The PV for Arashi's upcoming new single, Lotus, has just been released. In it what seems like a millennia to wait. Johnny's loves to cut it close and make fans wait an unnecessarily long amount of time for the release of their PVs. Well it's actually not that close to the release date. Since a lot of JE PVs are released with like 3 weeks until the release date. But when you take into consideration the first time you heard this song through a PV preview was over a month ago. That's way too long to wait.
I didn't really plan on reviewing this PV, because I don't really have anything exciting or interesting to say about it. But I just realized, despite Arashi releasing 6 singles in 2010 I've only done like 2 Arashi reviews. 2/7 isn't really a good statistic in my book. And not even that I'm thinking of doing a review of every idol PV that comes out from now on. Because if I'm not impressed with the song and/or PV I usually don't review it, and that gives me a huge gap in between PV reviews. A couple of years back when this was just an H!P blog I used to review every single PV that came out whether I liked it or not, because I knew people would be interested in that. Lately I've been a little lazy when it comes to blogging. I haven't been posting CMs, live performances, and still haven't fixed up the appearance of my blog yet. Well, this has gone way off track. But I just wanted to let readers know what I intend to do from now on, now that I'm on the subject. XD
But anyway, back to the topic at hand: Arashi. The PV is nearly identical to the PV preview we saw nearly a month ago. Just like I feared would happened this PV has become nothing more than a giant dance shot. But Arashi only really has interesting PVs every once in a blue moon. That's why I called them Lotus-eaters. Because apparently if you eat from the Lotus tree it causes drowsiness. And since they are drowsy, their PV sucks. Get it? Whatever, I just didn't want my joke to be wasted because it's a pretty obscure reference. XD There are a couple of scenes that drift away from the dance scenes. Which makes it only 80% dance shot. But they aren't really doing anything interesting in those scenes either. It's just basically them standing in front of, what I'm going to assume is a lotus tree, and just standing in front of a wall. And despite this pretty average PV this single will probably sell a million copies. But the song is good, so I don't mind too much.
If this was practically the only scene in the PV anyone was going to see, I don't think I'd make the backdrop a giant half made wooden eagle. XD
Take a good look because this is basically the whole PV. Nice to see Aiba in the center of the dance though. But by the next single he'll be on the side.
Oh my god, the whole PV is a dance shot and the dance isn't even very good. O_O
Zombie move! But I'm sure the dance will eventually get better.
Or not. Lol.
I might be used to MatsuJun's hair, but I still don't like it.
For some reason I really like this random box dance move.
I literally cracked up during Nino's ah~ line. It just sounded so girly and unexpected. How did I miss that during the radio rip?
Nino's overall adorableness makes this PV a lot more watchable.
Arashi keeps doing all these overly girly female idol dance moves.
Nino is love.
Aiba looks less ugly in this PV for some reason.
Is this a lotus tree? They don't look like the lotus flowers I'm familiar with.
Having a double of yourself in a PV, where have I seen this before?
Maybe it was a NEWS PV.
Or it could have been a Berryz Koubou PV.
Nino's intense face is pretty hot.
See, Aiba almost looks attractive.
Obvious Nino bias is obvious.
Lol antler dance move.
I suggest you watch the PV before it gets taken down. :/
With less than a month until the release date, we finally have a full radio rip of Arashi's new single Lotus. Well, actually the full radio rip came out a few days ago but this is my first time hearing it.
Hearing the whole songs just makes me think this song sounds like Truth and Monster even more. The music has this almost eerie tone to it that is extremely reminiscent of Monster. And the lyrics remind me a lot of Truth. After listening to it all the way through a few times I'm am really starting to like this song. But it doesn't really move beyond ok or good for me. It doesn't have that instant like ability that songs like Troublemaker, Beautiful Days and Kitto Daijoubu had. And for a song being used as a theme to his drama you'd think you'd hear Aiba more. He only has one solo line and it's just a tiny bit longer than Nino's and Ohno's solos. But at the very end of the song it does sound like Aiba has another solo line, but the annoying announcer is talking over that part. XD
If you do like what you hear, you can buy the single from CDJapan by clicking the links below.
A PV preview of Arashi's new single, Lotus, was just released. The single being released on February 23rd, is being used as the theme for Aiba Masaki's new drama Bartender. I'm also pretty sure this is the first preview of the song as well because I can't find a radio rip anywhere.
After releasing an insane amount of singles in 2010 Arashi jumps early on into the new year to release their first single of the year. It almost seems like they are going to keep up the same release pace as last year because this single is being released a month before their first single of 2010 was!
There isn't really much going on in the PV. Pretty much all we see Arashi doing is dancing in white outfits. And MatsuJun still sporting the hair I used to despise, but is slowly growing on me. It kinda seems like this whole PV will be a giant dance shot. Which is absolutely boring. But Arashi has been releasing boring PVs lately, no doubt because they've been stretching their yearly budget thin with all these releases recently.
The absolutely beginning of the song reminds me of Truth mixed with Monster for some reason. Which doesn't even make sense because both songs have extremely heavy music, and this song doesn't really. XD The song is pretty much an Arashi standard. It's extremely pleasant to listen too, but not overly amazing. The chorus does sound really great, but it's the only part that really stand out. Kind of like how Hatenai Sora was. If though we only hear a tiny bit of the lyrics, I already think they are really awesome. And actually kinda have similar lyrics to Truth. Weird, huh?
NTV aired their Best Artist of 2010 special yesterday. The idol line up included: Arashi, AKB48, KAT-TUN, NEWS, Perfume, Hey! Say! JUMP, and Tackey and Tsubasa.
The lineup was pretty much expected. Lots of Johnny's and AKB48. I really wish more female idols were the best artist's of 2010. Don't get me wrong, I love JE, but I'd love to see some variety in these shows.
Here are the clips of the performances from the show.
Hey! Say! JUMP + Tackey and Tsubasa:
Hey! Say! JUMP's performance is supposed to be a medley but it's not really. They sing Ultra Music Power and "Arigatou" ~Sekai no Doko ni Itemo~. Tackey and Tsubasa sing Venus and Ai wa Takaramono. I was actually pretty excited they performed Venus, because I love that song.
AKB48:
This is their performance of Iiwake Maybe. I was pretty sure they did a medley, if they did I can't find of video of it. Sorry. :/
Arashi:
Arashi performed 3 songs. Their 3 songs were Believe, Happiness and Monster. Monster is my personal favorite. But 3/5 of their pants were wayyy too tight. And MatsuJun has jacked up hair. XD The fangirl screams when they walked near them were pretty loud and intense.
NEWS:
NEWS performed Kibou ~Yell~ and Fighting Man.
KAT-TUN:
KAT-TUN performing Real Face and Going. I don't understand why they aren't singing Change UR World.
Billboard has just announced the winners of Chart Awards for the Billboard Japan Music Awards. The actual Artist Awards won't be announced until the Billboard Japan Music Awards are held on February 6th. And since this is an idol blog, I will only be sharing the categories where idol groups have won an award.
Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 of the Year 2010:
1. Troublemaker - Arashi 2. Monster – Arashi 3. Heavy Rotation – AKB48 4. Love Rainbow – Arashi 5. Dear Snow – Arashi 6. Hatenai Sora – Arashi 7. VICTORY – EXILE 8. This is love – SMAP 9. To be free – Arashi 10. Hontou wa Kowai Ai to Romance – Kuwata Keisuke
Billboard Japan Album of the Year 2010:
1. Ai Subeki Mirai e - EXILE 2. Boku no Miteiru Fukei – Arashi 3. to LOVE – Nishino Kana 4. Ikimonobakari~Members’ BEST Selection~ – Ikimonogakari 5. FUNKY MONKEY BABYS BEST - FUNKY MONKEY BABYS 6. Hajimari no Uta – Ikimonogakari 7. PAST FUTURE – Amuro Namie 8. Imamade no A-men, B-men desuto!? – GReeeeN 9. 5years – Kimura Kaela 10. MAGIC – B’z
Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 Singles Sales of the Year 2010:
1. Troublemaker - Arashi 2. Monster – Arashi 3. Love Rainbow – Arashi 4. Hatenai Sora – Arashi 5. Dear Snow – Arashi 6. To be free – Arashi 7. Heavy Rotation – AKB48 8. FANTAS” – EXILE 9. Love yourself~Kimiga Kirai na Kimi ga Suki~ – KAT-TUN 10. Beginner – AKB48
Arashi seems to dominate all the singles charts, as expected. Arashi is up there 13 times. Despite how well Begiiner, Heavy Rotation, and Ponytail to Shushu did AKB48 is only up there 3 times. Which honestly doesn't make sense to me. AKB48's Beginner outsold Troublemaker by almost 300k. I don't understand what Billboard is basing the sales off of. I also can't believe Arashi didn't get to number 1 on the album charts.
With just for days until the release date of Arashi's new single, Hatenai Sora, the PV is finally released. And honestly it's about time. I think this is the longest we've had to wait for a Johnny's PV. But don't quote me on that, I don't really keep a close track on when JE PVs come out.
I've already expressed in previous posts how much I absolutely love this song, and I do. I'm not so sure the same can be said about the PV. I mean I like it, it's definitely better than Dear Snow. It's a lot more dynamic and has a lot more different scenes. But there's not really much going on in the PV. They are still just standing there and then just mixed with close ups. I mean where's the amazing Arashi dance like in the Crazy Moon ~Kimi wa Muteki~ PV? Or the over the top crazyness and gay of the Kitto Daijoubu PV? I mean you don't need an overly upbeat song, or even dnce, to have an interesting PV. Look at Troublemaker, One Love, Beautiful Days, Sakura Sake. Ok, Sakura Sake was upbeat but the PV was simple and still cool. Like I said before this basically just comes down to Arashi being spread too thin this year. But I decided to review the PV because I haven't done a review in ages. Because of that I'm thinking of going back and doing Berryz's Shining Power PV and maybe even Lilpri's.
Everyone look sad and longing at the camera now.
Aiba's is the best.
Ohno's is the worst. His face is unchanged.
For some reason the backdroop reminds me of
the Believe PV.
However, this scene reminds me of
the Tayiou no Namida PV
Oh look, it's Dear Snow again!
MatsuJun does look pretty cute though.
I gotta admit, the transparent scenes are pretty cool.
I don't get what the whole dramatic standing up from a chair bit is all about.
God, Nino is so adorable!
Umm WTF, are Aiba's teeth capped? They are starting to look like John Cleese's. XD
If Nino is the only one to get a solo in the entire song, why do they keep following Aiba around?
Hot! I'm such a creep. XD
His face is too intense for such a slow song. I could see if he was holding a note or something, but he's not.
Of course the backdrop opens to reveal a blue sky, that's such an Arashi thing to do. XD
I love how he's singing with a half smirk.
I love how Nino is the only one actually trying to dance here. Everyone else is just moving their arms because there's no actual steps.
Be sure to watch this PV before Johnny's takes it down.
Arashi is releasing yet another new single entitled Hatenai Sora on November 10th. So with less than a month to the release we finally have a song preview. And it's pretty safe to say this will finally be Arashi's last single for the year. And I bet 2011 will have maybe 2 Arashi singles.
Can I just say I am instantly in love! As soon as it picked up and the chorus kicked in I was sold. See this is the kind of relatively simple Arashi songs that I like. Where it's sung slowly, but it picks up, and the music is still upbeat. And it's kind of weird that the only person to get a solo line is Nino, and he only has one. But I'm not complaining being a Nino fan. It just adds to the fact that this single reminds me a lot of Beautiful Days. Since the music, the way it's sung, the lyrics, and even that the only solo line goes to Nino. And because Arashi fans are super dedicated there's already translated lyrics for the song. And I gotta say the song is just super positive and uplifting. I really like the whole message of the song. It's really similar to Beautiful Days, which is one of my favorite Arashi singles. To be honest this song seems like Beautiful Days part 2.
I've been debating over wether or not to make a post about the Dear Snow PV since it was first releases. I usually only make posts about PVs that are either so incredible I can't contain myself from witting about the, PVs that are so disappointing I feel the need to rant about them. Which is why I don't make posts about every single PV that comes out. And more recently why I didn't make reviews of SCANDAL'S SCANDL Nanka Buttobase or Momoiro Clover's Pinky Jones PVs. (I'm actually really waiting for the awesomeness that will be the Koko Natsu PV. It's a lot better then MomoClo running around in random Native American outfits. XD) And actually that's where most PVs sit, smack dab in the middle.
But Dear Snow is far beyond even average, or disappointing, it's just plain boring. There is absolutely nothing to comment about. Not bad costumes, a bad set, or anything because nothing happens.
All you basically have to do is look at this picture, and it feels like you've watched the entire PV.
Oh wait, you might want to see it from a different angle. There, now you've seen the entire PV.
Because that's all their is to it. This takes PV simplicity to a whole new level. The entire PV consists of them just standing there and close ups of them singing. And that's it. H!P fans, myself included, cry when the PV is dance and close up. Yet I bet the legions of Japanese and international Arashi fans don't even care, because the video is simple and elegant. The song is so beautiful that the PV doesn't need to be flashy. And to that I completely disagree. I'm all for simplicity and elegance, when necessary, but I know the difference between simple and boring. But again that's just my personal opinion. Honestly it feels like a waste, because the song is actually really pretty.
I guess I'm mostly so unimpressed by this PV because it's the 3rd Arashi PV that's done nothing for me. Don't get me wrong I think Love Rainbow and To Be Free were great songs, but they were boring uninspiring PVs. But that's what happens when you release 5 singles in one year, with 6 on the way. Arashi has been completely stretched too thin this year. They comes out with 2 of the best songs and PVs Arashi has released in a long time, Troublemaker and Monster. Then the next singles quality suffers greatly because of it. There's no doubt JE didn't expect to release all these singles, because if he did he would have spread the budget a little more. And by the way Troublemaker looked like it was pretty cheap to make, and look how it turned out.
A commercial and minute length PV preview for Arashi's newest single Dear Snow, has been released recently. And talk about news that creeps up on you. These have been out for over a week, but I just completely missed them until now. Mostly due to the fact that this whole single completely slipped my mind. After Arashi announced that they would be releasing yet another single, Hatenai Sora, it completely slipped my mind that the PV for Dear Snow hadn't even been released yet. XD
Since the song it's pretty slow paced the PV of course is extremely simple. With hardly anything really going on. But that's to be expected from Arashi. A majority of their PVs are super simple. And I was kind of expecting the PV to be winter themed since it's called Dear Snow. But I guess that would seem out of place since Fall just started.
The only thing to really report about this PV so far is that MatsuJun and Nino are looking really good in it. Especially Nino, he looks super adorable.
Here's the minute preview:
Here's the CM:
Arashi also performed this song on Music Station. I thought the performance was really great. Even though most likely everything was lip synched except for solo lines. It was a great performance nonetheless. As always, you should watch the video quickly before Japan's youtube czars deletes the video. XD
