Giving AKB48 a Chance: The 3 Day Challenge - Day 3 (Part 2)

Okay, let's get into Part 2 of this post! I've returned home from whatever the hey I was doing, and honestly, I am ready to roll and finish up this challenge before midnight hits! It's 21:50pm here, so let's get on with this post! Just a little over two hours to go!

So, we are on the final part of the final day x3 How does that feel, guys? I dunno about you, but it's getting exciting for me here on out, because the recommendations for these songs have been amazing so far, and I am really liking what you guys have offered for me to listen to. But it's not over yet! Oh no...

Day/Night 3 (The Final Part! For Realz):

So I have a few more songs to go through, and I would like to thank the commenters for suggesting their favourite, or recommended songs, to me so that I can get a taste of what everyone else likes. The suggestions are a lot better than what I picked and chose to listen to, so thanks to you all! x3

So, without further ado, let's get into the final post of this challenge, and see what my opinion of AKB48 is overall after this! Wheee~

Song 7: Jungle Gym (Yamamoto Sayaka)

This song was suggested by Thennary Nak, and whilst I have no idea where to find the performance for this song, I decided to look for the MP3 to see why it was recommended by darling Thennary, and honestly, seeing the title, I thought that this song would be jungle themed for some weird reason.

No, it's in fact themed around a childs Jungle gym, Chiima... though we don't call them Jungle Gym's in England. We call them 'Apparatus' for some odd reason. Forgive my confusion, Yurushite Nyan~ -gets pummeled to death by many of you-.

*Ahem* Anyway, Yamamoto has such a pretty voice, and she really suits the gentle tone of this song, I think. Her vocals just seem to sit so well with the instrumental, allowing the song itself to compliment how she sings and the feel of her voice. She sets the right amount of emotion in the song, too, and I find her voice very likeable.

The song itself is quite cute and likeable, as it looks into the present and past of the person that the song is focused on, talking about her childhood and how she used to be before finding love. It's a song which I can somewhat relate to, as I tend to often think about what I used to be like and how, as a person, I have changed... though in all honesty, I bet many people can relate to the song's lyrics in their own way, cos we all have changed and grown up.

In a way, the song is quite touching, as it reflects on the person and how they feel they have changed. Or am I, once again, reading into this too much...?

Who knows, but it's a nice song. Possibly something I wouldn't listen to that much, but I definitely wouldn't ignore it if it was put on play again.

Song 8: Blue Rose

This song took me a little bit of time to find, because I went to look at a few songs before choosing this one. Among the songs I looked into were Wasshoi B!, Mr. Kissman, Mokugekisha and Arashi no Yoru ni wa, but sadly none of those songs really appealed to me. They were good songs, however they didn't stick out for me personally, and I didn't find myself falling for them. Well, I guess that is the same as this song too, though I like it a bit more...

Blue Rose was suggested by another Anonymous user, and this song is pretty cool... the sort of tone I generally don't care for, because I'm the sort of sugary sweet girl, or ballad girl, but this song is quite nice. The chorus, though, has to be my favourite part of the entire song. It sounds incredibly powerful, and the girls all sound wonderful in this performance It makes me like the song a little more, though not as much as I like other songs.

It stands out because of the performance and the vocals, I guess. I am really enjoying the passion put into this performance and how well the girls deliver their lines.

This won't become a favourite song, but I like the tone and sound of it. It's cool, and the chorus is pretty bad-ass to my ears.

Song 9: Higurashi no Koi

From the same Anonymous who suggested Blue Rose, they also suggested Higurashi no Koi, which when I first heard it made me think of Iroppoi Jirettai slightly, though the instrumental is a lot slower. Also, TakaMina's vocals in this suit this type of song perfectly. When she sang the first time I heard this, I just couldn't help but think 'Wow, her voice fits this song so well'. And then I sqee'd because Masuda Yuka has returned, guys. I am a happy bunny x3

Admittedly this song would not be my first choice if I wanted to randomly listen to a track, but the pure quality and beauty of both TakaMina and Yuka's voices just makes me want to continue to listen to the song. They have beautiful voices, with TakaMina's being the girlier, somewhat softer voice, and Yuka's being stronger and lower too. The combination is quite nice, and they sound lovely together.

It's a nice song... but I wouldn't necessarily listen to it again unless I wanted to hear TakaMina's voice fit an instrumental so perfectly, but the song itself is fine... just not to my taste, really.

Song 10: Glass no I LOVE YOU

Guys... Oh my gosh, guys, I've found my Annoying song!!! I finally found my AKB annoying song to play when I am too tired of Pin Pan Pon Taisou or Konnichipa! YES!!! A song which I will hate because it gives me headaches from the horribly forced voices. Whooo~

Sillyness aside, the opening of this song instantly made me think 'I hate you already!', because it was truly irritating to listen to. This was what, five seconds in, and honestly, it's still an annoying song, but it also an undeniably cute song, despite how much I want to loathe it. Well... rest assured, I won't ever listen to this song again afterwards, but I thought that I would throw in this song here because, hey, this challenge doesn't necessarily mean I have to like everything I watch, and honestly, I would like to give you something I don't care about as well as the songs I do happen to like.

It has some good parts in it, mostly when the girls aren't singing the chorus, but honestly that's it. I guess I just can't stand the instrumental or the girls and their fake voices. Honestly, if I wanted to listen to a fake voice, I would be a fan of Momoko Tsugunaga and a fan of Ogura Yui, but I'm not. Aye aye aye...

Anyway, it's cute, but it's annoying... and I may want to burn this song from my memory after this. So yeah...

Song 11: Rock da yo, jinsei wa...

Mina had suggested some of the 'Loli' songs to me for the stages, and this is the one which stuck out to me the most because of the energy and ball of fun it was! Also, it reminds me of Koko no Iruzee in a way, but only because both songs are a bundle of fun to listen to!

It's loud, crazy and absolute fun and madness... and that's how I will stick to describing it! The instrumental is full of life and absolutely fun, reminding me of the Morning Musume I never knew, and the song itself is quite inspiration in its own way, encouraging youngsters to go on and move ahead no matter what. It's just... it's amazing to watch and listen to, the smiles the girls have is infectious, and the song itself is really catchy. I love the fast pace to it, how loud, energetic and wonderful it is and how much is put into the performance. It's just... well, it's awesome!

It makes me smile, which is what genki songs are meant to do! Oh man... this song... <3

Song 12: Idol nante Yobanaide

Another song from the lovely Mina, this time from a sub-unit(?) or a small grouping from AKB. And boy, is this overly sugary...

... Ow, my tooth!

Also, I feel like I have found a unit (okay, song) which is just as annoying as Glass no I LOVE YOU, though not as sugary and sweet, and not as annoying, either. The girls have horrible fake voices, yes, but at least they aren't as bad as those of the girls singing Glass no I LOVE YOU. Though the voices are still headache worthy, mind you...

It is a really cute song, though, and I honestly think that it helps that I like Mii-chan and Erepyon in this, because I know that those two can sing a lot better than they let on in this performance. However, admittedly, I like the lyrics of the song more than the song itself. The lyrics are the feelings of an Idol who wants people to realise her feelings and to consider her more it seems, and I like how it simply takes on the emotions that the Idol in the song has. It strikes true to any Idol, really, as they are all treated like dolls who aren't allowed to do what they want because of the public's love.

The song's meaning is nice, by far better than the annoying tone to the song itself, and I liked reading the English translation of the lyrics. It's a pity the song doesn't strike me as anything special, though.

Song 13: 7ji 12fun no Hatsukoi

A song from another anonymous user, this is actually one of the calmer songs they recommended to me, though also not one of their highly recommended songs... but for me, this one stuck out more and is a song which I am quite enjoying. It's cute, but not overly sweet and tacky, and has the right amount of adorable fluff that you need for a song like this. The lyrics are really cute, too.

The song is about a girl who falls for a boy she briefly meets, and holds an imaginary date with him in her head, but understands that she can't really date him. It's that sort of song that talks about the thoughts and feelings of an innocent girl and her crush on a boy. I swear, we've all been there, where we imagine we are dating someone we barely know, and this song portrays that scenario quite well, I think. The gentle tone and the cute voices just set the song up nicely and make it a good listen. Okay, so it's not the best stage song I have listened to, but I quite like it.

The lyrics are also nice, so that's a bonus!

Song 14: Heart gata Virus

I found this song on the suggested videos on youtube, and you know what? I'm happy that I clicked it, because it's quite a nice song! The name is also really cute, and kind of speaks for the song itself really.

The song is a cute romantic song, portraying the feelings of a girl who didn't want to love a certain guy, but ended up doing that anyway, and now she can't stop thinking about him. It's your basic love story, though written in song, and it's just adorable. It depicts the emotions of a girl well as she goes through a love she didn't want, but can't stop, and the tone of the song matches her romantic feelings perfectly, though it doesn't really match the struggle of her falling in love well, but hey, who cares? It's sweet!

There's a good amount of energy in this song, though not too much that it takes over. The girls also sound nice, and thank goodness they aren't feigning their cuteness! Whew!

Song 15: Skirt, Hirari

I thought that I should throw in a PV for this part of my Challenge, and where better to go than one of the very first songs AKB48 recorded... meaning that this is indeed an Indies single.

A lot of people like this song, but honestly... I can't understand why, but I feel that's because I just don't really like the sound of this song. Upon first hearing it, I'm already bored, though I do like how it is a change of pace from their latest releases. It has a nice pace to it, but the tune really does nothing for me at all. It just... well, it bores me. I have no idea why, but the song just has no appeal for me.

But I doubt every song can grab me. Not even Morning Musume has a full discography which pleases me. I guess I am just immune to some songs x3

Though at some points, it can be catchy, but really... sorry, Skirt, Hirari, but you are not my cup of tea DX Though props on the vocals!

Song 16: Oshibe to meshibe to yoru no chouchou

What were my first thoughts when this song started? None other than 'OMAIGAWD JAMES BOND!'. I kid you not, I thought that the opening sounded familiar to the famous 007 theme. How weird...

Other than the 007 familiarity, this song sounds quite... sexy? It's got that certain beat to it which makes it sound sensual in a way, and that kinda caught me and made me want to continue listening to it. So, of course, I looked up the lyrics... and found out that indeed it was a song based on sex, and more importantly (for those who care) based on the relationship of what seems to be a lady and her mistress, who I think is a young girl? Well... isn't that interesting?

The song seems to depict the love of the young girl, but the lady seems to be a bit moreplayful and has a more carefree nature towards their affiar, seeing it as simple fun. Now, this is one interesting concept... I don't think that I have listened to a Japanese song yet which talks about the forbidden love between to women, so it's quite interesting to read about.

The performance itself is quite sensual too, so for those of you who aren't too fond of same-sex relationships or a performance which insinuates the act of love between two women, then don't go further! Reading this would be bad enough for you I guess xD

Song 17: Baby! Baby! Baby!

My final song for this challenge, and one which I actually avoid a lot, is Baby! Baby! Baby!. Why this song?...

Because it's the first song that youtube brought up when I typed in AKB48 into the search engine, so I decided to talk about this one, because I do have some history with it which will surely bring up my horrible AKB48 hating past.

So, Baby! Baby! Baby! and I have a brief history. I was, at the point in time when I watched this, a person who was heavily into Hello! Project, and slowly creeping into a deep dislike for AKB48. I think that Baby! Baby! Baby! helped me to push myself and my dislike forward because one of my friends online actually greatly disliked AKB too, and made a point of telling me that they were whores and sluts when I asked her what she thought about this group I knew nothing about. The reason she called the sluts and whores?

It was this PV, and pictures or screen caps taken from said PV, that made her say that, and sadly I followed along with it. Well, wasn't I a stupid person? I wouldn't have admitted that back then, mind you, but a lot of people have probably thought the same thing, and heck, some people still do.

So, history lesson over, shall we talk about the song and video itself?

I've never actually watched past the 30 second mark on the song itself, only hearing the catchy Baby! Baby! Baby! parts and some other lines, before turning it off and calling quits, but now that I am actually sitting down to watch it properly, and give the damn song a listen to, it's actually a very nicely shot video with quite a few creative shots, a lot of colour, and fan service. Lots of fan service, though what do you expect from their summer songs?

The retro style scenes are actually my favourite, because I love the colour and clothes in those shots. They really bring a touch of normality to the PV, I guess. Also, I love how happy the girls look here. They really seem like they are having fun, something which I don't really see in their newest summer PV's. I guess the concept has become over-used in a way, but for some reason, seeing the girls in this video is quite refreshing. They don't seem as forced as they do in their other PV's.

The song is nice too, it's catchy and a cute summer song. Okay, so it's not the most memorable song ever, but it's refreshing. It's the sort of AKB48 that I never got to experience due to my poor judgements, and yeah, I regret that.

....

So, that's it! My 3 Day Challenge (Part 2) has come to an official end! 3 days of non-stop AKB48 rocking out my mind, and their stage songs showing me a different side to them, has helped me to give this group the chance that I didn't when I was a few years younger, and has helped me to take a closer look at the girls and how passionate they are about being Idols and about AKB48. So, it's been a nice little journey, eh?

But what's the Conclusion?

The Conclusion

Honestly speaking, I think that I feel the same way towards AKB48 as I did before, though now I will be less judgemental. I'm still on the path into liking them, and whilst I may not be a super fan like other Wota are when it comes to this group, I do think that are genuinely good at what they do, but right now... I'm okay with them, but I don't exactly fawn over them either.

Doing this 3 day challenge has helped me to look into more of their songs, though, and I am happy that I was able to take a look at the other material these girls have and to see that they are actually more diverse than I ever thought they were. If anything, I have taken away the knowledge that AKB48 and the sister groups have better material out there that isn't just their A-side or B-side singles, and that I should really just listen to more of their stage stuff to get a better look at what these girls are capable of.

I've also realised how many good singers are in AKB48 - I've found a liking for Akimoto Sayaka and Masuda Yuka, who I wouldn't have found out about if I hadn't been given links to songs that have these girls in them, and whilst none of these songs haev made me think 'Wow, I love it so so much!' (Candy being the closest to that right now) I do feel like I have more to look forward to from AKB48 music wise, instead of just looking forward to a good PV or two.

So whilst I may still feel the same about them, I do think that eventually I will open up to AKB48 more and like them a lot more in the future. I mean, I've warmed up to them a great deal since I started this blog, and it's going to continue, but I think that there will always be that niggling feeling in the back of my head which reminds me how much I disliked them, and I do think that how I used to feel in the past is what actually holds my back from liking AKB48 a lot more than I do now.

In the end, it's progress into liking them, isn't it? And I'm happy I used 3 days of blogging to talk about what I think of the stage and single songs from AKB48. I've found songs and singers that I like, and songs that I don't like... but no matter what group you are into, there will always be somethin you dislike in the discography or group roster somewhere.

Anyway, it's been a fun three days. Thank you all for sharing your favourite songs with me, and thanks for reading these posts. I hope you've enjoyed, and I hope to see you next time without the pitch forks, because hopefully I will give AKB48 a better chance when something new comes out...

It's 23:59pm. Better go! Bye guys ;D

Chiima~

PING!!! Idolminded Recommended Reading: August 31st, 2012

Giving AKB48 a Chance: The 3 Day Challenge - Day 3 (Part 1)

So today's the last day, huh? The 3rd and final day of this 3 day challenge, the one where I actually look into AKB48 and really give them that chance that I needed to give them, in order to broaden my thoughts on not only the group itself, but also the amount of songs they have and how diverse this group really is (despite what their A-sides sound like).

But let's be honest here; I kinda still feel the same way about AKB48 as I did before this challenge, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, because hey, I didn't hate them before, though this challenge helped/allowed me to look into songs that I would have never bothered to looked into unless I forced myself to (which is essentially what this challenge is about - forcing me to care and to see how I am 3 days later) and I feel like I care more about AKB48 right now and I also know that there is a lot more to them than just crappy A-sides with really good MV's. So I have learnt something about AKB, and I guess I can't judge them based on solely their lack-luster A-sides. Whoo~

Anyway, moving on. From Day 2, I had happy feedback, which made me really happy! Coming home from a slow day at work (where I was thinking about what songs to use from a list someone had sent me last night, yaaay!) I was quite surprised to see more comments concerning the post, but one of these comments made me really really happy. It's so sweet! x3 I'm gonna post it, because I feel proud of myself now! xD

"Helloo I just wanted to say that I love how you're covering AKB! I actually am also a Morning Musume fan, and though I don't hate AKB, I've never tried to get into them. Your post is helping me listen to AKB more than I ever have, and I think it's widening my J-Pop world just a little bit. Thanks =D!"

This comment has really brightened my day, and motivated me even more to finish up this 3 Day Challenge! That, and a few people have been sending in little lists of their favourite songs from the 48 groups for me to listen to, which really does help me a lot in this sort of situation! So, I'm really pleased with all the comments and feedback I have been getting from AKB48 fans or non-fans. It spurs me on, and keeps me writing! Yaaay!

I may have to begin a One Week Challenge next, I mean, Ray said something about challenging myself to look into Visual Kei... xD How wonderful that would be for my sister, though tastes change within 3 years, I guess...

Anyway, I am babbling on! I think that it's about time that we get into the third and final (unless there is a part 2, which might just happen!) post for this 3 Day Challenge! It's time to get moving, and listening to some Stage Songs once again! Yipee~

Challenge Accepted!

Day/Night 3 (Final Challenge):

Why bunnies and cuteness, you ask? Because Minegashi Minami, that's why! Seriously, I want to hug that chubby faced beauty!!!

Anyway, back to the real topic on hand (Minami is a cutie!!!), I will be using some of the songs that others have suggested in comments, including the other 48 groups! This includes NMB, a group I dislike greatly for the pure fact that they bore my socks off and in no way entertain me... but that could be because I haven't listened to them in a long time, though their song Virginity failed to entertain me when I first heard it. Hm...

So before I have to scarper off to my Drama thing, I will forget all of my lines and kick back, relax and listen to some Stage songs, a few songs which have been A-sides too, and allow myself to finish this challenge and see just where AKB takes me...

Song 1: Junai no Crescendo

This song was suggested to me by an anonymous sender, who gave a lovely list of different songs which they personally like, with certain songs recommended more than others. Junai no Crescendo was one of the more recommended songs, so I decided to choose this one as the first song to look at.

The opening is really nice, and watching the performance, who is that I see... no, it can't be, can it...? Minami, my chubby cheeked angel! It is you, darling! Well, I'm already liking this song, because the angel is in it, as well as TakaMina, who is a pretty darned good singer may I say? Definitely improved from when she was in her early Idol career (she sounded quite nasally) and she sounds amazing here, though I will say the Angel Minagashi is my favourite voice here. Her voice is surprising against her cute face.

This song is quite cool to my ears, but really easy to listen to as well. It has a lot of appeal actually, and I am quite enjoying it. The opening was what made me want to listen to the song more, but the vocals help to keep my interest. Every one of the three girls sounds great, and I enjoy how perfectly they work together. They all have a certain maturity to their voices, and for this song, I think that maturity is needed.

No wonder this was recommended. It's a pretty song, sung by wonderful singers. I'm liking this, and considering this is a No Sleeves song too, I may just have to look into the group and see how much more I like them...

Song 2: Oogoe Diamond

This song was also recommended by the same Anonymous user, and actually I was quite interested in looking into this song anyway, because the 10th single was the first single to introduce Matsui Jurina in an AKB48 single, as opposed to her own group, SKE48. Now that I've started watching this, I actually remember this from when my sister was into watching videos from AKB48 - and this was one of the songs she liked quite a bit for how catchy and fun it was... and I liked it quite a bit too, but never remembered the name (or never bothered to learn it).

This is a really nice song, and one of the catchiest A-sides I think. It's got a nice beat to it which can get quite infectious if you listen to it enough, and the PV is well made too - I like the performance from the girls in the video and how it shows the work they put into the performance for their 'school'.

The Stage performance itself is pretty bad ass, because there is so much more energy put into the performance than the MV really shows, and you really feel the power and effort these girls put into their stages when you watch them sing live. I also feel like the girls really show more emotion in their stage performances compared to their MV's, which makes them a ot more likeable, admittedly.

I'm enjoying the stage performance of Oogoe Diamond. It's performed wonderfully, and really show cases the true energy of this really good song. Definitely worth a watch, guys! The live I mean, not the PV!

Song 3: Dakishimeraretara

Another song that was trongly recommended, Dakishimeraretara, this song sounds slower than what I expected, honestly, but it sounds extremely promising, especially when the vocals come into play! These girls are all really strong singers, which I am liking a lot!

And the chorus... Okay, this song got a lot prettier! It's absolutely stunning. Oh boy, this song... I might start loving this song, because it actually has to be the prettiest stage song that I have listened to yet. The instrumental is just a pleasure to listen to, and the girls vocals are amazing. For me, this is a true love song, in a way. It has just the right beat, the right amount of power put into it from the vocals, and a good amount of sweetness which makes it just oh so beautiful and such a wonder to listen to.

Ah, I'm falling in love with these girls and this song... help me? Wait, no, don't help me... I like it too much xD

It's a very beautiful song, one which strikes me as the 'perfect' love song. It doesn't sound too sad, nor does it sound overly happy and cheesy. It's cute but also really strong, and honestly, if this came out as an A-side from AKB48, I would probably buy it, because that's just how pretty it is!

It makes me feel happy x3

Song 4: Candy

Aaaaaaand cue the cavity check! It's time for Diabetes and dentist appointments, because this song, or at least how it starts, is extremely sweet and full of sugary goodness! Oh boy, my teeth...

From a love song to something that is filled with cuteness, this is certainly a cute, and a rather nice, change from the beautiful Dakishimeraretara. The girls have such sweet voices which really suit the tone of this song, with a refreshing breath of vocals from Masuda Yuka, who has the best voice out of all three... but that's because she isn't forcing the sugary sweetness and drowning me in the fake cuteness that the other two are.

The song is, in general, a really nice song! I'd say if you hate cuteness to the extent where you feel like you need to visit the dentist, then you should probably avoid this song, unless you want to hear Masuda Yuka with her glorious voice, but yeah... I doubt this would be for everyone, but I'm a sucker for cute songs. I mean, I love Rainbow Pink, so that kinda tells you something about my preference in songs, doesn't it? So yeah, this song is nice! Cute, sugary and tooth-ache worthy! A gloriously cute song, with cute voices and one mature, beautiful voice, to top it all off!

This is definitely my sweet treat dessert from this challenge! Thanks for giving it to me, Anonymous who suggested it >3< Wheeee~~~

Song 5: Yuuwaku no Garter

Another song suggested by the very same Anonymous, and the first SDN48 song I will be looking at... ever. Honestly, I took no interest in this group, and that may have been for the reason that at the time they were around, I was not a fan of AKB and refused to listen to any group associated to them. So yeah...

Anyway, SDN were the more mature group, the girls who really were quite sexy in comparison to their sister groups, and made up of older women. Even the song sounds more mature than most Idol songs, and takes the perspective of an older woman who I think (think think think) has cheated on her boyfriend with her best friend. Wow... risky, right? But hey, whatever works for the group...

The song itself isn't just sexy, but the sound and the feel of the song is sexy. Okay, wait... everything about this song, from the girls singing to the dance, is sexy, mature and risky. And I thought that Baby Baby Baby was bad...

But regardless of the amount of sex this song oozes (how many times will I use that word in this mini review of this song?), it is a good song. I like how mature it sounds, the guitar rifts, the tone... it's all good, and compliments the meaning of the song perfectly. Risky? Oh yes, but it's damn good, so I don't really care. Now, why the hell did these guys graduate? I mean, SDN... wow. I'm liking them already just from this song, as well as mentally kicking myself for never giving them a chance because of my stupid thoughts on AKB48.

Mental KICK!!!!

Song 6: Ame no Pianist

This will have to be my last one for now, but I aim to put up a part 2 as soon as I can because I really need to go, and I want to post this before 7pm England time x3 So, for now, the last song I have chosen to look at is SKE48's stage song, Ame no Pianist.

Why this song? Well, it's SKE, though I was originally going to try out the debut of NMB and see how it fared this time around with my judgement, but I couldn't find a PV which would load quickly enough, so I had to go to plan B: Another song, and this one caught my interest. I like SKE, so I just thought it would be nice to use this as my last song for Part 1 of this post.

So, the song itself is different from most SKE songs. I usually think of bubbly and extremely genki when it comes to any song by SKE, but this one, whilst quite up-beat in its own way, is mild and a lot more toned down, but also a lot more mature and seems to be about a break up (well, it's what I read from the translation of the lyrics...), something which is quite different from my beloved Okie Dokie and Perao Emerald. That said, it is a refrehing and cool kind of song, and I like its tone.

The girls singing all sound very good in this song, and give it that maturity that it needs, but also a bit of innocence with their soft voices. They compliment the instrumental quite well, despite not being the strongest singers... well, if they are strong singers, this song certainly doesn't let their strength come out. But anyway, it's nice, and I like the song enough to not turn it off x3

It's a change from the usual genki songs I hear from AKB, but it's refreshing~

....

And that will be all from me for now, folks! If it wasn't for my drama group tonight, I would probably have about 10 songs written up on here, and then a further 6 on the part two. Alas, it is not meant to be... until later tonight, of course! I have a few more songs to get through, but for now, I hope that these will do~ It's actually becoming a lot of fun doing this!

Curse you, drama group!!! Curses!!!

Chiima~

Giving AKB48 a Chance: The 3 Day Challenge - Day 2

Okay, so I was actually planning on skipping today and going back to this tomorrow, all because I am feeling quite lazy and... well, I've been watching a few musicals, and I've just been in the mood for movies from my childhood and not Jpop, surprisingly. So let's put the blame on Hairspray for making me prefer musicals over AKB48's music...

Oh, and blogger for being an absolute douche and not allowing me to upload freakin' PICTURES!!!!

Well, it looks like I'm here anyway, after forcing myself to open up blogger, stare at it for a few minutes, and then type. Ah, motivation, where are you when I need you the most? This 3 day challenge won't write itself!

Anyways, I've been told by Nia and a commenter to take a look into AKB's stages, as they aren't present on singles, but are apparently better than most of the stuff that are present on the groups singles, so today I went searching (despite telling myself musicals are what I need for this lazy day) and  found a random topic on a forum that has a list of people's favourite Stage songs by AKB. So, have I watched any of them? No! I'm leaving first impressions to the blog, thank you very much! That, and I've been utterly lazy today!

So let's not hang about, because we need to get into Day 2!

Day/Night 2:

So yeah... today's main focus will mostly be on AKB48s stage songs, though I will add in a regular single song here and there, like RIVER or another song I won't watch because I hated it the first time around.

Thinking about the Stage songs, actually, that's a pretty cool concept - they aren't like regular singles, I'm guessing, and are just performed on stage... I don't know, but that's what I think of when I hear the word Stage. Hopefully, these songs will all prove to be as good as everyone makes them out to be, because from what people say, this is some of their better work.

Then again, most works that aren't used for A-sides are better, aren't they?

Anyway, I need to get into this post... I'm holding it up, and quite frankly, I'm wasting your time! x3 Let's go!

Song 1: Confession

This is the first song I decided to look at, mostly because the title sounds like a slow love song which would appeal to me. Well, slow it definitely isn't. Powerful? Indeed. Cool? You bet! It's a song which is quite different to what I expected, though I probably wouldn't listen to it again anytime soon, admittedly, but I like the overall beat and feel to the song itself.

I'm actually surprised by the lyrics of the song and what they mean. This song is about the confession from someone else, as opposed to the girl, who is receiving the confession but doesn't even want it. The lyrics and the song are both quite strong in meaning and the emotions put into them translate well now that I know what the song is about and the feelings the girl has within the story of the song.

It's cool! But as I said, I probably wouldn't listen to it again... the girls sound wonderful, though, and I like how this song portrays the feelings of someone on the receiving end of a confession rather tan singing about how they feel towards a person and how they are scared about what they will say.

Song 2: Cinderella wa damasarenai

When I see the word 'Cinderella' in the title of a song, I immediately think of something cute, girly and in general, quite fairytale like. So believe my surprise at the sound of this song, and how much I am reminded of Iroppoi Jirettai, Odore Morning Curry, Happy Summer Wedding and any other song that sounds quite exotic, though I quite like the Spanish flare this song has to it, but it isn't really impressing me either.

It's a song which took me by surprise, with its exotic feel and fast-paced sound to it. It's a nice enough song, but it's yet to win me over to the dark side of AKB48's Stages.

Song 3: Boku no Taiyou

I actually remember Boku no Taiyou as one of the songs that my sister showed me in our early Jpop-loving days, back when we were unaware of the presence of any Idol group that wasn't Morning Musume. My sister actually had quite a liking for AKB48 at that time, and had shown me a few of their MV's, including Heavy Rotation, which I had taken a liking to and still like today, but this PV... Yes, I remember Boku no Taiyou from before I became a blogger, an AKB hater and a mega MoMusu fan.

So my history with this song, well what little there is of it, is quite a fond one. I actually really like this song, and looking at a list of stage songs for Himawari Gumi 1st Stage, I saw this listed there and wondered why the name was so recognizable, and found the PV for it.

This is also the 5th single of AKB48, so of course it has to have a PV, and honestly I like this song. It's cute and summery, something I like in my Idol songs. There's a nice feel to the whole song and video itself, showing the girls in an innocent and carefree light as they play about and spend time with each other. Their costumes in this are also really cute and eye-catching, with a retro feel to the entire look which really does appeal to someone like me, who loves colour, dresses and flowing skirts. The girls themselves also look extremely beautiful and really natural. Even Bore-chan, who never has emotion in videos or looks forced, is at ease here! It's refreshing in its own way, and it makes me like this AKB48 even more.

The gentle tone of the song wins me over every time, and it's nice to watch it again after about 2-3 years. It's actually nice to remember that when I didn't know of AKB48 properly, I quite liked something by them before I learned their name and how high up they were in the Idol industry.

Song 4: Heart ga Kaze wo Hiita Yoru

Here's another song I chose based purely on the name of the song... or at least one of the words in the song title, which is Heart, though after reading the english translation of the titled (The night my heart caught a cold) I became even more interested in this song, because with a title like that... well, it sounds good, right?

The song is quite sad in meaning, but the emotion and the sound of the instrumental make it sound a lot cooler and more powerful than the words they are singing, though through the instrumental and how the girls sing, I feel the jealousy and sadness that they are portraying in the song, and just how unhappy they are through not receiving the same feelings as the boy they are singing about.

It's a very good song, one which stands out by how the instrumental contrasts beautifully with the meaning of the song itself whilst being translated ell by the emotion the girls put into their performance. It's nice... but it's still not converted me into liking stage songs at all, which is a shame.

I have yet to find one I truly like... damnit!

Song 5: Mushi no Ballad

I picked this one by closing my eyes and clicking blindly, and lo and behold, Mushi no Ballad had been chosen! Actually, Okera had been chosen, but that was yet another song which I didn't like that much, so I thought that instead of continuing a negative streak, I would wait until something else took my fancy. Luckily, Mushi no Ballad was picked randomly next, and so far so good!

This is a solo song which is performed by Akimoto Sayaka of Team K, and wow her voice is amazing! She has so much power and passion in her, it's absolutely amazing! The song itself, though a ballad, requires some power throughout it and this girl really does deliver and has yet to disappoint me with this song! There is so much feeling and passion put into her performance, and I am really enjoying how she just owns that stage and makes only herself present. Seriously... wow!

The lyrics of this song are actually quite moving in a way, expressing how the person will continue no matter what happens to them and that they will continue to live on. It's a nice song translation wise, but it's beautiful in both the instrumental and the voice. Right now, out of the stage songs I have heard, this is the one I like the most.

Song 6: Ai no Stripper

I saw the word 'Stripper', and I gained interest... and that's really it, though honestly, this is a great song and probably the most interesting, or at least the one that interests me the most, out of the group stage songs right now! It's catchy, up-beat and energetic, and the dance is just wonderfully sexy and full of absolute win. And with a title as winning as Ai no Stripper, you really can't go wrong, can you?

Though despite its name, the song itself isn't all that sexy in sound. More so, it's the dance moves that make the song a bit more sexual. Even the lyrics don't sound sexual, it's more so about seeing the real person beneath a facade as well as the person in question being someone who isn't confident, but wants that certain someone to see them for who they are... well, that's what I took from the lyrics, but I like how the song isn't in anyway sexual as the title suggests, but instead tries to talk about how the person really feels, and how they are hiding behind a facade to create an ideal image.

It's a good song, or even a great song, and I'm glad I found this one! It's not as cool as others, but this is the sort of song I like I guess, and it sticks out to me with how catchy and sincere it sounds.

Now, Mayuyu, come here and be my Ai no Stripper x3

Song 7: Locker Room Boy

Okay, I will finish this post at some point, I swear! But I'm actually having a lot of fun looking into the stage songs by AKB, and also, my sister asked me to allow my niece to slam her hands against my keyboard and choose a song randomly for me... and this is what she found x3

My niece has major finding skills, because Locker Room Boy sounds really good, and my ears are feeling happy at the sounds of this song.

This is a cute and happy sounding song, but it has motivational lyrics, urging the boy in the song to be more confident and to just go on whilst also becoming stronger in a way. I like the meaning behind the lyrics, and I like how the song is one which is motivational, even though the instrumental doesn't fit the tone of the songs meaning.

It's a very nice song, though admittedly I would forget it quite quickly. It doesn't exactly stick in my head like other songs do, so sorry Locker Room Boy! You're a nice song, but I have not been won over!

Song 8: RIVER

I'll make this song my final one for today's challenge post, because I really need to finish it up! Also, this is the song that I told myself I would definitely look at today, because it's the one song I really have not given a chance out of all of AKB48's discography. I listened to it once before, and I claimed I hated it before even finishing it. A lot of people love this song, including my sister, and it's about time I got out from under my rock of AKB dislike and took a look at this video properly, and fully listen to it!

Okay, firstly: DAYUMN MAEDA! Why is Maeda Atsuko so pretty in this!? ARGH! I knew it... I knew I would pay more attention to Bore-chan the moment she ditched AKB. Damn! Anyway, other than absolute beauty from Bore-chan, I admit, I am digging this song. It's a lot more Idol like than I remember it being, though that is what makes it really nice to listen to I guess. The girls sound great, and the song, whilst quite Idol like in sound, isn't painfully generic or over the top cute. It's just the right amount of poppy with a touch of cool added to it.

And the PV rocks. Okay, why, oh WHY past me, did you hate this so much? It's a very good PV, with some army march chants thrown in there, which make it that tiny bit cooler, and some really nice encouraging lyrics as well. Okay, now I understand why people like this song so much, and why AKB48 became a lot more popular after this release. It has a high quality video which matches the tone and overall look of the video (the marching army chants fit the costumes they wear, teehee x3) and the dance is amazing... to my standards xD

The girls also sound great!

Arrrrrgh!!!! What is RIVER doing to me? I'm meltiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing...~

....

Aha, this turning out to be much funner than I thought it would. Honestly, I'm enjoying looking for these songs and seeing how I react to them. It was also nice to go back to RIVER, a song I initially hated for an unknown,  but most likely absured, reason and found out that I really liked it! This challenge is really coming in handy and helping me to let go of bad habits and actually take that chance... though honestly, I was going to ignore RIVER today but forced myself into watching it, thinking 'Yeah, still gonna hate your guts, song'.

I am a little disappointed in the choice of Stage songs today though, because none of these songs really 'wowed' me like I wanted them to. I guess I will just need to find something which really impresses me. Any suggestions...? Anyone?

Anyway, that's going to be all from me today guys. Hopefully I will have a post up tomorrow. If not, it's most likely because work has killed me with tiredness and I went back to bed right after coming home.

Anyway, I'm going back to my musicals! AKB48, I will return to you tomorrow, or maybe even later on this evening!

Ciao, darlings!

Chiima~

PING!!! Idolminded Recommended Reading: August 29th, 2012

Giving AKB48 a Chance: The 3 Day Challenge - Day 1

All opinions within this post, and all over this blog, are my own and no one else's. Please respect everyone's opinion, and in return, they will respect yours!

I find it quite strange that I am posting this after Maeda Atsuko's graduation, however I have been wanting to do this for a while, and finally I have done it! After a lot of thinking, and a few comments from fans of AKB48 telling me to give the group a chance, I decided that it was time to do this post.

As a lot of my readers know, I am not an AKB48 fan as such. I am more of a casual fan, someone who dabbles with AKB's music every now and again for a little break from the other Idol groups I listen to, before deciding to call it quits and go back to Morning Musume, though of course how I talk about AKB48 and how I view them has gained me that wonderful pet name 'Hater' on one occasion, but also, it has left AKB fans sometimes asking me if I even listen to other AKB48 songs, and if not, how can I judge them?

Well, I actually judge on what happens in the present, and not the past - the same actually goes for Morning Musume. I care very little for their past songs, though I do like some of them such as I WISH and Dekkai Uchuu ni Ai ga Aru and a few others, but I don't really care for most of their past songs like I do their present songs, or the ones that I was around when I found the fandom, so honestly, AKB48 is no different than Morning Musume in how I treat their singles. What happens now is what I care about now.

However lately I've been thinking about what I can do in order to familiarise myself with AKB48, and to see just why their fans love them so much, as well as to find out why they are asking me to take a look at their past singles and discographies despite the fact that I am looking at the current formation of AKB and not the past.

And then I remembered...

The 3 Day Challenge. Originally posted in October of '11, The 3 Day Challenge was originally created to help me get into the Jpop boy fandom that others had suggested I try, and to also allow me to give them the chance that I hadn't beforehand. It actually helped me a lot, and I found a liking for some JE groups (I don't follow them faithfully, but I do listen to their songs now and again) and opened me up to a different side of JPop which I had originally intended to ignore and never venture.

And that's basically what I want to do here, but this time with AKB48 and their past singles that I haven't listened to, or parts of their discography which I never cared to look at. This challenge will give me 3 days to look at the old AKB48 and how they worked back then as opposed to now, as well as allowing me to familiarise myself with the group more and to try and fall for them like their fans do, because to be quite honest, yes, I am rather judgemental when it comes to this group - but that's only because some of their songs, as of recent, have been quite poor.

Anyway, it seems that I am venturing back to the 3 Day Challenge in order to give AKB48 the chance I haven't really given them, and to see if I can, or will, change my mind on how I view this group.

Day/Night 1:

To begin with, I will admit that when I first came into this fandom, I did not like AKB48 after I found out more about them from the days where I began taking a fancy to Idols. In a way, I felt threatened by this group - they were best sellers, which meant that they were better than Morning Musume, and as a naive and new fan, I was unhappy with that. I thought that Morning Musume was a great group, and so, I never gave AKB48 a chance. Basically, I was a close-minded fool.

But I have started to like them more and more - if I didn't, I would certainly not take the time to review their works on this blog... or at least the songs and PV's that interest me. I do honestly think that AKB48 are a great group and they have some solid singles, but some I feel are clearly better than others.

In the end of it all, I think that people feel I judge AKB48 too harshly, and honestly, I think I do as well, and I put that down to the fact that I had my little history where I just took to hating on a group I never even listened to. It's the same with male groups - because I didn't like them in the past, I didn't feel the need or want to like them in the present, even though my tastes had ultimately changed.

So, before I ramble off again, I am going to get into this post and the first few songs that I will be taking a look at.

Let the Games Begin...

To start off this challenge, I asked for the help of Nia from Nia's Wonderland, as she is more familiar with AKB48 and has a better understanding of the group than I do. She has suggested songs to me, ranging from her favourites, so that I can get a leg-up in this 3 Day Challenge. The first song that she suggested is actually one I have listened to before, but have not really given my full attention.

Song 1: Keibetsu Shiteita Aijou

Keibetsu Shiteita Aijou is a dark video from AKB48, from the days when being risky didn't involve corsets and bikini's. This PV is definitely haunting, with the dark messages littering the video and the theme of school bullying taking on the plot and showing us the darker side to Japan's youth. What makes the video even more sad, and a lot scarier, is the suicidal reference it has when Oshima Yuko stands on the roof and looks down to her fate, with the song ending in one of the most haunting ways I can think of - a sudden stop to the song, as if it is slowly falling and dieing down, to its death before the girls turn, and look to the camera.

The video for this song is quite dark, and the sound and style of the instrumental suits the emotion of the video as well. It's quite creepy, actually, and has the viewer wondering what must have happened to make these girls targets of bullying. There is a lot of thought and meaning put into the creation of this video, and considering this is one of AKB48's earlier works, it is a rather amazing piece and shows that, even as new Idols who were quite unknown and not as popular as they are today, they still brought a certain quality to their work.

The video is eerie in its own way, with a dark plot and a sad ending. It's a song which speaks out to victims of bullying and the harsh reality of how it can affect people and how they see themselves. It's haunting, yes, but the meaning behind it is a powerful one, and it strikes a chord with me.

Song 2: Namida Uri no Shoujo

The second song that Nia helpfully suggested to me was none other than Keibetsu Shiteita Aijo's b-side, Namida Uri no Shoujo, another sad song depicting the loneliness of a girl as she wishes to be seen by people, and how she views herself as the match-seller girl. The song has no video, but much like the A-side, the song also plays around with the notion of death.

This song has a really nice beat to it, one which is quite saddening but also quite catchy and up-beat in its own way. It has a certain appeal to it, and slightly reminds me of something from Pink Lady with an old-fashioned, familiar feeling to the sound. This sort of beat to the song sets Namida Uri no Shoujo apart from the A-side, and allows it to be its own song. I like the emotion within the song, and how both the A-side and the B-side have dark undertones and deep messages hidden in the lyrics.

Song 3: Seifuku ga Jama wa Suru

Seifuku ga Jama wa Suru is apparently a rather infamous song and video for its sexual undertones, and how it hints at enjo kosai (an act of compensated dating). One of the riskiest songs from AKB48 that I know of, this song and video is certainly interesting to look at in terms of seeing how much AKB48 itself has changed as well as their image. Something this dark and daring is quite intriguing actually, and allows the girls to show the vulnerability they have throughout the video whilst also showing that these girls are no longer innocent and have taken a step to a darker part of their lives.

The video is indeed controversial, with its dark meaning and a well constructed plot to lead the viewers into believing that something took place despite the youth of these girls. From the darkness of underage sex to how the girls carelessly allow themselves to be taken into the world of enjo kosai, this PV is visually and lyrically interesting, and how the video itself was edited is extremely interesting and helps to keep the viewer wondering what has happened to certain girls, and why they are doing this.

The darkness of the video helps to set the tone for the entire song, showing us scenes of the girls dancing in a tunnel with untidy uniforms, hinting at the acts that they have all committed the night before, as well as scenes showing the girls preparing themselves for what they about to do. The video is quite sexualised, even for the early days of AKB48, showing off the girls in a part of their culture that many people don't look into when they think of the country and its Idols. The approach itself is risky, but AKB48 pulled it off well, allowing the girls to look, feel and act vulnerable whilst fully aware of what they are doing.

The video is very good, and whilst it is rather infamous, I actually like the risk that was taken with both the song and the video. It shows us more darkness to Japan that we didn't know about previously, and the video is well edited, and the locations well thought out, giving references to the plot and what the girls have been doing.

Song wise, this has to be one of the best songs I have heard from AKB48. It's catchy and dark, and I am enjoying the sound of AKB48 from this time.

Song 4: Tobenai Agehachou

Tobenai Agehachou is the B-side song to Iiwake Maybe, and the first song to feature the Undergirls. Nia explained that she likes the overall musical feel of this sing, hence why she sent it to me.

Now, I am actually quite unfamiliar with Undergirls - I am not the sort of person who takes a look at B-sides from a group I listen to casually, so of course, I've never really heard any Undergirls songs at all. There was probably a day in the past where I took a look at a PV from the Undergirls, however that would have been long ago when I was just starting to care about AKB48 a little more.

Visually, this video is actually quite appealing. Whilst there is no plot, there are plenty of shots to keep the viewer interested Many of these shots use a lot of movement, following the feet, bodies and overall movement of the girls in the video. The location is also quite nice, showing the girls in a warehouse with a water strewn floor. Even the tone of the video feels quite cool and even sexy when you watch it, and the pacing of the editing and how it fits well with the girls' dance moves and the song itself works in favour of the song, and makes a good video despite the simplicity it has.

The song itself is actually musically interesting. I really enjoy the sound and feel of the song, and how it fits the maturity of the video. It has quite a nice beat to it, something that reminds me of a sexual song watered down with something a bit sweeter and more demure, as if the song is playing a game of hard to get in a way, though the song itself isn't sexual at all, but instead it is about the one sided love of a girl who wants to keep her lover to herself, even though he believes her love to simply feel only passion for him, regardless of what she says.

The song is quite passionate, actually, and very well written. I think that both of the song and the video work quite well together, allowing the viewers to see the passion and love the girls are sharing with us through their dance moves and their emotions.

Song 5: Kimi no Koto ga Suki Dakara

The last song on my list for today, this is actually a song which I clicked on randomly from the featured videos via AKB48's official youtube channel, and boy am I happy I did! Kimi no Koto ga Suki Dakara is the b-side to the rather popular RIVER, a song which I tend to ignore but will eventually talk about through this challenge, however right now, I've been drawn in by another Undergirls song, this time with another theme of love, but with a more positive and innocent approach.

The PV is a summery affiar with a carefree feel, showing the girls dancing in a field (it reminds me of NMB48's Oh My God! PV) and cleaning out a pool or hanging out with each other. It's a nice little PV, though nothing special either. It has a summery, carefree feel to it which is really nice to watch, and the energy and happiness in the video is extremely catchy too!

This song is really cute, really catchy... and also, quite generically AKB48! I find that it has that familiar tune that I hear in the new, popular AKB48 now, but it is really pleasant to listen to. It helps that this song is typically quite happy and energetic, with that nice summer feel to it whilst still creating a calming atmosphere with the beautiful blend of voices and the sweetness of the song. I'm really enjoying the sound of the Undergirls in this. They sound cute and happy, and listening to this song and that the energy the girls put in makes me feel happy, and even brings a smile to my face.

It's really cute, and by Gaki am I happy that I clicked on the video out of random curiosity!

....

Once again, I am embarking on a mini-journey which will hopefully help me to come to terms with my dislike for AKB48, and to help me learn more about them as well as to see how the girls started and to also see how much they have changed themselves as Idols. So far, I have liked every song that I have listened to today, and it has helped me quite a bit to look into the beginning of the group and how different they were back then compared to the Idols that they are today.

I know that I am already familiar with AKB48, but I hope that with this challenge I will be more open to the group itself and to become a bigger or better fan. Much like my original JE challenge, I wanted to learn more about the group and try to like them more, and give AKB48 the chance that I keep avoiding to give them. Hopefully I will be able to like them more by the end of this 3 day Challenge, and hopefully I will have a lot more respect and different views on this group, because right now, my opinion on AKB48 as a group is generally not a favourable one.

So, any suggestions from anyone? I do have suggestions from lovely Nia, but if anyone can send in other songs that they enjoy and think that I might like, please send in a suggestion. Any group within the 48 banner is actually welcome, and it might actually help me, or ease me into, liking NMB48.

Anyway, I think that's all for tonight... it's nearly 4:00am here, and I've been up writing this post, but it was honestly worth it for me.

Peace out guys!

Chiima~

PING!!! Idolminded Recommended Reading: August 28th, 2012

A Look at Johnny's Entertainment Groups: The 3 Day Challenge - Day 3 (Part 2)

My opinions are ultimately my own, believe it or not. And so are yours. So, if you don't like my opinion, then tough, because I wanna say what I think! 8D

Day/Night: 3 (Part 2)


Day 3 has actually turned into Day 4 right now, due to being tired as well as writing something else up right after I posted Part 1 of this post last night. However, I find that I have a greater anticipation to listen to more JEnt songs than when I did last night, probably because I am less tired, and it is a new day. Plus it's good to take a break from the amount of JEnt songs I listened to last night.

Anyway, I've been pretty excited to do these posts since the first one - it's different, and it's a nice break from Morning Musume's songs, so I am openly welcoming the freshness that male groups are giving me right now. Okay, so I don't like some of their songs, but the same applies to Morning Musume - I adore the group, but some of their songs bore me or just don't entertain me like others do. The same is going to applied for AKB48 and NMB48 - there are some songs I just really do not want to listen to, whilst others I do. Boy groups aren't going to have all the songs I love, because my mind doesn't work like that.

Anyway. as a last post for this, I would really like to thank Ray from International Wota, Phob who is a friend of mine, Thennary and AimxAim for all listing different songs for me to listen to. This has really given me the chance to break out and actually let go of that irrational dislike I had over boy groups, as well as giving me more to listen to. I think that, in the near future, I will also be reviewing and looking at PVs from JEnt groups and maybe a few more groups that I never really looked at.

So, before I get all sappy, I will get into this post and start off what is becoming the end of a very fun journey.

NYC

NYC was suggested by Thennary and Aim, because of the sudden love I had for a certain Yamada Ryosuke and his cute face, charming smile and overall lusciousness. I have never heard of them, honestly, but that is probably because they were created in 2009, making them rather new. The group consists of 3 boys from the JEnt house, and they are: Nakayama Yuma, that really scary looking one who looks like he wants to kill you in the picture, Yama Ryosuke, the one in the middle who is staring you down and eating your soul as you read this, and Chinen Yuuri, who looks like he's plotting a way to pounce to on Ryosuke without anyone noticing. I wouldn't blame him, really. I mean come on... it's Ryosuke.

Anyway, now that I know what they look like, I'll take a looksy at their videos and see how they fare with my picky tastes...

Song 1: Yume Tamago

I'm probably not the only one who thinks this, but Yume Tamago really reminds me of the Hello! Pro Egg songs Minna Tamago. Just the name, because I highly doubt the beat is the same... or so I hope.

Straight into the video, and we're in a doll house. I don't think that Thennary was kidding when they said that NYC focused more on the cute side of things, because from what I have seen, they do!

Anyway, the video is something that is really cute and playful, and really fits the song. I find that the more I watch the video, the more I like Mr. Yakuza Eyes (Yuma), because he performs so freakin' well! He is really sexy when I think about it... but I want to pounce on Ryosuke more, but if I was feeling up to it, I would drag Yuma away with me for some fun in the doll house.

Speaking of Ryosuke, the first close up shot is of him, and oh man, doesn't he look just divine? Sometimes, he looks like he's orgasming with every word he sings - the sweet part is that he's looking right at you as he does this, so girls, get ready to squee and fall in love! Also, I'm happy because I've just found out he's 18, meaning it's legal to drool over him without feeling a little like a paedophile.

I love the end of the video - Yume looks like he owns that doll house.

Anyway, other than the epicness that is the video, the song is also really wonderful. The guys sound really good together, and I think the song is fun and enthusiastic. It's not too over-the-top-cuteness but it isn't too mellow or playful. It has the right amount of fun and love put into it to make me love it, and most likely you guys too. I just think that the video is a bonus in terms of the song. I mean, come on! This song has Rosuke looking at the camera like the viewer is the only person in the world that he sees! An Yuma looks delicious as a baseball player! BONUS!!!! Oh, and Yuuri, though not to my tastes (I have a feeling he's the groups underdog) looks rather appetising in the Pilots outfit. He might fit in well with Passpo, actually.

I just added this PV and song to my favourites on Youtube. Oh, NYC...

Song 2: Yoku Asobi Yoku Manabe

NYC's 2nd single, Yoku Asobi Yoku Manabe, and was shot in New York City (NYC, get it?) and will probably become a favourite video of mine, due to the amount of natural clips that are in the video.

From the start, I wondered how the PV would turn out. I had a feeling that there would be no CG in this one like there was in Yume Tamago, and I was right. The video is surprisingly natural, but I love it, for all the simplicity in it that really makes the PV fun to watch.

We get a lot of scenes in this one video, depending on the location where the boys are. We have them walking around New York, talking at a skateboard park with some of the skaters there, taking a ride in a carriage, shopping in a store and picking things up as they sing along to the song, having their pictures taken with random people on the street, shopping for hats, walking around the streets at night. Oh, and there are also a lot of signs that have NYC shown, just in case we forget who the group is or what famous city they are in.

The PV is really great. Not only do we get to see the boys in a totally natural state, we also get to see them as they are at home, with their hair tied back or wearing glasses, as well as seeing them in their professional state during close up shots. Their reactions are just love in the PV, especially Ryosuke's, and they look just adorable! I wish I lived in New York, because then I might have actually met them by accident.

Moving on to the song now, I do like it. These guys seem to have a knack for making me like their music right now, because I've fallen in love with 2 of their singles already. I don't know why, but their music has a certain appeal that makes me want to continue listening to them for a long time. Their vocals are just gorgeous, and have a great amount of genkiness in them that I wish other songs had. The beat to the song isn't too over-the-top-genki, and the overall tune is playful enough to make me want to dance along to it or just para para the hell out of it.

Overall, NYC has created another winner for me. I really am liking this group, so thank you Thennary and Aim for suggesting them :D

TegoMass

Ah, TegoMass. More so Massu that Tego, but that's just me. Anyway, these two charmed me with their newest video Mahou no Melody, with the charming and fun video that looked a bit like a Roald Dahl creation. These two have charmed me with the way they work the cameras (Tego wins when it comes to the camera) as well as how well they sing and how cute they are together.

So, from my Day 1 post, Aim suggested that I might like these two as a group. Because I had already looked at one of their songs, I was thinking about not talking about them again, but first impressions last, and I decided that I would have a go at two more of their songs to see how well they would fare this time.

So, I have come back for more TegoMassu. Will they hold up?

Song 1: Aiaigasa

This song was hard to find with a video, but luckily I found it on a random blog. So I was happy to find one of the two songs I had been searching for with a video that worked. Anyway, after looking at the title, I began to wonder what this song would turn out like. I mean, the title translates to Sharing an Umbrella, so I wondered if this would be a love song or a song about friendship. Well, it's a love song.

A really sweet one, at that.

The video is, honestly, so beautiful. The story line follows a young boy as he walks through the rain, created by two rather angelic looking rain makers with shower heads in their hands, and a young girl who stands with him beneath his umbrella so that she doesn't get caught up in the rain. The two children talk, and you instantly click that this story is about a crush that the boy has on the girl, and the time he cherishes as they walk together beneath that umbrella, so the title of the song sticks with the video.

What I like the most about the video is how children are used to show the love beneath that umbrella, or just a crush that will one day unfold into love. There is a sweetness to the video that makes me really like it, and I became quite saddened during the end when the rain stopped because the girl left the boy. But, there is always chance for two rain makers to make it rain again, which will in turn give that boy a chance to bring that girl back under his umbrella.

I think that the song is beautiful, and the angelic voice of Massu just makes it even better. The feeling the song has is pure and well thought out, and the beat is lovely.  It isn't a song that I would listen to when I'm depressed; it is something that I would listen to when I wanted to feel like I was loved by someone other than a family member. I fell in love with the song the moment I heard it, and I am really happy that I chose this song to review. It's just amazing.

I want a Massu beneath my umbrella with me ;A;

Tego can live in Aim's bed

Song 2: Aoi Bench

I had a hard time looking for a video to this song, so in the end, I downloaded one because I really like PVs and songs together. I find it's a better way to enjoy the song, and to see how they matched a song to a video. Sometimes they do it well, whilst other times they don't. Sometimes, the video actually makes the song.

Well, this song can stand alone, honestly. It doesn't need a video to really hold it up in any way like some songs do, which I like. It just means that the song is strong, and doesn't have to rely on a video to help it out (like Everyday Kachuusa IMO)

Anyway, starting with PV analysis, it's really beautiful and natural. Actually, it reminds me of Mano Erina's My Days For You, due to the use of photography that is used throughout the PV to make a story line. I actually like this video just as much as Mano Erina's My Days For You, because of the outdoor aspect of it all and the beauty behind the pictures. It's a lovely video, and very relaxing to watch. Seeing a less-than hyped up video from this group is nice, considering the first video I saw from the duo was very kiddish and fun.

That said, Tego looks hot in this, and Massu looks just adorable. I want to hug them both, seriously. I love Tego's hair that colour, and his expressions are just charming and beautiful. Same goes for Massu, who keeps on winning me over with his smile and the way he looks at the camera like the viewer is his baby. All of their expressions seem so freakin' natural throughout the video, it's like they don't know the camera's are there.

And my favourite part of the video has to be, hands down, where they put all the pictures together to make one giant picture. I love it. And it reminds me of when S/mileage had to do their Smile campaign, and then it was revealed as a large bill board of them all together, using the pictures of different people.

As for the song, I heard it alone for the first time without a video to back it up, hence why I think that it can stand alone without the aid of a video. The song really reminds me of country and Irish music stuck together, but it's really relaxing and soothing and calms me down a lot. It's a song that you can listen to and nod your head along with, something that will make you smile the more you listen to it.

The vocals are really powerful in this song, especially Massu's. It gives the song emotion and expression, and makes it worthwhile to listen to. If you haven't heard this song, and like me, are a sucker for romantic, soothing songs then give this one a try. It might just become a favourite of mine from TegoMass.

Kanjani8

Kanjani8, why you so ugleh? Or why am I so shallow?

Well, let's not get into that. In their comments, both Aim and Thennary mentioned that I might just like Kanjani8 because of how fun and comedic the group is as a whole. Despite what I first thought of them,  I want to try and get to like them, even if it means having no eye candy throughout the videos... or maybe I could just listen to their songs and imaging Ryosuke and Massu singing their lines.

Oh, that might actually work :o

Anyway, enough chit chat - it's time to partay with the less attractive of all these groups! WHACHA!

Song 1: It's My Soul

Okay, this video is blurry, but why the fuck are they all in shorts? I hate men + shorts, I find it rather unattractive to be cruel but honest. Actually, it's when the shorts are tight or getting to be tight. And that's what these guys are wearing.

They just went down in attractiveness (not that they were attractive anyway, lol)

I honestly feel like I'm watching a very cheaply shot porno that put no effort into anything at all. Seriously. I would rather watch Mini Moni's Ai~n Taisou, that's how much I hate the PV! This is... disgusting. Really!

Anyway, moving away from the horror that is the video, the song itself is all right, but it's not that great either. It's not catchy, nor is it memorable, but the vocals are good if I have to highlight any point of this song. The chorus is probably the best bit, but it isn't a great song.

I want to cleanse my mind now - Where's TEGOMASS!?

Song 2: T.W.L

Do I have to? Really, do I have to continue with Kanjani8? Must I? I don't wanna!!!!

OMFG SHIN-CHAN RIP OFF!!! YES!!! (Apparently it isn't - surprisingly, it's for the movie)

In terms of video, this one is a lot better, more thought out, and less shorts are thrown in (though one of them is wearing shorts, sadly). The guys also look better in this, far more attractive and more eye-candyish. Especially that Subaru guy. WHEW, he's hot in this!

I love the use of the green screen in this video, like how they use it to their advantage with things that might happen. Like the rock falling, but they hold up two cards that use cartoon hands to stop it. It makes the video really playful and fun to watch, as if I'm trying to think about what will happen next. There was quite a bit of thought put into this video, and I like it for the cartoony childishness of it all.

Regarding the song, it isn't that awesome, but I don't seem to care for Kanjani8 songs anyway. It's good in terms of how it sounds, but it's boring (for me) and doesn't really get stuck in my head. Thank the lord the video saved their asses, because this group is one that I don't really care for... but I will listen to them again if I have to.

Also, Shin-Chan references are loved <3

Song 3: Wonderful World

Hippy references! YES!

... wait... not yes! NOOOOO! Not fucking FLOWER POWER!!!

If I wasn't convinced that this group was gay, or at least camp, then I'm convinced now. What the hell is with those costumes? Strangely, it suits them

Anyway, the video is pretty much about the guys of Kanjani8 fixing some ho-bags WaltsWagen Camper van whilst wearing either decent overalls or their camp flower-power Austin Power suits, all the while trying to make an impressing to both the girl and the audience. Sure, because nothing says straight and manly like flower suits, right?

Is it understandable that I want to start avoiding this group all together? Because I've been scarred for life...

Anyway, in terms of the song, it's the saviour of this tragic video. The song is up-beat and energetic, making the song fun and enjoyable to listen to. The guys are all really good singers, and this song is certainly one of the best I have heard from them. It really does save me from the horrible PV.

But this group isn't really getting to me at all. It's too... well, there isn't enough eye candy for one, and their PVs freak me out for another. So Kanjani8, go away!!! Me no like you!!!

Random Duo's

Now it's onto the duo's - I'm only going to go for two from two different duos. One of them is a duo that I actually recognise, surprisingly enough. Anyway, these duo's are: Shige and Koyama from NEWS, as well as the special, temporary duo Shuji to Akira.

Shige and Koyama was suggested by Thennary whilst Shuji to Akira was suggested by Aim, so I have decided to check both of these duos out to see how they fare with my taste buds. So, shall we dive into the songs now?

Song 1: Murarisuto (Shige x Koyama)

This song is surprisingly hyped up, energetic and fun. I wasn't expecting that from this song, but it's really good and makes me think of fun Disco-party songs that you just jump around to, despite your lack of dancing skills. Sadly, there is no video (that  I know of) to this video, though I would have liked to see one. I can imagine a lot of balloons being thrown around and maybe a lot of partying as well. It just seems like that sort of song.

This song is definitely to my liking - the vocals are good, the overall tune of the song is fun and the feeling of it is like a hyperactive child who's just been given a second dose of chocolate. It's childish in a good way, and makes me feel like I should jump about and dance around.

The song has been well received by me, it seems XD

Song 2: Seishun Amigo (Shuji to Akira)

I know both this song and the duo well, thanks to Nobuta wo Produce, which I watched but never finished. I'm actually surprised that I didn't look for this song when I heard it, but then again, it didn't interest me. And in a way, it still doesn't, but I know that the song is pretty good. I won't deny that.

The opening of the song reminds me of a James Bond theme tune, like the guys are spying on something, and then the rest of the instrumental and overall beat of the song sounds like something I would hear from an old fashioned movie.

For the video, we see the guys in normal clothes and the costumes they wear in the drama Nobuta wo Produce. Various scenes show them together in their uniforms, whilst others show them dancing with children, who are really talented dancers. Actually, I'm going to admit that the children entertained me more than these two guys did. They were definitely the highlight of the PV.

Though this group isn't that entertaining, they are a good duo. I'm not keen on either the song or the video, but that is just me.

The winner of the duo's are definitely Shige x Koyama song wise.

Kis-My-F2

Both Thennary and Aim suggested that I listen to Kis-My-F2 (Kiss-My-Foot in simpler terms), and though they are relatively new, they're already pretty popular from what I know. I've never heard songs from them before, nor have I seen videos. I doubt I will see a video for a while, sadly, so I will rely on my ears to make me fall in love with the group (if I do).

So, let's get into Kiss-My-Foot's songs!

Song 1: Everybody Go (Start at around 2:53 on the video)

The song opens up with vocals almost straight away, and we get a good dose of awesome vocals, a bit of what sounds like a rap (YES!) and then more awesomeness. The song has a really good beat, and though not lively, wave your hands in the air energetic, it is the sort of song I would probably mosh to. I could imagine myself listening to this song if I was in a raving mood, rather than a song that  I would listen to for its pop-tasticness.

The song is in no way cheesey, and has perfect vocals that fit it really nicely. I'm actually having a really hard time trying to describe the song, because I actually like it so much. It's just a really really good song, and it amazes me. My first impressions of this group are high now, and they have just blown me away with this song.

I'm glad I listened to this one first. I really am.

Sadly, that is all I am posting for Kis-My-F2 because the other song I wanted to listen to by them is a concert rip, and I don't like using those because they can differ from the actual studio recording in many ways, so I will finish that here for now.

End of Part 2

So, that is the END of Part 2 for my 3 day journey into the land that is Johnnys Entertainment, which means that it is time for the Conclusion. What do I think now, how do I feel, am I still a biased cow in terms of men over women when it comes to my music?

It is time to find out~

The Conclusion

Just reminding you who pwns in my mind right now

I actually didn't anticipate liking these groups that much, but I have surprised myself. Especially with Arashi and NEWS. Both of these groups started off with a negative look in my mind, but in the end they both reigned supreme and have dominated my head - especially NEWS (does this make you happy, Phob?), what with their catchy songs and their lovely faces.

One of the bigger disappointments would have to be KAT-TUN for me. Whilst a lot of people praise them for how they are, I just don't feel in anyway connected to their music. It may be because I do not like rock that much, or it may just be an immunity. They have some really good songs, but this group is going to become a Hit or Miss for me. I may like some of their music, but other times I will just want to keep away from them. So to all you KAT-TUN fans, I am sorry, but the group does not appeal to me like that. I apologise.

But despite who I like and whom I don't, I am glad I did this. I'm glad that I did exactly what Ray told me to do, which was to try out JEnt, and to try and experience boy bands for myself. I never really cared for them as a child, so it kinda grew with me, and I've only ever really cared for girl groups because of that. Yes, I like male solo singers, but they are totally different to boy groups in my opinion.

But this 3/4-day challenge has given me the chance to break out and really take a look at Japanese pop culture in a broader perspective. I've been branching out for a while now, but never even considered looking at boy bands or even listening to their music. Now that I have given them a chance, I am much more willing to watch their videos and talk about them on this blog, and act like a spastic fangirl towards them, too. Honestly, I think it's going to be somewhat relaxing to actually look at men and fangirl over them than when I do at women, because I do fear that people will judge me with girl groups, especially when I watch Everyday Kachuusha and Heavy Rotation.

But this whole experience has been a learning curve for me; I have found what I like in these groups, with TegoMass, HSJ, NEWS, Arashi and NYC coming out on top, whilst others like KAT-TUN and Kanjani8 are not to my tastes, but are still appealing in a way.

With this knowledge now, I am much more open than I was before, and I will get to experience what I never did as a child: Love and lust for boy bands, as well as listening to their music whilst I imagine that I am marrying one of them or having a family with another. So  I will go through my teenage experience of boy bands and squeal at them, fawn over a certain one, curse another for taking lines or find a brand new love through sheer under-dogedness.

Oh, and it also feels good to be a shallow cow when it comes to men. It feels sooooooo good!

So, that is what I have learned: I have learned how to be a fangirl over men, and I have also found a new love for HSJ and NEWS, two very appealing groups that seem to spike my drink in the right way. TegoMass might forever be my duo love, fair warning there guys.

I have come over to the dark side...

But I will still drool over Morning Musume and Bump.y, so don't be afraid I'll totally turn my backs on them. Lolita love all the way~

I hope you enjoyed reading this post, and if you have any suggestions for a song that I should review, then feel free to post it as a comment~

Love and freakin' PEACE, lovers!

Chiima~

Isn't his hand climbing up that leg rather dangerously!? OHMAGAWD, YAOI!!!

PING!!! International Wota Recommended Reading: October 13th 2011