Since the first time a TV appearance was put online, I’ve been really into AKB’s Koisuru Fortune Cookie. (And yes, part of that is because I’m in the fan version, which still doesn’t get old to think about).

But aside from the catchy song and the various versions of people dancing to it, one thing that people don’t necessarily focus on are the lyrics.

One of the most telling lines in the song is: (Thank you Stage48)

“”A girl with a good personality would be nice” is what all the boys say
But looks are an advantage
The ones that always get first place in popularity contests are cute girls
Please! Please! Please! Oh baby!
Look at me!”

The song is focusing on a girl who isn’t attractive, but wants to be noticed as well. The song doesn’t say “Oh actually, she’s beautiful” but is from the point of view of someone who isn’t attractive.

This is a fairly common theme in songs centered by Sashihara Rino (wow, sorry Sasshi). Her first single, Sore Demo Suki Da yo features lyrics like (Again, thanks Stage48)

“Within the group,
I’m a plain type
My chest is underwhelming,
and I’m completely without pheromones
There are girls much cuter than I am”

with the song basically being about a girl wanting to be confessed to, saying “even still, I still like you.” The lyrics don’t deny her looks at all.

Sasshi’s duet with Watanabe Mayu, Avocado Janeeshi, also is on this topic (Stage48)

“Even so (even so)
I’m pretty useless
I’m not cute (I’m not confident)
and I’m losing to the other girls around
It’s annoying, ah?”

The song’s main part compares the girl to an avocado, being an avocado among other, nicer smelling/tasting fruits (though avocados make guacamole, so there’s nothing wrong with a good avocado in my opinion).

While this is a common theme with songs featuring Sashihara Rino (which I think is kind of unfair, because IMO Sasshi’s definitely pretty), it comes up in other songs. Take the AKB48 B-side, Boku Dake no Value. (S48)

“If we had a popularity election in our class
You wouldn’t rank in the top positions
You’re average at both school and sports
You’re the type that doesn’t stand out

But somehow
I always think about you
Wherever I am…”

While this is a more common theme in AKB48 than, say, Hello!Project, it’s not absent there. From the line in v-u-den’s Ajisai Ai Ai Monogatari where they sing about the person preferring better looking girls (and Okada Yui sings about large breasts, which always makes me giggle), to Nakazawa Yuko singing in Tokyo Bijin about how she’ll ‘turn into a Tokyo hag’,’ it shows up there, though less apparent and less frequently.

Compare this to some Western pop tunes, like the One Direction hit (and only One Direction song I’ve ever heard) “What Makes You Beautiful.”

“You’re insecure,
Don’t know what for,
You’re turning heads when you walk through the door,
Don’t need make-up,
To cover up,
Being the way that you are is enough,”

Basically, the girl in question isn’t ugly or plain; she’s gorgeous and turning heads without make-up. But she’s even MORE attractive because she’s insecure and doesn’t know she’s pretty.

Now, this isn’t necessarily saying that beauty isn’t at play in the JPop world more so than Hollywood. Popular idols generally tend to be good looking. However, one thing that I still think about is the whole charm point phenomenon, where it’s seen as attractive or desirable to have a flaw. Then you have girls like Sashihara Rino, who is seen by many as being a fairly plain person (though, again, I think she’s really pretty) winning out in the senbatsu election over other, arguably better looking girls.

The idol world is made up of young, cute/pretty/beautiful girls. However, what I’ve found in my fandom is a space where it’s OK to be a bit strange looking or different looking, and it’s OK to be a bit weird. For all the talk about Suzuki Kanon of Morning Musume being “fat,” at least there’s a place for a larger girl to be in an idol group. You CAN have someone like Suzuki Kanon or AD Nagisa of Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome, or even SDN48’s Nachu.

I’m not saying it’s completely easy or even if you’re unattractive, but just that it can be done with the idol world, and certain songs embrace it. Which I think is a lovely thing.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and I’ll include it in next week’s Your Thoughts post!