29 posts tagged “berryz kobo”

How was everyone's week? Mine flew by, since I am on Spring Break! But now I miss it xD

Oldest first, newest last.

 

MY BOY Tracklist

The tracklist for Buono!'s new single MY BOY has been announced:

1) MY BOY
2) ワープ! (Warp!)
3) MY BOY (Instrumental)
4) ワープ! (Instrumental) (Warp! (Instrumental))

Release date: April 29th

 

Morning Musume new single, WOOT!

Morning Musume's upcoming single has been announced, and the title is Shouganai Yume Oibito, or People Who Can't Help But Chase Dreams in English. What a pretty title ^^

And the tracklist has been made available:

1) しょうがない 夢追い人 (Shouganai Yume Oibito)
2) 3、2、1 BREAKIN’UP
3) しょうがない 夢追い人 （Instrumental） (Shouganai Yume Oibito (Instrumental))

By the way, I stopped counting which number single they were at after Resonant Blue.

Release date: May 13th

 

Mano Erina no longer an i-DULL

Now, I'm not sure if this was an April Fool's joke Hello!Online decided to play, but I'll report it anyway. A radio preveiw for Manoeri's 2nd major single Hajimete no Keiken has been leaked onto the internet and, this thing that Tsunku said just cracked me up.

"My goal for Mano was to create a new type of idol, one that breaks the typical idol mold. Energetic singing. Catchy, upbeat music. Fun lyrics. These were the three demons I wanted to slay when producing Mano so far."

But I've now realized that I may have overestimated the appeal of an idol such as this. My original plan was to produce a new generation of uninteresting idols, or i-DULLS. This was a mistake. That's why I've decided to steer Mano more toward the music you can hear in her new single. It's the kind of song that even a fan of good music can enjoy. Please treat her kindly."

Now, this was posted on H!O on April Fool's Day, the one day when things really shouldn't be taken seriously. And to be honest I don't know it Tsunku really said this or not.

Release date: May 20th

 

Hello!Project website receives a facelift

The official Hello!Project Japanese website received a makeover to make up for the recent Elder Club graduation (baww). It's actually pretty awesome :P

 

Wait, I thought Nacchi already graduated?

Um.

Abe Natsumi's summer tour has been announced. I dunno. I'm confused.

The title is Abe Natsumi Summer Live Tour 2009 ~Yappari Sneaker ga Suki!~ and will be from June 6th to August 1st.

 

The Hello!Project summer tour. The NEW Hello!Project, that is

The summer 2009 H!P tour has been announced. All of Hello!Project, which is now Morning Musume, Berryz Kobo, C-ute, and Mono Erina will be performing along with the usual MC Makoto on July 19th - August 9th.

Well, I think I actually skipped last week. Oops. Still trying to get with the program.

Once again, oldest news first, newest news last.

 

Bye Bye Bye! PV does not impress

C-ute's new single, titled Bye Bye Bye! (with a B-side Go Go Go!) now has a PV and people (including myself) are not imprested. While the flashing sign in the background is cool, the rest is not. What a great song, wasted with a horrible PV.

Berryz Kobo return to their childish ways

After the song Dakishimete Dakishimete is released, we are all sure that Berryz has dropped the childish song and will start singing more mature songs. Bzzt. Their 20th single will be a double A-side, titled Seishun Bus Guide/TBA. Who else was reminded of Mini Moni?

 

Fujimoto Miki is... engaged?!

So you guys remember 2 years ago when Miki resigned from Morning Musume because she was caught dating Shouji Tomoharu? Well they didn't stop dating.

Looks like UFA has been loosening the no dating policy, as she will be continuing work.

Anyway, I'm really happy for Miki. It's great our favorite girls are finding their soulmates! They will be getting married this summer, and no, she is not pregnant.

 

Another Manoeri single

After the success of Mano Erina's major debut single, Otome no Inori, her 2nd single has been announced, titled Hajimete no Keiken.

 

A new unit!

Another new Shugo Chara! unit! This one is called Guardians 4, and consists of Mitsui Aika, Sugaya Risako, Kumai Yurina, and Nakajima Saki.

Their first single will be titled Omakase! Guardian. It will also be the new Shugo Chara! opening.

I wonder what the style of this group will be? (Buono! is pop rock, SCE! is bubblegum pop)

First of all, I want to apoligize for not updating much. The ice storm a few weeks ago totally threw off my schedual, and I've been trying to get back into the swing of things. My lights are actually flickering again right now... lets hope we don't lose power yet again.

I want to reveiw both the new C-ute and Buono! album, plus the two new Ice Creamusume PV's. But I'll have to wait for the weekend to do that...

 

Back to business :D Berryz Kobo's new PV, Dakishimete Dakishimete!

I know alot of us have not been licking (... licking? No I meant to say liking xD) Berryz's imagine lately, with all the childish singles. But they're album had alot of mature songs in it, and I think that was our clue that better things were on the horizon.

I am very happy. Its been a long week... I've got alot going on. So when I got home today, not only did I see more info on Mari's single, but the PV for Dakishimete Dakishimete and you can just imagine how excited I was.

The song starts with a bang, and I can see this being in the Dance genre as oposed to Pop. Everyone get lines (I think, I can't really remember Momoko), obviously not as many as Risako, but hell would freeze over if otherwise.

The dance is amazing. Chest thrusts (you know, they have stuff to do that now), its perfectly syncronized, and its intense.

Of course I think we all like that they're wearing casual outfits and not frilly dresses. Thats a big plus in my book.

Its great that UFA is going a little more high budget in their PV's. Obviously there's room for improvement, and I think they will get less stingy. I think 2009 will be a good year for Hello!Project, and I'll even go as far as saying that Dakishimete Dakishimete will be Berryz Kobo's best selling single.

 

Winds are picking up, I should wrap this up now.

Today, I made my friend Ali's ears bleed by showing her several PV's that I THOUGHT she would like. Turns out she hated them all but one, but we'll get to that later.

Ali's favorite bands are Goo Goo Dolls, Maximum the Hormone, Paramore, Dashboard Confessional, Secondhand Serenade, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco, and Slipknot. As you can see, she LOVES rock and anything with ripping guitar solos.

I showed her Shabondama, Kanashimi Twilight, Naichau Kamo, Kill me Kiss me, Sakura Mankai, Jiriri Kiteru, Honto no Jibun, and, just for fun, Hapi Hapi Sunday. ;D

She didn't have as much to say about these as opposed to what Layneh had to say.

Shabondama

• Likes Reina, Ai, and Nacchi.
• Mari is OK (GASP)
• "The song isn't nearly as bad as country, but I can stand it."
• Iida has alot of ear peircings.
• Dance is crazy
• Rating: 4/10

Kanashimi Twilight

• Loves their clothes
• Likes Reina
• "I want Miki's voice. Oh wait Yossie's is better."
• Rating: 4/10

Naichau Kamo

• (I seriously thought I would be hitting gold with this song)
• "I'm sorry, but this song STINKS"
• Ai looks like an old house wife with a bad haircut
• No on stands out to her
• Rating: 1/10

Kill me Kiss me

• Guitar playing is obviously fake
• Cartoon kitties are cute
• Likes PV
• Likes Rika
• "OMG are they lesbian?" (Everyone says this -_-;)
• "This would be better without the fake guitar playing."
• Rating: 8/10

Sakura Mankai

• "The song is relaxing, I could fall asleep to it."
• Risa's pretty.
• The song is OK
• "Reminds me of Pokemon"
• Rating 3/10

Jiriri Kiteru

• "This sucks."
• Thinks they're 20 years old
• 1/10

Honto no Jibun

• They've cute.
• Momoko is cute.
• Song is OK
• 2/10

Hapi Hapi Sunday

• "TURN IT OFF"
• -5/10

So, while showing my sister the Naichau Kamo PV (because, you know, its just THAT epic) she started making a lot of comments. So I was like "What if... I wrote down her comments... and posted them in my blog?" (because, you know, I'm just SO dedicated to blogging).

The whole idea is that, as fans, we tend to forget about what we thought of Hello!Project when we first discovered them.

My sister (who actually just started her own blog. Layneh.Lolitas. Please welcome her to Vox :D) is the typical tween. Her favorite artists are the Jonas Brothers, Roonil Warzlib, Paramore, Draco and the Malfoys, Taylor Swift, and actually while I performed this experiment, she became a fan of Kusumi Koharu. She's been exposed to H!P a little bit, she liked Berryz Kobo for about a week. And she watched half of the Wonderful Hearts 2008 Winter concert with me.

I decided to show her some new PV's, also some somewhat new ones that I though she'd like. The PVs are Naichau Kamo (Morning Musume), VERY BEAUTY (Berryz Kobo), Sakura Chirari (C-ute), MADAYADE (Berryz Kobo), FOREVER LOVE (C-ute), Onna ni Sachi Are (Morning Musume), Tokaikko Junjou (C-ute), Hapi Hapi Sunday! (Kusumi Koharu), Kill me Kiss me (HANGRY & ANGRY), co no michi (Buono!), and Kanashimi Twilight (Morning Musume).

Here are her thoughts:

 

• The dance [in the beginning] is weird.
• The crying parts [for some members] look akward.
• Some of them should have looked at something else besides the camera.
• Ai, Aika, Risa, Koharu, and Eri look good.
• JunJun looks akward in the rain scenes, but her closeups look good.
• Reina is a good singer.
• Risa's nails look more like claws.
• Koharu is a good dancer.
• Rating: 7/10

 

 

• Outfits are pretty. Vintage = win.
• The beginning sounds like Pokemon.
• She likes Miyabi and Risako.
• They sound like kids but thats OK.
• Outdoor setting is pretty.
• The dance and the song are good.
• (she's humming)
• Rating: 9/10

 

 

• "Aww" (as soon as the PV started)
• Good song.
• "Its C-ute! xD"
• Likes Nakki and Mai.
• Likes "surprise factor"
• Rating: 9/10
• (she didn't have much to say about this one.)

 

 

• Office lady costumes are cute.
• They look like little kids.
• Likes Chinami, Risako, and Saki.
• But Chinami looks like a servant.
• Miyabi's dance outfit is the best.
• Nice hair.
• "Is she [Momoko] eating paper?"
• Doesn't like the "turning around and smiling" part, its cheesy.
• "What is the song even about?!"
• Rating: 8.5/10

 

• "Are they spies?"
• The whole aspect is "interesting"
• Likes casual outfits.
• Doesn't like Maimi's voice.
• "Is this PV old?"
• The chains on their suits make them look like they're trying to be "gangsta"
• Rating: 7/10

 

 

• "Hehe... Baka!"
• Just for fun, I asked her to guess who the Chinese members were. She pretty much guessed everyone but JunJun and LinLin.
• Doesn't like whatever is on their heads.
• Likes Ai. "She's pretty."
• Likes powerful dance.
• Rating: 9/10

 

 

 

• [In her monologue] Maimi isn't a good actor.
• Likes Erika and Nakki.
• Likes Airi's singing, but not her outfit.
• "OMG They're wearing chucks!!!1!eleven!"
• Likes they're outfits (except Airi's)
• "True life... GEEK?"
• (she's humming)
• Dancing looks like something they had to do on America's Next Top Model.

 

 

• "OMG THATS ADORABLE!" (side note: she's been listening to this all day now)
• "This is amazing!"
• Loves dance outfit.
• "It makes me feel happy."
• She has a cute voice.
• Loves chorus of song.
• "Is this on iTunes?"
• Thinks Koharu is the cutest girl ever!
• (while watching this, Layneh squeed. Alot.)
• Likes bedroom set.
• "In a way... its kinda sexy." (I'm not even going to ask...)
• Loves cape, she looks like a superhero!
• Rating: 10/10

 

• Likes the "goth-ness"
• Guitar playing is obviously fake.
• Green screen effects are cheesy.
• "I'm not too fond of their hair."
• Loves the stuffed animals.
• Loves Yossie's expressions, but overall Rika is better.
• Likes Rika's white outfit.
• Closeups look weird.
• "Are they homosexual?"
• Their nails are epic.
• Song is better than the PV
• Rating: 7/10

 

• The [road in the] begining is interesting.
• Walking scenes look akward & posed.
• "Why are they in Africa/Antartica/Hawaii/London/a farm?"
• "[In the Hawaii scene] the pointing is weird, and why did the tiki's fall from the sky?"
• Doesn't like the dance off.
• They are good singers.
• "Its weird and almost funny."
• Likes jump at the end.
• Rating: 6/10

 

• "So its got nothing to do with [the book] Twilight?"
• Likes Miki.
• Likes outfits, but they look like wannabe rockers.
• Doesn't like closeups or dress scenes.
• Yossie's hair reminds her of a guy.
• Just for fun, I tricked her and asked her if (once again) she could point out the Chinese member(s). She guess Reina.
• Rating: 6/10

 

 

So overall, Layneh gave them all high ratings (I need to teach her how to be more tough!). I've got some other ideas in store for her, so stay tuned. :D

 

Another year, another concert! I always look forward to these, but this year Mari isn't MCing so... that kinda sucks ;_;

I can't wait to see the tracklist for the Elder Club concert, which I know must have some songs featuring Mari.

As for the big end concert, while I'm excited to see Ice Creamusume's debut, but I know I'll need a box of tissues watching the graduation.

 

1) Resonant Blue (All) - Well this is exciting, I just hope its not Ai and Reina being the only ones singing, expecially since its the opening and all...

2) LALALA Shiawase no Uta (All minus Shugo Chara Egg!) - Ugh >.> I suppose its good for getting the crowd excited but... c'mon.

3) Minna no Tamago (Shugo Chara Egg) -  This song's been sticking to me, so I'm alright with it.

 

4) Hapi☆Hapi Sunday (Kusumi Koharu) - *skips*

5) Tan Tan Taan! (MilkyWay) - The one Kirarin*Revolution song I can listen to without hating it. I'll probably watch for first few seconds and then move on, though...

6) FOREVER LOVE  (C-ute) -  Awesomeness. I just hope that the chorus is alright, because its horribly high pitched and must be hard to sing live.

 

7) Meguru Koi no Kisetsu (C-ute, Tanaka Reina and Mitsui Aika) - Alright... thats... interesting. AikaxReina lead would be cool though.

8) MADAYADE (Berryz Kobo) -  RISAKO. LIPSYNC. PLEASE.

She does so horribly at concerts.

Other than that, woot.

9) Koi no Jubaku (Shimizu Saki, Sudou Maasa, Kumai Yurina, Tokunaga Chinami, Sugaya Risako, Kamei Eri, Michishige Sayumi) - Whats up with the Momusu H!P Kids shuffle? Not that I have a problem, I love this song. Risako just better not ruin it.

 

Lalala-Sososo

10) Lalala-Sososo  (Mano Erina) -

I've started to like Manoeri's solo work, but its too bad there can't be a dance or a nice costume for this. Not exactly good concert material, Lucky Aura would have been better.

11) Rottara Rottara (Buono!) - If its Buono!, I'll love it.

 

12) Naichau Kamo (Morning Musume) - Epic costumes, first of all. I wonder if they're just substitute concert costumes for until the PV is released, or the real thing? Oh well, I can't wait. KAMO KAMO KAMO.

13) Mikan (Niigaki Risa, Kamei Eri, Michishige Sayumi, Kusumi Koharu, Mitsui Aika, JunJun, LinLin, Yajima Maimi, Sugaya Risako) - So... looking at who's singing I'm getting pretty excited until I come to the end and see... Risako -.-

And I'm gonna say this right now cause I think I know what you're thinking - I do not hate Risako, but lately her lives have been horrible. She's got amazing looks and can hit high notes with ease, but why does she always have to scream and look like she's in pain?

14) Jingisukan (All) Awesome. I'm getting bored with just Berryz singing it, so I'm excited.

15) Shiroi TOKYO (Nigaki Risa, Yajima Maimi, Tokunaga Chinami, Nakajima Saki, Hagiwara Mai, Mano Erina) - Yay :D Mano gets to sing more.

16) Natsu Doki Lip Stick (Yajima Maimi, Kikkawa Yuu, Maeda Yuuka, Fukada Kanon, Sekine Azusa, Ogawa Saki) - This sounds like a Maimi solo with Eggs as back-up. Eh.

But this isn't really a good winter song...

17) Baka ni Shinaide (Shimizu Saki, Natsuyaki Miyabi, Kumai Yurina, Sugaya Risako) - Mmkay. Alot of Berryz in this concert, amirite?

18) Mr.Moonlight ~Ai no Big Band~ (Takahashi Ai, Umeda Erika, Tokunaga Chinami, Nakajima Saki, Okai Chisato, Arihara Kanna, Saho Akari, Sekine Azusa) - AWESOME. But lets hope its not 100% Aichan, I want to hear Chisato too!

19) Soku Dakishimede (C-ute) - This is the best early C-ute song, its always so intense and awesome. And best of all -- it replaced Massara Blue Jeans!! Yes!

 

20) Gyagu 100kai bun Aishite Kudasai (Berryz Kobo) - Yay no Special Generation :DDD And last I remember its mostly Momoko ^^

21) Darling I LOVE YOU (Berryz Kobo, C-ute) - I've heard this song too much. But hey, its newer than Massara Blue Jeans and Special Generation.

22) Take off is now! (Takahashi Ai, Nigaki Risa, Tanaka Reina) - Never heard this but I know its gonna be in the new album (or at least I'm pretty sure ^^;) so YAY!

23) Renai Revolution 21 (Morning Musume) - Better than LOVE Machine.

24) Guru Guru JUMP (All) - Another song from the new album, woot.

25) Ame no Furanai Hoshi de wa Aisenai Darou (All) - Finally more LinLin love. She isn't in a single shuffle this concert. And of course I'm happy JunJun is there too <3 And maybe this time more solos for the others?

26) Go Girl ~Koi no Victory~ (All) - This was the first Momusu song I ever heard, so I love it. I haven't seen it in concerts much so yay x3 I'm guessing groups of singers are distinguished by colors?

 

Annnddd thats enough of my two cents.

Just an update: still looking for more Engrish T-shirts T^T

Its just a fanmade video I found on YouTube xD I think it's really funny. Kinda makes light of the event.

My favorite part is "I'm Maiha." "She left some time ago."

:P

I just found out about this, and it really surprised me. According to 「☆☆☆」, Tokunaga Chinami's cellphone was stolen recently and several pictures were leaked out to the internet. I'm not posting them here becuase I beleive it's an invasion of privacy, if you really want to see them you can go to 「☆☆☆」and look at them.

Personally, I think this is horrible and the sick bastard who stole her phone should be fined, not only is it an invasion of privacy, but from the quality of most of those pictures I'll bet she has a very expensive phone. Its nice to know the police are working on it.

Imagine if you had a cell phone with pictures of say, your boyfriend's abs or your best friend half-naked and sleeping. I know I would certinaly not want my parents to see those pictures, much less the whole world. Its a good thing there were no scandalous pictures on her phone.

Though I have to admit... it's nice seeing the girls not being idols and more like normal teens.

My geometry teacher thought he had his cell phone stolen (turns out he left it in his car, but ANYWAY), his whole life was on that phone. His calendar, all his contacts, and his schedual. He was devastated when he thought that it was gone forever.

Its almost creepy to know that there are stalkers like this in the world, poor Chinami. I want to say this is probably a hoax, but those pictures are so personal (especially the ones of Maimi) they have to be from her phone (or any other H!P member's for that matter).

It seems like only yesterday we got news of a new Berryz Kobo album, and its already been released! I'm waiting for iTunes to get it, once again. >.< They haven't gotten Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance yet either.

I will only be reveiw the new songs :]

 

1) Happy! Stand Up // All

Such a great song as an opening. It's definatly one of my favorite, it has a funky tune and it's catchy. I'm happy that everyone got somewhat equal lines (Risako as usual has the most). This song will be so fun when it's performed live,

and I'm excited to see the choreography, especially during the kick butt guitar instrumental break.

 

2) Kono Yubi Tomare! // Tsugunaga Momoko, Tokunaga Chinami, Sudou Maasa

Maasa's only small group song in this album (everyone else gets two). It's really a shame, the song isn't all that good. I listened to this song alot to finally like it, but it really never clicked. Are those supposed to be trumpets playing? They sound nothing of the sort. They're so fake, and that was a definate turn-off for me. But ohmygosh Maasa is so good at high notes. And the guitar instrumental break is, once again, pretty kick butt.

 

3) Baka ni Shinai de // Shimizu Saki, Natsuyaki Miyabi, Kumai Yurina, Sugaya Risako

When I fist found out the tracklist, the first thing that popped into my head for this song was a song like Suki Sugite Baka Mitai, and it is. Berryz really should sing more rock, like Sayonara Hageshiki Koi and this one. They own it.

 

I do not like, however, how Risako stands out the most in the group parts. Risako has been the spotlight of Berryz for forever, and it's getting annoying. She's a lazy dancer and a mediocre singer. They'd mine as well make her the captain of BK rather than Saki.

 

 

4) Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance // All

---

 

5) Ah Merry-go-round // Shimizu Saki, Tsugunaga Momoko

Wow, Momoko did the monologue with a normal voice! GO MOMOKO! She

 sounds so mature and her age in this song, and suprisingly her and Saki's voice blend amazingly well. NEW UNIT PLZ?

The R&B tune sounds awesome, but it reminds of INDIGO BLUE LOVE (from Morning Musume's Rainbow 7 album). To tell the truth, alot of the songs in this album reminded me of older H!P songs.

 

 

 

6) CLAP! // Tokunaga Chinami, Natsuyaki Miyabi, Kumai Yurina

Like Kono Yubi Tomare!, the song really isn't very good. Yurina's voice doesn't fit the song so well. I do, however, like the chorus with the "o yeah yeah yeahs" and "oh la la la".

 

 

7) REAL LOVE // Sugaya Risako

OK, so, when I first found out that Risako has to have a solo, I was immediatly turned off. Like I said about Baka ni Shinai de, she's a lazy dancer and a mediocre singer.

 

See what I mean? 

But she really has improved! Her voice is still nasely, but not as much.

The song rocks, it's alot like Ah Merry-go-round and the chorus is really good. 

Risako can really belt out O.o

 

 

8) Yume wo Hitobutsu ~Berryz Kamen Ending Theme~ // All

Are those... harmonies I hear? Or are that just a really loud instrumental?

The song is cool, it sounds Russian and it sounds like the only solo lines are Maasa's. WOOHOO!

Too bad the song is so short.

 

9) Jingisukan // All

---

 

10) Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi // All

---

 

11) BE // All

Because every album needs a ballad ;D

Such a pretty song. Everyone singing together, no uneven line distrubution and little kids.

It's like a breath of fresh air after hearing all that bubblegum pop.

I can even imagine playing this song in band. Of course I never will, but its nice to imagine, right? :D

 

12) Special Generation (Eccentric Remix) // All

Without a doubt, this is the best remix of an H!P song ever. I like the drowned-out lines and then the perfectly clear ones. Theres even this really cool jazz part, I'm sure MorningBerryz will like that ;D

 

 

Finally! We get news on what Morning Musume's 37th single will be called. It was such a long wait, the single was announced in early August and is being released September 24.

The title is Pepper Keibu, a popular song sung by Pink Lady and covered by leader Takahashi Ai and sub-leader Risa Niigaki in a TV drama.

 

 

Hello!Project has done alot of covers, such as Morning Musume's Morning Musume no Hyoukori Hyoutanjima origionally sung by TimeFive

 

 

Not to mention the unforgetable cover of German song Dschinghis Khan covered by Berryz Kobo.

 

 

Morning Musume have even done gigs with Pink Lady.

 

 

So yeah, what I'm trying to say is that this single might actually be really good. Pepper Keibu is a well known song already, and Tsunku is pretty good at making the covers sound good.

Radio preveiw soon, I hope?