[6/19] Berryz Kobo 32nd single: Golden Chinatown / Sayonara Usotsuki no Watashi

[jinqin321]

Well, it's certainly not. But it doesn't help either. And compare to other issues, Maasa's weight may be the easiest one to solve. Then why not.
Random fans are even more picky when it comes to idols appearance.

[Sohee]

Succhaka Mecchaka was awful I don't know what you're on. Captain, Miyabi and possibly Risako's were okay but the rest were boring as fuck. Having 10 years of experience of video shooting etc they really should be able to do better. IKUTA ERINA does much better than most of Berryz in solo close-ups.

Golden Chinatown was supposed to be serious - thus the no smile - not boring. Which is what they did. It's like they only have two ways to go: Boring or Funny. No middle-ground or other ways to go. That's their problem. Any group could pull off a cha cha SING and whatever be happy yay wihoo but... they can't go with just one type of song either. I personally like Asian Celebration as a song, but that MV (the girls in it, that is) was hardly the best and while it wasn't as awful as Chinatown, it wasn't far away.
Honestly, while the set and everything that comes with a MV obviously matters to fans, it shouldn't matter to the girls. They should be professional and pull it of and deliver even if they'd have to do dances in their rehearsal studio. The place/set/whatever shouldn't matter.

[Rm88]

While I agree that Berryz should be more versatile, the truth is they aren't. They're a 10 years old group, it's pretty clear they have weaknesses and strengths, and it's clear some of the stuff they've been given is not what they're the best at. And yes, they should always do their best job, but if they're consistently getting the lower end of the stick then I can see why they'd become less passionate. Not justified, but understandable. The only member that has exciting stuff happening to her right now is Momo, the morale of the group was obviously much higher during, say, the Inazuma period.

[jinqin321]

Golden Chinatown was supposed to be serious - thus the no smile - not boring. Which is what they did. It's like they only have two ways to go: Boring or Funny. No middle-ground or other ways to go. That's their problem. Any group could pull off a cha cha SING and whatever be happy yay wihoo but... they can't go with just one type of song either.

I think that's their problem. Maasa, Chinami, Momo and sometimes Yurina can't do a serious/cool/sexy face properly. They all know how to smile. But who don't? And you can't always smile in PVs. That's half of the group. The PVs can't look good if the girls don't know how to work the camera. Miya and Risako are pretty good in this department. They should teach the other members.

[wotakubrandon]

Miya and Risako are pretty good in this department. They should teach the other members.

They don't need to learn Risako's one face.

[Rm88]

I'd understand the insistence of shoehorning "cool" and "serious" in Berryz if H!P didn't have certain 5nin group that is PERFECT at that stuff.

[Sohee]

While I agree that Berryz should be more versatile, the truth is they aren't. They're a 10 years old group, it's pretty clear they have weaknesses and strengths, and it's clear some of the stuff they've been given is not what they're the best at. And yes, they should always do their best job, but if they're consistently getting the lower end of the stick then I can see why they'd become less passionate. Not justified, but understandable. The only member that has exciting stuff happening to her right now is Momo, the morale of the group was obviously much higher during, say, the Inazuma period.

The girls were also younger during the Inazuma singles. Which probably has a lot to do with it. It's true that Momoko has way more going for her but that itself should motivate the other members to do good/better. If it just puts them off, they're obviously not cut out for showbiz. Honestly it doesn't matter how much one can understand if they know all the circumstances, the fact is that most people don't and most people don't care. Having ten years of experience, they should be professional enough to still deliver. But they don't. More than half of them come off as tired and bored, they're not even interesting in promotion clips it's not just MVs. Either they do the best with what they have, or they'll just keep on going down. The company can only do so much if the girls don't try. If they only get shitty songs and shitty production (though their Chinatown outfits were amazing) then at least own the camera and make people interested. THAT is what will get management noticing that they're still up for this and that they still want to do it. THAT is probably what has made C-ute come as far as they have, because they show that they want to do more, go further and they go full out no matter what they're given. Berryz don't. That's the difference and unless they start shaping up it'll probably go more downhill from here.

Honestly I don't expect them to fill Budoukan but maybe if they could, they'd get more motivated. As spoiled as that would make them come off.

[esm]

Miyabi and Risako are excellent. In H!P concerts they stand out about as much as other lead girls.

Well, it's certainly not. But it doesn't help either. And compare to other issues, Maasa's weight may be the easiest one to solve. Then why not.
Random fans are even more picky when it comes to idols appearance.

I personally want Chinami to gain weight more than I want Maasa to lose weight. Maasa's thick legs don't always look that obvious, depending on camera angle, plus you have Yurina's overall larger frame to balance the image off.

[wotakubrandon]

Having ten years of experience, they should be professional enough to still deliver.

Most of the group really only has experience standing in the back going "FUWA".

[Sohee]

Miyabi and Risako can't carry the group where 5 of them lack in performance quality. Just as Momoko can't carry the group in interest-factor. It's a group effort and unless MOST of them make that effort it won't go. It's all good to be individuals and stand on their own, which is what Berryz are and they keep pushing it, but THAT and the lack of talking about the group (which they have admitted to; they don't talk about how to do things with the group) will end up in... well. This.

^Except they've done plenty of concert tours, had managers for ten years, have had excellent seniors to look up to and aim for and everything else that comes with being an idol. They don't have AS MUCH variety experience, no. But Momoko managed despite that... then again, I guess we could dismiss that as "she's unique and annoying" or whatever, despite the obvious success.