[7/04] Morning Musume 50th: One・Two・Three/ The Matenrou Show

[Celedam]

Hear, hear.

In fact, it looks like someone thought they were being helpful and "cleaned them up," because I know they still had the real numbers when they forked ThePPN.

Yup, looking at the history of that page, user Latyfesurlesora is grossly and systematically inflating those sales numbers.

[Zunu]

The truth is somewhere in-between. Ai Araba's numbers, I think, are definitely exaggerated or mistakenly estimated. However, JKM (RIAJ page) and Roman MDB (RIAJ page) were both eventually Gold Certified (for 100K sales), which doesn't show up on Generasia's older stats.

[resop2]

I like to think that MM is now on it's sixth era:

1) The "We're not idols, we're an independent singing group, dammit!" era.
2) The "Sigh, I guess we are idols after all" era.
3) The "Louder, faster and out of control" era.
4) The "Let's make everything sexy" era.
5) The "Emosume" era.
6) The "New Kids on the Block" era.

[Celedam]

1) 1997-1999: The original group.
2) 1999-2002: The Golden Era.
3) 2002-2005: The downward spiral.
4) 2005-2007: The Yossie years.
5) 2007-2011: The Platinum Era.
6) 2011-????: The coming of the newbies, a.k.a. Shin Morning Musume or Reborn Musume.

[DARC1993]

5) 2007-2011: The Platinum Era.

4) 2005-2007: The Yossie years.

lol i like how this is jsut known as the Yossie era..

[Celedam]

The Yossie years were when H!P was so weak that Utaban finally lost interest, Kago had her problems, HaroMoni got cancelled, and AKB48 became the hot new thing.

Not that any of it was Yossie's fault, of course, but that was her time as leader.

[Sohee]

1) 1997-1999: The original group.
2) 1999-2002: The Golden Era.
3) 2002-2005: The fall.
4) 2005-2007: The desperate period.
5) 2007-2011: The Platinum Era.
6) 2011-????: The Reborn era.

If I'd get to name it myself.

[Zunu]

Not that any of it was Yossie's fault, of course, but that was her time as leader.

In other words, what you're saying is that Hitomi Yoshizawa single-handedly almost killed off girl idol jpop.

[Celedam]

Sure, why not.

I like "the Reborn Era", with the double meaning of the newbies and the stage play.

[DARC1993]

IMO Ai's leadership with the help of the other 8 members helped Morning Musume。stay afloat and not keep sinking.
That's why I really appreciate that era. They showed the audience a completely new Morning Musume。 heck a cOmpletly new type of idols in Japan and that's boss of them.
I honestly think Morning Musume。would not have survived until today if the platinum era didn't happen.