Mottai Night Land


"Mottai Night Land" is the seventh physical single by J-pop artist Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, released on November 6, 2013, in both regular and limited editions. The song is used for the Japanese Cellphone company au's "Smart Value" commercials, in which she is featured as a guest star. The B-Side "Sungoi Aura" is used for Sunstar's "Ora 2" Toothpaste commercials.
The single's title is a mixture of the Japanese word mottainai, usually meaning wasteful but precious here, and the phrase Night Land. The music video was released on 23 October 2013.

Development

The song was first used on the latest au commercial aired in October, featuring Kyary dancing with the Mottainai Ghosts. Composer and Producer Yasutaka Nakata of Capsule stated that the song is made for the commercial itself, on which the song is full of dreams and wishes.
Both covers for the single will reflect the name and theme on which it is based. The regular edition will be themed with "Wasteful Fantasy", depicting Kyary transforming into an animal while surrounded with fruits and vegetables. The limited edition version will have an "Incredible Fantasy" theme, which has Kyary wearing a wig with apple and orange skins, showing off its "Mottainai" nature.

Track listing

Interpretation

It’s too good to waste, too good to waste

So I dream of it while crying, aah

I wanna stay longer, it’s not enough for me

So I can’t help being a brat about it

Passing through a brilliant city

under the sparkling lights that’ll be gone by tomorrow

It’s too good to waste, too good to waste

Hey, let’s go together to the Mottai Night Land


On the weekend we’ve eagerly awaited, there’s a lovely and perfectly round full moon out

Perfect Good Job, Mr. Moon! Sleepytime is sure to come

Tonight even all kinds of scary ghosts will wanna laugh too

Lured into sight by the sweet smells in the air


Tonight the whole town is lit up by twinkling candles

I admire it from the top of a stone hill

wishing this scenery could last forever

Come on, let’s go

Reception

The music video was highly praised by critics. Oyster wrote about the video, "Probably just cease whatever you're doing now, and watch this, for the simple fact that it's superior." The Fader wrote of the video, "“Mottai Night Land” is a tour de force, featuring a catchy hook, a dance with the moon, an anime segment and oiled-up bikini dancers." Spin write, "... it's a thing to behold. The ever-kawaii singer dances with a moon man, eats a muffin man's head, and snoozes with a bubble coming out of her face in a brightly colored, constantly eye-popping clip... The overall effect is something like the difference between someone telling you their crazy dream and actually inviting you into it." The music video's visual design is also heavily influenced by Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.