[Morning Musume] Hello! Project Official Platinum 12 Thread

[Neko★munication]

I don't know if this has been asked before, but who here is planning to go to the Momusu concert in L.A. this July? ^^ I'm booking my flights and ordering my tickets very soon :'D

[visionfactory]

^ you're very lucky, take some pictures if you can!

[Mirai Noah]

I'm going to AX, but as I mentioned before, I'm going to be missing part of the concert. I'm reaaaaaaaaaly hoping that they have a autograph session.

[LEOyumi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPY3McsMwkA

S/mileage will release its first indie single this weekend. It's called aMa no Jaku, and this video above is a preview. XD
I simply can't wait to listen to the full version of the song and watch the full PV. All the girls look just too pretty!

And neko, great that you're gonna watch Momusu in the AX! That's def a one in a lifetime opportunity! I wanted to go too, but that's impossible for me. I hope that's the not the only time they come to America.

[Neko★munication]

^ Definitely! I had to give up Cuba and screw my entire family over (either we all went to Cuba, or all the money went towards me flying alone to L.A. for Anime Expo and... yeah I kinda chose Option 2 ) but it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Imagine if I chose not to go... I'd be sitting on the beaches of Cuba listening to 321 Breakin' Out and wanting to drown myself for not going.

I'm just not sure what to wear to the con. I'm def. not cosplaying or anything (truth is, I'm not even really into anime...), but I wanna get an Ayu or Momusu shirt to wear :3

And as for s/mileage... is Ogawa wearing one of those mini top-hats?! XD I love her. But, um, the song, yeah. It's nice... nothing too special though. Still, I'll try and stay somewhat optimistic that S/mileage will eventually establish themselves with a unique style/sound/whatever.

[Neko★munication]

(Sorry for the dp, this is important news though!)

Whoa, after all the predictions I saw people making for Linlin to be in the New Minimoni... guess who just became leader? http://ameblo.jp/tsunku-blog/entry-10267019973.html

. So, so far we have Linlin and Kanon in Minimoni! Looking good so far, Linlin was an awesome choice and a great addition

[Mirai Noah]

Woot for LinLin!

I just wish it wasn't called MiniMoni...

[LEOyumi]

Neko, I def think you did the best choice lol
And about clothes to wear, H!O designed a very beautiful T-shirt:
http://www.hello-online.org/index.php?showtopic=14354
I'm sorry if I'm a bit late with this info, because today's the last day for orders.. =/

And I'm very very happy with Tsunku's choice! LinLin is probably the best member to be in MiniMoni, judging all the members of H!P now. Anyway, let's see how it goes! I'm very excited ^^

[Mr. Goto]

The new Mano pv is out!

in HD

The song isn't as good as her last single, I still like it though. The pv is really cute probably my favorite one by her so far.

*
also setlist for her first concert

Spoiler:

1.Otome no Inori
2.Lalala Sososo
MC1
3.Sekai wa Summer Party
MC2　
MC3　
MC4　
MC5　
MC6　
4.Mizuiro Omoi
MC7
5.Scramble
6.Lucky Aura
7.Nakimushi Yowamushi
8.Hajimete no Keiken

Encore
MC8
9.Mano Piano

SCRAMBLE? Did she sing Gocchin's Scamble ??? Can't wait to see her version of it.

[visionfactory]

It sounds like another song at 0:21 and 3:03, like an american old song

[RyRyMini]

Ahh, I can't wait for Aibon's new single! Did you guys see the preview?

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/news/article/906050126/

[Mr. Goto]

^ yes I love the song already I hope the full pv is released soon.

There already is an official thread for her btw! I forgot about it

[Mirai Noah]

I think that Sekai wa Summer Party is Erina's best song. It's the only song I actually like by her, other than Lucky Aura.

[Neko★munication]

Sekai wa Summer Party is . Not as great as Hajimete no Keiken, but way better than Manopiano and all that nonsense. The song is great, but her voice is still so... . It'd sound way better sung by ... well just about anyone else at the moment

And wow, I hope it is Scramble O_O But at the same time I don't, cause that'd pretty much conclude who has the rights to Gocchin's songs >.< Also, how can there be 6 MCs in between two songs? Wouldn't that just be one giant MC? And how much can she really have to say anyway? 8 MCs from one person... jeez. xD

The L.A. Momusu concert is coming up!! I can't wait <3 I just ordered a Platinum 9 Disc poster to get them all to sign! I'ma laminate it and put it up on my wall or ceiling or something

[jeffycue]

im so obsessed with Omakase! Guardian. i wanna memorize the chorus! its so funky!

rakkii happii makasete ne
uchuu no heiwa wa are da kedo
minna no kokoro wa mamotchau
issho ni waraou yo!
rakkii happii makasete ne
sekai no heiwa wa sore wa sore
minna no yume nara mamotchau
issho ni V-sain! (yeah!)
issho ni V-sain! (bui!)

[Maemi]

@everyone... I've been thinking and I'd like to see your opinions

1) What do you think, why MM gained so big popularity back then? Was it because they were kawaii magnets for perverts or people really enjoyed their cute appealing/music? I meet many people saying that Hello!Project was made exactly for that - to gain fanservice of old perverts and youngers...
2) What do you think, why is MM loosing it's popularity NOW? Because fav members graduated, their music has become boring?

[Neko★munication]

Originally Posted by Maemi

1) What do you think, why MM gained so big popularity back then? Was it because they were kawaii magnets for perverts or people really enjoyed their cute appealing/music? I meet many people saying that Hello!Project was made exactly for that - to gain fanservice of old perverts and youngers...

I don't think Hello!Project was made for that... I think it slowly became that. I definitely think that somewhere along the line Momusu/H!P became less about the music and more about cute girls skipping around in fruity outfits I think it's obvious that in H!P's later years they started catering to the wota audience and kinda closing themselves off to the general public because the Wota were their primary source of income.

I think Momusu definitely did get popularity 'cause of their music, but I think the real thing that attracted fans was just the charm and uniqueness of what they had to offer; they were a music group with character, you got to know the girls as if they had been long time friends of yours. They weren't just a group churning out music, they were truly unique with their personalities, which I think attracted a lot of people. Good music + girls you can identify yourself with = popularity.

The line-up keeps changing, which is also really unique - look at The Spice Girls or something, they have the same 5 members after years, whereas with Momusu there isn't a single original member left. It's an interesting concept that (if done properly) keeps things fresh.

Originally Posted by Maemi

2) What do you think, why is MM loosing it's popularity NOW? Because fav members graduated, their music has become boring?

To tie in with what I said before, I think it's the lack of personality. I remember reading that someone went around during a trip to Japan and asked about Morning Musume, and the average person didn't know who any of the current members were :S I think if they returned to doing tons of TV appearances, got back Hello!Morning, really put themselves out there again, they could gain more popularity.

Like I said, they kind of closed themselves off to the rest of Japan and started focusing on Wota. I think that's sort of distorted their image; Whether or not its true, I think people have kind of come to associate Momusu with being a group that pedo's and perverts like .

It may have had to do with favourite members graduating, but I don't think it's exactly that, I think it's just that they find it kind of hard to connect as much with the newer generations because of the lack of exposure they're getting (compared to the earlier generations I mean).

Then there's the fact that they're just not that unique anymore. I mean, Berryz and C-ute came along and got a lot of popularity over the past couple of years, then there are groups like AKB48 and whatever that kind of play off what made Momusu popular. Momusu really needs to get themselves out there again, Tsunku needs to put them on every TV show he can manage to get ahold of, promote their CDs more, etc. I think 2009 will be a turning point for their popularity since with EC gone, a bit more of the budget can go towards them. Already Shouganai Yume Oibito was their first #1 single in 2 years, and they're giving their very first concert in America, so that has to be a good sign, right? They'll most likely never reach the popularity they had during their golden era, but I think things will start to pick up for them within this year and the next. All the best Momusu!

[Maemi]

^ I see. The only member i remember is Abe Natsumi and Maki Goto (event though i can't stand her). It's such a pity how they were able to sell more than 500k and now they can't more than 10k. It's just a proof that nothing lasts forever i guess

[Neko★munication]

^Uh, I'm pretty sure they can sell more than 10K . Their latest single sold more than 50K

[visionfactory]

I just entered cdjapan and noticed that Morning Musume is releasing their 40th single Congratulations!