[8/28] Morning Musume。54th single - Wagamama Kinomama Ai no Joke / Ai no Gundan [#1 single, 144k]

[esm]

Hey, she contributes by looking awesome all the time.

Same goes for Haruka.

I don't mind if Eripon doesn't sing very much until she improves enough for MM's singles, which are actually challenging, also taking into account the rigorous dancing these days. I mean, it's not like the other girls started to get more lines because Tsunku just wanted to be fair. They did earn it with their singing abilities.

[Denki]

This is why Eripon (or any other background girl) fans choose the B-sides with her face on it.

There has never been an edition with all my favorites in one, so I always choose the neutral one. Thanks to Tsunku and the UF staff, now I have to get multiple copies. Way to find a way to take all my money. At least both a-side tracks are amazing. I would have no regrets unless one of the b-sides is not to my taste.

[Starra]

I think I prefer Ai no Gundan over Wagamama. Both songs are amazing, though.

Sakura .

[Chibs]

Yay there are people that like Wagemama Kinkymama xD

[randompasserby]

For what it's worth Zukki's and Haruka's voice always stood out in the unison parts so it's not like you couldn't hear them completely... although I'm still having a hard time picking out Eripon's voice to be honest. I've faith if they keep improving, and all signs points to it, they'll all get their chance to shine eventually.

Being a fan of MM's background member is always a waiting game, thankfully H!P/UF has been pretty good with rewarding our patience in that department lately

I think it's part of the very obvious forced nature that works for me though ... especially in the context of the song, and Sayu (at least to me) is similarly deliberately over the top with those expressions quite often...like you say that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's amazing how good everyone is though in their own way.

If you could please not drag Sayu into this, that'll be great. Thanks

After rewatching both PVs' a few times now it's pretty satisfying to see H!P's upward trajectory is also present in their PV making decisions.
The way I see it goes something like this ...
123
+early signs of the formation dance oriented MM
+great outfits
-overly edited/sparkly
-same old basic formula of dance shot and close up shot stitched together
-minimalistic seen-it-a-hundred-times set, the mirrors are a nice touch though
Matenrou show
-pretty much all the negatives above
Wakuteka
+decent outfits
+formation dance getting a bit more complicated now
+some new varieties in set pieces although still very minimalistic
-still went a little bit overboard with the editing
-horrible styling on a few members
Help Me!
+good outfits
+cg background that actually works for once, pretty nice effects too
+focus on formation dance is now very clearly emphasized
-lack of variety in camera angles makes this pv feels especially choppy cutting from dance shots to close ups
Brainstorming
+great outfits
+larger set to accommodate the increasingly complex switching between formations and the intense dance itself. It's still simplistic but pretty striking and effective.
+sweeping shots and finally a few more camera angles than usual is very much welcomed
(no complaints here. seriously)
KimiSae
+some of those extra camera angles sticks around thankfully.
-initial outfits are meh
-settings are boring
-neat formations but least engaging of all their previous attempts
Wagamama
+AN ACTUAL LOCATION!!WooOHooOOo!! An awesome one at that too.
+multiple outfits, one of them fantastic.
+sweeping shots, lively group shots, no more complaining of camera angles here.
Ai no Gundan
+awesome outfits with striking colors that make the simple set effective.
+cool formations
+the effects added to the atmosphere prettily
+variety in camera angles
(need a few hundred more viewings to nitpick the negatives on the last two, either it's just that perfect or I'm still in a high xD)

[Amped]

[forgetmenots]

Wagamama gets stuck in my head constantly I was closing up at work and singing the "kanashimi" and "aisaretai" parts without realizing it tonight

I can't pick between the two of them though, I love them for such different reasons. (Though my 10 year old sister says that Ai no Gundan is the best thing ever, while just shrugging Wagamama off ')

Pretty Ai no Gundan is my new exercise/dance song, and Wagamama is my new EnergyUp! song

Oh man, Tsunku and UF, you are raising my expectations up slowly, but surely, please let the awesomeness just keep continuing with the new singles after this and with the new generations of girls *crosses fingers*

[Sohee]

I really want a Shibuya poster for this one.

[otaku_blue]

Its great how hard it is to establish which one is the greater a-side, since they're both just as good as the other.

Wagamama has a great hook, Sayu's part is stuck in my head and the dancing is great and wow. not really liking the way they processed their voices and sakura's hair, but its still great nevertheless. the live version is so kick ass and would make a great stage at kouhaku, i wish they uploaded it to the morningmusumechannel just so we can spam it with views to give it more attention.

Ai no Gundan was great, I love bubles. :3 The white outfits were something I really wanted to see in a MM PV, and wow Mizuki looks hot as. Love the sax and its just great. The sparkly stuff was cool, and the random of flowers and stuff was appropriately used.

Great single, hope the jackets are well done.

[kikkawame]

Just checked these out and I am disappointed... First of all... Cut it out with the autotuning!!! Seriously, if I had my way I would ban autotuning, it totally removes the individuality from the performances, what is the point of having any character to your vocals if they mechanically remove it? Might as well have them miming, it would make no sodding difference! Second, I feel these songs should have had the best bits of each moulded into one track. Wagamama has some lovely guitar driven mid-sections and some pacy electro, dragged down by a ghastly synth bass. Ai no gundan has that sublime jazz lead, superbly complicated and caried dance routine and colourful style to the PV. Dragged down by the needless autotuning and jarring mid-song breakdown that does not but break up what was a promising song. In my opinion a missed opportunity to be both mass appealing and musically excellent, a shame.