“HEY!FRIENDS” by Naohito Fujiki, Ending theme of 2006 J-drama Gal Circle
I’m not the biggest fan of Asian dramas, but sometimes I will watch them when idols I like are involved. In 2006 there was a Japanese drama series called Gal Circle, which was about gals (aka gyaru) who dance ParaPara in a gal circle (a gal group) called Angel Heart. It’s pure coincidence that I have my own group called Angel Hearts, which I started in 2003, that also dances ParaPara. Emi Suzuki, my favorite Japanese model, played the leader of Angel Heart in this drama. Mari Yaguchi from Morning Musume also played a character in the group. This series was kinda goofy, but I enjoyed it. The girls were not very convincing as gals, but they obviously toned it down for a general audience. At this time, gal fashion was already going out of style, and I think this drama was part of an attempt to soften and transform the gal image.
This theme song is not Eurobeat, so it doesn’t feel right for ParaPara, but I still like the song. I learned the dance right away, of course. 😉 My group has never performed it, though… a missed opportunity!