So, Yuuka Maeda of S/mileage has officially left Hello!Project today. She has been my least favorite H!P member ever since S/mileage debuted as an official group. Even back when she was added to High-King and Shugo Chara Egg!, instinct told me I wouldn't be able to stand her.
So I should be happy that Holy Moley has left and I don't have to look at her lazy or withering smiles anymore when I watch S/mileage videos or look at their CD covers. I should be happy that she has made way for the vampire to become a front girl. Well, I am happy for that last part. But at the same time, there is an empty feeling. It's nice to see her absent in the newest Hello!Project images. But now...
Who am I going to despise in H!P?! Mai Hagiwara of C-ute used to be my least favorite. Now it's either her again or Rina Katsuta of neo-S/mileage. Even though Maimai's attitude annoys me a lot of times, sometimes she's really interesting and cute. But Maimai has to be my new least favorite (again) because Rinapu...
Well, Rinapu is boring. She's very content and seems to goof off if the other girls are involved. But she reminds me of a grandmother. I can't despise her. I may not be a fan, but she makes me want to walk her across the street or let her teach me knitting. Aika may have the "granny" voice among H!P, but Rinapu has the "grandma" aura." Aww... so Maimai it is then for the least favorite. I guess that means I don't despise anyone anymore.
Even with that out of the way, though, I'm worried for S/mileage. Yuuka was the most popular, and without her, I can see their supporters plummeting. I haven't bought any S/mileage releases yet, because I love other groups more, among other reasons. But now, I really want to find a way to support my little vampire so her group doesn't get axed just as she's starting out in it! C'mon, Meimei, charm the masses with your hyperness and fangs! (You might have to convert some people with a bite to the jugular...)
When the title for Yuuka's last photobook came out, "See You-karin", I really hoped that meant Karin was going to replace her, just to spite her for leaving. But sadly, that doesn't seem to be the case (Karin isn't in the next single's covers.) Oh well, I guess they can't be too mean since Yuuka's graduation was possibly a result of flunking school. It just sounds suspicious since the submember system was said to be a way for members to step down for a bit if they weren't doing too well in school, but I guess Sakichy and Yuukarin didn't want to hurt their pride like that.
I'll laugh and then cry if she turns up as a new ace for AKB48.
In 2010, I did a list of hopes and predictions for Hello!Project. Some of them came true over the past two years, like ninth generation auditions and I think I wished for happier music. Well, now I'll give my hopes and predictions for 2012, which seem more possible now after 2011, the year of change!
Karin. The Messiah comes in 2012.
1.) No one graduates. After a lot of changes, they need a bit more stability. They need to promote the members and make them known again, which is confusing if too many people leave the main groups in a short period of time. I don't want another relatively stable period like 2007-2010, though. Someone's got to at least announce their graduation, probably Gaki, Aika (she needs to re-define her character now to remain viable to the group, I think), or someone from Berryz Koubou or C-ute. And if there is a graduation at the end of year, that's fine, it's just I enjoy where H!P is at right now (especially Morning Musume) and I want to enjoy them in their current state for the greater part of 2012.
2.) If Berryz Koubou and/or C-ute split up, they'll at least keep Buono! These groups are aging fast and Berryz seems to be getting a lot of negative reactions from overseas fans (I don't know what Japanese fans think, but Berryz' sales are going down and down, if that's any indication.) But Buono! is a epic group and it would be safer than girls having "solo" careers under Up-Front only. Safety in numbers! I would really miss Chinami and Chisato, though...
3.) A new indies group of Eggs is formed to make a major debut in 2013. After refilling the Egg roster after weeding or debuting the older Eggs, H!P can spare two to eight (or more, but unlikely) to make a new group to test (especially if neo-Momusu and neo-S/mileage are a success, allowing for a bigger budget.) I have a feeling Karin might go solo in 2012, but being a front girl in a new group would be more interesting. (Save the next solo act for Jang!)
4.) Auditions for Morning Musume and/or S/mileage announced by the end of the year. They have to keep this up! Auditions are fun to watch, get fans interested and involved (look at all the audition blog and forum posts), and get media attention.
5.) One of H!P's groups gets a 100,000 seller single. Dream Morning Musume does not count, even though I wish them well. But if current Morning Musume or S/mileage achieves such sales, it will be a victory. And with Momusu's 50th single coming up, it just may be possible.
6.) Dolls or figurines are sold. I still want this! But not like that crazy-expensive Erina Mano figure. More like how Barbie has celebrity dolls or the Spice Girls had fashion dolls. I would totally collect my favorites (which means at least ten, but I just may go overboard!)
7.) They get a manga or 4-panel comic strip tie-in. AKB48 has had a couple, and now an anime is coming out in April. The Reinya anime was okay. H!P needs more! Crossovers reach a wider audience and are fun! Mizuki could draw it. I was about to suggest Airi, but the poor girl already has so much work to do already. But Mizuki needs to shine somehow, so I totally think they could use her art as a gimmick with an occasional comic strip.
8.) More overseas releases and events. The more American conventions they attend, the greater chance they'll stop by a city near me. And American CDs are cheaper than the Japan and Taiwan versions and sometimes the Korea version. This is totally selfish, I know. I like my physical media, but I have so many hobbies, I don't have enough money to get every release I want, and definitely not at Japan's prices (yeah, I'm a terrible fan because I spend way more money on Pokemon toys and games.)
9.) They get another show other than Hello!Pro Time. Even if it is a webshow, because Sayu's Ustream was pretty informative and cool. It sounds like at least Fan Club members will get this with the new Morning Musume members at the beginning of 2012. I would really like to see some sketch/variety again, though. H!P Time is fun in its own candid way, but I like seeing the girls define themselves in skits, too. I'm jealous of AKB48 and their half-dozen or more programs.
10.) They continue to make stranger concepts with catchy songs. They can still be cool and catchy with singles, but alternate between strange, cute, and cool. Catchy is the bottom line. But seriously, the new chicken suits are totally awesome. They're even cooler than the S/mileage piggies.
I'm crossing my fingers for an awesome 2012 for H!P!
This feels weird to say, but of all the H!P girls' bodies that I feel most envious of, it's Erina Ikuta's.
When the promo images of Morning Musume's latest single, "Kono Chikyuu", came out with the girls in the shiny gold dresses, I realized how amazing her proportions were. They're practically perfect, fit yet shapely. And I know this is probably the work of Photoshop, but her skin looks really healthy and flawless, like a sculpture come to life.
I think she's only going to get more beautiful and grow into that cute awkward smile of hers. Watch out, Miya!
I also think Chisato's muscles are awesome and Zukki's cuddly figure is super cute, but Eripon just stands out. She could be a future model!
Obviously it's Momo, and I already said why I love her so much, so it's my second favorite Berryz' turn- Miyabi Natsuyaki!
She's an awesome singer, has beautiful, unique looks (neigh!), and she makes a great foil to Momo in both Berryz Koubou and Buono! Miya and Airi's varying calmness balance out Momo's hyperness, and the way Miya gets annoyed at or picks on Momo is often entertaining. And I still think she's one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful girl in the Project.
And I just have to be honest, all the horsey jokes make me love her all the more.
There are plenty of girls that are evil, at least comically so, in Hello!Project (like Momo and Sayu.) But there also happens to be a possible sociopath among its ranks (and a cute little vampire, but she wouldn't hurt anyo- *chomp*)
Riho Sayashi of Morning Musume is just plain creepy. Okay, she's super cute, but also seriously creepy. She used to have a smug smirk on her face most of the time, but she learned from other idols and fixed it, turning it into a deceivingly adorable smile of energy.
Yes, the ambitious girl learns from her betters and quickly incorporates it into her talents, like some evil ability-stealing robot. I'd hate to find out what will happen when Airi, Miya, and Reina outlive their usefulness...
Imagine a dark, quiet place.
Rihoriho creeping out of the shadows, little red hammer fast in her right hand.
And then Sayu glomps her from behind, takes the hammer, clubs her over the head, and takes her back to her room.
Day #11 - The One Who's Not Your Type But Totally Won You Over Eventually.
Sayumi Michishige of Morning Musume. I liked cuteness, but not super girliness. And snobby characters tend to bug me. (Koharu was another member that I had to warm up to later... how she related anything to her name if possible annoyed me and made me think she was too full of herself.) Sayu seemed to be all the negative stereotypical traits of a female wrapped up in one. She was too delicate, narcissistic, too occupied with her appearance, and just too girly!!
I know what you're thinking. Momo. Momo came later for me and she was so over-the-top, it was funny.
But back to Sayu, the Rainbow Pink duo of her and Koha were my most disliked Morning Musume members for awhile. (I liked the song, though, for its annoying troll-worthiness.) But then that changed in 2009. I realized how boring 5th generation was and appreciated the silliness and strength of Sayu and Koha's female caricatures.
And Sayu turned out not to be as bad as I first thought. She's interested in Math and Tetris, and she admits her flaws. Plus she really is a cute and beautiful girl. A cute and beautiful person.
Day #10 - The Idol You Used To Hate and Now Like (Or Vice Versa).
The H!P Kids. All of them. Even Momo. I disliked them purely for the fact that they were kids. This was also one of the reasons I disliked Koharu when I first got into Morning Musume.
It's not that I didn't listen to them. I listened to a few of their songs (and was there for C-ute's first indies single) and even thought some of it was catchy. But for the most part, I stayed away.
I felt a little uncomfortable about them. When I got into Morning Musume, most of the girls were around my age. In fact, four of the ten were older than me and all but one of the ten members could have gone to high school with me at one point. The graduated members (with the exception of Aibon) were older than me. Morning Musume did not feel so strange for me to be a fan of (I already liked happy music, so no problem there.)
But the Kids were around the ages of my younger siblings. That was pretty uncool. So I was a fan of H!P (actually, Morning Musume and groups with its current and former members) for two years before I decided to take a deeper plunge into idols and watched every H!P music video I could find (with help from Wiki.ThePPN's discography entries.) Finally I learned the names of the Kids, picked favorites, and for the next couple years, liked Buono! and Berryz Koubou more than Morning Musume.
What opened me up to finally listening to them? How can a twelve year old and two thirteen year olds make my current top ten favorite idols list?
First was Aika Mitsui. I liked her best of the Morning Musume 8th generation finalists and rooted her on and she was only thirteen at the time. I just couldn't be a hypocrite anymore.
Then later, I also realized I really love idols. The music, the system, the funny personalities. But in the system, idols tend to range from age twelve to twenty-four, and I'm only going to get older. Someday the last 5th and 6th generation members of Morning Musume will leave and I'll no longer have any members close to my age to follow. I had to give the new kids a chance.
And finally, I enjoyed watching videos of older members from their earlier days. Like Aibon and Nono at age thirteen. I was still enjoying the antics of young idols even if Aibon and Nono are currently my age. Why should I wait for an idol to turn sixteen or eighteen before I go back and watch the silly stuff she did when she was younger? It's fun to follow them currently! It's hard to imagine that about four years ago I would have ran away from the Morning Musume of today!
Mai Hagiwara's of C-ute. I like some nasally voices, like Tsuji's or Momo's. But Maimai's is too nasally even for me! People bash on Reina's screechy voice for sounding like it's whining, but in my opinion, Maimai's sounds ten times worse, like a perpetual whine. Her duet with Nakky, though, "Disco Queen" wasn't that bad, so maybe the similar nasal voices harmonized well and canceled out the bad.
Another positive note- at least the whiny voice fits her bratty personality, heh.
Yurina Kumai from Berryz Koubou is my second disliked voice. It doesn't sound that bad by itself and it is very unique (so naturally, I should like her voice), but whenever it follows someone else singing, it almost sounds off-key (I think maybe I mean pitch?) She needs to go solo or sing with girls that complement her voice better, I think. She should sound unique, but not distract from a song.
Risa Niigaki's of Morning Musume. She's never been one of my favorite idols, but hearing her voice makes me smile. It's so smooth. It can be both calming and cool (or badass!)
Also, I love voices that stick out from the crowd, and her's sticks out in a good way. It's frustrating when I can't tell one girl from the next in groups that I adore for their personalities. But with Gaki's voice, she can be the highlight of a so-so song!
And that duet she did with Eri Kamei in the Happy Marriage Song cover album was pure beauty.
So even if she's not my favorite, I'm glad she gets to be the Morning Musume member with the longest tenure. An idol group can survive without Aichan's talented vocals, but it really needs someone with a unique voice like Gaki's.
Haruka Kudo's voice is runner-up! The husky tone is unique!
The creepiest of the current pairings out there, Sayumi Michishige and Riho Sayashi from Morning Musume! I love crack pairings. Ever since Sayu let everyone know her obsessive adoration for her beloved Rihoriho, every interaction between the two can be taken out of context and hilarity ensues.
And it's even more fun to image a triangle with Eripon crushing over Sayu, trying to find a way to distract her from Rihoriho...
But Sayu wanted to pet all the cute widdle tenth generation members when they were introduced, so maybe both Eripon and Riho will have to join forces to face the new challengers.
That should totally be the plot of a new Morning Musume/Hello!Project movie, sketch, or music video!
I consider Buono! a regular group, not a sub-group... so my favorite sub-group would be both past and (sort of) present Minimoni! The concept of a group of shorties appealed to me because I'm a short myself. And Aibon and Nono (and Mari, the third H!P girl I noticed and became a fan of) were in it. And I really like cutesy, catchy music because it's fun and I can troll people.
The current line-up is just as cute, and its formation allowed me to recognize Karin's singing talent and charisma instead of always thinking of her as a creepy alien-child (where did the whites of her eyes go?!) The revamped group doesn't have as much distinct vocals (the loss of Lin Lin completely destroyed what was unique.) And they lack the chemistry of the original. But their music is still super cute, as are their voices, so hopefully they'll add another cute shorty and continue to sing as a group. I'm sure new leader Kanyon could make the group interesting again with her new ramped-up "evil brat" personality.
My Little Pygmies, Gen 1
Gen 2 let a normal sized person in and she ruined it. D:<
Morning Musume! Though it actually was Buono! for quite a while. But Morning Musume and S/mileage have been getting more interesting again due to all their changes. Also, I've been liking the music of the "CHANGE" (to add an Obama-ism) groups more lately. But that could change (oh ho!) with Buono!'s next single, right? Idol music can be a mixed bag, so H!P's many groups can keep you in the same circle if one group fails to interest at a particular point in time. So I decided the answer to this question mathematically (sort of.)
All three of Buono!'s members are in my top ten. My top ten consists of four Musume, two Berryz, two C-ute, and two S/mileage. Only one member of Buono!/Berryz is in my top five. Same with S/mileage. But three are from Morning Musume. So Morning Musume has more of my most liked members. Mathematical!
This was also the first group I followed. I was led into H!P by W, but then they kind of had some problems, so I never actually got to follow them when they were active, so I went straight for their mother group. I like studying Morning Musume history, and they are always doing little throwbacks, from past songs to trivia to similar costumes (or lines.) (I just hope they aren't just being cheap. I'll pretend they aren't just being cheap.)
Sorry Momo. Maybe you should join Morning Musume as a "Gen Momo!" You could be leader of H!P after Gaki graduates.
Momo may be my number one, but she's not a group, and her mere presence does not make me like a group best overall. I genuinely liked Buono!'s image and songs and members best for a couple years, but now that Morning Musume has rumbled to life again, I was sucked back.
Day #4 - If the Idol Was a Boy, Who Would Be Your Boyfriend?
Too bad Yossie's no longer in Hello!Project. There's never been a girl past or present in the Project that embodies the ideal handsome guy like Yossie does. And she's so easy for me to fangirl over obviously.
But I'm doing this challenge on current members of H!P. And it's really hard to see through all the pink and glitter (which is admittedly becoming more accepted among the men of today) to make a secure decision, but I'll try.
Kanon Suzuki from Morning Musume would probably be a good boyfriend (in another five years, har har.) Man!Zukki would always provide entertainment for his girlfriend, imitating bugs or annoying the cashier at the grocer by making silly faces. And even when the cashier chases him down and cracks his skull with a price scanner, Man!Zukki would still be smiling!
Yes, Man!Zukki would be eternally happy and puppy-like. If you are feeling sad, that won't last long when he throws his arms around you comfortingly and then tries to imitate a love bug with you. The complete opposite of a Momo Attack!
The only thing to be careful with is buying clothes for Man!Zukki. If he wears the same sweater you bought him almost every day, it's a sign of love and appreciation! It might be wise to offer to do his laundry.
New tomboy members Akari Takeuchi (S/mileage) and Haruka Kudo (Morning Musume) are runners up. I haven't seen a lot of Take-chan's personality yet, but she seems cool and protective. The same with Haruka, except she has an epic manly voice. But she's so blunt, Man!Kuduu could be cluelessly borderline-abusive and he'd be such a jock with little patience for pale, nerdy shut-ins (like myself.)
Notice how I avoid addressing myself directly as the boyfriend or girlfriend in these romance-themed questions? I'm not very romantic. It makes me uncomfortable. I'd rather just laugh at my idols, not date them. XD
Day #3 - If You Are or Were a Boy Who Would Be Your Girlfriend?
Sayumi Michishige! She's both cute and absolutely gorgeous! I imagine she's the type of girlfriend that you can get into playful arguments with, her poison tongue making "fights" particularly entertaining, and then afterwards she'd be super sweet and *ahem* apologize.
Sayu would also be the perfect girlfriend for sharing a love of idols with! Going on dates to the concert hall, opening Christmas presents of idol goods... I just think I'd get slapped when I told her Momo is my number one. But it'd be a cute slap. Preferably with those oversized yellow gloves from the "Kare to" music video. Aww...
Note: This is the original introduction to Hello!Project I wrote for a friend (the H!P 101 document that inspired me to make this series.) Reading it now, it seems kind of lecture-y. So after the next video link, I'll give my own reasons for my passion for Hello!Project. Tell me which one is better! :)
Before diving into the world of Hello! Project (H!P), one must realize these girls are idols. Most of them can at least hold a tune and some of them have outstanding talent, but the key to appreciating them is not to scrutinize their singing ability but how they play on their audience’s feelings. That’s not to say you can’t expect them to sing better. But they are work-in-progress talents, and fans watch them improve and root them on. Sometimes I liken idols to football teams (complete with their own special colors for fans to identify with) because of how their fans cheer them on and get excited for their group’s success.
One of the appeals of Hello! Project’s idols is that they tend to have pronounced personalities, so watching them interact with each other on television is like watching a sitcom. (I think one of the reasons I fell in love with H!P is because I’m also a big fan of The Monkees and their TV show.) You can pick your favorite “character” in the group, follow her and collect her merchandise. When a member is ready to move on, either through furthering her career or retiring to a normal civilian life, she “graduates” in an elaborate ceremony at the end of a concert tour (with some exceptions, like girls that are fired or resign suddenly.)
And this is how H!P stays so young. Like stars, new groups and members are added and old ones graduate and fade. Morning Musume is now the only group that has stayed in H!P from the beginning, but none of the original members remain in H!P now.
Old-school Legends of H!P.
Why I love Hello!Project:
1. I find the manufactured personalities fascinating. Being the nerd I am, I like finding the personality "type" of each girl. I like the different characters interacting in character-based comedy. It's fun to see what happens when a girl has two "types." And even if I think I won't like a girl because of her "type", sometimes she turns out to be really likable and hilarious. I like those surprises.
2. Said personalities allow me to remain detached from the actual girls. One of the things that makes me uncomfortable with following celebrities and bands is that I feel I'm nosing around too much in their personal life. I prefer to be a fan of what they do than who they are. But idols have personae, so following their life (the one they allow us to see, the one they create) is like watching a television show. Because in most cases, it IS a television show. Reality television tends to make me feel sad or angry after watching it. But the fake reality of idols makes me happy and gives me giggles. It's magical, it's hard to explain.
3. Nerd facts and collecting! Idols have a running narrative, so you're in on the in-jokes if you're a regular watcher (and they can be repetitive so you can get in the know pretty fast after several appearances.) There's lots of trivia to remember. And history! Much like the thrill of being able to name all the Pokemon or know the weather patterns of all the planets in Star Wars, all the information is fun to gobble up. And if there were Barbie dolls of the H!P members, I'd totally collect them. It's a big nerd playground in H!P!
4. Cheering on particular groups and girls has the thrill of cheering on a sports team! It's fun to pick a number one and root on her with all your heart. It's sad if she isn't popular and doesn't get to do much, but every little victory, whether it's a solo line or a photobook will make you so happy and proud of her.
5. The music has variety and is generally very catchy! There are a lot of fun songs. There are a lot of cool songs, cute songs, beautiful songs, and even "just blew up the cat" crazy songs. And if I'm not too keen on one song, I can hope that I'll like a future one. Because H!P changes its underwear regularly and there are plenty of groups to hop between as well as old songs to keep me entertained.
6. It changes. Old girls graduate. New girls enter. Groups disband and new groups are promoted. New material is constantly coming out. When the machine stops and there is only the past to look back on, it's hard to be so constantly interested. But I hope I don't have to worry about that with Hello!Project for the foreseeable future.
But wait? All of these points describe most idol groups and idol collectives. But H!P has an aura, a vibe that feels right to me. And maybe it will suck you in, too. Maybe it won't. Maybe you'll find a different idol group to become a fan of. I'm here to give a starting point to decide whether any of Hello!Project's offerings are right for you. And I'll even include a section for other main idol groups so you can see if you like idols, just not H!P. So let's start with the current main acts in Hello!Project...
Morning Musume - A varied group with a long history, ever-changing members, and different sounds.
Berryz Koubou - Kids that grew into adults (except an insane midget) and their music and videos reflect that. Kind of goofy.
℃-ute - A synchronized, streamlined group known for their dancing.
Erina Mano - The ballady soloist.
S/mileage - Cutesy silly chipmunks.
Buono! - Pop-rock combination of 2 Berryz and 1 ℃-ute. Used to sing theme songs for the anime Shugo Chara.
If you are already a fan and you see something not right about my guide, please speak up! I want this to be something fans can refer their friends to! I'm not perfect, I even forgot Mai's concert color for some time (I still thought it was purple last month), so I'm open to suggestions and corrections!
Also! Check out these other guides to idols if you are interested in seeing what the idol fandom in general has to offer!
Yuuka Maeda of S/mileage. Something about her gave me bad vibes ever since she was added to the unit High-King. And the not always having a real smile and seeming out of it look that people claimed to see when the auditions for the second gen S/mileage were announced? Yuuka has been like that since at least right before S/mileage officially debuted, as far back as 2009.
I personally think she's stuck-up and she's such a terrible actress that she can't hide it. The other H!P members compliment how cute and sweet she is. Like they are trying to re-enforce an act that isn't being performed well. Yes, I'm suggesting some of their anecdotes are manufactured by the staff to tell the fans what kind of idol Yuuka is supposed to be. An idol persona needs to be shown, not told, and that is where she fails for me. She may be cute on the outside, but I'm not seeing the sweetness. I just get mad seeing her.
One may think I'm happy that she's leaving at the end of this year. But it's complicated and that thought is better for a different post.
I don't know who I"m going to dislike most next when she leaves. Probably Mai Hagiwara from C-ute. I don't like her bratty personality, but somehow it doesn't taint her image for me like Yuuka. Sometimes I find Maimai incredibly cute, even. I almost want to like her, which I can't say for Yuuka.
And new S/mileage member Rina Katsuta is just there. That might actually be the worst position to be in as an idol. But I can't dislike her so much.
Now for an entire group that I dislike purely for stupid, superficial reasons, look no further than AKB48 subgroup French Kiss.
Left to right - Ex-Marine Mammal, Holier Than Aika, Mr. Censored
Yuki Kashiwagi - I don't like how she is constantly used as an example of H!P making bad decisions. Aika is usually hated on in such discussions because Aika passed the same Morning Musume audition Yukirin failed. And I actually like Aika best, so there. (Yup, butthurt Aika fan here, though the poor girl doesn't even make my top ten list anymore.)
Asuka Kuramochi - She used to look like a beaver and that scared me. Also, she reminds me of a roommate I had that would come back to the apartment at 4 AM and bang on the door because she was too drunk to use her keys.
Aki Takajo - She reminds me of one of my high school history teachers. He probably doesn't look as good in a bikini, but something about their faces is similar. It's creepy. He's wasn't a bad teacher, but I don't exactly want to think of him in a frilly white dress dancing around singing pop songs. No. Just no.
And that's it for today! I didn't mean to offend anyone with these opinions. I know some were mean and stupid, but I'm being honest about how I feel. Things should be more positive on this blog from here on out. Unless Moley is mentioned again. Or the girls I never want to French Kiss.
I'm going to sneak this in before December 1st officially ends for me... the first of the 30 Day Idol Challenge posts!
Day #1: Your Favorite Idol
Definitely Momoko Tsugunaga from Berryz Koubou and Buono! Her personality is almost always entertaining to watch. And by almost, I mean sometimes her overacting is too much (like after the main prank in Berryz' Alo-Hello) and I want to slap her. But now television hosts and other H!P girls slap her around for me, so it's all good.
So yeah, I tend to like annoying characters. As long as she's pissing off everyone but me, I adore her.
Momo is also an idol I can respect. Her over the top character is so obviously fake, that the glimpses into her real life are more interesting than a let down. She seems to be an ambitious, reserved, intelligent girl behind the scenes. She's studying elementary education at university while being a super active idol in two groups (thus she already has a job lined up so she won't be in granny idol limbo in the next six or seven years!) And she already seems to be a mentor to the younger members. I have a lot of hope for young Kudo just knowing Momo's been working with her. You may laugh, but I think she's similar to Yossie behind the scenes, a humorous but helpful big sister type.
I like both worlds of Momo: the world she self-awarely lets us see and the world we glimpse from facts and the hearsay of other members.
Oh, and she's a fan of Pokemon. I gotta love her for that.
I'm going to start updating this blog like I keep saying I will. And one of the reasons that I really want to is that I talk about Hello!Project a good fraction of the time I actually talk. My friends and family have no idea what's going on. They try to follow along, and can remember that I obsess over a girl called Momo (and tease me for it.) But it's hard to get them interested aside from occasionally getting them to like a song.
But I've also realized, that if I even want a chance to get a friend interested, my first step should be to shut my mouth. I get really passionate when talking about my idols and that can be both hard to follow and uncomfortably frightening at the same time (do my friends really want to get involved in a fandom that's almost religious at times?) I need to have something there for them to look over on their own time, if they want to, instead of me terrifying them every time I see them.
So I'm aiming this blog at people who are new to the fandom, H!P-curious, or for fans that want to redirect their own friends, too. It's bait, if you will. But I hope even long-time fans can find something interesting in my blog, as well. I will have reviews and articles, and maybe some of the videos and funny stuff I post will at least be fun reminders. Oh! And I do fanart of idols. Mostly H!P, but some AKB48 as well.
To keep myself myself motivated, I've made out a schedule:
(Note: I intended to start at the end of October, but NaNo happened, so I'm doubling up on some posts for December. And the first week will be off a little because I'm not ready to post yet.)
Mondays: A review or article.
Tuesdays: An idol of the week.
Wednesdays: A chibi (and MLP, because I'm nerdy like that) sketch of the idol of the week. I want to get better at these styles.
Thursdays: Retro Idol Time!
Fridays: H!P Funny of the Week (a video or a picture or translation that is hilarious.)
Saturdays: H!P 101
Sundays: Fanart Time!
Wednesdays will also rotate between rival spotlights, a ranking, an egg of the month, and some pimping of some fanart related projects.
I will also try the 30 Day Idol Challenge because I'm the over ambitious sort.
I only get on the computer about two or three days a week, though, so I'm going to have to make use of the scheduled post time feature. So I'll be cheating on the Challenge, but blah. I'm working on lots of other projects and it helps to have Internet-free days. But I'm always open to feedback, so if I don't reply for several days, do not worry!
It's late and I'm tired, but by the end of this week, there should be some posts here. Goodnight!
I was prompted to do meme/post by a friend. It's a deviantART journal meme, but I thought I'd jump-start this blog by covering one of my favorite H!P albums. Even though it was released nearly a year and a half ago, derp.
RULES: ♫ Share your favorite album(s) from a band/artist. Include cover art, track listing, and link(s) to audio. ♫ Optional: discuss the album(s). ♫ Optional: tag people.
Weee, okay, I’m going to do my Album Prompt on Buono! (Because my goddess Momo is in it, naturally.) I only did my favorite album of theirs because I knew I had a greater chance of getting people on deviantART to give a listen if I didn't throw the entire discography at them.
Anyone reading here should probably know who Buono is, but I'm going to post how I introduced them in the original meme post anyway. Do fellow fans agree with how I presented them? Did I present our girls in a way that you think would make outsiders interested? Do I sound like I don't know what I'm talking about?! Let me know, because I really want to know the art of spreading the word about my favorite idols!
Some background information first. Buono! is a Hello!Project super group made up of two girls from Berryz Koubou (Momo and Miya) and one girl from C-ute (Airi.) They were originally formed to sing the theme songs for the Shugo Chara anime. However, Buono! proved so successful and was such a fan-favorite, that even though the anime has ended, they are still releasing music. In fact, they have a new mini-album out later this summer!
The girls:
Momoko Tsugunaga (Momo), Age 19 -Pink- -Drums- -- The tiny, annoyingly cute and arrogant leader!-- -- Has the nasally and sometimes high-pitched voice.--
Miyabi Natsuyaki (Miya), Age 18 -Red- -Bass- -- The fashionable, horse-faced diva!-- -- Has a bit of a deeper voice.--
Airi Suzuki (Airin), Age 17 -Green- -Guitar- -- The spacey genius!-- -- Has a clearer voice.--
(Note: They can’t actually play their instruments, and instead they have a live band at their concerts, Dolce. But I labeled which instruments they are associated with in photos and the time they played the opening few seconds of a song at a concert.)
We are Buono! (3rd Studio Album)
Released: February 2010
1. One Way = My Way 2. Our Song (Music Video) 3. Independent Girl ~Dokuritsu Joshi de Aru Tame ni~ 4. My Boy (Music Video) 5. Ura Hara 6. Take it Easy! (Music Video) 7. Bravo Bravo (Music Video) 8. Kataomoi 9. Blue Sky Blue 10. Koucha no Oishii Mise 11. Tabidachi no Uta 12. We are Buono! ~Buono no Theme~ YouTube Playlist of all tracks.
Like all of Buono’s albums, We are Buono! starts off fresh, happy, and up-beat with One Way = My Way. Except this time they set the tone for the entire album: with the exception of one song, all have some degree of hard rock in the instrumentals. Guitar riffs abound in this album. The songs stay hard and up-beat until the middle of the album. Even songs that sound a bit slower can’t be characterized as ballads, because they immediately pick up speed and lay on thick guitars. By the sixth track, they add a little country rock to the mix with the single, Take it Easy! (It doesn’t sound like the Eagles song, but perhaps the genre and title choice are related.)
If you are tired of their redneck side, you won’t have to suffer long, as they go back to the hard pop-rock of the beginning. This goes on until the 9th track, Blue Sky Blue which has a magical aura to prepare you for the next song.
The next song happens to be the only track that doesn’t fit into “hard rock.” Koucha no Oishii Mise is complete pop. However, it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. Rather, it shares 80’s influences and beautiful harmonies with its album-mates. If the album was a movie soundtrack, this would be at the end, when everything is resolved and the characters are able to sit back and relax, thinking about a bright future.
To continue the movie metaphor, the next song, Tabidachi no Uta, would play during the credits. It’s a catchy, refreshing ballad. But then the next song…
The girls pop back in to play their theme song, We are Buono! It’s a high energy punk track that sounds a bit like something from The Ramones, just with female punk sensibilities. It makes me wish that Buono! could get a cartoon like Puffy AmiYumi did. I’m sure it would be ten times more funny because of the girls’ personalities. This last track could be their best song, if only because it will always remind you of Buono! and the rest of their amazing music.
I highly recommend checking out the rest of their albums, too, if you like what you heard. They were more high-pitched in their earlier music (Buono! started when they were ages 13-15, after all) and they had a lot more cutesy tracks (but more variety), but if anything it would help you appreciate where they are now. They are a group that went from anime theme songs to a group in their own right, and became the gateway for many a new Hello!Project fan, which means they did their job and then some.
I'm going to try to post here more often in the coming months. I have an idea for a blog design, and I'm thinking about covering not only H!P, but other idols. Including old ones, since I've been on a bit of an oldies kick lately. And this can be my folder on the internet for strange idol-inspired sketches...
Zukki and Eripon look a bit awkward during some of their solo shots (Zukki's wide eyed stare. OoO ) But all the girls really look amazing in this video! And Sayu... she's all levels of cute and cool. Her costume, hairstyle, poses... so what if she's not the best singer, she was fun to watch in the video. When I first became a fan of Morning Musume, I didn't really like her attitude, but now I find it really funny. It's rather silly, but I like her even more now. Because of this video. <3
The B-side of the single sounds great, too. It's not as cutesy hyper as the title track, but it's upbeat and the melody sounds neat. It's mature-sounding but not boring, which I think is an improvement over some of their recent mature songs.
So basically I'm just fangirling over the new Morning Musume. :B
That is exactly what I think UpFront is doing with Hello!Project recently.
Now, I don't mean it in a negative way. I'm actually very pleased with how 2011 is turning out so far in the world of H!P. But I still see complaints, and it makes me sad, because it shows that no matter how much a company tries to answer their fans, there's still going to be a large vocal segment unhappy.
Now, why do I think they are fan pandering?
* 9th Generation is number one on the list. They added the fan favorite Riho AND made it a generation of four. So many people were waiting for another big generation after the lonely and awkward 7th and 8th generations (I still love them so much, though!)
* Foreign news blogs in English and French. Yes, they aren't stand-out quality, and we probably get our news from faster and more entertaining places, but hey, they made the EFFORT.
* They bumped up the quality of music. Or at least the catchy-factor (I probably shouldn't be trusted with the word "quality" since I rarely pay attention to the lyrics and only care if it has a hook or melody I like.) Last year, the songs were decent, but not very memorable. Whenever I try to get "Seishun Collection" in my head, my head played, "Genki Pika Pika" instead. Now it looks like Pucchi Best 12 (the one that releases at the end of THIS year) will really sound like a best of collection and not just a yearly portrait.
* Buono! finally getting another single (and hopefully more to come!) Arguably the best shuffle/sub-unit/non-main act to come out of H!P in the last couple years (aside from Koharu's anime tie-in, maybe), I suppose it wasn't that much of a surprise. But still, a lot of fans were getting worried.
* A chance for the underdogs. We're getting photobooks, solo songs, and solo DVDs by the truckloads for the idols that some were sure were going to graduate the Project long before they had a chance (like Jun Jun and Lin Lin.) Now the fans have to make good on the words of "I'll totally buy a photobook if "x" gets one" so they won't go back to only Ai, Reina, Airi, Momo, Risako, Sayumi, and Maimi.
* Happy Morning Musume. This is related to the 9th generation, but deserves its own bullet, because they could have just as easily continued with their former sad/sexy/not happy style. They're mimicking their style from the era when they were relevant. Hopefully the long wait will translate into success instead of sounding retro in a bad way. It DOES sound different from what other idols are doing currently, and it has a very distinct Momusu sound, so I do hope it will do well.
* Possible new TV show. That looks like it's aimed at more than just bored nightowls and the hardcore. It's about time. Zukki, show 'em what you're made of.
Wow, I wonder if I actually made a point with this post. Maybe the point is just this:
Good work, Hello!Project! I will support you in my own humble ways this year (Berryz CD GET~!) because I truly appreciate your effort this year and I wish the best for you in this competitive idol market. I want Morning Musume to break 100k sales again just to prove they're still awesome. :)
Anyway...
It's 5AM on MOMO'S BIRTHDAY (Happy birthday, Pinky Peach Princess/Goddess!) and POKEMON DAY (Happy day, life!) so I'll get some rest. And hopefully return next week for some sleep deprived rambling or insight or reviews. :)
