Misplaced Pages

"Rōdō Sanka"
Cover for the Regular Edition
Single by Momoiro Clover Z
from the album 5th Dimension
B-side	Santa-san Bionic Cherry
Released	November 23, 2011 (2011-11-23) (Japan)
Genre	J-pop
Label	Starchild
Songwriter(s)	I PArton, K Otsuki
Momoiro Clover Z singles chronology
"D' no Junjō" (2011) "Rōdō Sanka" (2011) "Mōretsu Uchū Kōkyōkyoku Dai 7 Gakushō 'Mugen no Ai'" (2012)
Music videos
Rōdō Sanka on YouTube
Santa-san on YouTube

"Rōdō Sanka" (労働讃歌, "Hymn to Labor") is the 6th single by the Japanese female idol group Momoiro Clover Z, released in Japan on November 23, 2011.

Release

The single was released in three versions: the Limited Editions A and B and the Regular Edition. The limited editions came with a DVD featuring a music video, but contained only two different songs on the CD in comparison to three on the regular CD-only edition.

Songs and music videos

Title track

The title track praises the nobility of labor. The lyrics repeat "Hatarakō, hatarakō" (働こう, "Let's work!"). The lyrics were written by Kenji Otsuki, the music and arrangement were by Ian Parton from the UK band The Go! Team.

The music video for the song features the five group members working in an office in so-called "energy-saving suits" (省エネスーツ) and on a construction site in workwear. The "energy-saving suits" are half-sleeve tropical salaryman suits, worn with short-sleeved open-necked shirts. This kind of suit was heavily promoted by the Japanese government in the 1970s as a means to save energy on air conditioning at the time of the oil crisis.

B-sides

The B-side "Santa-san" was produced by Kenichi Maeyamada, who had written for Momoiro Clover such trademark songs as "Ikuze! Kaitō Shōjo", "Coco Natsu", and "Z Densetsu: Owarinaki Kakumei".

The Regular Edition also features a third song titled "Bionic Cherry", which was a theme song for the movie Salvage Mice.

Promotion

The promotional campaign for the single included a competition titled "Momoclo Painting Contest". The group announced that it needed a different promotional poster for each of 47 prefectures and invited people to submit their works.

The title track "Rodo Sanka" was premiered live on the rooftop of the From Chūbū building in Tachikawa, western Tokyo. The group wore "energy-saving suits". The concert was held on November 3 and included a total of 13 songs plus 3 for an encore.

Reception

The CD single debuted in the 4th place of the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart. The limited edition B was the highest selling of the three in that first week of sales. In 2012, fans voted "Santa-san" to number one on the Momoiro Clover Z Request Countdown, aired on Space Shower TV on August 31, 2012.

Track listing

Limited Editions A, B

Regular Edition

Chart performance

References

1. ^ "ナタリー - ももいろクローバーZ (1-4)" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2011-11-22. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
2. "ももクロ「労働讃歌」ジャケ解禁、Xmas仕様の新衣装も" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2011-10-26. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
3. "DISCOGRAPHY 週末ヒロイン ももいろクローバーZ オフィシャルサイト". Momoiro Clover Z official site. Stardust Promotion.
4. ^ "ももクロ「労働讃歌」でオーケン＆GO! TEAMと異色コラボ" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2011-10-30. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
5. ももクロ 受験生応援のためライブ当日に『労働讃歌』歌詞変更 (in Japanese). Gadget Tsūshin. 2012-09-01. Archived from the original on 2012-09-03. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
6. "「いま、会える記者」ももクロ、大槻ケンヂを直撃取材だZ" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2011-11-22. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
7. "Is a Salaryman Without a Suit Like Sushi Without the Rice?". New York Times. 2005-05-20. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
8. "ももクロZ、新曲"労働讃歌"で大槻ケンヂ&THE GO! TEAMイアンとコラボ". Tower Records Online (in Japanese). 2011-10-31. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
9. "ももクロ新曲「BIONIC CHERRY」で正義の怪盗を応援だZ". Natalie. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
10. "ももいろクローバーZ 新曲のタイトルは「労働讃歌」！ 省エネスーツで労働力をアピール" (in Japanese). Livedoor News. 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
11. ^ "ももクロ"国立川"で盛りだくさんのダブルイベントだZ". Natalie. 2011-11-04. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
12. ^ "CDシングル 週間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング / 2011年11月21日～2011年11月27日のCDシングル週間ランキング（2011年12月05日付）". Oricon. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
13. "2011年11月21日～2011年11月27日 調査分 週間シングルランキングTOP20". SoundScan Japan. Retrieved 2012-10-13.
14. "途中経過1位は「サンタさん」スペシャももクロPV人気投票". Natalie. 2012-08-14. Retrieved 2013-04-17.
15. "途中経過1位は「サンタさん」スペシャももクロPV人気投票".
16. "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 2012-12-28.

External links

• CD single details on the official site

• 2011 singles
• Momoiro Clover Z songs
• King Records (Japan) singles
• Songs in Japanese
• 2011 songs