New Country Musume auditions (Country・Girls)

[BerryzCelebration]

I don't know... It's kind of like a girl auditioning for MM.14's 12th generation, and then not even being familiar with their 2012-2013 singles. It's like she did it all for the fame and recognition.

But since CM.'s a older group, it's understandable. Atleast have them be interested in H!P itself and maybe one girl who knows alot about the history of CM.?

[Sohee]

Masaki barely knew anything about MM when she joined MM.
Goto Maki didn't even know the members when she auditioned.
Miki didn't even want to be in the group when she was put in lol.
I doubt even Aika was a big fan when she joined.

I don't get the big deal, a lot of people seem to be bothered by this. Girls wanna be famous, wanna become idols (especially these days) and they take a lot of auditions. Then they pass one, and that way they become a part of the group's history and that's when they start to really care about it.
Obviously it's nice if every girl had been a fan before auditioning and all, but that's not how it's gonna be and I doubt it ever was that way tbh.
But as long as they come to like the group, learn the history and learn to appreciate it properly, I don't see what's so wrong with them coming in blank.

[esm]

I find it hard to believe that there would be girls out there who have been wanting to become an idol for a while... and somehow not know MM 14's 2012-2013 singles. If these girls have been following the most popular idols out there in the past few years then I'm sure they'd know the latest singles. Or I find it hard to believe that most of the girls in idol auditions are like that.

Anyway, I'd rather have girls that can contribute as an idol than someone who... somehow auditions because of their pure love for the group without caring about becoming an idol that much. Idols that are part of a group still would tend to aim to stand out as an individual and gain fans, so the aspiration to become an idol is definitely important.

[randompasserby]

^Seconded, being a fan of a group shouldn't mean you get bonus points in the audition.
Yeah it'd be nice for some of us to have someone in group you can relate to (as fans) but they should be judged on their own merit and potential to contribute.

^x2 The only ones I truly believe to be the case is Sayu and Fukuhime, and Fukuhime is more of a Berryz than an MM wota lol.
As for Sayu.. well I've followed her long enough and always found her consistent on this particular point.

[Sohee]

Oh I'm sure most people would know MM, especially from 2013 and all, but as big as their success is and all, they're far from the only idol group in Japan that's getting attention so I doubt everyone would be well informed - even if they obviously would know ABOUT the group.
I don't expect people to be able to name all 10 members of the group in the 12ki audition - maybe 3-5. Though I'm sure a lot of people do their studying too, though. Especially if they get a call back.

[Celedam]

being a fan of a group shouldn't mean you get bonus points in the audition.

It did for Risa.

[randompasserby]

Was mostly venting against Cuca fans but ok
I don't recall the specifics about it though... other than vague rumors of her parents being connected lol. Did she even mention she was a fan before she joined? Most of the stories I do remember was from after she was a member (going to concerts holding Nacchi's uchiwa etc)

[Sohee]

She passed for her passion, no? Which came from her being a huge fan and she must have expressed her feelings for the group during auditions. I have a very, very vague memory of her mentioning something like that during her interview.

But those times are different, as far as "knowing the group" goes. That was golden era... We're not there these days so we shouldn't expect every girl who applies to be an actual fan/too aware of the group.

[Celedam]

At the risk of taking this even further off-topic...

She passed for her passion, no? Which came from her being a huge fan and she must have expressed her feelings for the group during auditions.

And before.

[boinsie]

Putting it in terms that most of us can relate to: Say that you need a job. You cast our job applications to a broad expanse of companies. Now, sure there may be a few that are for your ~dream~job~ with a company that you love and know everything about, but the greater bulk that you'll put in are for places you hadn't even heard of before. Your previous inexperience doesn't change your ability to learn about the company and grow to love it as you work there. Likewise, being unfamiliar with the specific company doesn't automatically mean that you're not the most qualified candidate for the position (unless the position is Authentic Fact Guru for OOO Company, I suppose).