Twice’s Japanese subunit just dropped their mini album’s pre-release single, a cover of J-pop icon Namie Amuro’s “New Look” Still on a fashion week high? Twice ’s Japanese subunit Misamo is set to keep us in the vibe with their upcoming second mini album “Haute Couture.” But ahead of the album’s release next month, the trio dropped a cover of Namie Amuro’s “New Look.” Amuro is a J-pop icon who, before her retirement, was also called the Queen of Japanese Pop.
“New Look” was then part of Amuro’s 2008 single, “60s 70s 80s,” with the song representing the ’60s. The song also samples The Supremes’ “Baby Love.” Amuro’s “New Look” music video (MV) was characteristically ’60s in aesthetic, with bright, bold colors and fashion.
The lyrics of the song are also very chic and trendy, incorporating slang and terms that one would normally hear from Japan’s “oshare” (fashionable) girls. The sound is also very characteristic of J-pop of the late aughts. Misamo’s cover, coming 16 years after the song’s original release, is a direct and quite faithful version but also comes with Misamo’s own flavor.
(They’re giving “New Look” a new look, you could say...
) The girls pay homage to the J-pop icon in the MV’s opening, not only mentioning “16 years ago” but also sporting full bangs reminiscent of Amuro’s own hairstyle in the original MV. And whereas Amuro stayed within the ’60s aesthetic, Misamo’s version sees the girl.