In the “Megami’s Voice” interview series from the magazine “Megami Magazine”, where artists who sing theme songs and insert songs for anime and games talk about their music, the June 2025 issue features Okui Masami, who released the OP theme for Haite kudasai, Takamine-san, titled “Baby Baby Baby”.
Lead Track Expressing the Maidenly Takamine-san
――The lead track, “Baby Baby Baby”, is a duet with Bonjour Suzuki-san, isn’t it?
When Bandai Namco Music Live contacted me, the music they were looking for seemed to be a type I hadn’t really created before. Bon-chan (Bonjour Suzuki) is with the same agency, and I thought something interesting could come from her music. So, I conveyed that to Bandai Namco Music Live, and it was decided that Bon-chan and I would work on it together.
――What kind of song were they looking for?
It was something stylish, different from the typical mainstream anisong. The production staff gave me reference tracks, which I passed to Bon-chan, along with the information that it would be the OP for Haite kudasai, Takamine-san. After that, I let her create freely. The song that came out was cool even at the demo stage, and I felt it was a type of song I hadn’t sung before.
――You were in charge of the lyrics. How did you approach writing them?
When writing the lyrics, I read the original manga that had been released by then, and expanded on the image of the heroine, Takamine-san. While the work tends to draw attention to its slightly ecchi aspects, I felt a very pure and maidenly side to Takamine-san, and thought she might fall in love with Shirata Takashi-kun in the future. I expanded on that idea, while also imagining singing it together with Bon-chan’s sound.
――Did the atmosphere of the lyrics change compared to when you sing solo?
Even if I were singing alone, I don’t think the direction would have changed. However, because Bon-chan was involved, I did consider the word choices. Since there are two female voices, it naturally feels a bit sweeter, you know? I wanted to incorporate a sweet yet slightly sour nuance, so I included the word “strawberry”. I also wanted the lyrics to feel like they captured Takamine-san’s maidenly and lovely aspects. Also, Bon-chan is good at French, and the demo version actually included French lyrics. Since singing the entire song only in Japanese didn’t quite fit the music, I kept a little bit of French as is, and added some English as well.
――What meaning did you put into the title “Baby Baby Baby”?
I felt that Takamine-san thinks of Shirata-kun as her Darling, but there’s also a part where she can’t help but tease him, treating him like a “Baby”. Also, I wanted Shirata-kun to think of Takamine-san as his “Baby” too, so I named it “Baby Baby Baby”. Besides that, it’s simply because the entire song just feels like “Baby Baby Baby” (laughs). I also decided on it with the intention that it would look good when the title appeared on screen.
――How did the recording process go?
It was fun. I decided on the part breakdown, sang my parts first, and then Bon-chan sang hers later. I wasn’t able to be present for Bon-chan’s recording, but I told her to sing freely, without being constrained by my vocals. And indeed, she added some spoken-word-like singing, which was great.
――What were your impressions after hearing the song with Bonjour-san’s voice on it?
It turned out wonderfully, and it really matches the visuals of Takamine-san. I definitely hope people listen to it along with the visuals. I also put a lot of detail into the chorus and spoken parts, so I hope you’ll listen to the audio first, either the CD or digital version.
――If you had to pick your personal push point of “Baby Baby Baby”?
Everything, of course. Also, when I sing solo songs that aren’t tie-ups, I often put a strong message into them, but since this song was tied to a work, I think it became a song that you can listen to casually without it feeling too heavy. Because of that, it’s a song you won’t get tired of no matter how many times you listen to it.
――For the coupling track, “D ~Rasen~”, R・O・N-san was in charge of composition, and you handled the lyrics.
The person in charge of the music team said they wanted to hear a rock-style song. I wanted to make it a rock song with a theme, so I asked R・O・N-san for “a modern rock song with parts where everyone can sing along live”. The intro is cool from the start, and the world-building is solid, which made writing the lyrics easy.
――Could you tell us about the theme of the lyrics?
Personally, I’ve been feeling recently that there are some problematic aspects in modern Japan. So, I wanted to include the idea of remembering the positive aspects of Bushidoo! I put that feeling into the lyrics, even including the word “SAMURAI”.
――What meaning did you put into the title “D ~Rasen~”?
D stands for “Dragon”, and Rasen (螺旋) means helix or spiral, representing genes. I named it with the meaning of people who possess the genes of a dragon.
――How was the recording for this song?
It was fun. I originally like recording, and I want to sing with life, so I try not to correct too much and don’t do many takes. Because of that, sessions often finish quickly. It’s surprisingly often that the first take is the best, so this time went smoothly too.
――Any memories from the jacket photo shoot?
I asked them to differentiate it from JAM Project (laughs). When we shoot as a group, since there are many male members, we often use darker lighting. So, I felt like I wanted the solo shots to be brighter. I also wanted to express femininity properly, so I asked for brown tones to be included, and they added a pinkish brown.
――How do you feel this single turned out?
This is my first single release in about 8 years, and I truly feel it’s a miracle to be given a tie-up song. I’m very happy to have received such a wonderful opportunity.
――Finally, a message to the readers!
I’ve always liked the word “Megami” (Goddess), so I’m happy to be interviewed by Megami Magazine-san. I worked with Bon-chan to create music that is different from JAM Project. It turned out to be a song that shows “this is what Okui is like when she’s not in the group”, so please enjoy the music along with the anime!
Profile
Okui Masami
Born March 13th in Hyogo Prefecture. After working as a backing vocalist for artists like Matsutouya Yumi, she debuted as an artist in August 1993. Since then, she has worked on numerous anime theme songs and joined JAM Project in 2003. She is actively performing both as a solo artist and with the group.
Information
“Baby Baby Baby”
Now on sale
Bandai Namco Music Live
Limited Edition: 2200 yen (tax included)
Regular Edition: 1650 yen (tax included)
Okui Masami’s new single is her first in approximately 8 years. The title track is the OP theme for the TV anime Haite kudasai, Takamine-san and is a duet number with Bonjour Suzuki. The limited edition is released in the nostalgic 8cm single format.
《Megami Magazine Editorial Department》
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