22 posts tagged “hello!project”
Seems like I really have come back to blogging... O_o Although this post is about H!P I must warn everybody that from now on I'll write about all my favourite idols... Korean and Japanese... As I actually have already done since I've written about SHINee and SNSD and NEWS. :) No longer "a H!P (fangirl's) blog" but "♥ for Asian idols!!!" :)
First things first, why hasn't anyone been spazzing about Ayaya appearing in a new drama!? Or maybe I've just missed it all. Cause according to Tokyograph, she's gonna act in Sakurai Sho's new drama The Quiz Show. And I've read in a couple of different places that people think the best way to promote H!P would be having them appear in dramas... Well she won't be H!P anymore in a few more days and this is no leading role (a few of which she has done in the past), only a supporting one but screw it, it's a new start after graduating from H!P and a very promising start if anyone asks me! Her last single sold very poorly although I love it (and bought it :P) but I really think she could be a really popular idol/singer/actress again if promoted properly.
More importantly, the drama is with Shochan (Shochan=♥ ^^)! She has acted with Nino before (in the film Ao no Honou which is a REALLY good film in my opinion!), so maybe she'll evetually act with MatsuJun too and everybody in Arashi... :) Well I can dream huh. :P Here's the plot anyway (from Tokyograph):
Sakurai Sho plays the host of a live TV quiz program. On the show,
contestants who achieve 7 correct answers win 10 million yen, and those
who get 8 correct answers will have one of their wishes granted by the
TV network. But while the questions start off innocently enough, as the
game progresses, the questions gradually delve into the contestants'
past crimes or indiscretions, presenting them with the dilemma of
having to confess their guilt in order to win.
Sakurai's character also has a mysterious past. Before becoming the show's host, an accident had left him in a vegetative state for six years, which also resulted in him losing most of his memories.
The supporting cast includes Kanjani8's Yu Yokoyama as the show's director, Aya Matsuura as a rookie assistant director, and Miki Maya as the producer. Broadcast begins on April 18 in NTV's Saturday 9pm time slot.
Not many more days before it begins! The plot sounds really interesting, so I'm really looking forward to it! As well as MatsuJun's new drama Smile since it has Aragaki Yui too. ♥ Happily both are going to be fansubbed. :) But anyway, way to go Ayaya!
And well let's include some Chocolate Damashii too! ♥
And while we're at it why not some young Ayaya too? ♪
But now for the stuff I actually wanted to write about: for a while (read: for a year :P) I've been meaning to post about some of my favourite things in my collection. My JPop collection, which is becoming HUGE (for me at least)! If I don't be careful I'll end up like MorningBerryz and my room will look like a store instead of a bedroom! O_o Well maybe not yet :P But surely in ten more years. I'm not particularly rich btw (I'm not very old yet after all!), but I don't spend much on other things, only on JPop and KPop. :) Still there goes all the money I earned last summer at my summer job! How nice. At least I'm going to work again in a month. And I have saved a lot too so I don't have a bad conscience about wasting too much money! :) I'm just such a collector by nature...
So first I'd like to take a look at the few H!P official photos I own... And which will probably also stay my last ones because I have come to conclusion that they cost a bit too much after all. I guess I'm not gonna buy them anymore and probably not any Johnny's photos either. I rather by singles or other stuff that have photos on them. :) Or trading cards! I LOVE trading cards! (And they're a LOT cheaper!) Anyway, my initial intention was to post them a looong time ago right after I got them but as I haven't done so... The scans are still waiting for me to post them in my files. So I'm going to do it now. May I present: my tiny H!P official photos collection!
And now to the main star: Yossy!!! From her (last T_T) Momusu tour SEXY 8 BEAT (can't believe that was two years ago!):
Here's some more! The Narihajimeta Koi no Bell outfits must be my favourites from Ongaku Gatas!
And last but not least an Ongaku Gatas group photo. It was so hard to scan because our scanner is so dirty and the photo is pretty dark, so the scan is poor.
So this was "Favourite Bits from Andra's Collection Part 1: H!P Official Photos". :) Next time I might show you some of my trading cards... Or something else. :)
I don't usually answer surveys. But this survey at Bikkuri Project sounded like a lot of fun and I'm not feeling too lazy so I might even answer its questions. Although, I'm sorry, but I just know H!P so I'm not able to answer all of the questions properly. So you can ignore this as an answer to a certain survey and just read it as me answering some funny questions.
1. You have found a magical J-pop genie who will grant you one
J-pop related wish (so no wishing for a million dollars or world peace
or anything like that). It can be virtually anything as long as it’s
directly related to J-pop, and don’t worry, because this is the nice
sort of genie, not the kind who will try to find a loop-hole and screw
up your wish. So, what do you wish for???
I'd probably wish for Momusu (and H!P) to change their image a bit and after that magically become enormely popular again among the ordinary crowd in Japan.
2. Is there any J-pop artist or group who seriously pisses you off? If yes, who, and why?
No, not really... But note that in the end I don't know much about jpop. I'm only really familiar with H!P, AKB48 and Hikki and then I know all the biggest names but have never really listened to their music.
3. Who do you think is the sexiest japanese singer out there?
I'm sorry... But I really don't know! Not really familiar with the male singers...
4. How about the cutest?
Sayu! / Airi!
5. Best personality?
Yossy!
6. If given the opportunity, would you rather date person 3, person 4, or person 5?
Well, given the fact that I gave no-one for person 3 and girls for persons 4 and 5 I'd date Yossy out of them. But I'd rather date Onew from SHINee although he's Korean so he doesn't count.
7. You work for a Japanese music magazine, and you have the
opportunity to interview your favorite artist or group. What are a
couple of the questions you want to ask them?
I'd interview Gocchin... And I'd ask how she really feels, what her true intentions are... And why she left H!P in the first place: was it because of his brother's actions, or artistical differences, or a little bit of both? Or was it because of being overworked? Was the graduation planned ahead? If it was, why was her next single already been scheduled to be realeased? Is she happier now, does she wish that she'd left UFA earlier? And how does she want her career to continue from now on - is she really aiming to become one of the biggest or does she want to continue with modest success? How was being an idol like? Does she regret that she came into show business in the first place? Or does she wish that she'd signed up with AVEX or some other company and become a singer like Koda Kumi instead of becoming an idol?
8. What’s the best (J-pop) song to listen to when you are really sad?
I have many... I guess I'm sad a lot :P But the four most frequent would probably be:
I'm sorry but for some stupid reason I can't seem to embed from vox so you'll just have to click them and go to the audio page to listen to these. :( From left to right: Samishii Hi by Morning Musume, Masayume by Aa!, Samidare Koi Uta by W and Koi ING by Morning Musume.
I've already expressed my love for Masayume ("True Dream"), Samidare Koi Uta ("Early Summer Rain Love Song") is the most beautiful song ever (well not really) and I have the impression that everybody loves Koi ING ("Loving"), so I'll just talk about Samishii Hi ("Lonely Days").
IMO, Samishii Hi one of the most beautiful songs of Momusu ever, both music and lyric-wise. Just have a look at the lyrics (taken from Kiwi Musume's jpop lyrics site):
I threw something away
Even though there was no guarantee that I’d be able to catch it
It seems like I’m progressing
Even if it is just little by little
Maybe it’s because I believed so strongly
That day I shed tears
And left on my own
Ah it was a long night
When did I start
To feel lonely?
I think I have as much loneliness
As I do courage
If I feel like crying
I just cry
That way I sleep better
Even so, there are days
When I just can’t take it
Is it OK to be a bit childish on those days?
Is this something
Everyone worries about?
Or is it just me?
That was when
I started to feel lonely
I think the reason I’m lonely
Is because I know your tenderness
That was when
I started to feel lonely
I think the reason I’m lonely
Is because I know your tenderness
It's just a perfect slow-paced song with only piano accompanying the beautiful vocals of the talented first and second gen girls. My only complaint is that the vocals are mixed to be very quiet and the instrumentals take them over really easily. But on the other hand, you have to really keep quiet and pay attention to be able to catch their words which is a good thing since it's makes you calm down.
This song makes me cry every time! Why is it that you want to listen to sad songs when your sad, not to happy spirits-lifting songs? H!P makes way too few sad songs!
9. When you’re really happy?
Pretty much to anything, but mostly to HEY! Mirai and Ganbacchae! and Ai Araba IT'S ALL RIGHT and Genki Jirushi no Oomori Song and that kind of songs that tell you "It's okay to be weak and cry sometimes, as long as you try your best you'll be able to do anything!" H!P has a lot of that type of songs, anyone has noticed by chance? :P
10. Do you often sing along to your favorite songs?
All the time! Since Japanese is easy to pronunce for Finnish people, I remember most of the lyrics by heart. I even lipsynch when I'm listening to my iPod in the underground or tram...I must look mad. :D But lipsynching is better than singing aloud in public, isn't it?
11. How about dance?
Well some basic stuff like hand movements... For songs like Gag 100kaibun Aishite Kudasai. Then I have a few songs that I almost know the whole coreography (Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi, Waraccahou yo BOYFRIEND and EVERYDAY YEAH! Kataomoi) but I don't actually practice or try to figure them out so they probably have a lot of errors.
I think all H!P fans do this since their dance routines are so catchy. Everybody knows at least the "L"s in LOVE Machine.
12. Artistic integrity question!! If someone offered to pay you for blogging, but they were allowed to censor some of your opinions or veto some of your blogging ideas, would you do it?
There's no way that someone would offer me money... But I wouldn't accept it. Unless the amount was really big. Then I would. Blogging is not that important to me and I don't do it that frequently. So it wouldn't be a big deal. I don't have that many visitors anyway (I think, I don't want to put up any data collecting divices). I could just put up another blog where I could talk freely :P
My rule: never a post without a photo!
(Here's something for you to listen to while reading my utterly long post. Am I the only one who loves the pinku-duo? :P After this it'll be no use ever again to claim that in an idol I look for a good singing voice.)
TADADA-A! My birthday present (anybody remember anymore? :)) arrvied actually over a month ago :D but I haven't been able to post about it. So now I shall (it took me ten days to write this :D). Here it is:
Can you guess what it is? I'll give you a hint. The reason why I finally started blogging (I had been planning it for a while) and why I started my blog here in vox is this. A long time ago (okay, it hasn't been such a long time :P) MorningBerryx decided to hold a draw for two great j-pop items, Arashi's concert tour DVD an Morning Musume's "Sweet Morning Box 2002". As a result two lucky persons got a wonderful a Christmas present. I wasn't one of them (:( unlucky me) but to be able to enter the draw I had to create an account here in vox. And this is how my blog was born. :)
Anyway, after that MorningBerryz also made entries about the other "Sweet Morning Box " Momusu Christmas collectibles from years 2003 and 2004. I was immediately drawn to these great collections of interesting and unique Momusu goods. These really are the most complex H!P collectibles I've ever seen! But as MorningBerryz mentions in the other post these were unfortunately released only during the years 2002-2004.
However, after looking around in Yahoo Auctions Japan I found out that the first "Sweet Morning Box" was actually released in 1999 with the LOVE Machine line-up available only to Fan Club members. Shortly after that the person from whom I usually buy H!P stuff in eBay put up this thing. I was able to win it at only 15.50 dollars! (The fact that the box wasn't sealed and that the shipping fee was huge didn't bother me at all. :)) So this is what I ended up with: "Morning Musume. Sweet Morning box 2000"! ★☆★
Although it's a million times more simple than the later releases MorningBerryz has got I'm extremely happy with it and it's justifiably the shining jewel of my H!P collection! Because I love all of it I'll start with the cover of the box.
This box is beautifully designed right from the beginning: once you remove the red cover another, green one appears. The picture is very cute: Momusu choir with Yuuko as the conductor! Can you recognise them all? :D Remeber that this is from th year 2000 - the 4th gen had just joined the same year.
It's not too hard is it? :) I think Gocchin's the cutest one here. For some odd reason Nacchi's not cute at all even though in real life she's as sweet as sugar! But let's open this "takara no hako" of mine :). ♪♪
Looks good doesn't it? :)
As you might have already noticed the cover of the box tells us everything there is inside it. All in all it makes seven different items:
- X'mas Message Video
- Special Trading Card x3
- Deck of Playing Cards
- Year Plate 2000
- Special Mini X'mas Tree
- Ornament x10
- Message Card
Isn't it great? ♪
I will review these items in this given order. First up is the "X'mas Message Video". BTW, although this box was open when I bought it all the goods inside were sealed and so was this VHS too. However I couldn't resist opening and watching it. ☆ As you all probably know VHS aren't very hard-wearing so I'm thinking of taking it to one of these places were they'll transfer it to DVD. My parents are going to do so with some of our old VHS and I think maybe they will be kind enough to take this at the same time. :)
I have no knowledge of how to rip a VHS myself and put it in computer so unfortunately I don't have the chance to upload this video anywhere. I can't even share screencaps as much as I'd like to. :( I can only tell about the content of this video and show scans of the case.
Aibon's wearing some amazing hair extensions isn't she? :O I wonder why they aren't smiling properly, Christmas is supposed to be a happy event isn't it? I can imagine a similar shot with the current Momusu... It would probably be something more like this.
Flashing peace signs and looking ridiculously happy. :) Now, that's what idols are supposed to look like! I couldn't deny though that the Morning Musume of 2000 is just as cute as the current one even if it's a lot more serious. :)
The video is basically a making of. I don't know what the running time is because I didn't count when I watched this and it isn't written anywhere but it was more than an hour. First we're treated with some footage from a photoshoot (all the girls look incredibly cute!). The photoshoot is the same one where these case photos (and the trading cards which I will show you next) are from. (The next photo is even cuter than the last one! I love their clothes. :) So 90's :P)
After the short photoshoot footage there are individual interviews from all these girls. I don't understand Japanese so I can't tell what they're saying. :/ From my VERY limited understanding I can say that the questions asked are something like "What was the highlight of the year 2000?" and so on. In the end of their interviews eveyone gives a short message to the viewer (who supposedly is a fan club member as this is a fan club release). I have to say it once more: they are all extremely cute! I had to scan the other side of this VHS too because they're incredibly cute!!!
I just got an idea: I promise that from now on, on my every birthday I will buy myself one of these "Sweet Morning Boxes" as a birthday present and eventually, after five years, when I turn 23 I will own them all. Isn't that a great idea? ♥ I'm loving it already. :P
Shall I move onto the trading cards now? I'm having trouble of finding something to say about the video because I can't share any of it. So maybe I'll just move on. :)
Here are the next great items included with the box! I'm a trading card girl; I always collect the photocards that come with limited editions and first presses and I even have two trading card albums for Momusu trading cards I've bought via Internet: one for normal trading cards and one for bromides (that one's extremely fullt though. So I absolutely love these. I scanned them too in order for you to see better. :) First the front sides and then the back sides.
Whoa the Momusu choir makes another surprise appearance! Now you should at least be able to recognise every memeber from the drawn pictures. You even have a parallel in the other side of the card. :) They are standing in the same order except for Yuuko Santa who's in her sleigh. Plese bring me lots of gifts next Christmas Yuuko Santa!
BTW, all these girls look as adorable as ever. Have I mentioned it yet? I love the third card best because of its great backside. Yossy, Marippe and Gocchin have great poses! The first one is great too again because of the back. The photos have a kind of home photo album feel to them which makes them special. The setting behind is the same where the interviews were shot.
I wonder if these cards where the same in all boxes? I guess so, but just what makes them "trading cards" if everyone has the same cards...?
Next maybe my second favourite thing in the whole box... Douzo!
A deck of Momusu playing cards! Isn't the case hilarious? :) I really don't get that snowman. Unless it's Makoto of course. :) (You know which Makoto I'm talking about. Alhough I think he wasn't MCing H!P concerts yet at this point.)
This case is something I've never seen. It has the most unique way of opening. It's genius though, it prevents the case from being damaged when opening. Sometimes I think I'd like them to have something like this in the CD slip cases too, they always tend to fold when I open them...
Can you see how it opens? I think it's great! The folds are there already so the case remains decent-looking. No you can see the contens already can't you? :) Here it comes (I scanned the hearts because the pictures are the same in all the suits and hearts are the cutest ♥):
It's the choir again!
Aibon is given the position of Ace as the cards feature the members from the youngest to the oldest. Isn't Nono cute? It's always hard to realise that Gocchin was actually the third youngest in the group at this time...
Then it's everybody's beloved Yossy, Charmy and Marippe. For some reason Rikachan's looking very young throughout all these goods. Maybe it's just because she really was very young. :P
Nacchi looks incredibly sweet... And Yuuko continues to stand out with that blond hair of hers. :) She's so funny.
Now I have the court cards left. They feature different girls in different suits so I scanned them all. :) Please pay attention to details - you may find some little things that are different from the rest. :)
Did you notice something missing...?
I THOUGHT SO. SO DID I and I was still surprised. :DD BANG!!!
BANG!!!
Which one is scarier? :DD I might vote for Kaorin - Yuuko looks just plain disgusted. XD
These playing cards are just great. However, I'm never going to use them. Who would like to have a deck of dirty, torn cards? Not me at least.
Now to my biggest favourite! You can see the package (it's the choir again) in the photo of all the goods from this box. The white cardboard case contains something that's really precious to me...
Tada-a! It was extremely hard to take a photo without any reflects but I did my best... At least I got a photo where all the drawings are well visible. Isn't it lovely? I really, REALLY like it! All the girls are really good at drawing, but some of my favourites are Marippe's incredibly cute angel choir, Aibon's peach head that reminds me of Momo's drawings (they have a very similar style don't they?) and Yossy's little Father Christmas. :) Gocchin's Santa is quite hilarious and Nono's little creatures - well, weird. :P I don't get what their doing. But I must announce that the winner is
YUUKO WTF? I don't get her drawing at all! XD Maybe it helped if I understood the text. As for now, to me it looks like a chibi-Yuuko crying out for help for getting married. ;P
I just have to say again that this particular piece is just incredible. You may enjoy the photo - I'm certainly not giving this to anybody! :D
Next up is the Special Mini X'mas Tree. I have to say that this was maybe the one to impress me the most. As you all may know today's Japan is full of plastic stuff - everything just seems to be made of plastic. There are a lot of throwaway things. So, I was very pleased to see this:
It even contains real cones! The tree itself is plastic, of course, but in a non-annoyning way that really pleases me. And the stand is real wood. I just love this and I'll be sure to use it next Christmas to decorate my room! It's so pretty!
Well, nothing more to say - and this post is already unforgettably long - so I'll move on! Ladies and Gentlemen: Ornament x10!
I don't have much to say about these... only that I wish I that these actually contained actual photos of the girls themselves, not these choir girls again... They're cute nevertheless but I won't use them. :) I'll include bigger photos just in case you want to take a closer look.
There are they. And now for the last one: Message Card!
Do you know what this is? Obviously a Message Card, right, but what does it do?
The choir gets its fair share again, because this thing sings. Well of course it doesn't actually sing, it plays. No more and no less than We Wish You a Merry Christmas in a very annoying whiny sound that sounds like a ringtone. Well I bet you all know how singing cards sound like.
I was having a hard time trying to get good photos of its inside without opening it too much because I didn't want it to play, but evetually I had to open it completely. To my great pleasure, although, it played the tune only once and then remained silent. So I was able to get good photos of it after all.
All your hand are belong to Andla@. :P Anyway, this is how it looks like
and here what they said. Again no idea but I like Kei's lips. :P
And a little closer look to the already famous choir which is singing with its whiny ringtone voice.
But wow! This time it really is them! :O
You know, that was it. ☆ See you next time (I have time to write anything. I have a job now, you know, so that I could afford to buy H!P stuff :P.)
Because it's already full of photos nobbody's gonna care if I put one more. I support you Gocchin, through the hard times with your family! I hope you'll be able to start working soon!
Gocchin's totally badass banner and wait! I accidentally put two pictures. ♥
So today is a major day for me. Yossy's birthday, Airi's birthday, Gomaki Ganbare! Day and the last part of Aibon's interview (excuse me for still calling her that. For me she'll forever be Aibon no matter who much she changes). So to all my four beloved idols something is happening today.
I had planned to do a long post about them. But let's put all that aside. Why? Because
- I've got a shitload of schoolwork again and no time for blogging
- I'm stunned. And I'm A WAY MORE stunned that I was with Namida no Iro.
Just... how great is this? And (I NEVER swear!) why the fuck didn't they have this as the main version? May I ask? Just what is the logic behind this? I know that everyone else is thinking the same. But I still cannot understand...
Aichan looks genuinely lonely. This scene... the way she gulps... She really made me almost cry. Gaki and Reina were great (can you say that in this case?) too. Actually... I don't think I'll be able to write anything smart now. So I'll leave that for the good writers.
Just... When will they learn to do stuff in widescreen?
I feel bad for not featuring any of those for I mentioned first. I love you all! You're my top four, can you hear?! (Though Aichan... you might be number five now...) I'll put one of my favourite photos of each one. ♪
Wow, Gocchin was a hard one since I don't have any favourite photos of her. Probably because she's always gorgeous :P (though so are all of these girls!). In the end I decided to put a funny one because I love those jeans to death.
Actually, these photos tell quite well the images I have of each of these girls. Unfortunately I'll have to change my image of Aibon since that's what she wants... But since a picture tells more than a thousand words, I'm convinced not to try to say anything more but to read my love for these girls in the photos.
PS. People at Hello!Online translated Aibon's blog entries. I love them! ♥♥
First I want to announce that I absolutely loved Resonant Blue. Why didn't I review it? Because at the time the PV was released I was busy and later I didn't do it because I agreed with everyone else (why don't others get any screen time etc. etc.) so I felt it kind of unnecessary to repeat everything that had already been said. But now I must do a PV review. Because I'm amazed.
Just like I started my Renai♥Rider review with Airi now I have to start with Maimi. I really enjoyed her in LA LA LA Shiawase no Uta. She really was the only thing to save that song for me. While the costumes were hideous, and the whole song was a bit of crap, Maimi did her best, sang a thousand times better than Airi (I NEVER thought I would say this!) and danced like mad. She really impressed me. I never liked her that much before. I always thought she was overdoing it a bit. But how she impressed me then is nothing comapred to this PV, Namida no Iro.
Just WOW. She impressed me in every single aspect there can be regarding a song and the accompanying PV. Because I have to start with something, I'll start with the singing. Really, it's the only "weak point" she has and it's not even WEAK. If someone asks me, I think Maimi's the one with the most potential of become the next soloist superstar of H!P (yesterday I would have answered that Airi's the one! How quickly opinions can change... However, I'm not counting Aichan or Reina now). Less like a Kohachan or Ayaya kind of soloist, but more a Gocchin kind of. I could hear her singing songs just like this Namida no Iro. Sad, beautiful but powerful songs. Just look at her FACE. She's really putting her heart and soul into it!
That look... It gives me cold shivers and almost makes me cry... And you can hear it in her voice also. It feels like she could really relate to the lyrics although I have no idea wht they are about (probably something sad considering the name of the song. :P) Maimi handles her parts in a great manner and I no longer wonder why she's the other of this group's lead singers.
As for her dancing. When everybody was praising her I always thought that sure, she's great and all, but in my opinion she overdoes all the movements and is given too much credit for her dancing. She had a great talent but she wasn't really controlling it yet (even in Tokaikko Junjou). In a few years, I thought, she could learn to be more subtle and expressive. When she was claimed to be the best dancer in H!P I always thought of Aichan and disagreed. (Captain is great also, really!)
Well, it either didn't take her that long to learn or I was wrong all the way. I mean, just look at her posture.
Dancing is of course hard to capture but I'm quite sure you'll all agree with me that she stands out a lot. All the girls are great dancers but they're just on a completely different level from Maimi. I still wouldn't pick her over Aichan though, and there are others who are really good as well (Inaba Atsuko and Kame for example. I'm also starting to appreciate Sayu greatly. And I couldn't call Reina a bad dancer either...) Anyway, back to Maimi. I just have to say that she's incredible in this video.
And the intensive look in these shots...I think this slightly curly hair suits her face shape a lot better than straight hair. I really liked her looks in the covers already. But she has never been more beautiful than in this PV. She has great shots like this in her photobooks also, but I never really realised it... How pretty she is... I could just have a whole PV of her face!
But in the name of being fair I shall move onto the other girls now. First up, Erika.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this. Erika's been given her moment too! Although I must admit I'm a bit disappointed. She looked so kickass in the covers that I thought she would here too... Well, this was her worst shot. Maybe she should have let her head go even lower or something... But anyway, I was incredibly happy for this. Overall, though, she was given too little of screentime. And no sololines, of course. (Sigh...)
I can't say I didin't enjoy Airi in this one and she was certainly a lot better than in LA LA LA Shiawase no Uta. I guess I used to be so fond of her that I'm always expecting a bit too much, more than from the other girls. But I think she really got to show her dancing in this one.
Great Airi & Maimi working it out... Maimi's great but Airi's too. She's just incredibly talented and I was quite satisfied with her vocals performance in this one.
Airi deserves all the attention she gets. I think she was perfect in Tokaikko Junjou and even if I would want everyone to have a chance I wouldn't want to change her position. And in this one she really isn't stealing all the spotlight (she didn't steal it in LASnU either) so it's okay. Right!?
She isn't just as much as into the lyrics as Maimi is but she great too. And I love her anyway. She's my favourite. And I love her cap. :)
Where as Maimai really looks like she about to cry... Poor little girl. :(
But I definitely see why eveyone keeps saying that she's becoming a preteen diva. :) Airi uses that kind of looks sometimes also, I think.
Nakki keeps impressing me with her dancing, She also very pretty. :) I remember someone said that she like the Sayu of °C-ute. That might be right. :)
And then Chisa... I don't know what she needs to do to become something else than cute...
She certainly trying hard though... And no solo lines. Never.
That's for the members. As for the PV... In the end it has a great atmosphere and mood to it. This is one of those PVs that made me change my mind on the song. When I heard the radio trip I thought it was a bit boring. But I'd never use that word to describe this song now... I love the instrumentals in the beginning before the verse starts. Actually the whole song is quite catchy.
Comparing to Tokaikko Junjou, I like the dance of this better. Tokaikko Junjou was great but this is even better. The clapping reminds me of course of Iroppoi Jirettai but I guess it's part of the style so that wouldn't be copying. The PV has got a praiseworthy amount of shots of the other girls besides Maimi and Airi and that's always good. What I like more about Tokaikko Junjou, though, is that it's shot outdoors.
I'm tired and going to end now. I was going to write more but maybe tomorrow. So now let's end with a few more screencaps.
Maimi shines again! That pose...
Since Gocchin is coming back some kind soul made this site for trying to make people arrange Gomaki Ganbare meetings to support Gocchin and her comeback. I just thought I'd advertise it a little... So please visit the site! ^_^ It's a nice idea!
My own Gomaki (how weird I never call her that) present is Yanpapa. So if you like to use torrents here's a great chance for you to see the best drama featuring H!P members ever! I really love this drama and I'd sincerely recommend it to any Gocchin, Nagase Tomoya (from TOKIO) or Japanese drama fan. Or to anyone, in that matter. :)
YAAAA～～ Can you tell how happy I am? :D I'm just waiting for this to really become something, I mean that she really would have a solo career ahead. But at this time I'm quite positive about it; she must have signed up with some agency as she's doing all this... And they seem to be investing at least something in her, she's in LA and all after all! Is she still with UFA? Don't know, but as some smart person noticed (damixedplate at H!O article's comment section) the photos in her blog don't say "(C) UP-FRONT AGENCY" as they used to but "(C) GOTO MAKI official blog" instead. See?
(Aww, the latter one is so cute... I remember when I was little and love things like that!) Also there must be a reason why all the previous posts are erased. And well... how could it be "official" if it was only her personal blog?
But could my SOME BOYS! TOUCH CD have arrived at a better time? :) I must say: the more I oppose the PV the more I love the song. ♪
Deep, deep in the jungles of Madagascar...
...there lives a Maki. It's a very rare species and lately it has been feared to be extinct. But if we're really lucky maybe we'll be able to catch a glimpse of one... Wait! Can you see?
What a wonderful moment! A Maki stepping out from the jungle! We are here witnessing a historical moment! But why is she wearing only underwear? Maybe that's why she hadn't been doing so well... Poor Maki had been underclothed and thus freezing even in the deep jungles of Madgascar.
Don't be afraid, Maki is very used to people taking photos of her and allows tourists to come very near before taking fright. Actually, with time, she has learned to pose in a way that satifies photo-greedy tourists very well.
...like that. Let's take one close-up still, shall we?
Not like that, you baka! That's a stupid pose! And could you please put a bit more on...?
Well that's a lot better.
To start talking clearly, I really wonder what they were thinking when they decided to put that one as the cover. The pose is really stupid. I think they should have used the back cover photo, it's loads better. Or even that one when she's coming from the jungle (booklet scan 4). Please Gocchin, wear a little bit more on your future career! I really prefer those photos with a little bit more clothes...
Instead of going for the limited edition (although if I remember right the limited edition DVD includes the Face Ver. of the PV which is the only one I like) I decided to get the regular edition with the first press booklet. And it was worth it because besides these jungle photos there were also these two:
Not that I have anything against jungles, but this was a bit too much.
I love CDs with photos on them but couldn't they have Gocchin on that, not that stupid jungle? Well, anyway. :)
SOME BOYS! TOUCH
is the catchiest song! I really, really like it. I guess at first I had a bit of culture shock when I saw the PV. I can't say anything but that Japanese are being just as exploitive of men as they are of women. O_O There could never be two guys dressed like that in a Western music video...
I have had the impression that also many others think that the PV goes a little too far. I couldn't agree more. I might not sound like it but I really don't have anything against being sexy, and I think a style of that kind suits Gocchin very well. But it's two different things, being sexy and being... well like she is in the PV. Her last concert is a good example of mindblowing Gocchin that is not slutty at all (only for SB!T and that hideous pink last costume maybe). As I said the Face Ver. of SB!T is great, but the other versions are too much for me.
In my opinion, UFA could also finally understand that these girls don't have to be half-naked to be smoking hot. The Resonant Blue costumes are a good direction I think. They're clothes, not that kind of "hey, is that a skirt or a belt you're wearing?". Yes, go Resonant Blue!
But anyway, this is one of those songs I could listen to nonstop. The melody on the chorus is great and I love the instrumentals just as much!
ALL OF US
I like this one too. It's very listeneable. I mean that it's not great or very memorble or anything awesome anyway, but a song that's very easy to listen to. It's something that's good to have after the intensivity of SB!T. Nothing special, but I still like it.
Anyone wanna know what's with that jungle in Madagascar? That's because this is what "maki" means in Finnish. Feel free to seek for more information in wikipedia. :)
Aww, cute isn't she?
Yay, I turned 18 yesterday... And I had so much school work I couldn't do the post I was intending to do... But at least I get to post this great song now, a day too late. If I only could find a translation...
But let's put that aside, I got myself a great birthday present! :) I won't be revealing what it is just yet (something to do with H!P? Of course you baka) but when it arrives I will be examinating it closely. It's great. ♥ Also I got a lot of money and on the "what-to-get-first"-list there are Buono!'s singles and Gocchin's, Ongaku Gatas' and Momusu's latest albums. (Yeah, I haven't got SEXY 8 BEAT yet. Lame, isn't it?). And of course Resonant Blue, which will be the first thing ever I'll buy as soon as it's released. Or even preorder as soon as it's revealed what the bonus DVDs will include.
I haven't been writing much lately and so I actually have a lot to catch up with. Just when I find time I will post of many things. Now I just don't have the time.
But now I'm waiting for my birthday present (oh, it will take weeks) and crying for happiness and WAITING FOR TOMORROW when we'll at last now what she's up to.
I love you Gottsuan.
Come back already...
But I couldn't possibly leave Yossy out! She's also cheering on you Gocchin!
BTW, a belated Happy Birthday to International Wota also! I'm kind of sorry I couldn't participate in the Cake Day... It would have been a lot of fun! :)
I found a bigger version of my favourite picture from Y-H.org! It has a great Yossy gallery, please visit it everybody! It's got more photos of this concert tour also. :)
And yes, this photo deserves a post of its own. :) It's fabulous. The photo in itself is also a great one, I love how her eyes are fastened on the side, on something we can't see. The composition is great. (In fact, I study in a Higher Secondary School of Visual Arts... I'm supposed to be kind of artistic I guess. :P)
Dohhup put up some videos about Ongaku Gatas concert tour! Here and here! The first one features some backstage material and even live material from the real show! (Though the sound is not the right one.) The latter provides us some extremely cute presentation of the tour goods!
(As you can see I'm really exited! ♪)
Setlist (taken from thePPN.org)
1. やったろうぜ! (Yattarouze!)
2. 抱きしめて・・・涙 (Dakishimete... Namida)
3. MC1
4. 恋人は心の応援団 (Koibito wa Kokoro no Ouedan)
5. 好きすぎてバカみたい (Suki Sugite Baka Mitai)
6. 地球と月 彼と私 (Chikyuu to Tsuki Kare to Watashi) - Ishikawa Rika, Konno Asami, Sengoku Minami, Sawada Yuri
7. 青春のカスタード (Seishun no Custard) - Yoshizawa Hitomi, Satoda Mai
8. MC2
9. 心の谷間 (Kokoro no Tanima) - Noto Arisa, Mano Erina
10. キスしよう (Kiss Shiyou) - Ishikawa Rika, Konno Asami
11. MC3
12. ザ☆ピ～ス! (The☆Peace!)
13. 浮気なハニーパイ (Uwaki na Honey Pie)
14. MC4
15. BE ALL RIGHT!
16. 恋占い通りにはならないわ (Koi Uranai Doori ni wa Naranai wa) - Korenaga miki, Noto Arisa, Mano Erina, Sengoku Minami, Sawada Yuri, Mutou Mika
17. MC5
18. カラゲンキ (Kara Genki) - Yoshizawa Hitomi, Ishikawa Rika, Satoda Mai, Konno Asami
19. 本気で熱いテーマソング (Honki de Atsui Theme Song)
20. 鳴り始めた恋のBELL (Narihajimeta Koi no BELL)
21. Go Girl～恋のヴィクトリー～ (Go Girl ～Koi no Victory～)
22. お先にすんずれい (Osaki ni Sunzurei)
Encore
23. 栄えろ羽ばたけガッタス ブリリャンチス H.P. (Sakaero Habatake Gatas Brilhantes H.P.)
24. MC6
25. DREAMIN'～ガッタスブリリャンチスH.P.の応援歌～ (DREAMIN' ～Gatas Brilhanted H.P. no Ouenka～)
No matter what some people say but I'm in love with Ongaku Gatas and their incredible first album which I'll write a review about someday! And I'm gonna buy this concert DVD for sure! I honestly think that Tsunku has found himself again with Ongaku Gatas. I just love their style of music! I wonder though why they didn't perform Souda! We're ALIVE in their concert, it would have fitted in so much better than Uwaki na Honey Pie for example. Maybe Uwaki na Honey Pie just fits in their super genki style (just like Go Girl ～Koi no Victory～ does) and since Maichin is there they're kind of forced to perform at least one Country Musume song. I still wonder... they're performing Koibito wa Kokoro no Ouedan and that should be enough I think... To me Uwaki na Honey Pie is somehow too much. But I'm not complaining, Uwaki na Honey Pie is a lot of fun and Koibito wa Kokoro no Ouedan is too cute not to be loved. But I love the fact that they're performing Honki de Atsui Theme Song, it's one of my favourite Momusu songs ever! Just what are they going to shout in the end after all those "izasusume!"s in the place of "Morning Musume!"? "Ongaku Gatas!"? ;P Doesn't really sound good.
Suki Sugite Baka Mitai has me a bit worried, because I've always thought of it as a Gocchin song (read: only to be performed by Gocchin&co. or some other people who are Gocchin-like enough (Reina is ok. :)). I don't know who would be good to perform it... Apparently all members of Ongaku Gatas perform it or at least I don't know better. I'm sure there'll be lots of Rikachan (of course, she was in DEF.DIVA) and Maichin because I think someone thinks that she might work in the song (though not a win for me). But those super cute eggs in this song? Somehow I cannot see that...
And seriosuly, putting those two Gatas cheering songs as encore is a weird decision. They're not very good songs to be performed in a concert anyway... But maybe that was the only spot they could think of - you couldn't really put them in the beginning or in the middle either.
Some great Yossy photos from their concert (taken God only knows from where and I definitely don't have any rights to put them up, but do I ever have anyway?)
I love the first one, she's so BEAU ・TI ・FUL!! ♥♥ That incredible costume is for the Seishun no Custard performance, I assume (watch the Dohhhup! video clip).
Again some great photos!
God I love that Seishun no Custard costume! I wonder why they don't use normal clothes in concerts more often... They look always better. And somehow in all the photos where Yossy is wearing those clothes she looks like 100 times better that in the others. All my favourite photos from this whole batch are the ones where she's wearing those. (Though Maichin's clothes for that same performance are... horrible. What's with that hat, seriously?)
Poor Yossy - so pretty, so skinny... That fourth photo!
When I was speaking of Gocchin I remembered something I just understood a while ago. She's now become my second favourite H!P girl, if not even trying to get to share the tops spot with Yossy and that's a lot to sayl, and I love her a lot and I'M NEVER GOING TO SEE HER PERFORM IN A H!P CONCERT! My dream is to some day make it to a concert in Japan and Gocchin won't be there. :'( I'll better make my dream true soon, otherwise everyone else will have already left also when I finally get to Japan...
I'm starting to think that I'll never see her perform anyway. For a long time I wanted to believe the rumors that she was going to sign up with avex or something... But it's already February and nothing has been heard from her. I'm still hoping but not really believing anymore.
Gocchin, I miss you... You're so beautiful!
Congratulations to you! You've become a mother! (And a little bit more responsible one than dear Nono, I'm afraid... I think it's a great decision not to give the baby's name to publicity. But no offense to Nonnochan, I believe in you Nono!!!)
You're such a beautiful woman aren't you. ♥ Why didn't you go into modeling? You have the body (what a great body that is!) and the looks... Even the elegant aura.
I don't enjoy your voice and I have never bothered to look for your solo material so I have no clue of what it's like. Or actually I do have two clues: the song you performed on Momusu Tanjou 10nen Kinentai's concert tour, Nakazu ni Irarenai Watashi desu (and maybe some others of you solo songs that I cannot remember perfomed on some Momusu concert tours) and the fact that it's supposed to be "Mediterranean style" or "European style" - whatever that means. Maybe I should give you a chance, at least to know what your music is like... I think that a classic and mature approach to solo music is very natural to you and definitely suits you well. I find it hard to imagine you releasing solo singles like The Stress or anything like that. You've always been that classic beauty, having a somewhat elegant character.
Despite the fact that I don't like your voice you will always have a special place in my heart. I loved your behaviour when you were younger. So spaced out but also actually appreciating the chance you got when Tsunku decided to form Momusu... I'll never forget the Music Station episode I watched (I guess it was a graduation special for Asukacchi or something, can't really remember) where they showed the reactions of all of you when the first week single ranks were revealed. It was so funny to see all the other girls sitting there reserved and smiling happily and little Kaorin bouncing up, screaming and clapping her hands... You really were very exited about the good rankings your singles got, weren't you. ^_^ You were really thankful and honestly happy to be in Momusu.
You were also one of the funniest ones, always making funny expressions, though I guess you weren't aware of it. But in the end people who aren't trying to be the funniest one are the funniest. :) Another music show memory... When the 2001 shuffles were featured in Utaban and you kept staring forwards so intensively and looking SO angry and Takasan kept teasing you for it. :D You really stood out from the other girls. Not to speak of this hilarious Ayaka's Surprise Lessons episode (this is was in the Hello Online "Iida Kaori gives birth" news bit and I hadn't seen it before. It was SO funny!). :DD You do have a strong personality so it's quite sad that you got pushed back so many times, especially later on.
Was it because you weren't much of a dancer? I actually think that the case was just that an old dog cannot learn new tricks (no, I have absolutely no idea if that's a proverb in English :). I hope you get the point though). In earlier Momusu songs and concerts you were just as good as anyone else (though messing up a little bit sometimes :)) but when I look at you in the Ai Araba era you do stand out a bit. If not as a completely hopeless case still as a bad dancer. Well, the dances were a lot easier back when you started, but still...
But I think I've got the reason why you mess up so often.
You actually have a great ability to put your heart and soul to the song you're singing. One only has to look at your face and see how much you get from it. When performing, I always see in you the one who most does the things she feels like (gestures, expressions I mean) while the others strictly follow the chorepgraphy they're given. A good example is the Last Kiss performance from Momusu 10nen Kienentai's concert tour. The duet you and Mamechan do is awesome and maybe one of my favourite performances ever (Gakisan is so great at Tanpopo songs! I loved her doing Tanpopo in the H!P 2007 summer concert also. Her singing was something incredibly beautiful to hear). But looking at you and Gakisan standing side by side made a clear difference between you two when it comes to moving while singing. Both of you have a great and very emotional expression but Gakisan does all her movements in a big manner and one can see how they are carefully thought beforehand. However, you do the same movements but in a minimalistic and less exaggerated way, as they were natural and spontanious and not learned. To some it may seem like you're no good at all at dancing but to me it just shows how much you care about the song.You might not be as theatrical and showy as Gakisan but it doesn't mean you're dull.
Your true place, however, was in 1st gen Tanpopo. It's the place where you, Marippe and Ayappe fitted together perfectly. The image was just the right for you - mature, sexy and great vocals. While Marippe found her place in second gen as well you seemed a little out of place to me. Marippe's strenght has always been her variety, she's perfectly able to change her behaviour, attitude and image from a super-sexy (though super-tiny) photobook realeaser to a children's favourite super-genki Minimoni leader. You instead, you fitted better in the serious-styled Tanpopo than in the "I love my boyfriend, let's go on a date!" Tanpopo. That's why I was extremely happy when I found this post by Yoshimi telling about her love to first gen Tanpopo. I agree completely with her with the sentence "Tanpopo really striked me as the kind of ideal group for Kaori, back in the day." That's exactly what I think also.
I might like the second gen's music a little better overall but the best single this subgroup ever produced was Tanpopo, their post-album single. It's a great song, very beautiful and the great b-side, A Rainy Day makes me love it even more if possible... And it certainly doesn't help at all that the best H!P photocard I've ever got with a single comes with this: the greatest possible photo there could ever be of Ayappe. I can't help but to share those photos with you though they have nothing to do with Kaorin. I giuess it's the image the whole single has - these three little (okay, Marippe is the only little one. :)) standing in the wonderful yellow coloured meadow. They all look absolutely gorgeous and somehow this image is so different from their other singles but still manages to stay inside the general mature feel. And also the songs - I'm sure everyone of you have already heard Tanpopo but A Rainy Day is worth hearing too. I highly recommend it. Please listen to it! Again it's one of my favourites mostly because of its jazzy style. I would want to know what the lyrics are about but I haven't been able to find a translation... I guess it's just another love song though. :)
I'm so happy that at the time I got to know H!P they had found something for you to do. Your place definitely was in Morning Musume Tanjou 10nen Kinentai. I have never heard you sound as good as you did in Itoshiki Tomo he! I love that song not because of Kohachan, not Nacchi, not Gocchin, not even because of Risa's super great vocals and deserved attention. I loved it because of you Kaorin. You have never before sounded so pleasant to me. I think that lower ranges actually fit your voice better and that why it sounds so good in Itoshiki Tomo he.
BTW, always keep that long hair. It suits you so well! I always thought you looked a bit funny when you cut your hair after graduating from Momusu. Somehow it made your head look bigger and you yourself look even taller though not in a good way. You have the best legs ever so you don't have to exaggerate...
Some more Kaorin goodness. :)
I really think that in this look those straight bangs that you sometimes got picked at really fit! See, even those two others are trying to create a similar look by wearing black leather caps. Those bangs just frame your pretty face so beautifully.
Stupid scanner made a stupid lighting in Marippe's hair in that last photo... And it was a very beautiful one... Though Ayappe's nose piercing ♥ And also a refreshing new approach in Tanpopo's lyrics card's inside pisture. I love that collage! Then some pictures of second gen Tanpopo. I love the fact that they didn't get rid of everything the original image was.
The second picture photo shows that pretty clearly, the maturity is still there. The problem is that I don't really see it suiting Aibon or Rikachan. Maybe their looks, yes (all four look fabulous in that photo) but I could never see them singing something like Motto. They were placed in Tanpopo to change the image of the group, in favor to the popular cute image Momusu had adopted at the time. That's how it's supposed to be I guess. As I mentioned, I do like second gen's music more than first gen's because I'm a great fan of that kind of Beatlesy happy 60's pop. But the new dancy Tanpopo was too much for you, Kaorin. You do look a bit out of place in that last photo, smiling in pink clothes and trying to be all cutesy next to Rikachan and Aibon. That's impossible for anyone (but Sayu maybe) and even though Marippe has the silliest expression (she's looking so funny :D Well that's quite a bad photo overall) you look uncomfortable.
Phew - this ended up being a personal letter to Kaorin. Scary... Well, having a child is a big turning point in life. It's often said that people tend to change after it. Their way of living changes, their friends change... Maybe it's time to get everything in the past clear now, and what's a better way to do that but to write a letter. :P
Now Marippe, we're only waiting for you to reveal the news!
Huh? I wasn't supposed to tell anyone? Oh, sorry... I'm sure no-one heard... I love you too, Marippe. ♥ Though you'd be hard to live with, wouldn't you? Maybe I'll write a letter to you too, one day. Hopefully I can do it soon. :)
Wait! No, wait, that's not what I meant!
PS. Wow, that took me quite a while to write! A partial reason is that sometimes my internet connection just refuses to work properly so it's impossible to upload photos or music to vox. Though music is impossible quite always.
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