I was planning to do an end of the year post awards style for the blog in 2008, but… Yea, it’s 2009 now. That obviously failed. From the start of December, I kept telling myself to start working on the post because it would take me a while to get on it… And I never started. Then family visited, and Christmas happened… Then the New Year came… And here we are. XD

Anyway, Amy of Merry Go Round put together a poll to figure out what peoples favourite releases from H!P were in 2008. Since most of the categories I was thinking of are in her poll, I’m going use that as my template for my own awards, with a few new categories added in and possibly omitting some of her categories due to my inability to respond to them (ex. for not listening to anything from a specific category).

One thing to keep in mind within these awards: I don’t listen to EVERY H!P release. For example, I haven’t listened to Nacchi’s latest single. I only hear Koharu’s singles when she performs them at concerts – and I only listen to her song(s) once, just so I can review it for my blog. Also, don’t mind my shameless linking to myself in this post. This will just save you all from having to deal with an extremely long and rambly post. For many of these topics, I’ve already reviewed the song, PV, or what-have-you. ^_^

So, with that out of the way, lets get into the first annual fields H!P Awards! Please look out for the maiZe and berryZ seal of approval! ^_^ All winners have been stamped with it!

Why yes… That is my puppet-self hanging out with Berryz Koubou… XD And why yes, I am a huge geek! <3

Best Group Single (Overall)
Buono! – Gachinko de Ikou

When this single came out, I was faced with a dilemma – best single of the year so far: High-King’s CC, or Gachinko? If anyone remembers my Gachinko review, Gachinko eventually came out on top as a result of the song, PV and b-side. So, in addition to this getting best overall single (the whole package just mentioned), Gachinko also gets the best a-side award for 2008 in my book.

Best Group B-side
High-King – Kioku no Meiro

Do I really need to explain this award? When I second heard this song (funny sentence, I know, but it wasn’t upon first listen) I completely freaked out. This song is just made of so much awesome, I had to review the b-side of the single before talking about the a-side!
* This is an additional award category I added to Amy’s list, simply because this song is too awesome to not win something! XD

Best Soloist Single
Matsuura Aya – Kizuna

You may look at this award and think Aya wins by default… Which she sort of does, because I refuse to listen to Koharu, and I don’t follow Abe Natsumi or any other H!P soloist… BUT, despite that, I actually do love this song (as well as it’s b-side “Hitori”). I love pretty much anything by Aya, so that’s not a surprise. HOWEVER, I don’t like the PV. I think I’ve mentioned it before, but it makes Aya look like an old lady! STOP TRYING TO SUPRESS HER HOTNESS UFA!!!

Best Group Album
Buono! – Café Buono!

When this album came out way back in February, I fell in love with it instantly. Unfortunately, I felt that C-ute’s 3rd album was a letdown… Morning Musume’s “Cover Me” album didn’t really catch my interest, and while I highly enjoyed Berryz Koubou’s 5th album, it couldn’t beat out my love for Café Buono! Like I said in my review of the album (dude, we’re going into old school territory here – before my move to intlwota.com o_O), this is one of the few album’s I’ve listened to where I have enjoyed every single track. Here’s hoping Buono!’s next album can live up to my expectations and do the same as their first!

Best Soloist Album
… Aya didn’t release an album in 2008… XD So, no winner for this award this year! … Yes, once again, this is an Aya wins by default (but also awesomeness) category, except she didn’t release anything… It’s about a week until the release of her next album, though… I’m super excited!

Best PV
C-ute – Namida no Iro

Bascially, this PV wins because Maimi is smoking hot! I went and checked my review for this single, and it was back from the time when I didn’t do screen caps for my review posts. It looks very boring. And the most disappointing part of that review is there is no Maimi hawtness. I remember when the CD covers were released, almost everyone I showed it to was floored by the beauty known as Maimi. Airi isn’t too shabby in this PV either (hotness-wise), but I can’t keep my eyes off Maimi here – particularly because in addition to her looks, her dancing is spot on too! Go Maimi! <3

Group With Best Overall Releases
Buono!

Let’s take a look at Buono! list of releases for this year: Renai Rider, Cafe Buono!, Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!, Gachinko de Ikou! and Rottara Rottara… In addition to their Rock n’ Buono! FC Concert… All releases were fabulous! <3 And they're one of the best dressed H!P groups around. I haven't hated any of their outfits yet (*crosses fingers that it stays that way*). C-ute had LALALA Shiawase no Uta - a song that just didn't sit very well with me (and had freaking ugly costumes)... Berryz Koubou... While I liked the 5th album, only Dschinghis Khan sort of caught my fancy for their singles from this year, and that was only because the PV was made of win. And Morning Musume - well, they just aren't keeping me all that interested right now.

Best New Group (debuted in 2008)
High-King

It’s depressing that this was a one-shot group. While Captain isn’t my favourite Berryz Koubou member, it was nice to see her get some featured time – and having her, Aichan and Maimi in one group, all dancing together was pretty awesome. Luckily, Yuuka has Shugo Chara! Egg, so this wasn’t the last we saw of her. Despite the fact that she has a completely cutesy voice, she doesn’t bug the heck out of me like Momoko used to (and still does at times). I’m glad that she’s gotten a more permanent gig in the spotlight.

Best New Soloist (debuted in 2008)
Ogawa Mana

I know she’s not H!P, but Amy had her on the list of releases for the year, and I just haven’t gotten into Mano Erina AT ALL. It’s cool that she plays the piano, but I don’t like the way she sings. Her voice isn’t BAD, but it definitely isn’t memorable (to me), and the way she delivers her lines is lacking a certain pizzaz that I need to enjoy a singer. I watched Ogawa Mana’s PV, and Suppin Rock isn’t bad at all. I don’t know if I’ll be following her, but it’s a catchy tune, so I thought she should get this award.

Best Established Group (did not debut in 2008)
Buono!

Well, well, well… Isn’t there just a whole load of Buono! love in this set of awards. Maybe I should have pick a Rottara Rottara photo to go along with all the love. XD However, I love the girls in their Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! outfits, so I chose this photo. Do I really need to explain why I have them as the best established group? They got the best a-side, best overall single, group with best releases for the year and best album… This was practically a sweep by Buono! It’d be a sin not to have them win this award. XD

Best Established Soloist (did not debut in 2008)
Matsuura Aya

Well, do I really have any other choice here? XD Seeing as Aya is my favourite H!P member ever, she will obviously win the best established soloist award from my blog. While she only released one single this year, she had a fabulous spring concert tour, which brings me to the next award…

Best Concert
Matsuura Aya – Aya The Witch

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a larger scan of the cover of the DVD (and I’m too lazy to scan my own), so the seal is itty bitty here. XD
I had a hard time choosing between this concert and the Berryz Koubou and C-ute battle concert. Both were wonderful and I have watched both concerts multiple times… However, Aya’s wonderful personality, commanding stage presence and the live band… Well, I had to give this one to the wonderful Aya! <3
* This and the following two awards are fields category not on Amy's original poll.

Best Concert Performance
Shimizu Saki, Tsugunaga Momoko, Natsuyaki Miyabi, Yajima Maimi, Nakajima Saki, and Hagiwara Mai – Sayonara Hageshiki Koi

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While Aya had the best overall concert, my favourite performance will have to go to a shuffle performance during the BK & C-ute battle concert… I simply LOVE this song, and I don’t know what it is about this performance, but I’ve watched it so many times… MIYA! <3

Favourite Concert Moment
Matsuura Aya – Kanousei no Michi

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Now, my favourite concert MOMENT comes from Aya’s concert, during the encore… I mentioned it in my review, and well, how can you not watch it again, and again, and AGAIN… XD

Best Photobook
Niigaki Risa – Happy Girl

Sorry Amy… But Risa! <3 Wowzers. It amazes me how she's grown from the awkward little 13 year old who joined Morning Musume back in 2001.

Hottest Idol of 2008 (this doesn’t have to mean “hot”. It can be cute, sexy, gorgeous, whatever your idea of attractive is)
Natsuyaki Miyabi

… Is the award winner a surprise? I don’t think so… I think Last Forever speaks for itself. XD

Special Mention HAWT Photo of 2008
Yajima Maimi

… I think this photo is self-explanatory. OMG hot Maimi in UTB. <3

Worsts

Worst Group Single
C-ute – LALALA Shiawase no Uta
- Too many LA’s all in a row… The song seems never ending because of them. -_-;

Worst Soloist Single
Kusumi Koharu – Papancake
- I listened to this single once… And that was while watching the H!P Summer concert just so I could review it. That was enough for me. 1. It’s Koharu. 2. Unlike some of her other songs which are so catchy, you can’t help but get them stuck in your head (Chance – ugh T__T), this one was completely generic and did not catch my interest in the slightest.

Worst PV
Berryz Koubou – Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance
- Monkey suits… Need I say more? T__T

Worst Vocalist of 2008 (this can be a soloist or group member, as long as they sound worse than cats in bags being rubbed against chalkboards. Wait, what?)
Kusumi Koharu
- … Kusumi Koharu. All the explanation needed.

Least Attractive Girl of 2008 (people who don’t qualify for this category: Suzuki Airi, Michishige Sayumi. Anyone else can qualify, really.)
Aww… I don’t want to answer this one. I don’t really want to pick apart H!P and figure out the least attractive girl anyway… Why spend the time looking for the least attractive when I can spend my time paying attention to Miya, Maimi, Aya, Risa, Aichan … etc. <3