25 Days Of Christmas Countdown Day #13: Top Morning Musume

Now that I've had 24 hours to process the news of 13th gen, I'm just somewhat ambivalent towards them. They need to release something for me to have any interest in the new girls. I do think people are being a little unnecessarily harsh towards Kaede though. I don't particularly care for her because I don't think that her voice is good like people say it is. It's a deeper voice which draws people to it, but I don't find her a good singer. As for her supposed attitude problem, I don't follow the Kenshuusei close enough to even know what people are complaining about. With Reina, I'm really thinking she would make a good double center with Maria. MM needs faces to lead the group. Keep the Sakura/Mizuki/Masaki lead singer trio, but put Maria/Reina front and center to push them into the minds of the general public.

With MM this year, I feel like they just coasted through it. Two singles a year for the most popular group of H!P is not a good business plan Up-Front. They even have a bunch of new songwriters so they can't use the excuse that Tsunku has too many songs to write. They need to have an album next year and at least three singles. If they want the new members to gain traction, they need to start shoving them onto as many music, variety, internet, cooking, or alien theory shows as possible. Anything that they can get them on is the point really. Now is a great time to start with the buzz from new members.

Musically, MM was once again the group with the best releases (with maybe the exception of Juice=Juice this year). Their first single was a bit blah, but Utakata ended up being fun & Tokyo to Iu is still awesome. I like to pretend The Vision doesn't exist. The entire Sexy Cat single was pretty solid in my opinion. I like Sou Janai the least but it's still cool. Mukidashite (? I can't spell to save my life this month I swear) is freaking amazing. Sexy Cat is quirky and fun. Something different for the group in it's current incarnation. Hoping next year's single exceed this year.

#10

Yuugure wa Ameagari (2015) (NEW)

#9

Onna ni Sachi Are (2007) (-2)

#8

Only You (2011) (+2)

#7

Ai Araba It's All Right (2004) (+1)

#6

Do It! Now (2001) (-1)

#5

Renai Hunter (2012) (+1)

#4

Onna to Otoko no Lullaby Game (2010) (-)

#3

Fantasy ga Hajimaru (2010) (-1)

#2

Osaka Koi no Uta (2005) (+1)

#1

Watashi wa Watashi Nanda (2014) (-)

25 Days Of Christmas Countdown Day #16: Top H!P/48G songs (From acts other than the current main groups)

I know, I know....I missed another day. I was doing so well with being on time for things (even having some things typed up early!). I will try not to fail for the few days I have left lol.

This pretty much covers any former group, subgroup, and soloist of HP/48G. So essentially none of the current main groups. Of course the vast majority of the list is Hello Project, mainly because I haven't heard much from the subgroups and soloists of 48G yet. They just have SO MANY songs to get through lol. The list was pretty difficult to come up with because of the massive amount of songs to pick from, but I think I like the way the list is. Maybe next year I'll have more 48G representation.

#10: Koharu Kusumi - Balalaika (2006)

#9: High-King - Kioku no Miero (2008)

#8: SDN48 - Tengoku no Door wa 3kaime no Bell de Aku (2011)

#7: W - Ai no Imi wo Oshiete! (2005)

#6: SDN48 - Kodoku na Runner (2010)

#5: Def.Diva - Suki Sugite Baka Mitai (2005)

#4: Country Musume - Uwaki na Honey Pie (2003)

#3: Aya Matsuura - Good Bye Natsuo (2003)

#2: Maki Goto - Ai no Bakayarou (2001)

#1: W - Samishii Nettaigyo (2004)

Enjoy! What do you think of the past groups of 48G & Hello! Project?

25 Days Of Christmas Countdown Day #13: Top Morning Musume Songs

This list was SO DIFFICULT. It's no secret that Morning Musume is my favorite group of all time. I've never heard a group where almost their entire discography is listenable for me. Unlike with all of the other groups on my countdown, I've actually heard all of Morning Musume's songs which just made this ranking all the harder. I'm kind of glad I've been too lazy to listen to 48G stages or Berryz albums, for example lol. This is also probably the only list of I've done where all of songs might not be ones I like to listen to the most, but songs that have a lot of meaning for me & my following of Morning Musume. Like how Onna to Otoko is the first MM song I ever heard, or Only You is the song that made me from a casual listener to a fan, or Renai Hunter which turned me from a fan to someone who actually cares about the actual group itself and not just the music. As much as I love Hello! Project & 48G, as a whole they just have good songs. Morning Musume is the only artist that I've ever connected to on the level that I have.

#10: Only You (2011)

#9: Say Yeah! Motto Miracle Night (2000)

#8: Ai Araba It's All Right (2004)

#7: Onna ni Sachi Are (2007)

#6: Renai Hunter (2012)

#5: Do It! Now (2001)

#4: Onna to Otoko no Lullaby Game (2010)

#3: Osaka Koi no Uta (2005)

#2: Fantasy ga Hajimaru (2010)

#1: Watashi wa Watashi Nanda (2014)

Enjoy! What's your favorite Musume track?

25 Days Of Christmas Countdown Day #12: Top Berryz Kobo Songs

Ah Berryz. One of the first J-pop groups I was ever introduced to and one of the first J-pop group disbandments I've witnessed. I've decided to include them in my countdown this year as they were still a group in the beginning of this year and I think it's only fair to mention them. The fact that it's been almost a year since their end is mindblowing.

#10: Jiriri Kiteru (2006)

#9: Love Together! (2015)

#8: Dakishimete Dakishimete (2009)

#7: Motto Zutto Issho ni Itakatta (2013)

#6: Koi no Jubaku (2004)

#5: Heroine ni Narou ka (2011)

#4: Rock Erotic (2013)

#3: 1oku 3senman Sou Diet Oukoku (2014)

#2: Nanchuu Koi wo Yatteru You Know? (2005)

#1: Ai no Dangan (2011)

Enjoy! What are your thoughts on Berryz?

W - Ai no Imi wo Oshiete!

I'm actually really excited to do a post on this one. This is my favorite W single.

The title track of the single is Ai no Imi wo Oshiete! To me, this song defines W. The style of the song is what I view W in my head. The cutesy high pitched vocals with super catchy electro-80s-ish music. I wouldn't mind if H!P would do a couple singles like this nowadays. I adore the EDM direction, but this would be just as good. For those who might not have listened to some of the older groups before, a newer song that I'd compare this to would be S/mileage's Uchouten Love. Both in musical style and overall feel. In fact, the girls sound so much like Yuuka Maeda in that song in this song (er...well I guess Yuuka would sound like them since this came first xD). It might sound funny, but my absolute favorite part of the song is at the very end where it's like a Tsunku solo xD. I love it so much. I'd say that the music video is one of the better ones from this era of H!P. It doesn't look horrifically tacky like a lot of H!P's older videos. Even if the outfits are hideous. Seriously. What is up with that material? It reminds me of tissue paper. 5/5.

The B-side for this single is Jinx. This song could have easily been a single too. It's like a mix of the Sexy Snow B-side from Robo Kiss & Ai no Imi itself. Is it weird that my favorite part of both songs are the Tsunku "solos"? He just made H!P so unique. 5/5.

There's really not much else to say on this release. Both songs are incredibly strong. This release is easily top 10 of my favorite H!P releases of all time. 5/5.

W - Miss Love Tantei

W's final single. It's still so sad how W ended. Especially because it seems like the catalyst for Ai's life spiraling downward. Regardless of the past and what people think of her, I really hope that she can surround herself with a good support structure for her & her daughter's sake. Whenever I hear something about her I just want to fly to Japan & give her a hug & tell her everything will be okay. I hope that the last piece of news I've heard is for the best and she and her daughter can get away and start working towards a better life.

The title track for the single is Miss Love Tantei. I had never really cared for this song before I really got into W. It had a different sound to it than other H!P songs and I couldn't figure out why it was so different. Found out after I got the CD & ripped it to iTunes that it wasn't produced by Tsunku so that was why it sounded so different to me. Now, I really love the song. Sure it's different that other H!P tracks, but that's what makes it unique. I've heard people say that this song sounds a lot like Tatu's Not Gonna Get Us. I don't quite get the comparison. Besides the "whispered" filtered vocal parts, I don't hear similarities. This song makes me wonder if this is the musical direction that W was going to go in or not. The music video is cute. I can't quite figure out if they're competing with each other to find the diamond or if one of them stole it or if they suspect each other or what. The outfits make the video though. One of H!P's very best single outfits. 5/5

The B-side to this single is Friendship. I think this was composed by the same people that did Miss Love Tantei....at least that's what iTunes says. It sounds like it. This single has a really western production style. I like this song, but it's not as good as Miss Love Tantei. The thing that brings the song down is that awkward rapped bridge. It's so cheesy sounding...even for W. 4/5.

I wouldn't call Miss Love Tantei their best single (realistically it wouldn't be in my top 5, yes that does make it last.), but it represents a style shift for the group and possible indication for the musical direction they were going to take. It's just too bad we never got to see how that was to develop. 4/5.

Song Recommendations (May 26, 2015 Edition)

May has been a really slow month for new music in my opinion. I haven't even really found any awesome music that I hadn't heard before either which is sad. Maybe June will be better. With May coming to a close, these songs are pretty much the only ones that have made any impact for me.

Tiësto & KSHMR - Secrets (ft. Vassy)

Came across this by playing SongPop again after a few years. It's really awesome.

P.IDL - Sansan Aibo

It's been awhile since I was truly impressed with another Japanese girl group (outside of 48s & H!P). It's so sad to me that their other songs aren't even close to the same league this is in.

Hiroshima Maples - Isolator

This is exactly the type of song I'd like to see MM tackle.

W - Miss Love Tantei

Been really into W again lately. Will forever mourn the 3rd album that never got to see daylight.

KARA - Cupid

A little cheaty to name a song that came out slightly over 12 hours ago, but it's one of the better K-pop songs this year.

Enjoy!

Berryz Kobo - 21ji Made no Cinderella

I cannot believe that Berryz disbands next week. That's insane to think about. I felt like that time would never come. I still don't 100% percent like the idea of Momoko in Country Girls, but since I can't change anything I'm glad that she has found her place after Berryz's end. We also have found out that Saki & Chinami will be staying in the company in advisor/staff roles. Then Maasa will also be doing stage plays after Berryz. Yurina has chosen to focus on education first, which I certainly admire her for doing. Then I believe it was said that she will be trying to be a model. Most surprising to me is that Miyabi and Risako have chosen to go on breaks. I figured Risako would end up being the one to fully leave the spotlight, but I'm surprised that Miyabi didn't announce something that she'd be doing right away. I thought it would be nice to do a post about Berryz before their final concert, so I chose this release....mainly because it was next in the pile of CDs that I have waiting to be reviewed haha.

This is Berryz's eighth single and was released in 2005 and also the last song to feature member Maiha Ishimura. It's hard to believe that this song is almost ten years old. It's always interesting going back to their very early releases and then listening to their newest music. I think it's really incredible that these girls were picked at such a young age and ended up being true talents. The song itself has that whole 50s retro feel to it, but not as much as a song like Waracchaou yo Boyfriend though. The music video is set at a very 50s looking diner as well. They all look so young in the video. It also makes me wonder what the group would have been like had Maiha stayed. 4.5/5.

21ji Made no Cinderella MV:

The B-side for this single is Himitsu no Utahime. I'm honestly not a big fan of this song. It's just ok. It's a pretty standard H!P B-side. It doesn't help that their vocals are still pretty young so the slower pace of the song can get grating after a while. 3/5.

Himitsu no Utahime (Audio Only):

The single itself isn't one of their best. It's more in the middle of their discography. 4/5.

I know this is a weird single to choose as the post before Berryz's disbandment, but I don't think I could make it through a full album or a single I like more before hand. I don't generally care about graduations, but this one's a little different. It's going to be hard at first to see H!P without Berryz. They've been here for so long and within the next couple of days they will be gone. I want to wish the members of the group a lot of luck in their futures and I hope they are blessed with their future choices, even if it's wanting to go back to a normal life. They deserve it after all of the years they sacrificed to be in the group. Thank you Berryz for putting your hearts into entertaining us. I'll miss them.