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

[otaku_blue]

What I like about this single is that it proves that Berryz don't ever really get the "short end of the stick".
They're given just as much opportunities as any other group in HP right now, they're even doing a lot better than their worse.
Just because they don't sell as good as C-ute, its no reason for Captain to have a tantrum about it. It's pathetic, honestly can't believe that happened. They practically begged for a Budokan concert, and it's just pathetic. Bad enough the HP Premium Live was focused on Berryz, but wow I am just so sick of people pretending like management doesn't promote Berryz. There's obviously some other issues going on here, and promotion and management aren't really at fault here.

[Zunu]

I wouldn't necessarily take it on face value that the version of events we see publicly corresponds to what is going on behind the scenes. IOW, maybe Captain's "tantrum" was part of a staged narrative to provide a backstory to Berryz "comeback" (to use Kpop terminology.)

[wotakubrandon]

^^You're really hyperbolic. Tantrum? Really?

Berryz does get the short end of the stick choreography wise. I don't know what's going on there but it needs to be fixed.

[Zunu]

I think what's mostly going on with them is they're burned out. What other H!P group has gone for such a length of time with no personnel changes? None save MKB, and their career prospects were even worse.

So, how about it Tsunk? Graduate Maa and Giraffe, and put two or three of the KSS in their places.

Ones who can sing.

[Rm88]

I said Berryz got the short end of the stick PV-wise. Because they did, you can't really argue that C-ute and S/mileage didn't get much nicer PVs. Songs, it's subjective I guess, but as much as I have grown to love Chinatown this single as a whole feels more like a double b-side than a double a-side to me.

An other surprise was how popular Momoko is.. you could easily tell looking at the pink t-shirts and glow sticks but mainly the chanting-parting really made it obvious.

Momo domination. It's real.

[wotakubrandon]

So, how about it Tsunk? Graduate Maa and Giraffe, and put two or three of the KSS in their places.

Ones who can sing.

But keep Chinami? No wai. Yurina sings better and is probably considered better looking.

[Amped]

#8 today

*5 *6 *9 *8 *5 *8
http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/d/2013-06-23/more/2/

[Parhelion69]

I'm not sure about Yurina, I think she's the worst singer of them all, or maybe it's that her voice is really unpleasant, idk.

About them getting the short end of the stick, dancing wise, maybe it's because they're not really good dancers. Captain's is one of H!P best, Miyabi and Momo are good, Risako is just ok, but the other three are just awful. They can't have better dance routines, because they just can't. And sadly, they're a bit old already to improve on that.

I think Berryz's problem is complacency, they were chosen first, so they were "safe", they didn't need to push themselves, they debuted when H!P was at its highest, and they went to Saitama just because they were under H!P's umbrella (same happens with AKB's subgroups now), C-ute started on H!P's decline. Berryz already had their best days, and they lack motivation, maybe they believe it's not worth giving it your 100%, since nothing will be the same as before.

C-ute members have been motivated since the start, because they were the "rejected" ones, who didn't debut with Berryz. They cried on Berryz first concert, because they weren't there. But that was their motivation, they constantly improved themselves and now they became what we see, a highly skilled performing group, with very good looking girls.

Look at Chisato's improvement in singing, she's very good now. Nakky couldn't sing, but she improved her dancing and became c-ute's best dancer. All of them are skilled dancers, they worked their butts off.

About the good looking part, were c-ute girls always this hot? Maimi was too skinny, as well as saki, well they were all a bit too thin , but now they seem like the live in the gym, their bodies are well toned and they look fantastic on bikinis or outfits that show a lot of skin. They're are taking care of themselves, something that isn't happening in Berryz (except if you're Miyabi, she's hot), look at Maasa and Risako, they ARE overweight... why they can't do a little more effort, trying to look better? They're idols and that's what fans want (yeah, blame this superficial world)

Also, management hasn't given up on them yet, they're still selling, even though it's not big numbers. But now, there's a new player in town, Juice=Juice. They're gonna be given a huge boost, like S/mileage had in the beggining (and all the other groups were neglected, if you remember well), so Berryz is the most likely to be given the least budget and stuff. Damn, they may even graduate all of Berryz for that matter.

So, I think the Budokan "ultimatum" is just that, fill it, or you're out. And no one could be blamed if that happens, but themselves, Tsunku said it clearly, they have to give it their best efforts. I hope they change their attitudes and work their asses off.

[wotakubrandon]

I'm not sure about Yurina, I think she's the worst singer of them all, or maybe it's that her voice is really unpleasant, idk.

Worse than Chinami and Maasa? I think because she sings more it's noticeable but yeah.

About them getting the short end of the stick, dancing wise, maybe it's because they're not really good dancers. Captain's is one of H!P best, Miyabi and Momo are good, Risako is just ok, but the other three are just awful. They can't have better dance routines, because they just can't. And sadly, they're a bit old already to improve on that.

I've brought this up before but like someone said they've had good dances in the past but since Heroine we haven't really gotten a really really good one. I wouldn't say any of them are awful dancers Chinami and Maasa are just lazy dancers. Although I've never thought either of them were lazy performers if that makes sense.

About the good looking part, were c-ute girls always this hot?

Yes. They just needed to grow up some and Chisato needed to be properly styled.

[Rm88]

There's -no way- Yurina is a worse singer than Chinami and Maasa. Yurina is plain-sounding, kind of like Maimi, but it gets extra "do not want" points from some people because of her deep voice. And Chisato was never an awful singer, she was never Maasa. And they've been rather good dancers for ages - not that they haven't improved, but it's clear it was just a matter of polishing what was there in the first place. Comparing both groups side-to-side, even back to Tokaikko vs. Jingisukan, it was clear C-ute was always a way more well-rounded group. Looks are subjective, BTW, I don't find Maimai or Chisato particularly good looking, and Nakki is a bit hit or miss (even if she's my second favorite).