So, I'm straying quite far from my usual type of post here. Usually I stick to what I know: music and cute girls. If I like the music, I listen. If I like the girls, I'll watch their variety shows or buy their photobooks. However, with the business side of idoldom, I tend to ignore it. Apart from the odd bitch at Tsunku for screwing something up, which probably isn't Tsunku's fault in the first place, but Yamazaki Naoki's. Or maybe if a girl gets pushed I really can't stand or one ragequits that I think should have been pushed.
But events of the past day or so have changed that.
Thursday was the first day of AKB's annual Request Hour concert, during which they count down from 100 to 1 their best songs, as voted for by fans (who get the voting tickets through buying the October single, mostly). Thursday's day one was odd, but I thought nothing of it until I saw a post by the man himself, Akimoto Yasushi, on G+.
11/01/2013
When Metal Goes Idols...
I was just reading back some of the comments from the blog I did on Babymetal's new single and saw this:
Well, I'd like to divert your attention to something I found not long ago, and then in my rush to do a giant mass of posts over on LI before December ran out on me completely forgot.
Meet Tetsuiro Clone X.
clocutron said:
"Next, I want to see a death metal group performing some idol j-pop songs – like Hypocrisy’s Peter TÃĪgtgren belting out “Mecha Mote! Summer” by MM Gakuen Gasshoubu or King Diamond singing C-ute’s “Do Don ga Don Ondo”."
Well, I'd like to divert your attention to something I found not long ago, and then in my rush to do a giant mass of posts over on LI before December ran out on me completely forgot.
Meet Tetsuiro Clone X.
09/01/2013
2013 Top Idol List: 10-1
So, the second half of my delightful, glorious list that stands as a monolith raised to honour the idols, false goddess if you pay attention to such things but walking beams of radiance if you don't, that have impressed me (and hopefully, the rest of you) in the previous year.
Some of you of keener eye and sharper intellect may have noted the apparent dearth of H!P girls in the first half and wondered if I'd kept them all for this half. Well, wait and see. You might also have noticed the abundance of NMB girls and wondered if I'd exhausted the supply of them. Again, wait and see.
Others will wonder that with so many newcomers in the ranks already whether the second half will be a little more familiar to you. Time will tell.
To recap, 20-11 were laid out thus:
20. Shiroma Miru
19. Yogi Keira
18. Kodama Haruka
17. Kudou Haruka
16. Hirota Aika
15. Miyawaki Sakura
14. Ikoma Rina
13. Kashiwa Yukina
12. Ichikawa Miori
11. Momota Kanako
Another quick look at the rules:
1. I define idols as current members of a current group who currently release idol music, or solo singers who do the same and are generally defined as idols.
2. If a former member of an idol group redebuts under a different name or as a solo singer, or both, and is still primarily known as an idol, they qualify.
3. However, members of retrospective groups that merely take the limelight away from current members do not.
And onwards to the bit you've been waiting for...
Some of you of keener eye and sharper intellect may have noted the apparent dearth of H!P girls in the first half and wondered if I'd kept them all for this half. Well, wait and see. You might also have noticed the abundance of NMB girls and wondered if I'd exhausted the supply of them. Again, wait and see.
Others will wonder that with so many newcomers in the ranks already whether the second half will be a little more familiar to you. Time will tell.
To recap, 20-11 were laid out thus:
20. Shiroma Miru
19. Yogi Keira
18. Kodama Haruka
17. Kudou Haruka
16. Hirota Aika
15. Miyawaki Sakura
14. Ikoma Rina
13. Kashiwa Yukina
12. Ichikawa Miori
11. Momota Kanako
Another quick look at the rules:
1. I define idols as current members of a current group who currently release idol music, or solo singers who do the same and are generally defined as idols.
2. If a former member of an idol group redebuts under a different name or as a solo singer, or both, and is still primarily known as an idol, they qualify.
3. However, members of retrospective groups that merely take the limelight away from current members do not.
And onwards to the bit you've been waiting for...
07/01/2013
2013 Top Idol List: 20-11
So, time once again for my idol list. This looks back at the idols that have impressed me most in the previous 12 months (aside from the first one I did, in which I just ranked everyone ever). This year I've taken out some of the silly rankings (2011's "make it up as I go along and fap" and 2012's "7 arbitrary headings") and just gone with gut instinct based on who's made the most impression on me this year.
Of course, me being me, don't expect too many frontgirls. Not to say there aren't any, there are. But I don't understand a lot of frontgirl hate, nor a lot of frontgirl popularity, so this is just based on me and my random sense of who has been awesome this year.
This year I'm back down to doing twenty in two posts, as the 25 last year broke my tagging system.
Firstly, the rules:
1. I define idols as current members of a current group who currently release idol music, or solo singers who do the same and are generally defined as idols.
2. If a former member of an idol group redebuts under a different name or as a solo singer, or both, and is still primarily known as an idol, they qualify.
3. However, members of retrospective groups that merely take the limelight away from current members do not.
Secondly, let's recap last year's Top 25 (with 2010/2011 in brackets):
25. Sayashi Riho (-/-)
24. Watanabe Miyuki (-/-)
23. Suzuki Kanon (-/20)
22. Shimazaki Haruka (-/-)
21. Takayanagi Akane (-/-)
20. Tsugunaga Momoko (10/9)
19. Sato Amina (-/-)
18. Sashihara Rino (-/11)
17. Michishige Sayumi (12/10)
16. Nakagawa Haruka (-/-)
15. Okada Robin Shouko (17/2)
14. Watanabe Mayu (-/14)
13. Yajima Maimi (14/12)
12. Kitahara Rie (-/-)
11. Masuda Yuka (-/-)
10. Asakura Saki/Kuwae Sakina (2/-)
9. Oota Aika (-/-)
8. Kawashima Umika (-/1)
7. Ariyasu Momoka (-/-)
6. Matsui Rena (-/-)
5. Ichikawa Miori (-/-)
4. Umeda Ayaka (-/-)
3. Suzuki Airi (9/8)
2. Yamamoto Sayaka (-/-)
1. Kimoto Kanon (-/-)
Now, I'll explain a few who aren't on this year's list despite being on last year's, as well as a few girls who impressed me but either fizzled out or just didn't do quite enough to reach the list.
Graduations:
- Only one this year. Masuda Yuka got caught spending the night at some rapper's house during the course of a musical they were both doing, apparently other people were present, but she decided she wanted to quit anyway as she didn't even put up a fight and announced her graduation straight away. It didn't take effect until the end of December, but as she's gone now, she's not eligible.
Dropped Out of List:
- Sayashi Riho, Suzuki Kanon and Michishige Sayumi from Morning Musume. In part, this is down to me reducing it back to 20 idols only. Riho wouldn't have got in last year had it not been for Nacchan quitting in the middle of my post. Kanon has powered down incredibly in the last year, and requires more spastic butterfly impressions. Sayu has impressed me (her leadership is better than I thought, and her passing the One Month 10000 yen challenge increased my respect for her a lot, especially after Kasai's failure), but due to a new batch of Momusu girls impressing me and generally increased competition from idols across the board, she lost out.
- Shimazaki Haruka, Sato Amina, Watanabe Mayu, Kitahara Rie and Umeda Ayaka from AKB48. Paruru has bored the fuck out of everyone this past year, and while she's still adorable, it doesn't make up for the Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou catastrophe, the Majisuka Gakuen 3 catastrophe, and the general sense of melancholy she radiates, as evinced by the Mechaike AKB special, where Yabe tried to get her to break out of her shell. The result was a success... for about 10 minutes. Having said that, if personality had any effect on popularity whatsoever, Aichan and Acchan would never have been popular. Amina had a difficult year. Her first election where she wasn't in senbatsu. Lack of screentime in basically anything. Her only real exposure was AKB0048, and as that's an anime it's not great for becoming acquainted with girls. Mayuyu was pushed like fuck in 2012, came second in the elections, and was everywhere. Despite that, I never really saw her on anything. Her drama was boring. Her singles until Synchro Tokimeki were boring. Umechan had an okay year, and was made new Team B captain, but other than that not a great deal besides coming second in the second AKBingo Utahime singing contest.
- Takayanagi Akane and Matsui Rena from SKE48. SKE have had a pretty boring year. Magical Radio 2 was good, but frankly Yuria, Kuumin and Non stole the show from everyone else. Churi also lost her XX senbatsu spot, and as such didn't get much appearance time. Rena's still been ever present, but aside from her respectably good photobook hasn't done much evil laughing or sticking broken pencils up people's noses this year, thus misses out.
- Sashihara Rino and Oota Aika from HKT48. Sasshi's scandal landed her in HKT. She's made the most of it, came 4th in the election, released two singles, became MC of new HKT program, did a terrible drama and film, and ended up way out of the list. Not because of the scandal, not at all, just because I haven't seen her screaming in fear for far too long. Lovetan likewise got shafted to HKT, but her popularity is on a wane and besides Hakata Hyakkaten I don't think I've seen her on anything this year.
- Nakagawa Haruka is still adorable, but got sent to JKT and is still awesome, but I don't see her enough anymore. Plus she's always tweeting in Indonesian now, which I know very little of.
- Okada Robin Shouko is also still awesome, but once more the lack of PB, the lack of exposure and so on and so forth equal her dropping out.
- Yajima Maimi, despite still being the most delectable female form in existence, had a boring year. Seriously, have you seen that Chelsie DVD? My advice, don't. Unless you want to watch a 50 minute video where it takes two minutes to zoom in from a full-body shot of her reclining on a sofa to a full-body-shot-from-the-ankles-up of her reclining on a sofa. Probably about 12 minutes of content, slowed down to 25%. Plus the 70s porn soundtrack in the background. Plus she didn't smile during the whole course of the thing. Worst. Idol. DVD. Ever.
- Asakura Saki is still cute and small and awesome, but she's not had a lot to do this year. Appeared in a musical called Asakura in Wonderland. Recorded a few more indie as fuck songs. Not a lot.
- Tsugunaga Momoko has bored the fuck out of me all year.
- Yamamoto Sayaka stopped doing castle impressions and cut her hair. Big loss.
Nearly Made It:
- Natsuyaki Miyabi impressed me a lot in Paris. She seemed more natural and composed than Airi or Momo, and looked a lot better in person too.
- Takahashi Juri, Okada Nana, Kojima Natsuki, Hirata Rina, and Tano Yuuka all impressed me in various ways this year. Even though Juri has eyes deader than the depths of space. But yea, impressed I was, and hopeful for their future.
- 9th gen Momusu have impressed me this year, certainly. Just 10th gen impressed me more.
- Isohara Kyouka, Umemoto Madoka, Suga Nanako are the SKE members who impressed me this year that I'd never heard of last year. Kizaki Yuria, Yagami Kumi and Katou Rumi also continued improving this year. Shame Kuumin's leaving at some point this year.
- Murata Hirona of 9nine.
So, whereas last year I lost 11 people through various things, this year I've lost 18. So it's going to be rather a new list. So, let's enjoy eh...
Of course, me being me, don't expect too many frontgirls. Not to say there aren't any, there are. But I don't understand a lot of frontgirl hate, nor a lot of frontgirl popularity, so this is just based on me and my random sense of who has been awesome this year.
This year I'm back down to doing twenty in two posts, as the 25 last year broke my tagging system.
Firstly, the rules:
1. I define idols as current members of a current group who currently release idol music, or solo singers who do the same and are generally defined as idols.
2. If a former member of an idol group redebuts under a different name or as a solo singer, or both, and is still primarily known as an idol, they qualify.
3. However, members of retrospective groups that merely take the limelight away from current members do not.
Secondly, let's recap last year's Top 25 (with 2010/2011 in brackets):
25. Sayashi Riho (-/-)
24. Watanabe Miyuki (-/-)
23. Suzuki Kanon (-/20)
22. Shimazaki Haruka (-/-)
21. Takayanagi Akane (-/-)
20. Tsugunaga Momoko (10/9)
19. Sato Amina (-/-)
18. Sashihara Rino (-/11)
17. Michishige Sayumi (12/10)
16. Nakagawa Haruka (-/-)
15. Okada Robin Shouko (17/2)
14. Watanabe Mayu (-/14)
13. Yajima Maimi (14/12)
12. Kitahara Rie (-/-)
11. Masuda Yuka (-/-)
10. Asakura Saki/Kuwae Sakina (2/-)
9. Oota Aika (-/-)
8. Kawashima Umika (-/1)
7. Ariyasu Momoka (-/-)
6. Matsui Rena (-/-)
5. Ichikawa Miori (-/-)
4. Umeda Ayaka (-/-)
3. Suzuki Airi (9/8)
2. Yamamoto Sayaka (-/-)
1. Kimoto Kanon (-/-)
Now, I'll explain a few who aren't on this year's list despite being on last year's, as well as a few girls who impressed me but either fizzled out or just didn't do quite enough to reach the list.
Graduations:
- Only one this year. Masuda Yuka got caught spending the night at some rapper's house during the course of a musical they were both doing, apparently other people were present, but she decided she wanted to quit anyway as she didn't even put up a fight and announced her graduation straight away. It didn't take effect until the end of December, but as she's gone now, she's not eligible.
Dropped Out of List:
- Sayashi Riho, Suzuki Kanon and Michishige Sayumi from Morning Musume. In part, this is down to me reducing it back to 20 idols only. Riho wouldn't have got in last year had it not been for Nacchan quitting in the middle of my post. Kanon has powered down incredibly in the last year, and requires more spastic butterfly impressions. Sayu has impressed me (her leadership is better than I thought, and her passing the One Month 10000 yen challenge increased my respect for her a lot, especially after Kasai's failure), but due to a new batch of Momusu girls impressing me and generally increased competition from idols across the board, she lost out.
- Shimazaki Haruka, Sato Amina, Watanabe Mayu, Kitahara Rie and Umeda Ayaka from AKB48. Paruru has bored the fuck out of everyone this past year, and while she's still adorable, it doesn't make up for the Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou catastrophe, the Majisuka Gakuen 3 catastrophe, and the general sense of melancholy she radiates, as evinced by the Mechaike AKB special, where Yabe tried to get her to break out of her shell. The result was a success... for about 10 minutes. Having said that, if personality had any effect on popularity whatsoever, Aichan and Acchan would never have been popular. Amina had a difficult year. Her first election where she wasn't in senbatsu. Lack of screentime in basically anything. Her only real exposure was AKB0048, and as that's an anime it's not great for becoming acquainted with girls. Mayuyu was pushed like fuck in 2012, came second in the elections, and was everywhere. Despite that, I never really saw her on anything. Her drama was boring. Her singles until Synchro Tokimeki were boring. Umechan had an okay year, and was made new Team B captain, but other than that not a great deal besides coming second in the second AKBingo Utahime singing contest.
- Takayanagi Akane and Matsui Rena from SKE48. SKE have had a pretty boring year. Magical Radio 2 was good, but frankly Yuria, Kuumin and Non stole the show from everyone else. Churi also lost her XX senbatsu spot, and as such didn't get much appearance time. Rena's still been ever present, but aside from her respectably good photobook hasn't done much evil laughing or sticking broken pencils up people's noses this year, thus misses out.
- Sashihara Rino and Oota Aika from HKT48. Sasshi's scandal landed her in HKT. She's made the most of it, came 4th in the election, released two singles, became MC of new HKT program, did a terrible drama and film, and ended up way out of the list. Not because of the scandal, not at all, just because I haven't seen her screaming in fear for far too long. Lovetan likewise got shafted to HKT, but her popularity is on a wane and besides Hakata Hyakkaten I don't think I've seen her on anything this year.
- Nakagawa Haruka is still adorable, but got sent to JKT and is still awesome, but I don't see her enough anymore. Plus she's always tweeting in Indonesian now, which I know very little of.
- Okada Robin Shouko is also still awesome, but once more the lack of PB, the lack of exposure and so on and so forth equal her dropping out.
- Yajima Maimi, despite still being the most delectable female form in existence, had a boring year. Seriously, have you seen that Chelsie DVD? My advice, don't. Unless you want to watch a 50 minute video where it takes two minutes to zoom in from a full-body shot of her reclining on a sofa to a full-body-shot-from-the-ankles-up of her reclining on a sofa. Probably about 12 minutes of content, slowed down to 25%. Plus the 70s porn soundtrack in the background. Plus she didn't smile during the whole course of the thing. Worst. Idol. DVD. Ever.
- Asakura Saki is still cute and small and awesome, but she's not had a lot to do this year. Appeared in a musical called Asakura in Wonderland. Recorded a few more indie as fuck songs. Not a lot.
- Tsugunaga Momoko has bored the fuck out of me all year.
- Yamamoto Sayaka stopped doing castle impressions and cut her hair. Big loss.
Nearly Made It:
- Natsuyaki Miyabi impressed me a lot in Paris. She seemed more natural and composed than Airi or Momo, and looked a lot better in person too.
- Takahashi Juri, Okada Nana, Kojima Natsuki, Hirata Rina, and Tano Yuuka all impressed me in various ways this year. Even though Juri has eyes deader than the depths of space. But yea, impressed I was, and hopeful for their future.
- 9th gen Momusu have impressed me this year, certainly. Just 10th gen impressed me more.
- Isohara Kyouka, Umemoto Madoka, Suga Nanako are the SKE members who impressed me this year that I'd never heard of last year. Kizaki Yuria, Yagami Kumi and Katou Rumi also continued improving this year. Shame Kuumin's leaving at some point this year.
- Murata Hirona of 9nine.
So, whereas last year I lost 11 people through various things, this year I've lost 18. So it's going to be rather a new list. So, let's enjoy eh...
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