askidolmatsus archive

Let’s Go, Mutsugo!

An alert comes up on the afternoon of 6/6. A new video’s been posted, and the tweets you’ve seen say something about a big collaboration. Naturally, the curiosity overtakes you, and you decide to watch and see it for yourself.

((The song for this one– just as it is, not as a reference– is S2 ED1, Let’s Go Mutsugo! ~6-Colored Rainbow~ by ROOTS66. Both versions can be found in this blog’s audio tag.

Say hello again to @askthesamefaces​ ! She and I wrote this together, with her honestly making up the bulk of it, and it’s always a pleasure to work with her boys. Thank you, Daisy!))

The bright amber lights go up on the stage, and the sequin-jacketed Same Faces run into view, waving to the camera. They’re chattering excitedly as they get ready for the show. Osomatsu adjusts his mic stand to the perfect height. Karamatsu puts the finishing touches on polishing his beloved Juliet. Choromatsu opens the cover of his electric organ, glancing at his brothers and reminding them to do things properly this time! Ichimatsu plugs in his bass, Jyushimatsu twirls his drumsticks, and Todomatsu pulls the guitar strap over his shoulders. The Same Faces are ready to rock – but what’s this?

Someone’s singing, and it’s not anyone on stage. There’s a shift from amber to white, from saturated to pastel, and there’s another set of Matsunos crowding around the camera to gaze in gazemazement upon their counterparts. Their reactions range from “this is totally ok” to “if I’m me, and you’re me, who’s flying the plane?”

Osomatsu, who was all but ready to start singing, looks all around, still holding on to the mic. Karamatsu seems to take this heavenly mystery voice more in stride, smirking and adjusting his shades. Choromatsu turns to look behind him, but he doesn’t see anyone! Who’s there?

Ichimatsu scratches his head in confusion, but doesn’t really look up from his bass. Jyushimatsu perks up, pointing at the camera with one of his drumsticks. He’s the first to spot F6, singing to the band from the other side of the screen. Todomatsu follows, posing adorably as he gives his line and The Same Faces swing into action.

Osomatsu, now realizing they have an interdimensional audience, grabs the mic and belts out the next few lines. His grin is cheesy and sly as ever, especially when he beckons to the camera to get a little closer.

The song’s bouncy chorus kicks in, and the stage lights flicker on the sequined jackets of the Same Faces in time with the music as everyone bounces or bobs along the best they can. (It’s all Ichimatsu can do to tap his foot, bless his heart.)

F6 springs back, taking their places in their own set, amid almost comic book-like backdrop: brightly-colored screentone patterns, lightning bolts and clouds, stars and a healthy sprinkle of tiny matsu shapes. Naturally, their movement is as energetic as the set deserves, skittering into a well-practiced triangle formation with practiced ease. They weren’t helping with instrumentation, just vocals and choreography, so, damn it! They’re going to make the video look good in exchange. Both sets of sextuplets are here, and they’re making sure they match the others’ skills in their own way.

Now it’s time for a few solos! Back in the sixties, Jyushimatsu sings his line, bouncing on his drum stool, doing the best he can to keep in time when all he wants to do is jump up into the camera and wave. The millennial Matsunos’ two eldest are happy to respond in stereo, running to the front for the sake of mugging for the camera. Choromatsu is obviously a little tense behind his organ, but that’s pretty normal for him. He still bobs his head as he sings, punctuating it with a shy little grin. The middle boys from the 2010s aren’t bold enough to dash right up to the camera, but they do their best, and that’s all we could ask for. Karamatsu, on the other hand, is more than happy to greet the camera, making sure the light not only accentuates his best side, but makes Juliet shine brighter than before. The youngest two idols steal the camera’s eye for just a moment before the other Ichimatsu and Todomatsu finish up the verse – a rare pair for duets!

The next solo belongs to Karamatsu and his dear Juliet. The two of them are sparkling in rare form as Karamatsu rips through the solo, trying to hold on to the attention of the audience as long as he can before F6 takes over again. It’s a battle across dimensions, and he’s up to the challenge!

Osomatsu is glad to assert his leader status as always, the six of them lined up in a V with him at the vertex, leisurely approaching the camera, all of them lowkey trying not to marvel over what the other Karamatsu just did. (The sunglasses finally served a purpose– any behind the scenes material would show F6’s Kara absolutely losing it in the best possible way.) He’d almost take how good the others were as a challenge if it wasn’t also making them look good. He points into the camera, the other versions of them proudly jamming for just long enough for them to get back in their places. They’re lined up, seeming to unfold from behind Osomatsu like a fan, snapping back into line; then the eldest two take the center, the middle two jumping from behind them, the youngest two sliding out from behind them. Weeks of work and several takes for just just over five seconds of video. Worth it? Absolutely.

When the chorus returns, The Same Faces take over once more, identical haircuts shaking and sequins flashing. Ichimatsu seems slightly paler than usual, as he realizes that this outfit is the one he’s going to be seen in by the future audience, and he’s … suddenly a little green about the gills. But he’ll press on, there’s only a little song left. (Besides, as he’d later learn, modern audiences have seen F6’s Ichimatsu in much stranger things. This comes as both a comforting assurance, and reason for mild distress.)

The final chorus is shared between both bands. Osomatsu jumps around the stage, seeking out attention and soaking up the spotlight that he loves so much. (And since they’re on camera, Choromatsu can’t do a thing to stop him!) Jyushimatsu looks like he’s going to take off like a rocket once the song is over, the good vibes are so strong. Even though his redder, louder brother is greedily gobbling up camera time, Todomatsu manages an adorable wink when he catches its lens for a moment.

The Same Faces continue with their instruments, interlaced with bits of F6 with merch-table towels in their colors swinging overhead. They’re still neatly lined up, but with arms flung over shoulders, jumping to the rhythm, charmingly rumpled from the exertion. They’re making up for their lack of instrumentation with all the enthusiasm they have. Just as the last “Go!” rings out, they send their towels flying. The dorky, slightly unorganized posing they do just at the end proves that, man, they should not be allowed to improvise sometimes.

When the song ends, the Same Faces stand up straight, then bow deeply to the camera, and their idol counterparts do so in return. The moment of unity doesn’t last, though, as Jyushimatsu then clambers over his drums to fill the lens with his face. What he shouts is just about unintelligible. F6’s Jyuushimatsu does the same, the others following not far behind as they try to steal just a little more of the lens for themselves. They’re still clamoring as the image fades to black, with three logos instead of F6’s usual two. Nestled right above “Banderole Records” and “Flag Productions” is an adorably retro logo for The Same Faces’ parent label, Red House Records.