SUPER GIRLS show off more then their hearts in new PV

Avex idol group SUPER GIRLS, have released their PV for Max! Otome Gokoro off their 2nd single. Also since I'm pretty sure their 2nd single is a double A-side, so most likely expect another PV from this single.


I have been following SUPER GIRLS almost since their formation. But I didn't really take notice until they announced their major debut and released their first PV for Miracle ga Tommanai. And I have to say that I like SUPER GIRLS. I like their look and overall sound. But I have to say at their best SUPER GIRLS are and always have been walking idol cliches. Fans have been complaining about and noticing their similarities to other idol groups since their first PV. And like I said in my PV review of Miracle ga Tommanai it was pretty much a carbon copy of every idol PV out there. And that seems to be what SUPER GIRLS are continuing to do. They look at whatever is popular in idol PV and copy it to get more exposure and fans. People like to say that SUPER GIRLS are mostly copying AKB48, because AKB48 whole theme is wearing school uniforms and they have bikini PVs. But honestly SUPER GIRLS takes elements from all the idol groups out there. The Ganbatte Seishun PV not only reminds me of AKB48, but their are some similarities to Buono and S/mileage PVs. Even ManoEri's Seishun no Serenade was filmed in a school.
But with the Max! Otome Gokoro PV it seems like they just had to make a PV that featured everyone's favorite fanservice, the bikini PV. When I first watched the PV of course I was unimpressed because to me the bikini PVs are extremely flat. And not just because I'm a girl and the fanservice is wasted on me, but because I think bikini PVs are getting really old. AKB48 has done 2 now, Berryz Koubou and Morning Musume had those bikini PVs in their Allo-Hello DVDs. And I can see as a new idol group who is competing with AKB48, they felt they had to do a bikini themed PV but really they didn't. Look at idol group Ebisu Muscats. Despite being an idol group made up of gravure and AV idols, they have yet to release a bikini PV. And when Momoiro Clover had a summer song. They didn't wear bikinis either. They opted to make it a more playful PV. And that's pretty much how I prefer my idols to be. Cute, fun, silly, playful, and singing extremely upbeat and happy music. Which is why I adore SUPER GIRLS. Yes, they might be every idol cliche in the book, but I like idol cliches. They turn out to be my favorite idol groups, songs, and PVs. If I wanted anything beyond regular idol fare, I obviously wouldn't be listening to idol music in the first place.


But none of that really has anything to with the Max! Otome Gokoro PV. Reading all of that above you'd probably think I didn't like the PV but I actually did. Because despite of it being obvious fanservice which does nothing for me, they still managed to do it in a very cute and playful way. They weren't rubbing lotion on each other or having a pillow fight in lingerie. It was more or less and innocent PV that they just happened to be wearing bikinis in. Well, as innocent as dancing in bikinis can be received. And being a fan as idols as long as I have I realized these PVs are done mostly for fanservice. But they are also done in good fun, to be playful and tease the viewer. Which is an aspect I can appreciate. I like the playful aspect of this PV. How they also added elements of humor. I like when my idols parade around acting all idoly. Whether it's in bikinis, or school uniforms, or hideous concert outfits.

Of course the PV has to start off showing their school uniforms.

Let the idol deja vu begin!

It wouldn't feel quite like an idol PV without an insanely simple dance.

And the bikinis begin just a little before the minute mark. They actually really pretty though. I completely would steal snorkle girl's and Rika's. XD

Adorable! Ami is the cutest and definitely one of my favorites.

Kaede is really pretty. She almost looks like Saori's twin to me.

I can totally see why Rika is on of the most popular members. However, Rino is looking really adorable too.

Cute.

This is the first time Mirei actually looks pretty.

Lolz.

I think I'm Ami biased.

For some reason I really love this scene. XD

Look at Ruka looking all cute.

Words can't even begin to describe how random this is.

And now there in yukatas for some reason.

Aya looks cute here.

Awkward dance move.

Not sure how this is supposed to be scary.

I think it's actually really cute to have them pretend to film and direct.

Lolz.

Namie gets Wild

Namie Amuro's new single, Wild/Dr, is being released March, 18th. This is Namie's first single of 2009. Her last release being the widely popular single 60s, 70s, 80s. Dr. is featured in a Vidal Sassoon CM while Wild is featured in a Coca Cola zero commercial. After a little over a year without Namie single, all I can say is it's about time!

Namie seems to really be back with this single. Wild is absolutely fantastic. The music is very danceable and has a lot of techno elements to it. And is so different then anything Namie has done before. Namie sings this song with a lot of intensity and yet still manages it to be very soft and sweet at some parts. Just like most Namie songs there's some English lyrics, but even more than usual. Close to half the song is sung in English.

The video looks like it has a futuristic theme. I guess to fit with the dance/techno like music. Which is a little cliche if you ask me. But Namie really has a demanding presence in this video. I never loose focus from her. Mostly because she looks gorgeous in it. At one pint she's wearing this very sleek silver dress, and she just look incredible in it. The video is very powerful. And even though the dance is simple she dances with intensity. And the rocks falling behind her at one point is pretty epic.

 

Namie's back!

 Cute pose

Not really a fan of the moon set but that dress is fabulous
  

Gorgeous with her blown out hair

Reminds me of the BoA- Eat You Up video

I love the semi fishnet glove

Intense part of the dance

Namie falls gracefully

Maki's new single flys in

 
Maki Goto's first single, Fly Away, is being released January 21st. But only as a digital single. The song is a collaboration wit Sweet Black. Who I'm not familiar with at all. But since Maki is the only one singing, I'm guessing he mixed the song.

The first thing I notice about the full version of the song, is the music is very reparative. The clap sounding parts actually give me a headache. But I love the Ahhh parts added into the music. They blend in really well. But overall, I'm really in love with the song. It has some hip hop elements to it, but she sings it really softly. And as usual her vocals are top notch.

The video is very sultry. Her videos always had the sex appeal to them, but this one is even more so because it's Avex. Even the dance is sexy. It's not noticeably, in your face sexy like Kumi's dances. But it's sexy in that sultry, enchantress kind of way.She starts out the video by rolling around in bed. Then she sits on the bed in nothing but a white sheet, giving off the innocent vibe. But the random mask scenes throw off the pace a bit.

Maki looks absolutely gorgeous in this video. This really is the prettiest she's ever looked. Her new short hair gives her a more mature, confident, and sexy vibe. I think her charcoal/black jacket outfit is the best in the whole video. The sparkly dress she wear under it is really cute.

I think Koda Kumi could have some real competition for sexiest Avex artist now that Maki's debuted.

Fly Away with Maki

As many of you know a few months back former Morning Musume member Maki Goto singed with Avex. Looking back on it, that was a perfect move by Maki at the perfect time. Considering what happened to Elder Club. Anyway a few days ago Maki's Avex page was updated with a snazzy new look and a behind the scenes video which gives a preview of her new song Fly Away. http://rhythmzone.net/maki/index.html

Now I'm not a big Maki fan, and didn't really follow her career when she was part of H!P. But I did love her songs Glass no Pumps and Sayonara Love Song. And Maki has always been a fantastic singer. In the beginning of the video, her acapella of the song sounds really pretty. But when the music starts it sounds even better. I'm really excited for this song it sounds like something I would listen to. The music itself is reason enough, it's really awesome sounding.

There's also new pictures of her on her official site. She looks gorgeous in them. And she looks really great with her short hair. She's one of those people that look better with short hair. Like Ai Takahashi and Kanna Arihana look better with short hair too.

Taboo

Koda Kumi's video for her 41st single Taboo is out. The actual single is set for release on October 8th.

I like Taboo a lot more than Moon Crying. I usually prefer Kumi's faster and sluttier songs. She defiantly has a good voice for slower songs but I don't really like ballads in general. The song blends together pop and techno beats, which makes it very danceable. And it's very surprising that, That Aint Cool was only 2 singles ago. Her little English singing part sounded a lot better. Granted it was only two lines and That Aint Cool was a whole verse. But it sounds like a little improvement regardless. This is her best single in my opinion since But. Well Wonderland was good, but it was forgettable. I really like meaning of this song, it's really good.

The video has a darker almost gothic theme. It's a little reminiscent of Selfish in that respect. I think she looks absolutely gorgeous, even if she is dressed sluty. This video has a lesbian theme even more so than But did. The dance is pretty cool too, it's kind of simple though.


The video is actually kinda hard to find. I swear Avex must hire people to do nothing but search for their artists's music videos on the internet. Anyway here's the video for anyone who couldn't find it or didn't want to take the 5 minutes to look for it.

Koda Kumi- Taboo

BoA aims for the states

 
I'm kind of slow on my BoA news, so bare with me for that. Since I'm not really a huge BoA fan.

Popular Kpop and Jpop singer BoA tries her luck in entering the American market with the single entitled Eat You Up. With a release date for some time in October. She also has the slogan Best of Asia bring on America. She will also have a song with popular rapper Flo Rida.

I am super exciting for this. I really want her to make it big here, so maybe other artists will realize the US is defiantly a possibility. Because I honestly think Koda Kumi, Namie Amuro, or Maki Goto would be huge over her. And BoA has the sort of hip pop feel that is popular right now.

So let me have a mini debate with myself about the cons.

1. A big con is that she does have a noticeable accent singing. A lot of people in the US tend to make fun of anyone with an accent. An artist like Shakira who has an accent when singing is fine because there is a large population of Spanish speaking people in the US. And what about the recently popular German band Tokio Hotel? Since they only have an accent when talking and not singing that's fine. Plus they already had a fanbase here.

2. In the US we don't have that many Asian celebrities or people in the media. There are really only a handful of Asian stars such as: Margaret Cho, George Takei, Jackie Chan, Mike Shinoda, Masi Oka, etc. Asians in the United States haven't really been that successful or had that much espouser. Granted there are Asians who have made a career in the US but not nearly as many as their should be.

3. Another con is many other artists have tried to break into the US market and failed. Utada Hikaru who was born in New York, speaks fluent English, and had a song featured on a movie soundtrack isn't popular here. Puffy Ami Yumi had their on cartoon show and failed to break into the market. Even Dir en grey hasn't been able to increase their fanbase enough and they had headlining tours here. Popular Korean artist rain is trying to break into the US, but I'm not sure how that's going.

4. BoA can't speak english. It would be kind of hard for her to be on TRL, or an tv show for that matter. I think some potential fans may be turned off by constant translators.

BoA has some things to overcome or maybe I'm just being paranoid and she'll made an easy transition into the US. It certainly seems like Tokio Hotel did just that. So good luck to her. She has the looks and the talent to make it here.

Here's the preview enjoy. :D