[This was written before Oda Sakura's addition] Even though I’m always more involved in the K-Pop community in London, I’ve been listening to more Japanese music preferably Hello!Project. And Hello!Project has been improving with the results showing in sales. Most importantly, the current era of Morning Musume – the Colourful Era – is looking to do much better than the Platinum era.
I was losing interest in the group due to the stability in the Platinum Era despite liking a majority of songs at that time. I’m used to the constant changes of this group so to see a no member change for almost 2 years (plus the increase of listening of K-Pop at the time), was boring for me. I do wish Niigaki was in this era too.
The member change for one needed to be done at least before EriJunLin graduation was announced. We should have had fresh new girls put into 9th gen from the Rival Survival concert. It’s really sad to see how none of the 8th gen really got to shine when they really got shafted to the side. If only the fandom were more positive to their JunLin seem to have been put despite being funny on shows and Linlin’s vocal skills were gone unnoticed unless it was concerts or on album songs. Aika’s injuries prevented her from improving and she could have been like the last hope for the 8th gen. You may say “but we wouldn’t have the same 9th gen as we do now.” True, but I’m sure they would have auditioned at the same time or for 10th/11th gen. But anyways, we still have some lovely girls at the moment. For me, Ayumi, Haruna and Mizuki are some of my favourites at the moment and really stand out for me.
And with the addition of Oda Sakura, it’s about to get even better if you ask me.
UFA seems to have stopped being lazy with promotional tactics with the new members and actually starting anew this year with better approaches to get more sales. The final sales for One Two Three were about over 100,000+ and that hasn’t been done in years. They were doing street promotion, variety, announcements and fanclub meets. That was the most promotion I had ever seen for the group in ages.
Tsunku plays a great role in the Colourful Era’s songs of this year which I believe are better quality and much more appealing to me. Apart from Pyoko Pyoko Ultra, I could replay most of their songs happily and have been intrigued to learn the majority of the dances e.g. Renai Hunter, One Two Three which I find extremely addictive. Wakuteka Take a Chance is fast becoming a favourite for me as well but I do have yet to properly listen to “13 Colourful Character” album songs. Now some people seem to be criticising Tsunku’s choice of music for the songs and compared it to K-Pop for the increase in auto-tune, robotic dance movements and style (apparently from what I’ve heard). But in 2012 where the futuristic music is mainstream and dance music is popular, I think we should be used to Morning Musume (or Tsunku) by now for starting to notice the change in mainstream and eventually going in this direction. Personally I think the songs work well with them but this does not sound like K-Pop. Autotune and robotic movements were not invented in K-Pop, it’s just a trend there that’s starting to get bland and repetitive.
If you ask me, they are doing really well compared to the way Morning Musume was more than 5-6 years ago and I am extremely happy for them.
What are everybody’s thoughts on the Colourful era? I’m gonna have to start talking more about J-Pop soon!
If you ask me~ This line-up is much more comfortable than back when Ai was leader. The girls are fresh and I love the new faces. Although, like you mentioned about the auto-tune music, I preferable enjoy their new songs. I was getting tired of their typical J-pop songs (it’s been 14-15 years…we need something new), I wanted something exciting and new, to match the new generations. I think this path is really good and I hope they continue with the sales.
I really like the name, colourful era. Beats boring grey Platinum any day.
Well I think what irks me about Colourful era is the lack of good voices. I was never a fan of Reina’s but Ai, Eri and Risa made it for me, especially Ai who could make any song pleasent. If Riho wouldn’t have all the lines then I’m sure I’d like this era more, especially since I can’t take a like to her being lead since she is not good at singing. If line distribution was more fair then at least songs would be fun to hear. The members are super fresh and I can’t wait for them to become more mature (it’s hard to want to be like such small kids, something I could do with gorgeous members in Platinum era). I like their new songs but not as much as older songs, yet the voice thing could also add to it.
So if you ask me right now, Platinum era > Colourful, but I can’t wait for Sakura to get in. Sakura will probably make it for me, she has the voice I need this group to have. The only other voice that could do is Haruka, but she is one of the less promoted in singles. I like Ayumi but seriously, more lines to her than to Haruka? She never sings in Wakuteka!
Riho will obviously still lead because she is too popular and wotas would cry, but I think Oda can reach that popularity since she covers dance, looks and more importantly, singing. Yet this is the idol world…
So the new single will seal the deal. If it’s Oda/Riho (and well, Reina), then I won’t complain much, since it’ll be like Ai/Reina era, one voice I love, the other…well. Though Reina is much better than Riho, I’ll give her that.