Bev’s Friends

The shocking "truth" =O

nobody@vox.com(rin) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:07:10 -0700

No. 1 119,227 Tｒｕｔｈ／风の向こうへ JST 08/8/20

=O
OMFG, they broke their own record!
It sold so well!

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While anime explodes, J-pop hides

nobody@vox.com(Rad) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:44:18 -0700

Anime, or Japanese animation, has aggressively moved into US markets and is global in scope. J-pop, meanwhile, seems to do everything it can to disrupt and confine overseas marketing efforts, and discourages US fans at every turn. Why does anime open its arms, and J-pop does the opposite? The sad thing is that J-pop's shows are among the most astonishing in the world, but they are largely unknown away from the shores of Japan, the downtown marvels of Tokyo and the staggering otaku alleyways of Akihabara. Why? Sister blog Radreview takes a stab at this at:

http://bloggerparty.com/why_anime_succeeds_where_j_pop_does_not

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Lip-synch: Chinese pull a 'Kusumi' in Beijing

nobody@vox.com(Rad) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:53:56 -0700

Lin Miaoke: Nice kid, phony voice.

Oops. Chinese organizers of the 2008 Summer Olympics decided to tweak the opening ceremonies a couple times Friday and have been called on the carpet about it by an increasingly bold international media covering the Games.

First was the faked “footprint” fireworks over the city; those were obvious computer-generated simulations, and NBC admitted that as such, but it was unclear during the otherwise spectacular opening ceremonies whether the “footprint” fireworks were indeed fakes.

Yang Peiyi: Too ugly for Olympics.

However, a far more serious problem has surfaced – the lip-synching of an Olympic song by a 9-year-old girl, Lin Miaoke. But unlike Hello! Project’s anime-linked star Kusumi, the voice lip-synched was not Miaoke’s, but another girl, Yang Peiyi, whose voice was deemed “perfect” but whose teeth were not.

Hence, the switch.

Now, say what you want about Kusumi, or any of the Hello! Project concerts where some singers are indeed lip-synching their songs. But at least Tsunku has the performers lip-synch their own voices. The Chinese incident is more of a Nilli Vanilli-caliber, where a kid who looks the part is forced to mouth the singing of another.

At least Kusumi, shown at right with Eri, January 2008, lip-synchs over her own voice.

Lin Miaoke, foreground: Were the other kids lip-synching the Olympic Anthem?

Audrey Hepburn, where are you? Recall that the star of the film version of “My Fair Lady” never sang a note of the actual songs. She lip-synched them all. Same goes for Natalie Wood in the film version of “West Side Story.” All act, no sing.

There is some defense of the Chinese organizers’ intent. They wanted the perfect combination of sound, color and motion for the one-shot-only opening ceremonies, and they got it. They just should have used Lin Miaoke’s own voice. It couldn't have been that bad.

This is Rad signing off – for now.

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How can one person contain this much hotness ~

nobody@vox.com(rin) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:10:30 -0700

I don't know how many times I have replay the Truth PV already but it's only now that I have a mind to try to explain how Aiba ~~made me unable to stop watching the PV on repeat~~ is hot in it. *Ahem*

=O

Vlcsnap-46824

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He's not staring at me... But I'm staring at him. >D

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Hardcore movements.
Very manly, Aibaba. Good job!

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Point and pose!
His body proportion is so good!

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I'm not a Ninoai fan for nothing.
NYAHAHAHAHA.

Why didn't anyone warn me that fangirling is a risky business? >D
I really need to stop staring at the PV.
="=

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Olympics borrow pages from H!P's playbook

nobody@vox.com(Rad) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:10:36 -0700

Chinami of Berryz Kobo in Tokyo? No, this is glowstick-packed Beijing Olympic Stadium.

No, that is not Chisato at right, but Chinese kids singing the Olympic anthem on pitch and in Greek.

Wow. Two minutes into the video linked below, note that the 2008 Summer Olympics planners have a Hello! Project-type moment when young, female vocalists armed with stringed instruments took center stage.

Might as well have been THE Possible, Morning Musume, Berryz Kobo, °C-ute or the whole Hello! Project group for that matter.

Wotas at Saitama? Nope, just human glowsticks at Friday's opening ceremonies.

Flying a kite while traveling in midair? Not even Hagiwara could pull this off.

Costuming? Very Momusu-like. Choreography was a little slow, and organizers should have let Tsunku compose them a good song. But here's the kicker: Near the end of this 10-minute video, a Hagiwara-like little girl sings a solo. The only problem is that Haggity would have nailed it while this Chinese kid, though trying hard, missed the mark:

http://www.wjno.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=244038&article=4069765

Just think of this as a Berryz Kobo vs. °C-ute 'Battle Concert' scene on steroids.

Apocalypto has a lot more on the beginning of the China era of world history:

http://bloggerparty.com/2008_summer_olympics_chinas_era_dawns

This is Rad signing off – for now.

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080808

nobody@vox.com(rin) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:31:37 -0700

and I want to proclaim that

I love Aiba's new perm.
I love the new PVs.
I love their performance for Truth.
Utaban is always hilarious.
Nakai + Taka-san and Arashi = Major Love
Sakuraiba childminder is the most adorkable thing ever ~
I love Arashi.
Maou is awesome.
Naruse Ryo is still evil.
I love the abundant Ninoai these days. It makes me think the world is all about beautiful rainbows and fireworks. <3
Sho is doing Olympics tonight and I know it's gonna be awesome. =D

This post possibly has no meanings to anyone but me. XDDD

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Morning Musume's Aika explodes, Spring 2008

nobody@vox.com(Rad) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:52:21 -0700

Aika's stupifying 'Resonant Blue' staredown, May 2008, would stop any clock in the world.

A truculent-looking Aika stalks Reina, right, during 'Resonant Blue.'

Aika Mitsui barely has a line in Morning Musume’s “Resonant Blue,” lede number in a whopper of a Spring 2008 DVD. Why, then, is she the dominant front girl in that song?

Only Tsunku can answer that question, but his “new beginning of Morning Musume” has a new star. Aika did it all despite what was reported to be an appendicitis attack that nearly sidelined her completely in February (this latest concert was taped in May).

Aika finds herself sandwiched between the Pandas, LinLin, left, and JunJun, right.

A report on Aika’s condition can be found here:

http://radicalpatriot.vox.com/library/post/time-to-pray-for-aika.html

During 'The Peace,' Aika's bandaged waist is clearly visible, left.

No doubt Morning Musume needs some kind of new energy. The Spring 2008 tour was … well, OK for the most part. Most of the major hits of the historic troupe were presented, with first-class costuming as always. Many were merged into outstanding and nostalgic medleys.

From left, Kusumi, Aika, LinLin and JunJun enjoy some colorful happiness, May 2008.

But it was clear that something was missing. In the “Bomb Girl” concert last fall, Morning Musume used some explosive songs (pun intended) to carry that show, the first major independent tour without Miki and Yossie.

Aika can revert to becoming disarmingly coy as well as being overwhelmingly dominant.

This time around, it just wasn’t as cohesive. The absence of a strong lede voice was much more evident in May. Aichan and Risa, as good as they are, strained to carry the vocal load. The supporting cast perked along as always, but that anchor voice remains a missing ingredient.

Now Aika might not have the voice, but she sure has the presence and Tsunku has made the very most of it. Spring 2008 was a very different kind of Morning Musume show, and it actually came out fine in the end.

Everywhere, though, was the smoldering presence of Aika, whose tenure with Morning Musume is barely 18 months young. In that time, she has had but one major solo, “Otoko Tomodachi,” detailed here:

http://radicalpatriot.vox.com/library/post/otoko-tomodachi-aika-makes-history.html

Wearing their best sailor suits, Morning Musume and Aika, left, finish off 'The Peace.'

However, reports of an “injury” to Aika in February sent shock waves throughout the Japanese idol-music world. In the end, her ailment was tracked to an inflamed appendix and, according to reports, a choice was made not to operate.

From the get-go, Aika, left, was focal point of 'Resonant Blue,' Spring 2008.

That can be dangerous if the appendix, a little sausage-sized organ located at the lower right of anyone’s large intestine that has an unknown purpose, bursts. Note that Aika wore a heavy bandage all across her belly in this DVD – not a good sign. It is reminiscent of Saki’s heavily bandaged knee and thigh for Berryz Kobo during the vaunted “Battle Concert” with °C-ute in April.

Saki's wrapped appendage can be seen at the end of this post:

http://radicalpatriot.vox.com/library/post/how-c-ute-won-epic-battle-concert-crown.html

In the end, Morning Musume is going to need more than Aika, center, to sustain excellence.

Could addiction to prescription pain killers be far behind for these singers?

In any event, regardless of physical obstacles, the era of Aika has arrived – whether or not any of us is ready for it.

This is Rad signing off – for now.

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Olympics break: LinLin, JunJun, China own us!

nobody@vox.com(Rad) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:47:54 -0700

Thousands of dummers made a big statement at the outset of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

JunJun

What? The 2008 Summer Olympics mentioned ... here?

LinLin

Well, like it or not, the Chinese are taking center stage for the next two weeks plus. Period. Might as well enjoy the ride. And, since two of Morning Musume's coolest members, LinLin and JunJun, are from China, let's at least salute the next great world power in recognition of them! New blog Apocalypto has some observations:

http://bloggerparty.com/give_china_s_olympics_a_chance_they_own_us

This is Rad signing off – for now.

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Fans shedding few tears over Kanna of °C-ute

nobody@vox.com(Rad) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:41:36 -0700

Kanna showed strong feelings at the end of °C-ute's epic debut concert, February 2007.

Cracks are beginning to appear in two of the world’s top song-and-dance performing ensembles. Earlier this year, Miyabi of Berryz Kobo was apparently photographed with a boyfriend. Now, it’s °C-ute’s turn, with Kanna at the epicenter.

Kanna, center, was a raw recruit to °C-ute from the Eggs, January 2006.

Neither Miyabi nor Kanna are out of the woods yet. Our Miyabi report is here:

http://radicalpatriot.vox.com/library/post/if-miyabis-time-has-come-so-be-it.html

As for Kanna, this would appear every bit as dangerous as the Megumi incident of fall 2006 when that °C-ute star was squeezed out after being seen with a boyfriend. Dating by singers is forbidden within Hello! Project’s music company and for good reason – jealousies could arise among the all-female troupe and become a major distraction.

Kanna, left, has been destined never to step out from the shadow of Suzuki, right.

But, while the blogosphere bemoaned Megumi’s departure, there appears to be ambivalence toward Kanna – to the point of fans reducing the discussion to which of the other °C-ute members will get the deposed Kanna’s lines in a given song.

During °C-ute's 'Cutie Circuit' tour, September 2007, Kanna was at her best.

This is disturbing, because the underrated and underappreciated Kanna has been one-seventh of the perhaps the best performing ensemble of its kind in the world, and she has more than held her own. In recent concerts, she has been given a higher profile, but it’s hard to constantly be seen and heard with the likes of Hagiwara, Maimi, Saki, Chisato, Umeda and Suzuki and not get discouraged. Kanna has nevertheless marched on courageously.

Kanna, left center, pairs with Suzuki at Saitama Super Arena, July 2007.

Maimi is the world’s best dancer, and Suzuki has one of Hello! Project’s finest solo voices. Umeda is a comedienne, Saki is superlative up-and-comer on all fronts, Chisato has the cannon voice and Hagiwara has been a superstar since age 7. Who can compete with that?

Our case for °C-ute being the world's best ensemble of its kind is built here:

http://radicalpatriot.vox.com/library/post/why-c-ute-is-the-worlds-best.html

Yet, Tsunku saw fit to parachute Kanna in from the Eggs back in 2006, months before Megumi hung it up, and so far, the chemistry has worked out wonderfully.

'Jump,' one of Hello! Project's best songs, was a shining moment for Kanna, July 2007.

The fact is, however, that °C-ute is cresting now as a performing unit, and it is inevitable that graduations and other changes are made. Same for Berryz. It actually began last year with Suzuki was broken off °C-ute to join Momoko and Miyabi of Berryz in the new group Buono! which is showing some promise as a standalone trio.

This is no reflection on Kanna, a super kid who would probably be a superstar in her own right if not for her linkage to °C-ute and that over-the-top talent that ensemble possesses right now.

Kanna, deservedly so, fronts the end of °C-ute's debut concert, February 2007.

Maybe, though, Tsunku might be different in this case. It was reported that Kanna’s meeting with this boy was strictly casual, that they sat through a movie, then went their separate ways. It could be, too, that Kanna is fed up with the restrictive “rules” of Hello! Project just as Yaguchi, Megumi and Miki were.

Only time will tell.

This is Rad signing off – for now.

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