Saki-Maimi combo highlights ‘High-King’

Top singer Aichan, left, teams with world-class dancers Maimi, center, and Saki in 'High-King.'

Wow. The following appeared in a dream recently and now I look on DohhhUp! and it’s suddenly real: A Hello Project unit that brings together the world’s top two dancers into a single unit – surrounded by experienced talent and a fresh young daisy from Egg country.

Enter High-King. And they are sky-high from the look and sound of this first single: http://www.dohhhup.com/movie/FXPu7gazkrI5XDdBVVnmfLq9bx15kJvK/view.php

Saki hip-hops her way into fans' hearts in a 2006 Berryz Kobo show.

The two dancers to which I refer are Maimi of °C-ute and Saki of Berryz Kobo. Both are in the High-King lineup. They mesh extraordinarily well with Aichan and Reina of Morning Musume, who provide vocal punch but who are not the best of dancers.

Round that out with a striking, talented Egg (aren’t they all?) named Maeda Yuuka, and the package is more than complete. It is yet another brilliant, fresh move by Tsuinku to keep things interesting as 2008 surges on.

Maimi looks sharp during 'Summer Lipstick,' April 2007.

Hello Online’s announcement of this group’s activities includes the following comment opf interest: “Although High-King has members of varying ages, and are from different groups, reports are that when they are on the same song, they sing and dance well together. It's definitely something to look forward to!”

Maeda Yuuka: Super-duper debut on 'High-King's' first PV.

The post hastily adds that High-King is a temporary “shuffle” group designed in conjunction with this summer’s “Cinderella” musical. Hmm. Where this combination hip-hop/salsa single fits into the Rogers and Hammerstein fairy tale is yet to be explained.

Temporary? Too bad. This setup is reminiscent of ZYX, a 2003 shuffle group that also featured Saki and Maimi, only with Mari Yaguchi the leader with Momoko, Umeda, Megumi and even Risako thrown in for good measure.

Reina is the dessert after the main course of 'High-King.'

Maybe CK’s H!P Blog can provide an explanation. Heard Chris is trying to arrange a summer fling to Japan to see not only “Cinderella” but the Hello Project Summer 2008 extravaganza, this year set for the Yoyogi Park indoor arena/gymnasium. Wish I could go to that one!

This is Radicalipton signing off – for now.