Not long ago, someone dropped my bootleg remix of Nogizaka46’s “Gomenne Fingers crossed” at a Tokyo club event.
I didn’t expect this track to echo through a dance floor again—especially after all this time. That joy is what brought me back here to write this post.
I was also thrilled when a friend played it at the outdoor “RINGO MUSIC FES.” in Aomori. That meant a lot, too.
A YOASOBI Without Key Changes? Maybe Even More
The first time I heard this song, I thought, “Is this like a YOASOBI track without key changes?”
Its restrained intensity, the beautifully subdued emotion in the arrangement—it all stuck with me. But above all, I was struck by the presence of Sakura Endo.
Honestly, I hadn’t really noticed her charm until then. That was foolish of me.
But this music video completely wrecked me.
Have you seen the spin-off drama?
The Song That Sparked My Creative Comeback
I’ve followed Nogizaka46 for years, but I have to admit—I hadn’t felt excited about a title track in quite a while.
But this one was different.
At the time, it was the middle of the pandemic.
I wanted to restart my music activities, but I was turning down all live and DJ gigs. I wasn’t even going out as a listener anymore.
Still, I needed to create something.
So I bought Cubase. Until then, I had always relied on my partner, Prestige Kato, for DAW work. But I figured it was time I learned to do it myself.
As I was learning to use it, one of the first things I tried making was a remix of “Gomenne Fingers crossed.”
10% Faster, Because Speed Matters
To me, the original was just a tiny bit too slow. The visuals of the MV had a certain rush to them, a velocity that the track itself didn’t fully match.
So for the remix, I pushed the BPM up by 10%.
It may sound silly. But I bet I’m not the only one who felt a little Fast & Furious vibe in that MV.
I was also deep into Speed Garage at the time. Modern Speed Garage—especially in the Reiwa era—has evolved to become more refined and spacious.
I wanted to bring that feel into the sound of Nogizaka46, no matter how recklessly.
Learning Bass Music, One Genre at a Time
2step, Future Bass, Colour Bass, Jersey Club… before I knew it, they were all in there.
I had always wondered how to make Future Bass. That sweeping, wave-like synth storm—placing it before and after the chorus surprisingly worked.
I also threw in a classic orchestral hit before the drop, which felt oddly satisfying.
Colour Bass was something I had only enjoyed as a listener. I never thought I’d try using it in an idol remix. But I wedged it into the B-melody, carefully so it wouldn’t clash with the vocals. The synth’s modulation was tricky, and my mixing still has room to grow. But I learned a lot from that challenge.
In the second verse, I tried to evoke an old-school 2step feel.
I layered bouncy bass and chopped-up vocals, plus a cheap, cartoonish orchestral hit—something out of Jet Set Radio, which I’ve always loved. It fit better than expected.
Then came the B-melody: my first attempt at Jersey Club.
Thanks to the 10% faster tempo, it clicked rhythmically. I diced up the Colour Bass synth again and even borrowed a small phrase from a track by a senior I respect.
And yes, I added a bed squeak—part of Jersey Club’s signature sound. Even in a bootleg remix of a Nogizaka46 song, I couldn’t resist.
The Jazz Ending
I didn’t want to end the track with a simple repeat of the chorus. That would’ve felt lazy.
So for the final stretch, I re-arranged the chorus with a jazz touch—reprogrammed the piano and bass to lift the emotion just a little more before the fade.
Just a Little Faster. Just a Little Hotter.
This remix didn’t go viral. No one made a big deal out of it online.
But people still played it—at a festival in Aomori, at a club in Tokyo. Someone even told me, “I really like that remix.”
Moments like that remind me that some things can’t be measured in numbers.
This remix came from the rush of seeing Sakura Endo in that MV, and from my simple desire to make the track just 10% faster and 10% more emotionally charged.
If it managed to stick with even one listener—just a little bit—then I think it did its job.
