Related to my last post here’s a JunJun picspam for this awesome girl’s honour.

 

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Morning Musume’s JunJun, LinLin and Kamei Eri graduated from the group on 15.12 at the last concert of their Autumn tour Rival Survival.

From the 8-nin Momusu JunJun is/was/will be my 1., LinLin 4. and Kamei 5. favourite. So this triple graduation struck me hard since I would’ve loved to see JunJun develope her singing more and have a pb. I really looked up on her since we’re the same age and she has shown so much progress in these years at Japan. LinLin and Kamei are great singers and personalities and it really pains me to know that I will never hear them together with the 5-nin left in Momusu. I hope the girls will have good caeers in the future and keep singing/acting/being themselves.

Some JunJun related concert pictures:

Reasons why I like LOST really really much:

- The music scares the hell out of me. I passionately hate the ending theme… (And as I’m talking about getting scared: man, did I freak out when I watched season 3 ” The cost of living”. I really hate when they do those tricks where one jumps in sight when you don’t expect it… That one gave me nightmares, it really did, and I can’t watch that clip or even see pictures of it without my heart beating like crazy.)
- The soundtracks have tracks that make me weep so badly.
- The show confuses me a lot.
- The show forces its viewers to really think. (And speculate the plot turns and come up with the urge to kill the writers for confusing me even more.)
- Michael Emerson (Ben Linus)
- Naveen Andrews (Saiyd Jarrah)
- Sun/Jin
- Sawyer
- Kate
- Juliet
- Locke
- Richard
- Good script
- Good character backgrounds.
- Michael Emerson (yes, again):

I got back from Helsinki today and the concert yesterday was suberb! I had so much fun and I really hope they come back someday. I managed to get in to the first row with my Lady Madonna-fan (which was worth of every euro) and got an eye contact with both of the girls! Also Rika pointed at me in one of the songs <3 (can't remember what song, but both pointed two times in different directions to the beat). Chanting was epic and singing/shouting (Happii!) my voice hoarse was so worth it.

Here’s a little rundown of the concert, basic information is from OGFuture

Start of Concert:
Video explaining Rika Ishikawa & Hitomi Yoshizawa’s history in Morning Musume and after, leading to the formation of H&A to satisfy the fans who missed them from MM. It also had excerpt interviews with current MM leader/sub-leader team Ai Takahashi & Risa Niigaki, and remaining 4th Generation member Nozomi Tsuji.

The video was a fun add to the beginning, loved Tsuji’s comments about Yossy drinking

Set List:
* Top Secret
* Sadistic Dance
* Mr. Monkey
* Romantic ni Violence
* GIZA GIZA (crash berlin version)
* Shake Me
* WALL FLOWER
* Angelia
* Lady Madonna
* Kill Me Kiss Me
* (Encore) The Peace! (h&A Death Tracks)

The songs were awesome, I loved doing the handwaves etc. that the choreographies had. I really enjoyed the whole setlist, there wasn’t really any dull moments. Only missing thing was Doubt, I’ve wanted to hear it for a long time live…

Fan Questions:
Organized before hand with certain websites that have actively promoted H&A since the beginning, fan representatives are allowed to ask a question to H&A and receive a live response.

We had quite good questions from the selected fans; I’m totally with Yossy that they should do a metal version of Shabondama.

Photo Op:
Yes, it was a lottery draw of two people to take pictures. Lottery tickets were passed out to people as they came into the venue.

God I wanted this so badly, but no… But gongrats to those that got the chance to pose with the girls!

Signed Posters Drawing:
Once the drawings are done for the Photo Op, two signed posted are presented as prizes from the lottery box. Winners get to come up on stage and have the poster presented to him/her by the one who drew the ticket (Hangry or Angry, of course.)

Wanted this too, but Lady Luck wasn’t with me that night x)

Overall the concert was really good and enjoyable, Yossy and Rika seemed to have fun. I know I did.

Upsie, I haven’t updated for a long time here… Sorry. I got married and finished my seamstress education so I’ve been little busy. Also we have this little dancegroup called MyuPro that has taken some of my blogging time If dance covers (Hello!Project and others) interest you, please visit here.

Tomorrow I’ll be travelling to Helsinki to see two of my favourite ex-Morning Musume members: Yoshizawa Hitomi and Ishikawa Rika. I can’t wait to see them and think the gig will be awesome!

I will post a report after I get back to home.

I haven’t written here for awhile, but since I have some spare time now (it’s almost midnight and the Eurovision is playing in the background so…) I decided to write down some thoughts of mine about the girls of Momusu. All of them. I don’t have many opinions of them all, but I’ll try write something of each.

Starting from the original members:

1.generation

Nakazawa Yuko

Since knowing Morning Musume Nakazawa has been one of my favourites; she’s THE Leader and has a quite personality. She has the appearence and the voice. Good examples and my favourites from Nakazawa are her Kuyashi Namida Porori and Akai Nikkichou (Akagumi 4). Her stage presence is also magnificent: watching her solo in the last Elder Club dvd is very touching and makes me regret that I didn’t have a chance to see her perform live in any H!P concert.

Iida Kaori

Kaori has been little bit- I don’t know- stranger for me.  She has the voice, yes, and I love that she kept her hair long for the entire time she was in Momusu. But beside her Utaban-personality she hasn’t charmed me that much.

Abe Natsumi

Nacchi has been a fanfavourite for a long time and that’s something that usually drives me away. I tend to cheer for the “underdogs” and totally ignore the main girls. But. In time Nacchi has begun to catch my eye; I love her song Screen and her recent trip to Iceland with Yaguchi was very amusing to watch. Nevertheless I will always have my little prejudices about Nacchi, the Star of H!P.

Fukuda Asuka

I haven’t really watched her, all I can say is that she has a good voice.

Ishiguro Aya

Like Fukuda, I can’t really say anything about her, but man,  she sounds amazing in Last Kiss(Tanpopo). Her Love Machine pose in Utaban was hilarious too!

2. generation

Yaguchi Mari

The little power house. She has the looks, the voice and the most important; the personality. The classic Mechaike episodes cracks me up every time. Actually, every tv appereance that she is in is pure gold.

Yasuda Kei

I love Kemeko’s winks, despite they are lethal She’s defenitely someone that’s been the underdog in times, but with the help of Utaban she has really developed quite a personality. I loved her with Yaguchi in their performance of Otome no Shinrigaku in the Elder Club graduation.Not to mention that she’s multitalented with sax, flute and other instruments!

Ichii Sayaka

Can’t say much about Kaa-san, she wasn’t in long enough to charm me over.

3.generation

Goto Maki

Once again, since Maki was one of the front  girls I didn’t really pay that much attention to her. But when she moved to Avex… I love Lady-Rise and her new style altogether.

4.generation

Yoshizawa Hitomi

Yossie is one of my favourites, she just dazzled me with her persona when I first saw her. She has it all. She has shined in every group that she’s been and makes every performance worth of watching

Ishikawa Rika

I didn’t like Rika at first, but year ago or so she started to catch my eye. Now I can actually laugh at the lame stories that she came up with in Utaban etc. I like her in Hangry&Angry, they are very compatitible with Yossy and together they make perfect duo.

Tsuji Nozomi

With Kago she shined, alone she’s just okay.

Kago Ai

Kago is still one of my favourites regardless all of her scandals.  I love her voice and together with Tsuji she was something remarkable.

5.generation

Takahashi Ai

Takahashi has been always my least favourite Gokkie and still is.  She is talented in every way, but there’s something in her personality that bothers me.

Niigaki Risa

Gakisan! One of my favourites. I wish Tsunku would give her more spotlight since she really deserves it. She has proved her talent over and over again in singing, acting and overall stage presence. We need more Gaki! I need moar Gaki!

Ogawa Makoto

Another favourite of mine. Ogawa has stunning looks, great personality and she’s a awesome dancer! Too bad Tsunku didn’t use her skills enough when she was in Momusu. I love her in Get Up!Rapper and Mushoku Toumei na Mama de.

Konno Asami

Konkon!  I admire her intelligence  and she’s so cute too <3

6.generation

Kamei Eri

Almost forgot to write about Eri. I like her voice, but that’s about it.

Michishige Sayumi

Sayu in tv shows: priceless. Sayu singing: could do without. I actually like her doing all the “Ahh” and “Unh”‘s in the recent singles xD

Tanaka Reina

Part one of members that I don’t like. She annoys me  really, the fact that she gets lot of spotlight has much to do with it.

Fujimoto Miki

Part two of members that I don’t like. In my opinion Tsunku should’ve kept her as a soloist. To my eyes she seemed always so irritated when interacting with Momusu members.

7.generation

Kusumi Koharu

Part three of members that I don’t like. She just wasn’t the ace to me.

8.generation

Mitsui Aika

I like her deep voice, but that’s it.

JunJun

JunJun! My beloved JunJun! She has fastly become one of my top favourites. Her voice is still developing as is her dance, but her looks are one to die for. She really needs a photobook!

LinLin

LinLin reminds me so much of Mika(Coconuts Musume) and she has such a quirky personality. Since her joining to Momusu she has become to show much more of herself and has good foundaution to build a good career on.

//edit: () marks my comments of the songs after hearing them

The Elder’s graduate from H!P on 31 March 2009 and the setlist looks so good! The concert will be a must-buy when the dvd comes…

1. I WISH / Nakazawa Yuko, Abe Natsumi, Iida Kaori, Yaguchi Mari, Ishikawa Rika, Yoshizawa Hitomi, Konno Asami, Ogawa Makoto, Fujimoto Miki I love the idea that Momusu OG will begin the whole concert with this song. Another good choice would’ve been the All for One-classic, but I’m happy with I Wish.

(It was as epic as I suspected!)

2. I Know / all One of my Ayaya favourites, it’ll be joy to hear again. (and again and again..)

(Wonderful and I really loved how the wotas were in to it)

Opening Movie
MC

3. Juunen Ai / Nakazawa Yuko, Abe Natsumi, Iida Kaori, Yasuda Kei I don’t know this song, but the lyrics for this seemed interesting, so I’ll wait for the audio to form my opinion.

(quite liked it, not too much but enough)

4. Screen / Abe Natsumi This is quite standard Nacchi-song, so quality guaranteed.

(loved, loved, absolutely loved this!)

5. Koi no Telephone GOAL / Abe Natsumi Same as above.

(really fun to listen as always)

MC

6. Lalala•Sososo / Mano Erina I don’t really understand why people fuss so much about her; sure, she’s cute and stuff, but she hasn’t won me over.

7. Give Me Up / Melon Kinenbi

(I liked the chorus very much)

8. Kenchana ~Daijoubu~ / Maeda Yuki

9. BABY! Koi ni KNOCK OUT! / Yasuda Kei, Yoshizawa Hitomi, Ogawa Makoto This will be so good: the best Pucchimoni single with the best Pucchimoni members.

(So epic!)

MC

10. 100kai no Kiss / Matsuura Aya

11. Yeah! Meccha Holiday / Matsuura Aya Ayaya-classic that I love. It’s always so fun to watch.

12. Tanpopo (Single version) / Iida Kaori, Yaguchi Mari, Ishikawa Rika, Shibata Ayumi, Konno Asami Yay! Tanpopo goodness too. The only thing this piece needs is Kago.

(<3)

13. Agekai ni Dakarete / Iida Kaori

14. This is Unmei / Melon Kinenbi

(I loved the audiences reaction when this song started x) Overall very entertaining song)

15. Ai ~Suite Room~ / Viyuden Wait, didn’t you guys disband already? Well, it’s good to see this trio back, I just wish they woul’ve get some other song than this. Like Ajisai Ai Ai Monogatari.

(yay, Yui and Erika!)

16. Boogie Train 03 / Fujimoto Miki

17. Kuyashi Namida Porori / Nakazawa Yuko I think this is one of the best songs that Nakazawa has. (Really thanks to the version sung by Ogawa and Maeda x) )

(<3)

MC

18. Magic of Love / Inaba Atsuko, Maeda Yuki

19. Aoi Sports Car no Otoko / Iida Kaori, Yaguchi Mari, Inaba Atsuko, Melon Kinenbi, Miyoshi Erika, Okada Yui Kiiroi Osora de Boom Boom Boom woul’ve been better, but this’ll be fun too.

20. Thanks! / GAM (Chorus dancers: Inaba, Maeda, Melon, Miyoshi, Okada) My favourite GAM song, will be looking forward for this too.

21. Kizuna / Matsuura Aya (Chorus: Fujimoto, Inaba, Melon, Miyoshi, Okada)

MC

22. Come Together / Ongaku Gatas I actually like this (the b-side even more!) and since Gatas has Yossie, Rika and KonKon it’ll be great!

23. Narihajimeta Koi no BELL / Ongaku Gatas I loved this but nowdays it’s quite worn-out to me.

24. Love Machine / all Always fun to watch.

Encore

25. MM OG Medley:
• Morning Coffee / Nakazawa, Abe, Iida, Yasuda, Yaguchi
• Manatsu no Kousen / Nakazawa, Abe, Iida, Yasuda, Yaguchi
• Ai Araba IT’S ALL RIGHT / MM OG
• The Peace! / MM OG
• LOVE Machine / MM OG

The medley is quite dissapointing since it has really safe choises (which I understand since it’s the last time we’ll be hearing them singing these classics).  But anyway, the lenght of the medley is great and all the songs are good.

25. Koisuru Angel Heart / all, except Matsuura One of my Biyuuden favs, this song just kicks ass especially when sung by all.

MC

26. Never Forget / all Perfect song for a perfect ending.

MC

(Can’t wait to see the MC clips, since they played some videos)

So let’s count:

Songs that I’m really waiting to hear: 19

Songs that are okay:6

Songs that I can’t stand: 1

I will review the songs again after hearing the audio, but this is where I’ll stand for now.

I’ll start the year 2009 with this poll from Merry Go Round’s blog: http://amy.unchained.nu/?p=291

Bests

Best Group Single

I liked Berryz Koubo‘s Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance and Madayade much as I did C-ute‘s Forever Love, but I have to go with Momusu’s Pepper Keibu as the best one. It just stucks in your head.

Best Soloist Single

Natsumi’s Screen, defenitely.

Best Group Album

Cover You, defenitely. It’s full of win, especially with thaks to Seishun Jidai, UFO, Dou ni mo Tomaranai and Koi no Dial 6700.

Best Soloist Album

To avoid Koharu at any cost I’ll say it was Natsumi’s Best selection 15 Iro no Nigaoetachi

Best PV

Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance again. Come on, nothing can’t win monkey suits!

Group With Best Overall Releases

It’s between Morning Musume and Berryz Koubo. Even this was my first year really knowing the girls from Berryz I think I’ll choose Momusu since I really liked Cover You.

Best New Group (debuted in 2008 )

Again torn between two choises: Hangry&Angry and High-King. Both have awesome songs, but maybe I’ll give up and choose High-King since they have Kioku no Meiro.

Best New Soloist (debuted in 2008 )

Was there others than ManoEri?

Best Established Group (did not debut in 2008 )

Let’s give them more credit: Berryz.

Best Established Soloist (did not debut in 2008 )

Ayaya! I really started to like her last year and Yeah!Meccha Holiday and I Know are always a joy to hear.

Best Photobook

It has to be Niigaki Risa‘s Happy Girl. I just love the snow photos.

Hottest Idol of 2008

Niigaki Risa, tho Kamei Eri had really good photobooks some time ago..

Worsts

Worst Group Single

Milky Way: Anataboshi

Worst Soloist Single

Papancake by Kusumi Koharu.

Worst PV

I hate saying this but Hangry&Angry’s Kill me Kiss me pv was quite horrible..

Worst Vocalist of 2008

Still Koharu…

Least Attractive Girl of 2008

Was there any? Okay, have to say Koharu again, there’s something I just don’t like in her appearance too.

—

I’m really looking forward from 2009 the new Morning Musume single Naichau Kamo and the Elder Club‘s graduation concert; it has magnificent setlist!

I wasn’t supposed to start a new blog since I already had my Livejournal account… And I definitely wasn’t supposed to start writing in english. But oh well. Maybe it’ll just be good for me. I haven’t been able to use my english fully since last spring, so this will do from exercise. So please bear with my grammar mistakes.

Short selfintroduction: I’m from Finland, I live with my fiancée, I’m 20 and I’m a nerd. My fandom is random, anything goes; fantasy, sci-fi, japanese popculture, manga etc. I’m pretty active con-goer/cosplayer/cosplaycompetition organizer. I’m currently the chairman of the local anime and manga society Joensuun Otakut -Jotkut.

I also like Hello!Project bands and singers (Morning Musume, Momusu OG, Matsuura Aya, Berryz Koubou). I warn you, there might be some H!P-posts when I have time to write (yes, I have a little wota side in me).

Just be patient, I update when I remember.