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