9 posts tagged “c-ute”
Welcome to the second episode of CK (and his cat, Dexter) Go To The Movies. I am so pleasantly surprised to hear such a positive response to the first part of this series. Especially all of the love for "Tokkaekko"! In this episode we will focus on the three "serious" Hello! Project films. Frankly, I am more of a fan of their cute and funny entries. But the three following films all have something nice to offer. And they all give a really good look at the acting abilities of the girls in H!P. First up...
仔犬ダンの物語 (2002)
Koinu Dan No Monogatari, (The Story of Puppy Dan) was the companion film to The Minimoni Movie. I believe they both premiered December 14th, 2002 (which just happens to be my birthday, hah!) The film is unique in that the main parts were mostly played by the H!P Kids. It tells the story of Mao-chan (Tsugunaga Momoko), a young girl dealing with the pending divorce of her parents. Angered by her parents decision, she decides to go and live with her Grandfather in Gunma. Being the new kid at a new school, Mao-chan is a bit standoff-ish at first, until she meets Chika (Shimizu Saki), a schoolmate who is hiding from her mother a little blind puppy she found. Because neither of them are allowed to keep a pet, they attempt to find a suitable home for him. But as time goes by, Chika becomes more attached to the dog, and the girls are willing to do whatever it takes to enable Chika to keep him.
Although the members of Berryz Koubou and C-ute are the main focus of this film, what I love are all of the "bit parts" played by the girls of Morning Musume. Abe Natsumi is very sweet as Chika's neighbor and daughter of the building superintendent. I just loved the scene with her working at an AM/PM! Konno Asami also has a wonderful cameo as a schoolgirl who helps Mao find her way. It's a really cute and heartwarming story, and the kids all do a terrific job of acting. Yajima Maimi is especially good as the leader of the clique that Mao doesn't get along with. There is a touching moment toward the end when Mao leaves town to go and live with her father. All of her classmates show up to bid "sayonara" to their friend. It is so cute to see them all crying as they say goodbye. The movie ends with two great PV's for Ganbacchae and Hey Mirai!. And the DVD extras include "making of" and "premiere" footage.
Of the "serious" H!P movies, this one is probably my favorite. However, Dexter vehemently disagrees, as evidenced by the constant hissing every time Puppy Dan appeared onscreen. Dexter also pointed out that just because a dog chases it's tail, it doesn't mean that it is blind! But we both agreed that Okai Chisato is so cute in the part of Chika's little sister!
CK gives it 4 out of 5 stars, Dexter gives it Zero out of 5 stars.
ナマタマゴ (2002)
Nama Tamago (Raw Eggs) was released in 2002 as the companion film to Tokkaekko. Both times Hello! Project released two feature films simultaneously, they did one funny film coupled with a serious film. Now this movie is going to be a lot harder for me to review because I have never seen a subtitled version of it. In fact, the only reason I bought it was because Ohta-san was selling it so cheap that I couldn't pass up at least giving the movie a try. This is by far the most serious of all of the movies. And at times it is downright depressing. It stars Iida Kaori, Yaguchi Mari, Goto Maki, and Tsuji Nozomi.
Wiki describes this film as the story of four girls who want to make it as table tennis players. But after none of them improve, they decide to make a wager on who will be the best, inspiring a big competition. After watching the movie, I didn't really get that description at all! Yes, they are playing table tennis. But I had never seen people so depressed while playing a game. It seems more like a story of four girls who are troubled in life, and the friends and family members who are affected by them. You find out later in the movie that they are in some sort of incarceration. I'm not sure what kind, it could be a jail, juvenile detention, or mental health center. Table tennis seems like a way for them to merely pass the time (sybolized by a ticking metronome), and to think about the mistakes they have made in life. Of course I could be completely off in my assessment of the plot, I am merely guessing based on what I could understand.
I can't really be fair in stating how much I liked the film. Although it has a very pretty musical score (jazz piano), and the girls do some really good emotional acting toward the end when they meet with members of their respective families. But overall the film is long on talking and short on action. 2 stars out of 5.
Dexter took a nap for the entire movie.
ピンチランナー (2000)
Pinch Runner was the first H!P movie I ever saw. I stumbled upon it accidentally when I first discoved Hello! Project. Abe Natsumi is "Ayumi" A new girl in school who keeps to herself and the lone member of the Track and Field Club. Sanae (Goto Maki) wants to join the club, but finds Ayumi difficult to talk to. One day a fire breaks out in the school supply shed, and Ayumi's schoolmates team up to help save her from succumbing to the fire. Suddenly Ayumi has quite a few friends, and they all want to be members of the track and field club. The girls all have various motives for joining the club, and it is these serious themes that make up the backstory of the movie. The girls deal with child abuse (Ichii Sayaka), depression and suicide (Iida Kaori), terminal illness (Yasuda Kei), physical handicaps (Abe Natsumi) and unrequited love (Yaguchi Mari). Soon "running" toward a goal becomes a metaphor for the girls to confront their personal demons.
I will always have a soft spot for Pinch Runner because it was the first H!P movie I found, and the first one I bought a copy of. I really liked the setting of the film, I would love to know the name of the small coastal town it was filmed in. I also enjoyed the musical score. At times it has a retro, almost 60's euro quality to it. I have never bought the OST, as the only Momusu song actually in the film is "Dance Suru no Da"...on vinyl! Yaguchi Mari and Maki Goto played my favorite two characters. Gocchin is the one "happy-go-lucky" girl in the group. There are a couple of great scenes involving her and bicycles. The first is a cute sequence on the back of her boyfriends' bike stealing a banana from a vendor, and the second involves her taking a boys bike in order to chase down a professional runner she wants to meet. Marippe is just damn cute throughout the movie, especially when she is interacting the cute surfer guy she loves. But Nacchi is the star of this movie, and she does a great job. Even doing some of her scenes in sign language. And then there is this famous scene...
I give this film 3 1/2 of 5 stars. I really like the first half of the film, but it begins to drag toward the end. And the whole long distance relay scene was really hokey. Thousands of people maniacally cheering on a bunch of girls jogging? And did they win? I guess whether or not they won the race wasn't really the point, but why did it seem like the entire crowd was cheering on the interaction between Nacchi and her mother? How did all of these people get emotionally invested into that drama? I guess we'll chalk it up to "artistic license".
Dexter did a lot of "purring" during the movie, so I think he liked it. Or it might have simply been because I was petting him the whole time. Dexter also wants to remind everyone to watch for the cute cameo by Momusu 4th generation during the closing credits!
So there ya go, another three H!P films. I also consider "Sukeban Deka, Codename: Asimiya Saki" an H!P movie too, but I'll review that as a seperate post. ***And now that Andra has informed me that I am leaving out 2 H!P films (see her comment below) I guess there will be a third episode of CK at the Movies!!! Until next time, The balcony is closed!
CK in California
I'm really enjoying the Hello! Project Taiwan Audition Process! I know it's pure fantasy on my part, but it makes me feel like I am part of the judging as I analyze the entrants in the preliminary rounds. It is similar to my hopeful feelings when I watch the first parts of the Miss America Pageant, only to have my hopes dashed in the first fifteen minutes of the broadcast. So if this audition is anything like that, my favorites will probably all be eliminated early on.
I can't believe more people aren't jumping on the #41 bandwagon. Has anyone noticed how much this girl looks like Manoeri and Gocchin? Looking at these stills, I believe the clothing selection is a huge factor in advancing in this audition, and this outfit is great! Her legs are great, nice belly, and the top seems to emphasize her chest. I have no idea how well she performed during the talent portion, but she looks like such a little hussy! If I could pick one girl in this audition, she would be the one. I can hardly wait for her first H!P scandal!!!
#76 is very exotic looking, she almost looks more Thai than Taiwanese. She looks a little bit like Sotoda Mai, but IMO much cuter. There is a certain "warmth" in her facial expression that I find very attractive, and once again I love the outfit! The more I look at her the more I want to make her my top pick!
And there are actually a few more H!P hopefuls I really like. I'll attempt to explain why...
I've always been a big fan of the buck-teeth. I see a little bit of Maasa Sudou in #83. She has a great smile. One knock, she is a bit on the scrawny side. Then again, so are quite a few girls in H!P Judging from the expression, she looks as if she could be a "fun" girl...
#81 has the "girl next door" this going on, and she's already wearing the prerequisite H!P "Engrish" T-shirt that DJ Mai Mai loves so much. I can't find anything not to like about her.
The consensus seems to agree that #46 is the clear cut favorite. And I must admit she is cute. Her outfit is sexy, but not too revealing. The haircut is cute, and the babyface works. In fact, she reminds me of Mariko Shinoda of AKB48. I have no problem with her whatsoever. I know everyone is crowning #46 the "It" girl (actually Clara Bow will always be The "It" Girl), however she doesn't grab me nearly as much as #41 (and possibly #76) does.
There are a few others I kind of like as well, but these were my initial favorites. You can see many more photos in Nora1977ku's photo album. Check em out! And count this as my vote for the mega-sexy #41!!! Go Baby Go!
Oops, I've probably jinxed her now...
CK in California
So the talk around IW seems to be about whether or not the PV was made so we can notice their derrieres. I don't know, I'm busy staring at "Snatch".
Seriously, Saki's sweatshirt belongs in the obscene H!P clothing Hall of Fame, right next to Momo's Renai Rider jacket and Kei-chan's (I think it was Yasuda, it might've been Gocchin) "69er" tank top from an old Hello Project concert. Mike Judge would love this! (Hey Beavis, that shirt is cool. Yeah, hehehehehehe)
I really like most of C-ute's material, but they are all over the map, style-wise. And I wonder if that affects the ability to maintain a fanbase other than the H!P faithful. If you listen to Kisetsu and LALALA, then Junjou and this, it's as if they are two different groups.
As far as this song is concerned, not bad. I like the Gipsy Kings. They are very cute is this PV. Maimi looks stunning as usual, but I will give the "babelicious" award to Chisato. This is the hottest she has ever looked!
3 out of 5 stars. So far Milky Way's Anataboshi is running away with the "best song of the season" ranking, in my opinion. Now onto my AKB48 post...
CK in California
Here we go, Disc 1 of the box set. The way I see it, there are pros and cons when choosing to see the Elders/Wonderful Hearts seperately versus seeing the big extravaganza of Haru Pro Award. First, you have the size of the production and Arena. Seeing everyone at Yokohama Arena seems like a much bigger deal, and the large crowd creates alot of synergy. On the other hand, it doesn't seem as if there is a bad seat in the house at Nakano Sunplaza, which creates a far more intimate experience. Second you get to see more of your favorite seldom used idols in the smaller venue. Maasa is a perfect example...She is barely seen at Haru Pro Award, but she is all over the place in this show! Next you have lip-synching. For better or worse there is far less of it in Elders/Hearts. Finally you have the song selection. At the "big" show there are so many artists with current hits, it takes most of the setlist just to accommodate those singles. Elders/Hearts has alot more room for set list "surprises" and mixing of the units. This gives you an opportunity to see something more unique. Watching this performance is a perfect example.
Aozora ga Itsumademo Tsuzuka You na Mirai de Are! ~ Obviously there will be some duplication from the last review. But since they don't have a "track" to run around, the performance itself is slightly different. I've said many times that I like this song live. Captain immediately caught my eye...there is something very cute about her short stature and that purple tutu. I love that they put her up front with the other two leaders. And Momo always looks as if she is having the greatest time when she performs live.
Renai Revolution 21 ~ I love this dance, it always reminds me of the Mechaike "Chorus Club"! Gaki-san really shines here, she really gets into the hip-hop aspect of the song. My first question of the night goes to Paul Thomas if he is reading this...How hot was it in there, temperature wise? I know on one hand the younger groups put much energy into the dancing. But the girls seem overly sweaty and tired throughout this show. I have a feeling the spotlights at the Sunplaza are very strong.
LALALA Shiawase no Uta ~ After watching both versions of this in the set, I prefer C-ute doing this song by themselves. If for no other reason than we get alot more Maimi. Of all of the Berryz that could've gotten a solo line here, ofcourse it's Risako. But in all fairness I think her singing is improving. Lots of closeups of Jun Jun, she has great legs!
Tokaikko Junjou ~ Of the three core groups in Wonderful Hearts, C-ute are collectively the best dancers. Or at least they get the best dance routines. This is so sassy and energetic. They do a great job singing this live as well. Another great performance of this is the one they did at Yokohama Blitz!
Chance!/Happy ~ Great, we get to see Koha and the magic dress...again! Same performance as Haru Pro, except more facial expressions and less skipping around. She should wear that "prom dress" the whole time, as it is much more attractive than the plastic thing it is hiding under. This is why I like "Happy" a whole lot more. Koharu doesn't have a huge catalog, so they are limited in song choices. Hopefully we will get to hear something different this summer, like Milky Way!
Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi ~ Wow, this performance is an EXACT replica of the PV! Another cool thing about Wonderful Hearts/Elders is we get the second verses of songs. Again I will give Risako props for much improved singing ability. Now as far as the costumes go...
Kokuhaku no Funsui Hiroba ~ The long white dresses seem perfect for this! They should have worn these outfits for this PV, and the 50's diner waitress outfits for Kataomoi. My favorite part of this song is the bridge, I love the sad "key" it is written in. Is it me, or is Risako crying during this? Every time they show her she has a distressed look on her face. It could be my "hot spotlight" theory at work.
Mikan ~ Like Berryz, the costumes and stage setup make this performance very similar to the routine on the PV. Sayumi sounded like she was choking on her first solo line. Aside from that they do a good job of singing. Koharu dances very well, and Aika looks cute in every closeup. And Momusu got the best costumes for this tour!
SEXY BOY ~Soyokaze ni Yorisotte~ The good news is it's a lesser performed song, although it isn't a favorite of mine. The music reminds me of Reina's Alo-Hello! DVD, which is an absolute gem! Koharu always makes a goofy face when she knows the camera is focused on her. My favorite moment is the quick shot of Yurina sitting off to the side looking bored out of her skull!
Odore! Morning Curry ~ The first thing I noticed is what an asset Yossie was to this song. Forget about Reina's facial ticks, what the heck is Gaki-san up to??? Was that a "bitter-beer" face she gave us? Even better is the psychedelia going on the background screen...is this an Iron Butterfly concert? And if that isn't enough, Koharu turns the entire song into a parody of itself with her solo line at the end! A lot of "wackiness" going on here. Then again, it's a wacky song!
Renai Rider ~ I'm glad we get the chance to hear the entire song. Momo isn't projecting as well as she can. But I am glad to hear a "live" performance. Overall, the live singing makes the song sound slightly more sedate, but that's okay. I would have really liked to hear "Honto no Jibun" too!
Seishun! LOVE Luinch ~ Now this is a performance that I feel benefits from being live versus lip-synched. Chisato's strong voice really overpowers everyone else, except for Gaki. Chisato is really good. Saki does a good job, but Aika was a tad slow-going. She was too soft early in the song, but got better later on. Sometimes I wonder if Aika is trying too hard to be cute at the expense of being a stronger singer. Overall they did a much better job "live" than I thought they would, so kudos!
** At this point we get a series of "surpise" songs and "mash-up" units, which to me is the best part of this concert. The song selection here is great!
Robokiss ~ This had the potential to be a total disaster! But I don't think it was at all. The biggest mistake would have been trying to imitate TsujiKago. But while Michishige sounded like she would fit into "W" perfectly, Risako did her own thing in her own style. And that was a good idea. But Risako, you have to turn Sayu's crank "harder" if you want to wind her up! Surprisingly good!
Ai~n! Dance no Uta ~ What a great unit! Kamei, Maasa and the Pandas! Lin Lin does the best Ai~n! face. I'm glad the focus wasn't just on Eri, so the other three really got a moment to shine here!
Chokkan 2 ~ Many people have a problem with the original PV of this song, but the closeup version is one of my all time favorites. It is a series of wacky facial expressions, in many ways not unlike Berryz' Khan PV. Reina stands out here with the song that marked the beginning of her mugging for the camera.
**The next MC segment is very strange. I am now sure the hot spotlights are getting the best of them. First, Mari loses her train of thought. And look at Sayumi, she looks like she's about to pass out! Then Makoto fades out when Maasa tries to talk to him. Quick! Someone call a Medevac Helicopter!!!
Everyday Everywhere ~ Wow, they did some serious digging to pull out the old T&C Bomber song! Reina and Takitty are very good together singing these slower ballads. Their version of the Country Musume song last summer was a hit, and this one is just as good. Could this be a sign of a future unit? The style seems to fit Ai-chan more than Tanaka, but I think Reina's fanbase would stay with her no matter what she did. My request for their next collaboration is Michiyo's "Tsuyoku naranakucha...ne" By the way, Reina looks incredible! How she lost to Kikkawa in the second round of Broomhead's "March Madness" I will never know. I suspect some questionable officiating.
EVERYDAY YEAH! Kataomoi ~ This is definitely Hagitty's song! I love C-ute's performance of it from the 2007 Spring DVD! Mai, Saki and Kanna make a very cute unit. And all three of them sing very well. I love Saki's voice, and relish the opportunity to hear more of her.
Oujisama to Yuki no Yoru ~ I like Tanpopo, and I love Maimi and Chinami. But this isn't one of my favorite performances. It just seems kinda boring. That said, the four of them did a fine job with the material they were given.
Renai Sentai Shitsu Ranger ~ When I saw the setlist, this was the song I was most looking forward to see. Nochiura Natsumi was another great short-lived unit. In fact, I think this would have been cool at the Elders' Club too. Even with the quick tempo, I don't think it works as well with such a big group. It sounds better as a trio.
Meguru Koi no Kisetsu ~ Another great dance routine. This song is alot of fun. But here is where I think C-ute gets a great "deal", and Berryz Koubou sort of gets the "shaft". Look at these costumes...cute and flattering in all of right ways. As for Berryz...
Omoitattara Kichi desse! ~ I refrained from mentioning it in my H!P review, but what the hell are those??? Are they supposed to be dressed as Christmas trees? They look like maternity dresses! What a horrible costume. However, this is a great song! I don't have Berryz' fourth CD, so this is my first time hearing it. Another cool aspect is that it features Chinami, Maasa and Yurina on lead. Excellent!
Special Generation ~ Berryz and C-ute getting all chummy. Isn't this fraternizing with the enemy? Don't they have a big "Battle" going on this Spring? Even with C-ute, it sounds like every other version of this song.
Bon kyu! Bon kyu! BOMB Girl ~ The "Sexy Caped Crusaders" are back! I've seen this song so much lately that each performance is beginning to feel like a blur! Let's see...Takitty squeaks her first "Yeah!" while flashing a peace sign?...check. Air guitar?...check. Gaki's wierd sound at the end of her line?...check. Sayu "soft shoe's" across the stage?...check. Jun Jun and Lin Lin barely seen?...check, check! I really liked this song, but I'm starting to hate it now...WAAAA!
Go Girl ~Koi no Victory~ This is the first time I noticed those red rose-like things on their arms. For some reason they remind me of the moment in "Tommy" when Roger Daltrey gets treated by the "Acid Queen". I know, kind of a random thought. This is a pretty standard performance of a Momusu classic. No one stands out too much as there are no solo lines.
Hand made CITY ~ I always enjoy when they do songs in Semaphore. I would love to hear them do one in Morse Code. And why are the flags yellow? They look like they're about to call "Pass Interference"! But this is another example of the virtues of Elders and Hearts. Every song doesn't have to be a top hit. They can take a B-side and make it into a pretty good production number. All jokes aside, the choreography with the flags is very good. Takitty owns this song!
Nanni mo Imazu ni I LOVE YOU ~ Stealing the thunder from v-u-den's final single. I know they end shows with this song quite a bit. Maybe if they had known this would be v-u-den's farewell song they would have picked something else. But it's a sweet song to end with. This version sounds even sadder than v-u-den's
The best part of this show was the chance to hear some songs from the vault, especially that little Tsuji/Kago tribute in the middle of the show! Although the energy is slightly more sedate than Yokohama, they all seem collectively more "loose" here. I would love an opportunity to see this version of the Winter tour! Now, onto the Elders...
CK in California
Yeah...I'm on the friggin' box!!!
Ever since I walked out of Yokohama Arena, I knew the first thing I would do was order this DVD the moment I had the chance. I pre-ordered it about a month ago...I wasn't going to take any chances of having a hard time finding the box-set later. I knew it came out on Wednesday. And since that day I have become increasingly anxious every day the package hasn't arrived. Saturday it finally showed up. Seeing Hello! Project in person was such a profound moment in my life. Whatever anyone says about this DVD Box Set, positive or negative, I will always hold this particular performance dear to my heart.
I opened my package at work. And I am not lying when I say I am on the box (the inner box that is) When you fold out the inner box there is a good shot of the lower bowl of the arena. Everyone I work with says it is easy to pick me out because they recognize my posture (lol!) I remember being next to a security guard for most of the show, and I can see him perfectly! I am just to his left, looking toward the rear stage.
I will be reviewing this entire box-set this weekend, disc by disc. I felt it was appropriate to start with Disc 3, since this was the show I went to...three times no less!
LOVE Machine ~ I really like the Eggs' outfits in this show. Not too frilly with the cute blue neckerchiefs. Kitahara Sayaka gets some nice close-ups (pre Milky-way), very cute! But the cameras seem to focus on Manoeri and Nocchi. I don't have a problem with this. I love that Aika gets a good solo line here, and Nacchi gets her famous "Dancing All of the Night!" part. I was mesmerized by the Elders' maid outfits the first time I saw them! Wonderful Hearts' are wearing the outfits featured in Paul's Hello! Blog poll.
Auzora ga Itsumademo Tsuzuku You na Marai de Are! ~ I always enjoy the live versions of this song, and they usually do it as a chorus. Not much else to say, it is a standard "good" performance of this song. There was a quick pan near where I was sitting. Arigatou Ohta-san for assisting me in getting those GREAT seats! Fourteenth row, near the middle red aisle...AWESOME!
LALALA Shiawase no Uta ~ I've always liked this song, even the Kouhaku performance. Even with the lame outfits (I agree with Paul at Hello! Blog), Maimi looks adorable. There is a lot of "lip-synching" throughout this show. It is very noticeable on DVD, but not so much in the Arena. I was still "in the ether" at the show, so I thoroughly enjoyed this.
Tsukiattero no ni Kataomoi ~ Another song I enjoy alot more than the flak it gets on the blogs. Yeah yeah, I know, the outfits don't match the song, but I think they all look sexy. And it's a fun song nonetheless. This doesn't sound lip-synched, and Risako hits all of her lines...good for her! At the show they had their backs to me for most of this.
Jaja Uma Paradise ~ I swear v-u-den is Hello! Project's version of a Russ Meyer film! Nothing but T&A for 3+ minutes! This is not my favorite v-u-den song (The one I love is coming later) But the "sexy" camerawork is nonstop in this sequence. Hey, the three of them can pull it off! After this song the girls announce their impending breakup. It was anti-climactic, as everyone already knew the news by this time. I was looking for the moment where Makoto "double-taked" at me, but they were focused on Rika at that time. The strangest part about it was in all three shows the reaction to their break-up announcement sounded like a "Bronx Cheer"!
CK's resolve to attend next year's show just rose one level...
Ai Ai Daiko ~ Maeda Yuki seems so out of place in this concert. I am not being critical of her talent either. She is an amazing singer. And of all of the performances I have seen her do, this might be the best one. There is a certain "edginess" to this song that is very cool. I remember thinking how "cool" this was at the time. Excellent song!
16 sai no Koi Nante ~ I really like this performance, even if I don't really like the song all that much. It had just been released when I was in Japan, but I never felt the desire to buy the single. Maimi and Nacchi on stage together??? I adore both of them, and they both look irresistably cute. I could watch this performance all day.
Onegai Miwaku no Target ~ It's been a year since last Winter's concert, and Melon Kinen-bi are still promoting the same single? It's a good song and a good performance. It's just too bad that they don't get more love and respect, which they totally deserve! They really revved up the crowd in a major way! Masae is my favorite in the group, but Megumi has never looked cuter!
Yattarouze! ~ I am trying to recognize the "soloist" potential in Manoeri. The Egg that stands to me here is Sawada Yuri. I think she is just as cute as Mano, and almost as cute as Nocchi, but nobody can be as "cute" as Noto Arisa, she has that market cornered! Of the two Gatas singles at the time, I prefer this one. BTW, Charmy seems "hidden" in Gatas. I really hope H!P has something bigger for her in the near future.
Chance! ~ This is the exact same performance Koharu did during the Bon Kyu! Bomb concert. I had not seen that performance when I saw this, so I enjoyed this at the arena, and the costume change "bit" was amazing to me. But with the benefit of hindsight, I feel slightly ripped-off. I really like Koharu and all of her goofiness. But she should have had a new song to perform by this time. So I guess I blame Tsunku.
Seishun! LOVE Lunch ~ I love both of Athena and Robikerottsu's singles, especially this one. I was so excited to hear this song. But it seems "sped-up". I noticed it in the arena, and it is obvoius here. Slightly disappointing, but I still hope we hear more from this unit. They are extremely cute.
I Know ~ I was so happy to hear this song! It is one my H!P favorites. I still wish they had filmed the Saturday version where the microphone "disintegrated" in Aya's hands! I adore Ayaya so much! She is such a wonderful singer...a consummate professional...at 21 years old!!! And I "had a ball" doing the "Oh Yeah" parts in the audience! By the way, Ayaya looks incredibly sexy...is she wearing a Wonderbra??? And we get more of Ayaya's sexiness during the next MC segment.
CK's desire to attend next year's performance just rose another ten levels!
Danna Sama ~ This is who I should be drooling over, as I am close to Yuko in age. Actually, Yuko looks like she could be related to me (she looks alot like my mother when she was younger) She looks beautiful, and it's a nice song.
Iki wo Kasanemashou ~ As much as I love Abe Natsumi (she makes my top three in Ray's ranker), this song doesn't do too much for me. Even at the concert, I was waiting for this song to end! But her eyes are unbelievably pretty!!! Another song I'll watch with the sound turned down.
Mikan ~ It's been over an hour, and finally we get Morning Musume! The best thing about this song is the sexy outfits from the PV (which we will get to see again later). Since the song is upbeat, it seems much shorter live than on the PV/Single. BTW, it became obvious to me who I am most "in love with" in H!P. I couldn't take my eyes off of Reina whenever she was on stage. Aika and Eri stood out alot more than I noticed when I was there. I am starting to gain alot more respect for Aika's talent.
In every MC segment, I am wondering if Mari is putting on weight...
Renai Rider ~ You only need to read my Cafe Buono! review to know how much I love this! Nobody fills a pair of "short-shorts" quite like Airi! And I love Momo's tartan skirt and badass jacket as well. The only disappointing thing is that they skip the second verse, which is my favorite part of the song.
Inshouha Renoir no You ni ~ I really like this Elegies single. Take a good look, bacause this is the only good look we will get of Ayaka and Atsuko. They do a great job with this song too. I look forward to the Elder's Club disc where hopefully they will get more attention. This is part one of the elder's segment, followed by...
Otome no Shinrigaku ~ Shaking the cobwebs off of "2nd Morning" Kei-chan and Marippe are very sexy here. What a great "forgotten" song! The last two song are concrete evidence the elders are still a great part of Hello! Project. Give these girls more work for cryin' out loud!!!
Yuujou ~Kokoro no Busu niwa Naranee! ~ This is my favorite song of the night, and might be my all time favorite song period! I can't describe the energy in the arena for this performance, it rivals Berryz' Yuujou Junjou oh Seishun! from last year. And it come complete with a Takahashi crotch-shot closeup. AWESOME!...
CK's desire to be at next years' performance just hit fever pitch!
MC ~ I don't know what the whole "ukii" bit was all about, but it was much funnier watching them screw up the same bit on Saturday night. The "what the hell are you doing?" look Risa gave Ai that night was priceless!
Tokaikko Junjou ~ Jeez, is Hagitty becoming the pre-teen Diva! They all seem to be enjoying themselves, especially Maimi. Is this song supposed to be this cheerful? C-ute really seems to be feeding off the crowd here, and "we" were really energetic for this! I really like this song, so I enjoyed it alot. The only thing that would've been cooler was if they did this in the outfits from the PV.
Special Generation ~ This is not one my favorite Berryz' songs, but I do get that it is a big fan favorite. Like on "Kataomoi", Risako sounds much better than I have heard her in the past. But I still don't believe that she should be one of the lead singers. Yurina sounds much improved too. Poor Maasa, I almost never saw her! I'm glad she danced near me a couple of times at the show.
Narihajimeta Koi no BELL ~ It's interesting who the cameras focus on during this song. We start with Yossie (the most important member), then to Konno (fan favorite), then Nocchi and Manoeri (the most important Eggs), then Charmy. Thay Nocchi "fist-pump" was adorable, my heart is melting! The rest of the members of Gatas seem like "extras" here. In fact I don't think I have seen a closeup of Mika Mutou all night! I still think Yuri is the underrated Gatas girl. Watching Yossie here proves she could be a soloist.
Yeah! Meccha Holiday ~ "I @ yume dotto dotto surassho!...SURASSHO!!!" That is all I need to say to tell you how awesome this is to see live! Till the day I die I will sing the praises of how great Ayaya is. I am relieved that she didn't sing Ne~e, only because if she had, I'm sure I would have dropped dead from RAPTURE in the middle of the arena! MY GOD DO I ADORE HER!!!
Love & Peace! HERO ga Yattekita ~ This is the best Momusu performance of the night. And do I love these costumes! I've never seen Morning Musume wear outfits that showed off their posteriors as well as these! I enjoyed the little kiss Sayu threw at Ai-chan. In fact, Sayu performed very well in this entire show! I forgot to mention how well Risa works the crowd during Mikan, she is up to her same antics here. She wasn't one of my favorite Musumes at all until I went to Japan. seeing her live totally changed my opinion of her!
Bon Kyu! Bon Kyu! BOMB Girl ~ I've already seen two versions of this on the fall tour DVD, so I'll just spend this song staring at the girls bottoms...Sorry, but these outfits are Uber-Sexy!
Koisuru Angel Heart ~ I love their chorus songs. And Momusu, Berryz, C-ute, and v-u-den all sound great here. This is a very sweet, almost tribute-style version of this song. One of my favorites of v-u-den..."HAPPY!"...
Renai Revolution 21 ~ Another excessively played hit for the big Winter show. As this was my first H!P concert ever, I was glad to hear some of Morning Musume's classics live, so I didn't mind at all. Anyway, this is always a fun song to hear. In my opinion it is sung alot for good reason. It was obvious at this point the show was winding to a close.
**Now in the beginning of the final MC segment, Mari and Yuko say something that makes Nacchi cry, but I don't know what it was. When I was there I thought Yuko was saying something about leaving H!P as well. But on the DVD it sounds like it was something complimentary for Nacchi...I don't know. Anyone???
ALL FOR ONE & ONE FOR ALL! ~ I was hoping they would end with this! I figured I had a 50/50 shot, as they seem to end with this quite often. The most painful thing to me is watching Yossie and Rika do the 4th gen. line without Kago and Tsuji. Any why did 7th and 8th generation get skipped? I know they didn't sing on the original. But they have made many alterations to this song for the departed members. Koharu, Aika, Jun Jun and Lin Lin deserve their moment too!
Quick summary: I may be biased because I was there, but I love this show! The cameras panned over where I was standing many times, and I'll depend on Rad to isolate the scenes where he can see us. Now I have another three discs to watch. Up next...Wonderful Hearts.
CK is shopping for his flight and hotel as we speak!
CK in California
Every Tuesday I look forward to checking out the new Morning Musume Q&A at Hello! Online. http://www.hello-online.org/ This weeks question is "What does Spring mean to you?" For me, it means the beginning of the baseball season. For UFA, apparently it means time to release lots and lots of new singles.
The next few weeks bring us new music from Morning Musume, Matsuura Aya, C-ute, Buono!, v-u-den, and Milky Way. Already we have had the chance to sample most of these songs at least a month before their release in stores. Once again, I don't understand this. If the songs are out, then release the singles. I can't believe this has a positive affect on the sales numbers. You need to "strike while the iron's hot!"
I'll begin with the three songs I haven't heard a radio "rip" of yet.
C-ute ~ Namida no Iro Well, judging from the fan recording on YouTube the wota seem to have the chant down on this one already. And the music? Is this a collaboration with the Gipsy Kings? I'll reserve overall judgement until I hear a better quality version. But I will say the music begs for a very exotic and sexy PV, and that could make all the difference. C-ute is a hot group right now, so I'm sure it will sell well.
Milky Way ~ Anataboshi Let me begin by saying that I love the material Koharu gets as a soloist. The songs are cute, and fit her personality perfectly. The only hint of this song we have had so far is the exerpt from "Kirarin Revolution" posted by Some Boys! Blog the other day. http://www.intlwota.com/someboysblog/category/milkyway/ That does sound like Koharu...If that is indeed Milky Way, I love it!!! Whatever the hell that song is, I'm smiling! My first impression of Milky Way wasn't overly positive, but now I'm thinking I might have been too pessimistic too early. If it's any indication, this unit is going to be a smash hit! And if we go by H!P's track record, this weekend marks one month until the single's release. So we should see a PV any day now.
Buono! ~ Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! I haven't heard a single note, but I'm sure it will be great!
Now for the radio rips...
C-ute ~ Koero! Rakuten Eagles Let's check the "out of town" scoreboard, shall we?...this is the fourth Eagles theme song. The Manpower!!! is my least favorite Morning Musume single ever. GAM's Daisuki Rakuten Eagles is decent enough, but it just doesn't sound like a baseball support song to me...at all. DEF.DIVA's Let's Go Rakuten Eagles sounds more like a team song. It's fun, has cheers in it, and DEF.DIVA was an awesome side project! I would put C-ute's rendition in the category of DEF.DIVA. It's a fun and uplifting song. And it has those little "fight, woo" chants all through it. By the way, it was released March 20th, and the first sign of it on You Tube??? March 20th...gooooood
Morning Musume ~ Sono Bamen de Bibiccha Ikenai jan! I already like this song a hell of a lot more than Resonant Blue, the A-side to this B-side. That being said. this song sounds like a B-side. I don't know how successful it would be as THE single since the popular trends seem to point to more mature sounding music. In fact, I could see Berryz or C-ute performing this. Evidently Tsunku has said songs like Resonant Blue are the direction Momusu is going for the forseeable future, but this is the second single in a row that has featured a c/w song that was cute and upbeat (Bon Kyu! Bon Kyu! Bomb Girl). I just think these types of songs are more fun to watch at the concerts.
Matsuura Aya ~ Kizuna I think just about everyone "holds their breath" whenever Ayaya puts out a new single. I have never heard anyone say that they don't like her, but quite a few (including myself) have been slightly disappointed with her singles lately. But lets face it, Aya has grown tremendously as an artist since the Dokki Doki! Love Mail days. This is a very pretty song, and very appropriate as a theme song for the Special Olympics(?). It is extremely uplifting without being too slow. And it shows off how wonderful a singer Aya really is. I'm not sure if I will buy it as a single, I'll probably wait for it to come out on a full length CD. But I'm guessing that CD might be the "Pucchi Best" compilation. Oh yeah, first shows up on YouTube March 25th, to be released May 21st??? JEEZ!!!
v-u-den ~ Nanni mo Iwazu ni I LOVE YOU The final single of v-u-den. I will not be in Japan for their graduation, but I can say I was there when they announced their coming disbandment. The last song I heard them sing "in person" was Koisuru Angel Heart. And I had a rush of sentimentality during the first verse which I find very pretty. If you ignore the fact that this is just a remake of a Morning Musume song Rika sang on originally, it is a perfect "sad" song of reflection and finality. My guess is that this will be the song they finish with at their summer tour. And I think it will be an amazing moment to watch them cry through it. I really liked v-u-den, and am sorry they weren't overly successful. I sincerely hope there is a future in Hello! Project for Erika and Yui.
Good luck ladies!
CK in California
A.K.A an attempt not to be pidgeonholed into the "oldies but goodies" category.
There has been quite a bit of activity around Hello! Project (and International Wota) over the past couple of weeks. Generally speaking, it has me excited because most of us believe some "stirring of the pot" is in order to create some new buzz around these groups.
Cinderella: The Musical ~ This has me very excited. Morning Musume doing Rodgers and Hammerstein feels like the making of something very special. I'm sure this will be released to DVD. But I think a movie version would be even better. I've always felt staying in the "big screen" medium is a great way to keep the exposure going at Hello! Project. As far as who will play who, I have no idea. But Koha and Sayu as the wicked stepsisters sound perfect to me. I could also see Reina and Risa in those roles too. This is a great move! I just wonder how it will affect an H!P Summer Tour
Milky Way ~ Raise your hand if, like me, you were slightly let down when they revealed who Milky Way would be. I'm sort of in the middle on this one. On the positive side, I am glad to see more H!P Eggs get a chance to expand their roles. Many have been clamoring for Kikkawa Yuu to get a break after just missing in 8th generation. She has a very "fresh" look and usually stands out when backdancing at the shows. On the other hand, another Koha unit? Tied into Kirarin Revolution? Koharu seems to be doing quite well on her own, so I'm not sure why they keep experimenting with her and other singers. So until we see what this really looks like, to me it seems like "Kirarin Revolution, starring Koharu Kusumi, costarring two H!P Eggs". Lets see a shuffle unit with some new people that haven't been shuffled in a while. I can think of a couple of Berryz...
Manoeri goes solo ~ For starters, congratulations to Erina-san! Tsunku and UFA must see something in her that makes them feel she is ready for this step in her career. And they would know alot better than I would. That being said, two things concern me...I wonder why it was necessary for her to graduate from the Eggs AND Ongaku Gatas? Gatas is still a fresh group in the stable, and Manoeri seems to be one of the big reasons for their popularity! There are many who are Soloists or in Shuffle Units AND also in a Core group. As Radicalpatriot questioned on his blog, does this mean she is going the way of The Possible and joining the "Nice Girl Project"? I don't know if I like that idea. Second, becoming a solo artist in Hello! Project seems to be very hard to make a success of. How many solo artists have had any longevity of major success and record sales? With the exception of a privileged few, it's more of a recipe for two concert appearances a year, H!P Winter and H!P Summer. Or, she could reveal herself as an amazing singer and Tsunku will write her some sensational material. I hope the latter is true. This brings me to my next topic...
Niigaki Risa on Uta Doki Pop Classics ~ I have to admit that I have never given this show a proper chance. There is so much audio/video/print out there to enjoy, I simply skipped it. But I did watch the recent episode with Gaki-san after reading Metalhead griping about her hairstyle. What an electric performance!!! I thought she looked and sounded amazing. Not only did it make me think of her being the next to graduate Morning Musume and go solo. I also thought (I hope I don't cause a shutdown of International Wota) she could be a gateway for Hello! Project to a wider western audience. Watch it yourself and see if you agree...
...kickass!!! I think an American audience might like that. (hmmm?)
Goodbye Uta Doki, hello Berrikyuu ~ I am very excited about the prospect of a television show for Berryz and C-ute, it will be a great chance for us to see more of their personalities. But 7 MINUTES??? What kind of a show is that? How much can you do in 7 minutes? Lets see, 1-2 two minutes of opening/closing credits, a minute of setup, which leaves us no more than 240 seconds of content? I could go to the toilet and miss the whole show! Anyway, I hope it's good. As far as Uta Doki is concerned, I'm sorry to see any H!P show get cancelled. But I wouldn't mind seeing Uta Doki become part of Haromoni@. All we would need is a couple less jugglers/gymnasts/banana-eating-ex-pornstars and it would fit in quite nicely. And enough MouTube!!! Lets mix that show up a bit too, and throw in more scavenger hunts, neighborhood visits, restaurant tours. They can still wear the ears and tails, I don't mind that at all!
The Return of Miki Fujimoto ~ Has anyone else noticed that there hasn't been any buzz about this beyond the first announcement. That doesn't bode well for Mikitty. I hope I'm wrong.
The Woes of the Elders ~ I am highly concerned for the girls who made Hello! Project what it is today. Melon Kinenbi is proverbially drowning, most of the older idols are grossly underused, and where the heck is Ayaya? Her single was cancelled, she has no tour or album in the works. I hope she is off filming Yo-Yo Girl Cop 2!!! I wouldn't be surprised if we see more than one of the Elders part ways with Hello! Project in the next year. And that would be too bad. I really hope Nacchi doesn't leave. First of all, I love her. Second, I think she and H!P need each other. She still has a good fanbase, and is the orginal face of the flagship! She's also had a decent solo career.
I hope all of these changes pan out for our idols, and I also hope we are treated to alot more excitement in the months to come.
BTW, I am also excited about two things going on at International Wota...
American Wota Roundtable ~ Ray, what a great idea. And Henkka, Celestia, and Broomhead took on the topic in fine style. I read all of their points of view. I enjoyed and for the most part agreed with every one of them. As for my two cents on the topic... I agree that it is a matter of semantics as Morning Musume will always be the flagship group. But at this point Berryz and C-ute have more of a buzz around them. They have been around for what...six years now? So they have definitely paid their dues. So I see Berryz and C-ute and standing along side Momusu in the limelight, rather than a few steps behind. They have achieved enough to be considered their own flagships, and stand in their own spotlight. Lets keep 'em in the big venues like the upcoming battle concert at Yokohama Arena. I personally feel that most of the issues lie in the songwriting and production. The talent is there, it is up to the people upstairs to utilize it properly. The PV's need upgrading, and they need to continue to find ways to cross promote the talent. Cinderella: The Musical is a good start. BTW, sorry for crashing the party.
Stuck in a Pagoda's Multi-Parter on H!P's US Marketability ~ Let me first state I am not here to contribute to the war. It is obvious that CJ doesn't like Gerald. Okay, we get it! With regards to that, I would like to say that we would all love to see Morning Musume come to our own hometown. Nothing would excite me more. But from the standpoint of how likely it is to happen, I just don't see it. I can't fathom Hello! Project being treated as anything other than a novelty with a niche audience. And who are they marketed to? Kids? 20-40 year old men? From a financial standpoint, and I do work in the financial sector, I don't see it as a profitable venture. I also wonder if UFA has any interest in this idea at all. Is this even a goal of theirs? Who knows? I'm not an expert in the music industry, and I don't have a finger on the pulse of what sells here in the US as I hate just about everything on the American Billboard chart! So what do I know?
But after all that is said, I thought Stuck in a Pagoda's first part was an amazing post. Personally, I want to believe that there is a reason for Hello! Project to try their hand in the US market. So I am interested in any data or ideas that would make that a reality. I can't wait for the next part!
CK in California
"Someone told me there are girls out there with love in their eyes and flowers in their hair.
Took my chances on a big jet plane, never let them tell you that they're all the same." ~ Led Zep
This is my second ever blog attempt. I am inspired by the many excellent writers over at International Wota. My favorites are...
1. MiniMoniMania, aka Kawaiirrhea. Everything MMM has done so far has been a masterpiece to me. I like the style for the same reason I love Dennis Miller's "The Rants". My favorite humor is material very few get, even I don't get a lot of it, but I'm still laughing.
2. True Life Seek. Broomhead's Haromoni@ reviews...comedy. For me, it's a total "buy".
3. Hello! Blog. One of the first H!P blogs I ever read. I love that Paul lets the reader into his life a lot more than many other J-pop bloggers.
This is a (not so) brief report on my trip to Japan. One caveat, composition was never my strongest subject (I'm a math guy), so I will never compare to the writing abilities of the above mentioned people. That being said, I am treating these posts as an audition of sorts. I hope they are at the very least slightly enjoyable.
As stated in my previous post, I had decided that it was my life mission to attend a Hello! Project or Morning Musume concert last summer. My first intention was to go to the Bonkyu Bomb concert in October, but my vacation schedule wasn't working out. I love the H!P 2007 Winter Box, so the 2008 version was the next logical choice. Here are some tips as a first time visitor of Japan.
Although I studied Japanese steadily for the 6 months leading up to the trip, I forgot most of it when I arrived. This made the trip alot more challenging as I was by myself for the first three days I was there. The more Japanese you know, the better off you'll be. Either that, or hire a guide. The Japanese I remembered was extremely helpful...Duh!
The JR line is very convenient, and easy to use. It didn't take me long to figure it out. The station agents are very helpful. Just tell them the stop you want and they will get you on the correct train, even with very limited English. I highly recommend downloading a JR line map. I carried my local neighborhood maps and JR line map everywhere I went (all printed from the web). Made things a lot easier.
Food was not nearly as expensive as I thought it would be. Every ramen shop has a special, and most sushi was about half the price of what I pay in California. The hardest part was ordering as you can't count on the waiter to know any English, so I stuck to restaurants with pictures. BTW, the vending machines (located everywhere) were a godsend.
I highly recommend obtaining your show tickets before you get to Japan, just one less thing to worry about. I did locate the ticket reseller on Takeshita Dori I had heard good things about. It is upstairs in the LOVX building, with an H!P store nearby.
OK, now the review...
The doors opened about 45 minutes before the show, and most people jammed the entrance. The seating is reserved, so there is no reason to rush in. I went in with about 20 minutes to showtime each time. I spent those 20 minutes entranced by the stage (sort of a Barbie Dream Castle theme), and frozen with anticipation that within minutes I will be within mere feet of these young ladies whom I've built up in my mind as legendary.
Lights do down, and there are Makoto and Yaguchi...OMG! YAGUCHI! IN PERSON! I am in awe, although I am surprised by the "cold" start to the show. Don't they usually show up after the first couple of songs? This is different.
The lights slowly come up on the stage as Love Machine begins, ofcourse it's the Eggs. Now I know everyone is sick of the endless Love Machine performances, especially after Kouhaku. But this is my first H!P concert ever. Even if it was The Manpower (my least favorite Momusu single), I still would've been ecstatic. Just get me to the second verse! Second verse, here they come...Maid outfits? AWESOME!!!!!!!!! Second song: Aozora ga Itsumademo. They seem to do this song alot at the big shows as it has an "anthemy" quality to it. Pretty song, standard big-scale H!P performance.
The format of the show was Haru Pro