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.

Lucky 7th "era for Momusu?, Pyoko Pyoko Ultra PV

 The other day I was thinking about how many different "eras" Morning Musume has gone through as a group. I did this in reference to singles rather than albums (I have always thought the albums moved in pairs. For example, First Time and Second Morning, 3rd Love Paradise and 4th Ikimasshoi, and so on.). It would be interesting to know what other peoples view on this is.

So, what I was thinking was:

• Era no. 1 - Morning Coffee - Furusato
• Era no. 2 - Love Machine - Renai Revolution 21
• Era no. 3 - The Peace - As For One Day
• Era no. 4 - Shabondama - Namida ga Tomaranai Houkago
• Era no. 5 - The Manpower!!! - Kanashimi Twilight
• Era no. 6 - Onna ni Sachi Are - Kono Chikyuu blah blah blah
• Era no. 7 - Pyoko Pyoko Ultra - ???

Who knows, people always go on about lucky 7.

Pyoko Pyoko Ultra (PV)

In other, more relevant, news the Pyoko Pyoko Ultra music video has been uploaded to Morning Musume's official youtube channel.

I am still not the songs biggest fan but I'll admit that it is quite catchy and has the most bonkers arrangement since 'Guru Guru Jump'. The PV is very cutesy, showing us a morning musume that hasn't really been seen in a long time. The whole thing is insanely yellow (as if you didn't know that already!) and unfortunatly the costumes aren't to my taste. Still, the girls make it work (to an extent) and the PV is an entertaining watch. Everybody looks great despite the fact that Aika has been given a terrible hat. (I honestly feel sorry for the girl, she always seems to pull the short straw as far as costumes go.)
As another plus, the B-side ,'Kanashiki Koi no Melody', is great. The radio preview is well worth 1 minute and 54 seconds of your time!

Dream Morning Musume's Shining Butterfly (PV)

Here is the PV on youtube. (If you're wondering why this is as a link rather than embedded it is because the video is unlisted. On the plus side, this means it might be safe from the copyright police. For now.)

My opinion on the whole idea of Dream Morning Musume has never been entirely positive. I do not, however, want to tread old ground so I shall not go any deeper than that.

I am trying a new format of review and writing as I watch. Not sure if this will work.

0.01 - "Lonely, lonely, lonely. Gimme love, gimme love, gimme". Oh no, wrong song.

0.04 - Nacchi! She has come a long way vocally since "ENDORESSAMAAA!"

0.08 - Long-haired Mari! (This must have been filmed a while ago)

0.20 - I don't really like these outfits . . .

0.53 - Floaters in your drink?

1.17 - Kei and Koha hanging out with some guy who can't tie his tie properly, Yuko looks suspicious.

1.59 - Kamo, kamo, kamo . . . . . wrong song again, sorry folks.

2.00 - Butterfry~

2.15 - Ah, no! It's bad tie man again!

2.35 - *Slap* Charmy got owned.

2.44 - Early Kaorin look?

2.53 - Nacchi looks creepy. XD

3.28 - Back to Cinderella Complex again! Not sure I completely get Aichan's role in this, do you?

3.35 - Her legs do look great in those boot though, I must say.

3.40 - Now Aichan has morphed into Rika. I'm confused.

3.58 - There's something funny about how poor Koharu is pretty much hidden behind everyone else.

4.30 - Ha! He has finally been punished for bringing shame onto the great tie-wearers! Good on you Rika.


Overall, I would say this release is good, but nothing too special. The song is passable, the vocals are good, the PV is alright (I presume some of the footage is from the film 'Atsuhime no. 1. This gave the PV the benefit of having more than just the old dance shot close-up formula) but the release doesn't particularly excite me, sorry dorimusu.

Buono! PVs for Hastukoi Cider and DEEP MIND

Hatsukoi Cider

We start off with an Airi solo. While her voice is technically good I feel it lacks warmth, if that makes sense. (She could do with some more vibrato). There at lot of things in this that remind me of other music videos. For example, the set reminds me of Perfumes 'Nee', the section from 1.00-1.10 is reminiscent of The Ting Ting's 'Shut up and let me go' and there and 'see through floor' bits that make me think of Renai Revolution 21. The colour contrast between the pink outfits and the monochrome set make this PV simple and effective. Thumbs up!

DEEP MIND

The video for DEEP MIND is very simple and the girls basically just stand and sing. However the lighting and camerawork is infact very very good for a H!P music video. I much prefer this song to Hatsukoi Cider. There is something about the song that is very intruiging. While I'm listening all I can really think is "where are they going with this?" that is similar to what I thought when I heard songs like Morning Musume's 'THE Manpower' and Tanpopo's 'Motto' for the first time. Interestingly there doesn't seem to be any form of guitar solo, which is unusual for a Buono song. There is however, a section with a great use of autotune which acts as a great replacement for an intsrumental solo. Overall, two thumbs up!!