[1/23] Morning Musume's 52nd Single "Help me!!"

[TotallyUncool]

I don't expect good cover art from Morning Musume, so I'm never disappointed.

None of them are terrible, and some of them are rather nice -- limited B is OK, E is growing on me, and I kind of like the brick wall. There's something about the (lack of) composition in regular A that doesn't work at all, and F looks too much like it was thrown together. But none of them approach the scissors-library-paste-and-construction-paper design awfulness of the 4th and 5th album covers.

[Starra]

Other than limited C and regular B, they're pretty cool.

Also, Haruna (and everyone else, ftr) looks amazing.

[Jessi]

So much better than wakutekas covers!

We actually get alternate clothes! And they are nice looking alternate clothes.

Wakutekas outfits weren't that bad but they were definitely worse than these outfits. I actually really like the cheetah print plus pink skirt combo.

I'm excited for the PV

[randompasserby]

blown up ver so it gets blurry but daaaaaaaaammmmn

Spoiler: show

Everyone looks so lovely
Riho is pulling off that smolder perfectly btw

V righto..spoilered

[Celedam]

That's really not necessary. Modern browsers can do their own zooming.

[PureLight]

I don't expect good cover art from Morning Musume, so I'm never disappointed.

None of them are terrible, and some of them are rather nice -- limited B is OK, E is growing on me, and I kind of like the brick wall. There's something about the (lack of) composition in regular A that doesn't work at all, and F looks too much like it was thrown together. But none of them approach the scissors-library-paste-and-construction-paper design awfulness of the 4th and 5th album covers.

I always liked the 5th album cover. Always looked good in person too.

4th is a mess but.....again, in person, I like.

[Mirai]

Glad there are alternate outfits, but I think my favorite cover is limited b.

[TotallyUncool]

^^ As I was posting that, I was thinking, Even if their composition is all wrong and a mess, I actually like the way that the 4th and 5th album covers look!

[Starra]

Tsunku comments. Will edit with translations in a bit.
http://ameblo.jp/tsunku-blog/entry-11430003457.html

EDIT:
HAPPY Taisakusen:
-A warm song made for the ending of concerts.

Aishuu Romantic:
-Something along the lines of "Suki da na Kimi ga" part 2.
-Sayumi's skills (dancing, singing, etc) have "stabilised" lately.
-Mizuki has a "golden ratio"?.

Watashi no Dekkai Hana:
-He says Haruna's voice is "moe".
-Song contains Ayumi rapping. Her voice has a good rhythm.
-This song was written before Reina's graduation announcement.

Nani wa Tomo Are!:
-He wanted to create something with a feeling similar to "Suki na Senpai". It's a song about growing up(?).
-Erina acts like a kid, bit sometimes she shows an adult side.
-Kanon's smile is the power of 9th gen.
-Haruka's face has chanced. He feels as though she considers 11th gen (Sakura) her rival.
-He briefly mentions something about a future 12th genration.

Daisuki Dakara Zettai ni Yurusanai:
-It's got a similar melody to "Kanashimi Heaven".
-He says Riho's strength is in dancing, but her singing is good too. However, she has a way to go in terms of pitch and vibrato.
-Sakura's still a beginner, so she's got lots of big hurdles to overcome.

Some of these are probably wrong, but hey. It gives people an idea of what Toonk is saying.

[koregaboku]

Anyway, other comments Tsunku made about the B-sides:
Happy Daisakusen: Tsunku says that this is a warm, energetic song befitting a concert ending. He wrote it so that the fans and the group could come together as one for a moment.

Aishuu Romantic: The melody is an upgrade that requires both better singing ability and better rhythm. There are feelings of grief, as well as loneliness and uncertain feelings, which the two girls delivered well. He says Sayumi's sense of stability lately is almost scary; her singing, dancing, talking, everything has become stable. He says Fukumura is ever the same, a golden ratio (whatever that means).

Watashi no dekkai hana: This time, he used various tunes so that the girls could bring out their individual personalities. Haruna's voice is starting to grow, and her personality cannot be imitated. He's very thankful that he met her and brought her into MM. Ayumi will rap in a way related to the feeling of the dance. He says that since the announcement of her graduation, Reina seems more determined than ever.

Nani wa tomo are!: He collected the feelings of friendship among like-minded girls, being fleeting, and excellence into this song. Even though it's a mix of voices from 9ki and 10ki, he wrote it so that it could be performed by 9ki only or 10ki only. He says that each of their insecurities or faults makes the song great, and that it can't be rerecorded later when they are better singers. Erina's strength is in her simple-mindedness, much like a young boy, but she also can show her strength as an adult, as well. Kanon's smile is the strength of the 9ki, and she will surely grow more and more. Masaki has really turned into an adult, but she still might have that part of her that bothers the people around her. Kudou's expression has also changed, like she will make the 11ki and future 12ki her rivals.

Daisuki dakara zettai ni yurusanai: A song where singing ability is necessary. A song where it is difficult to tell who is lead. He thought about it as a song to revive the mood during lives (like after a ballad). Riho's dance strength has become very valuable, but her singing is also nice. She is still growing in various aspects of her singing, like pitch, vibratto, note length, and building up her voice. Sakura has only just started, but she will likely come across high hurdles. He hopes she is able to go over them.

From Lurkette @ HO

^^
uhh....