There's an explanation for the merging at my original site......so sorry as I know this is really aggravating!! >_<; I've combined the two blogs together...albeit it's a bit messy there right now with comments and things so my original address: morningberryz.vox.com is back in use again. This site will most likely be deleted in time....gomen nasai.
When considering debut efforts, Tackey & Tsubasa's debut album "Hatachi" remains amongst the strongest that I've come across over the years of collecting J-Pop. The album contains 9 tracks and all are extremely well written and I don't find it to be a stretch to say all of them could have been singles in their own right. And while I do whole heartedly love all of their releases since which I've been busy collecting, there's a definite separation between the musical styles heard on "Hatachi" verses their later releases which can be pin pointed to the songwriters for T & T's early releases whom are no longer composing for them sadly. :/ Groups of course go through numerous phases, trends and styles throughout their careers but this is definitley one that I would have really loved to have seen stay around for just a bit longer. The melodies are just so instantly beautiful and attractive on this release beginning with "True Heart" continuing throughout the album till "Epilogue" and "True Heart"'s international version sung in English.
Tackey & Tsubasa releases can be ordered here from Cdjapan.
Tackey & Tsubasa releases can be ordered here from YesAsia. (note: Japanese & Korean release versions are listed together at YesAsia)
Tackey & Tsubasa (Takizawa Hideaki & Imai Tsubasa) are part of the "Johnny's Entertainment Group" and an interesting aspect of this is how it nearly mirrors the structure of Hello! Project in terms of member recruitment, grooming process, as well as group formation. JE's answer to H!P's Eggs are their Johnny's Jr. group. The familiar process of starting off as back up dancers/singers until finally becoming a part of a chosen group is very much the same as it is with H!P with the exception of widespread auditions. Johnny's Jr. however holds an edge when it comes to early performance exposure as H!P Eggs tend to remain well kept secrets until emerging in new units & groups with only minimal stage appearances during select H!P concert events. Tackey & Tsubasa debuted shortly after Arashi and were common members in the Johnny Jr.'s pool while going through the grooming process giving them a nice link to each other.
Hi minnasan! I hope everyone is having a wonderful and fun Easter Sunday! I'll celebrate Easter with a prayer as we don't tend to color eggs anymore........I wonder if it has something to do with my not eating eggs anymore?... (._.;) Just a guess! :P But I do love the occasional egg fight which typically ensues during the following week.........and also egg sandwiches..Yech! (゜ロ゜ノ)ノ........egg salad..Yech! (゜ロ゜ノ)ノ.........eggs in general Yech! :P But I do ♥ to color them nonetheless o(*´∀｀)o゛♥.
In the past I posted a.....um somewhat scary bunny..or at least one "WU" said it was *scary*!! :o ......so this year I thought why not a most universally *touching* song~?
A perhaps strange inkling in me likes to consider even music outside of Japan to be "J-Pop" when it occurs in a Japanese drama.....strange I know but after watching 10-12 episodes and being absolutely glued to one's television for three months I can't help but begin to feel so *attached* to these theme songs even if they're not Japanese compositions. The drama I'm thinking of today is "恋がしたい恋がしたい" which stars Mizuno Miki, Watabe Atsuro, Kanno Miho, Oikawa Mitsuhiro, Tokoro George and Yamada Takayuki.
In a drama of mismatched loves and heartbreak.....you know when you have *feelings* for a particular special someone but those feelings are not reciprocated as you had so wished for....those were the underlying stories in this drama. I wonder if I am not alone here in those very feelings.....more often than not can be so hurtful but it's always the *hope* which keeps you pushing onward because we know...we just know that our *true* loves are out there somewhere for each and every one of us to find~ ………(゜∀゜)………。
So after three months of having a special emotional connection to this theme song as used in "Koi ga shitai koi ga shitai" I find myself considering this recording a "J-Pop" song in a truest sense....lol I know I'm most weird for this but within the workings of my emotions it's inevitable. And I so remember when I first went looking for it only to find it absent on any of the Carpenter's U.S. releases.............(picture me in a Borders store with a large question mark over my head!) (・c_・;)？It took me awhile to finally find and purchase this release....all the while feeling empty as I so wanted to own this song♪♪! :/
What's astounding about this recording is that it sat on the shelves literally hidden away for years......from what I've read in the liner notes it looks to have been kept hidden away for over two decades before finally being released. If any hardcore record collectors are reading this then I know that you understand what I mean when I say....isn't it odd when an artists/groups' recording is released exclusively outside of that artists/groups' very own country??? (・c_・;)？So is the case with the Carpenter's version of "The Rainbow Connection" which has seen an exclusive release in Japan....(if it's been released in the U.S. since please inform me! =) )......and to think that this was an 'outtake?' :o The orchestration was added years later as Karen Carpenter sang this without its full production and the recording was never used on any album until much much later in 1999 when the recording was re-introduced with post production leading to its eventual Japanese release on "as time goes by."
It's funny how a drama can lead to such a discovery as it did for me.............and while the drama itself remains as a sort of lukewarm experience the song performed by the one of the most beautiful voices ever from Karen Carpenter will forever remain a classic~. =) Her vocals will always be one of the most touching and memorable....and who can't but love "The Rainbow Connection"~......"the lovers the dreamers and me." =)
I hope you enjoy this most beautiful rendition of such an amazing and timeless composition for past generations and hopefully generations to come.................."The Rainbow Connection."
./\_/\.
(='.'=)
(")_(")
The simplicity becomes complimentary towards the song itself as "Otome no inori" is quite an elegant song with each piano note♪ resembling tiny soft footsteps amidst a clear white canvas. In addition, Manoeri's vocals are arguably sowewhat plain....however I find her voice to be that of youth's charm~......and so much in the vein of UFA's approach for marketing her. While surely her vocals will change over time I wouldn't mind really at all if her voice remained this way for years to come. =)
It was really adorable to see how really taken Manoeri is with the piano♪♪ set up for her...mid giant cube~!....as she carefully surveyed it's chords, construction and even went to have a peek underneath for a second. ＾ ＾ Her *adorable* giggles are of pure honesty with no restraints......I'm finding this aspect of her to be quite reminiscent of one most adorable Kamei~! Although at this point in time Kamei's honest "giggles" are much more explosive and ♥~pirate~♥ like at times in comparison…(^q^)
Thoughts on the song itself as well as its coupling with track can be found here at my previous blog. =)
Mano Erina's "Otome no inori" pv DVD single can be ordered here at Cdjapan.
Mano Erina's "Otome no inori" pv DVD single can be ordered here at YesAsia.
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The pv DVD single which was released on March 25th has a running time of approximately 23 minutes and includes the original as well as a "piano version" of "Otome no inori"'s pvs. It was actually a nice surprise to see during the making of segment that the giant pink box which serves as her stage with piano is real and not of a blue screen post production making. As a premium amount of attention has been the aesthetics of Manoeri's releases....ie: 4 different versions with four different cover art work designs to speak of, much of the making of segment is dedicated to the various photo shoots which were utilized for those release covers....with the second half of so being dedicated to the actual pv's making of. Cute little breaks here and there disclose the often giddy side of her personality along with a few question & answer moments~. =) And each wardrobe change....(and there are quite a lot of them for this one pv!)....is highlighted with a little show and tell by Manoeri as she displays and tells of her likes of each one.....for me seifuku usually always wins but her yellow and white outfits are sooooo cute too~!
Kindai also presents its readers with everything from male/female eyecandy to interviews, drama previews, in depth interviews with your favorite idols, general idol news, glossy pull outs, occasional stickers!....and lots of more content!!
For the May issue I scanned the features for C-ute, Momusu, Kohachan, Berryz Koubou, Manoeri, cute Nino♥!, gorgeous Matsujun♥!, always adorable Ueto Aya, Aibakun! and Ishihara Satoko.
The Johnny's boys are featured in articles presenting their new spring dramas with Nino in TBS's "DOOR TO DOOR"....Matsujun in TBS's "Smile".....and Aibakun in "Green Fingers"....hmm here we call it having a green thumb. =) Seeing C-ute with a 6 member lineup reminds me sadly of Kannachan's hiatus from the group due to bunion......omg that looks so awfully painful (´⌒｀。). Get well soon Kannachan~! C-ute just isn't C-ute without you~! I wanted to include a partial translation of Manoeri's question & answer and I may have that up a bit later time allowing. Ueto Aya always looks so amazing and I love her CM spot being highlighted in her pictorial........but really next to Matsujun always looking so handsome in "Smile" I'm really liking C-ute in their feature....so adorable as they continue to grow into young ladies........Maimichan is already there! But then I'm sad again thinking of Kannachan's absence.....(;´□｀). Get well soon Kannachan.....I'm sure all C-ute fans miss you so much~. ＾ ＾
………(゜∀゜)………。
~♥~
........um too late!..(._.;) I've changed the blog's title...........funny it never dawned on me before. :P
Shiina Noriko began appearing in numerous idol publications including UTB and Weekly Young Magazine in the late 90's leading up to her honor of being named Fuji Television's "Visual Queen of the Year" in 2001. But unlike previous years which featured only a single winner, 2001 would present four idols being named to this popular title.......but I always felt that Norikochan *shined* the most of the four that were chosen that year and she would prove to be very worthy of the Visual Queen award as she ventured into additional modeling, t.v. dramas and yes~! music!!
While I did very much enjoy her appearance in the drama "LxIxVxE" where she was so adorable....(I was so sad that she was picked on though..(;´□｀) )......I haven't been able to see her in much else from our broadcasts here. :/
Shiina Noriko album and single releases can be ordered here at Cdjapan.
But I always feel that first impressions are most important whenever trying to introduce an artist.....or anyone cute for that matter..(￣▽￣), so before hearing her debut here's my most favorite Norikochan song. =)
Shiina Noriko released a total of seven singles and 1 album between 1999 and the summer of 2002 and by her 5th single release she was actively composing lyrics for the majority of her releases which always adds a nice personal touch to one's music. ＾ ＾ And happily she has just returned to music after a lengthy hiatus as she released a new single titled "Dakara waraunda" just a few days ago on April 1st. (*´∀｀*)♪♪ I've yet to receive it though.....but it should be here soon~.
recordings with it's dark melody and slightly moody lyrics.
She's soooooo cute!!! and beautiful!!! Enjoy these scans:
~The following shots are from her "Visual Queen of the Year 2001" DVD which has a running time of just over 30 minutes.....really much shorter than the standard length of idol DVDs today but back in 2001 this was about the average for most releases. The DVD also features an extra track in which Norikochan speaks at length about her future goals and hopes as well as.........her ideal and not so ideal thoughts on men. Hm this may be useful for all men out there I think! =) This extra track runs about 10 minutes and features Norikochan in an intimate one on one setting as she lays on a hotel bed towards the camera.....as in the very first photo in this post way atop. ＾ ＾
And lastly before I go to sleep, here are just a few screencaps from "Premio" Shiina Noriko Visual Queen of the Year 2001...........
Did I already mention how cute and adorable she is.....
The ending musical guest was Chara whom I hadn't listened to in what seems like ages and ages and she and Smap who accompanied her opened up with "Swallowtail Butterfly~ai no uta~"........I actually felt *goosebumps* at sound of the very first notes♪♪! It was quite a nostalgic moment as I hadn't taken out and listened to any of my Chara CDs in quite a long time! o(*´∀｀)o゛I only own 3 of her releases from the late 90's and Chara, who composes much of her own lyrics & music is quite diffcult to categorize musically as within a single album you'll come across songs ranging in feelings from folk to jazzy to r&b/house like.....but none of it seems to quite all into a pure "pop" format which is quite remarkable considering she sort of would be filed under "pops" in a record store I imagine.
A friend of mine thinks I'm sort of weird whenever I listen♪♪ to Chara.......XD lol but it's okay~!
Each year Paul Thomas at Hello!Blog is even more and more creative with his poll's design....this year's one being one of the most amazing yet!! It's still available to take until the 10th of this month here. ^ ^ Judging by the amount of votes this year that Paul has received so far, the results should quite reflective of the fan consensus outside of Japan as well an within as I believe he mentioned that his poll was linked in Japan as well. =) In any case I think it'll be more of the international fanbase being heard here...I can't wait to see the final results and I'm just hoping that perhaps a few of my favorites will show up~. (*´∀｀*)♪♪
This was sooooooooooo difficult to complete! (・c_・;)？...as I repeatedly scrolled back and forth through the member choices. It was quite unprecedented for me to need to choose between all of H!P including their 3 "flagship groups", active Eggs, soloist and the entire Elder's club which sadly just officially graduated at the end of last month. (´⌒｀。)
So in this sense this is also somewhat of a farewell poll as the Elder's Club has graduated and UFA looks to be headed in much more "idol/youth" direction.
My top 5 choices were somewhat easier choices than the final 5 which had me wanting repeatedly to add in Yukosan, Manoeri, Shibata Ayumi, Nakki, Airiin, Miya, Junjun.....and lol I should now stop before I name everyone in the poll…(^q^)
Let's see.....Nacchi for helping to put this all together, what we now know as H!P.....Kamei for her awesome cuddly quirkiness!~♥......Aichan for her upmost professionalism, vocals and role model qualities~.........Maimichan for being soooo beatiful!!.....(okay not really having any deep thoughts right now but I didn't want to cause sleepiness from my otherwise over indulgence in reasoning :P )........Ayaya for the best vocals in H!P (she'll be missed so much (;´□｀) ).....Momo for being so adorable and so full of helium, may your voice always remain so cute!......Riichan for always making me smile and yes! that little button nose of hers =)......Gakisan for always being so wonderfully honest and *real*, think "Mechaike bakajo" test & her interesting ideas on an amusement park family getaway as shared on Music Figher~......Nocchi for being the cutest Egg who need so much more attention please! =)........and lastly Kohachan, for without you Momusu/H!P would be so much less energized, ♥~frantically hyper~♥......and my goodness, how else would we sell all of this Red Bull? o(*´∀｀)o゛
So, I decided that I should kick off my blogging with a Gothic Lolita...thing. Here we go!
How to Be a Gothic Lolita
1. Remember that Gothic Lolita isn't "punk", etc. In other words, it's not chains and spikes. It's more like...black and white victorian outfits. Stick with blouses, petticoats, full skirts, bows, small hats, lace, knee-high socks. That kind of stuff!
2. Invest in a Lolita Bible. In consists of many Lolitas. They are very helpful! If you'd rather not spend 15-20 dollars on a Bible, the internet is nice too!
3. Makeup for Gothic Lolita varies from light to dark smokey eyes, and dark red lips. Stray away from black lips and whiteface.
4. Try dark colors like black, burgundy, purple, and navy. Use black and a contrasting color. e.g.: black and white.
5. It shouldn't be sexy! Followers of Lolita do not consider it to be a sexual style. Even if you are going with Erotic Lolita, you shouldn't show too much cleavage, corsets, or short skirts (above knees).
6. It's always important to have some essentials:
Maryjanes
Collared Black and/or White Puff-sleeved blouse
Full Skirt (or a dress with a full skirt)
Petticoat
Accessories! These include:
Parisol
Small Bag
Small hat (at an angle)
Plushies
Jewelery
Headress (something on your head...)
7. Hair, hair, hair! You can go with bangs (fringe), ringlets, long har, and pigtails.
8. Look as natural as possible!
9. Be confident! You may get weird looks from people, but simply ignore or reply with a smile. Remember, it's hard for someone to be rude to you if you're nice to them!
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