DOWN TOWN / Ganbarenai yo

DOWN TOWN / Ganbarenai yo (DOWN TOWN/がんばれないよ; DOWN TOWN / I Can't Keep Trying) is Juice=Juice's 14th single. It was released on April 28, 2021 in six editions: two regular and four limited. The first press of the two regular editions includes a random trading card of 8 kinds depending on the jacket (16 in total), while the limited SP editions include an event lottery card."Juice=Juice、両A面シングル「がんばれないよ / DOWN TOWN」をリリース" (in Japanese). natalie. 2021-01-11.
"DOWN TOWN" is a cover of the 1975 song of same title by the band SUGAR BABE. A 7-inch LP vinyl record of the cover will be released on December 6, 2023."Juice=Juice｜名曲カバー3タイトル『DOWN TOWN』『プラスティック・ラブ』『FUNKY FLUSHIN'』の7inchアナログ盤が12月6日発売" (in Japanese). TOWER RECORDS ONLINE. 2023-10-11.
This is the debut single of Inoue Rei, who joined the group in April 2020. The single was originally scheduled to be released on March 24, but due to Takagi Sayuki's departure, the release date was postponed to April 28."Juice=Juice『DOWN TOWN/がんばれないよ』発売日変更のお知らせ" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2021-02-15.
A digital-exclusive special edition of the single was released in the same day as the CD release including the solo versions of "Ganbarenai yo"."Juice=Juice「DOWN TOWN/がんばれないよ(Special Edition)」配信スタート！" (in Japanese). UP-FRONT WORKS. 2021-04-28. 
==Tracklist==
===CD===
#DOWN TOWN
#Ganbarenai yo
#DOWN TOWN (Instrumental)
#Ganbarenai yo (Instrumental)
===Limited Edition A DVD===
#DOWN TOWN (Music Video)
#DOWN TOWN (MV Satsuei Making) (MV撮影メイキング; Making of the MV Shooting)
===Limited Edition B DVD===
#Ganbarenai yo (Music Video)
#Ganbarenai yo (MV Satsuei Making)
===Limited Edition SP1 DVD===
#Ganbarenai yo (Kanazawa Tomoko Solo Ver.)
#Ganbarenai yo (Uemura Akari Solo Ver.)
#Ganbarenai yo (Inaba Manaka Solo Ver.)
#Ganbarenai yo (Inoue Rei Solo Ver.)
#Ganbarenai yo (Dambara Ruru Solo Ver.)
#Ganbarenai yo (Kudo Yume Solo Ver.)
#Ganbarenai yo (Matsunaga Riai Solo Ver.)
===Limited Edition SP2 DVD===
#DOWN TOWN (Dance Shot Ver.)
#"Hitori de Ikiraresou" tte Sore tte Nee, Homete Iru no? 【"Inoue Rei ga Juice=Juice no Uta wo..." Series】 (「井上玲音がJuice=Juiceの歌を・・・」シリーズ; "Inoue Rei Sings Juice=Juice..." Series) - Inoue Rei × Taisei
#Watashi ga Iu Mae ni Dakishimenakya ne 【"Inoue Rei ga Juice=Juice no Uta wo..." Series】 - Inoue Rei
#Potsuri to 【"Inoue Rei ga Juice=Juice no Uta wo..." Series】 - Inoue Rei × Kanazawa Tomoko
#Sunao ni Amaete 【"Inoue Rei ga Juice=Juice no Uta wo..." Series】 - Inoue Rei × Uemura Akari
#CHOICE & CHANCE 【"Inoue Rei ga Juice=Juice no Uta wo..." Series】 - Inoue Rei × Takagi Sayuki
#Romance no Tochuu 【"Inoue Rei ga Juice=Juice no Uta wo..." Series】 - Inoue Rei × Miyamoto Karin
#Bitansan 【"Inoue Rei ga Juice=Juice no Uta wo..." Series】 - Inoue Rei × Inaba Manaka
#Suki tte Itte yo 【"Inoue Rei ga Juice=Juice no Uta wo..." Series】 - Inoue Rei × Dambara Ruru
#Naite Ii yo 【"Inoue Rei ga Juice=Juice no Uta wo..." Series】 - Inoue Rei × Kudo Yume・Matsunaga Riai
===Digital-Exclusive Special Edition===
#DOWN TOWN
#Ganbarenai yo
#Ganbarenai yo (Kanazawa Tomoko Solo Ver.)
#Ganbarenai yo (Uemura Akari Solo Ver.)
#Ganbarenai yo (Inaba Manaka Solo Ver.)
#Ganbarenai yo (Inoue Rei Solo Ver.)
#Ganbarenai yo (Dambara Ruru Solo Ver.)
#Ganbarenai yo (Kudo Yume Solo Ver.)
#Ganbarenai yo (Matsunaga Riai Solo Ver.)
===LP Record===
====Side A====
#DOWN TOWN
====Side B====
#DOWN TOWN (Instrumental)
==Featured Members==
*Kanazawa Tomoko
*Uemura Akari
*Inaba Manaka
*Inoue Rei (debut)
*Dambara Ruru
*Kudo Yume
*Matsunaga Riai
==Single Information==
;DOWN TOWN
*Lyrics: Ito Ginji
*Composition: Yamashita Tatsuro
*Arrangement, All Instruments & Background Vocal: Anders Dannvik
*Track Produced by Shusui
*Chorus: Juice=Juice
*Voice Percussion: Inoue Rei 
*Dance Choreography: Yamashiro Yokohttps://high-energy.jp/2021/04/28/juicejuice-24/
*Music Video: ZUMI
;Ganbarenai yo
*Lyrics: Yamazaki Aoi
*Composition, Arrangement, Other Instruments & Programming: KOUGA
*Drums: Takao Toshiyuki
*Bass: Nakagawa Ryou
*Guitar: Kikuchi Masayoshi
*Chorus: Miyahara Hitomi
*Dance Choreography: Yamashiro Yoko
*Music Video: Imamura Shigeru
==Performances==
===TV Performances===
;DOWN TOWN
*[2021.03.21] Special Plus! precious STAGE ～Juice=Juice～"Juice=JuiceのNEWシングル『DOWN TOWN/がんばれないよ』リリース記念！新曲の魅力たっぷりのライブパフォーマンスとインタビューを交えた撮り下ろし特別番組をオンエア！" (in Japanese). PR Times. 2021-03-12.
*[2021.05.06] Hiru Song!"♪.ひるソン！OMAKE！anan！ 金澤朋子" (in Japanese). Juice=Juice Official Blog. 2021-05-06.
*[2021.05.10] Premium MelodiX!https://twitter.com/tver_official/status/1391955534547275782
*[2021.05.18] Utacon"NHK総合「うたコン」ありがとうございました！！ DOWN TOWNを歌わせていただきました 久しぶりのうたコン嬉しかったです" (in Japanese). Dambara Ruru Official Instagram. 2021-05-18.
===Concert Performances===
;DOWN TOWN
*Hello! Project 2021 Winter ~STEP BY STEP~
*Hello! Project 2021 Haru "Kachou Fuugetsu"
*Hello! Project Hina Fes 2021
*Juice=Juice Concert 2021 ~FAMILIA~ Kanazawa Tomoko Final
;Ganbarenai yo
*Hello! Project 2020 ~The Ballad~ Special Number
*Juice=Juice Concert 2020 ~Tsudzuiteiku STORY~ Miyamoto Karin Sotsugyou Special
*Hello! Project Year-End Party 2020 ~GOOD BYE & HELLO!~
*Hello! Project 2021 Winter ~STEP BY STEP~
*Hello! Project Hina Fes 2021
*Anniversary Onna 2022 -Kominato Miwa, Tanjoubi Matsuri Yarutte yo!- - Kominato Miwa
*Juice=Juice 10th Anniversary Concert Tour 2023 ~Juicetory~
*Juice=Juice 10th Anniversary Concert Tour 2023 Final ~Juicetory~ (part of medley)
===Event Performances===
;Ganbarenai yo
*[2022.05.11] Juice=Juice Dambara Ruru Birthday Event 2022 - Dambara Ruru
*[2023.01.18] Juice=Juice Uemura Akari Birthday Event 2022～2023 Ake Chaimashita Omedetou! - Uemura Akari
*[2024.04.25] Juice=Juice Endo Akari Birthday Event 2024 - Endo Akari
==Chart Positions==
===Oricon Chart Positions===
;Daily & Weekly Rankings
;Monthly Ranking
!Ref
|-
|2021
|April
|6
|43,241
|https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/m/2021-04/
|}
;Yearly Ranking
|-
|2021
|92
|45,784
|}
Total Reported Sales: 45,784
;Weekly Combined Ranking
|-
|4
|45,986
|}
Total reported points: 45,986
===Billboard Japan Top Single Sales===
|-
|2
|65,498
|http://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/99591/2
|-
|16
|930
|http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=sales&year=2021&month=05&day=17
|-
|47
|397
|http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=sales&year=2021&month=05&day=24
|-
|92
|N/A
|http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=sales&year=2021&month=05&day=31
|-
|40
|1,122
|http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=sales&year=2021&month=06&day=7
|}
Total Reported Sales: 67,947*
===Other Chart Rankings===
!Ref
|-
| rowspan="6" |
|Billboard Japan Single Sales (First Three Days)
|2(61,988)
|"【先ヨミ】JO1『CHALLENGER』が23万枚で現在シングル1位＜4/30修正＞" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2021-04-30.
|-
| colspan="4" |"DOWN TOWN" only
|-
|Billboard Japan Hot 100
|8
|http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2021&month=05&day=10
|-
|Billboard Japan Top Download Songs
|39
|http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=dlsongs&year=2021&month=05&day=10
|-
| colspan="4" |"Ganbarenai yo" only
|-
|Billboard Japan Top Download Songs
|28
|http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=dlsongs&year=2021&month=05&day=10
|}
==Trivia==
*Takagi Sayuki was originally included in this single, but due to her departure on February 12, 2021, the single was remade and her parts in both songs were replaced by other members.
*The "Inoue Rei ga Juice=Juice no Uta wo..." series, featured in the Limited Edition SP2 DVD, is a series of videos of Inoue Rei covering Juice=Juice songs uploaded to the group's YouTube channel starting in May 2020.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs8AlpdTjgweHrq5pLmng_pbrbXJ3kqeW Out of the videos featured in the DVD, only the "Naite Ii yo" cover featuring Kudo Yume and Matsunaga Riai was previously unpublished onto YouTube.
*"DOWN TOWN" and "Ganbarenai yo" are the first Hello! Project music videos uploaded to YouTube with the logo embedded in the corner, and with closed captioning instead of embedded subtitles.
*The instrumental used for the solo versions of "Ganbarenai yo" have a piano arrangement and is different from the single version.
**Each solo also have different ad-libs at the end to further differentiate from the other members. Inaba Manaka, Dambara Ruru, and Matsunaga Riai ad-lib before the last line, while Kanazawa Tomoko, Uemura Akari, Inoue Rei, and Kudo Yume ad-lib after the last line.
**The instrumental used for the Inoue Rei and Matsunaga Riai versions also have a different pitch from the other versions.
*A Blu-ray of the release commemorative special mini-live of the single was available to pre-order for Hello! Project fanclub members from July 1 to July 28, 2021, and for UP-FRONT WORKS Web Store pre-orders from July 15 to August 9, with delivery scheduled to late September 2021. It was released on general sale on October 13, 2021.
* Juice=Juice's "Ganbarenai yo", Tanpopo's "Seinaru Kane ga Hibiku Yoru" (1999) and ℃-ute's "Kimi wa Jitensha Watashi wa Densha de Kitaku" (2012) are the only Hello! Project songs to have official solo versions sung by each member on a main release. However, the other two songs are simply solo recordings layered on top of the main instrumental, rather than the "Ganbarenai yo" case of different instrumentals with varying pitches.
** Buono!'s "Hatsukoi Cider" also has solo versions, however they were only included on the Buono! COMPLETE CD box set in 2017, and was only made available at the time of the initial release through the solo ver music videos included in Hatsukoi Cider's Single V.
==Videos==
<tabber>MV=
|-|Additional=
</tabber>
==References==
==External Links==
*Discography: Hello! Project, UP-FRONT WORKS
*Wikipedia: Japanese
*Lyrics: , 
es:DOWN TOWN / Ganbarenai yo
Category:Juice=Juice Singles
Category:Juice=Juice DVDs
Category:2021 Singles
Category:2021 DVDs
Category:7 Members Line-Up
Category:Juice=Juice Debuts
Category:Cover Single
Category:Double A-Side Single
Category:English Name Single
Category:2023 LPs
Category:Juice=Juice LPs