Kira Kira Bomb

D:

2008-10-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

BECAUSE H!P IS DEPRESSING, a list of elder club members that I'm REALLY going to miss (in order):

1. Konno Asami
2. Yaguchi Mari
3. Tsuji Nozomi
4. Yoshizawa Hitomi
5. Ogawa Makoto (She just got back, too ;__;)
6. Matsuura Aya
7. Maeda Yuki

I'll miss all of the other members too, but the members above are the ones that I'm going to BAWWWW over. Konno Asami is my favorite H!P member of all time. I was so sad when she left MoMusu and H!P, then RELIEVED when she rejoined H!P and joined Ongaku Gatas, and now I'm DEVASTATED that she's leaving again. My poor wota heart can't take it!

I mean...I'm not really worried about Marippe because she's been SO successful outside of H!P with her TV show and such. As for Ayaya and Maeda Yuki, I feel like H!P has been ignoring them for a long time anyway, and that their careers will blossom outside of H!P! I imagine that Ayaya will sign to a bigger label and will produce more music while Maeda Yuki will most likely sign to a label that exclusively deals with Enka music. I'm also not that worried about Yossie, simply because she's going to be in the new unit Hangry&Angry, which I assume will still be managed by Tsunku, just not under H!P, so she'll continue to work.

I AM worried about Konkon, Nono, and Mako though. I mean...they're idols, through and through. None of them have amazing voices or incredible looks. They became popular because of their personalities and extreme moe. I *doubt* that any of them will go on to be singers outside of H!P. I can see Mako going on to acting, but I don't think it's going to happen. Most likely, Konkon, Nono and Mako will fade in obscurity, which absoltuely BREAKS MY HEART, especially in regards to Konkon.

I realize that UpFront hasn't been giving most of the Elder Club any work for a long time now anyways, so graduation from H!P and UpFront presents great new opportunities for many of the girls. However, I absolutely believe that we'll never hear from some of them again. KONNNKOOONNNNNN! D:

Now, H!P can be free to be the shiny sparkly pre-pubescent money-maker that it's always longed to be. More 12 year olds, right Tsunku?! What's that Tsunku? Bikini photobooks for the younger EGGs? Why, that's a captial idea! How about a bikini themed group made up of a new generation of pre-EGGs...we'll call them InUtero!

D:

In happier H!P news: apparently Aibon will be releasing a mini-disc in the future! YAY! Kago's going to be making music again, and this time she'll be writing her own lyrics!

Not Angry ...but Hangry for more!

2008-10-13T16:50:00.001-07:00

What life changing event has once again summoned me from my hiatus to blog about H!P? Hangry&Angry, of course. The H!P blogosphere is going to be over this unit like glitter on Reina's pig-tails. So, why not me too?

First off, I'm *thrilled* about the idea of this duo! It's absolutely unlike anything that H!P has ever done before! Their debut song, "Kill Me Kiss Me" (which is being released on November 19) is a true rock song! Yossie's voice suits the song (and rock-music in general) really well. I think that many of the songs that she sang while she was in Morning Musume held back the potential of her voice. She's truly able to unleash the true power of her voice in this type of rock-song. I was a little bit more worried about what Rika-chan's voice would sound like, but I was pleasantly surprised! Her voice actually really suits the song as well! And while I never really liked the dynamic between Yossie and Charmmy, I'm sure that they'll do well in this unit. I'm just happy that they're getting to do things outside of Ongaku Gatas!

And now...the STYLE! I like it. I'm not so much in love *with the outfits themselves*, but the concept is AMAZING and DIFFERENT. I mean, it's like, "Tsunku took a risk and did something completely different? Was that a pig that just flew past the window?!"

Just because it's not "typical H!P" doesn't mean that it can't be meaningful or good. I think that a lot of people will be changing their minds (for the better) once a PV is released and the girls get to perform live!

Edo no Temari Uta II

2008-07-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

Is anyone else at a loss about °C-ute's new single, "Edo no Temari Uta II"? I'll start off by saying that I do enjoy their outfits and the PV.

I know that the outfits for this single have come under criticism, but I happen to like my H!P costumes colorful and cutesy and guady, so I was actually quite pleased when I first saw them. However, Maimi's giant puffy red costume is a bit too much even for me...you can barely see her underneath all of that fabric! I think that the costumes could have been even better had they shared more of a common design. I mean, they obviously all share a common theme, but design-wise, it was if someone couldn't make up their mind on cut, color, or fabric, so they went with everything.

The PV is cute if not a bit boring and formulaic (dance shot + close-ups). Does anyone else think that the faceless backup dancers are a bit creepy? Anyways, the close-up shots were my favorite parts of the PV. All of the girls look very cute and charismatic. Also, is anyone else reminded of a certain other H!P PV? The Japanese theme, low budget, weird cheap set remind me of Berryz Koubou's "Tsukiatteiru no ni Kataomoi" PV. Hm. I didn't really like that PV too much either. Why? Well, it was boring. At least "Edo no Temari Uta II" is colorful.

Now, let's get to the song itself! This is the first time that °C-ute is releasing a single not composed by Tsunku. "Edo no Temari Uta II" was composed by Uzaki Ryudo. I googled him and apparently he was in a band in the 1970s called the Downtown Boogie-Woogie Band. I think that this explains a lot about this new single. Listening to it, it's difficult to distinguish the chorus from the rest of the verses. It just kind of seems all over the place. The "Eh~ Eh~" parts are catchy, but that's really the only part of the song that is catchy. I mean...I've listened to the song about 10 times trying to get it to grow on me, and I still can't remember how it goes. I never thought I'd say this, but I miss the Tsunku-ness!

The Verdict?:
-Maimi's costume is puffy and gigantic and awful.
-Costumes should have a common design.
-PV could benefit from some kind of storyline (and a bigger budget).
-Song is all over the place.
-NEEDS MOAR TSUNKU?!

Going bananas for "Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance" (I couldn't help myself...)

2008-06-29T00:10:00.000-07:00

What startingly important event has drawn me out of my H!P-blogging hybernation, you ask? What world-shaking catastrophe has inspired me to post?

Berryz Koubou's Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance!!! Yes, I know, it's terribly surprising that not even Koharu's latest caterwauling on "Pa Pancake" was enough to spark a bit of interest in blogging again. So...why "Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance" you ask? Well, watch for yourselves:

See? THEY'RE WEARING MONKEY SUITS! Um...yes, I probably could be more intelligent in describing the appeal of this music video, but, I kind of feel like that ruins the purpose. I mean, what more could you want in a H!P music video? Let's review the awesomeness factors of this music video:

-Girls looking and acting adorable whilst dressed in red monkey costumes.
-Risako totally rocking her solo lines (when did this begin?!).
-Even line and screen time distribution (I can see Saki and Maasa!).
-Awesome and catchy song.
-Cute and *original/creative* concept (Where did Tsunku pull this one out of?).
-Cute costumes (I'm really liking those shiny skirts).
-Great hair/makeup/closeups (The girls are all looking amazingly pretty).
-Cute/awesome dance.

Plus...did I mention that it has the girls dressed as MONKEYS? I did? Oh...well...there's also a GIANT BANANA in the background! FTW!

MONKEYYYYYYS!!!

Idolizing Our Idols

2008-04-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted for what seems like a really long time, and I feel that I sort of owe anyone who reads this blog an explanation.

Yes, I've been sick, but that isn't really the reason why I haven't been blogging. The real reason is that my interest in H!P has begun to waver. I've been a H!P fan for over four years now, and in all honesty, this is the first time in those four years that I've ever truly lost interest in H!P.

How could this have happened? Well, to be blunt: Korean music. I have been listening to Dong Bang Shin Ki (DBSK/TVXQ/Tohoshinki), Big Bang, BoA, and Super Junior pretty much non-stop for the past two weeks. I'm incredibly impressed by not only the amazing vocal talents, but also the dancing ability, charisma, and personalities of the performers. I love H!P dearly, but in all reality, no matter how much we love the H!P girls, they're not the best singers in the world...actually, far from it. Most of them are average, quite a few are terrible, and only a few are above average. Then, when I listen to Korean music after listening to H!P, I'm just amazed at the difference of vocal quality.

Perhaps another reason that I now prefer Korean music to Hello!Project can be found in the nature of the two different cultures themeselves. Female singers in Korea do not seem to have to appear as "fake" as Japanese female singers in order to impress their male fans. As wota, we all know what that "high-squeaky-cute-idol-voice" is, and which idols use it (Kago and Tsuji, anyone?). In Korea, women can be fierce, even diva-esque...more similar to Koda Kumi than to anyone in H!P (with the exception of maybe Fujimoto Miki). I know that the image of Korean stars is still very tightly controlled, but it seems as if Korean media-culture is more open-minded and accepting of the fact that idols are people, too.

What first comes to mind when I write this is DBSK's various appearances on variety shows. From these appearances, we now know that Changmin likes to watch porn (a lot), YunHo has moobs, Micky had/has terrible family problems, JaeJoong is insecure about his popularity, etc. I mean...these qualities are very human, aren't they? But...what do we really know about the H!P girls? Yes, we know what foods they like, and maybe even what their personality is like (or at least the personality that they present to us), but do we really know anything about them as people?

However, all that I have previously written is not *really* the main purpose of this post. This is:

Last night, I was feeling very depressed and homesick. I was clicking through my ipod, trying to decide what to listen to, and nothing seemed more appropriate than Morning Musume. So, I decided on "Suki na Sempai" and began to listen. Instantly, I felt better...Morning Musume made me feel a bit closer to home, a bit warmer inside. All I had to do was picture KonKon's smiling face...the 5th gen's tears at KonKon's and Makoto's graduation concert, all singing "Suki na Sempai" laughing *and* crying... back then, it was if H!P meant something. It was more than just looking sexy, or trying to be funny, or desperately trying to avoid scandal...it was warm and represented friendship and happiness and real feelings.

I think that Up-Front would be pleasantly surprised if they actually let their idols be themselves. Yes, I know that we as wota are supposed to love idols for their "adorable and unique quirks" but really, how much do we really know? I think that Aibon is a great example of this. Even though it was acceptable for her to be imperfect and goofy, as soon as she slipped up and acted *human* and *flawed* she was dismissed.

Because "Suki na Sempai" has restored my faith in H!P a bit, I will continue to support H!P and pray for the success and well being of all of the girls. However, from now on, my outlook will be unapologetically changed.

Resonant Blue: Alternate Version

2008-04-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

Tsunku, you scamp, you! You had me worried with that first release of the "Resonant Blue" PV! Silly, Tsunku!

I was SO happy when I saw this PV! I had posted in a reply to a comment on my previous "Resonant Blue" PV response that I hoped that the screen-time distrubution would help to even out the very uneven line distrubution. I was worried at first that the entire first half of the PV didn't have ANY appearances by the 8th gen. However, when the second half of the PV began, I was thrilled to see Mittsi and the Pandas get significant attention. I particurally liked the scene of LinLin and JunJun eating together at a Chinese restaurant. It was just such a natural and cute scene, and it makes me happy to think of them enjoying a little piece of home, even when they are in Japan.

Reina's cut-away scene shows her walking through a tunnel, working that sexy yankii fashion sense of hers...and seriously, she has an incredibly sexy vibe! I've always thought of Reina being more of a parody of what is sexy, but she truly works it in this PV!

I also thought that Mittsi looked adorable waiting for the train to come. I wasn't a fan of her new haircut at first, but after seeing her work it on HaroMoni and now in this PV, I have to say that it's *adorable* and that she really makes it look super cute. She looks so young and innocent in the PV, something that really makes me go, "Awwww!"

The scenes of them in the dance studio were also really great. It really pulled together the idea that, "Hey, this is what Morning Musume does when they're not in the public eye!" The shots of the girls hanging out, going places, doing interviews, practicing their dancing, etc. makes for a really endearing concept for the PV.

My only question now is why Tsunku didn't release THIS PV first, rather than having the Dance Shot be the "main" version of the PV. I mean, this "alternate version" of the PV is probably my favorite MoMusu PV since "Egao YES Nude".

To Kago, With Love...

2008-04-07T00:48:00.000-07:00

It seems that Kago Ai is finally telling her side of the story to Ohmynews in a 6 part video series.

Sigh. Where to start? I was the biggest Aibon fan ever. She was the first girl that I really fell for in H!P, and she remained my constant favorite up until the time that she was finally fired from H!P. She dissapointed me in so many ways, and it still hurts to think about her sometimes.

I felt so betrayed by how seemingly carelessly she acted towards her fans. However, I can't really be mad. I mean, she is a human being with a life. Her fans shouldn't have to be her number one priority...she has to do what is right for her. Still, what hurt most about her scandal was that she would be taken away from her fans.

She's looking very grown up in the videos and pictures. Her hair has been cut short and is worn in a mature style. Her clothing is modest and simple and she appears soft spoken and gracious. She no longer seems like a child at all.

After reading the following: "My mother and father divorced on that day. At that time, when I was down, my boyfriend had gone far away. I'd known him for a while, and I was close to him. He lived nearby, in Kusatsu (prefecture). I said I wanted to go, but since there was so much snow, going by car would be dangerous. So we went and stayed at the Japanese inn." (taken from hello-online.org), I couldn't help but feel compassion for Aibon. I can't even imagine what she must have been feeling after the second scandal exploded.

In all honesty, I could care less about what my idols do in their personal lives. They're people just like the rest of us. They have their imperfections...they seek comfort when they feel pain, and they don't always do what is best for their image, not because they want to spite us, but because it's what they have to do for themselves.

So, although it makes my heart hurt a bit watching her all grown up, I will continue to support her as an actress, because even through it all, she's still very dear to my heart.

The ℃-ute(st) Milky Way!

2008-04-04T14:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, two new H!P PVs came out recently and I have some strong feelings about both of them. The first is Milky Way's (the new Kirarin Revolution group) "Anataboshi" and the other is ℃-ute's "Namida no iro."

First up, "Anataboshi"!

I can't help but like this PV, despite Koharu Kusumi's presence, which would normally be enough of a turn off to make me completely ignore this PV. However, Koharu's two unit-mates, Kikkawa Yuu and Kitahara Sayaka, more than make up for Koharu's presence. I'm a big sucker for brightly colored and super-cute costumes, and this PV definitely has that covered. There's plenty of lace, bows, and frills to go around! Koharu's costume is especially cute, which pains me to say.

The dance is reminiscent of an irish "river dance" and manages to look super where it could have looked silly. The song itself is very catchy and fast paced. Throughout the day after watching this PV, I found myself humming at random times. I was really impressed with Kitahara Sayaka's and Kikkawa Yuu's voices. They managed to interject a lot of feeling into their singing performances and even managed to make their voices stand out against Koharu's...um, noticable voice...which is a feat in itself. Despite my personal feelings towards Koharu, she did sing the song well...I mean, her voice is almost bearable, which is the most you'll get me to say about her voice....

I really enjoyed the "camera looking down shots." The consisted of the girls looking up and interacting with the camera, which is filming from above looking down. I especially enjoyed Kikkawa Yuu in these shots...she looks really beautiful and is extremely charismatic when interacting with the camera. Her eyes are beautiful and mesmerizing. Sayaka's "looking up shots" were also enjoyable, but she didn't come across as easy-going and natural as Yuu did.

All in all, "Anataboshi" is a feast for the eyes. It's a "super-kawaii-and-genki" PV in the most traditional of idol-fashions. The eggs performed admirably and Koharu is bearable. I originally expected to hate this unit, but, so far, I think that it's my favorite of all of Tsunku's Kirarin-related-efforts. I can't stop watching this PV...it's like a pastel-colored sundae for the soul.

Next up, "Namida no iro."

I was expecting this PV to be a lot like "Tokkaiko Junjou." The dance and the girls' outfits, however, are where the similarities end. Tsunku really needs to stop setting H!P PVs in white rooms...seriously. Get them a real set and...gasp...some semblance of a plot? "Namida no iro" is interesting to watch for about 10 seconds. After that it is just more of the same...dancing, close-ups, dancing, close-ups...sigh. However, "Namida no iro" is a definite step back in the right direction. I really like this more "kakkoi" image over the image that they had in their "last PV that shall remained unnamed because it pains me..."

Not much else to say about this PV, except that all of the girls look absolutely beautiful. Mai has grown up so much and is looking more and more beautiful everyday. Her voice has also matured a lot! Umeda Erika's beauty also shines in this PV! Perhaps this PV will grow on me...I mean, it's not a *bad* PV, it's just not as spectacular as it could have been. I should learn from my past experiences and stop expecting too much...it's better to just sit back, relax, and enjoy what is offered.

*As a side note, after posting this, I watched "Namida no iro" again, and I think I might enjoy a dance shot better...then again, I'm a big sucker for dance-shot versions....

Sweet Conversion

2008-03-30T14:36:00.001-07:00

Sigh. Somehow, against all odds, it has happened. I suppose that it was only a matter of time before her bold personality, silly antics, and super-cute face got to my heart. Yes, I'm talking about JunJun. Yes, she's now one of my favorite Musumes.

I suppose that the story of how I came to love Junjun is very similar to the story of how I came to love Konno Asami. You see, at first I didn't like Konno Asami at all. I thought that she was terribly unnattractive and boring, that is, until I saw a clip from a Hello! Morning episode in which Morning Musume was playing a game trying to tell which foods on a table were real. Well, it ended up with Konno crying from frustration, and I instantly fell in love with her. I guess I have a thing for the underdogs, right?

At first, I didn't think that JunJun was cute at all. I didn't think much of her voice, and she looked terribly akward in photos. I thought of her as kind of a dud with no personality. That all changed, however, when I started watching her on Haromoni and I couldn't resist her personality! She makes the funniest faces, and she's definitely an individual. I think that out of all of the members of Morning Musume, she's the least idol-like, and yet, I think that's why I like her the most. She just seems true to herself! It also doesn't hurt that she's grown out of some of her akwardness and has become to beautiful recently...

As her Japanese gets better and better, she's better able to show her bright personality. I only hope that she continues to get opportunities in the future to shine!

Resonant Blue is not resonating with me!

2008-03-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

Well, everyone in the H!P blogosphere is posting their reactions to Morning Musume's latest PV for their latest single, "Resonant Blue." I had some strong reactions, so I thought that I would too.

Midway through watching the PV, it occurred to me that someone watching this video without knowing anything about Morning Musume would assume that there were only three members (Ai, Reina, and Koharu), with the rest of the girls just serving as backup dancers. I mean, yes, Mittsi gets a close up in the beginning, and we sometimes see Eri or Risa in the background, but where are Sayumi, LinLin, and JunJun? Oh yeah, Sayumi had ONE closeup...I almost forgot (which is rather easy to do with this PV).

I'm just SO incredibly sick of Reina and Koharu. Koharu, like always, looks like she's on the verge of a seizure brought on by how happy she is, and Reina's makeup makes her look slutty. I can see Tsunku's justification for putting Ai in the forefront, because she's a talented singer and dancer (and the leader), but why Koharu and Reina? Just because they're wota-bait? I mean, we all know that Koharu can't sing and that Reina's voice can be shrill and grating, so why not put Risa or Eri in the front for a change? Or give some other members screen time?

And what about the PV itself? A DANCE SHOT? Why??? WHY??? Is Morning Musume's budget so low that they had to raid someone's wardrobe from 1995? The dance is kind of cool, but lord, not for the entire PV! Is it just me, or does it seem as if Morning Musume's PVs have the smallest budgets out of all of the H!P groups...if this is Tsunku's "new vision" for Morning Musume, I don't know if I want to be a part of it. I love Morning Musume dearly, and I was really excited when I heard the new song, but this PV has just pierced my heart.

I really hope that this new PV makes some people happy, but unfortunately, I am not one of them.

Milky Wtf?

2008-03-03T17:34:00.001-08:00

By now, I'm sure most of you have found out that Milky Way will consist of Koharu Kusumi, Kikkawa Yuu, and Kitahara Sayaka. I'm not surprised at all that this turned out to be another Kirarin Revolution group. I am, however, dissapointed in not only the news itself, but in Hello!Project as a whole. I wanted so much for this new group to be something exciting and new, but instead it's the same old crud that H!P's been shoveling to us for the past few years.

The fact that Koharu Kusumi is in yet another sub-unit adds even more salt to the wound. I'm sure that anyone who has read my blog knows my opinion of the "miracle" member. And seriously, do we really need another Kirarin group? I mean, Koharu has her Kirari-centric solo career, there's KiraPika, and now there's Milky Way. Why can't we form all of these groups into a single group under the umbrella of Kirarin Revolution? It would make more sense. I mean, at this rate, in 5 years, there will be 15 Kirarin sub-groups!

The only positive thing that I will say about Milky Way: Kikkawa Yuu is in it (I've been waiting for her to get more exposure) AND we get to see another egg come out of obscurity.

On an unrelated note: Mano Erina...a SOLOIST? WTF, Tsunku? I'm really losing faith in H!P...I mean, I still adore it and love it to tiny bits, but...what the hell? Then again, Koharu is also a soloist, so, I guess anything goes, right? I do prefer a cutesy idol, so, if Tsunku decides to go with a cute image for Erina, I might have some interest. I mean, her voice is MUCH better than Koharu's, so...

Blah. What am I saying? I don't even know...I'm just kind of angry at the H!P universe right now. Don't mind my disgruntled incoherent ramblings....

Milky Way?

2008-02-28T19:50:00.000-08:00

I can't help but speculate about the possible new H!P unit, Milky Way, which is set to come out with the single, "Anata Boshi" on April 30th. There is no more information available--in fact, I don't even think that it can be 100% confirmed that it will be in fact a H!P unit. However, that doesn't stop me from dreaming and hoping.

Everytime I hear of a new H!P unit being formed, I hope and pray that it's not a) an anime unit or b) a "cause" unit like EcoMoni. It's been a while since a unit was created simply for the sake of creating a unit. KiraPika, Athena & Robikerottsu, and Buono! were all anime units, while Ongaku Gatas (no matter how much I still love them) was created from the H!P futsal team. The last group to be created without such a purpose was (to my knowledge) °C-ute, which was officially announced by Tsunku on June 11, 2005. I'm cautious about adding the unit of Abe Natsumi and Yajima Maimi, because of the probable one-shot status of the group. So, with Biyuuden being disbanded after its next single, has Tsunku finally decided to create a new and fresh unit?

I can only hope that the new unit has some fresh faces in it, maybe some eggs? I would also love to see Ayaka do more work within Hello!Project--I mean, the only thing that I've seen her do recently is Uta Doki. Another person who I would love to see return to singing is Yaguchi Mari. It would be amazingly awesome if Marippe was in the new unit! I waited for so long for her to have a singing career after Morning Musume, that I was beginning to lose hope. It could also be that one or more of the girls from Biyuuden to be in this new unit.

Also, knowing how unpredictable Tsunku can be, I wouldn't be that surprised if he brought in new girls to H!P for this unit, kind of like he did with Coconuts Musume and Country Musume back in the day.

In any case, Milky Way is a cool name and I'm hoping for the best!

Inspiration ga hoshii desu!

2008-02-18T10:25:00.000-08:00

As a college student striving for perfection (or even a hard earned B) I find that sometimes I need a little inspiration. Morning Musume not only gives us some great "cheer-me-up" music, but over the years, they've given us lots of songs to inspire us. So, I've compiled this playlist of inspirational songs to all of those MoMusu fans out there who need a little inspiration now and then...

1. Ship! To The Future

OK, let’s come together, from today, towards tomorrow
OK, let the ship to the future set off!
OK, let’s come together, and take our lives into the future
OK, let the ship to the future set off! Ah ah

2. Ambitious! Yashinteki de Ii jan

Jump! Jump! Let's take off
I have the wings of an angel
If you look up, there's the future
Boys & Girls! Be Ambitious

3. Aruiteru

Walking
You're not alone,
everyone is here,
earnestly wish for peace

4. Do it! Now

Do it! Now
The ticket to the future that you hold
will grant your dreams, surely grant them
So let's go

5. Ai Araba IT'S ALL RIGHT

Doing things you like
is better than doing things you're good at
Let's become even greater
than victory in that place

6. Mikan

I've tripped over love countless times
But surely I'll always stand back up
Whether you're a great adult or a beginner,
it's the same thing

7. Koko ni Iruzee!

Yes! Wonderland
You live life only once
Let's learn enough to pack our stomachs
Yes! Wonderland
Spread the wings of your dreams
Break through
Break through from yourself!

8. HEY! Mirai

"Now, the future is beginning!"
I want to become famous!
I want to become strong!
Dreams always have endless potential

9. Ganbacchae!

Give it your all!
If there's peace every day
It's so nice and calm
Little by little we’ve grown up
And experienced nature

10. Watashi ga Tsuiteru。

Don't hide
Come over here
It's okay if you lose
It's okay if you turn way
Don't just give in and run away

1st GOODSAL or 1st MEDIOCRESAL?

2008-02-11T13:04:00.001-08:00

After writing so positively of Ongaku Gatas in my previous post, I feel as if it's my duty to review their first album, "1st GOODSAL" which debuted at #7 on the oricon chart.

1. Dakishimete...Namida
I really enjoy this song a lot. It reminds me of a lot of the songs put out during Morning Musume's "golden age". The chorus is unbelievably catchy...it emphasizes how nice all of the girls sound when they sing together.

2. Osaki ni Sunzurei
An upbeat "fun" song. I don't know...there's nothing particurally catchy or amazing about this song. It's very typical H!P filler fare, and I don't think it's very memorable. In fact, I doubt that many people will remember this song after listening to it.

3. Narihajimeta Koi no BELL
Their first single--I can't say anything about this song that I haven't already before. It's super catchy, dance-y, amazing, and one of my favorite H!P songs. Listen to it!

4. Seishun no Custard (By Yoshizawa Hitomi and Satoda Mai)
Very 70's and "disco" sounding. It's an "ok" song. I found myself getting really annoyed everytime they sing "Seishun no Cusu-tard-o". It's very repetative and not that great...an average song.

5. Kokoro no Tanima (By Noto Arisa and Mano Erina)
For some reason, this actually reminds me on an AKB48 song or a song from the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon soundtrack, which is a good thing (to me at least). If you don't like cutesy voices, stear clear of this one, because it's sweeter than pixie-sticks. It's a slower, mellow-sounding song. I actually rather like this one. If you like shoujo-anime soundtracks, this song may be of interest to you.

6. Yattarouze!
Ongaku Gatas second "dance-tastic" single! I like this song a lot, especially with its slightly latin feel. Catchy and head-bopping worthy.

7. Chikyuu to Tsuki Kare to Watashi (By Ishikawa Rika, Konno Asami, Sengoku Minami and Sawada Yuri)
This song reminds me of Sera Myu (the Sailor Moon musicals). It's theatrical-sounding and pretty typical idol-fare. It's a decent song, but not one of the best on the CD.

8. Kara Genki (By Yoshizawa Hitomi, Ishikawa Rika, Satoda Mai and Konno Asami)
This song reminds me a lot of "Chikyuu to Tsuki Kare to Watashi" which isn't really a good thing in my opinion, especially since one follows the other. Another average track--nothing that stands out...not particurally good or bad or memorable.

9. Koi Uranai Doori ni wa Naranai wa (By Korenaga Miki, Noto Arisa, Mano Erina, Sengoku Minami, Sawada Yuri and Mutou Mika)
Oh god. This track is REALLY similar to the previous two, except with more emotion and slighly catchier. Honestly, why didn't Tsunku just leave out the previous two and put this one on the CD?

10. Kiss Shiyou (By Ishikawa Rika and Konno Asami)
Proof that Konkon and Charmmy can sing now! I really like this song, especially the chorus. It's mellow and slow but compelling. It has enough substance that you might actually find it stuck in your head.

In conclusion:

It's probably important to note that even though this CD debuted at #7, the very next day it was at #20, and only four days later it was ranked at #44. I think that says a lot. Based on their first two singles, I was expecting an amazing dance-worthy album of epic win. What I ended up getting was an average H!P album full of average and repetative songs. The only songs that are really worth while on this CD are of course the tracks from their singles and as well as "Dakishimete...Namida", "Kokoro no Tanima", "Koi Uranai Doori ni wa Naranai wa" and "Kiss Shiyou." However, not even those few slightly above average songs can save this CD from its utterly average mediocrity.

I love Ongaku Gatas!

2008-02-02T17:27:00.000-08:00

Why do I love Ongaku Gatas so much? I mean, they're a relatively new unit with only two singles, half of their members are little-known eggs, and their PVs are simple, nothing fancy. So what's to love?

Well, for starters, the reamurgence of much loved faces! Ongaku Gatas was not only Yossie's first group post-Morning Musume, but Konkon also returned to H!P to be in Ongaku Gatas. For that reason alone, I think that Ongaku Gatas is worth my interest. I'm not a big fan of Ishikawa, but now that she's not going to be in V-u-den anymore, Ongaku Gatas is another group where her fans will get to see her.

Another aspect that I like about them was something that I originally disliked about them: So many eggs! Initially, I thought, "Oh great, inexperienced members who will weigh down the charisma of the group." After a while though, the fact that the group has new faces for the fans to get familiar with, grew on me. I found myself curious about the eggs in the PVs, wondering what their personalities were like. Now, I consider myself a huge fan of Noto Arisa (so cute!) and Mutou Mika, two eggs who really stood out to me in the "Narihajimeta Koi no BELL" PV.

I've also been a huge fan of both singles that they've released thus far: "Narihajimeta Koi no BELL" and "Yattarouze". Both tracks are incredibly catchy, and despite the wide range of vocal abilities of Ongaku Gatas members, the vocals are surprisingly good overall. I didn't know what to expect from girls like Mutou Mika or Korenaga Miki who were primarily brought into H!P to play futsal, not sing.

The PVs that Ongaku Gatas have released have been praised and critisized. Both PVs are very simple, but in my opinion, well done. I *loved* the PV for ""Narihajimeta Koi no BELL". The dark colors in the PV made it stand out, and I was really impressed with how well the eggs interacted with the camera. Unlike some H!P kids, they really engaged the camera with their facial expressions and movements. Not to mention the fact that all of the members danced incredibly well.

I'm incredibly excited about Ongaku Gatas upcoming album, "1st GOODSAL"! The only thing that could make me any more excited about this group would be if they released a photobook, which would be amazing. (On an unrelated note, when are we going to get a Mittsi photobook?!).

16sai no Koi Nante

2008-01-22T11:20:00.000-08:00

I know that I'm pretty late in discussing the new unit of Abe Natsumi & Yajima Maimi and their first single, "16sai no Koi Nante" however, I thought better late than never.

Oh lord, I was quite confused when Tsunku sprung this unit on us. I kept thinking to myself, "Why would he pair someone so young with someone who's in their late twenties?" It didn't make sense to me. Even after hearing the song for the first time, I wasn't impressed, and when the CM was released, I was even less impressed! The blue background and Maimai's schoolgirl outfit just made it seem so drab and cliche. THEN, I watched the PV and I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it is the two girls waiting in line to enter a ramen shop.......for the entire PV. However, what struck me about the PV was not the concept itself, but rather the realism of the PV. I know that it's not particularly realistic to say that a 26 year old and a 16 year old would be going to a ramen shop together, but if you listen to the lyrics, it makes sense.

I like the ordinariness of the PV, although I wish that perhaps they would actually *enter* the ramen shop, or do something outside of standing in line. I am glad, however, that the PV wasn't interspersed with the CM shots of blue-background Maimai and Abe. That would have taken away from the honesty of the PV.

Now, for your understanding, the translated lyrics (not by me, but found on the internet):

Don’t know what the love
of 26-year-old is like
but as far as I’ve heard
it isn’t such a pure feeling

The love of 16-year-old
is only an old bittersweet memory
youth, it's such a long time away
thinking about it now, it's just like children playing

Not good not good not good not good
it’s time for exams exams exams exams
but I'm still living on with love
my head is filled with only that thing

Fine fine fine fine
that kind of thing after all after all after all after all
it's like fireworks in summer isn't it
gone but soon it’ll be back again

Can’t get any good advice from you
I’m still suffering

A 16-year-old broken heart
it’s like the world is going to an end
Loosing everything
I can’t bear to live on

That’s just nothing
compared to a 26-year-old broken heart
you won’t be able to laugh anymore
with all the loss time, age thirty is just before your very eyes
If you don't decide now, there'll be no time left

Dangerous dangerous dangerous dangerous
that kind of impatience impatience impatience impatience
stop it! stop it! you should
tackle the problem with a more sincere passion

Awful awful awful awful
everybody around is getting married married married married
rushing through all the congratulating expenses
But I haven’t received any bouquets yet Oh No!

You'll understand it when you grow up
that it's not possible to live on, eating your dreams

The love of 26-year-old
living under that kind of pressure of necessity
I still couldn't imagine it
but aren't you rushing a bit too much

Excuse me
but that kind of 16-year-old love
is just like changing your favorite scene
when a new drama starts
I was told like that, just like children playing

Even if I turn into an aunt
I’ll still swim to the disco
In the past there were songs like that
packed with those kind of sayings

Even if I turn 36
or even if I turn 46
the person that loves me
will soon show up
my prince will come and meet me

Uncle?

Prince!

Grandpa?!?

P-R-I-N-C-E!!!

Oy, Anime!

2008-01-21T18:49:00.000-08:00

Buono!'s first album has been announced: It's called Café Buono! and it will be released on February 20th, 2008.

I'll be honest, I'm not sure what to think of Buono!. Their first single, "Honto no Jibun" left me kind of cold. All three members are very popular individually, and they are all gifted singers and performers. However, when you put them together, they lack personality. I really don't think its their fault though--I blame it on the nature of the group itself. I'm really not a fan of these "anime units" that Tsunku has been creating lately. While the songs themselves might be fun to listen to, and the costumes might be a fun, the units themselves lack chemistry. The anime groups/singers in H!P are more song/image driven than personality driven. The focus is all on the anime that they are promoting, rather than on the singers themselves, which I feel takes away from the girls themselves. I wrote earlier of Athena & Robikerottsu. I actually like that unit more than Buono!, just because I feel like it has more vitality than Buono! does. For fans to become emotionally invested in a group (like Morning Musume or Berryz Koubou) the girls need exposure outside of their performing. We need to be able to become connected to them personally, either from their appearances on talk shows or other types of media. I don't understand why Tsunku feels the need to create a unit for every theme song he needs to write. The units themselves are dependent on the anime, and do not exist outside of that context. Therefore, I think, that it's difficult for fans to become fans of the units, because they are so tied up in the anime.

Koharu Kusumi: A Study in Idol Affections

2008-01-20T21:54:00.000-08:00

Every H!P fan (or at least most of us) have one or two girls that we just can't (or won't) like for whatever reason. For me, that girl is Koharu Kusumi.

For the most part, I am impartial to many of the H!P girls. I have those who are my favorites, and the rest I still like but don't follow very closely. However, there is one (only one) girl who does not fit into either of those categories. It's funny, but I started out liking Koharu. I was a bit wary of her status as the "miracle" member, but I was willing to wait and see. When I saw her episode of Dokyu, I was even willing to begrudgingly accept the hyper-annoying aspect of her personality as youthful enthusiasm for her new role as a Musume. She had a lot of qualities that should have caused me to like her: she's beautiful, energetic, a good dancer, and to top it off, she has that same *cute* quality that my other favorite Musumes (past and present) have. However, after a while, I began to dislike her more and more. Her voice and actions started to grate on my nerves--everything that she did or said annoyed me.

While thinking about what I would write in this post, I fought over whether or not I should include Kusumi's voice as one of the reasons why I can't stand her. I mean, I love Michishige Sayumi (whose voice is terrible) and Konno Asami (whose voice is weak). Still, I'm able to find Sayumin's and Konkon's voices adorable, while I find Koharu's voice akin to the sound of a cow dying. Her voice is bearable on some of her solo tracks, but that's only because she's "put on a voice" for her role as Kirari Tsukishima. In her songs with Morning Musume, her voice sticks out like a sore thumb! Even Sayumi's voice (which can be shrill) blends in better than Koharu's awful wail.

Yes, it's terrible to write poorly about an idol that has not done anything personally wrong. I know how hard each and every girl in H!P works. I also understand that they all have different strengths and weaknesses: some of them can sing, while others can dance; some have neither but are cute or charming. It's these unique qualities and their individual quirks and personalities that makes us love each girl.

In conclusion, it's none of Koharu's talents (or lack there of) that bothers me about her. The reason that I can't stand her is because she seems fake to me. Every move she makes, everything she says, seems calculated to add to her own success--to make herself the center of attention, whether she deserves it or not. In the beginning, I believe that I was able to tolerate her because she was naive and more honest in her actions. Now, in concerts she makes horribly cheesy facial expressions while dancing. She just seems to have a huge ego, regardless of whether she does or not.

"Seishun! LOVE Lunch"

2008-01-12T09:42:00.000-08:00

Above is the new CM for Athena & Robikerottsu's new single, "Seishun! LOVE Lunch". I must say that I'm actually super excited about this unit. I *loved* the PV for their first single, "Shouri no BIG WAVE!!!" It doesn't hurt that one of my top 5 favorite Musumes is in the unit! Speaking of said Musume (Mittsi), doesn't it look as if she's cut her hair? I'm not sure how I feel about this...in the "Shouri no BIG WAVE!!!" PV, I thought that her hair looked so cute. Now she's pulling a Takahashi on us.

From what I can hear from the CM, "Seishun! LOVE Lunch" seems like a really cute song. I've heard it around the net from many other people, but doesn't this unit remind you of Mini Moni? The childish theme of the song, the cartoon mascot, the matching plaid costumes, and the four-girl-lineup are all extremely similar to Mini Moni...which I think is a good thing. Mini Moni was one of my favorite units of all time, and while Athena & Robikerottsu doesn't have the same spunky personality as Mini Moni, it's still a nice change of pace, to have a silly and innocent unit!

I hope that this unit continues, especially now that Tsunku seems interested in creating smaller units again. Can't wait for this single!

Kira Kira Bomb!

2008-01-05T08:07:00.001-08:00

Now that introductions are out of the way, it's time for the first real entry of KIRA KIRA BOMB! Everyone and their mom in the H!P community has done their Morning Musume ranking list, and since this is a new blog, I thought that it'd be a great place to begin.

Instead of doing the current Morning Musume lineup (which I'm not too enthused about) I'm going to include all Morning Musume members, past and present.

10. Iida Kaori

It might seem weird that Iida made it on my list--I don't see her on many of these "top 10" lists. What I love about Iida is her personality. Just look at any episode of Utaban with her on it to see what I mean! She's terribly funny without meaning to be. She handles herself with poise, even when being teased, and she has an incredibly kind demeanor. You can tell that she really supported a lot of the younger members as a leader, which is really admirable. Plus, I think that she's incredibly beautiful (that hair!).

9. Takahashi Ai

I know that there's been a lot of debate surrounding her, but, I really do like her. Her spacey but determined demeanor is really charming. No one can argue as to how hard she works. Plus, her interest in musicals and theaters makes her stand out to me. She's definitely gorgeous, and while I'm not a huge fan of her voice, I do enjoy seeing her perform. You can tell that she leads by example, and that even though she's not very authoritative seeming, she is reliable.

8. Yoshizawa Hitomi

I'm not the biggest Yossie fan in the entire world, but I do really love her. In interviews, talk shows, and skits, no one can compare to her sense of humor or her individuality. I really loved her tomboy stage--it made her unique and a stand-out. I'm not a huge fan of her voice, but I love her charistmatic stage presence. She was one of the best leaders in all of H!P (perhaps tied with Iida) and I really respect her for that. She was a wonderful mentor for many of the girls in MM, and her presence is definitely missing from the current lineup.

7. Michishige Sayumi

Usa-chan peace! Sayumi can be incredibly cute or incredibly annoying. I tend to find her incredibly cute! I think that her vainity makes her seem silly and playful. She seems to really care about her fans (especially evidenced in any Dokyu! or Futarigoto like release). Sayumi has also grown up into an incredibly beautiful and elegant lady. Her voice is constantly improving--you can really tell how much she wants to constantly improve! This makes her all the more endearing.

6. Kamei Eri

Ah! Kamei! Kamei Eri had always been sort of an iffy member of Morning Musume for me, just because she's so quiet. However, after watching several of the more recent episodes of Haro!Moni she totally won me over! She says and does the silliest and cutest things! I especially love it when she dresses up Lolita and acts in a very lolli-manner. In all honesty, she comes across as much more genuinely naive and cute than Sayumin does. I also loved her Maple photobook, which also helped to move her up the list.

5. Nozomi Tsuji

I didn't always like Nono...I suppose I thought of her as Kago's number two. However, after Aibon left H!P, Tsuji really began to shine on her own. Her post-Aibon photobooks totally won me over to her charms! She often came across as tomboyish when she was younger, but she developed into such a lovely-girly creature as she got older, that I couldn't help but fall in love with her and her pigtails! I was upset when she had to drop out of Gyaruru, but I'm also glad that she's a mommy now. I only hope that she returns to H!P someday!

4. Mitsui Aika

Mittsi definitely has the ability to move up this list as time goes on. Mittsi has a genuine quality to her that many of Morning Musume's current members (or at least one of them (::cough::Koharu::cough::) lack. I was a supporter of Mittsi even before she was chosen to be part of the 8th generation. Her performance in concerts as well as in the "Shouri no BIG WAVE!!!" PV definitely made me love her even more. She's not very idol-like, which is a quality that I like. Plus, her smile is so honest it makes you want to pinch her baby-cheeks!

3. Yaguchi Mari

Marippe is a firecracker! Out of all of the members of H!P, she had the most balls. People might say the same thing about Miki, but Mari managed that same fierce independence without coming across as bitchy (which Miki often did). Mari's loud and opinionated nature combined with her small and cute frame won me over nearly from the start! You can just tell that she tries her hardest, which was why it was so hard for me to see her leave Morning Musume the way that she did.

2. Kago Ai

Oh, Aibon, how you broke my heart! Aibon was my favorite member for a long time, however, after she was fired from Hello! Project, she fell to number two. My support for Kago didn't waver throughout her smoking scandal. In fact, I thought that the agency was being too heavy handed with her punishment. What really caused me to lose faith in her was her involvement with a certain man old enough to be her father, especially so close to her return to H!P. Even though Aibon has her many faults, she still makes me smile whenever I hear her sing, see her picture, or watch her perform. She's very genki!

1. Konno Asami

To be honesty, I really didn't like Konkon at first. I would see pictures of her and think, "Wow, how could anyone find her cute?" Not to mention the fact that I wasn't impressed by her vocal or dancing abilities. That all changed when I saw a clip from a Hello! Morning episode that involved a game where the Morning Musume girls had to play a game. In front of them, there was a table laid out with fake foods and real foods, and the girls, from a distance, had to tell which foods were real and which were fake. This ended with Konno crying. I instantly felt sympathy for her. Ever since then, Konkon has been my #1! Not only do I find her insanely cute and moe (check out her photobooks!) but her voice has also improved dramatically. Her personality is as genuine as her smile and she makes me incredibly happy whenever I see her!

2008-01-05T08:02:00.000-08:00

I read International Wota daily, so, I know how many H!P blogs there are out there. I'm not going to say that this blog will somehow be different from the rest--newer or edgier. What this blog *will* be however, is a report on my opinion of the H!P world. I'm not going to being reporting H!P news, but I will be commenting on said news. So, I hope that at least someone enjoys my unique perspective!

Note: For some strange reason, the layout appears a little wonky on FireFox (which I use), so, if the header image appears to overflow to the right, it's 'cause you're probably not using IE.