As in previous years, when the list of singers of the Red and White Song Club is released, it will trigger one discussion after another on the Internet.

Why is this singer red and white?

Why can't that combination be red and white?

In the hearts of a thousand people, there are a thousand Hamlets.

Everyone's favorite singer may be different.

However, it is enough to be able to take into account the opinions of the majority of the audience, so that the majority of the audience is willing to turn on the TV and watch this annual event.

This is also the principle that the Red and White Song Committee adheres to in every selection.

Of course, every year in the music scene, there are always one or two singers or groups who will make their debut on the NHK red and white stage with an undisputed attitude.

For example, in 2004, Kiyoshi Sakamoto and THE SUN were born, in 2009, the rising Arashi, and in 2012, the "monster newcomer" who became the focus of the public as soon as he debuted, Nogizaka 46!

Since the end of November, NHK TV announced the list of singers for the 63rd Red and White Song Festival, and the new arrivals have become one of the highlights of this year's Red and White Song Festival.

This year, 50 groups of artists were mobilized, and there were 12 groups of singers who made their debut!

Among them, there are idol groups such as SKE48, Momoiro Clover Z, Sekihachi, and Nogizaka 46, who made their solo debuts for the first time.

On this list of singers, the most heated discussion among the public is naturally the "Peng Weiwei" Kiriko Takemura, who was born as a model and quickly became the idol of Japanese female high school students, and the singer's debut, and the "AKB formula opponent" who caused a huge storm in the idol circle less than a year after his debut, Nogizaka 46!

And the reason why Nogizaka 46 has been favored by red and white in such a short period of time is also due to the strong support of Sakamoto Kiyoshi behind it and the terrifying record sales...

LINE's endorsement has not only brought Nogizaka a bonus to fame and popularity, but more importantly, it has given many neon young people who use LINE a preliminary understanding of this idol group.

For artists, recognition is the foundation of everything!

What's more, before the list was announced, Nogizaka released his fourth single "Uniform のマネキン".

And this song with a prominent electronic style, coupled with an impact dance that feels completely different from the previous one, gives the public a refreshing feeling.

The first-week sales once again broke their own record, reaching a staggering 530,000!

While people were amazed, Nogizaka also quietly increased his total record sales to two million copies.

Four singles were released in a year and two million records were sold.

In today's Japanese music scene, in addition to AKB and its two sister groups, there are only a few groups of singers such as Arashi of the J family and Sony's Nogizaka 46, which can do it.

And Nogizaka 46, as a newcomer who debuted not long ago, has such a result, compared with several major idol groups, it is not inferior!

Maybe it's not like the horror sales that have been around for less than a year since their debut, or maybe it's the widespread recognition that finally made NHK make the decision to add Nogizaka 46 to the list of red and white singers!

This also allowed Nogizaka 46 to achieve a small achievement, that is: after her debut, she was the fastest female singer (or group) to appear on the red and white stage!

Nogizaka, whose popularity and sales are combined, naturally gained a lot of attention at the record awards at the end of the year.

Even, while winning the Best Newcomer Award, he was also shortlisted for the Grand Award with the song "So long!".

Even so, the girls of Nogizaka still had to sit in their seats and applaud their opponents...

Because, AKB is the hero of this year's record awards!

Under the leadership of Chief Superintendent Minami Takahashi, AKB won the Grand Prix again for the second year in a row.

Interestingly, the host of this year's record awards is Kiyoshi Sakamoto, and his "gossip girlfriend" Yui Aragaki!

So, on the night of December 30, at the 54th Japan Record Awards, which was broadcast live on TBS TV, there was such a long-lived picture:

The producer of Nogizaka will announce the AKB award!

This is nothing for Kiyoshi Sakamoto.

However, what he didn't expect was that seeing this somewhat "shameful" scene on the stage also inspired the self-motivation of the Nogizaka girls in the audience.

Mai Shiraishi, Rina Ikoma, Ikuta Erika and other strong girls are also in their hearts, and they have secretly set a goal:

"For the sake of Sakamoto-san, we must surpass the AKB!Next time, it will be us Nogizaka !! who will stand on the stage."

It is precisely because of this belief that at the Record Awards two years later, Nogizaka finally defeated AKB, J Soul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE and other opponents with a divine comedy "何度目の青空か", and won this weighty record award!

Of course, that's all for later.

。。。。。。

December 31, 7:15 p.m.

NHK Concert Hall, Tokyo.

In the large venue full of audiences, with the introduction of the assistant host, the familiar faces of the people, the three SUN dressed in pure white suits, and this year's hostess Maki Horikita slowly walked down the stairs.

"Good evening, friends from the audience, friends from the audience, friends in front of the TV, and welcome to the scene of the 63rd Red and White Song Battle of NHK!"

"Let's welcome tonight's singers with the warmest applause!"

"Next, the 63rd Red and White Song Battle has officially begun!"

With the order of SUN and Maki Horikita, the curtain of the last music event of 2012 slowly opened...

Since there are many girls in Nogizaka who have not yet reached the age of 18, for fear of violating the regulations on minors appearing in programs, NHK is also very considerate and arranged the performance order of Nogizaka 46 in the first half.

After Ayumi Hamasaki, who served as the opening guest, the second singer to appear in the red group was none other than Nogizaka 46, who performed on stage for the first time!

Before going on stage, Kiyoshi Sakamoto, as the host and producer, also teased the girls of Nogizaka a little during the interview, cheering them on.

Looking at such a gentle Sakamoto Kiyoshi, the tension in the hearts of the girls has also eased a lot.

"So... ”

"Next, Nogizaka 46, who will make their debut, will bring their debut song "So long!"

As soon as Kiyoshi Sakamoto's words fell, the camera immediately turned to the stage.

At this moment, all the members of Nogizaka stood on the dazzling stage in various postures, silently waiting for the music to sound.

Maybe it's three seconds, maybe it's five seconds, and the beautiful piano prelude finally sounded on the red and white stage!

Accompanied by music, the girls in lilac dresses danced like purple plum blossoms blooming in the cold winter.

“So long！。。。 ”

And Kiyoshi Sakamoto, who was standing on the side, looked at the girls who were dancing melodiously on the stage, and muttered to himself in his heart.

"Red and white, just the starting point!"