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 Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 10:35 pm
Okay~ ! I have to rant about AKB because if I do it on H!O I'll be hanged by my toe-nails and probably insult a lot of fans but oh well here it goes. This is all IMO~
1) Live performances:
How can they call live performances live? It's all lip synced~ ! Even when they lip sync the dances lacks so much energy and just general emotion. They always look so bored beyond like three, maybe four members that look like they're having a great time (Takamina, Sayaka, Sae) but beyond that it looks like they just don't want to be there. Then when they do sing live (which seems very rare to me) they put no effort into their singing and just half-a** it and their dancing lacks even more energy then when they did just lip sync. Therefor, I only really buy the singles and not watch any performances beyond Takamina/Sayaka sing Mushi no Ballad~
2) Clothing optinal:
Okay~ ! I've noticed with just about everything they do, whether it's a magazine advertisement or various other things~ they're always in really skimpy bikini's or underwear. Okay.. that's great and all but put some clothing on once in a while. They seem to be in the more 'sex sells' attitude then 'oh, they have good voices lets promote that'. It annoys me to see girls younger then me wearing practically nothing in PVs (HEAVYROTATIONANYONE?). I don't know~ the closest thing H!P has got to AKB was VUDen and Goto Maki but even they were more clothed then AKB members on a normal day.
I just feel that they have so much potential and don't have to wear skimpy outfits to be great. If they sing live and put engery into one performance, I'll actually look more into them beyond fan girling over Takamina and Sayaka. They sound amazing in singles but when it comes to any performances outside PV's they lose my interest almost immediately and it makes me sad.
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Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 11:20 pm
It's why I can't develop my relationship with AKB past just a casual listener. They have some great songs (Beginner homygod) and they have some members who I could really get into (I already love Sayaka and I have a thing for Mariko's nose) so the potential is there... But I just can't invest.
I hate that there is so much hate and rivalry between AKB fans and H!P fans. They're both idol groups, right? Obviously they're similar enough for there to be a rivalry, but they both represent different ideals. H!P is firmly based in the 90's when idol music revolved around individual members and them as people. AKB was originally created as a fetish group. They wore school uniforms and were exclusive to Akihabara in order to appeal to otaku. Because they're there for wota fans, they've always been good at adapting to trends in the fanbase. Instead of relying on TV appearances and member promotion like H!P, they rely on sex appeal. Sheer, unadulterated sex appeal. And it's not just AKB. Even newer groups are following the softcore-porn-PV trend. (Momoiro Clover, anyone?)
They represent different tastes. Not to say that AKB fans don't like the members for the same reasons as us H!P fans (i.e. personality, vocal talent, etc etc). Of course they do. I don't believe you can be a hardcore fan by just liking someone's appearance (which is why I'm so puzzled by Aika fans, but let's not get into that). But you can't deny that AKB is heavily appearance-based. It's why they include so many bikini shots with their releases. Hell, just living in Tokyo, I see an AKB member at least once a day, whether it's an ad for 7-11's Christmas/AKB-tie-in promotion, or seeing some AKB member's boobs on an ad on the train.
On the other hand, H!P rely much more heavily on the members as people. Yeah, we have Biyuuden and Goto Maki to provide us with our dose of cleavage, but if you look at the main acts, the raciest they get is contained in photobooks. Maybe if they altered their image to fit current trends, they'd sell better, but you gotta respect a group that sticks to its roots.
As western fans, we have much different standards. While we may appreciate modesty and talent over looks and bare skin, we're not the target audience. Our opinion doesn't really matter. But I like to think that essentially we're the same. As much as I love it when Junjun pulls on a bikini, I think she's exponentially more beautiful when she's wearing an ordinary sweater. And the fact I was able to fill my photocard album with so many photos of Junjun just being Junjun reflects that there is a good deal of appreciation of the members as people.
I focused my reply on your second point, but that's because there's not much to say about their "live performances". Technically they're called 'stages', and they're not usually treated as concerts per se. They hold several a day, I believe. Because they originated as dancers exclusive to the AKB theater, I don't care if they lipsync or not. You really can only blame their mediocrity on their conception--they were never intended to be "singers" or "dancers" in the strict sense of the words. It sounds crude, but think of them as strippers. xD They're there for the entertainment of their audience (in this case, male otaku who frequent Akihabara). They dance and sing, but really, they're just there to dance around in school uniforms, flash their panties, and sell merchandise. If they're talented singers or dancers or have interesting personalities, which can be said of many of them, that's great! But if they're not, as long as they have a cute face or a nice rack, it makes no difference.
I like some of their music. I like some of their members. But they don't do it for me the way H!P does.
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Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 2:25 am
However maybe this is just simply because we are perhaps more accustomed to H!P?
From what i've heard, completely from what i heard, there is actually a lot more to their stages and concerts than what is seen on television. recently, matsui sakiko, aka AKB's piano virtuoso, played the beginning of a stage, then with everyone else entering in AFTER her giant solo. I mean, it's not like they completely burst out naked on stage right? People seem to associate AKB with porn maybe because they have so many members ready to produce a photobook, especially with their social standing, if any akb member wanted a photobook, i'm sure people would give them it. And i believe only 1 member has actually become a full blown out porn star.
Ponytail, Heavy rotation, and Seifuku jama wa osuru and skirt hirari to some point, are only some of their racier work, 2 of which are extremely recent. Takamina is one of those gifted members who can sing, and they do give her her lines. These girls do work harder than everyone gives them credit for, so is it such a crime because theyre cute and that's what people want? And no one actually really takes the time to learn them one-by-one to the point where one can really judge. I am fully able to name and identify regular senbatsu members (including ono erena <33), janken senbatsu members, and others, not to mention ske and sdn members. I have to say, i'm pleasantly surprised with what they really have to offer.
And about live singing, this is such a very sensitive topic. No one can really say if someone is singing live or not now-a-days, but from what i see, most IDOL groups sing playback. H!P sings with prerecorded or sings with playback, i mean some of the flaws are in the exact same place, its impossible to get it wrong again. example: umeda erika's voice crack during lives of forever love. But there are mic feeds, so you know they sing at the very least with playback, because both audios don't sound the same. many kpop idols do it. because there is just so much dance pop out there, even with proper training and amazing mics that stay in place all the time (which is almost impossible with all those windmills, kicks, etc) theres no way they sing live almost perfectly. Akb is just lazier and doesnt prerecord. besides, theres no way random television lives will have 12+ mics that work for everyone, that's ridiculous. at least they are experienced enough to take another members place and fully adjust the lineup.
ehh, im just verbal vomitting now, it's more of speculation and going more towards opinions, but point is, akb is really overlooked for their expertise, and just because they wear bikini's, lingerie, and whut not, doesn't over-shadow what they really have to offer, it just means you have to look harder for what you want.
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Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 9:01 am
I know they have so much potential and if they can get maybe three or four members at a time on a TV show and have them sing their heart out, it'll give me a lot of respect. I do like a lot of their songs but when it comes to anything beyond my iPod or a PV it makes me wonder~ yes, they do have amazing bodies that should be shown but not in like every magazine spread.
Maybe I am a little accustomed to H!P's modesty~ I've looked harder for what I want and I really only found it in Sayaka, Takamina and Sae. I don't know, they just look like they get the most enjoyment from what they do and just look like they have a fun time doing it.
I think I look for energy and hard work during anything they do. Whether it's performing or just in general. I don't see it when they dance, something just seems missing and it lacks so much. I know they can be great and do an amazing, kickass job at what they do but I have yet to see it. Yes, I am a late fan (started liking them from when River came out) and I was blown away by the PV and how amazing it looked and the dance was incredible. But then when I saw it on stage they just lacked... something.
I'm not saying I all out hate AKB but there is so much potential they're lacking and/or not giving off. I do have to admit I like Seifuki ga Jama Wo Suru though >w>;; I try to ignore the dirty lyrics ; )
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Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 7:35 pm
Personally, i like Minegishi Minami the most. Not only is she an absolute sweetheart, but when she does get the chance to shine, i really go all out for her as much as clapping and cheering to myself in my dark little room in the middle of the night > w > which is why i really thought if she could just squeeze anywhere in Chance no Junban, she'd be perfect considering that song would fit her (and the rest of AKB) pretty well.
Don't even get me started with Haruka Nakagawa. She seems pretty modest on terms of idolling her heart out considering she doesnt exactly have the utmost diversity among other girls, but seeing her freak out whenever she won a janken match really made me connect with her. And watching her especially in Chance no Junban made me think she deserved #4 position if not #1. Seriously, she went from not even making it in Undergirls, but got rank #20 of senbatsu, especially with the very minimal, limited time she gets.
And then theirs Mariya Suzuki. She's just another moe character honestly, but that's because i haven't seen her at all outside of AKBingo. But after hearing she tried out four times before actually making it in to AKB really gave her points imo. Kinda like Yuu Kikkawa. Yuu always liked morning musume, telling in a interview she'd run around singing momusu songs every morning, which is probably why i like her too, shes ambitious. I'm really keeping my eye on Mariya considering she's so interesting.
I could go on forever listening why i like every individual member (totally off topic lolol) but that's why i like AKB, i really have to look for everything, which is pretty different to H!P. AKB really teaches everyone to really search for that idol, probably why you like Sayaka (im assuming akimoto), takamina, and Sae.
And on a side note, loli, you've been making me look at mariko's nose every chance i get lolol. And yes, it is very lovely xDD
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Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 9:14 pm
Everytime I hear someone talk about Mariko I can't help but go "OHHHH! So that's who they were singing about in Naichau Kamo xD
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Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 10:57 pm
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Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:05 pm
They call me...
I read all of that, yaaaay~! n.n
You guys could practically do an audio Podcast about this stuff. :3 -nods- I bet 91.8 The Fan would like to have bits of it or advertisement of it on their online radio station! x3
It's an anime/J-music internet radio station. n.n
Mishtah Bunbuns~!
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fuku-taicho Hinamori Momo
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 1:19 pm
I Just have to say Beginner is their best song. I love it so much and I always play it.
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 2:36 pm
i personally like heavy rotation the best. the song never gets old, its almost magical.
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 3:11 pm
They played Heavy Rotation too much. D= I was never very impressed by it in the first place, and when you hear it every five minutes, it gets old fast. >____>
I think I know why I don't like so many AKB songs. They sing all together. The songs I like the most have solos. Singing together is fine, but when it's the entire song and it's EVERYONE... I dunno, it turns me off. D= The only exception to this is Beginner, because that song wouldn't be nearly as epic if they split the lines up.
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 3:35 pm
that's odd, i can hardly stand beginner. I mean it was probably my least favorite song of AKB singles. The lyrics were killer and the arrangement was fine, but it really had not been sold to me. The whole song seems like it's missing something and seems like a j-rock band of some sort's insert song on an album. This probably is because i like those cute idolly songs better that make wapanese fat girls go "kawaiiiiiii" despite speaking a whole sentence of english previously >_> i fail to see why so many people liked beginner, which is pretty much why i mangasmed all over chance no junban (it went back to their cute style).
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fuku-taicho Hinamori Momo
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 4:32 pm
I'm not really a fan of it. After, beginner it will be hard to top that song.
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 10:43 pm
I liked most of their songs on their CD and liked Heavy Rotation and Beginner~ but it's very picky for me : /
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Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 3:09 am
with how many songs they release at once, it is hard. almost 4 songs for ever single, thats like releasing a minialbum every 2 and 1/2 months ; A ; The only song i liked for Beginner single was Boku Dake no Value strangely. for chance no junban it went Love Jump -> Chance no Junban -> Fruit Snow -> Kurumi -> Alive
as you can tell, im becoming a picky huge fan of AKB ; A ;
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