Greetings from President (Leader) YOU-TA. 5
CD Recession – do you know this word?
In Japan, the number of CD sales has peaked in 1998, and since then, sales have been decreasing. The spread of the internet, mobile phones, and flat-rate (audio) streaming services have diversified the consumers’ trends, and thus, CDs were not being sold well.
Simultaneously, sales from the music industry as a whole are said to have declined.
However, honesty is not relevant, because good music never dies.
I think that there is always a song that cannot be forgotten in everyone’s memories and a song to listen to when there is time.
Music is always accompanied by one person’s life.
As the leader of MADKID and one human being, only the unity of the five of us together that a MADKID LIVE is completed. Each LIVE is a once in a lifetime event where you can go from sorrow to joy, defined only in each of those specific moments. There is no guarantee that the one who came to yesterday’s LIVE will come to today’s LIVE. That moment is the first and the last. That is why everything is now visible.
There are still many people around the world who are unfamiliar with MADKID. We will continue to perform the stage seriously from this point on. We have no intention to say “If you don’t mind, please come and see us” with an easy feeling. However, when you do come and see us, we are confident that you will feel “something.” Therefore, please come, feel that “something” within your own skin.
We will change the music industry in Japan.
With our body and soul, we will continue to tread forward with all AXCELS to support MADKID.
The catchphrase is PLAY WITH ME. 6
3rd Single “RISE” Release Campaign: MADKI党の４つの公約
In every single MADKID releases, there’s always a themed campaign series to promote the upcoming single. For their new single RISE is MADKI党. In the Japanese language, how this word is read is a pun to make it sound like MADKID. 1 The kanji character 党 (tou) means (political) party, faction, clique, association, etc. Because the theme does resemble something of a political campaign aiming for world domination, 2 I decided to translate the campaign name to The 4 Vows of the MADKID FACTION.
Starting this weekend, December 1st, (President) YOU-TA will return from his hiatus. With him back in action, the MADKID FACTION release events begin. The lucky Axcels in Japan who will be attending their release event on that day will get to hear one of the two B-side 3 singles, Puzzle. As for as global Axcels, we may not get to hear at least a sample of the track unless if we’re able to watch the first episode of The Rising of the Shield Hero anime to be aired on January 2019 or wait until February 6, the official release date.
The 4 Vows of the MADKID FACTION
Along with the release events, there are some little perks that the faction 4 calls The 4 Vows of the MADKID FACTION.
Here they are below:
Posters and flyers and ads, oh my!
In 100 locations throughout Japan, the faction has plans to post a lot of posters, flyers, and other ads throughout every street corner, every small business, every train station, and every block, promoting the 3rd single RISE, as well as promoting the faction.
The faction’s epidemic begins right here.
The faction’s first one-man live as a mainstream dance and vocal group held back in April 2018… did you get to go and watch? Did you miss it? Did you want to go but unable too? Or are you a brand-new Axcel who has never seen a single live performance and want to see a lot?
No worries, the faction got your back.
If you purchase the Type A version of the RISE CD, you will get to see the entire footage of the 4th One-Man live and the introduction of their second major single release, Summer Time, included in TYPE A’s DVD with the RISE music video and its behind-the-screen footage.
Yes, indeed!
The faction vows for world domination by winning more hearts with plenty of smiles! 😊
Okay, maybe that only works with Shin and that infectious smile of his… ❤
But, in all seriousness, the faction has been known to ooze the cool and swag vibe, almost to the point that they become more intimidating than welcoming because of their lack of smiles.
When you do have a chance to attend one of their release dates, rest assured that you will be welcomed with a whole lot more smiles. Why? Because we all know that even with a simple smile, all smiles matter.
That is a faction vow.
Want to surprise that one special someone, but don’t know how you’d be able to do that?
The faction can assist you in preparing the best surprise moment for you and that special someone. That can be a birthday surprise, a surprise celebration of one’s success such as graduation or a job promotion, or even a special proposal for marriage.
Is the faction capable to turn the moments sweeter from a surprise? Have you heard of the words of Never judge the book by its cover? The same applies here. The utmost badassery spawning from their well-known tracks is not afraid to shed their coolness and show their sweet tenderness to make your moments a lot sweeter.
The faction altogether has the words written on them: street but sweet.
But how can you reach for their assistance? Join the faction and declare yourself an AXCEL, of course!
March with the FACTION! Join and become an AXCEL!
Stay tuned for more news and surprises during the faction’s long release campaign. New Axcels, current Axcels, and those wanting to become Axcels, in one of these days, will be called upon by the faction to provide assistance to their cause. Are you up to it?
Now, spread the word out, have them register to join the faction, and become an AXCEL!
Some sidenotes...
- “maddo-ki-tou”
- My first impression at first was a joke, but it turns out that this is the case, low-key…
- In Japan, the accompanying singles are called “couplings.”
- Just for this campaign post alone, I’ll refer MADKID as “the faction.”
- Original text of this speech here. Special thanks to Karu-chan of Letters @ AXCEL STYLE for some translations help. Please keep in mind that the English translation has been polished to make it more sense are are not the “exact” translations as the original Japanese. However, the meanings and intent are similar.
- “合言葉は「PLAY WITH ME.」” (ai kotoba wa PLAY WITH ME) is the official slogan of MADKID. You will always hear YOU-TA and the rest of MADKID say this as their welcome greetings and their goodbye greetings. The word 言葉 (kotoba) literally means “word,” but it’s also used on phrases, slogans, and mottos. I decided to use catchphrase for 言葉 instead.
