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Berryz Kobo, Wonderful Hearts tour, January 2009.

Just when you think these ensembles can’t get any better, up crops somethiing like Berryz Kobo’snewest single now on DohhhUp!

I don’t even know what its name is (methinks it’s called “Rival” but I can’t be sure), nor what the song is even about. But it has such a beautiful, upbeat, smooth, harmonic, happy retro ’60s feel (much like Buono!’s ”Rottara Rottara”). Here it is:

Maasa, right, and Chinami of Berryz Kobo in ‘Dance, Dance, Dance,’ January 2006.

The outfits are sensational, and the members all have dynamite new haircuts. It’s just joy on a stick. That’s all I can really say about this. I’m looping it forever on whatever players or computers I can get my hands on!

It’s no wonder that blogger and J-pop expert Celestia, in a recent review of the Elder Club graduation concert that occurred on Jan. 31-Feb. 1, said that Berryz Kobo was getting better than flagship Morning Musume. I would take it a step further and say that Berryz Kobo is the best in the world right now, surpassing even °C-ute in my mind.

°C-ute, at the Elder Club graduation concert, January 2009, isn’t the same sans Kanna.

Why? Because, finally, Berryz is catching the more upbeat of Tsunku♂’s most recent song creations and staying away from those mediocre ballads (costuming has been upgraded, too, in a big way). Meanwhile, °C-ute (Kanna) and Morning Musume (Aika) are fighting injury problems. Further, Momoko and Miyabi of Berryz are wreaking havoc as two-thirds of the smash-hit trip Buono! (Suzuki of °C-ute making up the third segment of that superb band).

Capt. Saki blows everyone a big-time kiss near the end of this one for Berryz. More on the Captain’s legacy here:

http://bloggerparty.com/content/berryz-kobo%E2%80%99s-magnificent-%E2%80%98little-captain%E2%80%99

Zush has a gushing report here:

http://www.berryz-kobo-international.com/blog/?p=496

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Berryz Koubou
Seishun Bus Guide / Rival
Release Date: June 23, 2009

Limited Edition A (PKCP-5138~9)

Limited Edition B (PKCP-5140~1)

Regular Edition (PKCP-5142)

To commemorate The 20th single from Berryz Koubou, this is a double A side release. Both limited editions come with a lottery card for a chance to attend a live Berryz Koubou event. They also come with a DVD; Version A has the PV for Seishun Bus Guide, and version B comes with the PV for Rival. Seishun Bus Guide is the theme song to the new TV Tokyo anime “Inazuma 11″.

Tracklist:
1. Seishun Bus Guide
2. Rival
3. Seishun Bus Guide (Instrumental)
4. Rival (Instrumental)

Via Dohhhup!

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