Q10 Review

Thanks to the wonderful fan subbers of ViiKii the first couple of episodes have been subbed in English, and some other languages too.  Ah, the internet helping me procrastinate from studying ever since I got a laptop.  I've watched the first episode and a little bit of the second episodes.  I agree with some of the others fans that it reminds me of Chobits.  However, like most Japanese TV shows, the sexual element is to a minimum.  The story follows a high school boy who is recovering an illness, which we will probably learn more about in future episodes, who awakens a pretty robot.  Forced in less than 30 seconds to give it, played by Maeda Atsuko, a name he names it Kyuto (pronounced like Cute and a combination of Q and 10).  The headmaster who finds her and his homeroom teacher insist that he need to look after her.  She has no previous knowledge/ data recorded so he tries to teach her and keep her out of trouble.  And as you expect, feelings develop.

Acchan is absolutely adorable and fits the role of a robot perfectly.  She is my favorite part of the show, but I'm biased.  I've seen the male lead in the drama about butlers and didn't like him at all.  I didn't find him good looking and didn't care for his character.  However, with different hair he is better looking.  Unfortunately, to give him depth they made his character into just another teenager, which I guess is realistic but not that much fun to watch.  Thanks to Acchan he lightens up a bit when he starts to get a crush on her.  (He is really cute when he drinks his juice box.)  Then to make things even better we have all the fun side-characters who bring opportunities for Q10 to learn and some extra humor.  Like the fact that there is an otaku and a wota characters in their class.  The only thing I am worried about is that this isn't based on a manga so the plot development may not be amazing.  Most dramas have a similar plot style or concept even if based on a manga, but I find that if there is a popular manga behind it the development of the characters and the story tends to be better.  So far I love it, so I recommend you watch it.

The Grave Warning from AKB48 in the Beginner single.

With the release of AKB48's latest single, there has been much press over the controversy surrounding the pv and the projected sales of 10 billion copies with almost each man woman and child on Earth buying both editions of the single, but amongst all this hoopla the important message of the B-side singe, 僕だけのvalue, has been lost. This song, much like the a-side song of the previous single, Heavy Rotation, is another educational song demonstrating AKB48's deep commitment to public service.

Japan has has a history of being a nation that devotes much of its media to warning humanity of the dangers that come from outer space. Japan has long called for world unity under the auspices of the United Nations to protect humanity from any number of threats be they the Meltrans (Zentradi), Gamilas, or スペースゴジラ(SupēsuGojira). These warnings have been timely, well reasoned, and wonderfully rendered in various media formats. AKB48 enters this Japanese tradition of preparing us for the many varieties of the threats from above.

AKB48, with their pv for 僕だけのvalue, has taken a similar path to many of these other warnings and points out to us that many on Earth are not prepared and are even complacent to these threats. (Warning, spoilers ahead!!!) In the pv for 僕だけのvalue, AKB48 shows that most teen girls are too preoccupied with such things as their fashionable socks, mobile phone messaging, personal rivalries, and winning marathons to know the dangers of space eggs falling from the sky. In the pv, various members of AKB48 act out scenes involving the aforementioned events, only to be suddenly and disturbingly confronted with the dangerous space eggs falling from the sky. Much like cluster bombs the U.S drops on civilians across the world, these dangerous alien droppings are colorful in ways that unwary fanciful young women might find delightful.

Chillingly the ladies from AKB48 ignorantly dance among these alien invaders, and much like children tricked into touching a cluster bomb by its bright color, the teens smile and play with the multicolored alien space eggs. The pv becomes a message of complete horror as several of the girls, in their ignorant complacence that can only be blamed on the adults who did not prepare them for such dangers, take the eggs into their mouths and ingest them. Anyone familiar with the danger of alien invasions would know that this is exactly what the aliens planned. The pv ends with the girls smiling happily as the alien spawn incubates inside their firm and youthful forms.


Always conscious of public sensibilities, AKB48 leaves the worst of the horror off screen. Not wishing to too frighten their younger fans with chilling scenes of AKB48 members mutilated in horrific ways, the pv does not show the aftermath of ingesting space eggs- the inevitable bursting from the young woman of several grown alien spawn. Still, even without this grotesque violence that would inevitably follow from ingesting space eggs, the pv is a chilling reminder to the people of the world that we must teach all of our children not to eat neon colored things that fall from the sky. One might taste a rainbow on that day, but the next you will be watching a young alien monster eating your intestines on the floor before you.

This was another powerful and important message from AKB48 and we should all thank them for reminding us of the dangers and horrors that come from beyond the sky. If we do not teach our children, they may suffer such a horrific fate as this pv shows.

Hello! Project 2010 SUMMER ~Fankora!~ Review

Each performance I will give a star ranting to give you a little more insight to my overall feelings.  Five stars is I love it.  Three is I like it.  One star is I hate it.  (The same as Netflix.)  I am not going to post anything for the next two weeks because I have midterms coming up and I want to do better than I did last time (aiming for As instead of Bs).  Also congrats to AKB48 for the wonderful sales!  I will be holding off all my GETS till after the holidays (that is kind of a while away), because I am expect a huge batch of goods to come into my possession.  You'll have to wait till then to find out if I got another Jurina picture for this single too.

OPENING ~ ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL! - ALL
This was kind of sad.  They were all together and sang well, but nothing got me into it.  The costumes were lame and it was just everyone singing this song together.  I miss the Elder Club.  It is just all the Hello Project artists performing one concert together.  We don't get to see anyone who is less active or who has graduated.  I am happy that they let fans vote for their favorite songs.  Hello Project is now starting to look like an idol group and not major artists.
Rating: ☆☆

◯◯ がんばらなくてもええねんで!! - S/mileage
I think S/mileage has a perfect group dynamic.  The really popular energetic member, the beautiful promoted favorite, the pretty popular best singer, and then the less popular leader.  Each member has something that makes them stand out and causes the group as a whole to have a similar status, keeping everyone on the same level.  It is clear these days that Hello Project is putting all their promotional power and focus on the next generation.  I do love the product.  I asked for their first album for the holidays.  I wish their skirts had a little less underskirt.  I don't remember them being that fluffy.  I don't know how I can take both WH and S/M genki, high pitched voices, and cuteness.  You would think my head might explode.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

元気者で行こう - Mano Erina
It appears that first we are going to see all the singles.  I'm okay with that.  It is not like with AKB48 who performs all their major singles in one section every single concert.  I can tell just by looking at her that she is never going to become a major artists like Aya or Goto Maki.  She has what it takes to be an idol solo artist, but not what it takes to be a star.  I have to say I like this performance much better than the PV, but I preferred her last couple of singles better.  She now looks like all the other idols, before she had her own niche.   
Rating: ☆☆

Danceでバコーン！ - °C-ute
To be honest I never have liked this single.  The performance helps and I do like the chorus.  It doesn't help that this is a singe.  I expect to at least like the single songs, even if it isn't anything different than their past singles.  For me, this song isn't very catchy.  And I really like C-ute.
Rating: ☆☆☆

本気ボンバー！！ - Berryz Koubou
Now everything about this is really good, BUT some of the costumes look like a hot mess.  And when a half of the group looks not that great, they take the rest down with them.  I'm glad they changed the giant's hair, because she looks kind of out of place.  The sore thumb.  In their latest PV they look much more like a cohesive group.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

青春コレクション - Morning Musume
If this is the theme for their musical titled 'Fashionable' wouldn't you think the costumes would also be, at least, fashionable.  The song is okay, more of their recycled sound.  It is just not like they are even trying to be popular!  Okay in the picture.  Look how cute Michishige is!  And look how much of an evil bitch Takahashi looks.  Hey Tsunku!  If you love Takahashi so much why don't you marry her.  
Rating: ☆☆☆

愛すクリ～ムとMYプリン - Zoku v u den
Look at how into this Shige is!  Gah!  But where are these costumes coming from?  I guess they must have upcoming performances where they won't have enough time to change, but still.  Wouldn't you like to see them in their bunny costumes.  I bet the people who voted for this song would!  Now I really want to see that!  MOMO!  Way to steal the spotlight.  I guess now that Buono is over Momo can replace JunJun in this unit. 
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

抱いてよ！PLEASE GO ON - High King
Um, this is a solo song, but I'll go with it.  This was a whole lot of hot mess. . . just a hot tranni mess!  Thanks Takahashi and H!P costumes designers for continuing to ruin the things I like.  Although High King has some of the better dancers, I still think that this shouldn't of been performed by this unit.  I would like to see some shuffles!  Throw together the best dancers for this.  Or Buono would rock this!
Rating: ☆☆☆

チュッ！夏パ～ティ - S/mileage
That was cute.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

ぁまのじゃく - S/mileage
Congrats!  You're the first active H!P artist that was voted in!  Ah, that peace is starting to set in.  Wah!
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

♡桃色片思い♡ - Mano Erina
I am more in love with this song than anything else.  It does help to have the other members on the sidelines or else I would of gotten bored.  Erina's voice isn't as good as Aya.  Isn't she still under the same agency.  It would of been nice to see her be invited back.
Rating: ☆☆☆

春の嵐 - Mano Erina
See we love you for you being your good old, sightly depressing, self.  It would of been a nice touch if they had said the ranking for each song.  Just so we could get an idea of how many people voted for it.  But congrats Erina, you are with the likes of Ayaya and Goto Maki.  
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Campus Life ~Umarete kite Yokatta~ - ºC-ute
This also got voted in?  Hm.  I thought the fans didn't love this song.  I would of thought we would of seen some older C-ute songs. 
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

FOREVER LOVE - ºC-ute
That is what I am talking about!  Hold on a second.  What was that!  Did someone take someone else's line?  Is there fighting amongst the members!  I thought we heard something about that during one of their appearances.  Message to Maimi: You can't be serious while wearing THAT hat.  I've always wondered if it looks good from the audience's point of view to flash dark colors on the stage.  Doesn't that just make what ever is going on harder to see?  C-ute always felt and looked like the reject Hello Project kids.  They looked really mismatched.  Now, C-ute is a lean mean idol group.  It works.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

抱しめて 抱しめて - Berryz Koubou
Momo is one bad ass college student!  I really liked the performance and the costumes go well, because Berryz always wears these type of clothes as costumes.  However, I feel like it is still missing something to make it five stars.  Maybe it is just the song.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

ギャグ１００回分愛してください - Berryz Koubou
LOLZ.  This is totes daijobes!  I want to trap Momo in my closet (with my poster of Acchan) and put her in my pocket and take her to lectures.  She is such a cutie pie!  Pyon Pyon!  Five stars for Momo's tush!
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

泣いちゃうかも - Morning Musume
Seriously?  I hear so much crap from fans about this song and this one got voted in!  (Scratches head. . . now can't stop scratching because everything is itchy.  DAMN IT JANET.  sorry just watched glee.)  WTF!  Niigaki's earrings and what did they put on Takahashi's head.  That had better be a prank or a joke on the part of the staff.  I like the song, but those costumes are one hot mess.  They get an extra star for lolz.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

ここにいるぜぇ! - Morning Musume
I only like this song in concert, but it is amazing in concert.  
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

スキちゃん - S/mileage
Is it my birthday?  Cause you look like gifts!  Guess it is the bows.  Even if I don't love the song, they are just so cute and loli that I can't deny them.  Kanon got the least cute costume.  Sad face.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

世界はサマー・パーティ - Mano Erina
That was really cute.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

まっさらブルージーンズ - ºC-ute
FUCK YEAH!  Hip thrust section ikimasu!  
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

スッペシャル ジェネレ～ション - Berryz Koubou
Momo has the same short attention span that I have.  Wait a minute. . . let me fix that.  Considering Risako is a front girl, and doesn't have a perfect body, you'd think that they would TRY to make her a flattering costume.  Where is her waist?  I don't know right now in this dress so why don't we add a sash?  GIVE HER A WAIST!  She has boobs, there is something to highlight.  Are the back up dancers necessary? 
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

SEXY BOY 〜そよ風に寄り添って〜 - Morning Musume
That was shiny. . . except you.  Frak you Takahashi.  That fact that you are smexy won't help you. . . okay it helps a little bit.  But I refuse to buy any of your photobooks.  Okay if it was free or really cheap maybe, but not if I have to pay shipping.  SPARKLES!
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

元気ピカッピカッ! - ALL
For a second there I thought I haven't heard this song yet.  I have.  That is sad.  This wasn't a single right?  I bought this album too.  Nice ending credits.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

New PV Releases

Perfume「ねぇ」

SKE48「青春は恥ずかしい」

SKE48「TWO ROSES」

SKE48「コスモスの記憶」

The Uncensored Beginner PV Review

This whole PV debacle has exhausted me of any excitement that I could of and had for this single.  My only hope to get me my excited fix that I usually get with a single is if the record sales go over well.  As I said before, the fact that they banned this promotional video (and will not include it on the DVD) has only heightened expectations to a level that the original PV would not reach.  The storyline would of been really impressive in comparison with other idol groups' PV plots.  The most disturbing thing I thought kids would have trouble with would be Acchan screaming after she wakes up from the game with her hand being stabbed.  The other kills are so unrealistic that it is hard to see it as anything but a video game.  The color palette of the whole PV is really beautiful and the whole PV is well made.  That is, however, only my opinion on the technical side.  The quality isn't surprising considering the stars behind the scenes.  The director is Nakajima Tetsuya who also directed the film Kamikaze Girls, a favorite of mine.  Then the choreographer is TETSUHARU, who has worked with SMAP and Namie Amuro.  What saves it, for me, is the statement it makes (that I interpreted).  I felt like it was reminding that video game violence is fake, but in real life the same violence is painful.  I think that would be a wonderful statement to make.  Not that video games are bad, but that players should be aware that it should never transfer over to real life.

With all the mixed emotions and hype for this PV, it left me disappointed.  I ended up enjoying the dance version of this PV much more because you get to see the girls goof around and also working hard to create an impressive product.  My only critique of this PV is that I thought the whole PV was too unrealistic and a little bit hard to understand the game itself.  Are the girls a team fighting against the game itself?  I also would of liked if the actions were more sped up.  The slow-mo shots look good but would of been more impressive if they were contrasted with more and or faster game action.  I think this also is less spectacular because we watch each member losing the game with a little defending, but not much aggressive action on the part of the members.  (Oh, I also would of liked to see more members of senbatsu get more screen time in the PV.)

While I was watching the PV, instead of letting myself being immersed in the PV, I was thinking of how I thought it looked like they were going for a healthy medium.  Like if there was an original concept that was going to far or on the borderline of too far for younger viewers that the direct and staff adjusted the concept and edited the PV to make it more appropriate, but still enjoyable for older audiences.  For example, while Acchan is screaming her screams don't always match the her movement, like some clips were slowed down in the editing process.  In my opinion, if it video matched the audio it would be more disturbing and realistic.  The other elements of the game, besides the members, were all normal shapes.  When Mayu is cut in half you see her getting cut, but not the removal of the pointy things (I don't know what to call them).  Instead they cut away to the game console to show a basic animated figure bending in half to show the result.  The most disturbing kill in the game was Haruna getting her head chopped off because you see her body slide down and hit the floor.  (Note: you don't see any blood or anything too bad.)  They make everything in the game clearly fake and in no way realistic.  Based on Japanese standards the original PV pales in comparison to all the gore, action, and horror films released (on a regular basis).  Majisuka Gakuen, a TV drama starring members of AKB48 (as well as SKE48 and SDN48), was much more violent and disturbing.  Which strengthens my belief that this was the record company's decision and not a stunt by AKB48 management.

Since when has AKB48 had a audience of children?  Or at least when have they cared about that.  Not only are the lyrics to plenty of their songs inappropriate (sleeping with teachers, having sex in public, ect) but even their PVs have been hitting hot button issues that Japanese culture doesn't always want to talk about (bullying and enjo kousai).  For heaven sakes they were in their skivvies in their last PV!

The one thing that has lifted my spirits was when my friend who lives on my dorm floor, an Arashi rager, told me that AKB48 had sold over a one million pre-orders.  I was in shock, so I looked up to see if it was true.  Slightly disappointed, I explained to her that this is only the amount they shipped to stores as first press.  Non-the-less this is impressive.  The amount of first press that is shipped is kind of like what the record company thinks or hopes they will sell in the first week.  The fact that they are shipping that much out says a lot.  There was a small buzz for Heavy Rotation about this, but it wasn't over a million copies that time.  I think it is possible that they can do this, but I wouldn't say it is a sure thing at all.  The fact that they are making news about this is in itself good promotion.  Bandwagoning!  Everyone else is buying this single, be apart of the history!

Now onto the last topic of conversation about this single.  Yes, AKB48 and Morning Musume are releasing singles on the same day.  First off, even though they are technically competing with each other, they aren't or at least it is not on AKB48's mind.  Only fans are making this sound like a show down.  I have yet to hear about the Japanese media talk about it so dramatically.  Two, Morning Musume might get a boost in sales because they are competing with AKB48 but are extremely unlikely of doing so.  Their management has been doing a horrible job of promoting this single, and AKB48 is doing well in terms of promotion.  Their past single sales will tell you the same.  Morning Musume is not a threat of beating AKB48 for best first day sales.  If AKB48 was going up against Arashi that is another story.  Just stop comparing them and feeling like they are sworn enemies.  There are fans who like both groups.  Morning Musume (34,122 first week sales of their last single) stands a chance against SKE48 (62,078), but looking at their sales it doesn't even look good there.  Now go cry in a corner and come to terms with reality.  Don't hate me or any of the OO48s.  Hate Tsunku for doing a shit job.

Uncensored PV (Back-UP)

Berryz Koubou PV Review

When I first saw the promo picture for this single (the outfits basically) I thought that it didn't look so good.  However, it is my favorite part of this single.  The outfits, mostly Yurina Kumai's, looks fashionable.  I guess it is mostly Yurina's, the rest are just different silhouettes with the same fabric.  Yurina looks amazing in this single and shines as one of the centers.  I liked to think of her as the gentle giant because she was always the really tall, thin girl shoved into the back or side of the dance formation.  She has never looked so good.  The cool rocker image suits her nicely.  But that is all the good things I have to say about this PV and song.  The song is what you would expect from Berryz and has nothing that makes me want to hear more.  After listening once I was good.  The backdrop and storyline fit Berryz image but not the costumes.  Here we have dark, edgy costumes and nothing matches it.  They play ping pong and hide and go seek.  I've assumed that Tsunku has given up on Hello Project (except for S/mileage) and is letting them keep chugging away without a conductor.  The fact that Tsunku isn't even trying anymore is sad because Hello Project does have a lot of talent that would fit greatly in other, better treated, idol groups.

You kNow Me?

One of an album art by Yunomi
Too bad that everybody thinks her arts is plagiarism (sorry bad english)

Watch The Janken Tournament!

As promised, as soon as a video of the tournament appeared on YouTube I would pass it along and hear it is.  I have to say it is really good.  It gives some behind the scenes background stuff to it so it is more of a documentary than the actual tournament.  I wonder if this will become a yearly tradition like the General Election.  Watch it before it becomes private or blocked!

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4

1, 2, 3, 4th SKE48 Single Info and MOAR!

Did you like what I did there in the title?  This single is linked to the promotions SKE48 (mostly W Matsui) has been doing for Microsoft's XBox Kinect since October.  The single is going to be released on November 17th; the same day as Morning Musume's 44th single.  However this is not the only buzz that is going on around this single.  The 16 senbatsu members includes a right off the 4th generation auditions, Airi Suzuki look-a-like, trainee Kimoto Kanon.  (It hasn't been the first time that they've featured trainees in their main singles.)  Each version of this single includes a different third track.  Kanon is also in the Red Team, which sings the third track on Type B. 

The coupling track is a duet, me thinks a ballad, with W Matsui.  The song is titled TWO ROSES, and is included on all three versions.  Like AKB48's and SKE48's other recent singles there will be three songs on each version, each with their own PV which will be included on the DVD (if you are buying the DVD and CD set). 

The picture on the right is of some of the members of the Red Team.  As I mentioned before each version has a different third track with a different group.  Unlike AKB48 teams these are all pretty big, each one including at least 28 members.  I will include the members that are on each song with the other single info.  Unlike AKB48's theatre versions.  Their theatre version does not include ever track from each version.

Theatre Version
This is not available on CDJapan.  I've read that you have to purchase the theatre editions at one of the theatres or official shops.  This might not be completely true, but excuse me I am still in training.
(CD ONLY)
1. 1,2,3,4 Yoroshiku
2. TWO ROSES
3. Soba ni Isasete - ALL of SKE48!
4. 1,2,3,4 Yoroshiku (off vocal)
5. TWO ROSES (off vocal)
6. Soba ni Isasete (off vocal)

Senbatsu Members:
Team S: Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena, Yagami Kumi, Kinoshita Yukiko, Hiramatsu Kanako, Kuwabara Mizuki, Nakanishi Yuka, Oya Masana, Suda Akari, Kizaki Yuria
Team KII: Takayanagi Akane, Ishida Anna, Mukaida Manatsu, Furukawa Airi
Trainees: Yamada Erika, Kimoto Kanon

Type A Limited Edition [CD+DVD]
1524yen

1.	1, 2, 3, 4, Yoroshiku!
2.	Two Roses
3.	Cosmos no Kioku - White Team
4.	1, 2, 3, 4, Yoroshiku! (instrumental)
5.	Two Roses (instrumental)
6.	Cosmos no Kioku (instrumental)
7.	[DVD] 1, 2, 3, 4, Yoroshiku! (PV)
8.	[DVD] Two Roses (PV)
9.	[DVD] Cosmos no Kioku (PV)

 *CDJapan includes with the first press a photo and a training card randomly selected from 16 kinds.


White Team Members:
Team S: Oya Masana, Ono Haruka, Kuwabara Mizuki, Hirata Rikako, Hiramatsu Kanako, Matsui Jurina
Team KII: Ishida Anna, Ogiso Shiori, Takayanagi Akane, Matsumoto Rina, Saito Makiko, Akaeda Ririna, Uchiyama Mikoto, Kato Tomoko, Yamada Reika
Trainees: Yamada Erika, Abiru Riho, Isohara Kyoka, Goto Risako, Matsumura Kaori + 7 more 4th gen

Type B Limited Edition [CD+DVD]
1524yen

1.	1, 2, 3, 4, Yoroshiku!
2.	Two Roses
3.	Seshun wa Hazukashii - Red Team
4.	1, 2, 3, 4, Yoroshiku! (instrumental)
5.	Two Roses (instrumental)
6.	Seshun wa Hazukashii (instrumental)
7.	[DVD] 1, 2, 3, 4, Yoroshiku! (PV)
8.	[DVD] Two Roses (PV)
9.	[DVD] Seshun wa Hazukashii (PV)

*The extras are the same as Type A

Read Team Members:
Team S: Kato Rumi, Kinoshita Yukiko, Kizaki Yuria, Suda Akari, Deguchi Aki, Yagami Kumi, Matsui Rena
Team KII: Iguchi Shiori, Kito Momona, Furukawa Airi, Mukaida Manatsu, Sato Mieko, Sato Seira, Wakabayashi Tomoka
Trainees: Imade Mai, Hata Sawako, Ueno Kasumi, Kimoto Kanon, Mano Haruka, Yakata Miki + 8 more 4th gen

The Good, Bad, and the Ugly Ways to Promote a Single

In the recent months I've witnessed a number of promotion mistakes, and some of the right ways to promote a single.  Especially when you consider the competition each single faces, things like promotion can be key to success.


The Good and The Bad:
-Release the PV and covers (and any other information) in plenty of time.  Never wait to the last minute to release these.  People like myself take into consideration the cover or any extras when deciding which version to purchase.  The sooner you release this the more pre-orders you will likely get; this is very important when you consider the first day sales.  PV is short for promotional video, therefore always release it or preview it plenty of time beforehand.  I have yet to see a PV for the sushi version of Morning Musume, whatever that group is called.  There is less than a week left.  Same goes for their next single as well.  SKE48 has already released an extravagant PV on YouTube and the covers.


-Promote the group.  If the group is popular enough the single should accumulate strong sales.  Magazine covers, commercials, dramas, and variety shows.  Any appearance presents opportunity to plug the single and the group.  AKB48 has a number of variety shows all to themselves.  Their center member, Atsuko Maeda, is starring in a much-talked-about drama.  AKB48 has also been hosting a number of events where they've showed the PV or performed the single.  In comparison, I have not seen any magazine scans from Morning Musume.  The biggest promotion I see is talk about graduation.

The Ugly:
Never ever upset the core fan base.  All press is not necessarily good press.  Never announce that you are taking away anything from a release.  This is about AKB48's 18th single PV.  The main PV, which is always included on the DVD of the limited edition set, will not be included on this DVD.  If this was suppose to be a stunt, I have to say this is the worst way to pull it.  To ban the promotional video, which purpose is to promote the single, and not include it on the DVD is a mistake.  For one, it lessens the worth of the DVD and will lead to fans cancel their orders.  To appease the fans they've announced that it will be released through cell phones, which means it should only be viewable in Japan.  It will surface online, but the PV will not be released till the single release date.  This whole debacle does create buzz, but leaves fans with a bad taste in their mouth.  This incident was like setting a warm cookie in front of a child, telling them that they can have it once it cools down a bit, then taking it away saying that you've changed your mind and that they will never get it.  Later, because you feel bad, you give the cookie to the child, but now the cookie is cold and the kid can't enjoy it as much because they are so pissed off at you.  Plus, after all this stress and anxiety this has caused how much you want to bet the PV will not be as amazing as it would of been if they had just released it.  Now, since it was banned, we expect it to be out of this world.  You have to deliver something to cheer up the fans, but even then it might be too late to get back those sales that were canceled.

New48 PVs!

SKE48「１！２！３！４！　ヨロシク！」

I am totally asking for this single for my birthday!  SKE48 has a strong possibility of beating Morning Musume's single.  (I'll talk about this more in another post.)  This promotional video is an explosion of genki.  Talk about extras.  There were hip hop dancers, a woman in a sexy bunny costume, carnival Rio dancers,  teachers, hundreds of schoolgirls, santa, a random black guy.  When I heard a short clip of this single I thought it sound dull.  While I still think the song itself is nothing ground breaking or surprising for SKE, I absolutely love it.  Their singles have been doing really well considering this is only their fourth single.  

SDN48「GAGAGA！」

I've heard people compare this to K-pop, which I can see where they got that impression.  However, I don't think I see it reflecting K-Pop that much.  I can see the similarities.  (I don't consider a sexy image as K-Pop either because excuse me Koda Kumi and other Japanese artists have had a sexy image for a while now.)  However, when I heard this song I thought that this was right up Meetan's alley.  Her solo single had a similar sound: the breathy sex voice.  I am surprised that no one is commending this group for breaking an idol barrier.  They have an age floor set, you have to be over 18.  Now that is not too radical, but you have to admit it is the opposite of what most idol groups have (an age ceiling).  Now this single, when I first heard it, I really liked it.  It is not too focused on Meetan, which I like.  It is a good move considering this is their major debut single, so featuring all the top favorites is ideal.  But don't fret Meetan wota.  Not only does the song fit Meetan like fishnet tights, but the dance formation follows the ranking.  I do like, as a matter of promotion, that they continue to make themselves a joke.  They said something along the lines that unlike Kara and Girls' Generation who feature their legs and butts that this single features their elbows.  Funny right?  Now all they need is release the stage, or maybe I just need to find it.

Co-Ed School

Perusing through the wonderous land of Youtube today I stumbled upon what I have found to be an amazing new K-Pop group Co-ed School, or just Co-ed. Like their name suggests they are a co-ed group formed of (what looks like) five boys and five girls. From what I've gathered they are extremely new (only having released two singles in the past couple of months) but I've immediately begun to enjoy them! Their sound seems to be a bit of pop and a bit of hip-hop. I enjoy the vocals of both the boys and the girls meshed together in such an interesting way. The PVs are both creative and visually appetizing. I enjoy the high-tech look of Too Late and the quirkiness of Bbiribbom Bberibbom. I also enjoy that they can have a softer more ballad sound to their music with I love you a thousand times. Below I put the videos and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Too Late


Bbiribbom Bberibbom



I Love You a Thousand Times

MOE~ SPAM X D -> Wedding Dresses