tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051105810265180822024-03-05T20:50:25.306-08:00Finding the MagicA blog about girl groups from all over the world!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-91058563422987178902016-04-25T15:52:00.002-07:002016-04-25T15:52:23.568-07:00TumblrLong time no see!<br />
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Since I no longer have time to write long posts (college, y'all), but I still want to blog, I started a tumblr! This version will just have stuff about girl groups, though (no MGs).<br />
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Check it out!<br />
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http://finding-the-magic.tumblr.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-68384641274895879352014-11-01T16:31:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.826-08:00November Update: BlahOh yeah, I forgot I was supposed to do monthly updates... oops.<br /><br />Well, here we are. It's November. Thanksgiving is less than a month away and Christmas is soon after! WOOT!<br /><br />But my blog has been... kinda dead. I've had other interests and responsibilities appear in my life since this school year started, and blogging has been at the bottom of my priority list. So I don't get to post the things I want when I want, and then when I finally get the time, everyone else has already written about it so I feel like I'm too late, and then I just get discouraged and decide not to write anything at all.<br /><br />I guess once again I set my hopes for this blog too high, which always takes away my motivation after a while.<br /><br />I'm not saying all this to be depressing or anything. :P I know everyone has some form of writer's block all the time, I just didn't expect it so soon, that's all. And I figured anyone who takes the time to actually read my posts (y'all are awesome!) deserves an explanation for why I haven't posted in nearly two months.<br /><br />BUT despite all this I refuse to start a formal hiatus for my blog. If I do that I'll have even less motivation, and I'm not ready to give up on this yet.<br /><br />Oh, by the way, last month I saw my idols Morning Musume in CONCERT! In NEW YORK (my favorite city)! It was one of the most amazing days of my life. I started to write a post the day after, but didn't get to finish it, and well... I definitely waited too long. But it was great; I got to shake hands with the girls (Mizuki called me 'cute'!), talked to some nice people while waiting in line, and added a new CD to my collection. The whole experience definitely made me wanna support them even more. If only I had written my whole blog post about it...<br /><br />But it can't be helped now. I'll write again whenever I get the motivation and energy. Thanks for reading, everyone, and have a great holiday season. <3Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-37428222279787024912014-09-07T08:04:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.748-08:00EunB, RiSe, and Simone Battle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This past week was a dark time for girl group fans. All in one week, we lost three singers: EunB and RiSe (from Ladies' Code), and Simone Battle (from G.R.L.).<br /><br />Ladies' Code was in a car accident on Wednesday, September 3. EunB died on site, and RiSe passed away at the hospital from her injuries today (Sunday, September 7).<br /><br />Simone Battle was found dead in her home on Friday, September 5. Her cause of death is still being investigated.<br /><br />I don't really follow either group that much, but I had obviously known of them and heard their songs before. I even watched G.R.L. perform on TV a few weeks ago so now that Simone is gone... it doesn't seem real. All three deaths happening in just once was truly heartbreaking for me, and today I just cried. Even though I don't know any of these girls personally, I know that they were surrounded by people who loved them, and my heart breaks for those people.<br /><br />Simone was 25. RiSe was 23. EunB was just 21. But even thought their time on earth was short, I believe they fulfilled their dreams... and that gives me a bit of peace. Everyone dies at some point, but what matters is how you live.<br /><br />That's why we should never give up living, never put things off until later... because it could happen to anyone at any time.<br /><br />I only wish there was something more I could say... but I have nothing, so I pray for their families and friends. Even then I don't really know the words to pray... but I pray anyway.<br /><br />Everyone, please pray.<br /><br />R.I.P.<br />Go Eunbi (November 23, 1992 – September 3, 2014)<br />Simone Sherise Battle (June 17, 1989 – September 5, 2014)<br />Kwon Rise (August 16, 1991 – September 7, 2014) <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/utxtwyxwdqI" width="560"><br></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/KgfO-CvSs1g" width="560"></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-66494655610688901862014-08-22T15:57:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.817-08:00Orange Caramel "My Copycat" MV<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/EnOp_t0kqeI" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Orange Caramel has released a music video for "My Copycat", which is my favorite K-pop music video in a long time!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The music is standard Orange Caramel, so if you're not into that I guess you won't be crazy about this either. But what really makes the video stand out for me is that its interactive. I LOVE interactive videos!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In this one, the main goal is to spot the difference in the split screen scenes. There's a number in the corner that tells you how many changes there are. You can pause to spot them all, or if your like me you make a game out of it by seeing how many you can spot before the scene changes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There's also a "Where's Waldo?" type challenge where you have to spot the members of Orange Caramel.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's silly, but I haven't had this much fun with a music video since Girl's Day's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsdB0JPYzVQ">"Hug Me Once"</a>. And "My Copycat" is even better!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There's really not a lot to say about this video because it really speaks for itself. It's simple, but it's so much fun!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can find this song on Orange Caramel's <a href="http://www.yesasia.com/us/orange-caramel-single-album-vol-4/1036496065-0-0-0-en/info.html">fourth single album</a>, which also comes with a new song called "Gangnam Street" (a really great dance song).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Check out the dance version of "My Copycat", too!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/PnblKcw3VPs" width="560"></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-5145731344400595212014-08-07T16:12:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.784-08:00Country Musume Audition Results: No Winners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140211120738/helloproject/images/6/68/46474.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140211120738/helloproject/images/6/68/46474.png" height="155" width="320" /></a></div><br />The results for the Country Musume New Member Audition came out today.<br /><br />Finally, after six months of waiting and guessing and excitement (for me, anyway), the results are finally in.<br /><br />And...<br /><br />No winners. None.<br /><br />We didn't even get to see any of the auditioning girls. No one even said if the finalists will get a chance at being Kenshuusei or not yet, either. No word on what's gonna happen to Country Musume from now on: Are they finished? Is another audition coming up? Will Satoda Mai remain the sole member of Country Musume? The world may never know!<br /><br />I know Country Musume wasn't the most popular Hello! Project group, at least not without Ishikawa, Konno, and Fujimoto backing them up, so maybe it's just me, but I kind of feel betrayed. As a lover of all things 90s H!P, I was <i>so</i> excited to see such a great group make a comeback. I was eager to see new faces in Hello! Project.<br /><br />But nothing happened and we didn't even get a good explanation why.<br /><br />I guess I should have expected this after last year's aborted 12th generation audition. Those girls were apparently too good for Morning Musume and would have changed the image they have now. So maybe the Country Musume auditionees just didn't have the same image as the former members, and they didn't want CM's legacy to be tarnished.<br /><br />It's also highly probable that UFP is just being difficult because they can and that's what they do.<br /><br />Whatever. Let's all just pretend this never happened and enjoy this performance of a flamenco version of "Iroppoi Onna ~SEXY BABY~".<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qE3QdYsTZNY" width="420"></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-45955282279173788192014-08-06T13:42:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.766-08:00My thoughts on Berryz Koubou's hiatus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.helloproject.com/img/rotation/35adea76213c372f49cd7ba0a6a719f709b3f5d3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.helloproject.com/img/rotation/35adea76213c372f49cd7ba0a6a719f709b3f5d3.png" height="252" width="400" /></a></div><br />Yes, yes, I know this is old news now; forgive me, but I have to share my thoughts on this eventually.<br /><br />Berryz Koubou announced on August 2 that they will be going on an "indefinite hiatus" after their spring 2015 tour.<br /><br />While I'd like to say I'm happy they're not disbanding, I'm not sure how I feel about a hiatus either.<br /><br />Truly I can see why they would not want to disband. I think they've grown so close these past ten years as a group that they're practically a family, and you don't just break up a family. If anything, when their time to quit really does come, I think they should "retire" Berryz Koubou, together. It seems so wrong to say that they would "break up".<br /><br />But I'm getting ahead of myself; no one is disbanding yet, just going on hiatus. On one hand, some good could come out of this -- the members will have more time to try other things, take a break, or maybe even go to university if they haven't already.<br /><br />The thing that stinks about a "hiatus" though is that constant state of uncertainty we're left with. No one really knows when or if they will ever come together again like they were before.<br /><br />It reminds me too much of where the Wonder Girls are at right now -- they're a family, so they don't wanna just "disband". But some of us fans are left wondering if things will ever be the same again. And I hate it. I <i>hate</i> hiatuses.<br /><br />The Civil Wars already broke my heart this week by announcing their split after nearly two years of a hiatus. Please don't do that to me in two years, BK!<br /><br />I guess I should end this post with the cliché "I'll still support you!" comment to the girls. And it's true, I will follow and support you all until the day you retire for good.<br /><br />Also, admittedly, my first thought when I saw the announcement my first thought was "This would be a great time for a Buono! comeback..." For real though, if y'all could make that happen, I would totally forgive this whole hiatus thing.<br /><br />Now that I've finished writing down all my jumbled thoughts, I'll share with you the playlist of (nearly) all of Berryz Koubou's music videos. Watch them in order from the oldest, because it really is a delight watching them grow up from adorable kids to beautiful adults.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLE73A9C68B3F7B85E" width="560"></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-49955504937286013932014-07-15T15:19:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.778-08:00Girl's Day - "Darling" music video<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/QB4dQcxgJPY" width="640"></iframe><br /><br />Girl's Day has released a new video for their song "Darling".<br /><br />It seems like lately K-pop music videos have been giving me the same mixed feelings. On one hand, I'm a not a fan of the "sexy concept" at all, and the number of shots of their butts in this music video is ridiculous. On the other hand, this song is super catchy, the video is well-made, and the girls are actually adorable when the camera focuses on something besides their rear ends.<br /><br />Obviously Girl's Day has been trying to push this "sexy concept" a lot lately, since songs like "Expectation" and "Something" have been some of their most popular songs. (Those two were so over the top for me that I never finished watching either video.) But it seems now they're remembering that they also had a hit back in the day with "Twinkle Twinkle", which was cute and quirky. This video seems to be a combination of the two styles, which is rarely ever attempted, but in this case I think it actually worked.<br /><br />The song is so catchy and fun, and probably one of my favorite summer songs this year. I've only listened to it a couple times and it's already stuck in my head. It sounds like something Secret would do, actually. It's bouncy, happy, sweet... it makes me wanna sing and dance along. The replay value of this song is very, very high, and I have no doubt I'll listen to it at least once more this summer.<br /><br />The music video is where my feelings are slightly mixed, but I've already gone over how I feel about the "sexy concept" so I'll just skip that part, because I don't think I'll say anything that everyone else hasn't already said.<br /><br />The video is very bright, with lots of yellow and orange, but your eyes will adjust after a few seconds (probably). There's lots of summer fun in this video, from chilling at the pool to playing darts or washing a car. None of it really has anything to do with the song, but it is amusing to watch. As I said before, the girls are absolutely adorable in this video. It makes me miss their "Twinkle Twinkle" days just a little bit.<br /><br />I also enjoyed the combination of dance scenes; there are four different combinations of locations and outfits. It really gave the video a lot of variety, and I wish more groups would use this many different sets more.<br /><br />Overall, I'd say my thoughts on this are mostly positive. If Girl's Day can continue to release catchy songs like this, I may forgive them for changing their image so abruptly. The truth is that the members really are talented, and I'd hate to stop listening to them simply because they look different now.<br /><br />If you enjoyed this song, you can buy it on Girl's Day's new EP <i>Everyday 4</i>, which released yesterday! Let me know your thoughts on this song and video, too.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-21292795604710437582014-07-14T20:15:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.739-08:00Juice=Juice - "Black Butterfly" music video<object height="360" width="640"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/ROeoeYQ33hM?hl=en_US&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/ROeoeYQ33hM?hl=en_US&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br />Juice=Juice released the full PV of their song "Black Butterfly" on Friday.<br /><br />As with their last two singles, Juice=Juice continues the formula of having two A-sides: the first with a dark PV, the second with a light one. "Ijiwaru Shinai de…" was sort of jazzy, "Hadaka no KISS" had flamenco style dancing, and now "Black Butterfly" has tango.<br /><br />I'm not really feeling this song to be honest. The tango style sounds great in the verses, especially on Karin's lines, but most of the song is pretty forgettable. Worst of all is those background vocals on the "black butterfly" line. It clashes with the soft sound of the song and just... sounds bad to me.<br /><br />As for the music video, it's also lacking in memorability. Everything is black and dark, and the flowers on the ground remind me too much of "Onna to Otoko no Lullaby Game". One thing that did stand out to me, however, was the dance formation that looked like a butterfly, with Karin in the center of course.<br /><br />As I always say, maybe it'll grow on me. "Ai wa Itsumo Kimi no Naka ni" was similar to "Black Butterfly" in that it didn't have a pop sound at all, but after initially not liking the Berryz' song, it grew on me and is now one of my favorites. So maybe "Black Butterfly" still has a chance?<br /><br />If you like this song, you can buy it on July 30 as part of the single "Black Butterfly / Kaze ni Fukarete".Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-34644390103996654412014-07-10T22:26:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.745-08:00Sailor Moon Crystal - Act 1I'M LATE!<br /><br />Mom, why didn't you tell me Sailor Moon Crystal premiered on Saturday?!!! *falls down stairs*<br /><br />...okay, so actually I knew that. If you must know, I was out of town over the weekend and didn't get to watch the episode -- er, excuse me, "act" -- until late Monday. And then I took three days to write about it because... I have no idea why. But I'm here now!<br /><br />Disclaimer: please remember that I have barely seen any of the original Sailor Moon, and I don't share the same nostalgia that most fans have. So if I make some stupid newb comment during the course of this review, forgive me!<br /><br />As I said, I watched this episode late on Monday. I was very excited before that it would be airing through Hulu, as I have Hulu Plus and could watch it on my TV, but unfortunately my Wii U is unable to properly time the captions, and I couldn't read what they were saying until a second after it was said. I tried to use this to practice my Japanese listening skills, trying to determine what they were saying before the captions came up, but bouncing between languages like that just hurt my head so I gave up on the listening part near the end. So, yeah, from now on I will be watching this on my computer. :(<br /><br />Anyway, onto the show!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjat7MT2c7cjXKTzZwHWQVheg-CHoTTuBrBVwF6SA-HVlovOBbgLtAN0AZBFyqqGFcXHBw6DLBui4gePoe8P18HQtAlo9nfEFlg69_-05qe5PouJ2WV7qdEjQwTjarO9Ptr-_UiEsuw3JRy/s1600/SailorMCA1ss1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjat7MT2c7cjXKTzZwHWQVheg-CHoTTuBrBVwF6SA-HVlovOBbgLtAN0AZBFyqqGFcXHBw6DLBui4gePoe8P18HQtAlo9nfEFlg69_-05qe5PouJ2WV7qdEjQwTjarO9Ptr-_UiEsuw3JRy/s1600/SailorMCA1ss1.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />The new series opens with shots of space and planets in an intro lasting about a minute and a half. Kind of like how a movie would start. No credits, no narration, just music.<br /><br />After a few quick shots of Serenity, we are shown the Tsukino house, where Usagi once again does her famous "late for school" gag. After Usagi falls down the stairs and runs out the door in a rush, her mom wishes she would learn something from Sailor V.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaUuhElzTD_Rg70O-eN0JR4dAcVHvYVTNLDMraxiYdS-JFva69xfFiqA5WxZ_uFRRZBOR1B-QnciDANH9Vpswf8ZXH7H8sekDXO45atB7yGjjuMNKAg6HiDqKwaguJqLA_RfpE-Axce9u/s1600/SailorMCA1ss2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaUuhElzTD_Rg70O-eN0JR4dAcVHvYVTNLDMraxiYdS-JFva69xfFiqA5WxZ_uFRRZBOR1B-QnciDANH9Vpswf8ZXH7H8sekDXO45atB7yGjjuMNKAg6HiDqKwaguJqLA_RfpE-Axce9u/s1600/SailorMCA1ss2.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div><br />Then the opening sequence starts, and oh it is GLORIOUS!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzxN0VrM5K11Z7mA8-4S8GO9G-sVp2t6O-EGbig37vhNE1I6LtCWdms7Qrxx_NkrMyEYL7_50FKyWzEqR78TQSnm6QokXKBn6W5iJz0onZHu7cqGKHsJ1bTaRH7SDXCogPRS_pIIxBeQt/s1600/SailorMCA1ss3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzxN0VrM5K11Z7mA8-4S8GO9G-sVp2t6O-EGbig37vhNE1I6LtCWdms7Qrxx_NkrMyEYL7_50FKyWzEqR78TQSnm6QokXKBn6W5iJz0onZHu7cqGKHsJ1bTaRH7SDXCogPRS_pIIxBeQt/s1600/SailorMCA1ss3.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />"Wait a sec, is that CG?" you ask. Well guess what, you're gonna see a lot more of that later.<br /><br />All you "Moonlight Densetsu" lovers had better also get used to the new rocking, energetic, girl-power-themed "MOON PRIDE" opening song by Momoiro Clover Z. The scenes in this sequence are great as well, but seriously, that theme song!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvrItijjQS3z9Ss1-ejta4xuDM5Ba9If0MT7zYfSCBScsk8by-8ELxHrHNIuZ825A1lebxZCSEQBMIRQWE9Xj9Sn_jgLMGKHZ2xvEYrN1n2wEESVBV-aBvXXkX-Djl0ZLZmee6IRYIjmr/s1600/SailorMCA1ss4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvrItijjQS3z9Ss1-ejta4xuDM5Ba9If0MT7zYfSCBScsk8by-8ELxHrHNIuZ825A1lebxZCSEQBMIRQWE9Xj9Sn_jgLMGKHZ2xvEYrN1n2wEESVBV-aBvXXkX-Djl0ZLZmee6IRYIjmr/s1600/SailorMCA1ss4.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Sailor Moon classic episode 1: "The Crybaby: Usagi's Beautiful Transformation"<br />Sailor Moon Crystal episode 1: "Usagi - Sailor Moon-"<br />...how original.<br /><br />Calling it now: episode 2 will be "Ami - Sailor Mercury-".<br /><strike>Oh I just checked Wikipedia and that actually <i>is</i> the name of it. Crap.</strike><br /><strike><br /></strike><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogQ86z4FklBIoHf6O3MqCTJaMMx6lMKRfZ-mmxrzE2XGHYRwyaB1LtRN01VixT5Q129UCLt_Iz07K2H-rav3lZnQVoqSvpcaY7cOOOODScOf3bJDgsjDiO7dDgquhuMSlzk-gKlKpNIn5/s1600/SailorMCA1ss5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogQ86z4FklBIoHf6O3MqCTJaMMx6lMKRfZ-mmxrzE2XGHYRwyaB1LtRN01VixT5Q129UCLt_Iz07K2H-rav3lZnQVoqSvpcaY7cOOOODScOf3bJDgsjDiO7dDgquhuMSlzk-gKlKpNIn5/s1600/SailorMCA1ss5.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />So Usagi runs full speed to school and accidentally trips over an adorable kitty with a band-aid on her forehead. Usagi peels off the bandage to reveal a crescent moon shape on the cat's forehead. Suddenly she remembers she's late for school and dashes away from the mysterious cat.<br /><br />Even then, she's still late for school, gets thrown into the hallway, gets caught <i>eating</i> in the hallway, and learns that she only scored a 30 on her English test.<br /><br />...does all this sound familiar to you guys? Because I'm getting really bored re-capping it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRfj9JMz4kkddWyo8xb-bdQZiLV20ObLJzCmhVRtHlP8ahuZP6plOSF6XSwktaVX-2iGk0mF-qUX5E8tGHkyGtK4iEvPkQ7N-Ba0Hg9BqL3bSreeEQUtDq8W0XmKKsfpyS_7AX-xrYSDx/s1600/SailorMCA1ss6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRfj9JMz4kkddWyo8xb-bdQZiLV20ObLJzCmhVRtHlP8ahuZP6plOSF6XSwktaVX-2iGk0mF-qUX5E8tGHkyGtK4iEvPkQ7N-Ba0Hg9BqL3bSreeEQUtDq8W0XmKKsfpyS_7AX-xrYSDx/s1600/SailorMCA1ss6.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Naru and Umino look the same as always, Sailor V is still a legend, Usagi is still crushing on the guy at the arcade, blah blah blah... exact same stuff we saw in the classic series, just with new animation. Yawn.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMxJORhvIRP88_uGEMRFF4uggk09ZNOBNzUeF2zRZOHT8IYMT8rtUcIv8ZTqipro5FVOxY33M0dIYwdfTYm_k15TdV_wd3tkj2PKeX5y4FRwcF_fZHSwnrA3ZIYiVtI7qcTyps-l4ZX0e/s1600/SailorMCA1ss7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMxJORhvIRP88_uGEMRFF4uggk09ZNOBNzUeF2zRZOHT8IYMT8rtUcIv8ZTqipro5FVOxY33M0dIYwdfTYm_k15TdV_wd3tkj2PKeX5y4FRwcF_fZHSwnrA3ZIYiVtI7qcTyps-l4ZX0e/s1600/SailorMCA1ss7.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Oh, but here's a change: one of the highlights of the episode, Mamoru's first appearance. Now I know some people said they hated Mamoru's clothes from the classic series, but is making him wear a tuxedo on his first appearance really the answer? Do you know how much dumber this will make Usagi look in the later episodes? "Gee, I wonder what that Tuxedo Mask guy's real identity is. Surely he's not the same as the one who wears a tuxedo all the time!"<br /><br />"Who wears a tuxedo in the afternoon? What a show off!"<br /><br />As before, Usagi gets kicked out of the house for scoring horribly on her test. Then Naru discovers that the lady running the jewelry store earlier that day is really a monster disguised as her mother, and is using the jewelry to drain energy from the customers.<br /><br />In Usagi's room, the cat returns and introduces herself as Luna. Luna then gives Usagi her transformation brooch. I was a little irritated that it looks totally different then it did in the original anime, but then I looked it up and realized that's how it looks in the manga.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140605223949/sailormoon/images/d/d4/Crystal_Brooch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140605223949/sailormoon/images/d/d4/Crystal_Brooch.png" height="320" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>And now the moment we've all been waiting for...<br /><br />MOON PRISM POWER, MAKE UP!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Jef7vKtttcDLtWFFtEtKRsu_VyOok4YEWfcx6CdVjqSNZNakq5Ba7KNAJQhxNp9GGJ6M4V2yLAcnjRKP6qxUFuFWphjMJEzRJ00hf6t0h13DQwT6feeXFYo54XKB0_mSRAVIcc5_RMVN/s1600/SailorMCA1ss8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Jef7vKtttcDLtWFFtEtKRsu_VyOok4YEWfcx6CdVjqSNZNakq5Ba7KNAJQhxNp9GGJ6M4V2yLAcnjRKP6qxUFuFWphjMJEzRJ00hf6t0h13DQwT6feeXFYo54XKB0_mSRAVIcc5_RMVN/s1600/SailorMCA1ss8.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div><br />I told you the CG would come back, didn't I?<br /><br />Usagi hears Naru in danger and rushes to her aid. (By the way, they didn't include my favorite scene from the original, which was when the monster lady turned her head all the way around to look at Sailor Moon. It was so creepy it was awesome.)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NS9SzeCjwHe6mtIdffRGFDo8s1cYCxzogMZFN3kQVO5W-STCww6vCseC8rS3or8MnlI6pYqES_j2YLS8m1XUPkwZDQ2rf_1Ri5f4K5Qyj1g_b3x13ju2pUUf-MtRKBh569cprf7YBtXH/s1600/SailorMCA1ss9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NS9SzeCjwHe6mtIdffRGFDo8s1cYCxzogMZFN3kQVO5W-STCww6vCseC8rS3or8MnlI6pYqES_j2YLS8m1XUPkwZDQ2rf_1Ri5f4K5Qyj1g_b3x13ju2pUUf-MtRKBh569cprf7YBtXH/s1600/SailorMCA1ss9.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />What would Sailor Moon be without her signature introduction speech?<br /><br />And her signature obnoxious crying. It's so irritating I can't help but love her for it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihL-hVRUv-4UULdOuxU5nd64KodRYuxfNHK65xpkaltJ-0nSUdcBAm61vtjKvCS-awWqT-ZV7kx2xdSuXJtex6eMyeJkRdQGexuWAMhQHLPYLeX91t9JlkO0hZfZU8o-RwylbCh9sJNLaF/s1600/SailorMCA1ss10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihL-hVRUv-4UULdOuxU5nd64KodRYuxfNHK65xpkaltJ-0nSUdcBAm61vtjKvCS-awWqT-ZV7kx2xdSuXJtex6eMyeJkRdQGexuWAMhQHLPYLeX91t9JlkO0hZfZU8o-RwylbCh9sJNLaF/s1600/SailorMCA1ss10.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Moon also uses her first attack here. This attack has actually gone through multiple names. In the original manga, it was "Moon Frisbee". In the original anime, it was "Moon Tiara Action". In the live-action series, it became "Moon Tiara Boomerang", and since then the manga and anime have both changed to use this name. I sometimes like to shout the attacks along with the characters, so I have a feeling for the next few episodes I'll be screaming "MOON TIARA AC-- dang it!"<br /><br />Thus Sailor Moon defeats her first monster and officially meets Tuxedo Mask. The episode ends with a look at a mysterious new character (spoiler alert: it's Mercury).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7n2gWrplW34J0ALv5QAplmO1-R3SJcxxjAoveN8ZIxzV1638lUjH0hjoULTLoLr7WyzYTpGFD0uyHMYQ08GtAYYXAILUG08q0-TsANDkZcqO2XDLuEXaA4bAqm04KOJx-WwFr8B_ggIX/s1600/SailorMCA1ss11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7n2gWrplW34J0ALv5QAplmO1-R3SJcxxjAoveN8ZIxzV1638lUjH0hjoULTLoLr7WyzYTpGFD0uyHMYQ08GtAYYXAILUG08q0-TsANDkZcqO2XDLuEXaA4bAqm04KOJx-WwFr8B_ggIX/s1600/SailorMCA1ss11.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />So there it is you guys, the long-awaited Sailor Moon re-boot.<br /><br />Was I disappointed? Heck no! Great animation, great music, and Mitsuishi Kotono still rules at voicing Usagi.<br /><br />Was I bored out of my mind watching this? ...maybe. Obviously you can't drastically change the first episode of Sailor Moon. It's practically iconic by itself. But to me, I just couldn't really get into it for most of it. Perhaps it was more entertaining for those haven't seen the first episode since the 90s, and are in this purely for the nostalgia. As for me, it was almost painful having to watch this twice so I could review it.<br /><br />I'm extremely excited, however, for Act 2. Crystal will only be twenty-six episodes long (about half the length of the original series), so it's clear they're introducing the team members much quicker. Thank goodness. It took so freaking long in the original that I never even got to the episodes with Jupiter back when I watched it.<br /><br />I hope you all enjoyed my first Sailor Moon review! Comment about what you thought of the episode, what you thought of my review, and what you expect for the next act! New episodes air every other week, so Act 2 will be <i>next</i> Saturday.<br /><br />I will do my best to review every episode, so follow my blog if you want to read more of my stupid, newbie, rant-ish comments on what is looking to be a great series so far!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-58704074348968116602014-07-03T20:58:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.788-08:00G.R.L. - "Ugly Heart" MVOn Tuesday, G.R.L. released their second music video, "Ugly Heart".<br /><br /><object height="360" width="640"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/BxRQNO8vg2Y?hl=en_US&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/BxRQNO8vg2Y?hl=en_US&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br />The song is okay. The chorus is catchy, but musically I feel like I've heard this song before. The vocals sound good as well, but for some reason I seriously doubt that they would sound that good live. I kind of like the lyrics; I do enjoy hearing a song where a girl realizes that the inside is more important than appearances, and acts on that knowledge, instead of the "Oh you're so bad for me but you're so hot I don't wanna leave you!" crap that I've heard too many times before. I like that it's a more playful breakup song as well.<br /><br />As for the video... bleh. The plot of the video basically features the girls getting arrested. For what? No one knows. And the setting has literally nothing to do with the song. My theory is that the producers thought having them be arrested would give them some sort of "cool" bad girl image. The worst part is the close-up shots at the bridge; I have a feeling most guys aren't watching the girl doing the close-up.<br /><br />So basically G.R.L. proves in this video that they bring nothing new to the industry. It's the same catchy yet at the same time boring pop that can be sung by any other female artist. They're only purpose here is to look sexy for their male fans.<br /><br />I don't know why I didn't expect this before, since they're created by Robin Antin, who's known for groups like this (think Pussycat Dolls, Girlicious, etc.). But I really wanted them to be consistently good, since "Vacation" is some of the catchiest crap I've ever heard, and their dancing looked really good and fun. But with "Ugly Heart", my expectations have dropped.<br /><br />Will I stop listening to them? No, not yet. Will I ever buy anything of theirs? Highly doubt it.<br /><br />I can't wait for Fifth Harmony to make their comeback and show these grls how it's done. #BO$$Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-64700015261423717782014-07-02T16:30:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.804-08:00KARA adds new member: Youngji<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kpopmagazin.de/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/babykarayoungji2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://www.kpopmagazin.de/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/babykarayoungji2.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a> </div>After Nicole and Jiyoung left KARA earlier this year, DSP launched the Kara Project. Seven trainees would compete, and two would be chosen by votes to become new members of KARA. Well, that two ended up becoming one, and the winner was declared to be <b>Heo Younji</b> (19), bringing KARA to a four-member line-up, similar to the one they had when they debuted.<br /><br />Honestly, I didn't actually follow this audition. I saw it when it began, but I just wasn't interested enough to keep up with it. So I can't say if maybe another member should have been chosen instead. (Though I loved Puretty so any of the three former members who auditioned would've been great for me.) After looking up videos of Youngji (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">do you know how many times I've almost called her Jiyoung by accident?</span>), I can say that she's a good singer, and a good dancer, and she has a face that would fit well with the group.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="360" width="480"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/i3sIjrmGbPM?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/i3sIjrmGbPM?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> </div><br />The thing about Youngji is, to me, she doesn't seem like she will ever stand out. The question is whether or not that's a good thing. On the one hand, this is a big change for KARA, who has had the same line-up for almost six years. If you add someone who has a totally different image, she would stick out too much and make it feel like it's not the same group that we've known all this time, possibly upsetting long-time KARA fans.<br /><br />On the other hand, if she blends too much with the rest of the group, then she won't be adding anything, leaving all of us wondering why they even bothered to add a new member.<br /><br />This is all speculation on my part; as I said, I didn't keep up with the audition, so I don't know as much about this girl as others do. As always, I will have to wait until she actually debuts with the group to make my final judgment.<br /><br />For now, I will just say congrats, Youngji. I hope you have success and that the Kamilia will truly accept you as part of the group.<br /><br />KARA will debut their new line-up in August in both Korea and Japan. <object height="360" width="640"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/Dka8DglHisM?hl=en_US&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/Dka8DglHisM?hl=en_US&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-48500382644629562562014-05-02T21:25:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.770-08:00Little Mix - "Salute" MV<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140417172654/littlemix/images/thumb/1/13/Salute.jpg/480px-Salute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140417172654/littlemix/images/thumb/1/13/Salute.jpg/480px-Salute.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>Little Mix has returned with a new video for their song "Salute", from their 2013 album of the same name.<br /><br />My <i>goodness</i> I love this! I'm honestly having the hardest time deciding which is better, this song or "Move".<br /><br />Let me talk about the song first before I get to the video. I haven't actually listened to the album <i>Salute</i> yet, so yesterday was my first time hearing this song. Everything about this song, in my opinion, is perfect. It's a metaphorical song about female empowerment, and one of the few pop songs these days that I can appreciate lyrically. Obviously this concept has been done before (my first thought was that it's like Beyoncé's "Run the World" meets AKB48's "RIVER"), but Little Mix, with their style and vocals, just do it better, and they make it feel fresh.<br /><br />I love the lyrics which speak about being proud of who you are ("<i>It's who we are, we don't need no camouflage</i>") and celebrating diversity ("<i>Get your killer heels, sneakers, pumps, or lace up your boots</i>"). The Little Mix army isn't just looking for one type of woman, they're just looking for women who can stand up for themselves, plain and simple.<br /><br /> <object height="360" width="640"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/Kjpa0SMOug0?hl=en_US&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/Kjpa0SMOug0?hl=en_US&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br />Now let's take a look at the video. Before I actually watched the video, I saw a couple of comments calling this video "raunchy" and "dirty". Of course I was preparing myself for the worst, expecting to be disappointed that they were going down the route that most girl groups go down, but when I finished the video, all I could think was "Did I watch the same video they did?" I mean, maybe those words apply in the literal sense that there's actually <i>dirt</i> in them, but sexually? I don't think so.<br /><br />Yeah, it was a bit sexy; there was plenty of leg shown, and there were a couple of slightly awkward shots. But as a whole, I think the image shown in this video was less trying to be sexy, and more about showing off their womanly bodies. Normally I hate when people say things like that, because I feel like they're just trying to justify the overt sexiness that girl groups so often have to exhibit, but in this case, in this context of this song, I think it's the truth. It's not about being sexy for the men, it's about being confident in your body as a woman.<br /><br />The one problem I <i>did</i> have with this video, however, was this particular scene:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Zxo2zW7LQQAzGoz5kCLGQCPW1jx7Uv4se3h7DmOXvkMgngTz8GUxEJvy6iFq7yTtnztnUQh7dN4HaifhktblkEiN1AwNDvwlXsscPMPKRaoazDyDifViuTO7WOIO4S1Tvzj0h5jO-RE4/s1600/Salutesc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Zxo2zW7LQQAzGoz5kCLGQCPW1jx7Uv4se3h7DmOXvkMgngTz8GUxEJvy6iFq7yTtnztnUQh7dN4HaifhktblkEiN1AwNDvwlXsscPMPKRaoazDyDifViuTO7WOIO4S1Tvzj0h5jO-RE4/s1600/Salutesc.jpg" height="119" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Um, she pretty much has those men on leashes.</div><br />While on the bright side, this made for some pretty cool choreography, the apparent symbolism in it irritates me. For me, things like this seem to spread the idea that for women to powerful, they have to be manipulative. That's not a positive message for girls at all. Thank God this scene only lasted for a few seconds, and it's really not worth an outrage or anything, but this is a review and to be fair I had to bring it up.<br /><br />The rest of the video is well done, though describing it is simple. Basically the girls show off their toughness and their beauty, dance with their army, and salute (duh). I love the aesthetics of this video. It's dark and it's grungy, but it's fabulous.<br /><br />Yet another A+ song and video from Little Mix. Now will someone please tell me why they're not famous in America yet?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-50726965441898075282014-05-02T17:27:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.781-08:00Kelsey Sowards leaves 1 Girl Nation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32Eq3OvyUwiSuDJGywwFjct-g2lh1YH1rPT06YRkjm0kSzUBisIUh7NHiU4DdVks4-qe1esXH94r_-CEbaxfikGjDAQIFEZUM0Qi6AqismZmnfNLkeX0jIHdPrKYrIpEcZ4Qcagm30TKR/s1600/1gn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32Eq3OvyUwiSuDJGywwFjct-g2lh1YH1rPT06YRkjm0kSzUBisIUh7NHiU4DdVks4-qe1esXH94r_-CEbaxfikGjDAQIFEZUM0Qi6AqismZmnfNLkeX0jIHdPrKYrIpEcZ4Qcagm30TKR/s1600/1gn.jpg" height="316" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Two days ago, it was announced that Kelsey Sowards has left 1 Girl Nation, a Christian pop girl group. On April 30, 1 Girl Nation posted the following message on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/1GirlNation">Facebook page</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Change is constant in our lives, but often times isn’t something planned or expected. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” It’s with this hope, that we share with you a change in 1 Girl Nation. As many of you know, Kelsey is getting married this June and she has decided to step away from the road and leave the group. We are all excited for Kelsey as she starts her new life with Caleb and wish her all the best moving ahead. We are equally as excited to announce that 1 Girl Nation will continue as a four member group with Lauryn Taylor, Carmen, Lindsey, and Kayli!</i></blockquote>Kelsey joined 1 Girl Nation back in 2012 when the group was formed. She was part of their self-titled debut album, released in 2013, and went on tour with the rest of the girls. On November 5, 2013, she became engaged to Caleb Grimm, member of the band Anthem Lights (formerly under the same label as 1GN).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70EmeoeqjpRGB9rlRNAmRpuwBa6LqKgIOcFwb7BQZPWiwLFHmVDP96fGEeJ7oPz4s5W4XFkMbbkHU6eSv7lob1MTBdcwi4U8a-mfWt-i_bNPrdf3Pgtb-jdU4YYjAYZ2udFItbI-200qv/s1600/1gnkelseycaleb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70EmeoeqjpRGB9rlRNAmRpuwBa6LqKgIOcFwb7BQZPWiwLFHmVDP96fGEeJ7oPz4s5W4XFkMbbkHU6eSv7lob1MTBdcwi4U8a-mfWt-i_bNPrdf3Pgtb-jdU4YYjAYZ2udFItbI-200qv/s1600/1gnkelseycaleb.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Kelsey announced on her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kelsey.sowards">Facebook page</a> that same day that her singing would not end here, but she would just have a new medium to share her musical talents:<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>#Team1GN, </i></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelsey here. Just wanted to let you know that I have made a decision to part ways with 1 Girl Nation. I had an absolutely wonderful 2 full years as a member and God did some incredible things in and through us over that time. As most of you know, I am getting married to Caleb Grimm in a just a couple months (Yay!) and am excited about the next chapter of our lives. I have now established my own voice studio here in Nashville and am teaching full time. I am passionate about teaching, instructing and coaching voice, so it's my desire to help others find THEIR passion for singing and using their gifts for Jesus too! However, my own passion for singing still remains, It will just look differently now. Please know how much I love you, each one and appreciate your support and encouragement! You all mean the WORLD to me. And remember, as the song says, you are treasured, perfect and beautiful in the eyes of the One who created YOU. </i></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i> All my love, Kelsey Taylor Sowards</i></blockquote>It's always sad to see someone leave a group, but it's much more encouraging too see that they are still continuing their career in a different form. I'm also glad that 1 Girl Nation is continuing, and that they're not trying to find someone to replace Kelsey. I look forward to their next album.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgebLE8z24PWkH3QKvsRitVKl6D2nNpGXYzd_yDTWHJem74ND7OtBrd7rgnOHSI00ayXgeMbz3oQXcjLGL8kfgouxnIY15k6WAiPyHT5hcDuEK-3r9JPM3E2TDrSklXyy2mu8CdX0MiQ2/s1600/1gnkelsey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgebLE8z24PWkH3QKvsRitVKl6D2nNpGXYzd_yDTWHJem74ND7OtBrd7rgnOHSI00ayXgeMbz3oQXcjLGL8kfgouxnIY15k6WAiPyHT5hcDuEK-3r9JPM3E2TDrSklXyy2mu8CdX0MiQ2/s1600/1gnkelsey.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Congratulations on getting married, Kelsey! I pray that you continue to live a blessed life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-19800537572236043022014-04-27T20:19:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.732-08:00New Sailor Moon character profilesThis is so exciting! It has been announced that the new Sailor Moon anime will premier July 5, and will air a new episode every other Saturday. In addition, character profiles are now on the official website. And they are fabulous. You can tell they've been updated a little but are still very true to the style from the original show. In fact, I'm not completely sure, but I think it may actually be a little more similar to the manga style? I'm interested to see how it will look animated.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGFh1-pnqrDslaJegV6DvTaMu3l9g2o8Pz4YQ0DU3CdkOUf07e2w6-FW5h7dknw6HeYn1FQjbtdxV2z8Z5KZGIrm_UGj7uA5SWFP8HFPIODjigu5wjASa63UkJASx5y2hWPzCKC-YoPzV/s1600/SailorMoonprofile.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGFh1-pnqrDslaJegV6DvTaMu3l9g2o8Pz4YQ0DU3CdkOUf07e2w6-FW5h7dknw6HeYn1FQjbtdxV2z8Z5KZGIrm_UGj7uA5SWFP8HFPIODjigu5wjASa63UkJASx5y2hWPzCKC-YoPzV/s1600/SailorMoonprofile.png" height="400" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Japanese voice cast has been confirmed, as well. Mitsuishi Kotono will be reprising her role as Sailor Moon. The rest of the cast of sailor soldiers includes Kanemoto Hisako, Sato Rina, Koshimizu Ami, and Ito Shizuka.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Please check out all the profiles on the <a href="http://sailormoon-official.com/animation/characters/moon.php">website</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have I mentioned I'm excited? I can finally start to call myself a Sailor Moon fan once this premiers! I won't be the weird magical girl fan-blogger who has never seen the most popular magical girl series ever. XD</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I just noticed from looking at the profiles that all their last names end with "no", with the first kanji representing their "power" (moon, water, fire, tree, love). You see how much of a newb I am?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Are there any other new fans like me who plan to watch this series? As for the older fans, what are your thoughts so far on the new info?</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-65531648590509668952014-04-12T18:55:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.807-08:00Magica Wars debut episode<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUwFYfLYhgUkhLkvn5EezX9nTc6pxyVLNDtPPnDwb16iwn6X0knGi9TsVfZjpoMmwP1tT5Lf25q2Y03o6VojhrA8IteRb_GJcgYfJyMNoCCP6xSxyJtL2Xl6YUdfudutmjvMyv4Q_Er_Y/s1600/MagicaWars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUwFYfLYhgUkhLkvn5EezX9nTc6pxyVLNDtPPnDwb16iwn6X0knGi9TsVfZjpoMmwP1tT5Lf25q2Y03o6VojhrA8IteRb_GJcgYfJyMNoCCP6xSxyJtL2Xl6YUdfudutmjvMyv4Q_Er_Y/s1600/MagicaWars.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></div>Somehow I forgot about this... on April 8, a new magical girl show debuted: <b><i>Magica Wars</i></b>, a.k.a., <b><i>Mahou Shoujo Taisen</i></b>. It's a short program, being only four minutes long; and that's including the opening theme, so it's really more like three minutes. The series is part of a media franchise which as of now also consists of three video games: <i>Magica Wars Lock-On</i>, <i>Magica Wars Tactics</i>, and <i>Magica Wars Zanbatsu</i>.<br /><br />This gag series centers around 47 different magical girls. Each character represents a certain prefecture of Japan, in both their style and their voice (each voice actress is from the same prefecture as her character). This is a 26-episode series so I'm not sure if we will get to see all the characters or not.<br /><br />This episode introduces just one magical girl, Aoba Naruko, as well what I assume is her mascot, Takesuzume, who basically looks like he came straight out of Angry Birds.<br /><br />As Naruko chases a group of little monsters called Magatsuhi, she jumps over an intersection while the crosswalk light is still red. After being scolded by a police officer, Takesuzume proceeds to yell at Naruko for slacking off on her mission.<br /><br />So despite being tired, Naruko gets up and continues chasing the monsters (and getting yelled at by her mascot), only succeeding in hitting one right before it attacks a little girl. As she goes after the remaining monsters, she once again has to cross the road and is told by the officer to wait. Naruko and Takesuzume argue about whether she should listen to him or not. Takesuzume, who apparently cannot be seen by ordinary humans (I think?), calls the officer a "blockhead", which Naruko repeats, and angers the officer. Long story short, Naruko gets arrested for looking suspicious, and the episode ends.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0wcu3-9FsbQcF8gauf7MaLA7DJpzJxGLm7frTSpeJqUfvRWDacV4LW_BaUh7_JLOB0SIl3sDGVXeDJMBdm2sUYrEAsZjDky6qribKEjdQDI5685HHnQuxLITaRZzjf_JsBFzc2genjb6/s1600/MW1.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0wcu3-9FsbQcF8gauf7MaLA7DJpzJxGLm7frTSpeJqUfvRWDacV4LW_BaUh7_JLOB0SIl3sDGVXeDJMBdm2sUYrEAsZjDky6qribKEjdQDI5685HHnQuxLITaRZzjf_JsBFzc2genjb6/s1600/MW1.tiff" height="173" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her weapon kinda reminds me of Dear Baby's rattle</td></tr></tbody></table><br />... if this is really supposed to be a gag series, I'm not finding the humor. Watching that annoying angry bird scream for the entire episode is not my idea of funny.<br /><br />The art in this is good; it's very cartoony, which I like, and I love Naruko's character design, particularly the ribbon crown thing on her head that resembles the flag of Miyagi.<br /><br />I like short gag series, I really do, but this show just isn't cutting it. They took a very, very basic plot that could be from any other MG series, tried to make it funny, and failed completely. The character designs are fabulous, but design alone cannot carry a series. Episode 2 airs next Tuesday, and I will be watching and <i>praying</i> that the next episode will be better than the first.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-85980991143234404552014-03-29T14:40:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.858-08:00Morning Musume '14 - "Toki wo Koe Sora wo Koe" (MV)Well it's been quite a fun week for my J-pop girl groups. Many new music videos have been released, one of which was the MV for Morning Musume's newest song. I was pleasantly surprised by this and have much to say about the song and video and more.<br /><br /><object height="360" width="640"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/wCPZTjqvN0Q?hl=en_US&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/wCPZTjqvN0Q?hl=en_US&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div>I absolutely adore the way this song was written. It's beautifully bittersweet, and the first time I heard it I felt like crying. The song, as I interpret it, is about a loved one who has passed away, or even a love that has just ended. It kind of reminds me of Selena Gomez's "Love Will Remember". Even when the love you have on earth is gone, somewhere deep down, beyond time and space, you still have that strong bond and a love that will never truly pass away. It's rather deep when you think about it, and it's something I don't normally see idols singing about; at least not in this way.</div><div><br /></div><div>But... (why does there always have to be a "but"?) Tsunku is really the only one who gets any credit for making this single amazing. First of all, the arrangement; that dang repeating broken chord drives me nuts. If you're going to use piano in your song, make it sound pretty and not all disjointed and... unoriginal like that. I did hear a little bit more piano going on at the beginning but it was hard to hear because of the STUPID LOOPING CHORDS!</div><div>(Okay so I'm the only person on earth who's enraged by that but for real... it annoys me.)</div><div>The entire arrangement to me is just too staccato and broken. It's like someone just took a bunch of sounds that they think sound cool and threw them all in a pot with no though about how they would flow together, and this is what we got.</div><div>Oh yeah but throw in some violin and people will say it's beautiful.</div><div>It is definitely possible to make a song that sounds pretty and sad but still using electronic elements. I'm going to use another Selena Gomez example here and say "Forget Forever", which did have a different tone from "Toki wo Koe..." but still managed to make me rather sad during the main instrumental part by using only electronically created sounds.</div><div>I mean I'm honestly no musical expert or anything so maybe I'm just crazy, but in my opinion the arrangement for this could have and should have been much better.</div><div><br /></div><div>The girls' voices could have also been a bit stronger, but they sound all right and I've ranted enough about this song already so I'll just leave it at that.</div><div><br /></div><div>Going back to positives, I also love that they're mixing it up a little more with Morning Musume's singles. I think when "Ai no Gundan" was released was when I realized that their sound was starting to get a little stale. Immediately after that, though, they put a little twist on it by releasing the happier, more idol-like song "Egao no Kimi wa Taiyou sa", still keeping the EDM elements but making it stand out from the rest of their singles. Even beyond just the style they experimented with a unique rhythm for the vocals which took some getting used to but ultimately was awesome. (Because H!P is obsessed with multiple A-side singles they also included two other songs which are good but forgettable and I don't even want to talk about them.)</div><div>With this single they're doing their first ballad in a while, and I think many people are responding well not only because of the music but because of the <i>variety</i>. In the golden era, I believe Morning Musume was famous partially because of their variety. Their fluctuating line-up was the most obvious example, but they also were able to experiment with different styles of songs while still keeping the same energetic image that made them popular.</div><div>I think the key to keeping Momusu relevant is to <i>grow</i> with their new sound, instead of letting it hold them back as if they feel they have to do the same type of single every time in order to keep sales up. From what I've seen so far this year, I believe they are taking steps in the right direction.</div><div>(Now if only we can get rid of the double A-sides, because "Password is 0" is boring.)</div><div><br /></div><div>The song is really the main focus for me, so I can't really say too much about the video. The outfits are pretty, and I like seeing the girls barefoot. The special effects are average. I did like the set for the dance shot, as it truly felt as though they were in space. To me, the whole setting and colors artistically reflected the beauty of the song, even if it was fairly simple.</div><div>The dance wasn't their best but it's not really a dance song so who really cares.</div><div>The first minute or so of the video did bother me at first because it seemed as if the girls were more focused on looking pretty instead of feeling the emotion of the song. But as the video went on I felt it a lot more from them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, the song and video give me mixed feelings, but the positive outweighs the negative. It's a beautiful song that can be interpreted in different ways, and I love that. Definitely worth purchasing for any Morning Musume fan.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-20286462362490498522014-03-19T19:42:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.736-08:00Things that have happened in the past two monthsYou know that new Juice=Juice song about how "I want to do lots of things but I don't have enough time"? Yeah that song perfectly describes my life.<br /><br />Now that I'm not sick, not lazy, AND not busy with school (most of this post was written on a Sunday), I think there are a few things that happened within the past couple of months that I need to catch up on. So here are my thoughts on news no one cares about anymore:<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">Country Musume Revival</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140211120738/helloproject/images/6/68/46474.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140211120738/helloproject/images/6/68/46474.png" height="155" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Probably my favorites "news" of the moment is the announcement of auditions for new Country Musume members. A fun fact about me is that I'm actually a really big fan of 90s Hello! Project. Seeing one of my favorite groups from that era is now being revived makes me incredibly happy!</div><div><br /></div><div>I only wish that Satoda Mai could still be a part of it, as she is one of my favorite H!P members, but her moving to the U.S. makes that impossible. However, I am definitely looking forward to seeing more fresh faces in Hello! Project.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope that they keep the line-up as being mostly members from Hokkaido, as that was part of their original concept. If that were a requirement, Inaba Manaka would be the only Kenshuusei eligible, leaving room for plenty of new members. Of course auditions are open to girls from all around Japan, so other Kenshuusei <i>could</i> join. But my dream line-up for this group is Inaba plus about three new girls. </div><div><br /></div><div>Though Inaba hasn't been in the trainee program for a full year yet, she does have some more experience under her belt as she was a member of the Hokkaido group PEACEFUL from 2011-2012. (<a href="http://youtu.be/jJrD0_zoxik">This group was fantastic by the way.</a>) Her voice is not the best, but her dancing is fantastic, and she has an adorable face. I, personally, think she'd be great for the group. But of course the exciting thing about these auditions is the thought of new members joining, and I'm super excited to see who will audition!</div><div><br /></div><div>Most of all I am glad that Up-Front has started taking an interest in remembering and even reviving its OG acts. First there was the amazing New Years concert with the Taiyou to Ciscomoon and Melon Kinenbi reunions and the return of Heike Michiyo, and now they're reviving one of H!P's oldest groups. I hope that through all this fans of today will be interested in 90s H!P, and that that era will never be forgotten.</div><div><br /></div><div>Shin Country Musume (Country Musume '14?), I will support you through everything! がんばれ!</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Morning Musume 12th Gen Auditions</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140315080740/helloproject/images/a/ad/55452.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140315080740/helloproject/images/a/ad/55452.png" height="151" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And speaking of auditions, Morning Musume is once again holding auditions for their 12th generation.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can't say I'm extremely excited about this. Last year's audition with no results was a huge bummer, and I've grown used to their current lineup; but if my hopes for a spring 2015 graduation for Sayumi come true, then I realize Morning Musume is going to need more members to keep both the talent and variety of their rotational lineup alive.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been cheering for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/3u10">Cuca</a> to make it into Momusu since the 11th generation auditions, and my cheering for her won't stop until she's either in the group or over 17. Aside from her, I don't have many people that I think should definitely be in Morning Musume. Danbara Ruru is an amazing singer, and for that I'm hoping and waiting for a solo debut for her. Some of my favorite Kenshuusei are Tanabe Nanami, Kaga Kaede, and Sasaki Rikako, and while I would love to see them all debut soon, I'm not sure if Morning Musume is the right fit for any of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think I'll just wait to pick my favorites from the finalists. Until then, I probably won't comment on the auditions at all. I'm far more interested in Country Musume and Kago Ai's group at the moment.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Sailor Moon Crystal</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140314235311/sailormoon/images/4/41/Crystal_Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140314235311/sailormoon/images/4/41/Crystal_Logo.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Toei is finally giving us some <a href="https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-03-13/2014-new-sailor-moon-crystal-anime-1st-image-story-intro-posted-online">info</a> about the Sailor Moon reboot, with a teaser image for "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal", a plot summary, and a July 2014 release.</div><div><br /></div><div>Admittedly I don't know much about Sailor Moon. I've seen about fifteen episodes of the English dub, six episodes of the Japanese version, and I own and have read the first volume of Codename: Sailor V. I know some of the basics of the characters but besides that, Sailor Moon is kind of a mystery to me.</div><div><br /></div><div>With the announcement a while ago of a reboot, I wasn't sure if it would continue the story or start over. If it was the latter, I didn't want to know the whole story and then have no suspense or surprises or anything while watching the new version. If it ended up being the former, I would have very little time to rush my way through five seasons of the show before the premier. Thank GOODNESS it seems to be the latter (Usagi is still in her second year of middle school and Queen Beryl is the villain), and I was wise enough to wait it out and not watch the original. Now I can be really excited for the premier and be able to watch the series just as the original fans did back in 1992.</div><div><br /></div><div>Moral of the story today, kids: the 90s actually weren't <i>that</i> bad.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">Nickelodeon "Cancels" Winx Club</h3></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140320022353/winx/images/4/40/WinxClub6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140320022353/winx/images/4/40/WinxClub6.jpg" height="173" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Many fans have erupted at Romi Dames' announcement that Nickelodeon has "cancelled" Winx Club; though it's really not a cancellation in the usual sense. Nickelodeon has simply decided not to renew their dubbing/co-producing deal after season 6 ends.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, many many MANY people still can't seem to get the story straight, so let me give you the whole thing very clearly in a nutshell: Season 6 will continue airing as planned. Rainbow has already started preparation on season 7. Season 7 will be produced, but will not be dubbed in English by Nickelodeon. This means, as of now, no English-speaking country will get the show after this season, but Italy and others will. At the moment no other company has announced plans to dub the series after season 6. We do not know what will happen in the future; all we know is that once season 6 ends, the Nickelodeon dub will be dead.</div><div><br /></div><div>Make sense now? Good, now show all your friends so people online will quit asking the same questions and potentially spreading misinformation. :P</div><div><br /></div><div>My thoughts on this are mixed. There are petitions on the net to "save Winx Club" but I've refrained from signing any because I'm not sure what I want. On one hand, I love the current cast; particularly Romi Dames as Musa. I knew from the moment she was casted and every moment after that she was absolutely perfect for Musa. Morgan Decker and Amy Gross were other favorites of mine. On the other hand, I hate the way Nickelodeon has managed the series, and I'm partly relieved that their reign has ended.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also really stumped on where to go from here. The series has already had three different English dubs and a fourth would just be overload. They could always go back to Cinélume but that likely wouldn't air in the States. And 4Kids Entertainment doesn't exist anymore (not that I'd want them back anyway, ew). </div><div><br /></div><div>So... what do we do now? Do we just accept that it has been a failure in the US compared to in Europe? That's a sad thing to have to say after ten years of effort...</div><div><br /></div><div>If I could make everything go my way, I would have all the cast from Nick move to another dubbing company and have the series air on Cartoon Network (the channel it aired on when I first found the series). No co-production deals this time; just straight dubbing from the Italian. But alas, my goal of keeping the whole cast I think is probably unrealistic. And I don't see any "move Winx Club to Cartoon Network!" petitions anywhere.</div><div><br /></div><div>All I can do right now, as a fan of what-used-to-be, is sit back and wait for something amazing <strike>(I guess....)</strike>. I think I'm ready to move on if this is really the end of Winx Club in my country. If I have to watch all the episodes in Italian with subs from now on, so be it; I've always wanted to do that anyway.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-65592892461376805922014-01-10T20:02:00.000-08:002015-02-18T17:03:04.811-08:00Fairies "Run With U" music video released<object height="360" width="640"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/by-CgEYZ2Zk?hl=en_US&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/by-CgEYZ2Zk?hl=en_US&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br />After only releasing one single in 2013, Fairies is back with a new single! I'm sure many Fairies fans besides me hope that they have a much better year in 2014, so let's look at how Fairies is starting the year!<br /><br />Fairies released the music video for their new song "Run With U" on their YouTube channel today. I'm having mixed feelings about this one. On my first watch, I thought it sounded very rough. For one, Momoka (basically the lead singer of the group) sounds very odd when she sings low. Secondly, the music does not have a very pleasant sound, and in the bridge it slightly overpowers the vocals. Finally, the dance in the chorus was unimpressive compared to the rest of the dance.<br /><br />However, upon my second listening, as always happens, it began to grow on me. I can appreciate the song for being a fun dance song with a strong melody in the chorus, and Momoka does find one good line near the end of the song. While the song isn't technically the best, I wouldn't mind listening to it every now and then as background music for my day.<br /><br />Though the music video is little more than a collection of dance shots, the girls show that they have fun with what they do, and I do enjoy the contrast between the vibrant highlighter-colored outfits and the beautiful black-and-white clothes they wear. The over-sized striped jackets aren't really my thing, though.<br /><br />I wish Fairies had had a much stronger start to their year, and to be honest I haven't been wow-ed by them since "Beat Generation". But still I hold onto hope that I will adore them just as much as I did when they made their debut.<br /><br />(If you like this song, please support Fairies and pre-order their single from <a href="http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=AVCD-16395">CDJapan</a>.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-85888497004672184772014-01-08T17:08:00.000-08:002015-02-18T17:03:04.854-08:00Berryz Koubou's new song "1 Oku 3 Senman Diet Oukoku" performance on Hello! Project Station #49With my new blog name, I'm also trying to produce a nice balance of news and opinions in my posts. I'm kind of just experimenting here so we'll see how this goes!<br /><br /><object height="360" width="640"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/k_gAQR6uLrc?hl=en_US&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/k_gAQR6uLrc?hl=en_US&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br />On today's episode of Hello! Project Station, many high-quality performances from the Hello! Project concert at Nakano Sun Plaza were featured. Each of the groups, including Hello Pro Kenshuusei, sang a song from their latest single, and we finally got a preview of Berryz Koubou's next single song: "1 Oku 3 Senman Diet Oukoku" (which is one of two A-sides).<br /><br />I really like this song. It's got that cool, almost-electronic-but-not-quite sound that I think fits them very well (see "Heroine ni Narou ka!" and "WANT!"). Tsunku has been having a lot of fun with these dance, electro songs lately, and I will bet you money that Okubo Kaoru arranged this one. Some people think it's repetitive, but I say if it works, the fans love it, and it's done well, then I love this kind of sound!<br /><br />The choreography is great, too; I especially love the part where they do the wave!<br /><br />I can't critique the song too much right now because we haven't heard the studio version yet, but so far I've got high expectations for this, and I'm very interested to hear how the vocals are mixed. Maybe we'll get a music video soon?<br /><br />Berryz Koubou's 10th anniversary of their debut is March 3 (my birthday!) this year, so I hope this single and their compilation album are successful!<br /><br />(If you like this song, please support Berryz and pre-order the single from <a href="http://www.yesasia.com/us/otona-nanoyo-1-oku-3-zenman-diet-oukoku-type-a-normal-edition-japan/1034791283-0-0-0-en/info.html">YesAsia</a>)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-42396227409536648652014-01-07T18:47:00.000-08:002015-02-18T17:03:04.762-08:00Finding the MagicFor a long time this blog has been basically nameless. At first I was fine with this, because the simple "Shayna" at the top pretty much described the theme of my blog. But now it's time for a change…<br /><br />I started this blog over a year ago as just a place for me to vent and share whatever I felt like talking about. I knew that no one really cared much about what I had to say most of the time, so I just said whatever was on my mind. And then the impossible happened: people started <i>reading</i> it. Oh, it wasn't a lot, and it's still not, but it was enough to make me realize that maybe this blog could be something more if I really put some effort into it.<br /><br />For the past several months I've been asking myself questions like, "What kind of blog do I want to run?" and "What do I want to achieve by blogging?" Because, while writing depending on my mood was fun for a while, I began to grow bored with the lack of theme. Despite all this soul-searching, I couldn't come up with a single name for my blog. Normally when I'm stuck, I can at least come up with something awkward and cheesy as a placeholder, but I had literally <i>nothing</i>.<br /><br />In my room, I have a very large collection of notebooks that I've acquired throughout the years, big and small. I use them for things like story- and song-writing, journaling, or just scribbling a quick to-do list. A couple of years ago, I was given a simple pink spiral notebook. Nothing particularly special about it, but this notebook became my new diary, and while I had tried to keep a journal before, I normal quit doing it regularly after about a month or even less sometimes. However, last fall, a very bad time for me emotionally, this diary became the only thing I had to talk to. I would be here all day if I told the whole story, but in short, this diary now means a <i>lot</i> to me. It is my most prized possession and I don't know what I would do if I ever lost it.<br /><br />On the front of that notebook are the words <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">"Find the magic in everything."</span></i><br /><br />One day, when I was just looking at it, I realized that's what it's all about. It may just be a silly phrase from a cheap notebook, but I think it describes me quite well. I want to look for the positive in everything and everyone. Not that I'm a <i>total</i> optimist, but I like to be happy, and I like to look at the big picture of things and see how magical it is that everything in life just fits together so perfectly.<br /><br />I think it describes my blog, too, in a way. I like to search through different groups and songs and find what I like and share what I like. Plus, since part of my blog is focused on magical girls, well… there's the magic right there!<br /><br />So today I am officially renaming my blog <i>Finding the Magic</i>. I think it's cute and girly and adventurous and almost everything I want my blog to be.<br /><br />Also, today I want to make it clear that my main focuses will <i>officially</i> be girl groups (from all countries) and magical girls (ditto). There's a lot I want to do with these concepts, and a lot of ideas that I have in mind, but I'm reminding myself to take it one step at a time for now. Today's step is the name, and a new layout.<br /><br />The URL will stay the same, because, well... I like it. It may move eventually, but for now you can always find me at himynameisshayna. ;)<br /><br />I love you all!<br /><br /><3 ShaynaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-91691707053740772962013-09-15T12:43:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.871-08:00Jurin - "Hotaru Matsuri no Hi" Single Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/8/8c/IBq9S90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/8/8c/IBq9S90.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I am on a roll with these single reviews! WOO!<br /><br />So today we're going to talk about SATOYAMA movement's newest unit, Jurin. This is a duo, similar to Peaberry, consisting of Sato Masaki (10th Gen Morning Musume member) and Miyamoto Karin (Kenshuusei/Juice=Juice member). Both members are very cute and I was hoping for something slow and sweet like Peaberry's music, and I got what I asked for! Yays!<br /><br />They released their first single, not as a CD single, but a DVD single only. So if you don't have a region-free DVD player or a program to make your computer play it, then tough luck. And that is exactly why I haven't bought this. :(<br /><br />So their first (DVD) single is called "Hotaru Matsuri no Hi", and it was released on September 4, 2013. The tracklist includes a music video for the song, a bonus version ("under the trees"), a karaoke version, and a making of video. Because I don't own this single, and I really don't care about the bonus features, I'll just be going over the song and music video.<br /><br />This song is <i>absolutely beautiful</i>. I was barely able to keep from crying when I first heard it. The lyrics, which are subbed on the video for your convenience (and sometimes annoyance), are really sweet and I like how they refer to a specific event in a way that makes you feel like you were there. The music is very simple and kind of country, which fits so well with the emotions of the song.<br /><br />Masaki and Karin's voices are very pretty, but I don't think they blend very well together. But in a way, the kind of whiny, childish vocals in the chorus add to the sweetness and innocence of the song; so I kind of like it. Of course, they sound their best when they're singing solo. Masaki's voice is super sweet and cute and I just love it! Karin, in my opinion, rules the song, though, and this kind of music fits her voice <i>so well</i>. Also they have a couple of harmonies in there which are really pretty, and even though I'm not a Karin fan I really think she sounds incredible.<br /><br />I love the SATOYAMA music videos because they are all set outdoors, and even though Japan might be more well known for their cities, I must say that they have some beautiful nature out there. The whole setting is just so sweet, and it makes me want to go camping in Japan someday. There are also some scenes with CG fireflies, which obviously don't actually look like fireflies; but it's still pretty.<br /><br />I really want this single and I really recommend buying it if you can play it. It's sweet, it's soft, it reminds me of the country where I live. Everything about it is really great.<br /><br />As always, tell me what you think in the comments! Au revoir! <br /><br /><object height="360" width="480"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/D_iaDluVRyw?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/D_iaDluVRyw?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-90192535262553803322013-09-14T19:13:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.861-08:00Juice=Juice - "Romance no Tochuu / Watashi ga Iu Mae ni Dakishimenakya ne (MEMORIAL EDIT) / Samidare Bijo ga Samidareru (MEMORIAL EDIT)" Single Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/a/a6/Zom3aum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/a/a6/Zom3aum.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Oh my gosh that single title is way too long.<br /><br />Earlier this year Hello! Project introduced their new Hello! Pro Kenshuusei indies group, Juice=Juice, featuring five trainees as well as one other member, Miyazaki Yuka. Now, seven months later and one member short, Juice=Juice is making their major debut with five members: Miyazaki Yuka (leader), Kanazawa Tomoko (sub-leader), Miyamoto Karin, Takagi Sayuki, and Uemura Akari.<br /><br />Their debut single is a triple A-side, titled "Romance no Tochuu / Watashi ga Iu Mae ni Dakishimenakya ne (MEMORIAL EDIT) / Samidare Bijo ga Samidareru (MEMORIAL EDIT)". The first song is brand new, while the latter two are remixes and re-recordings of Juice=Juice's first two indies singles. This single was released on September 11, 2013, and on it's first day sold 23,997 copies!<br /><br />The single's tracklist consists of the three A-side songs as well as instrumentals for all of them. The limited edition copies contain bonus DVDs with music videos, dance shots, and close-ups.<br /><br />Prepare yourself for Shayna's super spectacular track-by-track debut review!<br /><br /><h3>1. Romance no Tochuu</h3><div><a href="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/8/88/WHyZmTK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/8/88/WHyZmTK.jpg" width="200" /></a>This is a really really really great debut song! I think Tsunku has a solid concept in mind for this group's music and he is sticking to it very well.</div><div><br /></div><div>The song starts out with a slow and cool intro and then all of a sudden bursts into a fun, jazzy dance song. There are some really interesting rhythms in the background music, and the use of real instruments is probably appreciated by people who aren't crazy about H!P's recent move towards electronic music. Still, the instrumental does use plenty of electronic sounds, but they blend really well and aren't over-the-top.</div><div><br /></div><div>The melody and vocals in this song are really the best part. You cannot just hear this song and not want to sing to it. The harmonies are absolutely wonderful, especially the high one behind "Everybody clap your hands, everybody dance" (which is already the best line in the song). The low ones during "hajimaru ze" are a nice contrast, and when they combine both into the chorus, it's like magic.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/e/e9/ORSPx82.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/e/e9/ORSPx82.jpg" width="200" /></a>The song is led by Karin, Sayuki, and Tomoko, who really get almost all the lines. I have no problem with this, as all are really exceptional singers, and deliver this song with such power and passion. You should also hear them perform this live; it's amazing how flawless they are for being a rookie group.</div><div><br /></div><div>The dance isn't necessarily special, but I think it's very easy and memorable and just a blast to try dancing along to even if you don't know all the individual steps. The girls, especially Karin, look like they're having fun as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>The music video is nice. The set for the dance shot is fairly simple but also elegant. I also love the round chairs they sit in for some of the close-ups. I really like the variety of outfits, from the beautiful white dresses, to the cool houndstooth gear, and finally the sporty caps and sneakers. It all combines to make the video fun, but pretty. The girls all look beautiful by themselves, anyway; they all have very different looks, but that's what makes them so unique and cool.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is really a perfect song for a debut, and I actually wish it was a single A-side, but I suppose there's nothing I can do about that. Most people just refer to the single as "Romance no Tochuu" anyway because the rest is too long.<br /><br /></div><object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/rh8eeteWbHc?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/rh8eeteWbHc?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br /><h3>2. Watashi ga Iu Mae ni Dakishimenakya ne (MEMORIAL EDIT)</h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/5/58/YmSjJUk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/5/58/YmSjJUk.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This song, as previously mentioned, is a remix of Juice=Juice's first indies single. Therefore, my opinions will really only be on the remix itself, not the original song (as I <i>might</i> review that individually at a later time).</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank goodness there wasn't too much different done to the song. I was honestly a bit scared when I saw these songs would be re-edited; I mean, they just came out, why should we need a remix now? There was an additional part in the intro, which added a few cool moves to the dance, but then it goes right into the original song. There are a few tweaks to the instrumental, but it's nothing too radical, so fans of the original shouldn't have to worry. I also really love the changes they made to the dance break.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/4/41/Xb2RrGM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/4/41/Xb2RrGM.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Because of Otsuka Aina's departure from the group, some lines were re-arranged, and I think several (if not all, I can't really tell) lines had to be re-recorded. They still managed to pull it off and make it sound complete; nothing feels like it's missing.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was quite surprised that these remixes got music videos. They're pretty cheap music videos, but still music videos. The backgrounds are really, really basic. However, I did like the outfits, which had lots of floral patterns, and also brought back the members colors/fruits which were absent from "Romance no Tochuu". I didn't like the obviously fake tear drops, though; as soon as I saw them I hated them. Blah.</div><div><br /></div><object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/VEK4N5qatIk?hl=en_US&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/VEK4N5qatIk?hl=en_US&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br /><h3>3. Samidare Bijo ga Samidareru (MEMORIAL EDIT)</h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/7/72/VAHN3OR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/7/72/VAHN3OR.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Here we have the remix of Juice=Juice's second indies single!</div><div><br /></div><div>Like "Watashi ga Iu…", this one had a short intro before going back to the start of the original song. Also like "Watashi ga Iu…", this one had a few tweaks to the instrumental that didn't make it sound like a completely different song. I really enjoyed a few of the vocal effects (not autotune, I swear) and extra beats that were added to the remix. I found that most of the edits to this one improved it, making it less monotonous and giving it a much cooler sound.</div><div><br /></div><div>The music video for this song was pretty good. I thought the bright red gloves to their outfits were a nice touch. The silhouette trumpet players were a bit odd, though; I found them quite unnecessary. But the black backgrounds and spotlights looked really cool.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd say this is definitely my favorite of the two remixes, even though I find both of them pretty useless. It's still pretty fun to listen to them and "spot the differences".</div><div><br /></div><object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/SCPzO2c-lMI?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/SCPzO2c-lMI?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><div><br /></div><div>In summary, this is definitely a single worth buying, even though the memorial edits were totally useless. I would definitely recommend purchasing this, especially if you're into something a little different from many idol groups today. I predict that Juice=Juice will go far in the future!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-90759160045781245012013-08-31T10:21:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.866-08:00Morning Musume - "Wagamama Ki no Mama Ai no Joke / Ai no Gundan" Single Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130808013424/helloproject/images/thumb/7/71/Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo6_500.jpg/1000px-Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo6_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130808013424/helloproject/images/thumb/7/71/Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo6_500.jpg/1000px-Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo6_500.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Gosh I hate typing those stupidly long single names. Darn double A-sides.<br /><br />For some reason I'm actually not super thrilled about reviewing this single. I have no idea why, but I kinda felt it was my duty to review it since I have consistently reviewed at least part of Morning Musume's singles since "Wakuteka Take a chance".<br /><br />Let's talk real quick about how impressed I am with the success of this single. It was released August 28, and in just the first two days, it managed to sell a reported 105,414 copies. I absolutely cannot wait to see the week's sales. It's good to see that they're building their success back up with almost every single. Though of course double A-sides almost always sell more than normal singles, but whatever.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/e/e1/Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo7_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/e/e1/Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo7_500.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This is the group's first single without my favorite member Tanaka Reina. The group has proven with this single that they can carry on without her, even now that all the members, except the leader Michishige Sayumi, have only joined within the past two years. Also, this is the first single with Fukumura Mizuki (16) and Iikubo Haruna (18) as joint sub-leaders.<br /><br />The single was released in two regular editions and five limited editions, which means two A-sides and three B-sides. Limited Editions A - C also come with bonus DVDs.<br /><br />TRACK BY TRACK TIME!<br /><br /><h3>1. Wagamama Ki no Mama Ai no Joke</h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130808013608/helloproject/images/thumb/4/4d/Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo1_500.jpg/484px-Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130808013608/helloproject/images/thumb/4/4d/Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo1_500.jpg/484px-Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo1_500.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>So for this song I did something that I haven't done in a while with Morning Musume: I listened to the song for the first time and watched the music video at the same time. Something about hearing it on top of a brand new music video makes it that much cooler for me, so that may or may not have affected my opinion of this song.</div><div><br /></div><div>Put quite simply: I love it. The combination of electronic sounds with those drums. I absolutely love the way it came out. The vocals are also great, and the "Aisaretai" line was just... whoa. I would really love to say something intelligent here about how great it sounds but I'm just too in awe of it, really. Not only the power behind that line, but the echo and just... the sound of it. Argh, I can't describe it, but I love every second of it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, when the other members chant "aisaretai", and it's layered over those drums, it's just like the sound of heaven. Something about the chanting makes me feel the unity among those members. Like they're now a team cheering each other on through the song. That really fits, since they cheer right before Riho or Mizuki or Masaki does her big line.</div><div><br /></div><div>I never really realized it until a comment discussion I had with Chiima (of Okay! Musume Time) that the members really have great chemistry now. Back when the 9th Generation first joined, the chemistry was absolutely awful to me. It's like the group was split, and the new generation just seemed like the annoying little sisters. Now that they've almost all got the same amount of experience, there's really no superiority thing going on here. It's just ten awesome girls doing what they love and doing it as a team. Sure, some members end up hogging the spotlight more than others, but they really blend well like this. I completely love it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now for the music video of this song: OMG, it has a real setting! It may not be anything extravagant, but it's not like some boxed in fantasy world that only our idols live in. It's a real place, where they just have fun singing and dancing on stage. That panning thing they do with like three members at a time is so cool.</div><div><br /></div><div>My first reaction when watching this video was me just sitting there, mouth hanging open, and occasionally squealing "Oh my gosh, this is so cool!" It's likely the lighting that really did it for me. The darkness in the beginning set the mood of coolness for the song,</div><div><br /></div><div>The dance, while a little weird, is super energetic and cool. Of course Momusu has been known recently for their unique formations, and it really shows in this dance. The moves really go with the sound of the music, especially in the parts in the chorus where it's like a battle between the two halves of the group.</div><div><br /></div><div>Personally, as far as both song and video, this A-side is my favorite of the two. It's not perfect, nor my favorite ever, but I will never forget that first reaction. That feeling that I get when I realize that I'm a fan of one of the coolest girl groups in the world. That feeling I've been getting for every single since "Renai Hunter". It just makes me happy that the world has group like this. (Okay that was cheesy but whatever!)<br /><br /></div><object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/MhH_ucrPMZc?hl=en_US&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/MhH_ucrPMZc?hl=en_US&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br /><h3>2. Ai no Gundan</h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130808013638/helloproject/images/thumb/b/b8/Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo2_500.jpg/484px-Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo2_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130808013638/helloproject/images/thumb/b/b8/Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo2_500.jpg/484px-Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo2_500.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This song gave me less of an excited reaction than Wagamama Ki no Mama. I heard this one while watching the dance shot, and the song really didn't impress me that much. This single is really kind of parallel to my feelings toward "Brainstorming / Kimi Sae Ireba Nani mo Iranai". I fangirled and replayed Brainstorming over and over, but Kimi Sae kind of bored me when I first heard. But there is a difference here: I eventually grew to like Kimi Sae, even better than Brainstorming. But I'm still not that impressed with Ai no Gundan.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not a fan of the vocals. The only parts of it that sound good to me are "bonnou honnou" (especially by Sakura!) and that autotune bridge part before the last chorus. Those sounded really powerful and pretty to me, but something about the melody for the rest of the song just bores, and occasionally annoys, me.</div><div><br /></div><div>And that main sound in between singing. Gosh I suck at describing it, but it's almost like a saxophone-like sound. Gosh I hate the way it sounds sometimes. (Which makes no sense when I compare it to the sax because I adore saxophones).</div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, enough negativity, there are some things in this that I really do like, like the little Chinese sound in the background of the verses. And the "ao!" right before the chorus is so fun to do.</div><div><br /></div><div>What really redeems this song is the dance. If you haven't seen it yet, you have to watch the dance shot for the full experience. The formations with the "hand salute" theme look incredible. It really shows another way that this group is like a team. This dance only looks good when all the members are doing it, because that's when you get the full effect, and the way they layer their moves to create the great formations. I truly love it and wish I had some Jpop-loving friends who would learn it with me. I also love the four-member dance break in the bridge; those girls are so talented!</div><div><br /></div><div>The music video is good. It has some flaws and some beautiful points. Flaw: RETURN OF THE GLITTER! Why...? I have nothing else to say on that matter. But Riho and Sakura's beauty really makes up for it. Especially Sakura. I swear she looks exactly like a mini Ai-chan. And she sings like her, too! She wasn't impressing me much with her first two singles, but now she's really learning how to work the camera and she looks and sounds gorgeous. Speaking of working the camera: Riho. Rihoriho. She never. looks. bad. I dare you to find a shot in either of these music videos where she doesn't look her absolute best. Every angle. Every shot. How are you doing it, Riho? Tell me your secrets! I want to be as pretty as yoooouuuu!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>The outfits in the music video are much better than the ones in Wagamama Ki no Mama. The red and black army-like outfits on top of the checkerboard -- holy chiz I just realized that they look like checkers! Really chess would be a better fit when you think about it, cuz of the whole army thing. But still I totally love the outfits. I really want those skirts, and if I could wear a hat (darn this curly hair), I would steal them too. They look really pretty in white, too, and the glitter in that scene actually works, like a beautiful fantasy world.</div><div><br /></div><div>So in summary: not a fan of the song, love the dance, like the video.</div><div><br /></div><object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/sqkgQUF5wfU?hl=en_US&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/sqkgQUF5wfU?hl=en_US&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br /><h3>3-1. Bouya</h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/2/24/Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo4_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/2/24/Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo4_500.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This is one of the two split-group songs of the single. The featured members are Michishige Sayumi, Fukumura Mizuki, Iikubo Haruna, Kudo Haruka, and Sato Masaki. This song is only on the Regular Edition A and Limited Edition D.</div><div><br /></div><div>I like this song. The beat is nice and danceable, and it actually reminds me a bit of "Kanashiki Koi no Melody", one of my favorite Morning Musume's B-sides (from "Pyocopyoco Ultra"). I always enjoy video-game-like sounds in songs, and this song has a bit of that during the chorus.</div><div><br /></div><div>The vocals are decent. Sayu's voice definitely isn't the best here. Of course she's never been the strongest singer, but normally they can disguise that with autotune or a cute song, but here it's very clear that, despite being the leader, she's still one of the weakest vocalists. I do like the melody of the song in the chorus, up until that last line ("bouya"). It's so... short and anticlimactic.</div><div><br /></div><div>The song is nice, but it's missing something. I think it's actually doing better at showing the members' flaws instead of their talents. Still, it's easy and fun to listen to, so it wouldn't be a total waste of your time to play.</div><div><br /></div><h3>3-2. Funwari Koibito Ichinensei</h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/9/91/Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo5_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/9/91/Tumblr_mr38mvVYlB1qg4x1bo5_500.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This is the second split-group song. The featured members are Ishida Ayumi, Ikuta Erina, Sayashi Riho, Suzuki Kanon, and Oda Sakura. The song is only on Regular Edition B and Limited Edition E.</div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, first of all: that "Yeah! C'mon" stuff at the beginning of the song -- I swear I have heard it before, but I cannot remember what song it was in. Does anyone else know?</div><div><br /></div><div>So anyway, this song is kind of... boring. I really don't have that much to say about it. The vocals are very good, there are some parts of the music that I kind of like, and the rapping is cute. But the song is just so sleepy! So forgettable.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe I'm just used to these upbeat dance numbers by now, but I really don't like this song. Moving on to the next!</div><div><br /></div><div><h3>3-3. Makeru Ki Shinai Konya no Shoubu</h3></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/6/6e/46iWesO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/6/6e/46iWesO.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div>Finally, the group B-side! I really don't like split group B-sides. It's really not the same unless you have the whole group together, like I said -- acting as a team. This version is only on Limited Editions A - C, which of course are the versions with the DVD, so if you want this song (and don't use iTunes) then you'll have to pay extra for it. Boo.</div><div><br /></div><div>I knew from the first five seconds of listening to this song that it would be my favorite of the B-sides. The intro sounds remind me a bit of C-ute's "Adam to Eve no Dilemma". Then the vocals start out with <i>harmony</i>. The melody is great for most of the song, and there are some really pretty intervals in there. There's a bit too much autotune in it for my taste, but some members still sang really well. Whoever did the last lines of the first and last chorus sounded amazing.</div><div><br /></div><div>This song is a little slower than I expected, but I like it. It doesn't have to be super fast and all over the place to be a good song. Occasionally the vocals were a little whiny, but I really enjoyed the song as a whole.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Final thoughts on the single: This is not Morning Musume's best or most fun single they have released recently. I'm impressed with some songs, and I dislike others. I'm actually not that interested in buying it. But on a positive note, they are selling well, and even without Reina, they are doing very, very well, and I'm proud of them even if every single release isn't exactly perfect like I want it to be.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-38062607065764763922013-08-29T13:34:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.755-08:00Let's Talk about Winx Club's Season 6 TrailerThis blog needs more magical girls! So how about a little Winx Club?<br /><br />Those who know me probably know that Winx Club is one of my all-time favorite shows. When Season 5 came out, I was convinced it was going to be amazing. And even when some of the episodes were horribly written, I was in denial, convincing myself that the show would become better as the season went on. But the longer it went on, the worse it got. I finally came to realize this recently, and accepted the fact that maybe my show is not as perfect as I once thought it was. Maybe it's time for me to let go of it.<br /><br />But then, today, Winx Club Season 6's trailer came out, and I fangirled just as much as I ever have.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="360" width="480"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/S23HbTrq_W0?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/S23HbTrq_W0?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><br />So it's official, Winx Club will always be in my heart. As I always say, I've been a fan for eight years; I've come too far just to quit now!<br /><br />Now there's a lot in this trailer to talk about: some good, some bad, some... different. Even though we don't know a whole lot about the premise of the season, we can still get some good ideas just from watching the video (over and over and over again, as I did...).<br /><br />You can tell from the intro that this season will be fairy-tale-themed. I've said before that I've really been missing the fantasy element from the series that they took away when they went to Earth in the fourth season, and then focused too much on the underwater theme in the fifth season. So the emphasis on fairy tales here is a almost a sure sign that I will get what I've been waiting for: more fantasy, more world exploration, more monsters, and more of the Magic Dimension! What interests me is wondering whether they will use classic fairy tales or create their own fairy-tale-like world. I mean, if you think about it, Winx Club is pretty much a fairy tale of it's own. I actually hope they don't use classic fairy tales too much, because, quite honestly, it will just remind me too much of Ever After High. And I <i>know</i> people will start comparing them if they do.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/winx/images/8/85/Winx6T01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/winx/images/8/85/Winx6T01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now what do we have here? A new character! Looks like we're actually getting a female villain that's <i>not</i> the Trix. Well, okay, we did have Mandragora and the Ancestral Witches in the movies, but as far as the series goes this is are first main female antagonist since the Trix. Just from the look of this character, I already like her. She looks very devious, cruel, and manipulative. If you're a villain, those are some pretty awesome traits! She seems like a smart villain. She's able to use this book to bring "storybook monsters to life". I'm really hoping that they will give her an awesome backstory. Tritannus's motives were just so pathetic, so I'm really excited for this change!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>EDIT:</b> The character's name has been confirmed to be Selina. She is a new witch at Cloud Tower. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(credit goes to Michael's Winx Club and his scan of the Licensing Show flyer)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/winx/images/5/50/Winx6T02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/winx/images/5/50/Winx6T02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well I guess some things never change. The Trix are back. Again. You're kidding me, right? Why are the Winx still acting so scared of them? They've beat them *counts on fingers* <i>five freaking times</i>. The Trix obviously aren't even competent villains anymore. In fact, they haven't been since the first season. You know why? Because they keep acting as the minions to other villains! It may have been the 4Kids dub (I can't remember) but I seem to recall one of them, in Season 3, complaining about how they always team up with losers. And yet, they still do it. Will they ever learn? And I know this is a kids show, but you'd think after trying to destroy the world five times they'd finally take some real action: kill the stupid witches! If the Omega Dimension couldn't even hold them, why, oh why, are you still leaving them alive?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the bright side: they look wickedly fabulous in their new outfits. Just sayin'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/winx/images/8/83/Winx6T03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/winx/images/8/83/Winx6T03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Both the Specialists and the Winx are getting new uniforms this season. You've already seen a glimpse of Stella's, but we'll get to that in a minute. Right now, how about the Specialists? I like how it doesn't differ completely from their original uniform. They kept the blue, the cape, and the gem thing in the center. This one seems a bit more practical, though, as they've added some armor to the mix. I'm not completely crazy about the look right now, but maybe I'll like it more as I watch the actual season. The Specialists look just as handsome as ever, though. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm wondering who those guys in red are. My first thought was that they could be from some random, rival school, but then I found it ironic that the guys in blue are the ones that go to RED Fountain. XD Maybe they're from Eraklyon?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/winx/images/b/b3/Winx6T04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/winx/images/b/b3/Winx6T04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now here's the fun part: MONSTERS! I'm not sure why, but I've been really into fantasy monsters lately. Maybe it's because of my recent obsession with The Hobbit, maybe it's Monster High wearing off on me. Or maybe I've just missed the monsters from previous seasons and I never knew it. But knowing that monsters are going to be a large part of their fights is soooo exciting for me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/winx/images/thumb/1/1a/Winx6T05.jpg/640px-Winx6T05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/winx/images/thumb/1/1a/Winx6T05.jpg/640px-Winx6T05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh yeah, baby! New transformation time! These outfits are so fantasy-esque, and they remind me a lot of the original designs for the fairies before the series was released. Though the images in this trailer aren't super clear, I'm really loving what I see, <i>especially</i> the wings! My only complaint is that, from what I can see, the fairies' outfits look too similar, just like they were last season. C'mon Rainbow, where's the diversity?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/winx/images/c/c0/Winx6T06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/winx/images/c/c0/Winx6T06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now we get a close look at them school uniforms. At least, I think that's what they are. Unless the Winx have just become so close they've decided to coordinate all their outfits. If it's actually a uniform, shouldn't they... all look the same? Whatever it is, I am not a fan. The collars, the pink and grey together... people have compared it to Japanese anime, but to me it's more like something out of a Barbie movie. Not that I dislike Barbie movies, but I swear I've seen an outfit from there that looks just like those.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But I must admit, Tecna is always stylin', even in those crappy colors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/winx/images/9/9b/Winx6T07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/winx/images/9/9b/Winx6T07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And finally... this. Two questions: 1) Is that an alternate transformation?, and 2) 3D again? WHYYYYYY?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First off: we don't need two transformations. You tried that last season, and all it meant was that we got a very short time with each transformation (I miss Harmonix), and both ended up being very forgettable. If you guys do pull the same freaking trick again I swear I will scream.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Secondly: 3D. Just, ugh. It ruins the look of Winx Club for me. I dealt with it for one season, but not again, please. I just can't take it any more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So what did you think of the trailer? What are you excited about? What are you not looking forward to?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Feel free to leave a comment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Winx Club Season 6 premieres Sunday, September 29, at 1:00 P.M. EST on Nickelodeon.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205110581026518082.post-74301019555780392772013-08-02T13:18:00.000-07:002015-02-18T17:03:04.838-08:00StylipS - Prism Sympathy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/f/fe/Prismanime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/f/fe/Prismanime.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Well hello everyone! Are you glad to see me two days in a row? ;)<br /><br />Today I am reviewing the latest single by the totally cute and fun seiyuu group StylipS! The group features former Hello! Pro Kenshuusei member Noto Arisa (my favorite), so I'm putting the Hello! Project label on this post.<br /><br />StylipS' latest single is titled "Prism Sympathy", and it is the ending theme for the new anime <i>Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya</i>. I actually did watch the first episode of this anime, for the fact that it is magical girls and StylipS sings the ending song, but I dropped it because I know nothing of <i>Fate/stay night</i> nor do I have any desire to watch it.<br /><br />This is also the first single to feature StylipS' new members Toyota Moe and Ito Miku.<br /><br />The single consists of one A-side, two B-sides, and three instrumentals. I will only be covering the A-side and the first B-side, as the second is a re-recording of an older song of theirs. The Limited Edition of the single comes with a bonus DVD with a music video, dance video, two "making of" videos, and a CM.<br /><br /><h3>1. Prism Sympathy</h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/e/ef/Prismregular.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.wikia.com/helloproject/images/e/ef/Prismregular.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>Obviously the first track on this single is the title song, "Prism Sympathy". My first impression of this song when I heard it in the anime was that I wanted to sing along to it already, even though I didn't know the melody! The song has a nice strong beat in it that is fun to dance to. The song is simple anime pop, with a bit of guitar in the bridge, that doesn't necessarily bring much new to StylipS disocgraphy, but I'm okay with that. As long as StylipS stays fun and happy, it's all right!</div><div><br /></div><div>I have only seen the short version of the music video, but from what I've seen, it's very nice. I love the set, and the outfits are beautiful, especially the sparkly gloves. The new members blend in with the group very well. But of course Arisa is still the queen to me. My only complaint is Maho's hair. It just looks weird to me.</div><br /><object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/5cakqA0JEtU?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/5cakqA0JEtU?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br /><h3>2. Tsunagu Kizuna Tsutsumu Kodoku</h3><div>The main B-side of this single is amazing! I absolutely love this song! The song starts out with a beautiful piano; as a pianist, I always appreciate any bit of piano in the song. And to my delight, the piano didn't stop after the intro! It remained throughout the entire song, making the strong melody even more beautiful. The bridge of the song comes in and we get a guitar solo which reminds me of Buono!'s older songs.</div><div><br /></div><div>The vocals in the song really are great, I think. Sure, they're idols; their voices aren't the best. But they really delivered a lot of strength and emotion in the song that just made me love it even more. I would absolutely love to see StylipS perform this live someday. I really hope they will!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, that's all for this review! I hope you enjoyed it and I definitely recommend purchasing the single to support StylipS! Let me know what you think in the comments!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0