The Definition Of A Shoddily Promoted Single - 'Shin Jidai Princess / Princess no Teigi' by Houkago Princess (Single Review)

*Any and all mistakes made here are never intentional. If you find any mistakes, please let me know, because I try to own up to my mistakes and fix them if at all possible. Whether they are typos, fragmented sentences or terrible misspellings, any and all mistakes found and brought up are appreciation. Thank you.

**You can find the full single for your listening pleasure on Spotify.

In order to define a story, one must look back at the chapters already written. For Princesses who have come from a long line of royalty before them, it's time to walk down their own path and create their own tales without the help of their Queen, but before they can take those steps they must look back and understand those who stood before them.

With a new leader, a new lineup and a brand new single, Houkago Princess are ready to define their own era. It's time to step forward as we appreciate their past, so get ready for a new kind of magic. Are you ready?

Despite being around for 8 years now, Houkago Princess are ready to re-define themselves in Shin Jidai Princess / Princess no Teigi, a single that celebrates their past, present and future in this brand-new era of members!

And boy oh boy, was I excited for this single! After Kaguya ni Negai wo was released I couldn't help but feel ecstatic for what HouPri had up their new billowing sleeves now that a new generation had been introduced. Odagiri Nana is gone, Sekine Sasara is Leader and there are brand-spanking new members, so of course there had to be something amazing ready for the group to properly introduce everyone and showcase what this new lineup had to offer, right?

Right?

.... R.I.G.H.T?

I'm already using gifs. Make of that what you will, dear readers.

Well, I was excited for this single - as stated above - but when promotion didn't happen and a PV was never properly released, my confidence in this single waned considerably. I wanted to hear and experience it, but couldn't due to a lack of anything that wasn't a poorly constructed single cover. I wanted to sing along with the lyrics that were posted to the groups official website, but there were no songs to listen to because snippets weren't released, digital uploads were void and a PV wasn't readily available until weeks after the official single release.

It was getting a little frustrating, to say the least, and I was losing some form of hope until - thank the Lords - my friend managed to obtain her copy of the CD, meaning that I could finally sample the songs from this brand new release until my own versions came in the mail. I could finally listen to the songs for HouPri's new era, but was it all worth it?

A month after the single's official release and many listens later, it's time to finally sit down to listen to Shin Jidai Princess / Princess no Teigi, a single that is set to define HouPri's new era as a group. With a new generation, a new leader and a new chapter ready to begin, will this version of Houkago Princess live up to the standards set from past releases, or will it fall as quickly as the hype staff tried to create for this single, only for them to fail miserably with promotion?

Let's define Houkago Princesses latest release and listen to what this new era can deliver. Whether it's good or bad, generic or new, it's time to pass judgement on Shin Jidai Princess / Princess no Teigi in sound, style and tune.

So. Let's start~

Let's Make A Wish! Houkago Princess Prepare For A Magical Adventure in 'Abracadab Luv!'

After a long wait, the next chapter in Houkago Princesses fairy tale is about to begin! Finally revealing the promotional image and covers for the groups next release, it's time for HouPri to tackle their latest fairy tale adventure, and what better way to end the year of 2017 with a magic carpet ride?

Set in the beautiful country of Arabia, it's time to spin the enchanting tale of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, and watch as HouPri soar as the beloved Princesses of this popular, unforgettable tale! Are you ready to be spellbound in the twilight skied desert?

Celebrating the groups 7th major single release (14th overall), set for sale on December 20th, 2017, Houkago Princess have finally unveiled the new cover art for their up-coming release, Abracadab Luv!, which will honour
the beloved tale of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, a story that has been passed down through the generations. Whether the roots hail from China or the Arabian deserts, the story of Aladdin is one that will stand the test of time, forever known for its use of magic and enchantment.

And now we will watch and hear Houkago Princess spin the tale with their very own words! Wearing rich purple garments befitting a true Princess, the members show off their veils and sheer trousers (pants), a new look that is not typical of the dress and transformation oriented group.

The Curse Of A Princess! Houkago Princess Transform Into Swans For 'Sayonara Duarena'!

On July 19th 2017, Houkago Princess will once again transform for their up-coming single release, Syaonara Duarena! This time, fans will enter the world of ballet, and experience the tale of a Princess who is cursed to turn into a swan...

After announcing trhe departures of Horii Nina and Tanaka Asami, as well as Michishige Saho's study break, Universal Music and Houkago Princess staff announced the up-coming release of Sayonara Duarena, which will be their sixth major single release, and 13th overall. This time, the members will transform into Princess Odette, an iconic figure in ballet who is known for being cursed to live as both a human and a swan.

The leading track will tell the story of a girl who is suffering with conflicting feelings, and the use of Duarena in the title, which has been coined to mean 'duality' and 'ballerina', fits the idea of the song perfectly. The members' costumes have also been designed to enhance this idea of duality, whilst also representing the characters of Odette and Odile from the ballet. Staff have claimed that the work of Sayonara Duarena will delicately represent the struggles of finding true love. Maika will lead the track, as the single will come out just after her birthday.

The Gelato is no Secret, but their Royal Identity is! Houkago Princess Reveal their 4th Single Covers!

*This is a quick update. If it feels rushed... yeah, it's kind of cause it is! Whoops!

With their 4th single out on October 12th this year, Houkago Princess have finally revealed the covers for their up-coming release, Himitsu no Tiara to Gelato! The latest single in the groups fun Princess-themed lineup is one that is inspired by a movie, Roman Holiday, released in 1953 and starring Audrey Hepburn as Princess Ann, who runs away from the palace for a day to experience the true hustle and bustle of life in Rome, from trying gelato to cutting her hair in a fashionable bob.

With so little time until the release date, will Houkago Princess win over fans of the original film with their homage?

With this new release, Houkago Princess will debut a new generation of members. Nagasawa Marina, the sole 5th generation member, Sekine Sasara and Kojima Mayumi, 7th generation members, will make their first appearance (second, for Marina) as well as their own major debut with Himitsu no Tiara to Gelato. It is also the first single to feature costumes in each girls' member colours since the groups inception.

Though the music video has yet to be released, information regarding the song has said that it tells the story of a painful love within the space of a 24 hour time limit, and that the members of Houkago Princess will bring colour to a black and white world with their 'regular' costumes. In this story, the members undergo a 'reverse transformation', where instead of turning into princesses, they go from royalty to regular girls.

Odagiri Nana and Maika are said to take the lead vocals once again, and though I am unsure about it, it seems that Sekine Sasara will be given sub-vocals, as she has performed as a lead regularly even in Cadet performances. Kizuki Saori will, once again, perform a solo piece with choreography, if what I am reading is correct from the sources I have been looking at. It is also the date of Saori's birthday the single will be released on.

Currently, information regarding the coupling song has yet to be released.

And before I blather on any further, be sure to check out the covers below, and see if you like them or not!