March 5, 2010
Stop violating my Dolce!
Or not. Wakeshima Kanon’s first and so far only studio album, Shinshoku Dolce (which means ‘Dolce Violation’) was released a while ago, but since I’ve only just recently bought a computer, I didn’t have any chance to get any new music. I put Kanon on the list of artists to get though, since I loved still doll and her album was part of a gargantuan amount of music (including other artists like Hamasaki Ayumi, Koda Kumi and capsule, as well as my idols) who i went ahead and added their music to my library. Kanon’s album is so far the only thing I’ve listened through the entire thing, because it is amazing.
November 20, 2009
AKB Top 10
I know that on ChanceChanceBOogie I talked about changing blogs and other nonsense, but for that I need my own computer ): So I’m going to continue with these blogs as things happen that I feel the need to post about.
So Misa from International Wota has decided she wants to take a swing at AKB48 (Who isn’t these days ._.; ) and she has asked for my opinion on some of their songs. I started wota-ing I guess, and threw titles at her so she told me to put them in a top 10 order, so I sat down and brooded on it for a few days or so, then forgot the list. And then reformulated a list when she jumped into #wotachat this evening. So here goes my top ten, starting with number 10.
A4′s Junai no Crescendo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFL-IAxQu4k
Junai no Crescendo is one of the classic ‘dark’ units. The song is about getting caught in the rain with someone you love or something, but it’s got a more story aspect. I love the chorus, for one, and it’s always been really popular in shuffle concerts. So yeah 
Next up is . . .
K4′s Oshibe to Meshibe to Yoru no Chouchou
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuMySKyYq-A
Oshibe to Meshibe to Yoru no Chouchou is pretty famous I think. It’s kind of how Ohori Megumi made a name for herself, and it’s also Kasai Tomomi’s second unit with lesbian overtones. The song has harmonies, which are rare in Idol music anymore, and it has strings and stuff. And the chorus has parts where they sing over each other, which makes it a more impressive unit song to me and in the middle there’s a conversation between them, which has been changed for different reasons (why are we wearing swimsuits?!). Plus, the unit has been famous for having random costumes in concerts and even just on stage, from the Kinjirareta Futari costumes to swimsuits.
Next up is B4′s Itoshiki Natasha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAhAbYCTZaE
This song is just all around great. It’s the first time that Tanabe Miku has been given lines in a unit song, and it’s also got a great story. Since I don’t have a video, I won’t talk about the costumes, but the song is just awesome. I love the Team K version from the AKB Budoukan concert I have watched this unit so many times on my iPod I can’t even begin to explain
Coming in at 7 is the single Keibetsu Shiteita Aijou, which also appeared in A3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAnjrkp9Jjg
This song is just epic in every way possible. It’s one of the famous ‘dark’ singles from 2007, having undertones about suicide, with a relatively obvious theme of bullying and depression. It’s got this kind of hypnotic instrumental track, and the snaps during the chorus are awesome. Watching the PV always makes me feel very serious, and the story elements always make me feel sad ): Also, for the record, when Tomo~mi is in bed towards the end of the PV, looking at something small and rectangular shaped, it isn’t a pregnancy test ): It’s a thermometer. It’s okay for idols to commit suicide in a PV, but they CAN NEVER be pregnant in high school.
So next up is Number six. . . TSUNDERE! from A5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjwTP_AYJ90
Tsundere is an odd little unit. for one thing, the ‘lead’ has almost no lines until the 2nd chorus, which means that when the song is performed during big concerts, she gets 2 lines. But it’s still a good song, because it’s a cute song that’s not sickeningly cute like a lot of AKB units can be
A4′s LOVE CHASE is next up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkF3nHnwFc4
This song is just awesome. The chorus is especially awesome I first heard it when I was watching the Budoukan concert, right before AItakatta I think or something. Either way it was a really good medley and it made me really really like this song. So it immediately jumped into my top 5 xD
SHONICHI from B3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zAaqdo0VdA
This is the ultimate feel good song from AKB48. Part of feeling good about it is the entire story behind it. See, Team B was always shafted in AKB48 when they first were introduced. THey only ever had one or two members in senbatsu until just recently, and their first two stages were repeat stages. So when they got this stage, which is generally considered the best AKB48 stage of all time, they got this completely epic song for the opener, which is about working hard to attain your dreams, and the life of an idol. ‘Yume wa ase no naka ni’ in the chorus means ‘the dream is in the sweat’ referring to their hard work and how much blood, sweat and tears were put into their job. Then, on top of that, the song becomes number one in the 2009 Best 100 Setlist Request hour mumbo jumbo that AKB has been doing at Shibuya AX for the last two years. therefore, it is the most awesome heartwarming song ever.
Number 3 is Dakishimeraretara from K5.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-Vi5wkVMpY
Dakishimeraretara is the song that made me like N Nacchi so much. She’s got a much stronger voice you’d expect (she sings the 2nd chorus). And the song just gives off a chill feeling. I can hear this being played in a movie during a ‘break up’ scene or something, like when the main character and the love interest argue and then end up getting back together about 15 minutes later. I like it because although Tomo~mi is the lead, every member in the song gets a huge part and it’s awesome
Number 2 is the most epic team song of all time, from Himawarigumi’s 2nd stage, Mori e Yukou
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71z4zxt4-qo
This song is just epic in so many ways. This song originally cracked me up because it’s like ‘let’s go to the forest’ but when you hear it omg it’s so intense it makes me feel awesome inside. It’s one of the rare gems you don’t know if you’re a casual AKB fan because, i’ll be honest, as a casual AKB fan I didn’t understand how it worked. so as a result, I looked over songs like this and just saw things like Boku no Taiyou and other okay songs. The stages are where it’s at. SO there
and coming in at NUMBER ONE IS Inochi no Tsukaimichi from B3.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRXjrRog698
this song is so creepy i love it so much omg. THis song is about a girl who feels like she’s unloved, so she starts dating an old man she met on a train because he showed her affection. I love this song so much that I did the color code for it on studio48, as a matter of fact. Everything about this song just sends chills down my spine, especially the DAREKA NI AISARETAI parts. I could just curl up and listen to this song and I can assure you i’d have nightmares. Even Mayuyu’s sugarsweet vocals can’t stop how creepy and awesome this song is.
So there you have it. My transitions suck. Those are my top 10 AKB songs, though.
Some runners up are:
Namida Uri no Shoujo, the b-side to Keibetsu Shiteita Aijou, also from A3
Kagami no Naka no Jean D’arc from B3
Tane, no3b’s 2nd single a-side
Saigo no Seifuku, the b-side to Sakura no Hanabiratachi 2008
THERE YOU HAVE IT. You’re welcome, Misa <3
July 2, 2009
Thoughts on the Senbatsu Election
If you didn’t know, AKB48 is currently having an election for the members who will participate in the 13th AKB48 single. Every member from AKB48 and SKE48, including kenkyuusei is eligible. Every member even had a campaign video, in which they were given a few minutes to explain the reason they think they’ll be best for the single. I think it’s an interesting way to let some of the underdogs get a spotlight, even for a little while. the managers at AKB have basically picked their old favourites and their new favourites and will probably stick to those guns until the new favourites start to graduate.
Now, to start off, I really dislike Jurina. I thinks he looks dirty and I don’t think she deserves the attention she’s getting. I haven’t watched S2 at the time of this post, so my opinion will most likely change once I’ve seen that stage, but for right now, I’m sticking to my opinions.
So let me start off by saying. . . CONGRATULATIONS TO SATO AMINA, SATO YUKARI, MASUDA YUKA AND URANO KAZUMI! I think it’s really excited to see some of the underdogs who never really participated get in the top 21, let alone the top 30 I hope that they’ll stay strong for the next week until the election is over and they start working on mysterious single number 13
I think CinDy really deserves it. She’s been in AKB48 since the beginning, got moved to Team B and then still got the shaft, even after she became an extremely popular member within Team B. She isn’t the queen of Team B for no reason
I don’t really know much about Team A or K, but I do like Masuda Yuka’s voice, especially in MARIA. So I think she deserves it ):
Honestly, I’m not surprised by who made and didn’t make the election. It was obvious that Acchan would be first, with the other popular members like Kojiharu, Yuko, and Takamina filling up the rest of the top 5. I was a little surprised that Mayuyu got first place, because I wasn’t really aware she’s as popular as she is. I hope that Team B will get a prominent role in the a-side . Team B also seems to have filled up the b-side nicely, with, at the midpoint, Yonechan, Nacchan(!), Haachan, Sasshi and Lovetan in participating in the b-side. I’m a little sad that Moeno won’t be participating, as of right now, but I think I’ll survive xD
Another thing I’m not surprised by is that Sayaka isn’t participating in the a-side. She has surely lost popularity since she wasn’t in the last two singles, not to mention I haven’t seen her on AKBingo! in weeks, plus she’s older for an idol, and isn’t exactly the cute type, like some other older idols. I don’t know that she’ll graduate right away, since she has a solo song in the K5th stage, but I’m sure she won’t be in wotas faces as much for a while.
I can’t even imagine what the final results will be, but I’m really really anxious and excited to find out. I hope that there’ll be some upsets (Team B takes the a-side by storm?) but at this point I kinda doubt it.
Also, wow! 104,180 sold in the first week! Number 2 on the oricon weekly charts! That’s really exciting It seems like all the popular idol groups are doing well recently, Morning Musume getting another Number 1 single, AKB48 selling two Gold Singles, and Perfume getting 80,000+the first week with number ones I’m excited and I hope that this marks the return of Japanese girl groups to the mainstream in Japan.
Once I get an honest to god computer (This is a public library computer that I’m typing this entry on), I’ll probably be posting thoughts on H2 G-Rosso, K5 and eventually A5 and S2 (Maybe even B3 if I’m feeling motivated) So hopefully this blog will be a little more active in the future!
April 8, 2009
Happy birthday Takamina!
Happy Birthday, Takamina. You’re 18 today! I can’t believe you’re only a year older than me!
But since my computer at home is broken, and I’m using wordpress from a school computer, I can’t put any pictures on here D: I’ll add a picture of cake at a later date, when my computer is fixed or I have a new one
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TAKAMINA!
March 22, 2009
B4 – I picked the best time to get into AKB
I swear, I keep watching this stage over and over and over and it doesn’t get old. Not a moment of it. Granted, I need to rewatch it to get this post done, but. . . Hey, I’m not complaining!
February 26, 2009
Yay! Tane!
no3b’s new PV is out.
YEEEAH
I miss Mendol though… T_T
But that’s okay because this song is awesome and I like the video.
February 22, 2009
A Brief History Lesson
So, one big question is: How did Max get into Japanese Music in the first place? Technically speaking, my history with Japanese pop music dates back to my elementary days, when Sailor Moon was a popular TV show on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block. btw, I just realized that Toonami is a pun on Tsunami. Wow.
February 3, 2009
I’m Cursed
This is Max, btw
Apparently every AKB48 member I start to genuinely like graduates. It started back when I was just scratching the surface of the AKB world, and now it’s just kind of. . . it’s too hard to talk about ;-;
January 4, 2009
play the GAME
Perfume released an album earlier this year that complimented their recent hit to the big time in the Japanese music world. It was probably reviewed and written up to death earlier this year, when it was released, but as I am a fairly new Perfume fan, I’m going to write about it now.
This isn’t a review, necessarily, but I will be going through the album track by track. Let’s start at the begining, with Polyrhythm.
Polyrhythm
This song is pretty good, but I’m still deciding where exactly it falls in my favourites for Perfume. I really like the beginning lines which are slow and lead up to the first chorus. It gives the song a more climactic and dramatic feel. Parts of the instrumental make me think of Katamari Damacy music. . . maybe Perfume should do a song on the next Katamari Damacy soundtrack? That game’s notorious for having amazing soundtracks, so Perfume would fit in fine. But that’s another note >.>
I also really like the repeat parts in the middle of the song, which then lead back into the slow build up bits.
Here’s the PV for your viewing pleasure!
Plastic Smile
this song is is pleasant, but a little repetitive in my opinion. It doesn’t seem like they go anywhere from the beginning, except adding a stronger bass part. Unfortunately, the stronger bass also kind of drowns out the vocals, so This song kind of passes through my head when I listen to it. It’s a pleasant song, overall, and I could definitely see it being played in a movie or something. Maybe if I ever get around to writing a movie, it’ll be in the soundtrack. . . But that’s for another time.
GAME
This song gave me a headache when I first heard it, but if you listen to it a few more times it gets a little better. It comes off a little strong after the cutesy feel of plastic smile, and the guitar that starts in the beginning doesn’t really fit the song. The vocals are a little strange and are a little more scary feeling for Perfume. Granted, I don’t actually know what they’re saying, but it kind of has the same feel as some of the early Tommy heavenly6 (especially +gothic pink+ ) work with a more techno feel. Out of the entire album, this is the only song I really dislike, but I’m sure it has it’s fans out there somewhere.
Baby cruising Love
This is where the album really starts to pick up. The song kind of starts slow, like polyrhythm, but when it picks up, the lyrics stay slow, which kind of gives the song a nice moderate pace that I like. I also happen to LOVE techno that includes piano, which is only another plus to this album for me. The PV for this song is great, too, if you haven’t seen it.
I really like the parts where they draw with the lights
Chocolate Disco
When I first started listening to Perfume, this was one of my favourite songs. It’s very repetitive, but unlike plastic smile, you can actually hear what they’re saying. The song is almost sickeningly cute, but it’s from a single called ‘Fan Service ~Sweet~’ right? The dance is adorable and sometimes I fake dance along with it. Usually I just nod my head happily along with the song, though, because I try to avoid looking completely ridiculous in public.
Here’s the PV, for you who haven’t heard the song or seen the PV yet:
Macaroni
This song has almost a funk or jazz feel to it, like some of the earlier Morning Musume; that jazz feel has been known to make me sleepy on several occasions. The song is pleasant and I guess feels like the standard ballad song for every album. Usually after I listen to this I can be heard saying ‘ma ma macaroni’ at random points, but the song sticks to you I guess. It’s a pleasant song like plastic smile, but it’s definitely more memorable.
Ceramic Girl
This song is kind of poppy and wakes you up after the brief slowdown with Macaroni. My favourite parts of this one are the verses, ironically, as I usually favour the choruses of songs. The instrumental of this song seems to pop at you, too, which I like. I can only imagine a PV for this one–all I can think of is the perfume girls in greyscale walking around a world where green and yellow and red and blue paint is being splattered around their footsteps. That’d be a fun PV!
Take me Take me
This song reminds me of the first few tracks on this Daft Punk album my sister bought when I was really little. I’m not sure why, but it also reminds me of dark chocolate–like it could be a commercial song for some luxurious dark chocolate bar in Japan. Do it, perfume! Do it! Now! xD I like this song, like the rest of them and the vocals remind me of a doll or something. It’s vaguely creepy but a nice song.
Secret Secret
This song is amazing. It was my first Perfume song, and I immediately fell in love with it. The beginning has kind of a ripple feeling and then the chorus is like, the peak, but since the chorus is in there so much, it peaks a lot. Perfume songs are generally subdued, but this is one of the only Perfume songs that really gets me going and excited and happy; it’d be great for a pick-me-up playlist.
Once again, here’s the PV for those of you who haven’t heard or seen it yet:
Butterfly
When this song first started on my iTunes, I was immediately confused by it. I think when I first heard the album it was too late for me to be really coherent as to what the song actually was and the music really became just background music, but as I’m listening to this right now, it immediately thought of like, a boss battle from an RPG, particularly one in a jungle setting. You can hear some tribal instruments and stuff in the actual song, and the vocals add to the feeling othat this song is being played in the jungle or an RPG. One thing that really confuses me is when they say Butterfly; it sounds like a train is going past or something. The song picks me up in the same way as Secret Secret, so that’s another reason why I like it.
Twinkle Snow Powdery Snow
TWINKLE SNOW~! This might just be my favourite song on the album. Everything about it just oozes cute, especially the name. I want to be in a store and have this come on the radio, or something. It’d make me really happy. I don’t know exactly why this is my favourite song, but it definitely is up there. It’s like i heard it and it immediatly became my favourite.
Puppy love
When I told Amy of Merry-go-Round I was going to blog about this album, I was afraid why she was so excited for me to hear this, especially after the cracktastic song ‘puppy love’ off of Kusumi Koharu’s recent album, but this song is really nice. It doesn’t have a similar flow to other perfume songs on the album, but it definitely does have the technopop sound that their other songs have. The flow seems a little more similar to an album song from Morning Musume or C-ute, but either way I really like it.
After listening to this album, I can say I really hope to see a lot more music from Perfume, especially songs that sound like Puppy love or Twinkle Snow Powdery Snow.
Until next time,
Max
December 18, 2008
Hi!
Welcome. I’m Wendy, Max’s sister best friend? And this is our non-H!P blog. So I doubt it’ll be very active lol.
Some non-H!P music I listen to is Otsuka Ai, Perfume, AKB48, etc. There’s others but fuck you I don’t want to list stuff.
Oops. Snark.
ANYWAYS
YEAH
THIS BLOG WILL BE PRETTY BITCHIN HACKIN’ COOL.
Expect cool shit in the future. Or something.
…Max, help me out here. 
___________________________
Hey thar it’s Max! ;D
This is Mine and Wendy’s Non-H!P blog, because we do listen to artists other than Morning Musume, Berryz Koubou and C-ute. Lots of others.
We’ll try to be active and post about groups like AKB48, Perfume, Ikimono Gakari, Otsuka Ai, and everyone we can think of.
Please be sure to follow our blog!
Thanks,
Max + Wendy
