13 posts tagged “idoling!!!”
It's too bad that Ohori Megumi is born in August, because so many of my favorite idols celebrate their birthdays in mid-fall. And I am proud to celebrate the birthday of one particular Idoling!!! member who captivated me from the moment I saw her...
So what better way to celebrate than with a mini-picspam of Erika looking totally hawt and showing off one (actually two) of the biggest reasons why she is such a great idol!!!
As much as it is a big part of her appeal, Erika has a lot more to offer than what sits on her chest. She is one of the funniest idols in the business. Her quick wit and playfulness go a long way in making her a must watch member on Idoling's television program...
During my recent visit to Odaiba I couldn't get over the fact that I
was treading in "Yazawa's neigborhood". One of these days I will finally get a chance to see Idoling!!!, and my favorite girl Yazawa live. Until then I will just have to collect as much of her stuff as possible.
CK in California
It is already Christmas in Akihabara! Actually I don't have much to report for day 5, although I did see AKB48 Team Kenkyuusei on Wednesday night. But I will report on that in another post. Hey, I didn't promise this stuff would all be in chronological order! So I am going to work backwards a bit. Beginning with today, which isn't over.
I didn't have anything planned that was J-pop related today. So I deferred to my AKB brethren for advice on what to do with the day. It didn't necessarily need to be associated with AKB, or Idols at all for that matter. I was merely looking for something fun to do. And they had recommended Odaiba.
Odaiba? Oh yeah, that's supposed to be a fun place. I had never been there before. And how could i forget it? After all, it is the mystical land of...
Wow, that is such a cool structure! But first I wanted to go check out that miniature Statue of Liberty they have. This is also where that giant Gundam used to be. But it is gone now. The general area around the Fuji television building is filled with shopping malls, restaurants and amusement attractions. I had lunch in this cute little tex-mex restaurant that was supposed to be like a silver mine. 500 yen for the Japanese version of Jambalaya and all the soda you can drink.
After lunch I did a little exploring and found the store that sells Idoling!!! goods. The only problem was that the selection for my favorite member, Erika Yazawa was kinda "picked over". So I ended up with a T-shirt. They had another T-shirt design that was much cooler, but there were none in my size for Erika. I checked Asahi Nao too, but no luck. Oh well. It was still a cool little excursion.
It is still mid-afternoon at the time of this writing, so I may end up doing something tonight. The tentative plan is to head to Tokyo Tower, as the Tokyo Tower girl makes regular Friday night appearances. And of course the Tokyo Tower girl is none other than AKB48's Umeda Ayaka!
Warning #1) Long post is long! Warning #2) Hide your eyes kiddies, this is an SDN review! I will do my best to keep it as clean as possible.
Okay, I think it's time I do an experience post since I have seen five shows over the past week. And for this entry I'll focus on my new favorite Team...SDN!!!!! But first a couple of observations...
The theater is a lot more crowded lately, and the demographic is indeed getting younger. At first this didn't bother me although I have been hearing a few curmudgeonly comments from some of the older fans. On the surface having a younger fanbase will ensure long-term success. But one big problem is that most of them can't afford the higher ticket items AKB is selling. So on Sunday when they released the monthly (former gaccha) photos and the Budokan box, the line for the pics was 3-4 blocks long, but you could walk right in and buy a dvd set with no wait whatsoever! the second thing is they have turned the cafe/lobby into a pic-trading heaven. It was like that before, but never on the level I am seeing now. It's like the new fans have replaced Pokemon with AKB. It was funny, when i bought my calendar they all swooped down on me to see what "extra" BLT I got, and they all scoffed when I pulled out Amina! Oh, and with the heavier pic-trading comes a lot more female fans. But back on topic...
At this point I have seen five shows, yet none of them have been for Teams A, K or B. in fact, B isn't performing for my entire trip. And you know what? I'm not disappointed. Because I have a new favorite team, which would make sense since Meetan is my Oshimen. So three wins for SDN is a total victory, as far as I'm concerned.
I won all three shows via renban with my buddy Hiro. we sat in Enpou for two of those shows, and the one show we were in the lottery our group got called 2nd to last...Ugghhh. I never have good lottery karma! In fifteen theater shows i have never been closer than 4th row far left.
BTW, if you want to follow along you can find previews of all of the songs here on their official site
Gotta love the sexy overture, fits the team well. The pre-show welcome was done last night by Chen Qu. I love listening to her talk, as she has the same intonations and "spacey' personality as JunJun for Morning Musume. Saturday Night Party: Team White appears looking exactly like Wonder Girls' "Nobody" MV, complete with the antique mic stands. They are all gorgeous, especially Misa Okochi and Chen. But after a while I am captivated by Chisaki Hatakeyama. There is just something about this girl that makes her really special. Since last night was Chaki's birthday show, the audience went nuts when she started singing.
Never begins with Team Red, but White joins in on the first chorus. Chaki just flies across the stage! At that point my adulation for her rose to the next level! The moment I saw Megu I was pissed at whoever the photographer was who took the official site pics. A lot of these girls are much much cuter than those pics indicate. They do a little "rap" as part of the verse which is really cute. And watching Nonti do her solo line just confirmed that SDN is where she belongs!
Black Boy is just plain awesome. Now all three colors are onstage, and that means Meetan!!!! This is the song I voted for in the Setlist 2010 elections. Although now i would consider it my 3rd fave. But it just filled with energy and attitude. Those of you who have seen the Budokan version got a hint of it. You have to see it in the theater...intense! BTW, I spent most of my energy cheering for Meetan, Chaki, Chen-chuu and Sayanee.
Last night's opening MC was the first chapter in the Chisaki cry-fest. As I was noticing Meetan...hmmm, she had a strange look on her face. I wasn't sure what it was about and wondered if she might not be feeling well. Then again, she is always an emotional rollercoaster (hehe). But I would find out what was up a little later (I think). The cheers for Chisaki were intense, and she was unsuccessfully fighting back the tears,
Yuuwaku no Garter: Damn these costumes are sexy. They are the ones represented in their logo. But what you don't see is how skimpy the undershorts are. there is a point in the song where they bend over and sort of lift up their skirts, and Yukarin...wow!!! I think you know what I am getting at. Last night Chisaki subbed for Yukarin, and I has in heaven yet again! But the song is typical "sexy J-pop" The song ends with the line "I wanna be your pleasure toy!" That is so hawt. Speaking of hawt...
I'm Sure is where this Stage gets even more R-rated. Is just great, a totally seductive verse into an intense rocking chorus. And the girls dance is like a dirtier version of Oshi/Meshi, if you can imagine that. And then ZOMG!!! On the last verse Kana lies down on the stage and Misa mounts her as they sing the end of the song. It is incredible!
All In wasn't one of my favorite songs, but it was fun rooting for Chen and Sayanee. The audience goes crazy for Nonti. One other thing, Reiko is a great singer! And once again, she looks much hawter than her site pic suggests.
Finally Meetan's unit! Jajauma Lady: Although the first show I saw had Nachu leading the unit. The dance on the chorus, the way they sort of "paw" at the audience is sooo cute! Are they suppose to be horses or something? Meetan gets a lot of solo time here, so I got to do plenty of screaming! The end of the song features Meetan chasing Chisaki around the stage with the whip. (hehe) And during last night's show the birthday committee passed out glowsticks for Chaki's birthday to be used for this song.
Nachu/Meetan MC is awesome!!!! BTW, I love Nachu, she is so great! She is all about comedy! She has a different dialect, and she also speaks with a lisp. I love that! Last night i think she was saying something about her pants running up her butt. But the funniest was on Sunday when she was asking Meetan how her legs felt, and when Meetan would give this sexy answer Nachu would smack her in the quad! Don't hurt Meetan! I also think it is hysterical that the audience likes to call her "Natsuko", and she always reacts to it. They end with an "audience participation" chant for...
Ganbarina is full of energy. And it is one of those "hand gesture" songs the audience has a lot of fun with. Some of the girls do acrobatics during the musical portion, and the crowd "whoops and wows"
Futsuu no Anata is also one of my favorite songs. Hiro mentioned to me that the lyrics are particularly suggestive. That's hawt! If you listen to the preview on the official site you will get an idea of how sexy this song is. At one point toward the end of the song where the music slows down half the team closes their eyes and leans forward like they are waiting for a kiss. It is soooooo adorable. I wanted to just run up there and oblige them, especially since Meetan and Chaki were among that group.
Best by: Sexy costumes, I never noticed before what a tiny waist Meetan has. By the time this song came around the first time I watched this stage, I was sold. This is the best Stage I have ever seen!
They do a VTR while the girls get ready for the last song of the main set. One member gets 3 minutes to entertain you. It was usually something sexy or funny. Like the first show i saw had Nachu in the hallway with a rubber hammer, banging on the girls' pics and saying funny things about them...NATSUKO!!!!
Aisareru Tame ni, the "glowstick" song! Kinda like AKB Sanjou, the girls all have green glowsticks (as well as the audience) and they spell out love during the chorus with us following along. this is the one SDN ballad, and it is pretty. Even if it reminds me of Procol Harum's Whiter Shade of Pale
Last night's encore chant was simply "Chaki, Chaki, Chaki, Chaki" it was intense, and it never let up!
Kodoka na Runner is as fast paced as the title suggests. It has a long musical interlude in the middle where the "fire, cyber, diver" chant goes, followed by the Japanese version, followed by a third version of the chant which I had never heard before. But it was great!
Touhikou is most memorable to me for Chen singing her solo lines in Chinese. Actually they are more like spoken word. The short kimono's they wear are the same one's they wear during the post show "high touch" It's a pretty song.
In the final MC last night Chaki got a tremendous ovation, which caused her to cry harder and harder the longer it went. She is beyond adorable, and I am now declaring her my 2nd favorite member besides Meetan. In fact I was compelled to write her a fan letter for her birthday. But then i started to feel like I was betraying Ohori a little bit so I wrote her one too, and delivered them both last night. Speaking of Ohori, she was the next MC after Chaki. When she stepped forward she had a strange look on her face which caused everyone to laugh. But then she started crying too! I think at first everyone thought she was playacting, including the other girls. But then she kept apologizing and something about being affected by Chisaki's reaction to the ovation. So it was totally real. Meetan is so great!!! In fact i noticed in all three shows the girls make constant references to her in MC's. She is definitely one that the other members look up to. It speaks volumes to what a great idol she actually is. And what was this about Meetan treating Serina like a servant??? After the MC the girls rip off the Kimonos into a really sexy costume for...
Vampire Keikaku: here it is. this is my favorite SDN song for so many reasons. The girls all get a moment up front, so you get one last chance to scream for your favorite. But it is the dance routine that makes it so special. On each chorus half the Team lies down on the stage as it rises in the air and they do hip thrusts. Wow, blatant sexual suggestion!!! Another awesome R-rated moment. And toward the end they all pair off for a "bite" (Vampire song, remember?) Meetan was so cute when she bit Kohara. But when she paired off with Yukarin on Sunday she actually kissed her...AWESOME!!! A heartwarming song to end the show.
It was a birthday show. And what would a birthday be without cake? As Nachu rolled out the cake the Chisaki faucet re-commenced. And after a chorus of "Happy Birthday" the streamers and confetti flew out. It was too much for Chaki, she just lost it. So cute!!!
The first show i saw was on Halloween, so instead of "High-Touch" they had "Trick-or-Treat", which meant you could go up to the girl of your choice and get Halloween candy. I hadn't totally fallen for Chisaki yet, so I chose Sayanee since I saw her in New York, and she speaks English. She tried to talk to me about NYAF, but then the security guys pushed me away. Hehe
For those who don't know, at the end of each show the girls line up in the hallway. As you leave they all give you a "high-five" and Arigatou. I believe they do this for every show. On Sunday for "high touch" Hiro and I planned to get me stuck in front of Meetan. As I went down the line of girls giving high-fives the first girl to "sugoi" at my gaijin-ness was CinDy who grabbed my hand with both of hers. Chisaki did the same. But then our plan began to unravel when I got to Nachu, who was committed to having me learn her hand gesture. It caused me to back up the line. When the staff pushed me it made me fly right past Nonti and Yukarin. but I stopped myself at Meetan long enough to make eye contact. And Hiro had told her i was her California fan with the AKB car plates. So she grabbed my hand and gave me a big "Arigatou". Last night went a lot smoother, and Nachu got a kick out of the fact that I knew her hand gesture this time. After ogling Meetan I made sure to give Chaki a big "Otanjoubi Omedettou!" I'll never wash my hand again!
Yes, now I have another autographed Meetan B.L.T. I can't say enough about how much I love this stage! The songs are great, and the dancing is on an entirely different level of anything I have ever seen an idol group do. The entire concept is ingenious! And the "high touch" at the end is just flat out great. Getting to meet all of the members at the end of the show? How amazing! And since i stand out a bit it makes it even more special.
I had to check myself last night to make sure I wasn't falling for Chisaki at the expense of Meetan. But when they were both on stage together my focus remained with Ohori. There really isn't a bad song in the setlist, but my top 5 are...
1. Vampire Keikaku
2. Futsuu no Anata
3. Black Boy
4. I'm Sure
5. Jajauma Lady (had to include Meetan/Chisaki unit!)
So there ya go. Chen's birthday show is on Saturday night. The Chen birthday committee let me write a message on their birthday card! I am not going as I am seeing Infinity that night. but I plan to go to the theater after to watch the show on the monitors. And that means one more "high touch". Yayyy!
Okay, I still have tons going on this weekend, including AKB Infinity on Saturday and Morning Musume on Sunday. So this trip is far from over. Until then...
CK in Tokyo
Next week will be my fourth trip to Japan in 21 months. I have been to over 20 separate concerts during those trips. But as many shows as I have seen, I have still never had the chance to see one of my favorite groups in person. And that is Idoling!!!
I kind of got a late start with them because 10 they are still relatively new, and 2) my first impression of them wasn't too positive. It took me a while to warm up to them. But when I finally took the time to really see what they were about, I fell for them hard. That said, I have never seen any of their concert performances. So I was really excited when Silverbolt hooked me up with their latest live show at Hibiya Open Concert Hall. However, I was honestly a bit apprehensive about watching this, As much as I love Idoling!!!, the few "live" clips I have seen have not impressed me.
Wow, what a neat venue! I would love to see a show there. Oh yeah, if you scan the audience (the camera does this a lot) you might notice the lack of females. It took me three viewing to spot one woman in the audience. She may have been the only one there (hehe!)
The opening set had some of my favorite songs. And what is this? A live band? I have always wondered what today's Hello! Project artists would be like with a live band. I think it makes a nice addition to the show. And if you have ever seen any of Matsuura Aya's concert DVD's (and old MoMusu for that matter) you'll know that it adds an extra element of entertainment to the show. But back to the music...
I just love Soushuku-kei Carnival! The musical style is exactly what I love about this group. And Tokimeki DREAMing!!! is so pretty! The girls look very cute in these cheerleader get ups. Is the singing a bit off-key at times? Yes it is, but I am finally get that Idoling!!! is about a lot more than singing. Another way to look at this is that they do ALL of their singing live. I don't think ANY other idol ensemble does that. So the girls deserve some kudos for "putting themselves out there" the way they do. The predominantly upbeat set was a great start to the show!
If I can backtrack a bit, the opening VTR was kind of a cross between Battle Royale and the NA*GA*RA PV, with the girls escaping from an island prison. So the next segment of the show included their TV emcee Hidetomo Masuno giving a "dossier" on each member. He's a pretty funny guy, and I love that he has that same "Moe Howard, John Denver, Pete Rose" hairstyle shared by Makoto of Sharam Q fame. Anyway, after each set of intros they performed a "unit" song...
Houkago Telepathy is one of my favorite Idoling!!! B-sides. And now is as good a time as any to declare my crush of #15 Asahi Nao, She is soooooooo adorable! I was somewhat surprised that the only performance from the winter shuffles was the FuriFuri Idoling!!! song. Then again, most of the girls from NA*GA*RA have graduated, and Hannin wa Anata Desu<3 is probably the best of the other three.
I usually don't love ballads, but "U" is really pretty. Not to throw my fave under the bus, but someone was singing off-key throughout this song. And unless I miss my guess, I am pretty sure it was Yazawa. Oh no! Yazawa can't sing? Actually, she sings a solo line toward the end that wasn't bad. But c'mon girl. I never thought in a million years I would accuse Erika of being "flat"!
On the other hand, Endo Mai proves what a great singer she is in Like a Shooting Star! Fonchi isn't bad either. I love her "lolli" voice! So just like other idol acts, they have their strong singers, then they have the girls there for "other reasons".
AKB48 has done it...Buono! has "sorta" done it, same with THE Possible. It's pretty cool when an idol can play a musical instrument. And here they form a 5-piece musical group to perform their classic Lemon Drop Endo on Bass? Man, she is like a "5-tool" player! And she was really playing some cool bass lines. You could tell Kamawura Yui wasn't nearly as experienced on the guitar, that's okay. But no one was sexier than Yokoyama Rurika on drums! Yeah, it was slightly slower paced than usual. But the effort was great!
Lots of songs benefit from live performances. And I must admit I usually skip Royal Milk Girl when I am listening to Petit Petit. But here it is an awesome performance, possibly the best of the night! This song is right out of "Grease", "American Graffiti"...take your pic. I love the "Idols at the sock hop" feel. And who doesn't like a guy in a dog suit?
I had never heard Love Magic Fever before watching this concert, it is from their new unit Puyo Puyo Idoling!!! It sounds like something Shugo Chara Egg might perform. In other words this song is perfect for an anime theme. Very cute, and it features Erika AND Nao. I'm in heaven! But poor Ami Kikuchi, her voice became raspier and raspier as the show progressed! :(
In fact, for anyone just getting into Idoling!!! I would recommend this four song set as a great example of what the group is like live. Oh, and I never knew Snow Celebration was their most popular single. Really? I love the PV, as it is possibly the only music video in history to incorporate Olympic Curling. It's a pretty song!
Nobody, Yatta!!!
This concert was great for so many reasons. First of all, I like the fact that a lot of the members get considerable face time. Endo Mai and Tonooka Erika are definitely the frontgirls, and deservedly so. They also seem to be pushing Morita Suzuka. And since she reminds me a lot of H!P's Maeda Yuuka, that isn't a bad thing. I have already mentioned many times that their collective performing ablility is much improved from a year ago. And having a live band grooving behind them helped a lot with the general synergy. It made me really want to be part of that "sausage fest" of an audience!!!
So yes, This concert is totally worth the purchase! But beware, you might become an Idoling!!! fan! And please spare me the "I don't have enough room in my fandom for another idol group" bullshit...
For me, there can NEVER be enough cute idols in my life!!!
CK in California
...because their new album Petit-Petit is awesome, that's why!
For the most part, Petit-Petit is a compilation of their last five singles and B-sides. They make up about two-thirds of the 17 tracks. But when you put all of their music together like this, I think this CD stands up to any full length album any idol group has recently put out. I know many people (including myself) have called them to task for their live performances. But as far as the material is concerned, the writers and producers are doing a great job.
The music is great!!! I love the opening intro track, so cute...
Daisuke!!!! They are such a fun and cute group. I purchased the Limited Edition CD/DVD w/Photobook version of the album. Also, since I purchased it from HMV it came with one of those HMV exclusive covers. Those covers are so much fun. You get them when you buy the CD from HMV, Tower or Tsutaya...
A few months back I purchased the Idoling!!! DVD compilation, which featured their first eight PV's Like AKB48, they put a little bit of a storyline into most of their videos, mixed in with the dance shots. One of my favorites is Shokugyou: Idol., which is also featured on this album.
What I love about their music is that it is a great cross between techno and alt. rock. Most of their songs are fun to listen to, and they don't do too many syrupy ballads. There are very few throwaways on this CD. But I won't give you the whole album as I am a big believer in supporting the groups I love. And that means spending my money on their merchandise. I never thought I would find myself buying Idoling!!! CDs, but lo and behold I am close to completing the collection. (hehe) And I find myself listening to them in my car more than any other group. That said, here are a few of my favorite songs, enjoy...
I think Forever Remember is a new song, but Soushoku-Kei Carnival is the B-side to their "Baby Blue" single., and Tokimeki DREAMing!!! is the c/w to "Shokugyou: Idol." The three songs are a great example of the different styles the group does. Oh, and one other great song is Idoling!!!'s third single, Kokuhaku. I was surprised to see it on this CD, as I was sure it appeared on the first album.
And if you were wondering...the "shuffle singles" are on the CD as well, including everyone's favorite NA*GA*RA. BTW, here are a few shots from the photobook that accompanied the disc. Every girl gets a page with two shots. And I am holding out the pics of them wearing nothing but pink bubble-wrap. You'll have to buy the VCD to see that, hehe. These are my five favorite current members out of the current fifteen, in order...
For whatever reason I don't think Idoling!!! gets the respect it deserves when it comes to cute idol groups. But the truth is they are putting out a quality product and deserve some recognition. Petit-Petit is a prime example of that. I just wished that they did more live concerts. They have never been performing the numerous times I have visited Japan. Just once I would love to see them live!
I need to get a glimpse of my girl Yazawa in the flesh!!!
CK in California
It's time to play with my new snapshot program. (Yay!) And what better way than to introduce the latest DVD from Erika Yazawa from Idoling!!! Erika is a HUGE reason why I love Idoling!!! so much. She is one of the sexiest singing idols I have ever seen. I had a great time watching this DVD. When I finished I had taken close to 250 stills. But life is too short for all of that, so here are a few highlights...
One of the things I love about Erika is the sexual energy that surrounds her at all times. Let's be honest, she has a body built for sin! The following bedroom scene was smokin' hawt...
Oops! Erika knows that these pictorials are all about her breasts. And she is happy to flaunt them any chance she gets. But as long as she is wet...
One thing I noticed is that it's tough to illustrate the sexual undercurrents of this DVD through stills. It isn't like Risa Narita's DVD, where the sexual innuendo is "in your face". It is a lot more subtle here. But it is definitely there. As I have seen more and more non-H!P related Gravure DVD's, I have discovered how risque most of them are. I love that! Watching an idol go shopping or cook dinner doesn't necessarily do it for me. But rolling around in bed, or running around in a bikini. That's great. The producers know why we are buying these things. It is all about titillation. Yazapai School is a great DVD for it.
And Erika Yazawa is all sorts of awesome!!!
CK in California
I don't talk about Idoling!!! nearly as much as I should. And that's a shame, because I probably anticipate their single releases as much, if not more that those of AKB48 and H!P. Part of the problem is their promotional events aren't as widely followed on the internet. They don't perform live nearly as often. At least that is the impression I get. In my last trip to Tokyo I inquired if there were any Idoling!!! events I could attend. And aside from one member doing a promotional signing at a random bookstore, there wasn't anything. And this was during Golden Week, a time where it seems like every dog and pony show in Japan is on stage somewhere.
But what I really want to talk about is the singles. It's unfortunate that this group doesn't get nearly the attention that other J-Idol acts do in the west, because Idoling!!! is putting out an excellent product. And in as much as I like the singles, it is the c/w tracks that are really great! The last two single releases have both had two supporting songs on them. And the 2nd track on each one are IMO opinion the superior song...
This came out just before I arrived in Japan last May, and I was so happy to be able to get the LE cover from Tower Records. That's one of the cool things about their releases, the "store edition" covers. The girls are dressed as if they are employees from the shop you buy the CD from. Tower, HMV and Tsutaya participate. The main track is nice, perhaps a bit mellow for my taste. Kajuu 30% Orange Juice is the 3rd song, fast paced and lots of fun. The real gem here is Track 2, Soushuku-Kei Carnival. The song has a 90's Alt-Dream Pop sound to it, which happens to be a musical genre I love. To me this song makes the CD worth the purchase...
Whoever writes the songs for Idoling!!! is doing an amazing job. They may not be the best live performers, but their recorded tracks are excellent. The more I listen I find excellent songs like Moteki no Uta and Shokugyou: Idol. If you are a fan of J-pop you owe it to yourself to give Idoling!!! a closer listen, and a closer look...
I promise you won't be wasting your time. (Hehehe, Yazawa is <3 <3 <3)
CK in California
I am guessing Sigmund Freud might have something to say about this too...
Everyone has their favorite idols. I certainly do. And I adore the girls I choose to fanboy over. Whenever I see a J-pop concert live, be it Morning Musume, AKB48 or any of my other fave acts, there is always one particular girl that I seem to fixate on. And that's the way it should be. At least that is what the Japanese fans tell me. You need to pick an idol and support her 100%.
There is a little joke that has gone around the idol chatrooms regarding my idols of choice. Believe me, it has never been lost on me that my girls all seem to share a similar persona. I have even hinted about it on my many blogs. But the way I see it, all idols need love. And that can especially be said about my little "Dream Team". Apparently I have an "eye" for a certain kind of personality. It is probably the same quality I subliminally look for in my girlfriends. That is the little joke going around wotachat. It makes me wonder...
What would a group comprised of all of my favorite idols be like? With that spirit in mind here is my dream lineup, comprised of my #1 favorite member from each of my favorite idol groups, and probably a good look into my own psyche.
In fact, that is a great idea! Since my good friend Ray Mescallado, founder of Cult of Pop, American Wota and International Wota has tirelessly poked fun at me for my choice of idol, why not have him analyze me? Let's see what he really thinks about my idol fandom. This should be right up his alley. That is coming up at the end of the post. But first I present...
BTW, I am not joking. If you have read this blog for the past 2 years you'll know that those ARE really my favorite idols. Oh, and the Dream Team is looking for a good group name. Some suggested names include "JAV48", "ATM48", "The Reverse Cowgirls"...Any other suggestions?
The AKB48 Theater will soon be presenting a new show called SDN48, which is being touted as an adult-oriented idol show. Needless to say I am looking forward to the debut, as the dream team would fit that bill perfectly. When I look at my favorite idol collective I have to laugh, but I am proud that these are my favorite girls. And I will unconditionally support them despite whatever scandal might befall them in the future.
The "real point of this article is what does this say about me as an idol fan? As I said earlier I have asked Ray for his "expert" opinion.
Oh Ray...
For CK...
CK thinks I've been teasing him for his ability to single out - and champion - the most emotionally vulnerable member of an idol group. In actuality, I am in awe of this incredible gift he possesses.
Spider-Man has his spider-senses which tingle when trouble is imminent. In Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita, Humbert Humbert writes of how the true nymphophile is able to pick out the true nymphette in a group of girls, and not just the one adults find the prettiest. There is gaydar, which is when one is able to tell who is homosexual and who is not.
CK's gift falls along these lines, and should have a name of its own. I'm going to go with "preydar". (As opposed to praydar, which is in the urban dictionary as the ability to detect Bible thumpers.)
What does it say about CK that he possesses such gifts? Should we chase after him with pitchforks and rakes and declare him a foul creature of the night? Should we tie CK to a stake and beat him mercilessly in the groinal area until he moans for mercy, sweet sweet mercy, while we all stand and laugh and pass around the tire irons and lead pipes and vibrating plastic phallic toys?
Well, sure. For sport. But before we do that, we should also praise him for his unique generosity of spirit.
Look at it this way: when you boil her down to her core - metaphorically, that is, as opposed to disposing of a body with industrial-strength acid - a pop idol is nothing more than a young person wanting to be loved by as many strangers as possible. An idol wants to be worshiped, and on the flimsiest basis possible: the ability to look cute, the ability to sing half-decently, the ability to dance with a modicum of skill. In short, the pop idol wants to be loved for being charming, really, and little else.
But what if you're part of a pack of idols? And what if there are more charming girls in the pack, leaving you the runt of the litter? Or what if you're doing well enough as an idol but really really want more attention because you're a filthy attention whore who can't stop winking at the audience? Or what if you started at the top of the idol heap, only to plummet to the very dregs for placing certain objects in one's mouth and being caught by the tabloids for doing so?
Is it fair, then, to go ignored by the general wota crowd, who pine for the Nacchis and Acchans and Yuris of the idol world? Is it fair to be deemed "damaged goods" or lacking in idol skillz because you're at the bottom of the totem pole of idol hawtness and desirability?
Of course not! When placed in that position, a true idol - in spirit, if not in popularity - will over-extend herself in order to get noticed. She can allow herself to get slapped around (or at least pummeled by a dodgeball) and treated like a worthless bitch by the hosts of Utaban. She can die her hair a frightening blonde and cut it fugly short. She can offer to hug people who'll buy her solo recording - and in doing so, distill the whole idol-wota relationship to its purest, most creepy form yet. She can keep winking at the audience until people start wondering if she's a neurologically damaged cousin of Frankenhooker. She can get breast implants that make each boob the same size as her head. She can pose as a worthless whore in a poorly-lit poorly-shot poorly-posed photobook and hope nobody mistakes her as a real whore in the process.
What CK does is respect the effort of these poor, misbegotten creatures, these idols seeking attention and feeling they haven't gotten their fair share yet. CK is motivated, not just by a willingness to root for these girls, but to encourage these girls to continue doing what they do to try to earn extra attention. The triumph of the idol will in his selected dream team is stirring in that it crosses all hurdles of common sense and self-awareness in favor of blind adulation and the encouragement of predatory impulses.
One could even say that CK is willing to over-extend himself - or at least a part of his anatomy - for the sake of such idols, knowing full well that these idols would probably be more willing to accept this over-extensions than somebody with, you know, dignity and a conscience.
Oh, if only more of us were as strongly gifted with preydar as CK is. In such a world, the relationship between idol and wota would deepen - by inches upon inches - as the most desperate of idols will at least feel loved in the Sally Fields-ian sense of wonderment. They would show their appreciation with an intimacy and flagrancy that the current top idols would never dare attempt, and wota-dom would be richer for it.
CK in California
What is this I find? An episode of Idoling!!! on the Hello! Online tracker? Actually it was posted there mainly because of guest appearance by AKB48. Nevertheless it was a surprise to see it uploaded on that site. I don't watch the Idoling!!! television programs quite often, although I know Silverbolt from Acchi Muite Pie!!! links downloads of the shows regularly. But for whatever reason I decided to give this particular episode a try. Not only were AKB48 appearing, but they were also introducing the new 3rd generation members!
I don't think it was the funniest episode of Idoling!!! That is until the goddess, Yazawa Erika entered into the fray. Jeez! This girl is a bundle of energy. And aside from being totally adorable, she has got to be one of the funniest idols I have ever seen! The faces she makes, the way she plays with the other girls. Damn, she is just amazing!!! I love this girl! The moment the spotlight is on her, it is like she goes crazy of something!
She attacks poor Erepyon! Hmmm, poor Erepyon? I would trade places with Erena there in a New York Minute!!!
The more I watch this girl she gets better and better. Erika is simply awesome!
CK in California
I have mentioned quite a few idols I have a special fondness for. Tanaka Reina is one I have mentioned quite often on this blog. Before I moved most of my AKB48 commentary over to Chuo Dori, I posted here a few times how much I love Team K's Ohori Megumi. And Matsuura Aya is one of my favorite people in the world. But there is one other idol who really gets my heart pumping. And she isn't a Hello! Project member. AKB48? No, not from there either...
..........
It is Idoling!!! member Yazawa Erika! Kawaii!!!!!!!! And I love her in the new AKBIdoling!!! single, Chu Shiyouze!
Aside from the shallowest of male reasons why she rates so high to me as an idol, she is breathtakingly cute. And she often has the greatest smile on her face. Oh, and what beautiful teeth she has. Yes, I have a "teeth" thing, remember?
Don't mind me, I am just going to picspam the heck out of her in honor of her sensational showing in the new single PV's. It's just too bad that they wrapped her pretty tight for the video shoot. Aw, shucks!
First, from the "making of videos"...
Dancing, yay!!!
Be still my heart!
Having Fun with the other girls!
Erepyon is such a lucky girl! I just find Yazawa so incredibly hawt! The way she smiles, her manic movements, and that gravelly deep voice. Oh my!!!
Chu! <3
So if you are asking me why I changed my mind about Idoling!!! Well...Yazawa. She had so much to do with it! She and Fonchi. But unfortunately Fonchi wasn't picked for this song (sigh!) Say goodnight Erika...
Enjoy the PV...
CK in California
A lot of people see it feels like this blog has been around longer than one year. But checking the record, my first entry here occurred on February 17, 2008. The very first post was a response to Hello!Blog and Tom's H!P Ranker. (plus I threw in a little shout out to YouTube celebrity Cutiemish). One thing I have always enjoyed doing on my blog is making subtle references that only a few people get. It is my little way of being funny, and when I go back and look at my old posts it is what I laugh at the hardest. Here are some samples of CK's sense of humor in action. A sampling of things I have referenced...
Books
Finnegan's Wake, by James Joyce
The Call of the Wild, by Jack London
They Shoot Horse, Don't They?, by Horace McCoy
The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton
War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells
The Three Faces of Eve, by Thigpen and Cleckley
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl
Encyclopedia Brown, by Donald J Sobel
Films/TV
I Love You Alice B. Toklas (1968)
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1978)
Scrooged (1988)
Magnum Force (1973)
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1967)
The Blues Brothers (1980)
The Bugaloos (1970)
Gilligan's Island (1964)
Personalities
Crispin Glover
Robert Mitchum
Jackie Gleason
Al Jolson
Stepin Fetchit
Martin and Lewis
Fred Gwynne
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
What does any of this stuff have to do with J-pop? I don't friggin' know!
Anyhow, looking back on all 100 posts, there was some definite crap in there. But I am quite proud of many of my entries. Here is a CK's H!P Blog Year in Review, my ten favorite posts in chronological order...
Am I Too Early or Too Late to Jump on "The Possible" Bandwagon? - 3/14/08
I chronicled how I discovered THE Possible, and how I loved the new direction they were going in. Not surprisingly, that direction was short-lived and they went back to being a more traditional Idol group. But the idea of a "Lolli Rock Band"...ohhh, what a dream!
Revisiting My First H!P Love - 4/14/08
Quite simply a love letter to Kago Ai after her "eventually" triumphant return to the limelight. To be quite honest it was the most personally emotional events to occur in J-Pop since I became a fan, as evidenced by this post.
H!P in "The Great Orthodontist Adventure" - 4/18/08
I loved writing this post, and I really am a "teeth man" Well, teeth and butts, but that's another story. But I think I was most proud of my I Love You Alice B. Toklas reference toward the end. It is also memorable for me because it is the one post I wrote in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. And let me tell you the internet access there sucks!
Trusting The Hello! Process - 4/30/08
I was really on a roll in April! This is where I predicted the demise of the Elder Club. The writing was on the wall after Gocchin, Ayaka and v-u-den left in rapid succession.
Haromoni@...Why I Love That Stupid Show! - 5/12/08
Morning Musume's Sunday morning television show was definitely a guilty pleasure for me. What kills me is it had such an opportunity to be good, but most of the time the producers were just "phoning in" the material. And it's too bad because MoMusu dressed in animal ears and tails is a recipe for total win! I miss Haromoni@
The Three Faces Of 久住小春 - 6/5/2008
I was merely trying to figure out if we are supposed to see Kusumi Koharu as a legitimate singer or a novelty act. The fact is the crazier the songs sound, the more I like her. So have another sniff of whatever you are sniffing Koharu, I love it!
They Shoot Saki's, Don't They? ~ The Nakayoshi Battle Concert - 7/22/08
This is the only TBT that makes it into the Top 10, mainly because I loved formatting the review in the form of a Boxing match. And who cares that it ended in a tie?
The Good, The Bad, and Idoling!!! - 8/15/08
This was my most commented on post in the last year (I think). And it's funny because I have since become a fan of Idoling!!! This was as much about how much I like the songs Natsu Matsuri and Jenny wa Gokigen Naname as anything else.
AKB48 Live at Shibuya AX, Nobody Told Me How Awesome This Would Be! - 9/16/08
I had such a hard time obtaining this unbelievably awesome DVD Box Set. It was the first time I was really introduced to the massiveness of AKB48's catalog. I have always said if you take the time and effort to watch this four-night extravaganza, it will make you a fan of AKB...if you aren't already!
CK's Japan Tour, Fall 2008 - 10/26/08 through 11/04/2008
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8
My Japan trip travelogue. I was probably more proud of this series than anything else I did on this blog. I had a blast writing it. And of course I had a blast experiencing it!!! It is filled with concert reviews (I went to seven shows!) and plenty of Tokyo travel tips for the rabid J-pop fan.
It has been quite an eventful year as now I am also running Chuo Dori, which is an AKB48 blog. I invite you to check out if you haven't already. But I am also an editor for International Wota, a job that I love doing soooo much. I hope this past year of 100 posts have been entertaining for you. Here is to another year of J-music fun!
CK in California
My Groups
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Japan lovers ... Updated: 7 days ago
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Hello! Project Updated: Sep 22, 2009
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Hello Project! Updated: Sep 22, 2009
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