H!P Forever Favorites

Before continuing, make sure you're aware that anything written in this post is purely my OPINION, which I have a right to share. If you don't agree with it, then you don't have to read it, so no hating.

Since recently Hanabi has let Gen 6 auditionees onto the forum to test their spamming ability, of course, with no idea where to go, they went and revived some old topics (or at least topics I haven't seen as having new posts in a while). One of these topics was "Favorite NEVER CHANGING members" basically for posting who are some of the H!P members that, even if you don't adore them any more, or even if you never did, hold a special place in your heart, or will always cling you your favorites list. I was bored and thinking and decided to make a blog post slightly expanding my list using reasons, extra facts and, of course, pictures~ Cause

that's what blog posts are for, right? Picture spam to go with random posts? Yes? No?

Anyway, I have no sense of order... so I may go at random, but to start me off, I'll use my very first ever H!P favorite! Jan~

Natsuyaki Miyabi! Miiya-chan was the first H!P member I was ever introduced to since Buono! was the first group I got into. Not long after it came out, I showed a few of my friends Shugo Chara! and got them into it, not long later they informed me that the opening and endings (this was back about the time SC was only at Opening Kokoro no Tamago and ending was Renai Rider) had dances and since there were only two of them, they asked if I wanted to be the third member and learn the dances with them. It sounded like fun so I said yes and they asked which girl I wanted. I, being the attention lover I was at the time, picked the center girl - Miyabi, which, to my luck, happened to be the open one, so we didn't have to worry about switching members. Through the duration of our dancing, I came to love Miiya and my love for her got me introduced to Berryz, my 2nd H!P group. I grew more into the music and stumbled upon PH and started trying to learn Miiya's lines in a lot of songs. She was my favorite since she was the only one I knew in Berryz.

So that's my reasoning for Miiya-chan. Songs that to this day I still prefer to sing as her in are:

-Buono: Last Forever, Honto no Jibun, co.no.mi.chi, Rottara Rottara (her or Airi), Gachinko de Ikou, Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!, Lady Panther, Minna Daisuki, Shoushitsuten -Vanishing Point, Baketsu no Mizu, My Love

-Berryz Koubou: TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY, Arigatou Otomodachi, Fighting Pose wa Date Ja Nai, Special Generation, Nanchuu Koi wo Yatteru You Know?, 21ji Made no Cinderella, Gag 100kaibun Aishite Kudasai, Munasawagi Skarlet, Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi, Dakishimete Dakishimete

-Other: FIRST KISS (Aa!)

Murakami Megumi. Megu was my first experience with C-ute, I really don't know how. Probably came when I checked out C-ute's PH lyrics and saw she was a lead? I don't know, but I loved her voice and her PH color, so I made her my favorite. Since then I've grown to love her voice very much and, even though I don't know much about her personality, she's still my all time favorite C-ute member.

Songs I still like to sing as her in are:

-C-ute: Massara Blue Jeans (her or Maimi), Soku Dakishimete, Wakkyanai (Z), Ooki na Ai de Motenaishite, Endless Love ~I Love You More~, EVERYDAY YEAH! Kataomoi

-Other: Suki ni Nacchata Ikenai Hito (H!P ALL STARS), Shiroi Tokyo (ZYX), Iku ZYX! FLY HIGH (ZYX)

Fujimoto Miki. Mikitty was my first ever Morning Musume favorite. As I mentioned previously in alternate wording, I was quite the line whore when I first got into H!P, for groups other than Buono, my favorites were determined by who had the most lines in songs, and since Morning Musume was only at about Mikan or so when I first got into them, most of the songs I looked at had Mikitty as one of the leads, so I went with her (and Reina after she left, but Reina did not remain in my "forever favorites" list). Mikitty is not only my first favorite Morning Musume, but also the first H!P soloist I was ever exposed to. This happened when a project I was in closed a group I was in and decided that the people who actually got lines in would be assigned soloists, I was assigned Mikitty and was to debut with Sotto Kuchizukete Gyutto Dakishimete (even though I did my lines and it was never released), but I looked into her other songs and fell in love with them. So much so that it took until less than a year ago before someone finally passed her on my favorite soloists list (Kikka and Ayaya both did, making her fall to 3rd).

Songs I still like to sing as Mikitty in:

-Morning Musume: Egao YES Nude (her or Aika), Osaka Koi no Uta (her or Niigaki), The Manpower!, Roman ~My Dear Boy~, Ai no Sono ~Touch My Heart - Otomegumi (her or Ogawa), Samui kara Fuyu da mon! ~Doumokou mo Naissu yo Mikitty~, Lemon Iro to Milk Tea

-Solos: Okitegami, Boogie Train '03, Boyfriend, Romantic Ukare Mode, Sotto Kuchizukete Gyutto Dakishimete, Aenai Nagai Nichiyoubi, Let's Do! Daihakken, Namida GIRL, SHALL WE LOVE (Fujimoto Version)

-Other: Melodies (GAM), Thanks! (GAM), Aijou Oasis (GAM), Shining Itoshiki Anata (Country Musume ni Konno to Fujimoto), Uwaki na Honey Pie (CMnKtF), SHALL WE LOVE (Gomattou), Onna Kanashi Otona (Summer Shuffles), BE ALL RIGHT (Summer Shuffles)

Mitsui Aika. About a year ago, I think, I went through this really weird obsession with Aika... I really have no idea how it started... but it wasn't long after I joined Hanabi... I remember that much cause Aika was my member in the background back when Mychuu was Gaki and Fuyumi was still dubbing... yeah... the trying to remember why isn't working out, so I'll just say somehow I just realized how freaking adorable she was and just couldn't let it go! I've long been over that little phase, but ever since then I've still held an appreciation for Mitchi. GET WELL SOON! <33

Songs I still like to sing as her:
-Morning Musume: Egao YES Nude (her or Miki), Nanchatte Renai (her, Niigaki, or Junjun), Onna ni Sachi Are, Watashi no Miryoku ni Kizukanu Donkan na Hito, Haru Beautiful Everyday, 3 2 1 BREAKIN' OUT! (her, Niigaki, or Takahashi)

-Other: Omakase Guardian (Guardians 4)

Yaguchi Mari. Minimoni was the first H!P Subgroup that peaked my interest, and I immediately fell in love with Chibi-leader Gucchan during that experience. It was my love of Marippe that caused me to have resentments towards Takahashi Ai when I first got into H!P because my impression of her was that she "kicked Mari out of Minimoni and completely changed the group once joining". This accusation was, obviously, completely inaccurate and childish, but hey... I was a newb XD Now I love both of them, but I still prefer the good old days of Minimoni with Gucchi as the leader and childish songs and videos. (I still hold resentments towards Minimoni Kazoe Uta. ~Date Version~, but that's a topic for another time). The one thing about Marippe, though, is I strongly prefer her voice with other people. I don't care if she's the lead vocal, but I didn't like how she sounds in solos much. I guess her voice just sounds a lot better with other vocals backing it up (also why I like Kaze wo Sagashite much more than Seishun Boku).

Songs I like to sing as her in:

-Morning Musume: Say Yeah! ~Motto Miracle Night~ (her, Nacchi, or Goto)

-Minimoni: Mini. Strawberry Pie, Ai~n Dance no Uta, Okashi Tsukutte Okassui~!, Genki Jirishi no Oomori Song, Minihamuzu Kekkon no Uta

-Other: Kaze wo Sagashite (Yaguchi Mari with Straw Hats), Summer Reggae Rainbow (Summer Shuffles), Aoi Sports Car no Otoko (her or Ichii Sayaka) (Summer Shuffles)

That's really it for old favorites from what I can remember, so to finish this up I'll just list some of my current favorites and the songs I like to sing as them (more than anyone else in the song to keep it limited) in just for the heck of it~ XDD

Niigaki Risa!

-Morning Musume: Tomo, Shouganai Yume Oibito, Naichau Kamo, Yowamushi, Resonant Blue, Souda! We're Alive, Michi Naru Mirai e (Tanjou 10nen), Silver na Udedokei, Kono Ai wo Kasanete, Kaiketsu Positive Ace, OK YEAH, Bravo!, Moonlight Night ~Tsukiyo no Ban Da yo!~, Namidacchi, Ano hi ni Modoritai, Loving You Forever, Take Off Is Now!, Shanimuni Paradise, Kotatsu no Uta ~jyuken story~, HOW DO YOU LIKE JAPAN? ~Nihon wa Donna Kanji Dekka?~, Suki na Senpai, Densha no Futari, Appare Kaiten Zushi

-Other: Busu ni Naranai Tetsugaku (Mobekimasu), Seishun LOVE Lunch/Honki Meki Meki Toki Meki Meki/Shouri no BIG WAVE/Yuugure Sherbert (all Athena & Robikerottsu), BE HAPPY ~Koi no Yajirobee~ (Tanpopo), Kowarenai Ai ga Hoshii no (7AIR)

Ogawa Makoto!

-Morning Musume: Mushoku Toumei na Mama de, Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari (all 3 vers)

-Other: WOW WOW WOW (Pucchimoni), Shiawase Beam Suki Suki Beam (Happy 7)

Fukumura Mizuki!

-Morning Musume: My Way ~Joshikou Hanamichi~

-Other: Moshimo... (Mobekimasu), Arigatou ~Ookiku Kansha~ (Shugo Chara Egg), Watashi no Tamago (Shugo Chara Egg)

Shimizu Saki!

-Berryz Koubou: Ai no Dangan, Ryuusei Boy, Tomodachi wa Tomodachi Nanda!, BOMB BOMB JUMP, Yakimochi wo Kudasai, Baka ni Shinaide, Ah! Merry-go-Round, Joshi Basket-bu ~Asaren Atta Hi no Kamigata~

Okai Chisato!

-C-ute: Momoiro Sparkling, Kiss Me Aishiteru, Edo no Temari Uta II, Kimi no Senpou, Sweets->->->Live,

-Other: Akai Sweet Pea (Tanpopo #)

Have fun with that XDD

It's the End of the World

Recently I found out from a friend that America is trying to pass 2 acts. If either of them get passed, it may be the end of dubbing as we know it, and I don't mean just in America even though it will only directly affect America. I don't know for sure anything I'm about to say, I only know what my friend told me about and the little bit of information I managed to gather from googling one of the acts.

The first act, and from what I heard of the two, it's the one that's more likely to be passed, is I forgot the name -shot- it's something that has "copyright" in the name. It's not the one I looked up, so I only know what my friend told me, and here's what I understand about it from what she told me. Apparently this act would allow anyone who posts copyrighted infringement online could be sentenced to 5 years in prison. I don't know if the company has to sue or if the police will come hunting you down, but that's all I seemed to get for sure out of what she told me.

The second act would put the whole world into chaos if it were to pass, which is why everyone I asked/told about it said something under the lines of "that will never pass". That act is called the "Protect IP Act" and it, I believe, says that any company would be eligible to sue the owner of a url themself if there's copyrighted stuff on their site. If this act were to pass, it seems any site that has stuff they don't own on it that's based in America will go down. Now the "based in America" my have reassured some of you who don't live in America, but let me name a few websites that you may know that are "based" in America. There's Youtube (Oh look, already one of the most important ones for us dubbers), Facebook, even Google is based in America and is at risk of being closed. I read a blog post online of an organization (I think?) who actually talked to the owner of Google about this act. I liked one of his responses, something under the lines of "trying to solve complex problems with simple solutions will just make more, worse problems". So I really don't think this one will pass, and if it does, it'll probably repell quickly (or whatever they do to get rid of it).

Either way, it seems America is trying to attack the copyright head on right now, and every dubber in the world is in danger, maybe not like us in America who may have to stop dubbing, but definitely of possibly losing dubbing friends or project members, and that's before taking into consideration that if America's trying, what's going to stop other countries from following the lead?

All I'm certain about though, is that if I have to stop dubbing I'm gonna be miserable.

OK YEAH & S/mileage comments

Before continuing, make sure you're aware than anything written in this post is purely my OPINION, which I have a right to share. If you don't agree with it, then you don't have to read it, so no hating.

I mentioned in my review of 12, Smart that I couldn't wait to see the dance for OK YEAH since it was such a fun song. Well today My-chuu posted a ...weird version -forgot the word- of a supposedly uneditted copy of the concert perf for Give me Ai and OK YEAH, so I'm gonna give my opinion on the video.

OK YEAH!.mp4 by xlittlemystery

First off, I just wanna say, I don't see how this is the "uneditted version" at all, but I'm probably not the best person to ask either.

Ok onto the actual comments. The "dance" starts off like a typical concert: lots of chanting like motions, nothing special. But when it gets to actual dance you'll find that it looks like your typical Para Para dance like that of just about any Hinoi Team dance or Morning Musume's SEXY BOY ~Soyokaze ni Yorisotte~. This really disappointed me at first, in all honesty. I really thought such an upbeat song would have a much more complicated dance with a faster tempo. But as I kept watching it's not that bad. It's true that it's the same motions over and over again, but the "instrumental" part in the middle was cute and since the dance it the way it is, the members don't "have" to be in any certain position, this will be beneficial to Aika when she can re-join the members on stage, as well as the next generation. If they plan to perform this again in the future, at least. I really hope they do, it's a really fun song, I'd like to see it as an opening to a future H!P concert. Can you imagine 30 people doing a Para para dance to open a concert?

Taking everything into consideration, I have to say that I love this dance, despite the original expectations I had for it. I love how they did the "Yeah yeah..." parts, for sure, at the very least, so I'm happy.

Now, moving onto the topic of S/mileage. It was recently announced that all 4 remaining sub-members would become official members of S/mileage. I'm happy that all 4 of them got in. I somehow felt that no matter how many of the girl's got in, Meimi would be among them. She seems to be the fan favorite, not to mention her past performance with S/mileage in the Shugo Chara Musical, so, like Riho, she's already worked with the group previously. Take-chan was my personal favorite, since I already knew her from Shin Minimoni and I knew she was a good singer. Rina was my 2nd favorite, just because she was also an egg, so she must have some experience (not to mention I'm casted as her in a project -bias-). For Kana, I didn't really have much of an opinion on her. I didn't dislike her by any means, but I thought she looked kinda weird, and forgetting the lyrics in her audition turned me off (I don't blame her, but still), so I just never formed an opinion on her, I haven't seen the S/mileage concert, though, and the sub-members didn't get any solos in Tachiagaaru, so I don't know her voice at all.

With the addition of these new members, S/mileage is now a 7 member group, I'm really hoping to see some good stuff come out of them, since for me S/mileage has been going downhill since they officially debuted (though Uchouten Love was good). All I know is that I'm gonna be really pissed if they play the "favorites" game with the lead singer. Up until now, S/mileage has been, for me at least, the only fair group left in H!P. I know it's not completely fair, but ever since Natsu Dakara came out, I've been mad at Buono's line distribution and I've really started to notice how much Airi has actually whored in Buono, and I'm still not totally convinced C-ute has become fair. But They're definitely closer than with SHOCK - not that that was a C-ute song.

Well, that's it for me. Peace out I guess >.> *waddles off to do homework that I shouldn't have saved for Sunday night*

Morning Musume - 12 Smart review

Before continuing, make sure you're aware than anything written in this post is purely my OPINION, which I have a right to share. If you don't agree with it, then you don't have to read it, so no hating.

12, Smart

01. Give me Ai

If by "Ai" the song means "Ai-chan" the song does just that. By no means does she whore the song like Michishige in Fantasy ga Hajimaru, but she is the main lead, as it should be. The song has a nice feel to it, the overlapping lines add a nice touch after the solos, I think it gives the song more flavor, not that it needs it. I am disappointed in the lack of Aika solos though, even Shige got a solo, and Riho one less than Reina, which seriously disappoints me. I think this is probably the biggest "Good bye, Aichan" song on the album when it comes to lines, so I kinda wish Aika had gotten at least one solo.

All in all, the song is nice, and it really suits Aichan. Definitely a good start to a great album

Rating: 9/10
Album Rank: #5

02. Only You

The first "single song" that shows up on this album, and my least favorite. When this song originally came out I hated it. I hated the outfits, the PV, Gaki being autotuned on her only two solos, and the fact that Riho was the only gen 9 with solos after Maji Desu ka Suka was so fair. One major thing that irritates me about this song, and songs like it, is that the choruses are 100% solos and there are NO lines with all 9 girls singing. Even in songs I love, either of these things can drive me up the wall. When I think of "chorus", I don't think of "part of the song that has 2-3 versions that repeats 2+ times throughout the song." I think of the singers "coming together for at least one or two lines." The ideal chorus, I think, is like that of Onna to Otoko no Lullaby Game "group line - solo - group line - solo", or even complete group like in Maji Desu ka Suka, it depends on the type of song.

Listening to Only You and comparing it with the other songs on this album, it really doesn't stand up to the same standard as the songs this album has brought, or even the other singles on this album.

Rating: 3/10
Album Rank: #12

03. Silver no Udedokei

My first thought before I heard this song was something under the lines of "Oh great, it's Reina and Riho..." so I didn't expect much out of it. I will say right now: I hate Reina/Riho as leads, so they both have a negative bias already, I won't deny it. However when I got to Reina's first solo, it wasn't THAT bad, Riho even started off okay, though that plan plummeted by the third line of her first solo. So far it was nothing impressive by any means, but it wasn't bad either. Next thing I hear is Gaki/Aika rap and, I'm not even lying, those two owned the song. I could listen to this song on repeat for hours just because of those two. I just love the "Don't Cry, Dry ya Eyes" lines, and the raps are amazing.

So overall, Gaki and Aika's raps made this song go from "okay 5" to "Ohmigawd 12/10" to me, so I commend whoever planned that.

Rating: 10/10
Album Rank: #1

04. Suki da na Kimi ga

I love Fuku-hime, and I don't hate Shige by any means, but one thing I've learned to hate is autotune. It DOES make Shige sound better generally, but it makes the song sound fake and stupid. Not to mention, now I can't tell who sings what, or if there are even any solos. Don't get me wrong, the song itself is really cute and fun and if it under normal circumstances I'd probably give it a 6 or 7 even just because I love the song, but the autotune is a major turn-off for me and it drives me crazy with all the extra echo effects in addition to the autotune.

The song itself is good, but the effects aren't.

Rating: 4/10
Album Rank: #10

05. Kaiketsu Positive A

For some reason this song kinda gives me a jazz-y feeling. But it's cute. I love the sound of the solos, and it's great that all the members get at least 1 solo, it's nice to hear all of their voices for once. The song itself is also nice and fun. All the "Wow"s make me think of Appare Kaiten Zushi, but the song is totally different and a lot better. I won't say this much, but I even like the Reina lines in this song, and I mean her voice, not the lines (if we're talking about the lines, I like just about every line in the song). The composition is good too, I think. The repetition of "Kaiketsu Positive A" constantly throughout the song gets kind of annoying, but not near as bad as the repitition of other songs I've heard come from H!P.

There's really not much I can say other than "Good job"

Rating: 9/10
Album Rank: #4

06. Kono Ai wo Kasanete

Okay, this is another major bias off the bat - I love Gen 5, so this being the last TakaGaki song forever I already loved it before I even heard it. But one particular thing came out of it that I haven't heard for REAL from a new Morning Musume song in a long time - harmonies. TakaGaki already blend like bread and butter, but when you throw harmonies into the mix also, it's like angels singing. The vocalization, not that there was much, but the little bit that there was was nice, I have to hand it to Aichan, she's amazing at vocalizing. The song itself probably could be better, but I love it the way it is, so I really don't care.

TakaGaki will be missed, by me at the very least, so way to leave with a beautiful song like this.

Rating: 10/10
Album Rank: #2

07. Kono Chikyuu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterun da yo!

I loved this song since the preview came out. Since then the love has worn off a bit, but I still love the song, and even on this album, it manages to shine to me. I really wish it had some Shige/Aika solos, and even some Gen 9 non Riho solos, but the song itself is just so fun, there's no point in pouting about it when the song itself is so nice, so for this once I'll let it slide. One thing I don't like much about it, though, is the choruses group parts. I think it's kinda weird how they have "All - solo - small group - small group - small group - solo - solo". It's kinda stupid, I think... and I think it would sound better without that.

This song is a lot of fun to sing, but it needs better line distribution. But for Aichan's last single, it's really touching.

Rating: 7/10
Album Rank: #7

08. Kare to Issho ni Omise ga Shita

Kare to Issho is a fun, upbeat song, I think. It's cute and the video, also, is adorable and fun. Honestly one of the most creative PVs I've seen in a while come from Hello Project. But everyone seems to get turned off by the fact Shige is the lead in it. Wanna know what I think about that? LEAVE HER ALONE! Shige gets the award for "most improved singer in H!P" in my opinion, and I'm not saying she's a great singer, but I'm saying she's definitely earned this. And how many of these people liked Fantasy ga Hajimaru? Maybe not many, but since she completely whored that song, forming your opinion of this one based on her it stupid. I personally think Shige sang this well and even Reina and Riho sounded good. Ai, Aika and Gaki, too, were amazing at their lines, as expected.

Kare to Issho is a cute song with a fun, silly feel to oppose Kono Chikyuu's serious, future-heading-appeal.

Rating: 8/10
Album Rank: #6

09. My Way ~Joshikou Hanamichi~

Giving the song a listen, nothing about it really stood out to me when it came to the song itself. The one thing that DOES stand out to me, though, is how fair the line distribution is in the song. Everyone gets at least 2 solos. But in all honesty, other than that the song is kind of lame, not bad, but not good either... I'm not impressed by it in the least and it's the most likely song on this album for me to skip just because it seems like one of H!P's "template songs" (Meaning it sounds to me like the basic H!P song before it's given some spice~)

My Way is just kinda boring to me, it's not bad though...

Rating: 4/10
Album Rank: #11

10. Otome no Timing

Definitely a cute song to fit Aika, Erippon, and Zukki. Somehow this song reminds me of the Tanpopo # version of Dekoboko 17 since Aika has the "spare lines" (left over solos after evenly or close to evenly dividing them among the singers) which she's only ever gotten in Haru Beautiful Everyday, and even then none of the live versions were full so she lost her solo chorus. Being put with two Gen 9 members is very beneficial to Aika-chan and I'm happy for her. But other than that the song is only okay.

Congrats to Mitchi I guess.

Rating: 5/10
Album Rank: #9

11. OK YEAH

The first time I heard this song I wasn't sure if I was impressed or overwhelmed. Probably around the third time I heard it I decided it was both. This is one of the most interesting line distributions I've seen... Ever I think XD. The song itself is also lots of fun. The effects are slightly overdone, I think, but with how much is going on with the song at the same time, it really doesn't make much of a difference. I'm also really impressed with how many lines Gaki, and even Shige got. Aika still only got one solo, but still. The song is so much fun

This song is definitely an entertaining one. I honestly can't wait to see what the dance will look like when the concert perf comes out.

Rating: 9/10
Album Rank: #3

12. Maji Desu ka Suka

This song was great when it first came out, and even now it's awesome. Really fair distribution, perfect for the debut song of a new generation. I can't really use any other excuse to say this other than it's been "overexposed" to me. I'm not worn out on it by any means, I still love the song, but it's much less amazing than most of the songs on this album since I know this song so well.

It's a good song, with good distribution, just getting kind of old.

Rating: 7/10
Album Rank: #8

12, Smart Overall Review: I love it. It's definitely better than Fantasy Juuichi was, and much easier to get addicted to than just about every other album I have heard. It's almost as good as 10 MY ME and 4th Ikimasshoi, I think.

Rating: ★★★★