Hello! Store USA, Marry Me?

I logged onto the Hello! Store USA site a few weeks ago to find that they had not only restocked, but had put in the Nine Smile merch. I JUMPED on it. xD They were already sold out of the Nine Smile "all" T-shirts, but they still had the individual members.

So I made my very first purchase from the store!

Let me tell you, I was in a good mood for the rest of the day. It felt like I had won something. xD

There was some wait before it was shipped, but it got here in just a few days. I expected as much, as Nevada is right next to California. xD But I thought that my H!P calendars would arrive first, considering they had shipped two weeks before this. (I'm still waiting, by the way. If they don't come Monday, I have to email YesAsia. >.>)

Many of the other bloggers have been posting pictures of their first orders, so I'd like to do the same~




The picture's small, but Blogger doesn't give me much room. xD

As you can see, I ordered Junjun's Nine Smile T-shirt (It's HUGE!), which came with a wristband and two photocards. I also purchased Junjun's Nanchatte Renai set (2L is a great size for a photocard), and the ZYX-α photoset. I loved Zoku-Biyuuden, yes, and it has Junjun and Risako, but it has Shige. And ZYX-α has six people I love, plus Wada Ayaka and Momoko. xD

I'll definitely be ordering from them again. Especially since YesAsia has been crap lately.

Pick a Side, Any Side

It's the question in the world of idol fans. You probably have or will run into it at some point. It's unavoidable, but really, in my opinion, it's one of the most stupid questions ever. Why do I have to pick a side?

Of course, I am talking about "Which do you like better, AKB48 or Morning Musume?"


I don't understand the rivalry between the two groups. Can't I like both? Are they really that alike that you HAVE to like one or the other more?

With the recent announcement of the 60th Kouhaku Uta Gassen invite list, everyone's been talking about two groups in general.

"Oh my god! AKB48 and Morning Musume, on the same stage!"

"They've got to hate that! It's going to be so awkward!"

"I wonder what's going to happen!"


They aren't rappers, for god's sake. Sure, if they were two American artists who obviously hated each other, you could expect SOMETHING to happen. But this is a formal New Year's special, not the MTV Music Video Awards. And have you all forgotten? They have performed on it together before. Two years ago, during the 58th. Morning Musume opened and AKB48 got MM's original spot. "Well, that's a reason for tension", you may say, but what does it matter? It's an honor enough to be invited.

I really hate the "rivalry" between the groups. Mainly because I believe there is no rivalry. Morning Musume probably doesn't see AKB48 as rivals any more than Hamasaki Ayumi, GACKT, Amuro Namie, the Johnny's boys, or any of the other high-selling artists out there. Hirai Ken and Morning Musume will be sharing a stage, it's gonna be a bloodbath! And why isn't there a supposed rivalry between Perfume and MM? It's because the rivalry is between the fans.

You have to like one or the other. You can't like both equally. Maybe I'm a bad example, because I care for Hello! Project more than AKB48, but at least I like some of their songs.


I remember reading a blog post a while back, I can't remember by whom (and I can't seem to find it) where the blogger compared AKB48 and Morning Musume by certain aspects (dancing ability, singing ability, personality, looks, and I think one or two more). Of course, seeing as that person was an AKB48 fan, they ranked higher. How biased is that?

I try not to say that one is better than the other, because it's all a matter of taste. They both have their redeeming qualities.


I find that AKB48 has idols. Their girls look like idols. They act like idols. They sound like idols. They are idols. Yes, there's probably more to them that I haven't seen, but they are idols in the end.

Tsunku has a habit of picking unusual girls. You know, girls who might not be as a pretty, or as good at singing. But they all have their own charisma, and therefore they appeal to different people differently. They seem human and unique.

I'm not saying that AKB48 are fabricated to be the stereotypical idols, but that's what I see when I see them. The school uniforms, the bikinis, the revealing clothes and mature poses... They're idols, through-and-through.

Morning Musume has Biyuuden, yes. AKB48 had Chocolove. They both have aspects that resemble each other. But really, when I think of Morning Musume, I think of hilarious episodes of Utaban, of Junjun's girl crush on Tanaka, of ridiculous, good-natured singles like Hyokkori Hyoutan-jima. AKB48 just seems sexual to me.


Let's compare the two most recent singles, shall we?




Morning Musume's Kimagure Princess. While many people complain that it is a mash-up of two many other singles, its sound is a refreshing change from the past three singles. It's random, but kind of creative in a strange way. With its suggestive lyrics and dance, it is a step in a different direction for Morning Musume. Many people have protested the less-than-innocent lyrics, it works.



AKB48's River. Everyone has been raving about this single, and so I had huge expectations going in. But really, I think it's crap. The rap is sloppy, uncharismatic, and ruins it. The whole song is noisy and disjointed and is a complete, utter mess. It does have some redeeming parts that I don't mind, but it's too much. I thought the same of Namida Surprise. It would have been a great song if there were better vocals and it stopped jumping all over the place. It's a barrage of sound, and it sounds like five songs are all playing at the same time. And worst of all, it's the stereotypical AKB48 song. Nothing unique about it at all.



But the point of this entry is not to voice my opinions on which group I like better, but to explain that opinions differ. This stupid rivalry between the two fandoms should stop, because it's just our taste in music. I think River is the worst thing to come out of the group in ages, and the rest of the internet loves it. There. My point is made.

[PV] Kimagure Princess

My right hand is dead from some really intense homework, but I decided to post this anyway.

The Kimagure Princess PV has been floating around for some days now, not the whole thing, but enough to get a general glimpse of what it would be like. The PV preview showed just a close-up and a danceshot, as did the Rekochou version or whatever it was called that was available for download earlier in the weekend.

But today Dohhhup! uploaded the full PV.


So I'd like to show you some screencaps.

I have a lot of opinions on this PV, but instead of summarizing it up front, I'll just get to it with the pictures.

Nearly 70 pictures. Not the most I've ever had, but I stopped to eat dinner and watch Modern Family about halfway through, and when I got back I had sort of lost my motivation.





I really like this opening shot for some reason. The light is cool and I like the design of the roof.



The danceshot takes place in this hallway of sorts, with the large, intricate archways and lots of greens, oranges, and yellows.



I wasn't really expecting a 'gate shot', but I was really glad they had one--Takahashi looks gorgeous, as always.



This is probably the best Tanaka looks throughout the PV. Which isn't saying much.



...Aika?

She's really embracing her puppy-self. When I first saw this I thought of a dog waiting at the gate for its owners. Or at an animal shelter, looking at the prospective owners and saying "buy me?".



Not a flattering shot, Shige.



The dance is really cool. It has this Russian theme that I really like.



This could have been a really pretty shot if it weren't just GAKI'S NOSE.



I hate Junjun's hair. I really, truly do.



Hallo, Linlin.



Kame is absolutely gorgeous in this PV. I like this shot in particular; it reminds me of a ball jointed doll. xD I'd definitely buy one that looked like Kame. ;D



This was a very pretty shot, but I fail at screencapping, so I don't feel like I captured it correctly. Koha looked down and smiled, and then looked up again.



Random Linlin butt.

This PV is all about the butts.



Rogue scarf.



I'm not a huge fan of the costumes, but Takahashi rocks a cowboy hat like you've never seen. I thought so when she was running around a Long's or whatever in Hawaii during her Watashi making of.



She was mouthing her lines and making fish mouth.



Although, fish mouth can sometimes be charming.



They did this kind of Cossack-like dance a few times throughout the PV. Strange and random, but it fits.



Tanaka just isn't looking very nice this time around.



Aaaand we all focus in on their butts.



Sexy cowgirl Kame.



Junjun's looking kind of cat-like. I think if my cat Rai were a human, she'd look just like that.



El oh el Koha. Bless her heart.



Aika's eyes look different for some reason. Also, I prefer her hair straight.



It's all very swoopy, this PV. Now I understand the baggy clothes.



Looking a bit better, Shige.



The dance has a lot of arm movements, all very fluid and cool-looking (running out of adjectives here).



Here they are imitating a bird.



I don't know what this is.



And some panda butts.



I wonder if Takahashi ever didn't do this pose, would her arms would fall off?



Koha, fading away as we near her graduation.

(No, don't even JOKE about that!)



Gaki is finally liking me (I never get good pictures of her). She looks great in a cowboy hat, too.



Takahashi is looking particular HQ compared to the rest of the members.



The dance shot turns red a few times, and even though it's a simple change of lighting, it makes things interesting.



Morning Musume can also manipulate fire.



GRAH HAIR.



This shot would be amazingly beautiful if it weren't for THAT HAIR.



Linlin is amused by her new power.



Gaki goes the other way~



Kame~



Aika has long arms.



Tanaka is very forgettable in this song and the PV. I always forget that she has solos. THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE.



Shige does have very pretty hair.



Sexy Kame is sexy.



I like this part for some reason. It reminds me of the Shochuu Omimai Moshiagemasu dance. And is it just me, or does Kame sort of look like Konno?



The beautiful thing about this PV is that really, it's quite simple. But they do some small things, like change in lighting, that make it seem unique. They make the closeups more than just closeups by having them move.



Their movements blend into each others and it's very fluid, very clean.



I love this dance!



Gaki really is quite cute when she's having fun.



Lawl.



Ohh, Gaki. <3



Butt butt.



Takahashi really is amazingly sexy.



Junjun is, too~



And the queen, Gaki~



El. Oh. El. Suggestive dance moves.



I took this screencap thinking "Linlin really is catching my attention lately. She really covers all the bases, doesn't she? Good singer, funny, entertaining, and really pretty... She might end up tying with Junjun soon..."



... And then Junjun reminded me who is number one. ;D



TanaKICK.



Junjun is an assassin from China, you know.



I wish this was closer up. Linlin NAILED the facial expression.



Kame really is adorable. No wonder she's been so popular lately~



WAI HELLO GAKI-SAN.



Koha can spinnn~



Did I mention I love this dance?



Aaaaand it ends.