Bikkuri Project

This entry is dangerous, because I really want to call “general opinions” on the quality of certain singles, but I have to realize that even if I hate a certain song, and believe that there are many others that share my opinion, there are also many others out there who loved that song. I want to say things like “most would agree” but I realize I don’t really have the authority to do so. Damn it if having to phrase everything as purely my opinion doesn’t undercut my argument though. Oh well. Nothing for it.

What I want to comment on what I believe is an unfortunate trend/strategy within h!p. I’ll elaborate by saying that the announcement of “Lalala Shiawase no Uta” as C-ute’s next single was not a shock to me in any way. It was a disappointment, and after watching the PV I am even more disappointed. So much so in fact, that I’m not going to bother to write about the PV other to say that Kanna looked cute, and that is the one and only good thing about it. The sad thing is, I could see something like this coming from the moment I heard Tokkaiko Junjou. Any idea what I’m hinting at yet?

The pattern that I have noticed is that when a group has a ‘break-out’ single, they will follow up with a sub-par single, banking on the popularity of the previous single helping them sell something that is far inferior. “Love Machine” was followed by “Koi no Dance Site”, a song that was considerably less marketable, but it sold because of “Love Machine”. “Iroppoi Jirettai” which was somewhat of a breakout hit for that time in MM, was followed by “Chokkan2″ which stinks of B-side (because it is!). “Love Namida Iro” was followed by “100kai no kiss”, the first, but certainly not the last of Aya’s boring ballads. PetiteMoni followed up “Chokkotto Love” arguably their most popular song, with “Seishun Jidai”, arguably their least popular song (how often do you see that performed in concerts?). And now, alas, it is C-ute’s turn to fall prey.

Maybe Tsunku just saves up all his less than great songs to be released right after a big hit. It happens too often for me to be able to believe that it’s just a coincidence. The management feels like it’s okay to slack off a bit after a hit single because they know they can get away with it. It makes me mad though. It’s lazy, and it’s a mean strategy. We get all excited about this awesome group that has this awesome song, so we rush to preorder their next single, but rather than moving forward and triumphantly following up with another good song, we end up disappointed. The song sells far more than it deserves to, and the group probably retains most of their fans because everyone still likes and remembers the good single. Everyone’s happy but the fans. All we can do is have hope, I guess, because most likely the next single will be better. I eagerly await, with crossed fingers, whatever C-ute will show us next.

Fondly Yours,

~Celestia~