Archive for September, 2006

September 16th, 2006

2001 vs. 2007

by Zush

I watched Morning Musume’s Green Live dvd from 2001 last night. It’s a bare document where MM and it’s sub-groups perform some of their hits in the middle of baseball stadium. That.s why it’s called Green Live. No stage setting, no fancy lights, no changing costumes, just girls doing their songs with a couple of light spots. As I said, it’s bare but so nostalgic.

This concert was the end of one MM era because 5th gen members were joining the lineup soon and Yuko had just graduated.

When I watch MM doing those best-of-the-best songs like I Wish, Love Machine and Renai Revolution 21, I can’t help me falling in to deep nostalgic state. Am I going to sound like my grandpa? Anyway, there is also Tanpopo (Kaori, Mari, Rika & Aibon) performing Koi wo Shichaimasita, Mini Moni with Jyanken Pyon and Maki singing her first single hit Ai no Bakayarou with that angular choreography.

And today, we are in front of same kind of situation. Happy8 auditions are in progress and one or more new members are going to join the gang in the beginning of next year. Konno & Makoto have graduated and we never know if there is gonna be even more graduations before MM’s new lineup is announced. My fuzzy guess is that there will be. Only time will tell how completely wrong I was.

September 11th, 2006

Maki strips to next level

by Zush

Not again UFA! What are they doing to our Maki? She’s adult that’s true and we can’t do nothing for that. But if this foxy Some Boys Touch PV style is UFA’s idea of reaching to the next level of Maki’s career, I don’t know if I’m gonna buy it or even follow it.

Maki - Some Boys Touch

Maki has always been a sexy hot babe but why o’ why they are underlining it with this way? Nothing wrong with boobs and stuff but this installation is, as I said, too C-H-E-A-P for dear Maki. This PV is far too much christina aguilera-ish to get me excited. Maki is still hot without any cheap tricks.

I’m going to talk more about this adult oriented new strategy of UFA later. . .

 

September 1st, 2006

Life after DAI – Sparkling Tomiko

by Zush

Almost an year ago one of the greatest J-rock bands ended it’s impressive 6 year career. I’m talking about Do As Infinity.

The core of the band were: Dai Nagao, master of guitar and note (although he stayed all the time at background he was the heart of DAI), Tomiko Van, fantastic singer and Ryo Owatari, another axe master and lyricist of the band. DAI released 6 studio albums and bunch of singles & compilations and a couple of DVDs.

I still listen my DAI CDs frequently and they sound as fresh now as they did when I got ‘em. To me DAI was in a first place a Rock band but they did also some fine ballads. If you don’t know Do As Infinity yet, I recommend you to get yourself Do The A-side compilation with 2 CDs + DVD (with 21 PVs). Because DAI did also very cool promo videos.

When Do As Infinity were disbanded Tomiko started her solo career. Her debut album Farewell was released on March 2006. Her 2nd single Senkou is coming out September 27th. I love the PV of this new song! Dark, blue and rainy. And song, it’s a hit… at least for me. Simple but effective strong guitar wall with piano and Tomiko’s always cool singing.

Ryo has his own band now called Missile Innovation. MI’s debut album Be A Man was released this July. I havn’t heard it yet, but meybe I get it when ordering some stuff from YesAsia next time.

And then one alarming remark concerning my favorite bands:
They seem to have a tendency to breaking up far too soon. DAI did it. Whiteberry did it. Judy And Mary did it. Zone did it. Oh well, fortunately Puffy, L’arc~en~Ciel, Pink Panda & Maria are still going strong. I hope.