Sexy Zone's The Highlight: What is Reiwa Retro? #令和レトロ

Sexy Zone is also known as SZ released their 8th Album (06.01.2022) ザ･ハイライト (The Highlight). It has been 2 years and 4 months since they release a new album. This album is special because it marks a new direction for SZ music. During the "RUN" single bonus video, at that time, SZ was about to enter its 10TH anniversary, they were discussing the topic "NEXT." Each Sexy Zone member took the liberty to express the sound that they wanted to hear from SZ. In summary, they mentioned City Pop, R&B, easy flow rap, and "mixing the new music style with Johnny's style of music and music that is easy to listen to" and played like "BGM for the daily life." With the release of their new album ザ･ハイライト the highlight, SZ music appears to be headed in that direction.

Credits to @momopechemomo for reminding us about this event.

RUN特典映像にて「NEXT」をお題に４人がこれからのSexyZoneやこれからやりたい音楽について話していて、それぞれ話した内容が本当に素晴らしかった。この話のいきついた先がザ・ハイライトなんだと思うから…そんなの最高しかないと震える。

— ザ・モモ (@momopechemomo) May 3, 2022

"Say what? Reiwa Retro 令和レトロ ?"
The concept for this album is #ReiwaRetro, a term coined by SZ Member Kento Nakajima #中島健人 during the Countdown TV interview on May 23, 2022. It means SexyZone is representing Retro in this new generation. The term combines the words  "Reiwa" + "Retro". 

#CDTVライブライブ
今夜も激アツLIVEをお届け📡
本番直前ショットで実況中だよ💋

このあと #SexyZone が登場🎊
80年代洋楽テイストのダンスナンバー🕺✨
「Forever Gold」をパフォーマンス😍
テーマは…… #令和レトロ 🫣！？#CDTV#TBS pic.twitter.com/RHdt5CEED2

— CDTV (@TBSCDTV) May 23, 2022

"Reiwa" means "beautiful harmony" (The Asahi Shimbun. May 1, 2019), denoting the current era of Japan's official calendar about the accession to the throne of Emperor Naruhito as 126th Emperor of Japan (Wikipedia 2019). "Retro" relates to reviving the style or design of the past (Merriam Webster).

 #ReiwaRetro 「#令和レトロ 」

As fans, allow us to further interpret this "royal" term "Reiwa Retro" uttered by Kento Nakajima. "Reiwa Retro" is Sexy Zone's interpretation of music and styles of the past. It is a harmony between 80s~90s music & style, and its interpretation by the new generation. For this album they collaborated with various composers well-known for their unique style of music like Nulbarich, Taiiku Okazaki, STUTS, and iri are included.

Sexy Zone Reintroducing "City Pop"

For this album, the main style that Sexy Zone is highlighting is the "City Pop" style.  Growing up hearing my aunt and uncle play this type of music on the radio (overseas), I always thought that "City Pop" was a western style of music, apparently I was mistaken. City Pop/ シティ・ポップ /shiti poppu is a style attributed to Japanese pop music that emerged in the late 70s and reached its peak of popularity in the 80s (Wikipedia). 

For this album, Sexy Zone is paying homage to "City Pop" by integrating the style into the whole concept of the album. From the music, music video, album cover, and their styling. Sexy Zone staying true to the style of "City Pop"  widens their appeal among different age groups, listeners, and viewers. As the world of music found its new appreciation for the 80s~90s style of music, Sexy Zone wants to be representative of  "Retro Reiwa" among the new generation of Asian POP artists.  

To find out more about the album visit https://topjrecords.jp/11446.

Where to buy Sexy Zone The Highlight ザ･ハイライト album?
🛒 Regular Edition  

🛒  Limited Edition A  

🛒 Limited Edition B

🛒 UMJ Japan (Local Shipping only) 


YouTube The Highlight playlist official music video. 

FOREVER GOLD Music Video (Lead Song)

👇 English translation by Twitter @mint2min  

THE FINEST Music Video (Lead Song) 

Song preview of The Highlight ザ･ハイライト

Note: If you find an error in this post please feel free to send us a message for us to review the post.