Sunday 25 March 2012

I love Vingt-Cinq!

One thing people tend to complain about as far as Hello! Project goes is presentation. Or in simpler terms, the fact that a lot of their releases tend to look a bit crap. However, one release that has, in my opinion, lovely presentation in Abe Natsumi's 2007 mini album '25 ~Vingt-Cinq~'.

Now, because I have too much time on my hands am desperately trying to avoid revision, I have scanned all the lovely Nacchi pics in the release. Sorry the scans are low quality. The scanner in my printer isn't exactly world class.

Front and back covers of booklet. I have the CD&DVD edition, the CD only one has a different cover.

This is what is behind the CD.

Back cover. Damn she's flawless.

Lovely girl next door Nacchi.




I swear those are the exact same curtain things as in the new Renai Hunter MV.
Nacchi+Strawberries=ultimate cuteness

That is one weird camera.
One for the foot fetishists among us.
If it's any bonus, the actual CD and DVD are rather pretty too.

 I love all the songs on this album and they are representative of that more mature style Nacchi had from here on. My personal favourites are the title track, '25 ~Vingt-Cinq~' and 'Kuchibiru de Tomete', to songs which work amazingly live with Nacchi's great live band. They can be watched here and here respectively.
Unfortunately, the DVD is a bit of a strange one. The two leading singles of the mini-album, 'Sweetholic' and 'Amasugita Kajitsu' are listed as being "live at Shibuya O-EAST". However, it seems to be sort of pretend live. I would say, "I wish they'd just put the PVs on the DVD" but both these songs PVs were rather underwhelming.

In conclusion, this is a great, well presented mini-album and a must have for any Nacchi fan. However there's not much need to bother with the limited edition with the DVD. Save yourself a few quid and just get the normal one. XD


The regular edition can be bought here:

Monday 12 March 2012

PV Round-up: Be Genki, Kimi wa Jitensha and Tasogare Kousaten

Today has been a busy week as far as Hello! Project music video's are concerned. 3 have been dropped and two of them feature guys! As most of you will probably know, this is pretty much unheard of.

So, first off is Berryz Koubou's 'Be Genki! Naseba Naru'.


When I first saw these outfits I wasn't really 100% in favour of them. Now, however, Miyabi and Risako have completely sold them to me. This single is basically a huge Miyabi/Risako fest and so it helps if you like the two of them (like me!). While I didn't really like Miya's hair in the Buono! single, she is totally working it here and has a lot more "spark" than usual. In other observations, Yurina and Risako both look very like younger versions of themselves. In Risako's case it is the forehead. Yurina, I'm not so sure. One thing that annoys me is that everything is going great and then all of a sudden the girls are running around in a circle holding on to each other's capes. What the heck people? Seeing the PV I now love the dance. There is something incredibly 'Berryz' about it. The shot of the girls walking like some sort of superhero gang is also pretty cool. Overall, a great start to the year for Berryz Koubou.

Second in line is C-ute's 'Kimi wa Jitensha, Watashi wa Densha de Kitaku'.

Due to what is probably either the video being to new for Blogger to locate, or possibly just my own stupidity, you will have to follow this link in the meantime.

For some reason I feel the need to clarify that I have never had any issue with these costumes. In my puny mind the are just perfect. I shall just start off by saying that I love this song to death. By the time the single actually comes out I will have massively overplayed it. It almost makes me want more ballad singles (almost, not quite). Personally, the realization that C-ute (as a group) now have the best vocals in H!P was a strange one. This is a very Airi centered single and as talented as she is I found myself waiting impatiently for Maimi (this may just be crazed fandom getting the better of me). Although some may argue that the lighting makes the girls a bit washed out, I love it. The softness is perfect for the song and is also very flattering. As usual, Nakky ponytail is an epic win. C-ute's best single since 'Kiss me Aishiteru'.

To finish today's PV extravaganza, here is Manoeri's Tasogare Kousaten.


Another great single from Mano Erina, Yay! With 'My Days for You' and 'Doki Doki Baby/Tasogare Kousaten' it seems like Mano has finally found her niche. Also, she is back behind the piano in this video! It feels like it's been a while since we last saw her tinkle the ivories.  While Mano's vocals may not be technically brilliant I myself rather like her voice. It's very sweet. Her hair is somehow Nacchi-esque. That's got to be a good thing. (Though slightly odd for someone who looks like the child of Goto and Sayumin). Being a PV with a story it helps that Manoeri is not a half bad actress. A great start of 2012 for Hello! Project's one and only soloist.

Tuesday 6 March 2012

"Fans" can be mighty stupid sometimes . . .

As probably anyone in the fandom, in close contact with the fandom or breathing the same air as the fandom probably already knows, there has been a incident involving some rather rude T-ara "fans" (I use the term lightly).

For those who haven't seen the story, here, here.

As anybody who has read comments on any k-pop youtube video (and a fair few j-pop ones) will know, k-pop fans can be, well, slightly mental. Can I just clarify now that this does not refer to all k-pop fans and to those of you with common sense and some form of sanity, I feel genuinely sorry for you. It is hard to have the reputation of a fan community dragged down because of a few incompetent individuals.

One thing that struck me about the whole Berryz/T-ara incident (apart from the bit about people hating on two of the cutest girls on the planet of course) is that I can't see what these so-called fans thought they would get out of abusing a couple of innocent girls. They did nothing but bring a bad name on the fandom and despite what Joan Jett may say, people do give a damn about a bad reputation. I am less tempted into the fandom because of these kind of fans. People completely blinded by their k-pop love who never think about what they are doing to the reputation of the girls they claim to love so dearly, not to mention using death threats against people who have never done anything wrong.

I sincerely wish that fans of Hello! Project have more common sense than this vocal minority of T-ara fans. I really feel ashamed when I see people who claim to be H!P fans hating on any of the girls and then using "it's okay because I'm a fan" ticket out. I remember things like this disgusting me when I was just discovering the group (still do). To see these people say such horrible things about other groups is something I hope I never have to witness.

Berryz Koubou (and their new single's covers) are great and no-one should say otherwise!