[TV] NTV Best Artists - Johnny's Boybands

15 December 2009
NOTE: Changed title, bleh, I was wondering why the date was so early, it is the NTV Best Artists, not FNS. Bleh. FNS will come later I guess, the bitching on my part, I mean. Thanks to Ryan's comment. Hey even prisoners need time to be reoriented into the society.

Clearly my interest in the Japanese music industry is Johnny's-centric, I'll just come right out and be that way. Who cares...?

Arashi - Believe, Truth, One Love, A.RA.SHI, Happiness, Kansha Kangeki Ame Arashi


Uh... whats with the space suit fabric for "Believe"? I always liked the choreography for "Believe" and I find the song to be very... nice. Although, like, when you're driving and you're blasting this song, it kinda makes you feel hasty and then you kinda speed up and then it might get dangerous afterwards. Oh Sho's one of the MCs for the night. Maybe that's why Arashi got the perk of opening and closing the show.

Okay, I take back the space suit comment. The red pants Nino was wearing. Seriously? And Ohno's hideous shirt. I love love "truth". Ah... wow, it just occurred to me, how long it has been since I last listened to this song.

"One Love"... why is Jun ALWAYS paired up with Ohno when they had to split into two groups? No, seriously, MSSL, remember MSSL 2007? Seriously, if I didn't know better, I'd think that Jun bribed the... organizer-people into planning this. Oh wait... I think I really don't know better. =D Sneaky, that Jun.

Their debut song is definitely a must, I guess. But I am getting a wee bit sick of it. Not sure why.

"Happiness" was the song that started it. Very recent right? Just two years ago. I knew they existed a couple of years before that, I watch my first Arashi PV in 2007 - "Love So Sweet", but "Happiness" was the trigger. I got the PV out of curiosity and saw a great big love orgy. What? Fine, I wasn't thinking that then, I just thought it was a fun, cute song. But now, all I can see in the video is... that stuff. (Don't make me say it again.)

"Kansha Kangeki Ame Arashi". I know this is a special song, but I don't like it at all. I find it boring. Not that it isn't good. It is just a normally good song, that's all. Not very catchy. Tell the boys to take it easy with the tight pants, its bad for their thingie. Seriously, Nino's and Sho's pants are... obscenely tight.

TOKIO - Love You Only, Ambitious Japan, Sorafune, Taiyou to Sabaku no Bara


Aibu Saki is banging Nagase Tomoya - or so they say. That is enough to make me green with envy. Throughout the performance, I was just... O_O okay, I have to calm down. It is the damn stubble that Nagase is sporting. I am a confirmed hair fetishist, you see... but Mabo is still the sexiest.

This arrangement of "Love you only" is very nice. Of course they had to perform "Sorafune" on a night that is all about past hits. Gosh, for me, that song brought them out of obscurity. Note that I said... for me. Nakajima Miyuki + TOKIO = Sure hit. And the song, presumably new... not bad, not bad. Did I mention Nagase is rugged and manly?

Joushima Leader's hair. WTF is wrong with it? Seriously, who thought it was a good idea?

NEWS - Koi no ABO

It was a decent performance. You know what would have been better? If someone gagged Koyama and Shige. And you think I wasn't serious in suggesting that. I honestly like the song, and I haven't seen a NEWS performance since I was quickly browsing through the Diamond DVD and that was a concert. It feels refreshing after months of absence.

Is it just me, or does Ryo look like he's aged... I don't know... 5 years since I last saw him (on screen, that is), might have been the hair. Whatever. Fun song too. If someone had gagged Shige and Koyama, it'd have been a better song.

I still find them rather bland and pretentious. I don't particularly hate them anymore. It is almost like I am quite indifferent but I am looking for something to distract me from... something else. So I guess this is the best alternative with it being so nostalgic.

Shuji to Akira - Seishun Amigo

I'm sure they'd like to be called Pi and Kame more... but I was crazy addicted to that drama a couple of years ago. I totally adored the character Akira and I wanted to punch Shuji. The song was great too, I was addicted to it as well. There's something about the song that makes me want to do that embarrassing hand gesture when they reach the chorus. I am most embarrassed, but hey, for old times' sake.

Pi grew up well. He looks like a man now. I miss that skinny monkey. Oh well.

KAT-TUN - One Drop

I am most unhappy. :( They could have performed "Rescue", you know? It was a MUCH better song, it even sold more copies than this stupid song. You know why they performed this one instead? Here's my take. Kame's their top bitch. I don't know why he is, but he is. And this was the theme song to one of his flop dramas right? Ratings flop, I mean. But it doesn't matter, cos he's the top bitch.

"Rescue" is an effing great song, but no, they had to perform this crap. Oh... wow, and this is all I can say, gosh I am not even dissing Kame and how he looks like a crocodile anymore. I am not even asking why Jin was wearing shades when this was, clearly, night. Whatever. Man's gotta eat, and fangirls beg for this sorta cocky douche shit.

Kanjani8 - Kyu Jou Show

I don't quite like this song. It isn't that impressive to me. It is typical K8, but I quite dislike typical K8 - how they try to build this image of them. The tacky, loud, funny kansai group. What I like, are the B-side songs. They're better than great. I'd be thrilled if they performed "Puzzle". I love that song to bits and pieces.

In other news, does Yoko make you want to do nasty things to him? I'm just saying. xD He's hot. I shall watch The Quiz Show II again when I have the time. I've been so crazeh busy. Anyway, the sparkly suits the boys were wearing were not very helpful to accentuate the hotness, but whatever. It is expected of them to look like that, to behave like that.


V6 - Guilty

Well, well, what do you know? They did release a single after all. Since "Gakkou E Ikou!" ended, I don't watch their shows anymore. I know there's this kumagusu thingie, but I find it rather boring. VVV6 was... well not as entertaining. Sakamoto's nearing 40. LOL. Boring song, btw.

Okada's real fine. =D But it is Morita that's my favourite. There's the bad boy charm to him. Though he's a real midget. I really have nothing else to say about these people. They always dress sharp, look nice. But there's always something boring to their songs these days. I guess they can't jump around like the younger groups. You know what? I'd rather they be boring than if they pull a SMAP. By pulling a SMAP, I mean... have you seen a SMAP performance? xD I find them too embarrassing to watch, especially when KimuTaku flings his hair like he's a heartthrob (he was one, a decade ago) and then Nakai had to open his mouth and make all of us deaf.


V6 & Kanjani8 - WA ni Natte Odorou!

OMFG OMFG OMFG OMFG One of my favourite V6 songs, EVER. I love love love this song. I remember watching... what was it? Uh... Summary of Johnny's World (from 2003, I think) and they performed this song, NEWS and KAT-TUN. I was all over the place looking for this song and the original version, of course. And when I found it, I was so thrilled! OMFG Such a happy song. And they two groups performed together! Whee!

We love crossovers. And seeing Morita next to Ryo is like... like... seeing Hugh Jackman next to Gerard Butler - but more Japanesey monkey-ish. =D Cos I always make sense. Anyway, lol, short angry men. We like them. Look! They really WA ni Natte Odorou! Inocchi went berserk on stage. Why the hell did Seto Asaka marry him? Seriously, he looks like a nice person, but... he does freaky things.


I am getting more and more obscene am I not? I don't know, maybe it's the aging.

[Talk] 2009 Oricon Yearly Single Ranking + Johnny's

Source: blood_opal @ arashi_on

*1 *,656,331 ***,*** Believe/曇りのち､快晴 / 嵐､矢野健太 starring Satoshi Ohno 09/03/04
*2 *,620,237 ***,*** 明日の記憶/Crazy Moon～ｷﾐ･ﾊ･ﾑﾃｷ～ / 嵐 09/05/27
*3 *,495,331 *21,344 ﾏｲｶﾞｰﾙ / 嵐 09/11/11
*4 *,487,175 ***,711 愛のままで… / 秋元順子 08/01/23 累計648,571
*5 *,422,194 ***,479 Everything / 嵐 09/07/01
*6 *,377,097 ***,*** RESCUE / KAT-TUN 09/03/11
*7 *,376,653 ***,755 ｲﾁﾌﾞﾄｾﾞﾝﾌﾞ/DIVE / B'z 09/08/05
*8 *,359,556 ***,*** ひまわり / 遊助 09/03/11
*9 *,331,248 ***,*** ONE DROP / KAT-TUN 09/02/11
10 *,296,135 **3,285 急☆上☆Show!! / 関ｼﾞｬﾆ∞ 09/11/04

Hmm...

I am in awe. Seriously? Top three AND number 5? There's a couple of weeks more to go, so I guess we'll just chill and see.

Frankly, I am not sure if anyone should have such an honour. If the last time someone dominated the top two spots of the Oricon yearly singles ranking was in 1989 (or was it 1988 again?) then when was the last time someone grabbed all three?

Nevertheless, it is kind of amazing, isn't it? I remember scratching my head wondering why Arashi wasn't as popular as... uh... KAT-TUN. Now their popularity seems to have exponentially increased since the year 2008, all very suddenly and I was there to witness it. I am still not sure what was the cause of it. I am pleased though. How can I not be pleased?

Things have changed in the scene since I was updated with news about it. There's a new kid who's receiving much attention. Nakayama something. I hate kids. Jin and Pi got to release solo(-ish) singles. Apparently Jin's is for some movie where he's a wannabe rocker. Oh I care. I've heard Pi's and wasn't impressed.

I saw Ohno's "Kumori Nochi Kaisei" PV on MTV once. I was so excited. I never thought I'd see a Johnny's video on MTV, you know what I mean? Even those Japanese videos time slots, usually they'd have... Ayu, Tohoshinki, Asian Kung-Fu Generation... then there's Arashi.

Did you hear that Arashi's going to appear in Kouhaku? What was that all about? O_o why all of a sudden like this? Strange. Oh well, means one more thing to catch. Good thing is I have NHK at home. =D

Arashi had 4 singles this year. In July, at the rate that they were releasing single, I thought they'd do it on a bi-monthly basis. But thank goodness they didn't. "My Girl" was nothing special. I've heard it all before, it is just... very Arashi, skewed towards the mellow side. I am having trouble picking my favourite Arashi single of the year. The two double A-sides released earlier this year are definitely good. I am going off to play it as of this moment. I'll have a decision by the end of this entry. =D

What brought me back? I am not like back-back. I thought I'll pop back for an update or something. Actually, I've began to watch them again since... a month or so ago. I read a comment here that they've had a million seller, I was curious, but then I found out that their million seller is an album. =X I'd be really psyched if it was a single.

It took me a month to blog here again because you need time to catch up with half a year of absence. I think I've got all the information that I need. Nothing much has been happening for the other groups. Not as far as I've seen.

I am not quite sure about V6 and TOKIO, but what the hell happened to Takki and Tsubasa? Oh wait, Takki had a solo single or... rather a couple of those. What happened to Tsubasa? Seriously, the man has like, disappeared. Poof and he's gone. I saw Takki in "Orthros no Inu" though I haven't finished watching it. Meh, I don't have time.

KinKi Kids threw out "Swan Song" after "Yakusoku". I have the video stashed somewhere, haven't got to watch it yet. But I am very well updated with them through their show. I mean, you gotta be there to witness the moment Koichi can be declared senile, right? Gosh, they're hilarious.

There's Kanjani8's "Kyu Jou Show". This is it about Kanjani8, if you look at the A-sides of the singles alone, it is hard to like them. I mean, "Kyu Ju Show" was not impressive, turn to the B-side and you've got some better songs. My favourite out of Kanjani8 in 2009 should be "Puzzle", a Saito Kazuyoshi work. It is oh-so-very amazing I am still listening to it VERY often. Love that song. "Hitotsu no Uta" isn't bad as well. Neither is "Fuka-fuka Love the Earth". I heard Can!Jani ended. It replaced with something else. Hmm... haven't got to watch it yet. There's the drama with two of the members, forgot whom. There's the "Puzzle Tour" DVD, which I ADORE. There's Ryo's "Orthros no Inu" drama. What else there is? Hmm... I think Ryo has an SP drama also, I think it is stashed somewhere in my room, forgotten. Oh well.

NEWS has had nothing since April except a DVD which I think I've browsed through for a bit. Saw the ugliest wannabe girl of a pretty boy. I always thought Tegoshi looked like a girl, I take it back. He'd be a real fat one if he is one. The last one was "Koi no ABO" which had a fun streak to it, but was bland a la NEWS. I think they've got a TV show with the three duds and the femmie. Not sure if Pi and Ryo appears on that show. Not watching.

KAT-TUN's had nothing since March. O_o What happened? "Rescue" did respectably in the charts and earned a place on my playlist, a recurring place too. Then Jin had to do that Bandage thing right? I don't know. Let me see... I don't quite care. But it'd be nice if they did something like "Rescue" again.

Oh shit I almost forgot, they're going to make a drama out of "Yamato Nadeshiko no Shichihenge". God I loved that manga, and they're making Kame -out of all the people- lead. They're putting Tegoshi and Uchi in. I'll think about watching it, but I am not pleased. Not at all.

[BTW, got an answer after listening to the four songs from the Double A-sides of Arashi. I like "Believe/Kumori Nochi Kaisei" better. There's more of an impact there. While I love "Ashita no Kioku" and it came at the right time for me... released near my graduation and all, "Crazy Moon~ Kimi wa Muteki~ brought it down a notch for me, being not bad, but a bit bland and it doesn't leave much of an impression for me. On the other hand, Ohno's solo, "Kumori Nochi Kaisei" had a very refreshing, entertaining, happy beat to it which is good. But I have to say, this single (Ashita/Crazy) comes REALLY close to my favourite Arashi single of the year. VERY CLOSE.]

And... I am done. End of the year events! MSSL, Kouhaku, FNS Kayousai, Best Artists, Johnny's Countdown. I hope they have something more... while for this year's Countdown cos last year's was a big fat mess. Gather everyone for fuck's sake. Like, it is only once a year and you can't pull your people together?

[BLOG] And Then, She Moved On...

I've thought about this long and hard. Well, not really. But it took some decision making. To blog is to keep myself updated, to rant, to have a portal to just talk crap and have crap talked back to me. I enjoyed it very, very much.

But if it is not apparent enough, I have, clearly, lost whatever passion I have for the Japanese entertainment industry. I still collect those dramas, which, in time, I will watch. I am not sure if I am as excited. I going to turn 22 In a few months' time. I wonder if more bubblegum pop is what I need. I just am not as excited anymore.

It happens with me, every year or two. I fall head over heels into an obsession, and then one day, I wake up, and it is gone. Just like that. A week ago, I woke up, and then I have decided that maybe I don't care about Arashi's AU CMs. I've also decided that I do not want to even watch any of the dramas of this season except "The Quiz Show" and "Mr. Brain". And I don't even watch Himitsu no Arashi-chan except for the mannequin parts where Sho's failures are mildly entertaining, albeit a bit repetitive.

Arashi, another new single? Yeah, sure, what is it their 339th this year?

It is gone. I figured I just leave this blog be. But then I realized, oh people read! I am still very excited that people read. I never had a blog that is read by people I don't know. But, I guess, when the passion is not there, it shows in the passages. They're just lame recaps and criticisms that might not even be all that true. I looked back at the recent entries, they're just... boring. I figured, I'll just put an end to the blog. Make it something from the past. ^^ I am a bit OCD, so if I don't say I won't update again, I'll have this voice in my head going "You gotta update all your blogs, you gotta update all your blogs. ALL!" So don't waste time coming back, if indeed anyone comes back at all.

I do get relapses, but they are just different. A long time ago, my first phase should have been Hollywood movies and then it was Japanese Rock, then came Taiwanese dramas, then it was Lord of the Rings (Yes, I was a ringer), then a relapse of Hollywood movies, then came Japanese dramas,then came Dong Bang Shin Ki, then came Johnny's Jimusho.

Of course, for me to actually decide to bid goodbye to one, I must have a replacement.


They might be old, retired, or dead. But they still qualify for an obsession. And they were so great once, I have much to learn about them and the genre.

"Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango". OMG I am so obsessed.

Was fun while it lasted.

Farewell, old obsessions of the Asian world. I shall go now and dive into the 70s-80s British rock scene.