Caroline Charonplop Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is 21 and ready to sparkle and shine. The Japanese pop star known worldwide as Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has attempted such sparkling tactics before, “Ponponpon” still being one of the clearest examples we have of such deployment. However, it seems like her elder wisdom has contributed to more aggressive use of the Harajuku method of sparkling, shining J-pop bliss.
One just needs to observe her recent actions to witness the full force of Kyary’s “sparkle motion.” First, there’s her recent trouncing of Western forces Beyoncé and Daft Punk for best album at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards in Japan. This compels the American pop industry to rely solely on Ariana Grande and Katy Perry for competitive domestic sparkle and shine, though this might not bode well either — both Perry and Grande are professed fans of Kyary’s music and therefore should be treated with extreme suspicion and caution.
And now there’s word of a previously unexpected force on the horizon — Kyary has announced a new collection of “glistening examples” due out July 29 through Warner Music Group, following up last year’s Nanda Collection. She has officially crossed into our home territory. The album’s title should provide a clue to this insidious, anti-capitalist plot: Pika Pika Fantajin. According to the press release, pika pika means “shiny, glossy, and lustrous,” while fantajin is a Kyary invention combining “fantasy” and “people” into one sinister amalgamation.
Shiny and imaginary. Glossy but pure fantasy. Three different album covers. A concert DVD that features footage from her “on-going” world tour. Does Kyary’s psychological attack on America’s innate drabness know no bounds? Are we, as a society, actually ready for Kyary’s personal “version of fantasy,” as she promises this album to be?
It seems like we no longer have a choice. Prepare yourself for the sparkle revolution by viewing Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s new video for single “Kira Kira Killer” below:
Pika Pika Fantajin tracklist:
01. Pika Pika Fantajin
02. Kira Kira Killer
03. Yume no Hajima Ring Ring
04. Mottai Night Land
05. Serious Hitomi
06. do do pi do (Capsule cover)
07. Family Party
08. Ring a Bell
09. Tokyo Highway
10. Koi Koi Koi
11. Sungoi Aura
12. Explorer
• Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: https://www.facebook.com/KPP.FC
• Warner Music Group: http://www.wmg.com
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