Overview
CocktaiL is an original pop track by the utaite (singer) collective XYZ, a unit that brings together some of the most recognizable voices in the Japanese doujin vocal scene. Composed by Mafumafu (まふまふ) with arrangement by Hiroshi Sasaki (佐々木裕), the song layers eight distinct vocalists, Mafumafu, luz, nqrse, Araki, un:c, Senra, Soraru, and Pico, over a bright, cocktail-shaker beat at 128 BPM. The lyrics, co-written by Mafumafu, nqrse, and luz, paint a night-out fantasy: glasses clinking, city lights swirling, and the promise of dancing until dawn. The cocktail metaphor runs through every verse, with references to gin, Kirsch (キール), and a "Mariaju" (blend) of two people meeting, all wrapped in the unit's signature blend of smooth harmonies and playful rap cadences.
Premiering in maimai as part of the debut maimai DX (でらっくす) lineup on November 29, 2019, CocktaiL sits in the niconico & VOCALOID genre category. Its Master chart, designed by Jack, earned a 12.7 difficulty constant with a dense 673-note layout that leans heavily on Tap notes (523) punctuated by Slide patterns and Break accents. The Expert chart by Shichimi Hertz (シチミヘルツ) offers a more measured 322-note experience at level 9, making it a natural step-up for players working toward the upper tiers. The song's official MV, produced by MONO-Devoid with illustration by 鮫子, visualizes the cocktail-party imagery with a stylized, colorful aesthetic that matches the track's effervescent mood.
Videos
Charts
DX
BASIC
2(2)
123 notesDesigner: -|Tap 97Hold 11Slide 3Touch 8Break 4
ADVANCED
6(6)
248 notesDesigner: -|Tap 188Hold 20Slide 9Touch 11Break 20
EXPERT
9(9)
322 notesDesigner: シチミヘルツ|Tap 183Hold 56Slide 33Touch 40Break 10
MASTER
12+(12.7)
673 notesDesigner: Jack|Tap 523Hold 44Slide 77Touch 15Break 14
Trivia
- CocktaiL was composed by Mafumafu (まふまふ), one of the most prolific utaite-turned-producers in the Japanese doujin scene, known for hits such as "Kingham" and his work with the unit After the Rain.
- The song features eight vocalists from the XYZ unit: Mafumafu, luz, nqrse, Araki, un:c, Senra, Soraru, and Pico, making it a showcase of the collective's full roster.
- Lyrics were co-written by three of the vocalists: Mafumafu, nqrse, and luz, with Soraru handling the mix engineering.
- The cocktail-themed lyrics reference specific drinks and techniques, gin being poured to melt a frozen Queen (a cocktail term), Kirsch (cherry brandy), and the concept of a 'marriage' (blend) between two people.
- The jacket art and MV illustration were handled by 鮫子 (Sameko), with video production by MONO-Devoid, giving the track a polished music-video presence unusual for a game-original song at the time of its release.
- CocktaiL appeared on the album おとぎ (Otogi, 2019), and was subsequently released as a digital single by XYZ on July 28, 2021.
- In the Asian version of maimai DX, CocktaiL was added on July 9, 2020; the Chinese version received it on August 14, 2020.
- The Master chart's difficulty has fluctuated across maimai versions: originally level 12 at launch, it was raised to 12+ in DX PLUS, lowered back to 12 in Splash, then returned to 12+ from Splash PLUS onward.
- The Expert chart started at level 8+ in the original maimai DX, was bumped to 9 in DX PLUS, and has remained at 9 since.
- The Basic chart was originally level 3 and was reduced to level 2 starting with UNiVERSE PLUS.
FAQ
- Who composed CocktaiL?
- CocktaiL was composed by Mafumafu (まふまふ), with arrangement by Hiroshi Sasaki (佐々木裕). The lyrics were co-written by Mafumafu, nqrse, and luz.
- Which vocalists perform on CocktaiL?
- The song features eight vocalists from the XYZ unit: Mafumafu, luz, nqrse, Araki, un:c, Senra, Soraru, and Pico, each contributing to different sections of the track.
- When was CocktaiL added to maimai?
- CocktaiL was added to the Japanese version of maimai DX on November 29, 2019. The Asian version received it on July 9, 2020, and the Chinese version on August 14, 2020.
- What difficulty are the CocktaiL charts in maimai?
- CocktaiL has four DX charts: Basic at level 2, Advanced at level 6, Expert at level 9 (designed by Shichimi Hertz), and Master at level 12+ with a 12.7 constant (designed by Jack).
- What is the song CocktaiL about?
- The lyrics describe a lively party night built around cocktail imagery, gin, Kirsch, colorful drinks, and the metaphor of two people blending together like a mixed drink. The chorus invites listeners to dance until dawn with the repeated refrain 'Cheers! Cheers!'
- Who designed the Master chart for CocktaiL?
- The Master chart was designed by Jack, a frequent maimai chart contributor known for dense, tap-heavy patterns. The Expert chart was designed by Shichimi Hertz (シチミヘルツ).
