Bikkuri Project

X posted on both my blogs

Around December, my laptop started to develop a crack in the corner where the screen meets the keyboard, around the hinge. Probably my fault, because I may have picked it up by the screen a time or two. Well, that crack has slowly expanded, and recently I began to have problems with the screen working. More and more often it`s been turning blank or becoming covered with delightful colored stripes at random, and it`s now gotten to the point that my computer is pretty much non-functional. I still have internet access via the computer at work, but it`s pretty limited. I can`t use it very long at a time or view most images or watch any streaming video, so I`m afraid that updates here may be a bit few and far between for a while.

I promise I`ll try my best!!! Please don`t give up on this blog. I`ll get back to regular updates as soon as I get a new laptop.

So sorry!

~Celestia~

I’m listening to the live audio recording of Morning Musume’s latest concert, and out of nowhere comes this slowed down LinLin solo version of “Aozora ga Itsumademo, etc.”, and I am absolutely fricking BLOWN AWAY!!!

Who knew LinLin could sing like this. WHO KNEW???? Listen, you listen right now.

linlin

Why doesn’t she sing like this all the time? Is it something she just switches on and off or something? Well, at any rate, I think we may have found Ai-chan’s vocal replacement if she ever graduates.

~Celestia~

The tour started today, and here’s the set list! Since I’m fully planning on attending at least a couple of these shows, it’s of special interest to me. My thoughts in purple.

Morning Musume Concert Tour 2009 Spring ~ Platinum 9 DISCO ~ Setlist

01. SONGS- So, absolutely no surprise that they opened with this. I like the intro, and it should be just about right to set the mood.
02. Naichau Kamo- No surprise here either.  Seems like we’re getting the concert off to a bit of a melancholy start, doesn’t it?
VTR
03. Mikan- The emotional polar opposite of Naichau Kamo! I suspect that some people will be bemoaning the inclusion of Mikan in yet another concert set list. If I wasn’t planning on attending the concert, I probably would be too but, as I’ve said before, Mikan is a kick-ass song to see live. It gets a great crowd response, so I fully understand why they keep putting it in.
MC
04. Egao YES Nude- Okay, single I haven’t seen live yet, but not one that’s very high on my list (See list at end of post). So “yay!” but not “YAY!!!”
05. Jounetsu no Kiss o Hitotsu (Takhashi Ai, Niigaki Risa & Tanaka Reina)- It’s a nice song, but I can’t imagine it will be very exciting live. Here’s hoping they prove me wrong.
06. Kataomoi no Owari ni (Kamei Eri)- Sorry, but I’m afraid this is my least favorite song from the new album. It’s nothing against Eri’s singing. I just think the song’s boring.
MC (Tanaka Reina)- Solo MC? I wonder what she’ll talk about.
07. Fine Emotion (Junjun & Linlin)- Now here’s a “YAY!!”. Looking forward to this one for sure. Panda power!
08. Watashi no Miryoku ni Kizukanai Donkan na Hito (Mitsui Aika solo, Junjun & Linlin as backup dancers)- I like the song, and more JunLin is always good. I just hope Mittsi has gotten a bit better at singing it.
09. Yowamushi (Niigaki Risa)- Lord knows Gaki-san could be singing my despised “Hyokkori Hontonjima” or whatever it’s called, and it would still be a high point of the concert for me.
10. It’s You (Michishige Sayumi solo, Takahashi Ai & Kamei Eri as backup dancers)- Now this interests me. Eri and Ai, perhaps MM’s best dancers, doing backup for a rather sexy song. I’m afraid they’re going to steal the show from Sayumi. Another one to look forward to.
MC (Kusumi Koharu & Junjun)
~ Special Medley ~
11. Love Machine- Not retired? Huh? Well, haven’t seen it yet, I guess. Maybe it’s just the intro though.
12. Renai Revolution 21- Good, good. Certainly wouldn’t mind watching this again.
13. SEXY BOY ~Soyokaze ni Yorisotte~- !!! I’ve got to go figure out the rest of the hand dance!
14. THE Manpower!!!- Yes!! This was on my list of singles I really want to see live in concert.
15. Aozora ga Itsumade mo Tsuzuku You na Mirai de Are! (Linlin solo, then the rest of the members joined in)- Lin solo? Sweet!
~ End of Special Medley ~
MC (Kamei Eri, Michishige Sayumi & Linlin)
16. Kousui (Kusumi Koharu & Junjun)- JunJun=awesome. Kusumi= DOES NOT WANT. So, I guess this song breaks even??
17. The Bigaku (Tanaka Reina)- Ayaya song? How did you get into a Momusu concert? Well, it’s a pretty good song, and Reina is a good performer, so I’ll give it a thumbs up.
MC GAKI (Niigaki Risa)
18. Yume Kara Samete (Takahashi Ai)- Another slow ballad solo for Ai-chan. Sigh.
19. Take off is now! (Takahashi Ai, Niigaki Risa & Tanaka Reina)- They’ve performed this at the last two concerts now. Wonder how they’ll change it up.
20. Guru Guru JUMP (Kusumi Koharu, Junjun & Linlin)- Total fun, and they seem to be getting more and more into it with each rendition.
21. HOW DO YOU LIKE JAPAN? ~Nihon wa Donna Kanji Dekka?~- Hell yeah! I didn’t expect this to pop up again when I was still in Japan. Soooo very excited to see this live.
22. Resonant Blue- Don’t get me wrong, I really like this song, but I think it may be time to give it a rest for a bit. Kinda getting sick of it, to be honest.
MC
23. Love & Peace! Hero ga Yattekita- I love songs that give the girls a chance to be silly and interact with each other. I’m sure this will be a new and different performance at each and every show.
ENCORE

24. Sono Bamen de Bibiccha Ikenai jan!- Well there’s a surprise. Not that I object, mind you. It’s a really fun song.

MC
25. Ame no Furanai Hoshi de wa Aisenai Darou?- I suppose they’ll be doing the album version with harmonies and everything? Well, it’s certainly a beautiful song, though maybe getting a bit overused already. Since it’s on the album it kinda had to be here though.

Overall, this concert has a darker and more mature feel than Resonant Live. I mean, there’s some fun stuff, but right from the get-go the serious songs seem to far outnumber the silly ones. There’s a lot to look forward to here…but I really prefer the Resonant Live set list for a few reasons. 1: Not so many solos. I really prefer group songs. 2: Being a girl, I’m not as attracted to “sexy” songs as some guys might be. 3: Resonant Live had “Koko ni Iruzee” AND “Souda! We’re Alive”. That’s a combo that would be really tough for any concert to beat, as far as I’m concerned.

There are quite a few songs that I’m really wanting to hear Momusu sing in concert that haven’t come up yet. “I Wish”, “Do it Now”, “Shabondama”, “Kanashimi Twilight” and “As for One Day” to name a few. Ah well, guess there’s always the next concert.

I don’t want to end on a bad note. I’m super duper excited that concert time is drawing near! I can’t wait to get a hold of an audio rip!

~Celestia~

EDIT: One more thing. Morning Musume is due to have a new single released toward the end of this concert tour. Should we expect it to be added to the set list later on (or replace one of the existing songs?). I believe they added Mikan in the middle of a concert tour when it first came out.

Happy 2nd Cake Day International Wota! Since I have two blogs, and I am always looking for an excuse to eat dessert twice, I bought two different cakes!

So I didn`t exactly make these desserts, but they are real genuine Japanese pasteries made in Japanese bakeries, so I think that`s worth some points.

For Bikkuri Project, I found this adorable orange custard tart.

Close up on food!

Omedetou,

~Celestia~

Don’t worry. I’m talking about h!p concerts, not cocaine or anything. Lol.

But seriously, I’ve actually be craving concerts lately. I check the internet to see what tickets are available on a daily basis, I dream about them regularly…I need to go to a concert, preferably a Morning Musume concert, RIGHT NOW. Ug. I sound full of crazies, huh?

Maybe discussing some recent h!p events would be a good distraction.

Mano Erina- This girl is getting promoted hard core. She’s all over the place on magazines, radio shows, etc. Well, I guess with the elder club graduation and Koharu’s vocal suckitude, h!p really needs to produce a viable soloist right now. Mano has got the looks, there can be absolutely no doubt about that. I also find her inclusion in dramas very very promising. I’ve long been saying that h!p needs to utalize dramas more as a vehicle to get their stars’ names out there, and if Mano is being pushed in that direction, which it looks like she might be, it could be a very good thing for her and even h!p as a whole. She seems to be a promising little actress too. I’ve heard a lot of criticism of her vocals, which I admit are a little flat, and her songs, which I admit are a little boring, but at the same time, I can of understand the direction they’re taking with her. Erina isn’t being marketed as another cutesy hyper idol, they’re giving her an image of simple beauty, purity, and above all, freshness. Her songs and singing style really reflect that image. With her debut coming up shortly, we’ll soon see how well that image resonates with the public.

Maasa gets a photobook- And everyone suddenly understands why she’s lost weight recently. I do kind of wonder if the weight loss was her choice, in preparation for the book, or if it was more like they told her “Look, we want to give you a photobook, but you’ve got to lose a few kilos first…” Anyway, I’m not a huge Maasa fan, but I’m really hoping and praying that this is a sign of a new wave of photobooks for other girls who haven’t had one yet. Please, oh please, oh please!

Really young kids- First the new (not h!p but nicegirl, so related) group, Nice Girl Mu, which appears to be all u-10. Then, we hear that Francis and Aiko, the little girls from the Taiwan auditions have been officially made into a unit as well. Here’s the thing: from the point of view of these little girls and their well being, they are far too young to be idols. A six year old doesn’t know what she wants. She might like dancing around on stage and having everyone pay attention to her and cheer for her, but she won’t realize what she sacrificed for that until she gets older and it’s too late. I fully blame the mothers for this. At the same time, from a business standpoint, it makes a lot of sense. Idols peak at a young age, late teens or so, and like any sport/industry where the participants peak at a young age, the younger you start them, the better. Look at gymnasts or figure skaters. I used to take skating lessons casually, and I can’t tell you how many 5 or 6 year olds were having private figure skating lessons on a daily basis. You could practically see the olympic medals gleaming in their mother’s eyes. If you recruit a girl at a more reasonable age, say 14, you’ve only got about 6-8 years, maybe a few more if she’s popular. She’ll need training at first to become comfortable on stage and develop an image, so that’s a few more precious years wasted. It’s not a good return on your investment. Recruit and start training when she’s still a little kid, and by the time she hits her early teens you’ve got an experienced and confident idol with a fanbase already in place. This strategy worked very well with the h!p kids, so it’s no surprise that they’re trying it again.

Almost 2 more months….

~Celestia~