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!
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. :(
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.
This song is absolutely beautiful. 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.
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 so well. 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.
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.
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.
As always, tell me what you think in the comments! Au revoir!
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.
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!
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.
Prepare yourself for Shayna's super spectacular track-by-track debut review!
1. Romance no Tochuu
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2. Watashi ga Iu Mae ni Dakishimenakya ne (MEMORIAL EDIT)
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 might review that individually at a later time).
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.
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.
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.
3. Samidare Bijo ga Samidareru (MEMORIAL EDIT)
Here we have the remix of Juice=Juice's second indies single!
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.
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.
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".
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!
Gosh I hate typing those stupidly long single names. Darn double A-sides.
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".
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.
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.
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.
TRACK BY TRACK TIME!
1. Wagamama Ki no Mama Ai no Joke
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,
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.
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!)
2. Ai no Gundan
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.
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.
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).
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.
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!
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!!!
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.
So in summary: not a fan of the song, love the dance, like the video.
3-1. Bouya
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.
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.
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.
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.
3-2. Funwari Koibito Ichinensei
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.
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?
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.
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!
3-3. Makeru Ki Shinai Konya no Shoubu
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.
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 harmony. 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.
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.
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.
This blog needs more magical girls! So how about a little Winx Club?
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.
But then, today, Winx Club Season 6's trailer came out, and I fangirled just as much as I ever have.
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!
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...).
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 know people will start comparing them if they do.
Now what do we have here? A new character! Looks like we're actually getting a female villain that's not 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!
EDIT: The character's name has been confirmed to be Selina. She is a new witch at Cloud Tower. (credit goes to Michael's Winx Club and his scan of the Licensing Show flyer)
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* five freaking times. 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?
On the bright side: they look wickedly fabulous in their new outfits. Just sayin'.
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. :)
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?
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!
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, especially 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?
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.
But I must admit, Tecna is always stylin', even in those crappy colors.
And finally... this. Two questions: 1) Is that an alternate transformation?, and 2) 3D again? WHYYYYYY?
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.
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.
So what did you think of the trailer? What are you excited about? What are you not looking forward to?
Feel free to leave a comment.
Winx Club Season 6 premieres Sunday, September 29, at 1:00 P.M. EST on Nickelodeon.
Well hello everyone! Are you glad to see me two days in a row? ;)
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.
StylipS' latest single is titled "Prism Sympathy", and it is the ending theme for the new anime Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya. 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 Fate/stay night nor do I have any desire to watch it.
This is also the first single to feature StylipS' new members Toyota Moe and Ito Miku.
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.
1. Prism Sympathy
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!
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.
2. Tsunagu Kizuna Tsutsumu Kodoku
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.
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!
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!
Gosh darn it, I didn't write anything all July. I've been writing several drafts (got halfway through an entire album review) but I haven't gotten to finish anything.
I really need to stay on top of this so I can stop starting every post with an apology.
SO ANYWAY! For a while, since January or February, I had pretty much lost all interest in Kpop. I'm starting to get back into it, but it's coming veeerrryyyy slowwwlly. Because, let's face it, the quality of Kpop just isn't what it was in, say, 2011. (That's how I see it anyway.
So to help myself get back into it more quickly, I figured it wouldn't hurt to do a little Kpop review!
...and of course I pick T-ara, one of my least favorite girl groups.
Smart move, Shayna.
Okay, I'll try to be serious for just a few seconds here. The latest digital single by T-ara with Davichi (or Davichi with T-ara if you go by the cover, oddly) is titled "Bikini", and it features Skull. Who is Skull, you ask? I have no idea, I was hoping you would know.
The song is very sweet, relaxing, and summery. While T-ara's vocals are mostly their usual sweet, kinda cutesy voices, Davichi pretty much owns the song with their powerful and simply gorgeous, mature voices. And of course, there's Skull, who has a very raspy voice. It's nice in the fact that it reminds of an island beach, but annoying because it makes my throat hurt just listening to it.
While the song is really nothing spectacular, it's nice. It's also pretty interesting because it sounds nothing like T-ara's previous work. I'm pretty good at naming Kpop bands just by listening, but if someone played this for me I would never have guessed it was T-ara. I can't exactly say why, but something about it is different.
The video is nice as well; I mean, you can't really go wrong with a beach video. It makes me want to go back to the beach again before summer is over. The stars of the video are apparently not T-ara (I honestly didn't even notice, as I know little about the group besides their popular songs), but to me that doesn't matter. Who says only T-ara can have fun? ;)
So, yeah. Honestly this was just a post to get me back into the habit of writing more, but this single didn't really impress me that much. It's nice, but not really worth listening to more than two or three times. And for a T-ara / Davichi collab, it's definitely no "We Were in Love" (awesome song if you haven't heard it).
But it's just a digital single so I can't say I expected too much. *shrugs*
I'm still writing about what I love, no matter how old the song is. This single is a little over a month old, which is pretty long in terms of blogging. Do I care? Heck no!
So today we're going to talk about my second favorite Japanese idol group (after Buono!, of course), Morning Musume. Regardless of whether or not you like their new style or members, you have to have respect for this group. They've been around for almost sixteen years, have released fifty-three singles (thirteen of which were #1 on the Oricon charts), have had a nice rotation of members, and despite their later dip in popularity have now risen back up to be one of Japan's favorite idol groups. Not to mention how many tours they've had. I would really love it if Morning Musume would just be around for the rest of my life. They'd be the oldest band ever! How cool would that be?
Anyway, today I'm talking about their most recent single, "Brainstorming/Kimi Sae Ireba Nani mo Iranai". It's Tanaka Reina's graduation single (my favorite Momusu member of all time; I miss you already!), and it is awesome! It keeps with the electronic dance pop that they've been doing since "Renai Hunter", but every single they release seems to change it up just a little bit in the details, which to me is very noticeable and makes every single special.
This single contains six total songs: three by the full group, one by Tanaka Reina, one by the five oldest members of the group, and one by the five youngest members. And every song is special in it's own way.
Let's start with the first title track, "Brainstorming."
I first heard this song when the "Loose Shot Ver." was released on YouTube back in February, and I was in awe at how cool it was! The mechanical sound effects combined with the electronic music, with simple but totally cool vocals just made me like it. It's actually pretty hard to explain, but listening to it just gives me this feeling. And hello, is that Iikubo Haruna actually getting a real solo line? Heck yes!!!
The background in the dance shot makes it cool, too. The stage is huge and allows the members to spread out into their unique formations that they've been known for recently. And of course the best thing is the arm wave move in the dance that looks like brainwaves. How cool is that?
The full video didn't really add much to the dance shot, so I was quite disappointed with it. But the addition of subtitles made up for it just a little bit (though I wish they had just used the captions feature!).
Next up is the second A-side, "Kimi Sae Ireba Nani mo Iranai"!
When I first heard this song, I honestly wasn't that impressed. I thought it couldn't possibly compare to "Brainstorming". But next thing I know, this is actually my favorite between the two!
The vocals are much stronger in this one, with an actual melody that really helps you to feel what they're singing about, even if it's not much more than your typical teenage love song. The music is also incredibly fun, and after watching the dance, you will most definitely want to be one of those two thousand people on the dance floor.
Like "Brainstorming", the dance shot for this came out first. It was obviously much cheaper due to the background simply being curtains. However, because I knew it was cheap, I actually expected less from the full music video than I did for "Brainstorming", and therefore I was not as disappointed. So in a way, I actually like this music video better because it was exactly what I expected. (Well, maybe not exactly; they did cut out the close-up shots.)
The best thing about the video though is their outfits! I wasn't sure what I thought about them at first, but I've grown to like the flapper dress with the cool hair accessories and gloves. Reina looks the best of all of them. They only thing that bothers me is Haruka wearing a cap. It just doesn't fit the dress at all. But Reina's and Riho's bows are sooo cute!
So while the dance isn't really anything special, it's so much fun to dance along to while singing at the top of your lungs. Seriously, if you haven't done this yet, I think something is wrong with you.
Now we have Tanaka Reina's graduation song, "Rock no Teigi".
The name of this song means "the definition of rock," and I'm honestly not sure why it is named that because I barely hear any rock in this song at all. At the same time, I think this might have been the goal: combine Reina's idol history with just a touch of rock and let her jump into her new career as the lead singer of LoVendoR, but still have one last pop song. At least, that's how I interpret it.
The song can be very interesting if you pay close attention. The melody does a great job of showing off her vocal ability and range. I love hearing just a little bit of her lower voice, while also hearing her flawlessly hit the high notes. She seems to have put all her focus into this song and delivered what I think is a very nice performance. (Then again, I could be biased.)
I've only seen the full video once, so I can't say much about it, but all that is officially uploaded is her close-up shot. Still, I don't mind this, since I get to see her lovely face for her last music video. Visually, it's not her best performance, as I think she has a tendency to lose focus in her close-ups. But I love seeing her look pretty in pink, wearing a leopard-print bow, and just being a pop idol for one last time.
Oh my gosh, guys, I think I'm about to cry now…
So it's no "Egao ni Namida", but it's still a nice graduation song. Congrats, Reina!
Now for the group B-side, "A B C D E-cha E-cha Shitai".
I can't read that title without singing it. This song is definitely the catchiest on the single. It's a little messy, with sounds and autotune going in all different directions, and not the best vocal performance from the members. Still, with the easy to pick up lyrics, and totally danceable music, it was not long until I started to love it. Next thing I know I'm singing the "uh-oh" parts (the best part to me), "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 *kiss*", and "L-O-V-E, love love love me do." I have a feeling this would be a blast to see in concert!
Also, the line distribution on this song is crazy. I have no idea who the lead vocals even are. But this just makes it more fun because everyone gets to participate and have fun. It's like one big party with all the Momusu girls! Yay!
This is my favorite song on the single, "Tokimeku Tokimeke".
The song features the five oldest members of Morning Musume: Sayumi, Haruna, Ayumi, Mizuki, and Erina.
There's something about this song that I just love. The vocals are just so cute yet are sung with feeling, too. There's nothing fake about it.
And of course, it has so much energy! Even now, as I'm listening to it and typing this, I can't stop dancing!
Man, it bothers me that even though this is my favorite song, I don't have much to say about it. I guess that just shows how I feel about songs. I hardly ever think, I just know when they're good when I feel it. Wow, that sounds really stupid.
Anyway, listen to it and maybe you'll see what I mean.
And finally we're at the end of this thing with "Itsumo to Onnaji Seifuku de".
This song is by the youngest members of Morning Musume: Haruka, Masaki, Sakura, Kanon, and Riho.
I suppose this is the song for those who aren't into the electronic sound, because this is as good as it's gonna get. Still, I can't recommend it because to me it's just a bit sleepy. I expected a more youthful, happy song, but instead it's just like a boring album filler song. Still, I love Masaki's cute voice and it definitely shines in this song.
I think there's a reason why this song was last, because to me it's the worst. I suppose there's nothing wrong with it, I just expected more. Where's the energy? Where's the fun? It's cute yes, but not what I expected.
I feel almost bad giving a negative review of this song, since the rest was praised so highly. I still encourage you to listen to it and form your own opinion on it.
Overall, it's a nice, well-rounded single that I really recommend buying, though you will have to buy several different versions if you want all the songs. Remember that it's on iTunes if you just want to buy the songs cheap.
And please tell me you enjoyed this review or found it helpful because it took me forever to write. :P
I have so many things I want to say about their new music video that the thoughts are all getting jumbled inside my brain and I can't do anything but scream!
RAINBOW IS BAAAAAAAAAAACK!
It's been almost two years since they've been in Korea, people! TWO FREAKING YEARS! I'm not even a huge fan of this group but this comeback makes me so happy!
"Tell Me Tell Me" is probably Rainbow's most colorful video since "Gossip Girl". It's fun; it's girly; it's something that Rainbow hasn't released in a while, but it's adorable and very catchy.
Of course the song is not perfect; the instrumental almost sounds like it was made in Garage Band, and the melody doesn't show off their vocals as well as their past singles. But something about this song makes you want to dance around the room and sing along. Also, Jisook's voice at about 2:23 is just amazing to me. She has a unique quality, and I think just from that one line she may become my favorite Rainbow member.
The video is nice as well; the backgrounds are really cute and the girls look beautiful, especially since a lot of them have new hair styles! I think my favorite outfit is the blue jeans with the white tops, because I love the fabric on the shirts! And they have cute rainbow necklaces and shoes with their member colors. The sneakers with the tied jackets reminded me a little too much of a certain recent video by another girl group... not saying any names, but you know who I'm talking about. Still, they do it in a more cute and innocent way, not straying from their concept.
Overall I'm very happy with Rainbow's comeback, and I'm so glad it wasn't as forgettable as "Sweet Dream". Sure, it's not the most unique, and I know a lot of people have something against anything cute, but I love it. I could not be any happier right now!
Now I just have to wait for 2PM's comeback...
(P.S., I might review Rainbow's album... Stay tuned!)
I'm trying out another new artist today! Actually, I like these short reviews a little better than the long ones. I'd rather share more songs than share more of my own opinion. That's the reason why I started blogging -- to share what I love with other people!
So today I listened to a group called Idol College. Oh how I loathe group names with the word "idol" in them. It's so unoriginal. Apparently the group started out under the name B.L.T. Idol College (now I want a sandwich...), but they switched out all their members and became simply Idol College. Shoujo Sotsugyou / YOZORA is their second single since the group change.
The first track on the single is "Shoujo Sotsugyou". I love this song so much! It's incredibly catchy and fun, and I'm pretty sure you can never go wrong with a little electric guitar. The echo effect when they sing the title words is so cool and infectious! I definitely wouldn't say it's anything to make them stand out above other idol groups, but it's still a very strong single, and the girls are really cute.
There's not much to the video except a few short scenes and an adorable dance shot, but I really recommend watching it if you want a happy, catchy song to listen to.
The second song is YOZORA. Do I have to review this? I have no idea why this is even an A-side. It's such a boring song. It's like there's no climax; the song is always at the same spot, it's almost monotone. It's like a boring anime theme. Actually, now that I think about it, it probably would fit an anime well. But as a regular single, it's just not up to par.
The name of the song means "night sky", so of course we get a rooftop dance shot. It's weird though because it keeps alternating between sunset and pure night. And the dancing is just so awkward. The video also has random drama scenes that I can't seem to understand (I've never been good with drama scenes anyway; I always have to get someone to tell me what's happening).
So in summary, let's just say… this was the first of the two videos that I saw, and it almost made me never want to watch another Idol College video again. I know it's harsh, and like I say with all other songs I dislike, maybe it'll grow on me. But unless it appears in an anime, I'm really not interested.
To be honest, I think I actually would've liked it if it had been a B-side.
C-ute has officially released the music video for their new single "Kono Machi"! And I'm finally back from being ill and having loads of school to do! You know what that means? It's review time!
After Kimi wa Jitensha's huge success last year, it seems that they have decided to see if releasing a ballad will work a second time. I have no idea how well this will sell, but at least it's a decent song choice (originally by Moritaka Chisato). In fact, as I'm writing this I'm singing the song in my head. It's such a lovely melody that I can't help but to love it!
Now let's get to the music video, shall we?
This music video is very simple. It starts out with close-ups, which are actually really close-up! I somewhat have a hatred for those types of close-ups, where all you can see is their face. However, since C-ute is basically the prettiest group in Hello! Project, I think it's okay. :)
Airi's earrings are adorable; I want them!
A few shots of the town are shown, and soon the members are singing in front of them. It's pretty cheap (why couldn't they film on location like they did in Kimi wa Jitensha?), but I actually love the tiled effect on the image; at least it's unique! Each member has a different part of town that they sing in front of (and fake like their walking through).
That must be the train they catch to get home! *chuckles*
This was totally just an excuse to add another Airi picture.
Beautiful use of split screen here!
Besides these scenes, the only thing left in the video is a scene of them in the grey room sitting on boxes. I appreciate this scene because of the fact that a similar scene was taken out of a certain music video... Wakuteka Take a chance
How are you all so pretty???
Because this is yet another ballad, it's hard for me to do anything but compare it to the one from last year. I normally don't like to compare things, but it's impossible not to in this case.
I like the song much better. In fact, I didn't even like Kimi wa Jitensha when it first came out. I thought it was much too overdramatic and it just didn't fit my taste. This song, however, is more sentimental and lovely. It's easier to listen to and sing or just hum along with. The use of monologues was cute as well. Even though it's not their most spectacular single yet, it left a good impression from the moment I first heard it.
I love the outfits for the video as well. Last year's singles had rather boring costumes, but these are just so cute! The necklaces are beautiful, the skirts are adorable, and the shape is very flattering on all of them, especially Mai! Their hair is done simply but beautifully, and I really don't have any complaints for the entire ensemble.
So there you have it: a simple video for a simple song. Is it enough? I think so, and I'm glad it differs from their last ballad, but maybe to some it is too boring. Be sure to watch the video and let me know what you think!
I'm sorry I'm a little late, but I hope everyone has a great 2013! My personal goal is to not waste as much time. I want to make my year worthwhile. Do you have any goals or resolutions this year?
This is a rather short post but I just wanted to update you all. I have been very sick for the past week, and while I probably could blog more, I just really don't feel like it. Whenever I'm sick, using my brain just makes it worse. I really wanted to review Girls' Generation's "I Got a Boy", too. :( Well, I guess I don't really need to, because I can just sum up my opinion in two words: it sucks.
Anyway, I probably won't blog again until I'm fully recovered. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience!
Let's hope 2013 brings us lots of good music and other fun things, okay?
