Niigaki Risa to graduate at the end of the Spring tour

Wow. What a great way to start the new year. . . . . . not.

This announcement has hit me really hard. Much harder than Ai's graduation announcement but I suppose that was one we all saw coming. This one, not so much. (Or at least I didn't)

It feels the Morning Musume I knew is slipping away through my fingers. After Risa's graduation there will be only 3 members left out the 9 who were part of the line up back when I first came across the group in 2009. Risa was one of those members who I was just drawn to immediately. Her sheer amount of energy on stage is something I find incredibly impressive. She really "brings it" right from the get-go. 

Take, for example, this performance of Shabondama from 2007. Risa's performance really is incredibly captivating. When she sings I almost forget about the others, just for a moment. As cliched as it sounds, Niigaki Risa has "it".

One may say, "She wasn't always that great" and that's true, she certainly wasn't. It isn't until 2007, when she was included in that lengthy titled 10th anniversary unit, that I would have been able to really rate her as a singer. Risa improved a lot throughout 2007 and her role as the prince in the 2008 'Cinderella' musical seemed to really teach her how to utilise her voice. However, I feel that it was her love for Morning Musume that allowed her to develop into the great performer she is today. I am looking forward to seeing more of her acting (since that seems to be what she wants to focus on) in the future because from what I've seen she is not bad at all.

In the time she has left in the group I am sure that Risa will continue to be a great leader to the younger members and I hope they will grow to fill the rather large shoes that she, and indeed Aichan, have left behind. I am sure that Sayu will be a great leader and will have fantastic back-up in the form of Reina and Aika and I sincerely hope the three of them still have a few years (at least) in the group.

Also, 'Pyokopyoko Ultra' as a final single? She deserves so much more.

がんばって！

Hello! Project need some new groups.

I don't mean fresh faces, I mean they need to utilise the faces they have. Remember subgroups like Tanpopo, Petit Moni and Mini Moni. Random thrown together groups like Gomattou and Def. Diva. I reckon H!P would really benefit from a few new units (is that the word?). It would allow them to promote the girls as individuals rather than just one large shapeless entity. Now what is needed is ideas.

Recently I have been loving this.

Unfortunately I feel that Risako is the only one who really pulled this off. I then came accross a video of C-ute's Chisato singing the same song and loved it.
So here is new group idea number one :
3 members - Niigaki Risa, Sugaya Risako, Okai Chisato.
In my opinion, these are three members who are not technically the best singers but all have voices that are among the most unique and interesting in H!P. This is also a group that would have a lot of power or, for lack of a better word, "oomph".





New group idea number two:
4 members - Michishige Sayumi, Fukumura Mizuki, Nakajima Saki, Fukuda Kanon
After the great 'Suki da na kimi ga' I have wanted a group doing stuff in that cutesy electro-pop genre. I would also love to see this group do songs like 'Momoiro Sparkling' or even something like 'Otome Pasta ni Kandou'. Basically a sweet sugary group.

  I would want this group to have this kind of bold, colourful image.

30 Day Hello! Project Idol Challenge - Day 7

Day 7 - Favourite couple/duo

Takagaki: Two beautiful girls, amazing performers and great friends. What more could you want! If you can find it check out their duet song from the Cover You album. Machi no Tomori, I think it's called.