7 posts tagged “jpop”
Today's song is by the one and only, the queen of kawaii, Aya Matsuura.
I'm confused~!
Is it sexy? Is it cute?
I'll be confused~!
I just want to hear your side of it
Such a pure heart of a young girl
Such a pure heart of a young girl
This song seems to be about a confused girl in love, and the last line of the first verse interests me, because being an innocent or unpure girl seems to be a trend in Aya's work. Just look at the lyrics of GOOD BYE Natsuo
Goodbye boy
Let's just say goodbye after all
Without a kiss
Goodbye boy
I'm not as innocent of a girl
as you think I am
Regardless, perhaps Tsunku was trying to create a little trend or story line?
Heeey, I said, heeey
Listen to me
Listen to me <sad>
Stop sending mail all the time <angry>
Heeey, I said, heeey
Can I hold onto your arm? <happy>
... but
You're not listening to me at all! <angry>
The song is so cute, actually, that more than two listens in a row can be annoying.
Regardless, Aya never disappoints (I even like all her ballads), and delivers teeth-rottingly kawaii pop for you.
It has an almost retro feel to it with the claps and bells.
I wonder if Tsunku has had a lot of annoying girlfriends (hey, Tsunku ain't that bad looking!), because girls in his songs tend to be hormonal, possesive, and overly emotional.
The video for the song suits it well, with 70's/60's flower power everywhere, orange and yellow, and Aya in the cutest dress and hat I've ever seen. The dance involves her making heart signs, winking, and smiling big while lip syncing HORRIBLY (Aya is, seriously, the worst lip syncer I've ever seen.) and then stumbling occasionally to signify a blunder made in her relationship.
Aya also has the cutest little small face, that, paired with a pout, I doubt any guy could turn her down on anything. But, back to the song, it's sugar-coated pop, even for jpop it's a bit too sweet, like adding a table spoon or two of sugar to hot cocoa, but it's enjoyable. The sound is very retro, which Aya's bretahy, high voice suits well. the song reminds me vaguely of Lonely In Gorgeous by Tommy February6. There are scatteredbells, twinkling, and popping noises throughout the whole song, which add an extra cute yet
Overall, the song gets an 8/10 from me. It's only problem is it's a bit har dto listen to repetitively without getting sick of it quick, so listen to it in moderation.
I think we all know asians are technically, usually smaller. I say this fully aware that my BMI list me as 1%
But I am expressing a specific worry for Asian men. I had always thought Shinya to be tiny but figured, "Hey, he's still alive. He must be doing SOMETHING right."
But I was more than shocked when I found out his weight....90
This places his BMI at 14.0, with the underweight category starting at 18.6. My BMI is 26.4 (overweight starting at 25.0)
I have noticed an odd misocnception these days, that people like Shinya, are probably healthier than people like me.
If he were a woman, his dress size would be 0, or -1, if such a size existed.
I love the guy, I really do, and he may be more pleasing to look at than me, but let's face it...he's unhealthy.
And then, I found out Teruki's (An Cafe) measurments....His BMI is 12.8.
And now I beign to wonder, just how rampant IS this problem? So I type up Gackt's, Mana's, Kyo's, Kaoru's, Toshiya's weights and heights. All underweight by atleast 2 or 3 percent.
Sure, perhaps my or Makoto's, or Aibon's "flab" isn't quite that fun to look at...but is looking at protruding bones any more arrousing?
This is a rather badly put together post, but it's something that I truely care about, because I IDOLIZE these men, and not only did such idolization (is that a word) as that lead to me going two weeks only eating once every couple of days last year, but I don't want anything to harm them. Anything at all, and I know I can hardly protect them, and I know I certainly can't protect them from themselves, but isn't their something wrong with this?
The odd thing is that most teen girls, American and not, find no problem with this, find it NORMAL even. I showed my friend a picture of Teruki with his ribs, quite visibly, sticking out, told her his weight and height, and she just stared at me like, "So what?" I asked her and she said that sounded perfectly normal to her.
Then again, we also live in a world where Eri (no more than probably 80/90 pounds or 40 or so kg) is considered to be a fatty.
Then again, I am sometimes somewhat put off by 30 and 40 year
old men lusting after 14 year olds...
Maybe I'm just not cut out for writing, or jpop...
A quick overview:
Natsumi: Has the worst case of eggplant nose I've yet to see, but for some reason she's grown on me. I tend to like the "ugly" girls. Kei, for example, was one of my favorite MM members, and I think she is now one of the more talented H!P members (and could maybe have a little success in America with english as good as hers. :X) and girls like that tend to take the teasing and turn the tables and generally earn their place relatively fast. Plus, her singing is better than some in here, plus she seems really sweet, and she has a cute smile.
Aika: It seems she has mixed repsonses. SOme hate her and think her retarded, some are begging for her to get in.
I'm not begging for her to get in, but I think she'd be a really nice addition. She may have a nasally, Ayaya esque smokers voice, but I for some reason find it very fun to listen to, if not a bit grating in excess.
Her singing is relatively solid, and I think she was the only girl NOT seen crying in the pre-training came footage.
Yuu: Gangly, a bit gawky, dorky, with added cute. I think she's adorable, her singing Furusato sounded more in pitch than the rest, and I think the H!P make over could do her some great, though she's already really cute. She reminds me of a less awkward Erika. I'd be glad to have her in.
Ayami: Seems to be a bit of a camera/stage ham. While she seems normal now, I think she might end up a bit like Koharu in personality, and I find her FAR more annoying than Sayumi. I'd say no.
Sumire: FUCK NO. There's this seen in American Dreams, where they show footage from when the singer was a kid, at her birthday party when she was a baby, with her mother screaming in her face, going, "FUCKING SING! NOW!" and then turning from the footage and saying, "But she's always wanted to sing!"
That was Sumire's childhood so far right there.
Minami: Again, no. I dislike Reina, why would I want a Reina wota? Her cross eye is ten times worse, and twice as scarey. They move AS she talks: One moves to the middle, then the other, then both snap back, then one goes to the left randomly, and the other goes up towards the right (AKA googley eyed). Plus, here's your added scandal.
I often visited her blog and site, to look at pictures. She's the only finalist we've uncovered anything about, so we learn a bit form it, and while I don't like her, I'm interested.
So,
She recently updated with this....charming new layout;
She has listed her special skills as "being wile", and "drinking heavily".
She also randomly mentiones Takahashi, though I'm not sure in what context. Probably wota-worship of some kind, Maybe a prayer or something.
Anyway, she also has pictures with a boyfriend or something who is, oddly, shirtless,
But, really, is it a good idea to post that sort of stuff RIGHT after auditioning? If Mari fucking/dating someone while after gaining respect is no dedication, what is doing it before you've even earned any right to break any rules?
I want to scream at her to lighten up the goddamn eyeliner, it's not flattering, and makes her eyes look both more crosseyed and beadier.
-sigh- I don't hate her at all, but I just really hope she doesn't get in...
This comment made for a rather large discussion the BBS, but just how much is to it? It seems it was split into two teams. The larger being, "Of course, Berryz are HAWT and they can kind aof sort of in a way if you close your ears and eyes and count to ten hold a tune!" and the smaller (and mine) being, "Uh...No."
I don't hate Berryz....really, I don't. They're fun, they're cute, and some of them can sorta sing (Chinami (is that her name?) and Miyabi (who's name I constantly try to spell as MIYAVI.), in specific.) but surpassing MM? Me no think so.
Berryz and C-ute wouldn't exist with MM. Morning Musume started it all, and when Momusu goes down, EVERYONE goes down. Some may argue MM has already "gone down on Tsunku", but that's not that weird, afterall, how did Rika make it in the group? not true, trust me. They're still, I beleive, the best selling all-female group in Japan (correct me if I'm wrong, but they're still outselling toofuckingbigwouldtakeupentirestageontheirown48, right?)
48,000 doesn't seem like a big number when you're in America and the top single sells in the millions sometimes, while the top single on Oricon sells 70,0000 or so, but in Japan I believe that's pretty significant. Also, keep in mind, with a whole new gen coming, the possibilities are endless, and I have an inkling their debut single will be really awesome...for some reason I think Tsunku wants to surprise us positively.
But, also keep in mind, Momusu have never sold THAT amazing until after Love Machine. Let's look at the chart here;
LOVE MACHINE: 1,646,630
A huge jump from the previous sales of Furusato. The single was released at the perfect time, with a new member of only 13 with a somewhat odd but charming look, who actually looked atleast 4 or 5 years older than she was, and sounded that as well, and what with it being patriotic and how Japan needed that at the time.
Koi no Dance Site: 1,229,970
Wow. hold on there, that's a big drop! But to be expected, LOVE MACHINE osld exceptionally well, so this was fine, especially isnce Koi no Dance SIte was actually a rather lackluster single.
Skip to I WISH: 654,640
wtf? Oh, but fourth gen wa sperfect. YOU LYING BASTARDS! IT COULD NEVER BE POSSIBLE THAT MOMUSU IS EXPERIENCING A NATURAL DECLINE!
Oh, put a sock in it, it's alreayd visible that the hype is wearing off.
Skip to Do it! Now: 310,600
OMFG, IT TOTALLY MUST BE 5TH GEN AND TSUNKU'S FAULT! THAT'S THE ONLY VIABLE EXPLANATION! I HATE YOU, TSUNKU!
Skip to Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari: 91,789
*Is now wearing a t-shirt iwth a picture of Sayumi's head covered in red marke rused ot look like blood and holding a shot gun* I HATE YOU MOMUSU, DIE FUCKERS!
Looking at this, I believe you'll find it's a very viable decline. LOVE MACHINE shot them up and created HUGE buzz, but that can only last so long. It seems to me, Momusu began a natural decline that only seemed so bad because of LOVE MACHINE.
And, no, I doubt sales will pick up without another LOVE MACHINE Though Aruiteru did do really well. And I no longer foam at the mouth when I hear it, now I actually LIKE listening to it.).
So, I wonde rif Berryz will pull a LOVE MACHINE of there own, sell millions, and then NOT begin a natural, slow, steady decline that was caused by no one but the consumer...
Can you tell I'm PMSing?
I really think Maki is gorgeous. So she deserves more than useless T&A shots. And, don't even get me started on the name Foxy Fungo...
Now, THIS is what I'm talking about. But what the fuck is that frilly, feathery nightey they've thrown over her? It confuses me greatly.
GOD FUCKING DAMN MAKI HAS LONG FINGERS! HOLY SHIT! Moving on...
Bottom line: Maki isn't a amazing singer with range and skill out to HEYAH. But she has her good points and her songs haven't really highlighted them.
One of my fave. pics from the book. Ignoring the boobs, it seems to express some kind of emotion, which it shouldn't, considering how plastic, fake, ect photobooks are but it still holds some kind of meaning. Good shot.
I think the fact I've only liked the nature shots says I am crying out for a nuetral, mature but not too sexy Maki. I like the new songs, but not the image. It seems awkward, and seeing how Maki deals with it makes me wonder about her ego too. She's gone from charming, cute, and dorky, to this weird "sexy", withdrawn, almost snobby creature. From he rmanuerisms, it almost seems to me like she's trying to forget she's part of H!P and instead live in a happy little world in her head imagining it's AVEX. Not that I can blame her, but I hate people who are ashamed to admit their roots.
I was oddly weirded out by the rest of this set, but this photo has a nice look to it. You know, I have to say they hired a really good photographer for this photobook. I used to hate this pic because of the weird make-up, ect. But it's grown on me.
That's all I have of it, all ANYONE has of it, actually. No one has yet to scan in the whole thing. I've only got 54 or so pics, but anyone who's interested just comment. It's full of tons of fanservice I didn't include in here, so if you like Maki, just ask, I think you'll enjoy it.
Next up will be Mako's new photobook!
Night, kids. :P
You know, I've mentioned, just in my last entry, I have a shakey past with J-music.
Well, now I'm going to tell you all about it.
Lets take it back a bit, not to far, 2003, ah, just right....
I was about 14 or 15 at the time, and I had recently rekindled my anime obsession in movies such as Totoro and Kiki's delivery service, all childrens movies, but all extremely enjoyable for adults and teens as well, and because of this, I had been looking at anime forums and the like.
Well, one faitful day, I was having an arguement with someone on the anime section of some art board, when suddenly, someone defends me. I have no idea who this person is, but they're agreeing with me and defending me.
Well, that perked my curiosity and I messaged that girl one day.
That's when we got to talking, about anime, games, stuff like that...And then she askes me if I listen to jpop. I think, "Oh, what is this jpop thou speaks of?" And, of course, asked this very question, though minus the phony speak.
This lead to her sending me pictures of Mini Moni, and Morning Musume, (Who, I at first, called Morning Museum. Several times, until she smacked it out of me. Next time I complain about people mispronouncing and spelling Japanese, just mock me about that XD)
Keep in mind, I had no way to get this music. I was banned from using Limewire, had no idea if I could buy stuff off ebay (actually, I don't think I even THOUGHT of that, because i figured my mom would never pay for the shipping of soemthing overseas. (Don't start on me about asking my parents for things...I never ask for anything so when I do she gets it because I don't ask a lot. >.>)) So, that died and the most I did was catch a few of the songs on Japanese fan radio stations, and I stopped talking to the girl aswell...
Fast forward, of course, to last year.
I had downloaded Limewire the night before, and I was anxious to look up some jrock because I'd run into several jrock fans after that. The first song I downloaded was Color Me Blood Red by Malice Mizer. This instantly got me HOOKED to MM, and I'm a huge fan now (even though it doesn't seem like it, as this blog has turned 99% jpop.)
I, after this, looked up a list (yes, a list. I am and was such a dork, it amuses me to death...) and spotted one name that rang a bell somewhere in the back of my head, this name would be Dir en grey.
I downloaded Pink Killer and Cage. Both songs are so different, showing just how much Diru has changed over the years, but I loved each song. Then, after finding Malice Mizer, I looked up information on Mana, which in turn lead to finding out about MDM, so I downloaded some of their songs (Before someones head explodes at the huge use of the word download, I'd just like to clarify that just months after I got into them (them as in all of them), I purchased Nocturnal Opera aswell as Vulgar. Vulgar is still my favorite Diru album, to this day, and it keeps this place also because it was my first Jrock album.)
So, by about December or November, I was a pretty huge jrock fangirl...And I was browsing a jrock yaoi blog (yes, yaoi. Aren't I predictable?) when someone cracked a joke about Kyo eating Mini Moni.
INSTANT DEJA VU ON THAT ONE.
So this led to me getting curious, and typing Mini Moni into google video. I found the rollercoaster segment from H!M where Nacchi spazzed and her head nearly exploded. I also found the lizard clip (that I only learned was from the Christmas special this year.) this got my interest, and I found Za Peace! video.
This is the short version too! But every jpop blogge rhas done an entry like this, so this is me jumping on the bandwagon.
You know, I'd always considered the girls,a s girly pop idols, probably had it easy. But today, I was thinking about what the leaders do. Why choose a leader for Berryz or Momusu? Why do they need one? I mean, bands obviously need them, because leaders generally work with the manager some, and write their own music, but Momusu et al just do what the producer tells them to do. The producer does it all.
The most I've even heard the leaders speak of doing s rounding the girls up backstage, but surely someone else usually does that anyway.
However, he girls must put in much more work than someother groups. They not only release atleast 4 or 5 singles a year, they also have a weekly show, performances and such on Utaban and shows like that, concert tous, various sports actvities (futsal, isn't it? Like wussyfied indoors soccer?), photobooks, photoshoots for singles.
Bands generally take downtime between albums, but these girls work around the clock. I'd never even considered that. It actually makes me wonder why the girls would want to join H!P. You have a high chance of getting snubbed, an equally high chance of being stalked by some perverted mowota, and very little rest time. Does the idea of stardom truely have that much reign over these girls?
Then again, some idols must work even more,looking at Koda Kumi. The girl seems to have a button on her back you can press whenever you want a single, and it pops out (where it pops from and how, I don't care to consider.)
