Just when you think these ensembles can't get any better, up crops somethiing like Berryz Kobo's newest single now on DohhhUp!
I don't even know what its name is (methinks it's called "Rival" but I can't be sure), nor what the song is even about. But it has such a beautiful, upbeat, smooth, harmonic, happy retro '60s feel (much like Buono!'s "Rottara Rottara"). Here it is:
http://www.dohhhup.com/movie/T6WrqBIkWyJ3reKBrysDEizu4K8SssPE/view.php
The outfits are sensational, and the members all have dynamite new haircuts. It's just joy on a stick. That's all I can really say about this. I'm looping it forever on whatever players or computers I can get my hands on!
It's no wonder that blogger and J-pop expert Celestia, in a recent review of the Elder Club graduation concert that occurred on Jan. 31-Feb. 1, said that Berryz Kobo was getting better than flagship Morning Musume. I would take it a step further and say that Berryz Kobo is the best in the world right now, surpassing even °C-ute in my mind.
Why? Because, finally, Berryz is catching the more upbeat of Tsunku♂'s most recent song creations and staying away from those mediocre ballads (costuming has been upgraded, too, in a big way). Meanwhile, °C-ute (Kanna) and Morning Musume (Aika) are fighting injury problems. Further, Momoko and Miyabi of Berryz are wreaking havoc as two-thirds of the smash-hit trip Buono! (Suzuki of °C-ute making up the third segment of that superb band).
Capt. Saki blows everyone a big-time kiss near the end of this one for Berryz. More on the Captain's legacy here:
http://bloggerparty.com/content/berryz-kobo%E2%80%99s-magnificent-%E2%80%98little-captain%E2%80%99
Zush has a gushing report here:
http://www.berryz-kobo-international.com/blog/?p=496
This is Rad♂ signing off -- for now.
First Kanna of °C-ute, now Aika of Morning Musume. Tokyograph reports on yet another Hello! Project injury – and, again, like with Kanna, it’s a toe problem. Check the report:
http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-4812
And, unlike Kanna, who is apparently just resting to regain use of her toe, Aika of Morning Musume will have to undergo some kind of surgery and will miss a fan event May 23-24.
It is not known whether the condition will keep Aika, the youngest of the current nine Morning Musume members, from Anime Expo 2009, where the famed Japanese all-female ensemble is due to make its U.S. debut on July 3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Keeping these stars healthy is almost as hard, it seems, as keeping pro football players on the field, as dancing’s athleticism can pose similar drawbacks. It’s not easy being an idol singer-dancer:
http://bloggerparty.com/content/hello-project-girls-are-physical-miracles
Let’s hope for the best for both Aika and Kanna in the days ahead.
This is Rad signing off – for now.
First things first. Kudos to Paul Thomas for the sensational “3-2-1 Breakin’ Out” video contest entry. He’s the $4,000 winner, hands down, as far as I’m concerned. It can be seen here:
http://www.helloblog.co.uk/comment.php?commentID=458
So, it looks as if Morning Musume will be wearing their hip-hop outfits to Anime Expo 2009, July 2-5 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Hopefully, they might bring along at least one other outfit – and include “Resonant Blue” as one of the songs in their setlist for the convention concert on July 3.
The show will mark Morning Musume’s first-ever appearance in the U.S. "3-2-1" has been tabbed by Morning Musume producer Tsunku♂ as Anime Expo 2009's theme song.
“Resonant Blue” is huge as it is a funk-rock riff that is off the charts. “3-2-1 Breakin’ Out” is simply a crazy blues banger, so hopesfully both songs will be on the July 3 card.
In the meantime, the countdown continues for Anime Expo 2009. Sign up now:
This is Rad♂ signing off – for now.
The good news is that AKB48’s ultra-cool Team K showed at at a Star Trek movie promo in Japan. The bad news is that nobody knew who these "schoolgirls" were.
Still, it was impressive that AKB48 found itself at such a high-profile event. Indeed, someone thought it was Morning Musume that made the appearance! Don't worry. They're coming to AX 2009 in July!
Here’s the whole blog:
Hope I’m not wrong on any of this. It does look like my fave, Erena Ono, is second from the right. And ... is that Haruna second from left? Just another good reason to see the new Star Trek movie, which is an instant classic!
This is Rad♂ signing off – for now.
One of the best numbers during the Wonderful Hearts 2009 concert tour in January was “Mikan,” featuring most of Morning Musume, and it came out so well because Maimi of °C-ute and Risako of Berryz Kobo were added to the mix.
This was one of many so-called "shuffle" songs included in that spectacular concert DVD. The first was °C-ute’s “Meguru” with Morning Musume’s Reina and Aika participating. Another was Berryz Kobo’s “Koi no Jubaku” with Morning Musume’s Kamei and Sayumi joining in.
This is where numbers really make the magic happen, unlike in U.S. pop music where a single star or entity, such as Hannah Montana, gets overused and goes stale:
http://bloggerparty.com/content/hello-project-hannah-montana-times-70.
All three shuffle songs were exceptional, but “Mikan” showed a little something extra: Just how good the junior groups °C-ute and Berryz Kobo have become.
As a big Morning Musume fan and very much aware of what that group means in the illustrious history of Japanese pop music, I hate to admit this, but Maimi and Risako really looked great and actually upstaged the other Morning Musume members in this number. Maimi had the dance moves and Risako the power voice.
Would Maimi and Risako be great additions to Morning Musume? Absolutely yes! But they would go into that group as major lede components, outshining even the likes of Aichan and Risa in the process. In any event, “Mikan” was a great song with the two junior-group members in it.
On the reverse end, Sayu and Kamei of Morning Musume looked really great with Berryz, and clearly appeared comfortable there. It was a wash, even-steven. As for Reina and Aika, their red plaid office suits appeared out of place with °C-ute’s shirts-and-ties, and Reina is a real star, sticking out like she didn’t really belong there. Still, those three shuffles were an enjoyable idea.
It’s just another great example of how Tsunku♂ takes the same classic songs and repackages them, creating such novel new versions they might as well be brand-new.
This is Rad♂ signing off – for now.
Holy moly. I can't really believe that 1) Manoeri is gaining traction musically, and 2) Saki-O is continuing to make big waves in the Hello! Project universe. The proof is in the videos. First, Manoeri's latest single is a zinger. Simple, yes, but a zinger nonetheless:
http://www.dohhhup.com/movie/xY4pD8XG1RTr7PKpv4a75ahLgA8W5GGY/view.php
And, my goodness, this YouTube package on Saki-O defies description:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNRChVLlEXw
Man, this kid was sensational from the very start. Saki-O's auditions were astonishing, and she beats hell out of any of the Morning Musume or junior-group songs she performs. Get this kid a solo act or into one of the big groups yesterday, if not sooner!
Want more proof? Listen as she demolishes one of Suzuki's great solos, "Vector:"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR_ssSDhk1A&feature=related
As a comparison, check out the following "Vector" version by another classy Egg, Yuu Kikkawa. I'll leave it up to you which version is best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2qfqAiacNA&feature=related
Finally, here's Suzuki's version Sorry, Saki-O, you're not quite this good, not just yet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR_P5iwtzHg&NR=1
This is Rad♂ signing off -- for now.
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