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

…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

When we last left our heroes, Sugaya Risako had just made a deal with the devil, sucking the Berryz through a wormhole. The mass of Tsugunaga Momoko and Natsuyaki Miyabi was duplicated and went zooming down a separate tunnel (presumably to Buono!).

Strange things happen in this wormhole. Yurina sees a vision, in which she’s suddenly Momoko-sized, and being chased by a 6-foot peach.

But the Berryz’ journey has finally ended… Read more »

Posted: August 22nd, 2008 under attack of the con-fettis, berryz koubou, h!p kids, hello! project, pv, single, wtf.
Comments: 4

alan is one of those artists that I had always meant to try, but never really got around to it. I don’t remember why. I’ll bet someone in H!P released a single that I completely bashed and bitched about but still racked up 100+ listens on iTunes with.

But one day, when I realized that I don’t really give a fuck about a song with the words “Monkey Dance” in them, I sat down and listened to “Ashita e no Sanka”…

…and then took out my earphones and stared at the screen in blank shock for about a minute afterwards.

Because this single is good. I’ve always been a sucker for classical or traditional music - cheesy, overproduced dance-pop is always fun, but going back to the roots is nice too. And that’s exactly what alan does in her first single. She employs everything from Chinese instruments to wailing in the chorus, and let me tell you, it all works in her favor. Read more »

Posted: July 23rd, 2008 under alan, avex, 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

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

I can’t help it. I saw that written on the box in the PV, and just like when I first got Sweet Valley High #69, I snickered. I can’t help it, I’m immature and horrible like that.

Anyway, according to several sources, the Wonder Girls are dropping their retro look with their multicolored shoes and hairstyles for a sexy look. Which disappointed me when I heard it, because what? Sexy? Fuck sexy. Every girl group in the world tries to pull off sexy at one point or another, and frankly, it’s old. Read more »

Posted: June 1st, 2008 under korean, preview, pv, single, wonder girls.
Comments: 3

Or, I don’t understand the logic behind this single at all.

Read more »

Posted: March 12th, 2008 under attack of the con-fettis, berryz koubou, conspiracy theories, h!p kids, hello! project, momoko tsugunaga, pv, single, wtf.
Comments: 4