For those who haven't gone into the 23rd single thread, over there, I posted up some screenshots from AkiP's appearance on a show called DEEP PEOPLE. In this episode of the show, he sat down with two other hit-making music producers (HIRO from EXILE, and Kobayashi Takeshi, producer of Mr. Children) and talked about what they felt meant to be music producers.
Some highlights I felt were quite interesting in relation to AKB:
- for Everyday Kachuusha, AkiP listened to over 1000 demos related to the genre(s) that he wanted before making his choice as to how the released song should be made/arranged
- AkiP actually wants AKB to be more 'rebellious' towards him, in the sense that he wants them to think for themselves; being able to say "This schedule ain't possible!", "There's something wrong with this setlist..", etc., so after the first day of Seibu Dome concerts, his reflection talk with the girls was very strict:
"I feel that, just because we've come to Seibu Dome; that it's now a bigger playing field, you've all stopped your progress. I'm very disappointed in that. Even if, for example, in your dancing, in your songs, even your MCs, people say it's like something everyone has seen elsewhere. You girls have always said stuff like "..this huge place.." when we first started performing in concert halls, but I believe that it's perfectly fine to keep saying that. In the end, I'm the one thinking about these things in front of a desk, but you are the ones standing on stage performing in front of the fans. In other words, you are the players in this, which is why things should be thought from your point of view. Rather than as an idol group, I've believed AKB's value is from your attitude towards reaching your goals, so for tomorrow and the day after, I want you to seriously reflect on this."