Houkago Princess Reignite The Summer Heat in 'Shakunetsu no Mystery Eye / Zesse Cleopatra' (Single Review)

*As per usual, all thoughts and opinions expressed within this review are mine, and mine alone. Each persons feelings and opinions differ, and I am not different, so please respect my thoughts and feelings that have been written here. I also do not intend to offend, so if you are offended, I do Let's just respect one another's views, and enjoy our Idol music. Thank you.

**To add, I am terrible when it comes to typo's. I also suck at grammar and punctuation, so if there are any mistakes riddled in this review, please call me out on it. Thank you in advance.

In which Chiima battles the heat of the summer with HouPri's latest addition to their song catalogue...

In these trying times of turmoil and uncertainty, Houkago Princess have prepared a brand new song to ignite hope, and bring back your spirit for the summer of 2020. With the strength of Cleopatra embedded in their lyrics, as well as the passion of the members singing these songs, Houkago Princess will bring back the summer heat, and instil hope and liveliness to all who will listen to their music.

Made up of two tracks, the most recent addition to Houkago Princesses discography is also the last for sub-leader Maika, who will be leaving the group after 6 years of activity, and continue to work as a solo artist. With her graduation on the horizon, Shakunetsu no Mystery Eye / Zesse Cleopatra sees Maika and the other members of Houkago Princess transform into the beautiful and strong Cleopatra, the Pharaoh whose legacy is still remembered 3,000 years on.

It's time to tell a story with Houkago Princess once again, but this time we are looking at the history of a desert Queen. Are you ready to step back in time and experience a brilliant summer like no other?

Abracadabra, Love Me More! Hear The Desert Maiden's Spell in 'Abracadab Luv!'

With November's end upon us, it's time to clear up with a few final posts for the month, just before the onslaught of December hits. It will be a busy month this year, with very few opportunities to post anything but Graduation Appreciations, Christmas themed reviews and my Year End selections.

And if y'all didn't know this was coming, then you don't know me well enough, because THIS IS HOUPRI, BITCHES >8U

Bibbidy-Bobbity-Blimmin'-BOO!

With HouPri's quiet departure from Universal Music Japan - no promotion since July '17, the change in their 'uniforms' for day performances, Cute Black Ltd's. closure, as well as the fact the group has released the full music video on their channel, the first in two or so years - the Princess themed unit continue their story-book quest in Abrakatab Luv!, which begins a brand new chapter in their own story, as well as creating a refreshing new theme for one of the worlds most beloved stories.

Inspired by the One Thousand and One Nights collection (also known as The Arabian Nights), the members of Houkago Princess transform into a beautiful Arabian princess, most likely inspired by both Disney's Princess Jasmine and Scheherazade, the story teller from One Thousand and One Nights who tells her husband a story each night in order to prolong her life. Here, the members express the tale of a beautiful desert Princess through rich, emotional song and choreography, with the hopes that they will cast a spell on you all.

Now, when the information for the song was originally released, I mistakenly claimed this to be all about the tale of Aladdin. I don't think it actually is; Abrakatab Luv! seems to be linked more to One Thousand and One Nights, though it could easily be a mixture of both the story collection and Aladdin. I have yet to read the lyrics, so, I can't determine what it's about yet, but for now, I'm saying it's more likely the group is depicting the character of Scheherazade, with Jasmine's look thrown in there for good measure. Of course, I could be completely wrong, because it's me; I get everything wrong.

It's also the best explanation for why there are a lack of flying carpets and jinni's. I am sticking to it >o>

And now it's time to enter a whole new world of glittering jewels, floating veils and chai tea. In their latest adventure, Houkago Princess tackle one of the most beloved story collections of all time, and embody the Princess who told beautiful tales for 1001 nights. Are you ready to be enchanted by HouPri's spell?

A Young Mermaid's Love Song - 'Seishun Mermaid' Single Review!

All thoughts written within this post are my own. That is how it will be, forever and always. Don't try and change my opinion, just because it does not meet yours, kay? That goes for any and everyone, not just me, Got eet!?

As the waves crash and storms rise, the rocks meet water and a ship begins to sail wildly through the treacherous waters, lured towards a bed carved of stone, as a Mermaid's woeful song rings through the night air as the dark Ocean becomes a Sailor's new home...

Released at the tail end of June, Houkago Princesses latest summer single, Seishun Mermaid, is sure to make a bit of a splash with the fans thanks to its catchy tune and melodic vocals, courtesy of resident Diva-voice Maika, Leader Odagiri Nana and soon-to-Graduate Miyashita Mayuka, who aspires to become a voice actress after leaving the group. Containing two new tracks, the single features two bittersweet love songs befitting of a Mermaid's one-sided love with a human, and her desire to walk alongside him, no matter what the cost may be.

As this single is based on what was my favourite childhood movie, as well as one of Hans Christian Anderson's most beloved fairy tales, you might have already gathered that I was READY FOR THIS. I've been waiting impatiently, wanting to hear the full audio in clear, beautiful studio quality after I watched the girls introduce the feature track on SHOWROOM LIVE. I was also waiting for the full MV to come out with much anticipation and impatience, of course, because IT IS HOUPRI, and right now, their videos get better with each release, so of course I wanted to see it!

It wasn't what I expected, however it still blew me away. So, yeah, I was happy to have finally seen it. And now, I have finally heard it all, crisp and clear, and I'm in love. I am so on love with this, because it's HouPri, because it's a story, and because it's feeding my childhood nostalgia and giving me life. So, that kinda means we're gonna talk about it, because it's what I do best, and because I have to share this absolute joy with you all!

Diving into the world of the sea, let's join these Mermaids of HouPri as they become human girls to follow their destiny! In an upbeat yet bittersweet song of love and desire, will these songstresses of the waves ever find what they are looking for, or will they simply become the foam of the sea?

This is a song of a Mermaid in love, and it is Houkago Princesses latest Fairy Tale rendition.

Release Date: June 29th, 2016

Track List:

1. Seishun Mermaid
2. My Love Song
(+ Instrumental Tracks)

A March Revolution Begins! So Let HouPri Steal Your Heart and Candies in 'Junpaku Antoinette'! [MV Review]

All thoughts and opinions that may reside within this blog happen to be mine, ALL MINE!! So yeah, take them as you will~

It's 2am as I write this paragraph, and I am supposed to be doing one of two things; A) a required reading for class tomorrow morning, or B) sleeping so that I am not knackered for said class tomorrow morning. Instead, what am I doing?

I am doing the invisible C) Procrastinating required reading and sleep in order to do a review, because hey, who doesn't love staying awake until God knows when, eh? Let's talk PV's, and procrastinate some more, aye?

*Update; I went to bed. Sleep is my kryptonite.

Okay, so if you know me (and I know you know me), then you may have heard that I am obsessed with HouPri and everything they do. You may have also heard that, with the release of their second major single, Junpaku Antoinette, I have been impatiently awaiting the full mp3's and its accompanying PV in all of its full, watermark-less glory.

 I mean, you can ask why, but y'all know the answer to that already; it's god-damn HouPri, that's why!

-insert random cries of happiness right here-

In all seriousness though, I have been antsy to get my hands on this single and PV. I mean, I've never felt this desperate to see the raw copy of the music video, or to have both mp3's in my hands for the title song and its B-side. I swear, I stayed up one night for a long time trying to find Sakura saku, to no avail of course, and eventually went to bed thinking about what I should do next to try and find it.

 And yeah, I tried itunes and Amazon Japan, but considering I don't own a Japanese credit card, and itunes no longer seems to update with major-debuted HouPri now, I couldn't even buy them online. I was livid.

Luckily, my dear friend Akeda, a wonderful person who also happens to be a HouPri fan, too, sent me the mp3's for both Junpaku Antoinette and its b-side, Sakura saku, after I asked (in complete desperation, with pleases and thank yous and tears to boot) if he could send me them. He did, and now I am in bliss.

... And also, the raw MV was uploaded online recently, too, so now I can review that, too! Really, though, I would have preferred my own copy. I mean... PV's! Practically in my hands! That's what I want!

.... I'm getting hyper and excited, which means I need to shut up and start this review, before I blather on some more and ruin your day. So, without any further babbling, let's get into this post and take a look at the PV I have anticipated since I heard this single was coming out, Junpaku Antoinette.

I wonder what story we will fall into today...?