Gakumas: Sunfaded, a Subculture Kaleidoscope

A new song for Hiro Shinosawa from Gakuen Idolmaster.
Hearing that Hakushi Hasegawa was providing the music, I was looking forward to it, thinking it might be something like 'Kokei'.
The MV was uploaded to the official YouTube channel, so I went to listen to it.

Distorted drum sounds, chorus-effected guitars, a thick bassline.
It sounds nothing like 'Kokei'; it's alternative? Shoegaze? Or just that kind of so-called subculture rock.
I felt nostalgic in an instant.

This is a song that only I like.

It's a song that only I listened to in class.

It's a song from back when I knew tons of bands that nobody else knew.

It's a song I listened to while riding my bike with a guitar on my back.

It's a song that, when asked 'What are you listening to?', I answered honestly and made the other person feel awkward.

It's a song I listened to because I wanted to act older, without even knowing what I liked.

It's a song that made me realize my lack of talent when I tried to make something like it but couldn't give it shape.

It's a song that cool older people were playing at a live house once upon a time.

Now that we're in the Reiwa era and rock trends have completely died down, the fact that Hiro Shinosawa—an idol—has the potential to sing this kind of song, which wasn't even a trend to begin with, make it work, and have it be heard by modern people, is incredible. Hakushi Hasegawa has that potential too.
Surely the next Hiro Shinosawa song won't be a retread of Sunfaded.
Just as 'Kokei', 'Contrast', and 'Mekurume' were all different.

That is precisely why I thank you for this kaleidoscope, Sunfaded.
I was able to meet my past self again.

Livya Kawahagi
X: @LivyaKawahagi