotsugyou
is a Japanese word meaning graduation. It may refer to:* Any type of school graduation.* The "graduation" of a member of Hello! Project.* A 2004 single by J-pop quartet ZONE. It appears on their third studio album N....
" from Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
in August 2004.
Unlike their first album Duo U&U
Duo U&U
is the first album by W, the duo formed by Morning Musume and Minimoni members and longtime friends Ai Kago and Nozomi Tsuji. Recorded while they were winding down their duties as Morning Musume and Minimoni members, the album consists of cover versions of songs released by other female Japanese...
, which was all cover material, 2nd W contains a mix of both originals (composed by mentor and Hello! Project founder Tsunku
Tsunku
, better known professionally as , is a prolific Japanese record producer, songwriter, and vocalist.He is best known for having two major roles in the Japanese music landscape: first as the lead singer of the popular rock group Sharam Q, and now as the producer, primary composer, lyricist and main...
) and covers of classic Shōwa period
Showa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
female pop duo songs. Three of the songs, the Tsunku originals "Ai Ii na!" and "Robo Kiss", and a cover of The Peanuts
The Peanuts
is a Japanese vocal group consisting of twin sisters Emi Itō and Yumi Itō . They were born in Tokoname, Aichi, on April 1, 1941; soon after their birth, the family moved to Nagoya....
's "Koi No Fuga", were released as singles in the months prior to the album; the latter selection was also the single released in advance of the album.
Many of the songs on the album, both originals and covers, center around the topic of becoming, or about to no longer be, the age of seventeen. At the time of the album's release, Ai Kago had turned 17 a month prior, while Nozomi Tsuji would turn 18 that June.
Another track, "Da-bu-ru-yuu Joshi Koutou Gakkou Kouka", is the mock-theme song for the fictional "Dabaruyuu Girls Senior School" (The nonsense word
Nonsense word
A nonsense word, unlike a sememe, may have no definition. If it can be pronounced according to a language's phonotactics, it is a logatome. Nonsense words are used in literature for poetic or humorous effect. Proper names of real or fictional entities are sometimes nonsense words.-See...
"Dabaruyuu" being a corruption of the duo's name) and ties in with the album cover concept depicting Kago and Tsuji at a school ceremony.
The duo would release one more single while retaining their earlier cute image, "Ai no Imi wo Oshiete!". Their following single, "Miss Love Tantei
Miss Love Tantei
is the 6th and the last single of the Hello! Project duo, W, released on September 7, 2005. The visuals of the music video caused some controversy for use of the ganguro look...
", would see the pair utilizing a more mature look and sound.
Track listing
- – 1:11
- – 4:05
- – 3:35
- – 3:48
- – 3:49
- – 5:21
- – 3:03
- 18 ~My Happy Birthday Comes!~ – 4:17
- – 2:19 (The PeanutsThe Peanutsis a Japanese vocal group consisting of twin sisters Emi Itō and Yumi Itō . They were born in Tokoname, Aichi, on April 1, 1941; soon after their birth, the family moved to Nagoya....
) - INTERLUDE – 0:24
- – 3:10 (Junko SakuradaJunko Sakuradais a Japanese singer and actress. She was part of a music trio in 1973, which included Momoe Yamaguchi and Masako Mori. Sakurada then became successful in a solo music career. In 1979 Sakurada appeared in a film made by the production company Toho, and became popular as an actress...
) - – 3:28
- – 4:18
Musical Personnel
- Ai KagoAi Kagois a Japanese singer, actress, author and former Guinness World Record holder.At age 12, Kago won the 4th National Audition of Morning Musume held by Up-Front Works Agency in 2000, which led to her admission into the extremely popular idol group as a 4th generation member. In the same year, she...
– vocals (lead, harmony and background) - Nozomi TsujiNozomi Tsuji, known professionally by her birth name of is a Japanese tarento and a former member of the pop idol group Morning Musume, its subgroup Mini Moni, and the duo W. She has participated in the shuffle groups 10-nin Matsuri, Odoru 11, and 11Water, H.P...
– vocals (lead, harmony and background) - TsunkuTsunku, better known professionally as , is a prolific Japanese record producer, songwriter, and vocalist.He is best known for having two major roles in the Japanese music landscape: first as the lead singer of the popular rock group Sharam Q, and now as the producer, primary composer, lyricist and main...
– additional backing vocals (Tracks 1, 5) - Nao Tanaka – Keyboards, drum machine, MIDI programming (Track 1), string arrangement (Track 3)
- Shoichiro Hirata – Keyboards, drum machine, MIDI programming (Tracks 2, 11)
- Manao Doi – guitar (Track 2)
- Hiroaki Takeuchi – backing vocals (Track 2)
- Yohey Tuskasaki – scratchingScratchingScratching is a DJ or turntablist technique used to produce distinctive sounds by moving a vinyl record back and forth on a turntable while optionally manipulating the crossfader on a DJ mixer. While scratching is most commonly associated with hip hop music, since the late 1980s, it has been used...
(Tracks 2, 9) - Yuichi TakahashiYuichi Takahashiis a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category T11 long distance events.Yuichi took part in the 5000m, 10000m and marathon in the 2004 Summer Paralympics winning the T11 marathon. In the 2008 Summer Paralympics he attempted to defend this title but only managed to finish...
– guitar, keyboards, drum machine, MIDI programming (Tracks 3, 4, 7) - Sting Miyamoto – bass (Tracks 4, 13)
- Atsuko InabaAtsuko Inabais a J-pop singer formerly within Hello! Project. She began her career as a Japanese idol with female group Osaka Performance Doll from 1993 to 1996, then joined new Hello! Project group Taiyo to Ciscomoon in 1999, until its end in late 2000...
– additional backing vocals (Tracks 4, 8) - Hideyuki "Daichi" Suzuki – guitar, keyboards, drum machine, MIDI programming (Track 5)
- Ume – guitar (Track 5)
- Akira – keyboards, drum machine, MIDI programming, additional backing vocals (Track 6)
- Tokyo Philharmonic Chorus – male chorus (Track 7)
- Yoshiaki Nakamura – narration (Track 7)
- Miki Tominaga – narration (Track 7)
- Shunsuke Suzuki – guitar, keyboards, drum machine, MIDI programming (Tracks 8, 12)
- Hideyuki Komatsu – bass (Track 8)
- Hiroshi Iida – percussion (Track 8)
- Yoshinari Takegami – saxophone (Track 8)
- Masanori Suzuki – trumpet (Track 8)
- Wakaba Kawai – trombone (Track 8)
- Koji Makaino – keyboards, drum machine, MIDI programming (Track 9)
- Hideki Oguro – tympani (Track 9)
- Yasuhiko Tachibana – upright bass (Track 12)
- Keiichiro Uemura – drums (Track 12)
- Yoshihiko Katori – vibraphone (Track 12)
- Makoto Hirahara – additional backing vocals (Track 12)
- Cher Watanabe – keyboards, drum machine, MIDI programming (Track 13)
- Yasuo Asai – guitars (Track 13)
- Armin "Takeshi" Linzbichler – drums (Track 13)