Maeda Yuuka to take a walk off down Obscurity Avenue

As far as S/mlieage goes I am a casual fan at best. However, this news screwed with my brain too you'll be glad to know. For a group that was on top of the world at the beggining of the year, really promising to be big, S/mileage is really no longer the same group. They are certainly progressing but at a mad pace. Like a car driving too fast down an uneven country road. (I should really stop using such ridiculous similes.) If I, a dedicated Hello! Project fan, can barely keep up then how are the general public expected to cope. Don't get me wrong. I am not blaming the girls. I just feel things could of been handled differently. Also, they are going to graduate Yuuka on Hogmany?! What a bum-note to leave the year on.

Back to Yuuka. During her years in Hello! Project she has really grown in to a great idol. Although she was never my favourite I can easily recognise her strenght as a S/mileage member. Although Sakitty still holds the vocal crown Yuuka is now the best singer in S/mileage (I think). I have always been impressed at how such a young girl held her own in High-King alongside 4 other amazing idols. I sincerely wish Yuuka the best of luck with her schooling and I hope she does well in her exams so that she can do the university course she is interested in, whatever that may be.　 がんばて！！！　

Hello! Project : A (Semi-) Outsider's View

 This might sound a bit weird but every time I see a comment on a Hello! Project related YouTube video written by someone who has simply stumbled across the video and has no prior knowledge of H!P I feel slightly excited. "That person might be a new fan" is what I think to myself. (Only when it is a positive comment obviously.) Because of this I decided to find out what an outsider's view on Hello! Project would be. Naturally I went to someone I can trust (kind of), my younger sister. I should say that my sister is not a complete outsider to idol music. She has some knowledge of H!P and could name quite a few songs by Morning Musume and maybe a couple by other groups. However, she is still vague enough on the subject to give a realistic, honest viewpoint. So, wrote down on a sheet of paper the names of the main current H!P acts and asked her to write down a few words about each. Here are the results of this experiment!

Morning Musume

"Morning Musume’s music is usually quite up-beat and cheerful, and sometimes a wee bit strange."

This gives me the impression that it is the upbeat tunes like The Peace, Sexy Boy and Maji Desu ka Ska that people think of when they think of Momusu. I know for a face that my sister could hum along to most of the singles 2007 onwards but I suppose without knowing the lyrics even Naichau Kamo sounds fairly upbeat.



Berryz Koubou

"Berryz Koubou are usually more romantic. Their songs are more similar than Morning Musume’s."

When she says "romantic" I reckon my sister in refrencing more recent material but who knows maybe it's just the Risako pout that leads her to this conclusion.






C-ute
"C-ute is very up-beat, fast-pacing and dance-like."

I can agree here C-ute are famous for their dancing and that wouldn't be if it wasn't for upbeat songs like Kiss me Aishiteru. About a two years ago when my H!P fandom was still in it's early stages I had Tokkaiko Junjou on repeat quite a lot. My sister and I were (and still are!) very impressed with C-ute's dancing.





Buono!

"Buono’s songs are usually romantic and soft, or up-beat and cheerful."

I definately see where she is coming from here. Unfortunately I can't think of much to say on the matter.







S/mileage

"S/mileage are quite new to the world but so far their songs have been fast, happy and catchy."

I had "Ganbaranakutemo Eenende!!" stuck in my head the other day. She is right, most of S/mileage's songs are amazingly catchy. Sadly Tachiagaru has not really struck a note with me yet let alone a chord!





Mano Erina

Mano Erina sings very smiley, cheerful music usually. It is not always fast-paced but it is usually cheerful.

This makes me think. I like Manoeri's releases but I wish they'd give her a single with a bit more depth. I'm sure she could handle it.
Also, I like the use of the adjective smiley as a way to describe music. Nice.




I think this just goes to show, if you open your mind you can find something in everything.

A Sudden Turn of Events for S/mileage

First things first. I haven't been this shocked in a while. Ogawa Saki's unexpected departure really is the end of an era for S/mileage. The audition that seemed mad and out of the blue when they were announced makes sense now, as does the 4 girls miserable reaction to the announcement.

Saki has always been an important part of the group and I wonder how the group will sounds without her vocals. Her decision to return to a normal life is shocking but I respect her decision and wish for her happiness. I think that people often underestimate how hard being an idol is, especially for someone so young.

Despite 90% respecting her decision and accepting it for what it is my other 10% (the cynical fraction) thinks the whole ordeal is a bit suspicious. I sincerely hope that I am wrong.

Even if it was for a short time, on this occasion an egg hatched in to a real star.

30 Day Hello! Project Idol Challenge - Day 16

Day 16 - Your favourite S/mileage member?

After choosing Wada Ayaka as my favourite member of S/mileage I recalled my answers to the favourite Morning Musume member, the favourite C-ute member and the favourite Berryz member questions. That's right, I have now picked 4 leaders. I'm starting to wonder if I have some sort of leader complex! I certainly hope not! Anyway, I picked Dawa because despite her singing voice being kind of grating she is a great overall leader and member of the group. I like the way she handled the 'new member situation'. Despite not being overly keen on the idea at first she has seen the positive side of the decision and has now warmly welcomed the new members.

S/mileage have a herd of new members

So, It seems S/mileage have a grand total of 5 new members. Oh. Wait. It seems S/mileage have a grand total of 5 new sub-members. I thought that this audition coudn't get much more mind baffling! Apparantly the girls won't be real members until they are "deemed worthy". So, no pressure then. 

It is obvious that I am clueless and confused so I will just do a brief overlook on the new (sub)members.

In no particular order!

Kosuga Fuyuka - This girl can't sing very well and her voice reminds me of something that is quite possibly an Aardman character. However she is, in a way, endearing and I think she will find a place within the group.

Nakanishi Kana - I like the enthusiasm that Kana has and I know that she will grow a lot as a member. She doesn't stand out to much in terms of singing and dancing yet, but I hope that will change.

Tamura Meimi - Everyone has been talking about how cute this girl is and I agree with them. Meimi's voice is a bit too chipmunky at the moment (even for s/mileage) but with more control over her voice that should change.

Katsuta Rina - Her singing and dancing is all ready very good and she seems like a nice girl. On the road to becoming a great all round idol.

Takeuchi Akari - If I remember rightly Akari was pretty good in Shin Minimoni and it is great seeing her placed in a proper group. It's onwards and upwards from here on!

I am looking forward to see these five girls grow as part of S/mileage and I hope that this sub-member system will turn out well in the end.