It's been a few weeks, but I'm back on the beat. https://twitter.com/JPN_ENG_Kanda/status/1417603749808263168 I feel like I should be more surprised by this than I am, but it almost feels like Morning Musume has remained unchanged for even longer to me. Maybe it has something to do with all of the changes that have happened elsewhere … Continue reading H!P Tweet Beat 07/25/2021
Minding The Gap
Up-Front and the Hello! Project have filled the gap in their release schedule with solo videos from two of their more popular idols and two full-length videos for ad campaigns. Let's start with the most recent and work our way backwards. Morning Musume and H!P leader Mizuki Fukumura gets her first proper (digital) solo release, … Continue reading Minding The Gap
In With The n00bs
I've avoided writing about the new members selected for Juice=Juice and Tsubaki Factory because I didn't really have too much to say in the immediate wake of the announcement, but now that we have some audition footage, I have something I can sink my teeth into. First off, I'm stunned at how many girls were … Continue reading In With The n00bs
H!P Tweet Beat 7/5/2021
H!P Twitter is about to explode in about an hour, so let's see if I can clear some tabs before the New Unit bomb drops. AKB vs MM'21 on The Music Day show was the big story for the last days of the week, so let's get to it. https://twitter.com/poutybarrett/status/1411557973940314116 Social media posts like those … Continue reading H!P Tweet Beat 7/5/2021
H!P Tweet Beat – 6/27/2021
Let's wrap up the week in H!P Twitter, or at least my H!P Twitter feed. Lots of talk about future graduation. https://twitter.com/ainogundan/status/1406953032911405059 Impending Morning Musume graduations isn't something that any MM/H!P fan hasn't thought about for a while now. In fact, it gets brought up every time a different group graduates a member, but Anna … Continue reading H!P Tweet Beat – 6/27/2021
Sayonara Kasahara
Here we go again. https://twitter.com/hipnewsservice/status/1406945940037058564 I feel like I might have jinxed this group when I used the headline "Angerme v2.0 (stable)" for the review of their triple-PV drop last month. It really did feel like Angerme had finally stabilized after losing six members in two years, with mid-tier members seizing new opportunities to shine, … Continue reading Sayonara Kasahara
H!P Tweet Beat – 6/19/2021
I'm gonna try out a new format where I comment on tweets I see from H!P Twitter that interest me beyond a single tweet response. Long Twitter threads tend to be a drag, as pithiness is the coin of Twitter's realm, so I'll do my long-form babbling here. https://twitter.com/lnabaccho/status/1404699239301537795 I'm of two minds on this: … Continue reading H!P Tweet Beat – 6/19/2021
Risamaru’s Redemption?
Woke up today to see that Up-Front had decided to dip their toes into the waters of forgiveness with a solo recording and video from former Tsubaki Factory member Risa Ogata. Nothing too crazy -- no swan-dives or cannonballs -- just a quick check to see if the water is worth wading into a little … Continue reading Risamaru’s Redemption?
Single Steps Forward
TSUBAKI FACTORY - 2nd Step For their first three years as a major act, Tsubaki Factory had been the model of stability and consistency within the Hello! Project, in terms of both song quality and lack of group drama. But a week prior to the release of their seventh single, someone discovered and made public … Continue reading Single Steps Forward
Angerme v2.0 (stable)
ANGERME - Hakkiri Shiyou ze / Oyogenai Mermaid / Aisare Route A or B? Up-Front dropped PVs for all three tracks of Angerme's forthcoming single today, nearly a full month ahead of its release date (June 23rd). I like that Hello! Project releases are not tied to predictable patterns of promotion -- Kobushi Factory's fun … Continue reading Angerme v2.0 (stable)