Following the success of the first two instalments, which we discussed previously here, the “#プレイリスト聴こうよ” campaign launches its final chapters, exploring the conclusion of a love story that began among CDs and ends under the lights of the modern era.
The advertising collaboration between Ren Nagase and actress Hara Nanoka for Universal Music has reached its climax. What began a few weeks ago as a series of short visual stories has concluded with the release of the third and fourth parts of this campaign, consolidating a narrative that links the nostalgic past with the technological present through music.
The development of a four-act story
The campaign was conceived as a tetralogy that follows the evolution of two people connected by their musical tastes. While the first two parts (released previously) laid the foundations for their bond, these new instalments delve deeper into the maturity of their feelings:
Heisei: “Heartbeat of Love”
In this third instalment, the story goes back in time to the Heisei era. The narrative transports us to a room bathed in the soft afternoon light filtering through the curtains. The atmosphere is charged with a “retro-modern” aesthetic: instead of algorithms, the floor is covered with plastic CD cases.
In this story, Ren and Nanoka play two young people who are discovering each other’s worlds. They stare at each other as they compare their favourite albums, creating a physical and tangible bond. The romantic tension mounts when, amid a meaningful silence, the arrival of a first kiss under dim lighting is hinted at. Spitz‘s music, with classics such as “Cherry” and “Mahō no Kotoba“, envelops the scene, underlining that feeling that time stands still when you share your favourite song with someone special. It is a portrait of “everyday life” that is transformed into something extraordinary thanks to the melody.
Reiwa’s “Destiny of Love”
The fourth and final part jumps forward in time to the present, the Reiwa era, placing us in a vibrant city decorated with the lights and illuminations typical of the winter season. Here, the narrative shifts from physical proximity to spiritual connection.
The story shows us Ren walking down the street, staring into space with his headphones on, lost in thought. At the same time, Nanoka —who has now fulfilled her professional dream and is carrying design materials with her— is walking in the opposite direction. Although their paths physically cross in the crowd, they do not exchange words or glances. However, there is an invisible thread that binds them together: they are both listening to the exact same song on their devices.
With the melancholy of back number and their song “Happy End” playing in the background, this final story tells us that even though people follow different paths in life, shared memories and songs create a common space that transcends distance. It is a bittersweet but hopeful ending about how the music of yesterday continues to illuminate the present for each of us.
Shared memories and playlists
In interviews published alongside the series finale, the actors shared anecdotes about the songs used. Nanoka Hara noted that songs such as “Kiseki” by GReeeeN (which was part of the campaign narrative) evoke vivid memories of her high school days, when she sang in a group with her classmates.
For his part, Ren emphasised that back number is the essence of Japanese winter, and that participating in the fourth part of this story was especially meaningful because of the emotional charge of the songs chosen.
A multimedia finale
With the release of these last two parts, Universal Music has made the campaign’s complete playlists available on digital platforms. Fans can not only see the conclusion of Ren and Nanoka‘s story in the commercials, but also experience the same soundtrack that accompanied this journey through time, from the warmth of “Heisei” to the sophistication of “Reiwa”.
After filming this tetralogy, the actors shared their personal connection to the themes. Ren emphasised that the use of back number‘s music is “essential for winter,” while Nanoka recalled how the campaign’s themes (including those from the first parts, such as “Kiseki” by GReeeeN) are part of the “book of memories of her youth.”
With the release of these two final pieces, the campaign invites users to create their own stories through playlists already available on streaming services!
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