[M-Sta] Music Station

6 March 2009

Tohoshinki

Tohoshinki got to speak. They got to come out like everyone else. I was hoping for a day like this when they were totally belittled as Koda Kumi's "plus one guest". They didn't get to make a grand entrance, didn't get to camwhore themselves at the seating area. It was a bit WTF for me. I was listening to their songs day and night back then. They were and are my only Korean obsession to date.

If I remain a fan, this would have brought tears to my eyes (to dramatize things a bit.) It has been a long journey and they finally got there. And I, being me, have a thing or two to say. But fans of Korean artists scare me shitless. No, really. I am not kidding. They really do. Yes, I have heard of Korean people killing themselves because they pissed fans off. And I am death-fearing. Very death-fearing. In fact, the idea of death alone scares me shitless. (NOT ALL fans, just SOME. Just to make it clear...)

So, I am keeping it subtle. That doesn't mean I think of them any better than the others. All the good things I say are what I think. All the bad things I say... well, I'll try to filter it a bit. Because their fans scare me shitless.

They're not as WOW to me anymore. Maybe it is the hair. Maybe they're trying the mod thing. Doesn't work. I remember that they used to dance really great. Like they were all very in sync with each other. Not anymore. Is it just me, or does JaeJoong gasp really loud when he sings. Okay, like I have always noticed that, just that... it is starting to bother me. If I have to pick the best singers... JunSu and ChangMin. Defintely. YooChun's hair makes him look like a middle-aged woman. You know, the wife of some rich dude. xD

On to the good things. Their clothes, always nice, always cool, always chic. (Except YooChun's skirt-like thing) But it can get a bit monotonous. If it is not suit, it is army-type clothes with lots of arm bands. When they're trying to look summery, they'll wear white. White, grey, black. BORING. Dance moves, always nice, but at times mixed with a bit awkward-ness. Like that ending pose they have where YunHo is way off as compared to the other members. xD Try and spot it.

The song. Like... FUCKING GOOD. xD I love the song. So very much. I think the song is suitable if you want to move a bit in your shower. xD xD Okay, maybe it is just me...

But do they not look like they were bored sitting there? If it were some other group, I would be a bit harsh and say that perhaps they should show some respect for the other speaking artists but... yeah... their fans scare me. So, I would say that... yeah, I understand. Perhaps they're tired? xD

They would be up against KAT-TUN. And normally, I'll say that Tohoshinki should win but KAT-TUN WILL win. Now... I watched KAT-TUN's PV, I heard their song. There is quite a good match up ahead. No, seriously... even with all the crap dancing that KAT-TUN will probably deliver on stage. (They did it well on the PV because they could re-take it...) And then they're KAT-TUN. It is supposed to mean something, even when they have awful hair and Jin's annoying arrogance. I wish it could have been different, but... life's not always fair.

"ebry time ebry day, ima Tare ka ga surbaiberrr"

Arashi

And... Arashi had to go next. Upbeat songs. There's dancing. But not similar, both the songs and the groups. xD Arashi is totally straying towards comedy. xD Of all the things they can talk about... they were talking about rectal exams. Good going, Arashi. xD

Sho gave us a demonstration of his experience during the rectal exams. He laid on his side without taking his pants off. Then the nurse took his pants off for him. He was probably aiming for that. Sneaky dude. Lucky nurse. xD Yes and as one can imagine, it was all about the asshole from then one. They were talking about their asshole inspection and... Ohno was the only one who did not get an anal probe. xD

Arashi always gets laughs when they speak like that. Maybe they really can do well as comedians. You know, like Down Town. xD xD So Ohno said that he was filming his drama, that was why he couldn't go. But he said that he would probably be the type that gets his pants removed for him instead of him taking the initiative to remove the pants. xD Tamori then asked if Ohno has a thing for being stripped off by others. xD Tamori is a freakin' genius and a psychic. You wonder what he must think of Ohno. Probably thinks he's flaming gay... remember during "Happiness" when they were talking about the famous OhMiya ass-grab?

Nino cut in and said that perhaps they should quit talking about the asshole and start talking about their song... and then time was up and they had to go stand by. xD

Their clothes are okay. I guess Japanese boybands accessorize a bit more. I really don't like that shirt Ohno was wearing. The performance... I remember the first time I watched the clip yesterday... I was very excited. I lost count of the number of times I watched it. xD

Right before GLAY performed, Nino had to show his playing cards. And that came right after a sneak peak of the coming SP episode of M-Sta where they showed Arashi's younger days when they were clad in embarrassingly horrible clothes. Clothes that are so flashy in a bad way that I tear up because they're so fugly.

Shibasaki Kou

... She's doing Tsumabuki Satoshi. We are envious. But what a pretty girl and very polite-looking and humble too. Nice song, btw.

BoA

Is she debuting in the U.S.? Seriously? Even Utada Hikaru didn't sell well there, what makes her think that she can? Pretty girl though. Nice singing voice too. But her body(sans legs and head) is longer than her legs. That's not very proportionate.

Rock'A'Trench

Uh... I think I skipped this part as a whole. Whee.

GLAY

Ah... they performed a great song. A bit more like a rock ballad with Takuro on piano. Gosh this is nostalgic. xD Teru has really aged. And he didn't age well. Sad to say. Jiro used to have a boyish charm about it... not anymore. Hisashi is... well I can't see his face well enough to tell the difference.

It is a nice song. Maybe I should try it a few more times.

AKB48

Teenage girls. Lots of them. Take them away, they scare me.

xD They had to put Nino next to YunHo. The top of Nino's head barely reached his chin. xD And yes, they look very wimpy next to the Korean boys. Do I care? No. xD Cos I like them like that. Short, a bit stupid and very funny.

Although it appears like I have totally ignored Tohoshinki's activities, I haven't. I watched that SMAPxSMAP episode in which they appeared. I don't get their humour. It always seem forced. Like they are trying too hard to be funny. And trying too hard to be funny is just pretty not funny. The only one that seems genuinely funny is JunSu. He has that 'tenren' thing going on. xD He's like the Aiba/Junno/K. Tsuyoshi/Inocchi/DoKo of the group. xD You need one in every group.

[Talk] My Favourite J-Pop Divas

I figured I haven't devoted a whole update to talking crap here for quite some time. So here I go.

I know it seems like I only like Johnny's and watch Johnny's. However, I am telling you, its not true. I listen to a lot of female singers as well, just that I don't go crazy and obsessed over them because... okay, it just doesn't happen.

Amuro Namie
She's one of my favourites! You can put her in a plastic bag, the large types, the trash bags, and she'll still look hot. Really, so versatile and stuff. She started off in the industry as a part of a group called "Super Monkeys" I think. I know, what a name eh? Then she was a part of the group called MAX then she went solo. MAX went on with 4 member and did their own stuff. Her solo tunes such as "Body Feels Exit", "A Walk In The Park", "Can You Celebrate", "Never End", "Respect the Power of Love", "So Crazy", "Girl Talk", "WoWa" and "Baby Don't Cry" deserves a try.

And she has that Nicole Kidman thing of the older you are, the hotter you get going on. So its cool. Once married to Sam, the dude from the group TRF - Standing for TetsuyaKomuro Rave Factory. They got divorced, and the info is sooooo from Wikipedia. So yeah. xD I first came in contact with her work when he reentered the industry after the divorce, with her single "Never End". It was soooooo good. When was that? Early 21st century, I would assume for it to be.

Nakashima Mika
Ah... Mika... often looking like a zombie, but a hot zombie. You know? You'd think that she sleeps in a coffin and like, doesn't eat, cos she looks like a walking zombie. xD But the shocking part is, she can smile. I know, right? xD I kid. She has a really calm, soothing nice voice and when she smiles, its so sweet! I like her a lot, a lot, a lot! I first saw her in the 2003(?) M-Sta Super Live. The one where she fell during the opening. The song was "Yuki no Hana" that year. Its one of my favourite songs EVER. I still listen to it a lot today. Other songs include "Find The Way", "Aishiteru", "Sakurairo Mau Koro", "Oborozukiyo Inori", "Glamorous Sky", "Hitoiro" and "Life".

Mika tried her hand in acting. No, that is wrong. She started out acting. Surprise! Anyways, her most noted one would be the NANA series in which she played Ozaki Nana, a jrock vocalist with this all consuming-love with Ren. She cut her hair for the filming, the movie attracted the anime following to the theatre. The second movie was a total flop. The songs are great. End of story.

Hamasaki Ayumi
Uh-huh, I like her. Her songs have been consistently good despite her voice. Its amazing how the songs' melodies manage to pull her songs up the charts despite her um... voice. But the good thing is, when she sings, you know its her. What you need to be successful is a distinctive voice. That is what she has, along with Mika and Namie. Despite the fact that this diva is partially deaf and going downhill in her career, what she built up, her 'empire' will be remembered. I first saw her in a commercial on national TV promoting her album, and the PV they played was "Surreal". Other worthy songs "Seasons", "Dearest", "M", "No Way To Say", "Memorial Address", "to be", "Carols", "Moments", "Inspire", "Heaven", "Jewel", "Secret", "Together When"... just to name a few.

She used to date that dude from TOKIO named Nagase Tomoya. I thought they made a cute couple. Its sad that it was over. I guess Nagase went off looking for greener pastures. Ayu can be quite the diva and totally high maintenance, but she is errr funny. xD Especially in that episode of Shin Domoto Kyoudai. LOL. xDDDD I like her.

Koda Kumi
Born Koda Kumi, she has a sister named Misono who is in the same business. Just fatter and less famous. That's all. From Avex Trax, just like Ayu, Koda Kumi is said to be the next top diva, taking over Ayumi. Ayumi filled the void when Namie went off to have a baby. So now, Ayumi's star is fading, Kuu is said to be the next big thing. She is pretty big right now, since the release of that "Cutie Honey" single. Ah, I remember watching her, wearing that.... outfit. It looks like she forgot her skirt or pants. xDDD That was the ultimate slutty outfit.

I have to admit that I didn't like her initially. But she grows on you. "Koi no Tsubomi", "Yume no Uta", "Ai no Uta" and her collab with BoA in the song "The Meaning of Peace" are good. She is on a self-imposed suspension because of that stupid incident which is degrading even to mention it. I hope Kuu comes back bigger and better. I know she ain't strikingly hot or anything, but at least she has a selling point and she is so fresh cos she makes slutty likable. Not in a KAT-TUN way.

Ayaka
A couple of months younger than me, Ayaka writes her own songs and has powerful vocals. She isn't like, hot hot hawt or anything. But anyone can be hotter after all the manufacturing, so looks doesn't really matter here. She has this likable factor about her and by listening to her voice, you won't think that she's just 20 years old. I knew her through "real voice", then the collab with Kobukuro called "Winding Road" totally blew me away, "Mikadzuki" is brilliant, "I Believe" is good, "Clap & Love" is uplifting, her cover of "I Love You" just melts me with her powerful vocals.

In short, I like her. She's good. She, unlike the rest mentioned above, composes her songs. Isn't that great? That's just like YUI! Ayaka was named best new artist at the Japanese Record Awards or something. xD Isn't that cool? xD

Special mentions:
Utada Hikaru

Not my favourite, but I listen to her. Some song such as "First Love" (Duh, who doesn't listen to that again?) "Sakura Drops", "Flavour of Life", "Heart Station", "Dareka no Negai Kanau Koro", "Prisoner of Love".

YUI

My age, writes her own songs. Sings with the facial expression of a cat choking on hairball. But her voice is clear and pure. Songs "Tomorrow's Way", "Life", "CHE.R.RY", "Namidairo", "Goodbye Days" and "Its Happy Line".

Ito Yuna

Played Reira in NANA movies. She's pretty, elegant, has a powerful voice. What's not to like about her? Songs such as "Endless Story", "Journey", "Truth", "Faith", "Mahaloha", "Precious" and her collab with Celine Dion "Anata ga Iru Kagiri" Brilliant.

BoA

Korean, sings good enough. Has good songs. "Every Heart", "Shine We Are", "Be The One", "No. 1", "Soundscape" and also "Be With You".

Otsuka Ai

Started out cutesy, still cutesy, despite nearing 26. She's weird, a bit. But who cares? I like her songs. "Sakuranbo" was how I knew her, "Smily", "Planetarium", "Peach", "CHU-LIP", "Renai Shashin". Good stuff.

Have I named every female singer yet? No. I don't like the likes of Nami Tamaki or... errr I have to think... okay whatever. xD I listen to these people. End of story.

I am thinking of writing another Johnny's History post.

I'm thinking... xD Maybe next, next week. Busy with tests and stuff.

[M-Sta] BoA - Be With You

22 February 2008

Its a nice song.

LOL, she and Hirai Ken are friends and they went for a karaoke session together! xD She asked Ken to sing "Hitomi wo Tojite" and he did!

I know! Funnay.



Why four screencaps only?

Well, when its not a bunch of hot men prancing on the stage, every single shot seems the same to me.

^^

What? Its not like I said I am not biased.

Oh and that Aiba in the dried-leaves skirt show. I saw it. Life will never be the same again.