Tanaka Reina Graduates From Morning Musume

So, after the Higher maths exam from hell, I have finally sat down to write this post. And to be honest I don't really know where to start. The relationship between myself and 'Reina the Idol' has never been simple. When I became a fan of Morning Musume back in 2009, the platinum girls were still in full swing and the AiReina duo were at the forefront the whole time. These days, the 'platinum era' line-up are remembered for their performance skills and don't seem to get half as much stick as they did at the time. However, I'll admit that, I have never really got 'Reina the Performer'. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate 'Reina the Singer'; no-one can deny that throughout her time in the group she has given some incredible vocal performances. Even 'Reina the Dancer' is alright really. Yet, I always felt that the passion I am sure she has never really translated to me as a fan.

A duo not to be messed with!

Reina's solo on last year's '13 Colorful Character' was another vocal highlight.

Now, an area where my views are completely different is where 'Reina the Personality' is concerned. While I never really hit it off with on-stage Reina, I think off-stage Reina is brilliant. She is one of the members who can be talking to a camera backstage and yet you really feel as if she is talking to you. I also enjoy reading her blog because she is one of the girls who writes in exactly the same way as she speaks. Reina, to me, despite her (former?) lone wolf attitude, comes across as charming and funny.

Whether you like it or not, Tanaka Reina has been a huge part of Morning Musume history and leaves a large gap to be filled by the younger members (who I'm sure will step up to the challenge).

Reina's graduation was held at Nippon Budokan and the venue looked incredible, filled with light blue penlights. Personally, I feel that Reina's graduation concert was a very positive event. One which was celebrating her time in the group and looking towards the future of both Morning Musume and Tanaka Reina. I've got to admit that Reina has really outdone her self by graduating in an outfit which is basically just a huge bow. I now really look forward to graduation outfits as I feel that since Ai's t-shirt and jeans combo, they have felt more personal and not like the graduating girl has been shoved into some massive glittery dress just because "that's the way it should be". Reina's outfit was loud, bright and overall very Reina and it is a pleasure to see her standing out and shining brightly while performing the final song, Shabondama.

田中れいなさん、お卒業おめでとう！

Brainstorming and Kimi Sae Ireba Nani mo Iranai

On Wednesday this week Morning Musume released their third double A-side single 'Brainstorming/Kimi Sae Ireba Nani mo Iranai'. Continuing the electronic style of the groups recent releases and bidding farewell to veteran member Tanaka Reina, I had high hopes for this single from the start. And I was right to have those hopes because aside from a few things here and there this has been a very solid release.

The leading song, 'Brainstorming', pretty much follows the formula of recent songs in terms of style and line distribution but does it brilliantly. In general, the song goes at quite a pace. However, this relentlessness is broken up by the lines sang by Oda which, similarly to her lines in 'Help Me!', are very contrasting to the rest of the song. In my opinion this is a great thing and I love the variety of voices we have in the group at the moment. I think it will be interesting to see what happens with Oda from here on out. Her voice is the exact opposite of Riho's and I feel that they would make a great leading team for that reason. Staying on the topic of line distribution, it's nice to see Fuku-chan becoming more and more prominent as time goes on. As for the video, I am fairly content. The lighting is nice and the costumes work in the setting. One thing I do wish is that they had employed somebody to polish that shiny floor as in the opening shot it looks mega-scratched.

Onto A-side number two! 'Kimi Sae Ireba Nani mo Iranai' is a little bit odd as far as songs go but I loved it from day one. Unfortunately not everyone felt the same way and a bit of a debate kicked of. So, here we go. . .
Reasons to love 'Kimi Sae Ireba Nani mo Iranai'
1. "2000 PEOPLE ON THE DANCE FLOOR"
2. The super robotic verses make real sense when you read the lyrics at the same time.
3. The chorus melody is great.
4. Haruna's cute little hat.

Reasons not to love 'Kimi Sae Ireba Nani mo Iranai'
1. Awkward dance moves.
2. Overuse of the salute. "You've gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for your . . . .
3. . . . Yellow Pepper Keibu costumes!"

So, in conclusion, I would say that the pros outweigh the cons.

And for a very brief reference to the countless b-sides . . . .
'ABCD E-cha E-cha Shitai' and 'Tokimeku Tokimeke' are great, 'Itsumo Onaji Seifuku de' is nice if you like that kind of thing and 'Rock no Teigi' is a bit disappointing really.

Juice=Juice : Hello!Project's Fresh New Group

When I first heard that Hello!Project would be debuting a new group filled with eggs (yes, I still call them eggs) and Miyazaki Yuka (who had previously came to my attention in Satoyama unit 'Green Fields') I thought it would be a bit like that 'Kanojo ni Naritai' song that was released a while back. In other words, a bit like a poor man's S/mileage. Thankfully, I was wrong. What we have got is a saxtastic song, 6 exciting newish girls, some cute casual-style costumes and a cheap music video that reuses the set for Manoeri's 'Onegai Dakara'! . . . Okay so that last one is less enthralling but overall things are going pretty well.

With a group name that is simple but stupid, Juice=Juice's indie single's name is more long but alright. "Watashi ga Iu Mae ni Dakeshimenakya ne". Seriously, I don't think the Tsunkster really thinks of the 16 year old Scottish girls who's Japanese is limited to things like "田中さんのお母さんの車は赤です。" when he comes up with these titles.

Anyway, the group consists of six members; Miyazaki Yuka, Miyamoto Karin, Takagi Sayuki, Uemura Akari, Otsuka Aina and Kanazawa Tomoko. I used to find that even number groups are a bit awkward in terms of formations and such but since I fell in love with 6 member S/mileage I'm more up for it. I think Tomoko is the only one I know absolutely nothing about but she looked great in this video so I look forward to getting to know her more.

Overall, I like the song. I mean, it's not going to go on any favourites lists but it does its job well and the sax hook is pretty neat. The dance is bold and full of energy, making a nice contrast to the girls' pouty faces in the close-ups. In general, while this release is nothing ground breaking, I find that it gives a good impression of the girls and I am looking forward to seeing the direction they take on the route to a major label debut.

Mano Erina: A True Idol

 From my point of view Mano Erina is a brilliant idol, if a 'safe' one. She managed to merge retro and modern, cuteness and beauty, charm and mystery.

Mano's debut as a soloist perhaps surprised people at the time, but she went on to achieve many things: 3 indie label singles, 13 major label singles, 3 studio albums, 1 compilation album, several acting roles, 5 solo photobooks . . .
All these things she achieved with a welcoming, girl next door aura that made her as an idol.

Manoeri's music releases have been varied, ranging from the piano balladry of 'Manopiano' and 'Otome no Inori', to the super cute 'Sekai wa Summer Party', to the electro-pop 'Onegai Dakara'. However, all of it comes together because of the way Mano chooses to perform it.

Today, Mano Erina graduated from Hello! Project. She hopes to become an actress and I am sure she will be able to fulfil that dream. Good luck Mano-chan and thank you for everything up until now, and of course everything still to come!

 Mano Erina in the short film 'Miyuki's Wind Bell'

Looking back on the year that was 2012

Personally I would say that Hello! Project has had another great year. One that included (right, here goes)

• 20 singles (not including egg/kenshuusei releases)
• 4 studio albums and 1 mini-album
• 2 compilation albums
• 1 new member
• 2 graduations
• 10,000,000 mad hairstyles courtesy of Sugaya Risako
• 2 handle-bar moustache style pigtails (Yurushite-nyan!)
• Tonnes of yellow material wasted on chicken outfits

Now, onto the real business!

Best Single

C-ute's classic ballad 'Kimi wa Jitensha Watashi wa Densha de Kitaku' takes this one purely by ticking all the boxes: great song, good vocals, pretty outfits, nice choreo, good music video(s) . . .

Best Album

This year hasn't really been anything special in terms of albums but I will give this one to the Berryz in all their potato sack clad glory. All the singles from this cut were quality tracks and album songs such as 'Shy Boy' and 'Rennai Moyou' are well worth a listen.



Best Outfits

 

I actually think all the outfits for the 'Satoyama' units have been great. A bit less showy and a bit more just, nice.

 And another mention to C-ute! These outfits are just fantastic.

Best Music Video

Mano Erina's 'Song for the Date' wins this by a country mile. Remind me; why aren't all H!P music videos of this standard?

Members that have stood out well in 2012!

• Michishige Sayumi - In her first year as the leader of Morning Musume Sayumi has certainly shown why she's the perfect person for the job
• Sayashi Riho - Becoming an ever dominating lead, little Riho has stepped up to any challenge admirably.
• Iikubo Haruna - The originally awkward 10th generation member has found her niche as a spokesperson for the group.
• Tsugunaga Momoko - Another great year for Momochi as she continues her hard work and succeeds in becoming one of the best annoying people out there!
• Tokunaga Chinami - Okay, this one's a bit more shallow on my part . . . but isn't she just stunning! (and hilarious)
• Wada Ayaka - It seems this year that Dawa has finally become a great great leader!

Hopes for 2013

• Morning Musume. C-ute and S-mileage continue in their current style
• Berryz finally find a niche . . . please?
• Better quality album tracks for all
• Some more serious Buono! No more of the fluffy 'sherbet' nonsense.
• Less cheap looking concert costumes.
• A successful acting career for Mano
• More MVs shot outside?
• New photobooks for Risako and Miyabi 

 

S/mileage's great winter single 'Samui ne'

I have never really been too much of a S/mileage fan. I liked plenty of their songs, and the girls were all good fun but as a group I always regarded them as a little too balanced if that makes any sense. All 4 original members were on a fairly level playing ground in terms of talent and personality and the even number of members meant a set formation was difficult to have.

 After the dramatic line-up changes last year I was slightly worried about the group and if it would work but with the fantastic singles 'Suki yo Junjou Hankouki' and now 'Samui ne' I wonder why I ever doubted the new S/mileage at all. These songs are among the group's best in my opinion and although the S/mileage girls aren't the best performers in H!P they are now one of the most diverse groups and I hope that they can regain that possible success that we saw with the earlier line up.

 

Anyway, back to the single.

The song itself a great, fairly mellow, slightly 'turn of the century' styled affair that utilises synths and piano to create a intriguing sound. 

The video is also fairly pleasing with surprisingly decent use of lighting that manages to integrate the typically S/mileage outfits into the more mature song. Comparisons with C-ute's 'Aitai Lonely Christmas' are easily made but that video was also rather good so I won't be complaining!

In Conclusion, this is a very good release and has become the first S/mileage release I have bought the physical copy of. If that's not a good sign, I don't know what is!

The Winning Utahime Oda Sakura

I can't tell you how pleased I am!
The 11th generation audition has officially delivered what it promised to deliver! Sakura is a very talented young girl who i can tell will become an incredible force in the future. While she seems, at the moment, shy when she isn't performing I am not really worried about that as girls like Riho, Fukuchan, Eripon and Masaki have all managed to come out of their shell and develop a character. But hey, since people are already declaring her as a new (but much less fidgety and nervous looking) Aichan maybe that her shy nature is something that will be moulded but not removed. I try not to jump to conclusions but she will make a great front-runner alongside Riho once Reina says tatty bye. All the best lead duos have had a strong contrast. I predict Sakura will be the Nacchi to Riho's Goto, or the Ai to Riho's Reina.

 

Here, get to know the new recruit!