Lyrical Deep Dive: GIRLS in the FRONTIER [My Best Cinderella Songs Rank 1] - Can a Cinderella reject the tale of Cinderella?

おっきな会場に、沢山のお客さん！(In a massive venue, a large number of guests!)
これ以上ない、最高の舞台さ！(There's nothing greater [than this], the greatest stage!)
ウチたちなら、見せつけてやれるって信じてるぞ！(It's us, therefore believe that we will be able to show it off to you!)
私達これから、歌い上げてくるよ！(From here on, we will sing from the top of our voice!)
だからプロデューサーも、しっかり聞いて、心に刻んで (Therefore, producer too should listen carefully and etch into your hearts)
私達の (our)
決意の歌! (Song of Determination)
GIRLS in the FRONTIER!

-The legendary intro monologue from SS3A

GIRLS in the FRONTIER is the 3rd Anniversary song for Starlight Stage. But there's nothing 3rd rate about this song. During the Cinderella Girls 10th Anniversary Tour Finale @ Belluna Dome, it was revealed that this song is the most voted song in the "My Best Cinderella Songs" voting event that took place late 2021. That officially makes GIRLS in the FRONTIER the most popular song in the franchise.

GIRLS in the FRONTIER is composed by Tetsuya Shitara, who also worked on Vast World and more recently Diamond Attention. Unlike Vast World, a pretty generic idol song that's quite safe and didn't even get performed in Japan for several years until 7th Live Chiba. GIRLS in the FRONTIER is a legendary and memorable anniversary song that does a lot of things differently from its predecessors. Dropping the more singer friendly melodies and instrumentation for a more dramatic and adventurous synth + electric guitar fusion, this song lacks a lot of the safer elements that are common in anniversary songs and venue theme songs, but what that gave us is something that is absolutely thematic.

Joining us to make this masterpiece is the ever present lyricist and scenario writer Yuta Yashiro who writes lyrics for a giant amount of content from the franchise. Yuta actually wrote lyrics for every single anniversary song to date, except TRUE COLORS. I've mentioned previously that he's probably one of the most influential writers in the franchise due to how much work he has on early character solos and shaping the way the seiyuus perceive their character. This much remains true. He also did a talk show on MUSIC on the RADIO #86 where he went through some of the Starlight Stage anniversary songs, with him going through Frontier in the paid bonus part of the show. Anyway, enough introduction, let's get started.

Standard fare: Translations are not meant to be perfect English and comprehensible sentences to give the reader who may not understand Japanese a chance to derive meaning from the original literature with the original contextual clues, instead of having someone else already making that interpretation for you. Read the discussion under each section for some suggestion on the interpretations.

.... But first a preface

From the beginning of cinderella girls there was Onegai Cinderella. I had to resist doing a side by side comparison of this song to that one, but basically Onegai Cinderella carries a lot of themes from the original Cinderella fairy tale. There's the idea of a dream that we don't want to end, and magic that we don't want undone. There's the whole bit about wishing upon a star to grant dreams. There's the concept of footwear and being barefoot. There's also the fresh start and making their way back to the ball. From the beginning this fairytale was central to the franchise. They even made an anime that effectively retells the cinderella story using idols.

The reasons for all these things will be obvious once you consider how much of the series deals with framing of the characters and their lives with regard to the stage of an idol in respect to that fairy tale.

お気に入りだったフェアリーテイル
なぞるように生きてきたけれど
幸せの　そのイメージは
今では　もうホコリかぶりで

[It] Was [my] favorite fairy tale
I've lived trying to imitate it but
That image of happiness
Nowadays, already covered in dust

Frontier is an anniversary song. So the scale of what we're dealing with can be much grander than just the aspirations and opinions of one character, or the general dynamics of a particular unit. We get to discuss bigger themes in the franchise. And what bigger theme is there in the whole franchise than the Cinderella fairy tale.

Looking at the start, in the words there's some resentment towards that story, a change in ideals. Saying that you would imitate something carries a somewhat negative connotation as you would prefer to say that you aimed for or aspired to live out the story.

Next we have the image of happiness. The Cinderella tale is an idealistic one, which most fairytales are. There's this prince that can take this girl out of her bad circumstances and enjoy a happy ever after. But that's all covered in dust now. There's a few implications of this, one of them is just being a reflection of the original fairy tale, where Cinderella starts out in the dusty basement. The other is the idea of time. Something being covered in dust indicates that some time must have passed.

This is a very interesting backdrop for the start of a song, since it is describing a more grim reality than the ideal Cinderella story and it immediately challenges the fundamental belief in that tale.

窓の外　瞬く星が
悔しいくらいに眩しいから
手を伸ばし　強く願うよ
舞踏会より煌めく場所

Outside the window, the blinking stars are
so bright its almost regrettable, so
Stretch [my] hand, strongly wish
[for] a place that sparkles brighter than the ball

There is a lot of wishing upon a star in this franchise. But this is done differently compared to those cases. The window is a metaphor for both the distance and the obstructions that lie between the present and the ideal destination. The bitter feeling of regret is that discontent with the present situation and the desire to have walked a different path.

Even through the star seems out of reach, perhaps our Cinderella will still attempt to make her wish to sate her burning ambition. For the ball will not be enough to satisfy. They seek something far greater than that, whatever it might be.

待っていても手には入らない
本当の宝物は
叫ぶよ　'Cause I love you!
自分の言葉で

Even if I wait, it won't enter my hands
The real treasure
[I'll] shout 'Cause I love you!
In my own words

In the context of this song, being jaded by the fairytale, our Cinderella knows there must be more to do than to just sit idly. No matter how much you believe your dreams will come true.

This is sort of the whole theme that this song has been building up to this point. It's Cinderella, but that fairytale is all in the past, and they must do something different to find their way to their destination this time.

By no coincidence, Rin happens to be the center for the anniversary for this year. Makes you kinda wonder what would have happened if Rin had to find her own way to the castle in the anime...

拓け！
バックパックに希望つめて
自分の足で歩け　シンデレラ

Clear [the way]!
Cram your aspirations in a backpack
Walk on your own feet, Cinderella!

And do something different they will. During a separate discussion with Yashiro Yuta on CINDERELLA PARTY, one of the talking points brought up regarding this song is how unusual of an expression it is for backpacks to be related to idols. Not that we don't have idols that have cards of them wearing backpacks, but the idea of setting out on an expedition kind of backpacking, which is what this line really refers to.

Joining us is one of the most iconic lines in the song. This is the alternate path to the castle, not by pumpkin carriage but by feet. The implication here is that the idea of being entitled to the happy ending has been cast away. This is a concrete way of saying that they will work to achieve their happy endings and take their own path. Its like the cliche awakening moment in fictional works where some character drops the "I'll do it myself" line before some sort of major plan is put in place to deal with whatever obstacles lie in their path. Part of the beauty of this section is how this contrasts the image of what a Cinderella should be like. The destination is a ball and their partner is a prince, but yet this elegance is being contrasted with the act of getting down and dirty to work for and seek the outcome that is desired. This whole adventuring on your own feet to struggle and to find your way thing is very anti-cinderella in terms of ideology. This clash is what makes GIRLS in the FRONTIER so unique compared to any other song in the franchise.

夢は他人に託すな
かけがえない権利

You can't entrust your dreams to other people
An irreplaceable right

I want to mention that practically every verb in the chorus is in imperative form, which is a form used for forceful declaration. For example, to give commands or orders, or if you wanted to provoke people and start a fight for some reason because it also sounds kinda rude.

This section is a continuation of the last. It continues the idea of rejecting the Cinderella ideals. It also conveys the extreme extent to which one should dedicate themselves to fulfilling their dreams. This distrust for others when it comes to getting the desired outcome is kind of badass but at the same time it's also a really strange thing to see in this franchise. After all, quite a bit of this franchise's DNA is built on the relationship between the Producer and the Idol. What does it really mean for things to reach the point where not even the Producer can be trusted to achieve their girl's dreams. It's quite a sad outcome if things truly were to reach this point. We see a glimpse of this in the anime where the Producer has to fight his demons and beliefs to earn back the trust of his idol. Can an idol truly flourish in such an environment?

If anything the behavior described so far has some implications. First there's the thirst and desire for perfection. Manifested as a serious dissatisfaction for the current situation and the compulsion to do something about it. The inability to trust others to grant their vision is a sign of desiring the best possible outcome and that's something that only they truly know what they want. The other is the implication of emotional baggage. Rational people would be more inclined to trust others than to distrust others. You might say, "Hey I'm rational but I clearly wouldn't trust a scammer asking for my credit card details", but there's a clear reason you wouldn't trust them because you have reason to believe the other party is acting in bad faith. Someone's distrust is built upon experience of past events. It's constructed of people breaking that trust they had, and giving them reasons to distrust. It's events that they've seen and witnessed which have destroyed what trust they have with some people or things. Crucially, these things require time. It doesn't happen overnight. Maybe this is why the image of happiness is now covered in dust.

お仕着せの幻想　捨てて
新たな地平へと飛び出そう

Throw away [the] fantasies imposed on you
Jump out towards new horizons

In case you weren't already aware of it, the song is happy to remind you that we're in the process of rejecting the Cinderella ideal and finding our own way. To explore the deepest depths of the unknown to bring dream into reality, unhindered by the ideals of magical fantasy.

守るべきは過去じゃない
ずっと　Stay at the frontier!

The thing that must be protected is not the past
Continuously Stay at the frontier!

What is the past really? Is it the cinderella tale? Or maybe it's the events that led to the distrust of others. One thing for sure though, this past represents a burden. If they are to push to new frontiers, they cannot keep protecting (holding on) to these burdens as they are a hinderance. Moving forward to achieve your goals is the message to be taken home here.

誰かみたく　なろうとして
誰かの後　追いかけてみても
王子様は待ってないし
ガラスの靴はイミテーション

Even if I think I should become like someone
Even if I pursue someone's rear
There's no prince waiting
and [these] glass shoes are an imitation

This part is about following in someone else's footsteps. In the second verse this is where additional themes are introduced. It mainly focuses on the type of the path taken to reach the goal and functions as an extension of what we've covered so far. This part also continues to call back to the Cinderella fairytale. The prince and the glass shoes are major elements of the fairytale, and represents the plot devices that enables Cinderella to return to the ball again after the magic spell has been broken. Here we are told that such things don't exist, and that following what other people have attempted does not lead anywhere. What this also implies is that there are others who have experienced the miracles and magical ending of the Cinderella tale. The full picture implies that the path that must be taken to fulfil their dreams and to leap to new horizons is one that has not been traveled before.

傷ついて　何度も傷ついて
ようやく　一歩　進めるの
叫ぶよ　'Cause I love you!
心のままに

To get hurt, to get hurt time and time again
At last I can make one step forward
[I'll] shout 'Cause I love you!
To my heart's content

To choose a path that has not been traveled is cool and badass, but of course choosing the path less traveled has its price. There's suffering, pain and the feeling that you aren't making any progress at all. Here, every step is a battle hard fought. The journey to grant one's dreams is riddled with obstacles.

There's a few themes about getting hurt in this song, particularly hinted at by the entire section about distrust earlier. Another way to interpret this is to consider that the barefoot Cinderella would literally get hurt from walking the path less traveled.

拓け！
ロードマップは壮大でいい
自由な道を描け　シンデレラ

Clear [the way]!
A grand roadmap is good
Draw a path of freedom, Cinderella

Despite all the suffering required to get far, this part is all about dreaming big. The roadmap being the path to take to achieve their dreams, this new path of freedom will be a path that would make all the pain up worth it.

誰だって未完成
不安など置いてゆけ

Everybody is imperfect
Leave things like anxiety behind

A change of pace to something more motivational. Leaving things behind in this sense is a bit more literal due to the whole theme of backpacking and traveling in this song. It effectively conveys the idea of leaving additional baggage and weight like anxieties behind as it will hinder the journey. This phrasing is simple but it succeeds in being very much in line with the theme of the whole song which is a very nice touch.

星明かり　照らす夜に
道なき道さがし　旅立とう

On the night where starlight shines
Let's depart to search for trackless paths

Searching for trackless paths is something that goes along well with the theme that we have established thus far. Searching on the night where starlight shines has several significant meanings that can be derived from it. First of all, the mention of stars earlier in the song was "outside the window". The lack of window in this context tells you that in order to finally progress their goals, Cinderella has set foot outside of the dusty basement. Second of all, there was a bit of mention of reaching her hand out to wish for something. That has changed now, even though the obstruction of the glass window no longer stands in her way, the transformed Cinderella seeks another method of finding her way to her goal. Finally, you might recall that the name of the game this was an anniversary song for is called Starlight Stage... The destination of an idol is the stage, and under the light of the stars in the night, our Cinderella will find her way to the Starlight Stage.

挑むべきは自分自身
もっと　Stay at the frontier!

The thing that must be challenged is yourself
More Stay at the frontier!

This part goes back to talk about the difficulties and challenges of walking a different path. It's saying that even though the path is difficult and there will be suffering, the most important part is to challenge yourself. Without the challenge there will be no growth, and without growth there is only stagnation.

だって　譲れない夢があるよ
「いつかきっと…」なんて待てないよ
願い星　つかみ取り
叶えたい　My story

After all, there are dreams that I cannot give up on you know
"Someday for sure..." I can't wait for stuff like that
Grasp the wishing star
I want to grant my story

Even though most of the song is pretty cool in how it describes a possibly naive girl awakening to the cruel realities of the world and deciding that becoming stronger to deliver oneself unto utopia is the best way forward, this part probably has the most emotional delivery of the song. The vocal delivery is full of regret. Its like "ah but this is what I truly wanted to accomplish and yet..." which gives it a strong contrast to the rest of the song. During this bridge the instrumentation and mainly the rock elements like electric guitar take a back seat, giving you this airy, open space feel. It's almost dream-like, being stuck between the dream and reality and perhaps realizing that the dream cannot end here. The section's instrumentation really stands out in that regard.

We know up to this point that Cinderella really wants to fulfil their dreams, but yet their past has taught them that they cannot sit idly to wait for such things, and they don't want to believe that just sitting around will be able to grant them. Try as we might to reject the Cinderella fairy tale, we come to realize one crucial thing: The desire to make dream into reality burns so strongly that they would stop at nothing to achieve it. Even if it means that they have to go back to ideals that they have rejected to begin with. Will there be someone or something that can grant My Story? She may not believe that such a thing exists, but what if...?

Reach out and grab the star, and embrace the possibilities that spring forth.

だから　拓け！
バックパックに希望つめて
自分の足で歩け　シンデレラ

That's why, Clear [the way]!
Cram your aspirations in a backpack
Walk on your own feet, Cinderella!

While we're on the victory lap here, I want to mention how this third 拓け has become another super iconic part of this song. Unlike the other two, this one is very emphasized. The music practically comes to a standstill just for the delivery of this line, and ever since it's first live performance in SS3A, Fuurin (Rin's seiyuu) has made it a point to shout it as loudly as possible. She's practices it constantly to the point of other seiyuus being able to identify if they're in a hotel room next to her. She's also known to frequent the vocal warmup/practice room at the venue backstage to practice this. Just a fun fact.

夢は他人に託すな
かけがえない権利

You can't entrust your dreams to other people
An irreplaceable right

お仕着せの幻想　捨てて
新たな地平へと飛び出そう

Throw away [the] fantasies imposed on you
Jump out towards new horizons

守るべきは過去じゃない
ずっと　Stay at the frontier!

The thing that must be protected is not the past
Continuously Stay at the frontier!

Yuta mentioned something about the song theme being Cinderella changing their way of thinking and taking on new challenges. In a way the song is meant to contrast "the past Cinderella" and the "present Cinderella" which choses a different way to the destination. I do hope that what I've given to you throughout this song gives you a good taste of that.

Most anniversary songs are not just a reflection of major themes in the franchise in combination with new themes, but also contain elements that reflect the character that is center for that particular year. In the case of 3rd anniversary, we have Rin and the whole theme dissatisfaction and finding her own way is something that is very Rin-like.

Many people may remember GIRLS in the FRONTIER for various different things, but this song really stands out for having one of the most unique lyrics in the franchise. That combined with its exciting, high energy instrumentation undoubtedly makes it a fan favorite in live and possibly one of the reasons it placed so highly. I'm rather partial to the 7th live Glowing Rock live band arrangement, being there in the crowd when this dropped as the opener was a life changing experience. Even without the gimmicks like the live band startup in 7th and the monologue in SS3A at the start of this post, part of the magic of this song is how fast it goes from 0 to 100 in terms of energy and how it builds hype so incredibly well.

In conclusion, GIRLS in the FRONTIER is great. It's amazing. It's been chosen to be the number 1 song in the franchise on the 10th anniversary out of hundreds of songs. It's even made it as the final song in the 10 song medley in EVERLASATING, the franchise's 10th anniversary song. The 3rd anniversary of Starlight Stage might have been over 3 years ago at this point, but this song has survived the test of time. The song has stayed at the frontier.