OFFICIAL MORNING MUSUME INFORMATION THREAD (and other stuff)

Saburo · Mitsuko Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 537 Location: Hawaii

DaDiDuDeDoDaDi -- Morning Musume.

Honest: that's the title of the song. I'll send it to you next time...

That is all.
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(左から) 佐藤愛子, 永作博美, 松野有里巳

Saburo · Mitsuko Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 537 Location: Hawaii

The new single by Morning Musume is making the rounds now (on sale: July 22) and the PV is quite a howl.

For once, it takes the group out of the soundstage and in a real moving train, instead of a set and bluescreen. The tune has fourteen (14) verses, each dedicated to an individual member. The song nails down each gal's personality, yet doesn't overstay its welcome.

It probably won't hit #1 on Oricon but that's aight: MM doesn't need chart-topping tunes to remain relevant in J-pop and geinoukai.

以上
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avatar: ribbon (女性アイドルグループ, 1989-94)
(左から) 佐藤愛子, 永作博美, 松野有里巳

Saburo · Mitsuko Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 537 Location: Hawaii

Go here to download a subtitled version of the music video: http://tracker.hello-online.org/details.php?id=204
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avatar: ribbon (女性アイドルグループ, 1989-94)
(左から) 佐藤愛子, 永作博美, 松野有里巳

Saburo · Mitsuko Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 537 Location: Hawaii

Kago Ai (left) and Tsuji Nozomi graduated from Morning Musume last week at a concert in Yoyogi, Tokyo. The popular idol group now numbers at 12 members.

Tsuji-Kago joined the group in April 2000, along with Yoshizawa Hitomi and Ishikawa Rika (the latter being slated for "graduation" in summer 2005). The popular duo raised Morning Musume to new heights, including the Minimoni unit that proved to be the last Hello! Project single (Minimoni Jankenpyon) to sell a million copies.

The two have now become a separate duo called "W." Their second single, "Aa Ii na!" will be released on August 18 and their first tour of Japan begins on the 10th.
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avatar: ribbon (女性アイドルグループ, 1989-94)
(左から) 佐藤愛子, 永作博美, 松野有里巳

Saburo · Mitsuko Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 537 Location: Hawaii

The 24th (yep, TWENTY-FOUR) single by the fabled idol group was released today, "Namida ga Tomaranai Houkago." Lead vocals are handled by a couple of the usual front-row gals, Charmy and Mikitty. However, Konkon and Shigechan share the limelight this time around. The four of them look great in the PV, wearing those baby-doll dresses:

The song, an almost old-fashioned pop tune, shares more in common with "Ai Araba It's All Right" (Nacchi's swan song with the group, released this past January) in spirit. However, the one song that kept coming to mind was "Seinaru Kane ga Hibiku Yoru," an old Tanpopo tune from October 1999:

I saw the first-pressing single CD and DVD for "Namida ga Tomaranai Hougaku" at Hakubundo today so I grabbed both. No "regular" single CD was on the shelf.

According to the sticker on the front...

Cards wtih first-pressing CD:
Kaori-Konkon
Marippe-Shigechan
Charmy-Makochan
Yossie-Reina
Mikitty-Gakisan

Card with DVD single:
Aichan-Kamei

No clue about the third card... There are several copies left of the single, though (and at least three copies of the 2nd MM single compilation disc).

[edit (3): spelling]
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avatar: ribbon (女性アイドルグループ, 1989-94)
(左から) 佐藤愛子, 永作博美, 松野有里巳

Deathwhistle · Masaru Joined: 07 Jun 2003 Posts: 225 Location: Honolulu

Saburo, Hope I'm not stepping on your very-thorough J-Pop updates, just wanted to put in my (late as always) 2 cents on Sentai Tunes running through my head lately (All opening themes, unless otherwise noted):

Akumaizer 3(That dang jingling bell is echoing in my head even as I type this)

Amazon Rider(The Megamix version, that kick-butt opening screeeeeam)

Goranger (Dang it, missed their Hawaii pseudo-debut Sad

)

Captain Harlock(Ahhhh, those soothing, crashing waves)
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"Hello. My name is Saburo Komyoji. You killed my brother. Prepare to die."

Saburo · Mitsuko Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 537 Location: Hawaii

Single #25 was released on Wedneday by the ubiquitous J-idol group Morning Musume, "The Manpower!!!":

This single marks the departure of Iida Kaori, the last original member of the group which was created in late 1997 by former SharanQ member Tsunku. At month's end she will embark on a new solo career in the ever popular "Hello! Project" of idol groups and singers, headed by producer and chief songwriter Tsunku.

The song is being marketed as a support song for the Rakuten Golden Eagle, the newest entry in the Pacifc League (the junior circuit of Japan Pro Baseball) that essentially replaces the Kintetsu Buffaloes. However a glimpse of the music video is anything but a variation of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game":

Yes, it's the TOGA PARTY! No mention of home runs or blazing fast balls. Instead it's the usual mishmash themes of love, humanity and peace for all mankind.

I kinda like it.
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avatar: ribbon (女性アイドルグループ, 1989-94)
(左から) 佐藤愛子, 永作博美, 松野有里巳

sokubo · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:55 pm Post subject:

Again, nice post!
I suddenly feel compelled to go look for this new single. I was talking with a college friend whom I ran into at the 30th Anniversary thing at JCCH. Turns out his daughter is a BIG fan of Mini Moni. He was telling me about how she sings those songs (not that I remember any of them).

Not that this has anything to do with your post, per se, but I just thought it kind of interesting.

One song that's been going through my head a lot is Utada Hikaru's "Simple and Clean". Mostly because I hear the opening to that song everytime Daniel is watching some cartoon channel and there's a Nintendo commercial on for "Kingdom Hearts". Apparently, Hikki's song is the theme to this video game.

I wonder if there's alot of that going on now, since a good many of the video games come from Japan, too. I know there are some JPOP singer that do songs for the various Final Fantasy games. Don't remember off hand, who and which songs, though. Maybe next post.

sokubo · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 6:16 pm Post subject:

As a kind of tribute to your posts about them here, Saburo-san, I listened to some MM today. My favorite, so far is still Koi no Victory (is that the title?).

Getting to be more of a fan, I think.... LOL!

Saburo · Mitsuko Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 537 Location: Hawaii

Pop hooks: they get you EVERY time!
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avatar: ribbon (女性アイドルグループ, 1989-94)
(左から) 佐藤愛子, 永作博美, 松野有里巳

sokubo · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 7:00 pm Post subject:

I also have a renewed interest in BoA, btw. But, I'm acquiring of that MM taste.... Wink

Leiji · Mitsuko Joined: 08 Nov 2003 Posts: 550 Location: Honolulu

Saburo,

Can I have the link to the heavy metal version of the Kamen Rider themes from Animetal? I forgot where it was listed.

sokubo · Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 7:15 am Post subject:

Leiji,

Animetal's stuff is very cool! I can send you the Rider one. Henshin A Go Go is a BIG fan of Animetal, besides being a huge Kamen Rider (remember the V3 tattoo?) and recently avid Kikaida fan! He wants to promote Kikaida, Kamen Rider and tokusatsu in general on the East Coast, too!

Would be cool if Kikaida's reach extended to the Eastern U.S. as well as Hawaii.

Leiji · Mitsuko Joined: 08 Nov 2003 Posts: 550 Location: Honolulu

Hey, as long as Kikaida is spread throughout the US, that's cool! But you know, regardless of what age, race, sex, etc. you are.........the main thing that connects all of us here is our love for Kikaida and the rest of the tokusatsu/sentai heroes. I look forward to Japanese superheroes attracting new fans and attention, I think the time is just right.

sokubo · Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 9:57 pm Post subject:

It is amazing how this children's show from the early 70's have impacted so many lives...especially outside of its native Japan...for generations after. I don't think anyone could ever have forseen anything like this.