Taiki Bansei / Otome no Gyakushuu

ANGERME's first single with the new name and with 3rd
generation girls! What do I think of it?

It it even possible to be this excited for a song? Even though I only started following S/mileage properly last year and I'm not still too keen on the name ANGERME, I have been waiting for Taiki Bansei like crazy. One reason might be that alongside Meimi the new members appeal to me more than most old members. Especially Rikako, and I'm super happy too see her as a center here.

I also really like the dance and the setting of the dance shot. There's great energy there, even though its camerawork is slightly too messy. The clothes are casual but classy, which I adore. Only one minus: why oh why is Akari wearing a hoodie? That is only casual and she looks very out of place.

The horrible member introduction parts from the HaroSute version fortunately got deleted, but it wasn't enough to save the MV completely. The rainbow flag as the background of the close-up shots is fugly and doesn't fit the dance shot at all. The lighting makes some of the girls' hair look really messy. I guess they were going for a happier feeling with a colorful background, but let's be honest here - there's no way Taiki Bansei would need more happiness.

Song ★★★★★
Dance Shot ★★★★☆
Close-up ★☆☆☆☆
Clothes ★★★★☆
Overall ★★★★☆

When I saw Otome no Gyakushuu on HaroSute, my first reaction was to dislike it because it was so weird and nothing I had expected to hear after Taiki Bansei. But now that you think about it, Otome no Gyakushuu is the kind of song you would except from a group named ANGERME. And it really grows on you!

I actually really like the high-pitched parts, as well as the chorus. I just think the whole song could have been a lot more melodic instead of singing one particle at a time. There clearly has been a genius idea for a song, but the execution lacks a bit. The lyrics are interesting but don't always make sense, plus the arrangement is a bit off. The last ten seconds of the song are completely useless, I just wish it would have ended with the "la-la-la"s, it would've been so much more powerful.

And the MV is great! The setting is gorgeous, the close-ups are beautiful and there's more than just the dance and close-up shots! I love it! The antique furniture, the roses and the paleness fit the song perfectly. And so does the dance. Even though it's a bit weird, it has really fine parts, especially in the C-part. The outfits are fine. But just that, there's nothing very special about them.

Song ★★★★☆
Dance Shot ★★★★☆
Close-up ★★★★★
Clothes ★★★☆☆
Overall ★★★★☆


To be honest, even though I rate this song lower than Taiki Bansei, I think I will like Otome no Gyakushuu for a longer time. I just have that kind of a feeling. Anyway, overall, I think this is an all-kill single. Very nice start for ANGERME.

Introducing: SPICA

SPICA is one of the most vocally talented k-pop groups. On performances you can really see they concentrate on singing above anything else, so they sound awesome even MR removed.

Even though they're not completely unknown, I think they're still way too underrated. SPICA sounds and looks perfect and their music videos, especially You Don't Love Me and Tonight, which are my favourites, are beautifully executed.

Last fall they also made their US debut with an English song "I did it" in KCON.

Make way for chubby idols!

As one of the most controversial new trends in J-pop, oversized idols begun their conquest to rule the world last year, and I gotta say happiness is guaranteed after listening to these songs! Let's take a look at some chubby idol groups:

The-not-actually-chubby-idols: Chubbiness

380 kilograms of idols: Pottya

And one more round trio: la BIG 3



Now I want to see a chubby idol group that doesn't sing about being chubby and eat delicacies on their videos. An idol group that is purely an idol group that just happens to be chubby, not an idol group whose existence revolves around being chubby. Seriously. Every one of these songs has the word macaron in their lyrics. Look at all the food and the pastel colors. I don't even have to look up the lyrics to know what they're singing about. Like it isn't possible to be chubby and live healthily?

Chubby idols got even the Americans thinking: Is this positive song actually positive?
(This video has surprisingly good arguments. Among the bad ones. Still, watch it!)

They're getting a bit sidetracked, let's return to the point:
These three groups are the exact copies of each others.

So, is every chubby idol destined to be like every other
chubby idol for the rest of their career?

No. This trend is still very young, and only taking its baby steps. I think Japanese music industry will keep evolving as quickly as it has to present day, and one day chubby idols won't be a thing anymore. They'll just be idols that are chubby. This is just the annoying first level of trying something new, where everyone are clones of each others.

I could almost say I know the positive lyrics are meant to be positive. These groups are created to honestly encourage girls to love themselves, not to eat more. A new idol group's survival just depends on having a personality. This "chubby concept" is something really rare in the Japanese music industry, so it will guarantee you the interest of the public. One of the Japanese characteristics is to generalize things and that's why these girls are loving the food.

Many fear Japanese chubby idols will get flushed down the toilet, like their Korean sisters Piggy Dolls got. Read more here. It's a possible scenario.
Then again, I have faith. Chubby idols won't go distinct, but eventually a few groups will be able to maintain the balance between chubbiness and the right concept and to succeed. They'll start making songs about regular idol subjects, they'll stop eating candy in each of their MV's. They'll possibly still be marketed as chubby idols, but by then the trend has got over it's awkward-teenage-phase. That is my hope and belief.

I will be very excited to follow what is next for chubby idols. Stay with me, and while waiting for more controversy, enjoy their great music!


By the way, I'm not saying anything about individual groups, but don't say the entire "chubby concept" is embracing All About That Bass that was released on June 30, 2014, when Chubbiness' auditions were held on June, 2013. And That Bass is so original with the 50's theme!

♥

Introducing: ST.319

ST.319 is a Vietnamese dance group & production tem. Originally a dance crew founded and produced by member Aiden, these guys film the most awesome k-pop dance covers. They also have two recording artists, MIN and MR.A.

Do check them out!

Makes you want to dance too, right?

Introducing: EXILE TRIBE

EXILE TRIBE is another Japanese mess of brother- and sistergroups, units, collective units and subunits. But they're awesome. Their basic idea is that they have vocalists & performers separated - some members of the group are purely dancers. Here's a chart for you to understand the parts of EXILE TRIBE:

Simply: HIRO created J Soul Brothers, which became EXILE. Later, second (Nindaime) and third (Sandaime) generations of J Soul Brothers existed. THE SECOND from EXILE is basically the same group as Nindaime J Soul Brothers. There's also a unit called Generations (from EXILE TRIBE) and some other minor units. Many of these artists above are also part of the main group EXILE. E-Girls is short for EXILE Girls unit, and it consists of units Dream, Flower and Happiness as well as some original members.
EXILE TRIBE is a collective name for these units.
There was nothing simple about that.

What is simple is that their music is great. And that their "Short Versions"
of songs usually last for 5 minutes. It's heaven.

Introducing: FEMM

Betterly known as FEMM, Far East Mention Mannequins is a group everyone should know about. I, as well as many other fans of theirs, believe these girls will go viral at some point. It would not be a surprise, because everything about them is unique.

FEMM's concept is that they're plastic mannequins fighting for their rights, managed by their personal agents. They sing most songs completely in English. Decent English. Their songs are daring. I'm pretty certain their dances would have me taken to the hospital. They even have this gorgeous website built for interaction with fans.

Having debuted last april with the EP Astroboy, FEMM now has 13 music videos, if I understood right, for each of their songs. They released a full album, FEMM-ISATION in October.  It rocks.

One thing I love about FEMM is their funny and daring lyrics, like in Wannabe above, or Fxxk boys get money: "Gimme your number, Imma give that shit right back."

FEMM has also started a campaign called "DANCE IS NOT A CRIME."
and it's important.

Japan, until this day, has a law that basically forbids dancing after midnight, because somehow it's still associated with prostitution. Many clubs are troubled by this law, obviously. The Japanese mostly acknowledge this law is way out of its time, but nothing is done to it. Damn, let the people dance!

Do you think FEMM is awesome?

Bringing it back - again!

Hi guys. I'm bringing Musume no Hoshi back from it's second unofficial hiatus! I'm doing it anyway, but I would really appreciate if you commented on this post after you've read it. Just say quack, for instance. It feels nice to know you're heard!

While MNH has been down, I've still managed to keep my main blog somehow active. A while ago, I listed my Favourite music of 2014,  and some music stuff will still be found in there in the future too.

See you! ♥