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

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

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

…she’d totally sound like this.

I’m going to say something right now: I hate Cinderella. I really do. It’s my least favorite fairy tale ever, mostly because all Cinderella really does is bitch about having to pull her own weight around the house until a magical fairy godmother comes down to help her out and everything is fixed. And all Cinderella has to do is wash a few floors. (And she’s one of the 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived. Above Luke Skywalker and Batman. This is an injustice.)

Read more »

Posted: July 17th, 2008 under berryz koubou, c-ute, h!p eggs, h!p kids, hello! project, high-king, morning musume, pv, reina tanaka, shuffles, single.
Comments: 3

And by that, I mean, nothing matches AT ALL, therefore making it one of the greatest costumes ever worn by any H!P member at any time in H!P history.

Don’t ever change, Linlin.

ETA: After further inspection, I’ve come to the conclusion that the top and the skirt aren’t so bad…it’s just that they top it off with that HAT. It’s not even the fact that it’s bold and blue, it’s that it’s a big-ass rain hat turned up so it looks like a pseudo-pirate hat.

I’m not sure whether they should fire the costumer or give them a raise just for making me laugh so hard.

Posted: June 20th, 2008 under eyecandy, hello! project, linlin, morning musume.
Comments: 6

I’m going to say this straight out: I like Resonant Blue. I really, really do. But it was just so…not what I wanted. Read more »

Posted: June 5th, 2008 under hello! project, koharu kusumi, morning musume, pv, reina tanaka, single.
Comments: 7

Lately, a lot of people have been introducing H!P or Jpop in general to their friends, younger siblings, etc as a sort of scientific (cough) experiment on how well Jpop - particularly of the crack-induced H!P persuasion - would fare in the United States.

A similar experiment was conducted by me…well, actually, I don’t think you could call it an experiment, as I was just trying to introduce her to my cracktastic music. I wasn’t looking for any particular pattern or anything. I just wanted someone else to know what kind of music I listened to. Read more »

Posted: April 28th, 2008 under conspiracy theories, corrupting your friends, hello! project, japanese, morning musume, reina tanaka, v-u-den.
Comments: 3