When NewJeans Hanni sang the 80s Japanese song "Blue Coral Reef," the Tokyo Dome erupted in an unbelievable roar, and in fact, the song wasn't just a simple hit

 June 30th, 2024

"Oh, my love runs in the south wind / Oh, runs in the blue wind, to that island."

Hanni of the group NewJeans began singing the first verse in Japanese. The roof of Tokyo Dome in Japan was about to burst, and a blue roar from the 45,000-stront audience roared as if the NewJeans fan meeting "Bunnies Camp" held at Tokyo Dome from the 26th to the 27th.

The title of Hanni's solo performance is "Blue Coral Reef." It was released in 1980 by Japanese singer Seiko Matsuda. After the huge hit of the song, Hanni became a "national idol" representing the 1980s.

"Blue Coral Reef" is not just a hit songs. It symbolizes the relaxed and prosperous days of the 1980s right before the collapse of "Bubble Economy." People feel nostalgic for the good times while listening to this song. "This song reminds them of their first love," said Kenichi Sawamura, 42, who runs Izakaya in Ningyo elementary school in Tokyo. Yes, this song has the power to make anyone feel nostalgic even if they don't have to go through those times.

It is not strange that young people in Tokyo Dome are also enthusiastic about this song. Most of the audiences were not born in the 1980s or were too young to remember, but the nostalgic feeling of nostalgia did not apply to all generations. Furthermore, young Japanese people who came here and immersed in the retro sensibility of NewJeans. It would be strange if they don't go crazy when they saw a Vietnamese-Australian from a K-Pop group from Korea singing their own retro song.

The costumes on the first day of wearing a marine-looj stripe T-shirt that symbolizes the freshness of the blue sea and a rough white flare skirt, and on the second day, wearing a white blouse and a flared skirt with a diamond pattern of alternating blue and orange were perfect. People knelt down to the sense that even fashion synchronized with those times.

As expected, social media in Japan went wild. Those who didn't see the performance saw the video posted in social media and said, "How can you song this song?" "oh, its aing time ago..." The same comments was made and spread. ADOR CEO Min Heejin who chose the song for the response must have hit her knees.

What's interesting is that across the ocean in Korea, there was also a big stir. People posted the video in social media and knelt down, "As expected!" People in Korea are in their 40s or older who enjoyed the song at the same time. Many people came to know the song as it was written in an impressive way in the hit Japanese movie "Love Letter," which was released in Korea in 1999. That may include young people. In any case, it seems clear that Koreans, foo, have become nostalgic with the song.

NewJeans has been using this strategy in Korea, too. It's hit song "Ditto" stimulated nostalgia for men and women of all ages with its retro music video and sentimental melody on the camcorder screen. While participating in the drama OST, it also covered Kona's "Our Night Is More Beautiful Than Your Day" (1996) and Kim Jong-seo's "Beautiful Restraint" (1996). It brought nostalgia to over 40s and young people, and a newtro vibe to them.

Memories are strong. Good music and good performances double the impression of memories. They also create memories that they do not have. Whether you lived in the 1980s, lived in Japan, or Korea, you cannot help but fall into Hanni's "Blue Coral Reef."

Original article: HUFFPOST