OG Spam Thread :: All things non-Up-Front Related!

[Shoujo Q]

Goto Maki has the worst luck.

[JPope]

I'm gonna necro-bump this quote, because there's an update

I wonder if this is a case of UF doing Risa a solid and letting her "leave" as opposed to suffering the professional embarrassment of not having her contract renewed. I actually liked a couple of her more recent songs, but she has neither the talent nor personality to hang with what M-line has become, which is a low-key powerhouse of an idol "senior circuit."

Risamaru is utterly invisible on any stage she shares -- organizational filler in an organization that is filled with ex-H!P idols who are far better at everything than she is. It was one thing when Risa was part of a full-time M-line that included Karin, Bitter & Sweet, Miyabi and a bunch of part-timers, but now? With Maa-chan, Take-chan, Manakan and Kiki in the fold, who's her audience/fan base? Shit, Ozeki parachuted in out of nowhere and has absolutely killed it ever since. I wish her the best moving forward, but I'm not gonna miss seeing a VTR of an M-line performance of some great H!P song, only to be disappointed to see Risa part of it.

I don't know if any of y'all have checked in on Risamaru since she left M-line and UF, but she’s released three digital songs in that time, all of which are better than anything she did with M-line. And here’s the plot twist: she wrote and composed two of them, and did lyrics for the other. The first two are down-tempo pop with a bit of a dark and dreamy indie edge, and the last is straight-ahead pop. Her sense of melody and harmony is legitimately advanced to the point where she -- no bullshit -- might end up being the best composer to emerge from H!P. If you’re not into this type of music, you still won’t like this, but check it out anyway if for no other reason than to appreciate Risamaru’s metmorphosis from kinda boring idol to more-than-competent pop artist. I’m honestly stunned and really happy that she’s found her niche, because I was not expecting this.


“Ramune” - Written & composed by Risa Ogata




“Hakumei” Lyrics by Risa Ogata; Music by Lito Tsuji




“Replica” - Written & composed by Risa Ogata

[Shoujo Q]

Guess who’s back, back again.

[JPope]

So Ayaya's career is now emerging every five years or so do an advert, eh?

[JPope]

In case you're wondering what Kishimon has been up to

[Shoujo Q]

Miyabi and Captain! Now with a little Captain of her own.

[JPope]

I've been so out of the loop that I didn't even know Miyabi had left UF and M-line, lol! I figured she'd have a lesser role in it post-marriage, but this actually makes more sense to me, as she can just move at her own pace without the stress of a company hanging over her.

[JPope]

Rika-sama continues her journey through the Showa-era songbook with Kozo Murashita's "Odoriko"

[JPope]

Rika-sama covers Hiromi Ohta's "Farewell to the Trans-Siberian Railway." Shunsuke Suzuki's arrangement is a pretty much a note-perfect recreation of the original.