9nine ... wait, who are they now?

9nine

Nobody knows them... nobody. 9nine was established in 2005 but heck, I stumbled across one of their albums. Only one. Why only one? So they're not quite that great, but they have some potential! Just last December, their whittled-down-to-five team grasped a hold of a sit-com. However, that sit-com airs at... 1am?

Honestly, "Shiroi Hana" (2007) was the song that I fell in love with back in my high school days.

They're quite simple and it doesn't look like they put on too much make-up at all. They're also not stunningly pretty but they do have their styles. Although their singing isn't that good and their dances aren't nearly as interesting as Momusu's, they did make 9th on Oricon with "Shoujo Traveller" this January.

Their first album First9 never even made it onto the Oricon... and no wonder, it wasn't particularly good. I only had three songs that I really liked from it. The second album, Second9, placed at 186. The third and self-titled album 9nine placed 8th a while after "Shoujo Traveller" was released. This was pretty recent... as in March 7th recent. Could this be, suddenly, something with rising niche popularity?

Or maybe it's just a passing breeze of good fortune.

Morning Musume

ON A TANGENT, I kind of really wish Morning Musume would gain popularity again. Their dancing skills are still really friggin sharp... and even if I don't always like how their voices come out... I can't deny that their dance is amazingly good. I would even go as far as to say I like a few Momusu dances more than I like AKB dances, and here are just some titles I would recommend watching the dance shot of.

(I miss my Yoshi!!!)

• Nanchatte Renai
• Kimagure Princess (it grew on me after I watched it a few times)
• Do it Now
• Kanashimi Twilight
• Irroppoi Jirettai
• Naite Shimau Kamo

Nanchatte Renai has SUUUUUPER pretty music. Kanashimi Twilight was my favorite Momusu song for a long time but... I overlistened to it and the lives of it weren't that good at all. Do It Now has been my constant fave. Kago Ai's voice in it was so cute. * ^* I only recently started listening to Naite Shimau Kamo.

Nami

Speaking of dancing and losing popularity... I'mma mention the once top-selling singer in her category, Nami Tamaki. Besides doing songs for Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny, she also did openings for both D. Grayman and Kiba. Her place in the anime and game industry was once quite firm, even when she debuted at age 13 or 14 with "Believe," which became a Gundam Seed opening. Her dancing is also known to be phenomenal! But then what happened?

Well... let's take a look at the Oricon figures, courtesy of Wikipedia:

1st Album	Greeting Released: February 25, 2004	#5
2nd Album	Make Progress Released: May 11, 2005	#1
3rd Album	Speciality Released: July 12, 2006	#1
Compilation	Graduation ～Singles～ Released: November 29, 2006	#6
4th Album	Don't Stay Released: April 23, 2008	#14
Compilation	Tamaki Nami Reproduct Best Released: March 25, 2009	#84
5th Album	STEP Released: February 24, 2010	#55

Yes... Wut? From the top-selling artist and her single digits to figures in the 80s and 50s?! She didn't really have any new stuff for a while after Don't Stay except some live concerts. In 2009, she switched agencies as well. That could've been it?

Personally, I really liked her Winter Ballades. You should check that out. "Promise" is a gorgeous PV. In fact... I'll post it right here so you don't have to look for it. Arg... if only there was a working copy of it on youtube... -grumbles; offers a lame link-

I also recommend from her:

• Believe
• Reason
• Prayer
• Realize
• Brightdown
• Sanctuary