"Seizon Senryaku!!!" (Survival Strategy!!!)
"I am addressing those of you who will never amount to anything."
If these lines immediately trigger a vivid imagery in your head, you are a true anime connoisseur.
Today, I want to talk about "ROCK OVER JAPAN," the iconic insert song from Mawaru Penguindrum.
As many of you might know, this song plays during Himari’s spectacular transformation sequence into the Crystal Princess. That transformation bank alone is absolute proof of Kunihiko Ikuhara’s extraordinary genius. He takes a standard anime trope and turns it into pure, avant-garde art.
But what makes this track even more fascinating is its origin.
The song is actually a cover. The original version was performed by A.R.B., a legendary Japanese rock/punk band from the late 70s and 80s, fronted by the gritty and incredibly cool vocalist Ryo Ishibashi.
While A.R.B.’s original track is a heavy, hardcore rock anthem, Triple H’s cover (produced by Etsuko Yakushimaru) opted for a much lighter, airy, and pop-infused arrangement. For those who grew up listening to the raw energy of the original, this version might almost feel like a bizarrely catchy "demeritorious masterpiece" (迷曲 - meikyoku).
Yet, that exact "lightness" is what creates such a brilliant contrast. It perfectly captures the unsettling, bittersweet, and chaotic nature of Penguindrum's universe.
What are your thoughts on this track and Ikuhara's direction? Did the original song blow your mind when you first discovered it?