The new single from Aya Matsuura ‘Kizuna’ is now available for preview. Further information on the single is available here.
http://www.interfm.co.jp/n03_pro/fivestars_tue.cgi
http://www.mediafire.com/?9yjmbjehwbg
(This link has been obtained searching in Google and Tsunku.org has no relation directly or indirectly with this link.)
The video is a lot more emphasized on Reina and Takahashi Ai and I think it is subliminally suggesting that these two girls will be very important this year. To take it further it is also suggesting that Takahashi Ai will graduate this year and Reina will take her place which is a bit sad news and I don’t agree with it.
The video is clearly made on a very low budget putting more emphasis on the girls. It is kind of a litmus test for the producers to test the overall popularity of the group and the girls. It shouldn’t be like that and they must have produced slightly better version with multiple backgrounds to say the least. It is still very good but I can’t see any of the other girls at the back. The dressing of the girls has always been important in the videos and there are four different levels.
1. Reina, Takahasi
2. Koharu
3. Eri Kamei, Gaki
4. All other girls
Level 1 & 2 girls are participating the most in the singing and a very single popup from Sayumi & Gaki which is barely noticeable. The song is much better in viewing then listening and Reina Tanaka seems exceptionally vibrant in all the girls. *For some reason* Koharu seemed tallest in all the girls and had a major part in the video at Level 2. The rest of the girls were wearing too dark and were unsupported with visible lighting.
The song is although fast paced turned out to be slightly better in rhythm then previous few singles, and it will definitely give producers a clear break of time to produce much better versions in future. There are still a few issues I don’t agree with the popularity of the group as this video has possibly changed the rules of the game slightly.
The graduation of the girls previously seemed to be slightly irrational depending on two terms including ‘Popularity’ and ‘Activity’ in the group. Any member if was active the longest or least popular should be graduated and that rule was followed for a long time in Morning Musume. From this year 2008 and from the preview of Resonant Blue, it more seems like any girl which is the ‘Most Popular’ and ‘Most Active’ will get graduated which is like ‘WTFH!?’. That means the most favorite girl will probably get graudated every year and producers are trying to induce favoritism in the fans to keep them loyal, which is a very good strategic move.
Concluding all, I still hate the fact that Takahashi Ai will graduate and Reina in her place can only mean she will be next in 2009 and that is simply evil. I know for sure keeping Ai would have been better instead Sayumi but may be she is losing her popularity faster than Reina and now is the time for her to move before anything bad happens to her. *Thumbs down UFA*
The video was initially released on internet by DoohhhuPPP. Following video is now with Subtitles.
Fujimoto Miki is planning to release her new single and a performance is very recently posted on Hello!Blog and DohhUP! site. A few things lacking in her performance if we try to compare it with Aya Matsuura. Can anyone remember Aya’s very first performance and how she was nervous? It was for Doki Doki Love Mail and she performed in front of hundreds of people encouraging her.
With that image set in mind it is indeed very late for Fujimoto to start a solo career as she cannot support herself alone, and will always require a companion artist. It is bad timing for her and she should be careful about her next steps because any failures are only going to cost her more. Please be careful Fujimoto and do not take any steps unless you are sure it is going to work and you won’t end up saying goodbye to the singing career.
On a side note there are a few pictures released of Goto Maki smoking a cigarette but yet it is not confirmed if it was a real ciggy or the ‘menthol’ ones pretending to be cool. Many fans are discussing on HelloOnline and I would highly suggest to not take it seriously. It is very common for celebrities to take alcohol and cigarettes and its not big deal and a lot of celebrities mature.
However, this is not the case with Morning Musume or Hello!Project as the members or the fans are taking it seriously. It will only make certain of the impossibility of her come back in Hello!Project and that is very disturbing, at least for me. The Japanese media is extremely mature and can hurt the celebrities and its the responsibility of the Hello!Project members to stay safe and no one can help if such images continue to appear.
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The new Morning Musume single ‘Resonant Blue’ is not growing out of proportions compared to Mikan. There is a hip beat to it but that is not enough as the last three singles including ‘Resonant Blue’ are more focused on the fast beat, just as I suspected before release of Onna ni Sachi Are. It shouldn’t be like that; Morning Musume MUST release a few slow numbers and UFA & Tsunku are not doing their job. They should learn how to play with strategy and use it carefully. They are promoting more in Korea and Taiwan once again possibly recruiting a few more girls from those places after recruiting Jun Jun and Lin Lin. There may also be some pressure from fans and other people from these countries for pushing Tsunku in globalising Morning Musume members.
There is another possibility since the inception of the group, the mass scale of Morning Musume is not easily managed by Tsunku alone as the most popular hits were produced in the initial years. Keep that in mind, any production of later hits are only timely released and were well produced before. That means sometimes production companies have to keep a few secrets in bag before they release it at a suitable time. And that may also be the reason One for All and All for One doesn’t include Koharu in the music video.
Here is a small clip of mugen I found on Youtube to make you all happy.
Don’t stress out and keep on believing!
The preview of new Morning Musume single is out in the open and posted many times on youtube. you can also listen to it in the following clip. All very quiet from Tsunku after giving some positive promotional clips about the group. Don’t you agree it wasn’t necessary unless their popularity was really going down? Something to ponder on while we get graduation details possibly on the next concert.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4vgucRcugI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9FwSfKFK9M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAEE0DX0r3o
Preview download is also available on this site.
Enjoy! 
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