Kimagure Princess [Preview]

[AEUGNewtype]

[quote name='Ap2000' post='71437' date='Nov 8 2009, 04:05 PM']Risa's totally pushing the air out of her throat at around 03:43, which sounds awful. =/[/quote]

This is entirely the idea behind it, it was done on purpose, but I'm not arguing that it doesn't sound retarded, though that is far overshadowed by how stupid Ai's "Ii Ja Nai?" lines are in every chorus. Those are ridiculously forced and just sound bad, even though that's how they were meant to be sung, they just had the wrong person sing it.

[Noa]

I was talking about the hoi's actually.

[tsukinobyouin]

[quote name='Myst' post='71425' date='Nov 8 2009, 02:50 PM']I don't know if anyone watched the Music Fighter for the song, but even in the episode, it seemed like they all were picking on her. I only watched half of it 'cause my computer doesn't like playing mp4's , but I read a summary somewhere, and it gave me that same opinion, so maybe she really isn't leaving on good terms. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /pouty.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' />[/quote]



There's a version up at H!O that's an avi, if you wanted to see the whole thing <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wub:' />



I just watched it and I don't think anything about it really gives off an air that she's leaving on bad terms. The girls definitely were teasing her, but it was no worse than we've seen with other members in the past. For those that haven't seen it yet / don't understand Japanese, each girl was asked to ask Koharu to "graduate" from something else along with her graduation from MM - i.e. "this thing you're doing is annoying, cut it out." Risa poked fun at her for never knowing what venue they're at during tours, Aika told her she was too loud, Reina told her to stop interrupting people, etc. It all seemed like the same type of teasing that MM has always done to it's own members, and I feel like a lot of the other graduation themed episodes for former members have gone this way. The joking "good riddance" thing is a pretty common joke for graduations.



They also confirmed that Kimagure Princess is in fact Koharu's graduation single, so there's that.

[Pucchi-Mo]

[quote name='The☆AEUGNewtype' post='71440' date='Nov 8 2009, 06:30 PM'][quote name='Ap2000' post='71437' date='Nov 8 2009, 04:05 PM']Risa's totally pushing the air out of her throat at around 03:43, which sounds awful. =/[/quote]

This is entirely the idea behind it, it was done on purpose, but I'm not arguing that it doesn't sound retarded, though that is far overshadowed by how stupid Ai's "Ii Ja Nai?" lines are in every chorus. Those are ridiculously forced and just sound bad, even though that's how they were meant to be sung, they just had the wrong person sing it.

[/quote]



The single in itself is ridiculously forced, with the distorted "chipmunk" lines already. Who would be better suited for it? Especially considering that it seems like the purpose of that line is for it to be over the top (which is 100% Ai's tendency anyway).

[AEUGNewtype]

[quote name='TightWetPucchi' post='71443' date='Nov 8 2009, 06:00 PM']The single in itself is ridiculously forced, with the distorted "chipmunk" lines already. Who would be better suited for it? Especially considering that it seems like the purpose of that line is for it to be over the top (which is 100% Ai's tendency anyway).[/quote]

I wasn't really saying that there's particularly another person in the group who could've handled it, I was just saying it sounds bad when someone who doesn't have a truly great voice does stuff like that with that exact aim in mind. I don't quite get what you mean by her tendency to be over the top, but I don't think that's the issue.

[Pucchi-Mo]

[quote name='The☆AEUGNewtype' post='71444' date='Nov 8 2009, 07:06 PM'][quote name='TightWetPucchi' post='71443' date='Nov 8 2009, 06:00 PM']The single in itself is ridiculously forced, with the distorted "chipmunk" lines already. Who would be better suited for it? Especially considering that it seems like the purpose of that line is for it to be over the top (which is 100% Ai's tendency anyway).[/quote]

I wasn't really saying that there's particularly another person in the group who could've handled it, I was just saying it sounds bad when someone who doesn't have a truly great voice does stuff like that with that exact aim in mind. I don't quite get what you mean by her tendency to be over the top, but I don't think that's the issue.

[/quote]

Oh, I was only asking because I was curious about who you thought would be better for it.

Actually, since Eri has that line too, would you say she did better or worse?



As for what I mean about Takahashi... Manpower live

@ 2:43 it's a bit much. (even for that song)



There's another one from a TV performance that I can't find, but it was seriously an amplified foghorn.

If anyone has any idea what I mean, I remember it was a perf that had a studio audience who the camera cut to a few times. Also, I think they gasped when Reina did her opening line with the throwing motion. It's not this one, but that is close too. It might have even been the same outfits.

[zlilzlilzlil]

Great news.

On this week, morning musume lowest ranking was 35, and on sunday (yesterday) they ranked third with sells of 3386 which is amazing for a MM sells in the second week. they won't pass the second week sells of NR, but they will pass SYO which is about 4150 of the full second week.

[cromartiedropout]

[quote name='TnB' post='71442' date='Nov 8 2009, 11:55 PM']I just watched it and I don't think anything about it really gives off an air that she's leaving on bad terms. The girls definitely were teasing her, but it was no worse than we've seen with other members in the past. For those that haven't seen it yet / don't understand Japanese, each girl was asked to ask Koharu to "graduate" from something else along with her graduation from MM - i.e. "this thing you're doing is annoying, cut it out." Risa poked fun at her for never knowing what venue they're at during tours, Aika told her she was too loud, Reina told her to stop interrupting people, etc. It all seemed like the same type of teasing that MM has always done to it's own members, and I feel like a lot of the other graduation themed episodes for former members have gone this way. The joking "good riddance" thing is a pretty common joke for graduations.



They also confirmed that Kimagure Princess is in fact Koharu's graduation single, so there's that.[/quote]



They did something similar on Utaban when Fukuda graduated, they were like "Okay so now that Fukuda is leaving tell us how it's gonna fuck up Momusu." XD

[thamychan]

(Again, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post it but it seems a waste to open a new thread. Correct me if I'm wrong! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ryalot.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':dammit:' /> )

HMV Japan is holding a poll for you to choose your favorite idol, and Morning Musume is (really) behind AKB48 right now: http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2234196/



Back to the real topic, Kimagure Princess Single V ranked 10th place, selling 4,814 copies. And the single V's continue to sell less and less as expected.

[Cyrene]

-Insert paragraph about how MM is doomed now, they're all gonna graduate, etc.-



As for me, I *love* this single. I really disliked Shouganai blah blah as a single, and Nanchatte Renai got old fast. This one is so fun to sing and just has more zip to it! Love it!

[Joel]

wow. last time I checked the HMV poll a few hours ago, AKB48 had a 3k votes and MM ahd like 1k. Now MM are a couple 100 behind AKB. This poll is just a straight up wota war.

[yoshimi]

[quote name='Joel' post='71557' date='Nov 10 2009, 07:02 PM']wow. last time I checked the HMV poll a few hours ago, AKB48 had a 3k votes and MM ahd like 1k. Now MM are a couple 100 behind AKB. This poll is just a straight up wota war.[/quote]

fffffffffffff forget Momusu and AKB, what the hell is up with Perfume on there?! IDK if I should be happy that they have less creepy wota fans (you know if they had as many as Momusu and AKB, they'd be way higher than that). <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':dammit:' /> My girls aren't being properly represented.



I lol'd at this being an wota war, though. It so is.

[Special Needs Tricycle]

[quote name='JSp' post='71555' date='Nov 10 2009, 01:01 PM'](Again, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post it but it seems a waste to open a new thread. Correct me if I'm wrong! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ryalot.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':dammit:' /> )

HMV Japan is holding a poll for you to choose your favorite idol, and Morning Musume is (really) behind AKB48 right now: http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2234196/[/quote]

Morning Musume is way ahead of AKB right now, but seriously, this is the dumbest fucking poll ever and just a reason for MM and AKB fans to fight.



Why are Onyanko Club, Dogawa Jun, Matsuda Seiko, and SNSD listed?



Onyanko Club died like 20 years ago, I've never even heard of Dogawa Jun, Matsuda Seiko's like 50 years old now, and SNSD hasn't done shit in Japan.



But Idoling!!! isn't listed? Fudanjuku isn't listed? No other H!P groups are listed? What the fuck.

[AEUGNewtype]

[quote name='TightWetPucchi' post='71452' date='Nov 8 2009, 08:13 PM']Oh, I was only asking because I was curious about who you thought would be better for it.

Actually, since Eri has that line too, would you say she did better or worse?



As for what I mean about Takahashi... Manpower live

@ 2:43 it's a bit much. (even for that song)



There's another one from a TV performance that I can't find, but it was seriously an amplified foghorn.

If anyone has any idea what I mean, I remember it was a perf that had a studio audience who the camera cut to a few times. Also, I think they gasped when Reina did her opening line with the throwing motion. It's not this one, but that is close too. It might have even been the same outfits.[/quote]

Now that you mention it, I didn't realize the 2nd chorus was Eri but to answer your question, yes, Eri did a much better job with the line, it doesn't sound ridiculous and she doesn't add that unnecessary vibrato that Takahashi does. The only other decent singers in the group at this time is LinLin but she's not important enough to get main lines like that, but at least they gave Eri the other shot. Risa used to be a good singer but I think late puberty hit her like a truck and now she usually sounds like crap.



And I do know what you mean about Takahashi and being over the top and this is definitely a case of that, but someone obviously thought this was ok if it made it into the final recording. That may be the biggest blame here.

[Farrah]

I have to admit, I also think Eri outshined Ai on this. I'm a huge Eri fan, admittedly, but I think Ai was pretty weak vocally here. Her usual flaws (insane breathiness, over singing, shakiness) are very pronounced.

[strawberryjam]

[quote name='JSp' post='71555' date='Nov 10 2009, 10:01 AM'](Again, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post it but it seems a waste to open a new thread. Correct me if I'm wrong! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ryalot.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':cryalot:' /> )

HMV Japan is holding a poll for you to choose your favorite idol, and Morning Musume is (really) behind AKB48 right now: http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2234196/



Back to the real topic, Kimagure Princess Single V ranked 10th place, selling 4,814 copies. And the single V's continue to sell less and less as expected.[/quote]

Thanks for the info. Normally stuff like this is worth the topic just cos' (like polls of Who would you like your GF to be the most? Or who is the most likeable mom?)! But because this is retarded and I don't feel like hearing an AKB vs. MM war. Lets stop it here. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... uicide.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':weeeh:' />

[JPope]

Heh, I went over there and voted for Perfume. MM is crushing AKB 48 by nearly 2-to-1 now.



Oh, and this song doesn't do much for me, although the chorus is pretty good.

[thamychan]

[quote name='strawberryjam' post='71571' date='Nov 11 2009, 08:15 AM']Thanks for the info. Normally stuff like this is worth the topic just cos' (like polls of Who would you like your GF to be the most? Or who is the most likeable mom?)! But because this is retarded and I don't feel like hearing an AKB vs. MM war. Lets stop it here. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... uicide.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lesson:' />[/quote]

Good to know, I'm glad I didn't make one then. And wow, how things suddenly changed in that poll overnight! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nfused.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':sideways:' />



I have just noticed I posted the Single V numbers and forgot to post the actual single's second week! It ranked 18th selling 6,715 copies, which gives us a total of 42,989. I think it has chances of reaching 50k but you never know. At least, it is very close!

[Joel]

HOLY SHIT. Did you guys how Perfume's votes got shot up overnight? Honestly, though, imo, I think Perfume should be the rightful winner because I think their sales are less wota sales out of all three groups.

[aine]

Watched some TV performance of the song and it kinda spoiled it for me. Their dance routine made them look like Berryz some random gimmick group, and the vocals weren't up to par. Especially Ai's infamous line. WEAAAAAKじゃない? At least it was sung live? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/huh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':huh:' />



The song itself is still going strong in my going-to-work playlist though.



[quote name='Molly' post='71428' date='Nov 8 2009, 10:37 PM']http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNuNr98qLNk...feature=channel[/quote]

I love this version and have listened to it for some 10 times on repeat now. For reals. Someone with a better idea of the music theory and production could surely describe it better, but something about the voices and the harmonies really grasps me (minus the HOI HOIs, obviously). I can totally hear it as an awesome mellow crystal-clear acoustic version, like for example this beautiful gem.



Funny, because I can't really remember any other vocal-only version of an MM song ever doing that to me before. I really don't understand the "chipmunk voices" complaint. They're not chipmunk, or anything else with a negative connotation. They're unusual, but I really like how they make actual good use of their vocal capabilities (too bad not yet reproducible outside of studio environment - but this never really was the case). And as much as I liked the few recent Emo Musume singles, I'm really happy this experiment with something different than the standard fare J-pop voices has worked out.



Thanks for this Molly, it made appreciate the song a lot more. I first complained about it being Happy Summer Wedding #2 (which was a total infantile sillyfest), but the more I listen to it the more I appreciate it's maturity.



[quote name='JSp' post='71140' date='Nov 4 2009, 10:23 AM']But on to the topic, I noticed no one mentioned here but MM's official website was updated with a Kimagure Princess cute layout <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/wub.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wub:' /> (if anyone remembers how H!P's used to be until the beginning of this year I believe). I like how the members' profiles have Q&A's! MM's Kimagure Princess official site is:http://morning-musume.jp/.[/quote]

This site is full of AIDS and completely not accessible to somewhat older computers. I would love if they put this much effort into, say, DVD menus, but let websites be websites, damnit. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... dammit.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' />



[quote name='JSp' post='71307' date='Nov 7 2009, 02:17 AM']As we are talking about Morning Musume (I'm really sorry if I shouldn't post these in this topic but it seemed too much opening another one just for that), the H!P site has some new goodies for Koharu's graduation:

[center] [/center][/quote]

It was begging for it, so I answered the call. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /ph34r.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='=3=' />



[center][/center]



(to be updated with a higher res version if and whenever it comes out)



[quote name='JSp' post='71555' date='Nov 10 2009, 08:01 PM']http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2234196/[/quote]

Voted MM, for great justice.

[Ap2000]

[quote name='Joel' post='71632' date='Nov 11 2009, 08:26 PM']Honestly, though, imo, I think Perfume should be the rightful winner because I think their sales are less wota sales out of all three groups.[/quote]



I like several Perfume songs and I somewhat like the girls, but I don't really consider them to be classic idols like MM or AKB.

Maybe it's because they're already "old" ? I don't know.

[Pucchi-Mo]

[quote name='aine' post='71687' date='Nov 12 2009, 06:38 PM']I really don't understand the "chipmunk voices" complaint. They're not chipmunk, or anything else with a negative connotation. They're unusual, but I really like how they make actual good use of their vocal capabilities (too bad not yet reproducible outside of studio environment - but this never really was the case). And as much as I liked the few recent Emo Musume singles, I'm really happy this experiment with something different than the standard fare J-pop voices has worked out.[/quote]



Well, there seems to be some vocal effect applied to the faster verses, and people really don't have a specific word to describe the effect, so it lovingly became "chipmunk".

The method (probably a combination of how they sang, along with digital editing) of the single gives the girls an almost uniform sound.



As this video lowers the pitch, I think the identity of the girl singing becomes more apparent. Someone may have already posted that one, but it still corresponds with my point. Now compare it to this Kimagure Princess





Actually, Tsunku himself mentions something about the processes they went through when recording this...



If anyone would care to do a translation: Tsunku's notes on the single

[tsukinobyouin]

[quote name='TightWetPucchi' post='71690' date='Nov 12 2009, 07:16 PM']Actually, Tsunku himself mentions something about the processes they went through when recording this...



If anyone would care to do a translation: Tsunku's notes on the single[/quote]



Oh god that background is horrifying. But I'm on it. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... umbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' />

[JPope]

[quote name='Joel' post='71632' date='Nov 11 2009, 02:26 PM']HOLY SHIT. Did you guys how Perfume's votes got shot up overnight? Honestly, though, imo, I think Perfume should be the rightful winner because I think their sales are less wota sales out of all three groups.[/quote]

People want to be cool like me.

[tsukinobyouin]

Tsunku's notes on the single (any corrections to the iffy bits would be greatly appreciated xD):

This is Morning Musume's 41st single.

I put the sound of this piece together with a theme of "Russian Rock."



I wrote the lyrics and recorded the demo vocals like always,

but even though I wanted to keep the rhythm of the 1st verse, the normal style of singing just wasn't working for me, so I changed it into something unique.

But that alone still wasn't enough, so I went with the method used by The Beatles in songs like "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Honey Pie," a technique in which the vocals are recorded with the tape running slower than usual, and then played back at normal speed. (In reality, I imitated this method by using digital processing)*

I went back to recording at normal speed for the 2nd verse, but I kept the singing style a little distinct, then recorded the A and B bridges in a laid back fashion, changing the singing style as I went along.



I think it turned out to have a completely different feel to it than any song I've done so far.



Maybe just because I was so into it, that's why when the mix down wasn't sounding quite right, I made so many small changes I ended up re-doing it at least 10 times.



I think after so much work went into this piece, the balance between the levels of the backing track and the vocals is perfect.



Takahashi and Tanaka did the bridges especially well. Just as expected.

I also think you can really tell how much Kamei and Niigaki have grown.

Michishige's voice has become stronger**, maybe because she's appearing more often on TV and her confidence has gone up.

Koharu [.......]***

Mitsui has always had a mature voice, so she was a good match for this song.

I think it was difficult for LinLin and JunJun to sing in Japanese in such a fast song, but they really put in a lot of effort.



Well, the video for the girls' new song is great too!

Definitely check it out!

* Strawberry Fields was actually recorded by running the tape fast so that John's vocals would come out slurred/slower than usual (thanks wikipedia!). "Kaitensuu wo otosu" is literally "drop the number of rotations (of the tape)" so I assume this means he slowed the tape down to achieve the opposite effect. Or would have, had he used an actual tape. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' />

** Lit: The heaviness of her voice has come out. I'm guessing he means that she sings less airily?

*** Sorry, I have no idea what "つっこみ癖" means, but she got rid of it and her recording went smoothly ^^;;

[Haru]

...wait, why isn't Berryz Koubou on that poll again?

Absolute fail, that is.

Voted for Momusu anyway, because outside of ONE AKB48 song I've listened to, I haven't heard of any of those artists.

They're not chipmunk, or anything else with a negative connotation. They're unusual, but I really like how they make actual good use of their vocal capabilities (too bad not yet reproducible outside of studio environment - but this never really was the case). And as much as I liked the few recent Emo Musume singles, I'm really happy this experiment with something different than the standard fare J-pop voices has worked out.

Outside of Shouganai Yume Oibito, I don't see how anyone can say their past releases have been "emo."

Yes, the lyrics note a slight emo feel, but the music isn't really "emo." It's too happy and peppy to be "emo." XD



As for the voices...they're not completely chipmunk, but that is way higher than I'm used to Ai-chan sounding (I was quite surprised to find out that was Ai singing).



I'm not saying I'm unhappy with Kimagure. I think it's one of their best songs.

I'm just saying I think they could've done a little better...

As for Aishite Aishite Ato Ippun...eh, it's a c/w song. Nothing really special about it. It reminds me a lot of the entire Nanchatte Renai single (including both c/w tracks) to be honest.

[Melon]

[quote name='Haruhitastic Power' post='71708' date='Nov 13 2009, 10:33 AM']Outside of Shouganai Yume Oibito, I don't see how anyone can say their past releases have been "emo."

Yes, the lyrics note a slight emo feel, but the music isn't really "emo." It's too happy and peppy to be "emo." XD[/quote]



From past rankings, most of the board's top singles were from the golden era and when those songs are compared to now, it's emo musume. That's how I see it, at least.



The insight on the single with Tsunku is very interesting. Thank you TnB!

[showraniy]

So Tsunku really did speed up the vocals (even though it wasn't hard to tell by just listening).



Argh, that sucks. Well, at least it came out nice when they sang it live since they sang an octave lower.

[freezingkiss]

Eri!!! She sounds just incredible in this, her 'ii janai' line, my god. That's so beautiful!! I haven't liked an MM song this much in ages.

[thamychan]

Good to know Tsunku got to hear Koharu, Aika, JunJun and LinLin (and even Sayumi) in this single. I would also like that. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /noway.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> It is not Resonant Blue but they could let 7th and 8th gens sing at least one solo line like in Nanchatte Ren'ai (well, I want more htan that but it was a beginning - or so I thought).



And, wow, he seems to have had fun making his Russian rock turn out a cowboy song.