by iceymoon » Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:00 pm
gonna elaborate with an "adjusting for inflation" impression of who is popular in their respective eras:
1. Aichan = Nacchi (pretty much undisputed at the top, their natural sweetness made them popular with both men and women)
2. Mikitty = Maki (one was so popular she became a soloist and the other was a popular soloist that Tsunku thought the group needed.. just goes to show how the tide had changed by the time 6th gen joined)
3. Koharu = Rika (considered one of the most popular in the group despite their lack of talent, they rose in the ranks thanks to their personalities, charm, looks and being pushed to the forefront by UF)
4. Reina/Sayu/Eri = Mari/Kago/Tsuji (just grouping them cuz it's hard to figure out who's most comparable to whom.. Sayu and Eri were almost equal in popularity until later, then Sayu even started equalling Reina.. maybe Sayu is like Kago? initially grouped with Tsuji/Eri, but then soared above her and eventually even over old favorite Mari/Reina?)
7. Risa = Yossi (mood makers and a staple in the groups fans of their eras could hardly imagine leaving the group, but never pushed as a member and fanbase never seemed to equal the others even though most people would rank them in their top 5)
8. KonKon = Kaori (about equal to Risa/Yossi, might even be the other way around.. hard to tell in retrospect)
9. Mako = Keichan (generally the laughing stock of the group, but they serve their purpose as comedic relief and so were liked and respected, but there was a cap to their popularity)
not including Aika cuz she's in a category of her own. i don't think there's ever been a member that remains at the bottom in popularity even with new members and so many years in the group (9th gen all passed her, and 10th gen are on their way to).. i can't categorize Jun/Lin here, because them being Chinese kind of put them in their own category as well).
Last edited by
iceymoon on Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
