Bikkuri Project

This may be crazy, but the more I think about it, the more I really want to know…

If h!p fans voted for their top 100 songs of all time, what would the choose. Yes, I am more than a little inspired by akb’s annual top 100 concert, but despite that association, I really want to go ahead with this.

Here’s a video explaining everything.

And in case you can’t (or don’t want to) watch the video, here are the rules. Each person has 10 votes. You can vote for 10 different songs, 10 times for the same song, or any combination, just as long as you assign 10 votes. You can vote for any h!p song. Please send all votes, as well as your nationality and gender (optional), to celestia444@gmail.com. It’s an account I’ve created especially for this. EDIT: Or leave a comment in this blog. That works too. Voting ends February 28th, at which time I’ll start working on a video, or maybe several videos, with the results.

I’m really super-excited for this, and I’m hoping for a good turnout! Please vote!!! A poll in which only a handful of people vote is totally useless. I’ve put instructions in Japanese up with the youtube video, since over half of my youtube viewers (22,000+ views now!) seem to be from Japan.

EDIT!!! Actually, come to think of it, I guess leaving your votes as a comment on this blog would be okay too. I’ll just make sure they don’t show so the surprise isn’t ruined!

Thanks in advance!

~Celestia~

You may be wondering why I haven’t written about the shuffle deeto concert. Well, I did write about it, quite a bit in fact, but then I had computer issues and I ended up losing the whole thing. Then, the next day I went to Kyoto for the weekend, and then I had to plan a semester’s worth of lessons for work, and well, here we are today.

I just can’t type up the whole review again, but suffice it to say that this was my favorite of the “Wonderful Hearts” style concerts I’ve been to so far, though I still prefer straight up Morning Musume concerts.

-I liked alot of the costumes for this concert. The shorts/T-shirts combo everyone wore was simple, but cute, and all the individual shuffle unit costumes really fit each group’s character. Zoku VUDen in particular wore pretty conservitive costumes last concert, but they really whipped out the sexy this time. Yowza.

-Favorite Performances:

Aa!: Both of their songs were great. Miya and Airi are total pros, my two favorite h!p kids. Then there’s Saho Akari, who didn’t stand out much to me when she was just one of the eggs, but has really proven herself as a member of new Aa!. Vocally, she holds her own with the other two, and that’s really saying something. She just still needs more confidence on stage and she’ll have the whole package.

Love Like Crazy: So here’s a song that I barely remembered existed. I’m definetly going to have to give it a second look.

-Least Favorite Performances:

Pen Pen Kyoudai: I love Shin Minimoni, but this song is  annoying. Mini Strawberry Pie was really cute though, so I forgive them.

Destiny Love: I guess there had to be at least one ballad. This one is so thoroughly “blah” though. I don’t even find it to be particularly pretty. On the upside, Yuuka’s vocals were better than I expected.

And I think that’s all you get on that subject. I’m already making plans for the PikaPikaPikachuuu Morning Musume concerts! And I’m already feeling sad that it’ll be the last MM concert tour I can attend. They’d better make it a great one.

~Celestia~

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to attend the Mobekimasu concert. However, it would take a combination of hell and high water to keep me from the Shuffle Date concert after I saw the set list. So many songs that rank highly on my own personal countdown that I’ve never seen performed live before!! Renai Rider (#22), Sukisugite Bakamitai (#13), and First Kiss (#7), most prominent among them. Not to mention favorites that I have seen before but would love to see again such as Cinderella Complex (#11) and Pira! Otome no Onegai (#35) this time, I assume, complete with Mai.

So, provided my cat doesn’t do something stupid that requires an emergency trip to the vet again (don’t worry, he’s totally fine now), I will be at that concert tomorrow night, and I’m already giddy with excitement.

On another note, I seem to have acquired almost 20,000 video views as well as 21 subscribers. I know that’s not huge in youtube terms, but it’s pretty big in “me” terms. I feel like I ought to make other h!p related videos now, but I’m not sure what about…

~Celestia~

Hi and Happy New Year everyone!!

I’m back in Japan and ready to hit up some concerts. I still have to work this week even though new years holidays a lot of Japan (there’s no school), but the good news is that I only have to work until noon most days, so evening concerts are totally do-able!

I’m thinking I’ll hit up the Mobekimasu concert tomorrow and Shuffle Date on Thursday. Yay! Concerts (and concert DVDs) are my absolute number 1 favorite thing about my Jpop fandom, so of course I’m really excited.

Akemashite omedetou,

~Celestia~

I couldn’t resist making one last video for my top 100 series. This is 20 songs that I really wanted to include, but I just didn’t have room for. It’s shorter clips, but more songs, and they’re in no particular order. It’s the also rans. I just know there’s going to be someone out there who’s all, “Those are all my favorite songs! How dare you not include them!”. I really do like these songs, and a bunch that aren’t going to be featured at all, but there’s just too much competition.

I didn’t use the VUDen version of “Nanimo Iwazu ni” because I think that song is really best with a large choral arrangement, not just 3 girls.

Goodbye Koharu. As much as I have moaned and groaned about your singing skills, I have to admit that I’m really going to miss you. I wish you all the best. At the same time, as with the recent c-ute graduation, better you’re the one to go than any of the others.

~Celestia~

We’ve finally reached the end of my 100 songs count down! I had so much trouble getting this under 10 minutes 10 seconds so it could go on youtube. I just love these songs too much.

I’ve got to say, even though it’s been a lot of work, I’ve enjoyed making these, and I’m a little sad to see it done and over with. Maybe I should make a video of the “also rans”?

Anyway, expect to see a lot of Morning Musume here. I did warn you that I like them best.

#9- Reina, that was the worst lip syncing I have ever seen in a PV. Ever.

#8- Favorite Karaoke song!

#7- Kyaaa! Little Airi is soooo cute. I want to pinch her cheeks.

#5- This performance in particular was a really moving and emotional moment for me (I was in the audience). They invited everyone to sing along, and quite a few of the girls were getting teary-eyed.

#4- Ranks up with High King for my favorite H!p dances of all time.

#3- Warm fuzzies all around! And did I not do a great job of splicing this one together? Unless you are familiar enough with the PV, you wouldn’t even know that this was two separate sections of footage.

#1- I’d just like to point out that I have never heard this (or numbers 8, 7, or 3) in a live concert. Something MUST be done to remedy this within the time I have left in Japan or I might have to stay here another year.

Taa daa!

~Celestia~

We’re almost to the end! Here are the “runners up” for being in the top 10. Lots of great stuff here, I promise.

#20- Pineapple skin! Nom nom nom.

#18- It’s a really good song, but it might have ranked higher if I weren’t so sick of hearing it in concert.

#14- I admit it. I’m a sucker for sappy feel-good idol songs.

#13- One of these voices is not like the others. One of these voices just doesn’t belong….(sesame street ref. FTW)

#12- Their best single is paired with their ugliest PV. Oh the irony.

~Celestia~

Have I really made 8 of these already? Looks like it.

#30- Oh Gaki. Everyone is like “Angst!” and she’s all, “I’m so thrilled to be here!”

#29- Surprise pick maybe? Hey, I even timed the pictures to the music.

#28-27- Nice transition right?

#27- I’ve always wondered: why do the “other” girls pretend to sing the background vocals? It sounds nothing like them and it just looks silly. Adults did those vocals, not a bunch of little girls.

#23- Why is this so small? Sorry about that.

#22- Yes! I got in both moments of Momo “specialness”.

#21- Moved up quite a few spots on the list since MM’s latest concert tour. So fun!

~Celestia~

So ya think ya know h!p?

As I’ve been doing my top 100 list videos, I’ve been looking up the proper title of every song, to make sure I don’t get anything wrong. The trickiest part is the exclamation points. A fair number of h!p songs, for whatever reason, end in exclamation points, while many don’t. So here’s the quiz. Part 1: Try to guess how many Morning Musume songs (including album songs and B sides, including sakura/otome. anything released on CD with the name “morning musume”) have exclamation points in the official title?  Part 2: How many H!p songs TOTAL include an exclamation point in the title? (not including any yet to be released songs, not including multiple versions of the same song)

AND, as a bonus question: How many official song titles include symbols (hearts, stars, etc) which are not normally found on a computer keyboard?

Okay. Do you have your guesses? Then highlight below for answers and complete list.

Part 1 ANSWER: 40! Can you believe it? Here’s the list if you don’t.  Most exclamation pointiest album is No.5, with 7 songs. That’s over half the songs on the album.

3,2,1 Breakin’ Out!, Sono Bamen de Bibiccha Ikenai Jan!,  Please! Jiyuu no Tobira, Bon Kyu! Bon Kyu! Bomb Girl, Odore! Morning Curry, Ambitious! Yashinteki de Ii jan,  Chokkan 2 ~Nogashita Sakana wa Ookizo!~,  Koi wa Hassou Do the Hustle!, Nature is Good!, Love & Peace! Hero ga Yattekita, The Manpower!!! (three exclamation points for extra power), Ganbare Nippon Soccer Fight!, Koko ni Iruzee!, Do it! Now, Souda! We’re Alive, The Peace!, Inspiration!, Daite Hold on Me!, Say Yeah! ~Motto Miracle Night~, Ai no Sono ~Touch my Heart!~, Yuujou ~Kokoro no Busu ni wa Naranee!~, Take off is Now!, Be Positive!, Samui kara fuyu da mon! ~Doumokou mo Naissu yo Mikkity~, Wa~ Merry Pin XMas!, Aozora ga Itsumademo Tsuzukuyouna Mirai de Are!, Sayounara See you again Audios Bye Bye Cha Cha!, Help!!, Ship! To the Future, Top!, Tsuyoki de Yukouze!, Yes! Pocky Girls, Hey! Mirai, Ganbacche!, Ikimasshoi!, “…suki da yo!”, Da di du de do da di!, Hello to You ~Hello! Project 10shuunen Kinen Theme~, Yah! Aishitai, Dance Suru no da!

Part 2 ANSWER: 144 All of the MM songs plus…

Berryz- 11

Warera! Berryz Kamen, Happiness~Koufuku Kangei!~, Piriri to Yukou!, Kaccho ee!, Fighting Pose wa date ja nai!, Happy! Stand up, Kono Yubi Tomare!, Clap!, Omoitattara Kichi desu!, Sprinter!, Arigatou! Otomodachi

C-ute- 6

Everyday Zekkouchou!!, Bye Bye Bye!, Go Go Go!, Koero! Rakuten Eagles, Yes! All my Family, Everyday Yeah! Kataomoi

Shugo Chara Groups- 9

Take it Easy!, Summer Has Come!, Warp!, Shugo shugo!, Warp!, Gachinko de Ikou!, Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!, Jankya Mottainai!, Cafe Buono!

Ayaya- 7

Tensai! Let’s go Ayayamu, Yeah! Meccha Holiday, DokiDoki Love Mail!, Rescue! Rescue!, Happy to Go!, Oshare!, Egao no Namida ~Thank you! My dear friends~

Goto Maki- 9

Some Boys! Touch, Genshoku Gale Hade ni Yukube!, Daite yo! Please go on, Yaruki! It’s Easy, Wow Suteki!, RaiRai Shinfu!, Positive Genki!, Love. Believe It!, Moriagaru Shika nai desho!

Miki- 2

Koi yo! Utsukushiku, Let’s Do Dai Hakken!

Tanpopo/Pucchimoni/Minimoni- 15

Koi wo Shichaimashita!, Pittari Shitai X’mas!, Baby! Koi ni Knockout!, Waltz! Ahiru ga Samba, Seishun Jidai 1. 2. 3!, Baisekou Daisekou!, Lucky Cha Cha Cha!, Okashi Tsukutte Okasui~!, Ai~n Taisou!, Ai~n! Dance no Uta, Minimoni. Hinamatsuri!, Minihamuzuntakatta!, Minimoni Telephone! Rin rin rin, Minimoni. Jankenpyon!, Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Daisukki!

VUDen- 3

Let’s Live!, Naishin Kyaakyaa da wa!, Kacchoi ii ze! Japan

W- 3

Ai no Imi wo Oshiete!, Aa ii na!, 18~ My Happy Birthday Comes!

Kirarin- 6

Tan tan taan!, Oh! Tomodachi, Chance!, Koi no Mahou wa Habibi no bi!, Very! Berry! Strawberry!, happy happy sunday!

Shuffles- 10

Get Up! Rapper, Be All Right!, Oh! Be My Friend, All for one & One for all!, Shiawase Beam! Suki Suki Beam!, Chu! Natsu Party, Hello! Mata Aou ne, Summer Reggae! Rainbow, Dancing! Natsu Matsuri, Hello! no Theme

Other- 23

Seishun! Love Lunch, Shouri no Big Wave!!!, Iku ZYX! Fly High, Debut! (something in Chinese), Mirakarurun Grand Purin!, Shinkokyuu Shiyou!, Start!, Hey! Hey! Girl’s Soul, Thanks!, Hajimete no Happy Birthday!, Hey! Mahiru no Shinkirou, Yes! Shiawase, Hey You!, Yattarouze!, Ojisama tte Daisuki!, WaTxHello!Project- Ready Go!, Koibito Boogie Woogie!, Koi wa Mushou!, Ganbacchaumonee!, Help!! ~Ecomoni no Atchii Chikyu o Samasunda~, Yasai is Great!, Kyu! Kyu! Kyu!, Love, Yes I do!

Part 3 ANSWER:21, not including the groups who’s names include symbols, we’ve got one umbrella, two music notes, nine hearts, four arrows, one greater than or equal to sign, two circles, one infinity sign, one triangle square circle set, and 6 stars (one shooting).

Tsuukagu Vector☂, ★Akogare My Star★, Omakase♪Guardian, Muteki no ∞ Power, Renai♥Rider, Yuugure☆Sherbet, △□○san Kakushikaku Marui Mono, Hapi☆Hapi Sunday, Happy☆彡, Koi☆ka na, hare ame nochi suki ♥, the☆peace!, ♥momoiro kataomoi♥, issei gassai anata ni ageru♪, koisuru♥angel♥heart Yuki ⁄ Ai × Anata ≥ Suki, Sakura→Nyuugakushiki
Sweeeets→→→Live. Honki Meki Meki ♥ Toki Meki Meki ♥, ○○ Joshi Kousei no Shuchou, Icha♡Icha Summer

Well, that was sorta pointless (Ha! Get it?). Well, I’ve been home sick lately and (clearly) I’ve had a lot of free time on my hands. How’d you do? Close at all? I way undershot it, and not only that, but there were a bunch of songs I thought had exclamation points that didn’t. Oh, and if you think I’ve missed any, please feel free to let me know.

~Celestia~