Rival Waah - BABYMETAL's "Doki Doki Morning"

BABYMETAL's "Doki Doki Morning"... at first I thought this was weird and creepy and laughed at it. The concept is cute and hilarious: three tweens/teens moshing about to Death Metal with trolling bits of cutesy bubblegum in between. The older girl, the vocalist, makes some hilarious idol-y faces while still keeping a tongue-in-cheek badassedness. The younger girls, though; they may be scarier than the Olsen twins.

Eventually this song became more than just an odd novelty to me. I genuinely like this song now, even if the girls are still a little creepy to me (I think the lead girl is cool, it's just those neo-Olsen twins...) So when I hear about their new song, I was excited. But I think whenever something epic comes around, it dooms its follower. Their new song is just another creepy novelty song to me. Maybe it will eventually grow on me like the first song did. Only I doubt any of their future songs can match the feeling of watching "Doki Doki Morning" for the first time.

I kind of wonder what will happen to this group in the future. They aren't going to remain "baby"-like forever. And isn't their mother idol group the group that graduates girls when they enter high school? And even if the older girl can stay because of her vocals and image as the group's face, I get the feeling the other two girls can just be easily replaced by fresh screaming pre-teens. I guess I'll continue following this group and see what happens! (And maybe it will take a few more songs to break out of the high expectations I have due to "Doki Doki Morning"'s epicness.)

Rival Waah - Fudanjuku's "Love Spider"

Since embedding is disabled, please watch the video on YouTube here.

I'm in love with these "guys." Color-coded? Check. Cute and cool at the same time? Check! Goofy? Check. Nerdy? Check. No need for a cod piece? Cheeeck! There's even a manga about them, which I would seriously consider buying if it was released in English. The concept of the group is genius, at least from the perspective of a female idol group that wants to bait female fans just as much or more than male fans.

Fudanjuku's "Love Spider" is another song that has a "this is so 80's feel." Can you tell I like songs that incorporate retro sounds yet? Hee. And that beginning little tune that repeats later in the song! It's like a herald of awesomesauce and just those five seconds get stuck in my head. Which then recalls the rest of the song and it gets stuck in my head, too.

Fudanjuku may not sound much like a male group. Some of the girls come close, but many are unmistakably women, which dictates how the group sounds as a whole. But that doesn't matter, because they all look like gorgeous guys. If they didn't charm me so much as idols, maybe I would want more consistency between their sound and image (even if that meant altering their pitch and having them lip sync in live shows.) But no, I'm content to listen to this awesome song while admiring their gorgeous cosplay. This is a group built on fantasy and I don't mind playing along.

I love Yellow's nose, hehe. But otherwise, I don't have a favorite, they are all cute with their own precious quirks.

Fanart Corner - Cute Bananas

Nakky - Maimai - Chisa

Half of C-ute drawn in cartoon style: Saki Nakajima, Mai Hagiwara, and Chisato Okai. Maimai is where the style started to degenerate/mutate into long-limbed giants. I wish I could keep the heads and re-proportion the bodies, but it's too late for this series. All but the Morning Musume ones need to be re-drawn.

JunJun

Part 2 of the Graduation Special! JunJun! Her obsession with bananas was awesome. Now it's like I can't avoid putting in a banana reference every time I draw her. I wish she could have tormented Yuko (who hates bananas~) while she was in Hello!Project, because Yuko is hilarious when she's pissed and JunJun is just plain hilarious.

Fanart Corner - Cheesy Superheroines

Sae

Uggh, this one is so embarrassing, yet I laugh at it, too. It's supposed to be Sae Miyazawa from AKB48. She seems to be the silly, sporty, and manly member. At least she looks silly here? Uggh, she looks like a superhero reject here rather than sporty (what was I thinking?! Besides superheroes, who else wears their underwear over a body suit?)

Koha

Graduation special! I already posted the Eri caricature in an earlier post and the Aichan caricature on deviantART (the only one that has been inked and colored so far.) This time I post an earlier grad, Koharu Kusumi. It was fun drawing her, since a crazy expression fits her character. Such a goof. I grew to love her character (I found her annoying when I first became a fan, though.)

Fanart Corner - OMG The Faces

Manoeri

Back around the summer of 2009, I drew Morning Musume in cartoon-style. Those scans were lost when I recently re-imaged my laptop, so I'll have to find them again to scan and post (they are actually in not so good shape because they were torn out of a large, flimsy sketchbook. They are probably fraught with creases by now.) Then I decided to draw everyone in H!P in that style (though the style skewed worse and worse later on.) From 2009-2011, I drew the rest of the girls. Here's Erina Mano, H!P's composite of famous faces and sole soloist. She actually doesn't look so bad, just not as angular as the original style I used for Morning Musume. She even resembles herself a little, gasp!

Rii

Caricature of Risako Sugaya. Well, this looks like her. The ears, lips, and eyes (kind of) are hers. But they fit together so awkwardly. I need to find a way to draw her that exaggerates her features but doesn't make her look so terrible, because she really is a pretty girl (despite what Hello!Project's fashion supervisors would have us think. H!P, please stop putting your thicker girls in granny clothes!)

Retro Corner - The Alfee's "Sweat and Tears"

And now for something almost, but not entirely different. The Alfee's "Sweat and Tears" (1986) is another 80's rock song (this time a ballad), but is not sung by a girl or an idol. This would fall under glam rock, if I'm not mistaken. Just look at how pretty the lead singer is! Whatever happened to epic hair like that? I miss it, even though I wasn't even born back then.

Vocally, this song is catchy, yet repetitive (at least the main refrain is partly in English!) The instrumental is awesome, too- it would fit in well on a classic rock station, yet spice the playlist up for a non-Japanese audience, for whom this song is mostly unknown.

I knew this song was repetitive, but seeing this ten minute version on YouTube made me wonder if they crammed in another half dozen refrains. The refrain isn't bad, but there is a point where it seems like the spaceship on Spaceballs that never seems to end. But actually, there's more epic instrumental and more... cheese. One guy is totally working his booty. This performance is actually pretty adorable! (The estrogenic screams in the latter half are there for a reason.)

Retro Corner - Minako Honda's "1986nen no Marilyn"

Since the video has embedding disabled, it is available on YouTube here.

In my "Konya wa Hurricane" Retro Corner post, I mentioned that it sounded pretty standard for 80's girl-rock. Here is an example. Minako Honda's "1986nen no Marilyn" (1986) is a song that I associate with the overall sound of Japanese 80's girl-rock (or rather, idol-rock?)

Now when I say standard, I am talking about the impression the sound gives off, just like Western synthpop from the 80's has a particular sound. "1986nen no Marilyn" is still plenty unique, a song that I can recognize from any part of the tune. It's catchy, it's rockin', it even has a bit of jazz to the instrumental. Honda has a deep, rich voice, adding all the more power. This would be perfect for husky-voiced Morning Musume member Haruka Kudo to sing at an event or for a future cover album!

Retro Corner - Bubblegum Crisis' "Konya wa Hurricane"

This is actually a song I came across relatively recent, maybe a year ago, if that. It's from the anime Bubblegum Crisis, an anime that I came close to watching over a decade ago, but never did. Even though it sounded interesting from articles in anime magazines, I always ended up renting a Ranma 1/2 or Tenchi Muyo tape instead. If I just rented Bubblegum Crisis once, maybe I would remember this song as fondly as the Ranma songs.

So instead I was exposed to "Konya wa Hurricane" (1987) through multiple references at Anime News Network. Hearing praise for a retro song I had never heard before, I had to check it out! It's not quite as epic as I expected (my expectations were high after the multiple compliments about it.) It seemed like pretty standard 80's girl-rock from Japan. But standard or not, I do like that 80's rock sound, so it's still cool to me. It kind of makes me want to watch Bubblegum Crisis, if I have the opportunity.

Rival Waah - Denpagumi.inc's "Kuchizuke Kibonnu"

When other blogs mentioned this song, Denpagumi.inc's "Kuchizuke Kibonnu", they seemed to focus on the gimmick of the music video, which is "animated" with Polaroid photos being laid on a table. That is cool, yes, but without being a fan of the individual girls (and the photos themselves aren't enough to endear me them either... they are too small and go by too fast), I'm not so interested in the video itself.

But I love this song. The verses remind me of the 80's, the instrumental has a pleasing bass, the voices show emotion despite being rather cutesy. I listen to this song purely for aesthetic enjoyment and not because I have favorites "adding meaning." Is this really idol music? Not that I'm complaining.

But it also makes me realize that music has no bearing on whether I want to become a fan of an idol. Despite liking this song, I didn't have any desire to become fans of the individual members. Listen to more music from them, yes, but get to know the girls? I didn't have a reason to. I guess it really does take funny videos and pictures, or a music video full of character to appreciate idols as idols and not judge them solely as performers or artists.

Fanart Corner - Cracky 'n' Creepy

Cracky Koha

Koha was already like a living cartoon character during her time in Morning Musume, so this wasn't hard to envision at all. I drew this late 2010/early 2011, around the time Eri, JunJun, and LinLin left or were going to leave. I was doing tributes because of the graduation (hence the tributes for the other three girls posted earlier.)

Nacky

Saki Nakajima caricature, a.k.a. Nacky. Okay, maybe this caricature is my favorite of all the ones I drew from 2009-2011. It's exaggerated, but it still looks like Nacky and it still looks cute. Sadly, most of the others don't come close to either of those criteria.

Fanart Corner - Buono!mon Yellow Version

Buono!mon Yellow Version - Momo

And finally, Momo as Pokemon Yellow's Pikachu. It fits, since Momo is rodent-like and has even drawn (and shared the voice of) a Momochu. However, Miya and Airi are still Red and Green in Buono! respectively. Momo is now Pink, to fit her name, so there really needs to be a Clefairy or Jigglypuff (Sing!) Version of Pokemon (a Pokemon Momo/Pink) for current Momo. I think Pikachu's Pokemon Yellow pose fits hyper Momo, though. Anyway, maybe I'll redraw this series, maybe I won't. I have plenty of other fanart ideas to work from.

Chii

Finally a caricature that actually looks like a caricature! It's Chinami Tokunaga! Now her hair is way shorter, though. But still, I think I captured the ever cheerful Chii!

Fanart Corner - Cyborg Facepalm

Mayuyu

Continuing my series of random AKB48 girls that I like, here's Mayu Watanabe, the C.G. cyborg-girl idol. Out of all these anime-style drawings of the AKB48 girls, I think I was able to capture Mayuyu's blank robotic expression the best. But I still have plenty more to share, so you guys can be the judge.

Maa-san

Maasa Sudou Caricature. The facepalm pose is because she used to seem like one of the main members that was always irritated with Momo (along with Chinami.) But now almost everyone seems irritated with Momo (even some of the newer, younger H!P members.) Now her character seems too helpful and gentle for the caricature to work.

Fanart Corner - Buono!mon Green Version

Buono!mon Green Version - Airin

The next in the Buono!/Pokemon crossover series! Airi as Venusaur from Pokemon Green. They fit in color only, though. Venusaur isn't even 1% as cute as Airi, and also is less popular than Charizard and Pikachu, wheras in Buono!, Airi is by far the most popular (though Momo is still very poplar in her own right, and Miya's standing in H!P is nothing to be upset over. In over words, all the Buono! girls are too good for Venusaur. Poor Venusaur.)

Captain

Caricature of "Captain" Saki Shimizu. I think I got her eyes right, but not her vase-shaped face (her chubby cheeks are super cute!) I consider her one of the more boring members of Hello!Project, so the sea captain theme was the best I could come up with for satirizing her "character."

Retro Corner - Sheena and the Rokkets' "You May Dream"

Part punk, part The Ronette's "Be My Baby", Sheena & the Rokkets' "You May Dream" (1979) immediately hooked me. It's one of those songs I wish would never end (well, except when I need to stop listening to music.) All the parts are memorable, magical, and catchy.

It actually took me a while to realize the dialogue in the middle was in English. I also found a live performance of this song on YouTube, but I couldn't even tell she was singing in any language! So it doesn't seem to matter what language the song is sung or spoken in, and I'm totally fine with that.

Retro Corner - Momoe's "Rock 'n' Roll Widow"

I've been to Tupelo briefly, during a road trip. The waitress at the diner really did kind of sound like Elvis. Elvis impersonations are fun(ny), by the way, which could be why I like Momoe Yamaguchi's "Rock 'n' Roll Widow" (1980) so much. Indeed it is very rock 'n' rolling, something that would be fun to play on a jukebox.

When searching for this song, YouTube informed me that Tina Turner sang a song by the same name. I listened to it and it's not really rocking. So at least Yamaguchi's song does not mislead with the title!

Retro Corner - Yuuyu's "Tenshi no Bodyguard"

I don't know much about individual Onyanko Club members aside from a few names of the girls that went solo and that one of the girls married their producer, Akimoto. But if I had to pick a favorite, it would be Yukiko Iwai, Yuuyu (#19). I first noticed her in her solo songs and work in Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi. Her voice is super cute! And then when I looked up information about her, I found out she was short! Pretty superficial reasons to like someone, I know. But I like the songs she sings in, especially this one, "Tenshi no Bodyguard." (1987) It's catchy and cute, a combo that is hard to disappoint me! I really like the gentle parts of the melody. It's just adorable.

I always go into writing this "Retro Corner" column meaning to say some deep reason why I enjoy these songs and why others should give them a listen. But every time it's the same story- it's cute, catchy, beautiful, etc. The lesson learned here: don't come to me for deep, meaningful media recommndations. All you'll get is a bunch of cartooons and cheese.

Fanart Corner - Buono!mon Red Version

Buono!mon (Red Version) - Miya

A while back, I noticed that Buono's Renai Rider colors matched the first generation Pokemon games (except Blue, which was a limited release anyway. I'm going by the Japanese releases.) So Miya, as Red, I drew in Charizard's pose from the box art. It would really rock if there was an actual tie-in like this, with a song and Pokemon inspired outfits. (Two of my biggest loves, H!P and Pokemon!)

Momo

Caricature of Momoko Tsugunaga. Hee, her pinky shtick connects her to Dr. Evil, thus the pose. Even though I've followed her as a favorite for about four years, I still don't think I've mastered drawing her unique elfin features.