Ambulance - Yurigumi

Now over a month –almost two- later I want to introduce you to AKB48 Yurigumi’s Ambulance.
Ambulance ist he coupling song of AKB48’s 38th single KiRin Kibouteki Refrain, Type B to be exact.

For this coupling they brought back the old "Gumis" (Troops). The first ever gumi which was introduced was the Himawari-Gumi. As most of you maybe know the Hamawari-Gumi consisted of 16 member of Team A, Team K and Team B which formed the "new Team" Himawari-Gumi. This group was formed to perform a new stage, two in total, "Boku no Taiyou" and "Yume wo Shinaseru Wake ni Ikanai" which both debut was in 2007. Afterwards the "Boku no Taiyou" stage became (old) Team 4 debut stage.



The second time the gumis were used, it was for the coupling songs of AKB48's 23rd Single "Kaze wa Fuiteru" (release date: 2011.10.26 ). In this single the Baragumi and Yurigumi were first introduced to the fans. They were titled as "Undergirls Baragumi" (singing Vamos) and "Undergirls Yurigumi" (singing Gondola Lift). Meaning they were an addition to the usual Undergirls. They were never used again after this single.

However now after 3 years they were reintroduced with their new songs and an additional new gumi - the Katareagumi.
Here are their songs.

• Baragumi with "Ima, Happy"
• Yurigumi with "Ambulance"
• Katareagumi with "Utaitai"

By the way Baragumi means Rosetroop, Yurigumi means Lilytroop and Katareagumi means Cattleyatroop. Which seems to be similar with the Takarazuka troop names.

However today we will focus on Yurigumi's Ambulance.

First off, it kind of surprised me that Suuchan (Sato Sumire) got the Center position since she never had that much of appearences in the last few years (at least that's what I think). But I'm really happy for her. What didn't surprise me at all were that the remaining line-up consists mostly of the pushed new gen member like Nao (Furuhata Nao), Fuuchan (Yagura Fuuko) or Rion (Azuma Rion).

Furthermore when I first heard the Song’s title I was like „Mhhm, okay. Sounds wierd as a song title, but well this is AKB after all. I just hope the PV won't be some kind of … *cough* well…I hope you can guess what I mean.“ But hey, it can’t be worse –more revealing- than Heavy Rotation (meaning the member in underwear).

However I would categorise Ambulance as a more darker, but still catchy song. It also has a good beat which makes it a nice dance number.
Also the few lines sung in the intro, which were sung in english and obviously not by the members, sound pretty nice and also inviting ;).

Everybody, hop on!
Everybody, join the fun!
Everybody, spread the love!

Like I said inviting, since they adress everyone to have fun with them. Like I also said the song is quite catchy but also mature and sexy -therefore darker.

But now, moving on to the music video.

Okay, so we have Suuchan in a hospital gown.

Akarin! I like those masks.

Mariyagi: We can't see shit with those masks.

Suuchan trying to imitate Munch's "The Scream"

Okay looks like an old hospital or refugee camp.

Revealing. Or Fanservice

Fuuchan

Nao looking kinda creepy

Lips......

And more Fanservice. I actually like how the sirenge looks like a weapon

Suuchan: I hate this dress...

Hey, guess who the interpret is (or at least the single-interpret). Never saw this one coming

And hey, never knew what song I was listening to.

Suuchan: Bitch I'm fabulous!

Nao looks like she doesn't know what to do with her hands.

All three: "We want you to buy our single."

Mariyagi: "I just need a Photo of this range."

Akarin: "I don't care what you want!"

Getting the party started.

Saho: "Give us all your money!"

Haruna: "Don't mess with us!"

Rion: "Hello there"

Dance scene. Looks pretty cool.

Group number one. Those outfits.....

Group number two. ....really are made for fanservice purposes.

Suuchan: "So you figured that out already?"

Suuchan: "I know exactly what you are doing right at the moment!"

Staring right through your soul.

Suuchan trying -and succeeding- to be all sexy and shit.

Watch ou Nao is judging you -and trying to imitate Suuchan and failing.

Fuuko: "I don't care"

Suuchan: "Don't try that ever again...."

Mariyagi: "Sorry but you're too young to enter this club!"

Those masks are really cool.

Suuchan: "What do you want"
Natsu: "Your position of course!"

Akarin: "Why the hell became she NMB's Center?"
Fuuko: "Because I'm fresher than you."

Ayana: "I want chuuu~"
Nao: "Just shut up! That's the wrong song!"

Saho: "I'm defenitely more beautiful than you."
Mariyagi: "Maybe in your dreams!"

Hard to imagine that she once had that lolita-image.

Fuuko: "Nandeyanen"

Nao looking creepy as hell

Mariyagi trying to be all sexy...

I love this shot.

Party Hard!

Suuchan: "Just use your conditioner and shampoo like this"

And now were coming to this scene

Suuchan: "I hope Karen does not see this!"

Fuuko: "I guess that's already too late."

Reinyan: "Well that's going to be a fun quarrel"

Ayana: "I don't care at all" 

 °__°

Saho: "I could also do that." 

 °__°

Haruna is judging you

Hai... Chiizu..

O__O

Eh.... Suuchan? What're you doing?

Stop in the name of Love!

Suuchan, Sthap! Kare will find out.....

Suuchan: "Nope. Not gonna stop."

Okay..... ._.
Not that I've warned you...

No not you two, too

Fuuko: "This gown is way too big for me."

Natsu looking totally not impressed.

And again those lips

So. Close.

Being creepy again!

.......

All the girls. And again they tell us the song's name.

Curfew!

I like how they used this Lily Symbol to show that the artist is the Yurigumi

So that was the PV of Yurigumi's Ambulance.

*** Attention Personal Opinion ***

This is going to be a bit short, sorry.

So just like I said at the beginning I really like the song since it's really catchy and has a cool and mature tune.

However it's been a long time since AKB was this risky. I mean for one those outfits, and second that kiss scene between Rion and Suuchan. But hey they both belong to
SGayE,eh  I mean SKE. Furthermore the whole music video is hospital themed -who would have thought- and although I normally don't like those nurse themed videos, I have to say that this was quite good. I also like of they -kind of- gave the member two personalities: the nurse and the patient. And like I wrote I really think that this room with the beds looks like a refugee center. Or like one of those old asylums. This setting would also explain why they have two personalities.

So see you next time.