Sometimes, instead of writing new posts that have been sitting in the Draft category for over a year, I go back and I reread old posts. Why? I don’t know. I just do. Stop asking stupid questions.

Anyway, rereading these old posts, I find that, perhaps, I am a bit cruel. A bit critical, maybe. If I can’t find something wrong with the music, then it has something to do with their outfits. Or their hair. Or that strange tic in Reina Tanaka’s eye. And while it’s true that all this cruelty is warranted (seriously), I think to myself, “Maybe, for once in my life, I could say something nice. Just one thing. Is it so hard?”

(By the way? It is.)

And so, I have taken it upon myself to find at least one thing that I appreciate about each member of the current lineup of Morning Musume. Because, you know, I’m sixteen now, and I’m feeling rather charitable. (Also, maybe if I’m nice, I’ll finally get some good karma going for me.)

(Also, now that Koharu is graduating, now might be a good a time as any to appreciate this lineup of Morning Musume. They stuck together for two of the most boring years of my life, and in Momusu-years, that is a lot. And they deserve some love for that.)

Without further adieu…if that’s even how you spell it. Because you know what? We need more love for Momusu. No matter how lame they may be. Read more »

Posted: September 7th, 2009 under eyecandy, koharu kusumi, linlin, morning musume, reina tanaka, wtf.
Comments: 2

I have to tell you guys something: I am so, so disappointed that this album was not called Platinum 9 DISCO. Do you have any idea how many John Travolta jokes were wasted? SIIIGH. (I realize that I spend most of my time in this here blog complaining about everything. I…should probably rectify that.)

Anyway. Read more »

Posted: July 10th, 2009 under album, morning musume.
Comments: none

This was originally started on February 20. What is my life.

I have to admit that I feel utterly lost without thePPN wiki. I can’t remember any release dates. I’m not waiting in anticipation for anything. So when I saw Momusu’s new single pop up on a few music rotation communities, I was utterly confused.

“Wait,” Chiakii says to herself. “That’s not right. That single’s not coming out until, like, April.”

Oh, wait. It’s officially released February 18. Face, meet palm.

I don’t normally judge singles/albums/whatever until I have the actual thing — A-side, B-side, cheap artwork and all. Yes, I saw the PV. Yes, I saw the cover. No, I didn’t listen to the radio rip because the quality is crap, but whatever. Close enough, right? But I just don’t find it fair to judge a song while watching a PV. Some people do, because they can. It’s less clear, in my case. Did I love the single because Takahashi looked awesome in the PV? Did I hate it because Reina still keeps doing that damn thing with her hair? Did it make me hungry because Linlin was scarfing down babies?

However, I finally have my greasy, idol-loving paws on the music itself, and I can safely say: “Naichau Kamo” is okay. Read more »

Posted: June 13th, 2009 under morning musume, pv, single, wtf.
Comments: none

(Whoa, May already? Holy Moses on a cracker. I’m scrambling to finish my chem homework, so this’ll be short. Seriously. Wow. Holy bananafish.)

Ah, it’s strange to know that at this time last year, we thought that Gocchin was gone, lost to the unending depths of that thing known as “post-idol life”–and she taught us that yes, such a thing exists. There is, in fact, life outside the Hello! Project. Life on avex, no less. (We thought that was just a myth.)

(We, Chiakii? Yes, we. Me and my multiple personalities. DUH. KEEP UP.)

So, congratulations, Gocchin. I said I’d never forget you, but to be honest, I haven’t listened to anything you put out yet. Your new hair is AWESOME, though.

Posted: May 10th, 2009 under 510, avex, eyecandy, maki goto.
Comments: none

WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS SERIOUS BUSINESS. CHIAKII ACTUALLY SITS HER ASS DOWN AND TALKS ABOUT HER FEELINGS. JUST A WARNING.

Well, 2008 is winding down. We’re getting ready for 2009. I can’t think of anything important that will be happening to me personally in 2009. I might get my learners’ permit or something. (I’m sure that’s such a good idea. Set Chiakii loose on the roads of San Francisco.)

However! Some blogs are choosing to honor the artists that they felt brought the awesome this year. Some are writing long, heartfelt posts about how 2008 did/didn’t live up to their expectations. Everyone will look back at pengie’s predictions for 2008 and see whether or not they came true.

But I’m not those blogs! Instead, I’m going to wrap up 2008 in dialogue format and be rude about all the releases I secretly loved. Because I am a bitch.

I actually did something like this in 2007. I called it “2007 in a Nutshell” (because I’m so creative). I didn’t finish it in time. Pity, too. There were quite a few gems in there.

So, Soap Bubble brings you…2008 in a Nutshell!

* Note: I really don’t remember half of what happened this year. And frankly, I don’t care about half of the stuff that did. Just warning you, in case something epic happened in August that skipped over. Read more »

Posted: December 31st, 2008 under album, avex, berryz koubou, boobs, c-ute, conspiracy theories, elder club, end of the year, h!p kids, hello! project, high-king, japanese, morning musume, ongaku gatas, perfume, v-u-den, wtf.
Comments: 9

…oh, wait, that’s Rent. My bad.

So. Let’s talk Cover You. Read more »

Posted: December 30th, 2008 under album, eyecandy, morning musume, wtf.
Comments: none

…hereafter known as Dump His Ass, Stephanie!

Now, while “Here” was absolutely gorgeous in every respect, “Near” is still good in its own right. It’s the B-side, so it’s not as good as “Here” — it’s a bit more mainstream. But it’s still got its strong points, the PV being one of them. The “Near” PV has everything — bad English, cell phone obsession, swimming pools, ~drinking~, friendship, and Tenjochiki eyecandy. What’s not to love? Read more »

Posted: December 28th, 2008 under avex, japanese, korean, pv, single, sm, the grace.
Comments: none

You may not know this, but I am a fan of Tenjochiki. Tenjochiki is kind of like the female DBSK — they’re both managed under SM, they both work in Korea and Japan, and they both have several annoying acronyms that make it impossible to get the right tag on last.fm. Though they’re officially called “The Grace” in Korea, and “Tenjochiki” in Japan, they’re mostly referred to as CSJH, CSJH The Grace, TSZX, TSZX The Grace, and occasionally TJCK.

See what I mean about the goddamn acronyms?

That does not, however, change my opinion that this group is awesome. The four girls in this group can all actually sing, and they sound wonderful together. Read more »

Posted: December 28th, 2008 under avex, japanese, korean, pv, single, sm, the grace.
Comments: 1

Oh, Momusu. And you really had me going there for a while, spazzing out, impatiently waiting your next move.

I don’t hate “Pepper Keibu.” But I don’t like it, either. It’s mildly catchy, and I have many good things to say about the PV (the legs of certain members, in particular), but the song itself? Read more »

Posted: November 21st, 2008 under morning musume, pv, single.
Comments: 4

Okay, so I have a lot of drafts I need to finish, because at this rate, Nakazawa Yuko will be dead before I’m ready to publish them.

However, looking at the recent spate of calendar cover snark, I’m gonna come out and say it:

I like C-ute’s calendar cover.

I know. I know you’re sitting there going, What the fuck are you smoking NOW, Chiakii? Well, my answer is nothing. Nothing at all. I mean, I did get this really excellent discount from Koharu the other day, but –

Huh? What? I mean — FOCUS HERE PEOPLE. THERE IS A FAN OF THE C-UTE CALENDAR COVER.

Now, I will not lie. It is cheap. It is politically incorrect. But that does not change the fact that Nakki and Kanna are pretty damn hot in those crazy clog-wearing-milkmaid-esque outfits (and they don’t look that bad, they’re very colorful, and I am a fan of color) and Erika looks lovely and elegant, despite the complete wrongness of her costume. Airi looks like those chicks in this TV saga of A Tale of Two Cities I was watching the other day, but she’s still pretty cute, in my opinion. And I have a thing for her hat. The idea to put them in outfits from all different cultures, while probably not having the desired effect, was still pretty good and the plain outside background draws your eye to the bright, colorful clothes of the girls.

Mai and Chisato…well, I can work up some anger at the cover in this case. Their clothes are cheap costume ripoffs of Chinese clothes, and there is no justification for those mini-baby bonnets on Chisato’s head, but Mai at least has an attractive facial expression. And Chisato…oh, Chisato. Better luck next time, sweetie.

Maimi would probably look better without the scarf, but she’s hot anyway. Maimi is always hot. And her dress is kind of cute, if I say so myself. So are her shoes. Is there a Maimi worship blog yet? Maybe I’ll start one.

…and reading back, I think I sort of accidentally ended up insulting the cover anyway. Whoops.

Posted: September 13th, 2008 under c-ute, eyecandy, wtf.
Comments: 5