Bikkuri Project

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~

Closer and closer to the top we go. The further up the list I get, you may notice things getting a bit Momusu heavy. Well, there are two reasons for that. 1. Morning Musume has more songs to choose from than anyone else, and 2. I just like Morning Musume the best, so that’s how things worked out.

And on with the video!

A bit of commentary.

#40- Love the echo. Why do they keep picking the wrong one to be the first A-side?

#38- Even if it hasn’t been a huge seller, I still like it.

#35- Needz moar Maimai. She’s the best singer out of this trio, but unfortunately, this is the only performance recording available.

#34- Well, it’s not number one, but yeah, it is on the list.

#33- Such a slow tempo… way to hog more than your allotted one minute, number 33.

#32- Same costumes, very different song

Only three more to go!

~Celestia~

Part the 6th. Enjoy! And more than any other song, #49 sounds SO wrong to me now without wota chanting.

~Celestia~

Just got back from my second Morning Musume concert of the weekend, and I’m completaly exhausted, but I can’t go to bed until I write everything down! It’d all just bounce around in my head and prevent me from sleeping otherwise.

I attended tonight’s concert with CK, and we had ramen afterwords. He’s a fun guy to talk with. Hey CK! We sat almost where I did yesterday, but a row back and a couple seats in. Once again, Gaki-san waved to me, and once again, I almost died of happiness!!

Seriously guys. She is just too great. Toward the end of the concert, you can tell some of the girls are getting tired. Sayumi especially tends to show it on her face. Not that I blame them. The last section of this concert is full of really energetic dancing songs with no real break between them.  But when she gets tired, Risa just dances harder. Whatever the song, she performs it from the top of her head to the tips of her toes and with every ounce of energy she has in her, and probably even a bit more than that. There’s always that extra pop, kick, shimmy, radiant smile or sultry stare. She just exudes such utter joy when she’s performing that it’s hard not to feel the same way.

Okay. Fangirling over with, here’s some notes from the concert.

-The first MC was pretty funny. LinLin asked what the cool way to ride on a train is, and Risa talked about how sometimes the handholds are too high, and she has to really stretch to reach them, and Eri said, “Yeah, a lot of little kids feel that way”. Hahaha! Payback for yesterday? Then Eri said she stands right in the middle, not holding on to anything and tries to keep her balance without moving her feet at all, like a game.

-They’re sold out of the little trucks already. Actually, they’re sold out of most things.

-Sayumi and Aika kissed at some point. Those two sure are kissy with each other.

-Ai-chan shook her little behind at the audience to demonstrate the Kimagure Princess theme, earning her lots of cheers.

-Saw a couple JunJun fans in my area. Yay! JunJun is too cute not to have more fans.

-It was Reina’s birthday show tonight, so there were people handing out blue glowsticks at the enterance. It looked pretty, with everyone waving them at the encore. It was my first time seeing a birthday show too, so that was fun.

-Instead of the “happy happy happy happy has come” line in Bonkyu Bomb, Risa shouted, “Happy happy happy happy Birthday!”. The look of surprise on Reina’s face was really cute.

-There was a really big group of girls in the back of the audience. I was kind of jealous, because they got all the attention during the “Jyousei no minna-san!” part.

-This time during the “Love Machine” pose, Ai-chan was pushing on Risa’s forehead, causing her to lean further and further back to try to get away from her.

And, and… I know there was more stuff I wanted to write about, but I’m too tired to think of it. Darn. Maybe I’ll edit this tomorrow.

~Celestia~