Well, they will be, anyway. How do I feel about this?
Honestly all four of the girls have so little personality that I can't say I'm excited to see them interact with each other. Vocally, though, they're a tight group, always sound good live, even though the individual voices don't blow me away or anything.
Perhaps the personality factor will change with time as the girls grow up and get comfortable around each other. Like, I never knew Chinami had a personality of her own until I saw her just interacting with other Berryz members, who she is comfortable with.
Musically, the music for the group hasn't really caught my attention. aMa no Jaku was a great tune with a great verse and after-chorus part (I think it goes into a minor key there...). Which was definitely a step up (speaking in terms of musical creativity) from most other H!P releases.
Asu wa Deeto (etc) was not as good of a song, I think, but once again it was done in an intersting way that I can appreciate even if I didn't myself love it. Suki-chan I really haven't gone out of my way to listen to, and since there is no full version out, I can't really pass judgment.
But that brings me to another important factor of S/mileage that they seem to have over all (and I mean ALL) other H!P acts right now. And that is, great PVs.
All of them had interesting storylines (Asu had death tarot cards, aMa had basketball, and Suki-chan has a picnic of some kind), interesting outfits, and lots of extra footage that was outside of the usual close-up / dance-shot material that usually makes up a H!P PV.
So, if this tradition of Fantastic PVs keeps up, I'll keep following this new group. But I'd like to see some more powerful vocals, not the high-pitched, very unwavering sound we've been given so far. And hopefully as time goes on, the group will develop it's own style and become comfortable enough around eachother so that we can see what these girls are really like.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Mk's Hello! Project X-mas Wishlist <3
In the spirit of the season, here are the things Mk wants from Santa this year, as far as the H!P category goes.
1. Um, photobooks for Chisato AND Captain. I mean, I get maybe that Chisato wouldn't get one right away, but Saki is turning 18. 18!! Like, I can't believe she hasn't gotten one yet. And she's very cute and pretty and small, so, like, WHY NOT, UFA?? It is true now that Nakky, Mai, Chinami and Maasa have gotten one that this prospect doesn't look as bleak as it used to.
Wantability scale: 6/10 - I would like to have this, but I'll still love these members even without a photobook. I mainly want them to have one so that everyone else can realize how great they are.
2. More Lin Lin solos IN THE SINGLES. Lin Lin has been around long enough that there is no excuse not to have her singing up front with everyone else. She can very clearly handle it, in a lot of ways better than other members who DO get lines can, so goddammit Tsunku stop stuffing her to the back. Honestly, if other 8th Gen. members (Aika and Jun) don't get lines maybe I get it, but with Lin Lin she is so talented that it sucks so bad to not have her belting it out like I know she can.
Wantability Scale: 10/10 - If this really happened, I think I would like Morning Musume a whole lot more.
3. A Buono! PV that features DULCE more than just a few seconds where they zoom the camera across their face and you can't see anything. I mean, I get that Buono! is the focus, but I think they could pull in a lot of more mainstream fans if they at least acknowledged the people who really make the music happen. I think it would give Buono! a generally more 'musically interesting' feel, something the idol industry desperatley lacks.
Wantability Scale: 5/10 - Honestly, if this doesn't happen it's no biggie as long as DULCE keeps playing live with Buono! for their concert tours.
4. More "normal" outfits, especially for singles. I know that everyone loves the huge puffy dresses and ridiculous headbands that H!P so often dresses their idols in, but I really want to see the girls-- just once-- in just, like, jeans and a t-shirt. I think that's one reason Buono! has had more (kind of) of a mainstream audience-- their clothing is stuff that girls that age might really want to wear. I have noticed H!P has been doing that more recently, but only really for concert tours. If their were more singles like that I would be happy.
Wantability Scale: 7/10 - While this is already kind of happenning, I would still really like to see it more.
5. More interesting arragement of songs. So I know that I've complained about this quite a bit, whether here or over on Hello! Online, but Tsunku's style of songwriting is just SO repetetive. I mean, I like all of the vocal melodies and effects and all, but the order of how the song goes is the SAME EVERY TIME. In case you don't know my opinion on the matter, I'll break it down for you.
This is how most H!P songs are arranged.
Instrumental Opening
Verse 1
Pre-chorus
Chorus
Shortened version of instrumental opening
Verse 2 (usually thiner backgrounds during the first half)
Pre-chorus
Chorus
Longer instrumental section, more intense dancing, more guitar/keyboard solo, NO vocals)
Pre-chorus (This is the most varying section- it's not rare that this is eliminated)
Chorus
Instrmental Ending (usually identical to opening, NO vocals)
I challenge anyone to come up with more than... 10? 12? examples of songs that don't follow this exact pattern. The only big difference is that sometimes Tsunku starts with the chorus right after the opening instead of the verse. So, with that in mind, Tsunku, PLEASE vary it up. This is the only aspect of H!P whuch consistantly bores me.
Okay, Santa, there you have it. Make it happen.
1. Um, photobooks for Chisato AND Captain. I mean, I get maybe that Chisato wouldn't get one right away, but Saki is turning 18. 18!! Like, I can't believe she hasn't gotten one yet. And she's very cute and pretty and small, so, like, WHY NOT, UFA?? It is true now that Nakky, Mai, Chinami and Maasa have gotten one that this prospect doesn't look as bleak as it used to.
Wantability scale: 6/10 - I would like to have this, but I'll still love these members even without a photobook. I mainly want them to have one so that everyone else can realize how great they are.
2. More Lin Lin solos IN THE SINGLES. Lin Lin has been around long enough that there is no excuse not to have her singing up front with everyone else. She can very clearly handle it, in a lot of ways better than other members who DO get lines can, so goddammit Tsunku stop stuffing her to the back. Honestly, if other 8th Gen. members (Aika and Jun) don't get lines maybe I get it, but with Lin Lin she is so talented that it sucks so bad to not have her belting it out like I know she can.
Wantability Scale: 10/10 - If this really happened, I think I would like Morning Musume a whole lot more.
3. A Buono! PV that features DULCE more than just a few seconds where they zoom the camera across their face and you can't see anything. I mean, I get that Buono! is the focus, but I think they could pull in a lot of more mainstream fans if they at least acknowledged the people who really make the music happen. I think it would give Buono! a generally more 'musically interesting' feel, something the idol industry desperatley lacks.
Wantability Scale: 5/10 - Honestly, if this doesn't happen it's no biggie as long as DULCE keeps playing live with Buono! for their concert tours.
4. More "normal" outfits, especially for singles. I know that everyone loves the huge puffy dresses and ridiculous headbands that H!P so often dresses their idols in, but I really want to see the girls-- just once-- in just, like, jeans and a t-shirt. I think that's one reason Buono! has had more (kind of) of a mainstream audience-- their clothing is stuff that girls that age might really want to wear. I have noticed H!P has been doing that more recently, but only really for concert tours. If their were more singles like that I would be happy.
Wantability Scale: 7/10 - While this is already kind of happenning, I would still really like to see it more.
5. More interesting arragement of songs. So I know that I've complained about this quite a bit, whether here or over on Hello! Online, but Tsunku's style of songwriting is just SO repetetive. I mean, I like all of the vocal melodies and effects and all, but the order of how the song goes is the SAME EVERY TIME. In case you don't know my opinion on the matter, I'll break it down for you.
This is how most H!P songs are arranged.
Instrumental Opening
Verse 1
Pre-chorus
Chorus
Shortened version of instrumental opening
Verse 2 (usually thiner backgrounds during the first half)
Pre-chorus
Chorus
Longer instrumental section, more intense dancing, more guitar/keyboard solo, NO vocals)
Pre-chorus (This is the most varying section- it's not rare that this is eliminated)
Chorus
Instrmental Ending (usually identical to opening, NO vocals)
I challenge anyone to come up with more than... 10? 12? examples of songs that don't follow this exact pattern. The only big difference is that sometimes Tsunku starts with the chorus right after the opening instead of the verse. So, with that in mind, Tsunku, PLEASE vary it up. This is the only aspect of H!P whuch consistantly bores me.
Okay, Santa, there you have it. Make it happen.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
H!P Champloo DVD Concert Review… aka Thank God No Mikan
Hello everyone, here is my review of the recent H!P concert DVD. Instead of reviewing the entire concert, I decided to single out what I felt were the most important performances of the concert: the ones people will be talking about for a while.
#1 Guru Guru JUMP
I love this song a lot, without a doubt one of my favorite songs to come out of H!P in a while, so obviously I was quite excited to watch this part. And it delivered. I like the distribution of lines a LOT, and it’s good that this song lets so many people have substantial solo lines (unlike Piriri to Yukou which lets everyone have a solo line that’s 2 seconds long). And really, everyone that took a solo line sounded great, with the exception of Ai-chan (but that’s just IMO). I wish they would have let at least one of the S/mileage girls take a line as well, but I understand that at this time it was more uncertain what prominence these girls were going to have in H!P.
My favorite aspect of this performance was definitely still the energy of Lin Lin and Koharu, which is what made me love it in the first place. But Jun Jun seemed almost cut out of the song with the way they organized lines, which was weird, because Lin and Koha definitely weren’t. But anyway, Lin’s energy was really palpable here: her second “COME ON!!” is evidence enough. And this is without a doubt Koharu’s best performance of the song with her fantastic falsetto during the last chorus. This is how I want to remember Koharu now that she’s gone: as a crackhead belting out the crazy songs in a way that no one else can. *tearing up*
What this performance will be remembered as: A Great Last Tribute to the Crack Head (and Everyone Else Did Good Too)
#2 Minimoni Jankenpyon!
So, I may definitely be the exception when it comes to the experience I had with this performance: this was the first time I had heard this song. And after getting over the initial O_O feeling, I realized what a goldmine of awesomeness I had just stumbled on by seeing this new unit perform it.
First off, Karin has NEVER even passed under my radar before, but now I can’t get her out of my head! And how awesome is Lin Lin here? She is so unembarrassed about how much fun this is for her, you can really see it in the way she dances with everyone. I could see someone else being unenthusiastic at having to perform with a bunch of kids, but Lin Lin just grabs it and goes for it. AND THEN BLOWS OUT MY BRAIN.
What this performance will be remembered as: The One That Made Everyone Love Miyamoto Karin (or Is Lin Lin The New Crackhead?)
#3 Yume to Genjitsu (Aa!)
Performances that introduce me to a new song always have a special place in my heart, and this one is no exception. But not only that made it awesome: the whole performance of it was flawless. And I’ll admit that I may be biased since I don’t have a studio recording to compare it to, but wow. Airi and Miyabi sound fantastic. And whoa, Akari, what happened to you?!? She went from awkward Amulet Spade to being right up there with Airi and Miyabi in the beauty category. I also really like how much effort was put into the choreography for this song, usually these kinds of non-single tracks get so little time put into them and most dance moves are just ripped off from other ones. But this dance was cool and creative and really fit well with the song.
What this performance will be remembered as: Maybe It’s Not So Bad That Reina Wasn’t In This Group a Second Time (or The One that Made Everyone Realize Akari’s a Sexy Beast)
#4 MY BOY
So, well all know Buono! can bring it. We all know they can rock like really nothing else can in H!P right now. But, just in case you HAVEN’T figured it out yet because you choose to reside under a large rock, here’s just more proof. This performance makes me wonder how three of the cutest and sweetest girls in the H!P Kids came together to make a group that can perform like they did here. It really makes me sad that this song did so poorly, since it fits them so well and they can obviously pull it off without a problem. (I’m still a bit on the fence with the outfits, and I wish they didn’t have to wear the single outfits for this, but that’s okay, I’ll just wait for the Winter Festa DVD.)
What this performance will be remembered as: Whyyyy Didn’t This Song Sell Well?? (or I Really Need To Buy The Hybrid Punch DVD)
~Bonus Section~ Performances I could have done without:
1. Sekai wa Summer Party – I really like this song, but man, seeing Mano Erina perform live is quite boring and uninspiring. They way she sings just does nothing for me. I know there are some super Mano wota out there, and this performance makes me scratch my head and ask, “Why?”
2. Shouganai Yume Oibito – I know this was a weekly #1 and recent landmark in sales for MM, but this still just felt like filler. And especially coming right after Nanchatte Renai, which basically sounds like the same song. (That made me wonder, what if they sang Naichao Kamo right after that? I would have blown up my computer.)
3. Resonant Blue – I don’t know anyone that was not pissed that this song got performed AGAIN. It’s a good song, I really like it, but it’s just like… Tsunku, WE GET IT! Give up on this song! (But hey, at least there’s not this AND Mikan, hence the blog title).
~Bonus Section 2~ Wishlist for Next Concert:
1. Let S/mileage members sing in the opening songs.
2. MORE KARIN
3. No Resonant Blue / Mikan / Guru Guru (dare I say it? I love it, but it’s been played a lot)
4. More Special Medlies, I really like MM’s and I’m sure I’ll love Berryz’s and C-ute’s as well.
5. Do a group ballad with everyone again
6. Lin Lin SOLO!!!
Okay, that’s it. See you guys later…!
#1 Guru Guru JUMP
I love this song a lot, without a doubt one of my favorite songs to come out of H!P in a while, so obviously I was quite excited to watch this part. And it delivered. I like the distribution of lines a LOT, and it’s good that this song lets so many people have substantial solo lines (unlike Piriri to Yukou which lets everyone have a solo line that’s 2 seconds long). And really, everyone that took a solo line sounded great, with the exception of Ai-chan (but that’s just IMO). I wish they would have let at least one of the S/mileage girls take a line as well, but I understand that at this time it was more uncertain what prominence these girls were going to have in H!P.
My favorite aspect of this performance was definitely still the energy of Lin Lin and Koharu, which is what made me love it in the first place. But Jun Jun seemed almost cut out of the song with the way they organized lines, which was weird, because Lin and Koha definitely weren’t. But anyway, Lin’s energy was really palpable here: her second “COME ON!!” is evidence enough. And this is without a doubt Koharu’s best performance of the song with her fantastic falsetto during the last chorus. This is how I want to remember Koharu now that she’s gone: as a crackhead belting out the crazy songs in a way that no one else can. *tearing up*
What this performance will be remembered as: A Great Last Tribute to the Crack Head (and Everyone Else Did Good Too)
#2 Minimoni Jankenpyon!
So, I may definitely be the exception when it comes to the experience I had with this performance: this was the first time I had heard this song. And after getting over the initial O_O feeling, I realized what a goldmine of awesomeness I had just stumbled on by seeing this new unit perform it.
First off, Karin has NEVER even passed under my radar before, but now I can’t get her out of my head! And how awesome is Lin Lin here? She is so unembarrassed about how much fun this is for her, you can really see it in the way she dances with everyone. I could see someone else being unenthusiastic at having to perform with a bunch of kids, but Lin Lin just grabs it and goes for it. AND THEN BLOWS OUT MY BRAIN.
What this performance will be remembered as: The One That Made Everyone Love Miyamoto Karin (or Is Lin Lin The New Crackhead?)
#3 Yume to Genjitsu (Aa!)
Performances that introduce me to a new song always have a special place in my heart, and this one is no exception. But not only that made it awesome: the whole performance of it was flawless. And I’ll admit that I may be biased since I don’t have a studio recording to compare it to, but wow. Airi and Miyabi sound fantastic. And whoa, Akari, what happened to you?!? She went from awkward Amulet Spade to being right up there with Airi and Miyabi in the beauty category. I also really like how much effort was put into the choreography for this song, usually these kinds of non-single tracks get so little time put into them and most dance moves are just ripped off from other ones. But this dance was cool and creative and really fit well with the song.
What this performance will be remembered as: Maybe It’s Not So Bad That Reina Wasn’t In This Group a Second Time (or The One that Made Everyone Realize Akari’s a Sexy Beast)
#4 MY BOY
So, well all know Buono! can bring it. We all know they can rock like really nothing else can in H!P right now. But, just in case you HAVEN’T figured it out yet because you choose to reside under a large rock, here’s just more proof. This performance makes me wonder how three of the cutest and sweetest girls in the H!P Kids came together to make a group that can perform like they did here. It really makes me sad that this song did so poorly, since it fits them so well and they can obviously pull it off without a problem. (I’m still a bit on the fence with the outfits, and I wish they didn’t have to wear the single outfits for this, but that’s okay, I’ll just wait for the Winter Festa DVD.)
What this performance will be remembered as: Whyyyy Didn’t This Song Sell Well?? (or I Really Need To Buy The Hybrid Punch DVD)
~Bonus Section~ Performances I could have done without:
1. Sekai wa Summer Party – I really like this song, but man, seeing Mano Erina perform live is quite boring and uninspiring. They way she sings just does nothing for me. I know there are some super Mano wota out there, and this performance makes me scratch my head and ask, “Why?”
2. Shouganai Yume Oibito – I know this was a weekly #1 and recent landmark in sales for MM, but this still just felt like filler. And especially coming right after Nanchatte Renai, which basically sounds like the same song. (That made me wonder, what if they sang Naichao Kamo right after that? I would have blown up my computer.)
3. Resonant Blue – I don’t know anyone that was not pissed that this song got performed AGAIN. It’s a good song, I really like it, but it’s just like… Tsunku, WE GET IT! Give up on this song! (But hey, at least there’s not this AND Mikan, hence the blog title).
~Bonus Section 2~ Wishlist for Next Concert:
1. Let S/mileage members sing in the opening songs.
2. MORE KARIN
3. No Resonant Blue / Mikan / Guru Guru (dare I say it? I love it, but it’s been played a lot)
4. More Special Medlies, I really like MM’s and I’m sure I’ll love Berryz’s and C-ute’s as well.
5. Do a group ballad with everyone again
6. Lin Lin SOLO!!!
Okay, that’s it. See you guys later…!
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