I’ve been out of the blogging loop for a while because of a case of real-life-sucks, but things are starting to come back together again, so instead of trying to go back and write intelligently about the various things which have happened with H!P recently, I’m just going to do what I do best and babble on about what comes to mind when I think of the current incarnation of H!P.
First and foremost, Morning Musume needs to have an audition. I don’t care if they don’t pick anyone again like they did with the original 7th audition. Just… shake it up a little. The group, for all that they are finally starting to do well again, is stagnating. I love the songs that are coming out of this period to a point (Nanchatte Renai is probably my favorite so far of the new songs) but they’re starting to sound the same regardless, and there’s a certain formula that’s being followed. Takitty and Reina are sharing top billing still, but Risa and Eri are getting more and more support, then Sayumi and Koharu are definitely getting their lines in there… and 8th gen are being shafted… still. This, despite the fact that Junjun has sales that are steadily creeping upward, Linlin had a solo on an ALL-H!P album, and Aika had a solo on the last MM album. Get some new blood in there who can be shafted and no one will care. Maybe that person/those people will be good enough that the, um, Momusu Golden Girls can move on to a slightly less demanding gig.
Next on my mind is Berryz Koubou. I was worried for a while there that they weren’t going to putting out another single this year after doing their Seishun Bus Guide/Rival double A-side. But, of course, how silly of me. They’re, instead, pampering me as a fan and putting out… another double A-side. I’d hate to be horrible and ask for an album before the end of the year, too, but I’m hopeful. There hasn’t been a proper Berryz album since about a year ago right now, and while it was wonderful? I want another one that’s as good or better and isn’t chock full of nothing but singles. Additionally, recently Yurina released her 2nd PB and I didn’t care because I don’t like Yurina as a “personality” though she is pretty. Momo released her 4th PB and I didn’t care because I want a pretty face and a butt of normal proportions on the girls I drool over. Chinami released her 1st PB and while I was excited? I’m saddened that the last Berryz member to have a PB will be my favorite: Captain. Granted, Captain is the type of person to say “I won’t do a PB until everyone else in BK gets to do one,” in which case I kind of expect one for her birthday. Captain has become so attractive lately that I can’t imagine her just not getting one.
In the realm of °C-ute… it seems to me the end is near. 3 years into their operation and they’re down 3 members (or will be in a few weeks, anyway). I thought Megumi was talented, but I wasn’t an H!P fan back when she left, so I can’t really care. Kanna being gone still grips at my chest when I think of it. And, Erika’s leaving to go be a model where she’ll get paid to do almost exactly what °C-ute had her doing… standing there doing almost nothing in fabulous clothing. On top of the girls leaving, I wonder if maybe the group is doing too much. They’re pushing singles out as fast as they can. They’ve nearly caught up with BK in terms of number of albums (if you count the two Berryz minis as a single full album) and they’re about halfway there with singles… moreso if you count the indie singles. Maimai is getting a PB, but there are still 2 of the 5 girls without one. Or, rather, she’ll be the 3rd of the original 8 to get a PB… 3 of whom left before doing one. I think Erika has the chance to do one once she goes to model, though. They’ve got an Alo-Hello scheduled to come out and I can imagine it being trite and boring with all of the girls trying too hard, though we’ll see. I just feel like the group is falling apart. Their recent songs have been bombs even to longtime fans, and it’s the do-or-die-Hail-Mary moment when we’ll see if they’ll sink or swim. I don’t foresee °C-ute in the even-somewhat-distant future of H!P unless it drastically changes. Maybe I’m the only one… but doesn’t it seem like their PV budget has been drastically reduced, and the “quality” just isn’t there? Even as someone who doesn’t like °C-ute, I can still say that certain of their songs and PVs are really good.
Manoeri continues to be a bit of a plague to me. Certainly, she’s charming and attractive. But, I just don’t like to listen to her. Yet, a certain subset of the Japanese people adore her beyond all other things. She’s releasing pretty often, too, and I think Tsunku, too, realizes that the Manoeri commodity does have a shelf life.
A lot of the H!P Eggs are graduating before actually… hatching? I don’t know a lot of the names, but I think the rest of the Ongaku Gatas girls. The S/mileage members seem to be focused on dancing for Manoeri and maybe getting close to their debut soon. The girls have been replaced in Shugo Chara Egg! where they’ll be joined by 2 rather unappealing-looking girls whose names I couldn’t be bother to learn, and an as-yet-unknown fourth member to be found through an… audition! I don’t know details, but I guess we’ll see. I really like the look of the original SCE! expect for Saho Akari… and so of course she’s the only one who gets to stay in it, right?
Elder Club isn’t doing much except being invited to a few performances with Momusu here and there. Yaguchi and Tsuji have been EVERYWHERE, it seems. They even performed with most of Momusu and all of Berryz Koubou in cheering on a marathon. (°C-ute were in Hawaii at the time.)
Oh, and then there are a few little offshoots to mention. Frances and Aiko for H!P Taiwan… are somewhat cute, but really freaky… and they’ll have an album coming out soon. The song title is ridiculous and the PV seems to be ever more so. DO NOT WANT. Additionally, Tsunku seems to have sold some temporary rights to avex for “Love Machine”. They have an artist named RIKI or something who remade the song (though its not much different from the original, really) and the PV is an utter brain spasm. Tsunku appears in it for a bit, though. I hope that’ll finance the Momusu audition I want.
Still, all told? I have hope for the future of H!P. My favorite group , BK, seems to be gaining significantly more fans. My 2nd favorite, Momusu, is experiencing the best sales they’ve had since Koharu’s first single. My least favorites are doing a lot, but seem to be wearing themselves away. The cream will rise to the top (though dirt can find it’s way to float on top of it).
Argh. It’s now 3 in the morning. I believe bed is in order. I’ll do my best to blog again soon!