GALAXY BOY was the main promotional track for Aira Mitsuki’s debut album, C.O.P.Y., and also acted as the opening track for the same album.
And WHAT a track! The song is easily one of Aira’s best songs in her discography, opening on a quieter note, before bringing in the thumping, ethereal, space-element synth. Despite having the kind of chorus that could bore you quickly, the way the package is presented keeps the song interesting through these verses, through the anticipating bridge and into the chorus, which shows off just how catchy this song actually is. It’s easily the part that’s going to get you hooked to the song. Why this wasn’t its own single, I’ll never know.
It had one hell of a PV to go with it, too. It follows the same space theme, with Aira driving through space at the beginning of the video, and getting into a laser fight with three separate copies of herself. There’s a lot of psychadelic rainbows here to top it off, too, shooting past and around Aira throughout the video.
In fact, in almost every shot of the video, you can see the glory of space itself, with Earth (or some other planet) being the most obvious landmark in the sky in the background. The video throws the sci-fi space theme at you whenever it can, but at least it fits with the theme of the song. This is how Tek videos really should be.
The real clincher here, though, has to be 2D Aira. Throughout the whole video, Aira is shown from a 2D perspective, with the chorus even having this paper-thin Aira dancing around in the most awkward manner I’ve ever really seen. It’s actually rather hilarious, and for people like me, nostalgic.
How is it nostalgic? Three words: Parappa the Rapper. That old PS1 game that had paper thin characters trying to dance around without the proper dimensions for it. It was over a good decade ago, but this was the first thing the chorus dance reminded me of. And that’s a good thing, because that game was AWESOME for its time. ( Don’t tease me, it’s true. ;~; )
HOWEVER! There’s something I should point out to you all…
AIRA’S PV IS A COPY OF THE SONG TECHNOPOLIS’ MUSIC VIDEO~ As sung by Yellow Magic Orchestra.
A COPY! A COPY!
AND IT’S PROMOTING AN ALBUM NAMED C.O.P.Y.!!!
Coincidence? I THINK NOT!
Just take that however you will, I think she pulled it off pretty well.
Video Score
A+
Total Score
A+
Do you see why I reviewed this PV first? Yes, this is definitely what I would consider Tek perfection. It’s the only song in the genre that hasn’t worn thin for me, even after listening to it millions of times. Every Nakata act has this happen to them eventually, but Aira’s still clear. Nakata needs to step back and take a look at this, because this is pretty much what Tek should be. It makes Perfume look like regular J-Pop in comparison, when you take the arrangements into account.


















18 comments
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November 19, 2008 at 7:40 am
blackmager
I agree so much.
<3
This part of the reason why I think Aira does it even better than Perfume or Ami.
I agree that she is how a Tek artist really is expected to be (for me at least).
You know, futuristic, amusing.
Although of course I still like Perfumes image and style.
Since I have never seen such as thing as three girl Tek group.
I have yet to see an all male group though.
And that’s where I come in~
November 19, 2008 at 7:43 am
Selryam
^ Screw male groups, even a solo male vocalist Tek unit would be brilliant. I want some male-vocaled Tek. >>
If he’s hot, then it’s just a plus.
November 19, 2008 at 7:47 am
blackmager
I do remember seeing that Clazzi whatsit group that had a guy in it.
Although I’m pretty sure that they’re so unknown it’d be hard to get their music.
Except maybe youtube.
November 19, 2008 at 7:49 am
Selryam
Clazziquai? I totally reviewed them in that BEAUTIFUL TECHNO review. <3
But I think they’re Korean… And they have female vocals, too.
I just want Nakata or Terukado to produce a MALE Tek artist. Hell, I want Nakata to at LEAST do some vocals for capsule. With a deep voice like his, I’d be amazed to see how it turned out.
November 19, 2008 at 7:52 am
blackmager
XD
That’d be quite the listen.
Ah one day one day.
For now, we’ll just have to be stuck with female tek artists that occasionally use creepy vocoders like Aira during Swallow Tail.
November 19, 2008 at 7:54 am
solarblade
lol I’m pretty sure we really need one of those male J-tekkers. I do love the nod to YMO though, I thought that went pretty under the radar for most people, since no one was living then XD. Now GALAXY BOY is definitly one of those songs that’ll define J-tek whether or not it was popular.
So far every Aira PV had some interesting style to it. CTSNO.9 was stop motion, China was all so random and had a dude in a panda suit. GB was YMO-fanboyisms, and RH was well…I have no idea…it was looking pretty naturistic perhaps? and there was the mini-Aira XD
November 19, 2008 at 7:55 am
Selryam
That or capsule’s male stock vocals that they use sometimes.
The only song I can remember with ONLY male vocals is Phantom, though, and that’s on More! More! More!
November 19, 2008 at 7:56 am
Selryam
@Solarblade: ROBOT HONEY used animation. That’s what makes it stand out so much.
Both cartoon animation AND 3D animation with the little miniature robot Aira.
November 19, 2008 at 7:57 am
solarblade
and Aira doing the robot…XD
November 19, 2008 at 7:59 am
blackmager
The only thing I didnt’ like about the RH video was how…sick she looked.
I blame it on makeup and the white background.
I wanted her to just slap on some sunglasses like how Capsules doing ight now.
Although yeah, I like how Aira has some interesting artsy PVs that look “low budget”.
XD
November 19, 2008 at 8:01 am
Selryam
capsule didn’t do it first, lul.
Well, they did, but Aira’s been rocking them since Discotica.
They suited her well… We can only hope the next single sees a revival of the trend. /sigh
November 19, 2008 at 8:05 am
solarblade
make them return! I hope the next single is a little more aggressive like GB aggressive
November 19, 2008 at 8:10 am
Selryam
I thought of a great way to summarise this.
GALAXY BOY is to Aira as Sugarless GiRL is to capsule. <3
November 19, 2008 at 8:14 am
solarblade
ill agree to that bb. and how Polyrhythm is to Perfume right?
November 19, 2008 at 8:15 am
Selryam
And as PRECIOUS is to MEG. <3
November 19, 2008 at 8:15 am
Selryam
And by not acknowleding your Polyrhythm comment, I was agreeing.
Not ignoring it. <3
November 19, 2008 at 8:16 am
solarblade
lol, wait, and how nipplez are to lesbianism
November 19, 2008 at 8:19 am
Selryam
…Sure, let’s go with that.