5 posts tagged “c-ute”
I'm sorry for my absence. School is finally over! I hope to make many more posts. It is also my birthday. Happy Birthday to me (XD). I haven't actually received anything yet. I plan on combining my "Look what I got for my birthday!" post with the things I bought at Anime Central this year.
Anyway...
This is a quick-review of two albums that I have wanted to review for a very long time now. I apologize that it is rather quick and messy.
Buono! - Cafe Buono!
I've seen a few "This isn't special at all." reviews...While there are some really disappointing and down right icky songs, I find this album pretty good. The first song, Cafe Buono! sets the album up with a fun "Hello, we are Buono!" song. I don't like that Renai Rider and Honto no Jibun are right next to each other, but its all right...the following song, Bakestu no Mizu, doesn't follow up to the two previous's awesomeness, even though I find it to be very fun in its own special way. This album...to me, seems like they're all songs about growing up. It definitely applies to the age group they're aiming for (Which is like preteen to early teen, I would assume...). A lot of the songs seem to be connected to the anime, which makes sense (For example: Garakuta no Yume, Rubbish Dreams. One who followed the anime or reads the manga will understand). So really, I would give this album a B+. :D
Most Fun Song: Nakimushi Shounen. Also the best song Aside from Renai Rider. It really caught me the first time I heard it. Bakestu no Mizu also comes close, but...it wasn't enough?
Most Amusing Song: Internet Cupid. They're...trying to be Perfume...? They add the Mario-Melody, which amuses me to no end. This doesn't really seem like Buono!-song, but its fun-cognate-packed-song.
Prettiest Song: Hoshi no Histsuji Tachi. I thought I wouldn't like this song at first, but when I heard it, I was blown away. Its so pretty...really! Momo, Airi, and Miya's voice blend very well (although they aren't really singing at the same time here), alowing a painless transition. Its very well done.
Most Boring Song: Kimi ga Ireba. This sounds just like an ending to an anime...an ending that no one cares about, so they just move on to the next episode or next anime without hearing the song. Bleh.
Worst Song: Garakuta no Yume. To be honest...its too generic for me...the melody and background...its more than boring. This might have been okay more towards the beginning of the album, but it was put far enough in that it looks as though it was just shoved in.
The second album I will be reviewing is C-ute's 3rd ~Love Escalation~! This is a lot less interesting or impressive as Buono!'s Cafe Buono!...but I still like some of the songs. I'm really liking the representation of Chisato. Yay Chisato :D I also love Umeda Erika's solo song. The only song thats just like "eh." is Image Color. It doesn't stand out, but its not boring enough to get a title such as the songs below. Overall, this album is probably C+. A 79% C+.
Best Song: Probably Homerare Nobiko no Theme Song. Its the only group song that isn't a single that stood out to me. The other, Otome Cocoro, is alright...but I like Homerare Nobiko no Theme Song more.
Most Fun Song: Dodongadon Ondo. I think its great that Umeda Erika got a solo song! I like her voice even though a lot of people say its weird.
Most Boring Song: Hare no Platinum Doori. Really now. Can you listen to this song without getting distracted? Its so boring you just want to move on to something else. This is also the worst song on the album in my opinion. Theres nothing...catchy about it.
Strangest Song: Sweets-->-->-->Live. The whole song is weird. Chisato and Kanna sound like they're whispering. And when Kanna sings, she sort of reminds me of Ishikawa Rika. Its not that bad, but its really not that great either >_<.
So...thats all for now. I promise be more...interesting...in the future!
-Hotaru <3
Hello! I finally got this up! This was meant for last week, but unfortunately major homework assignments came up (which includes writing a 131 Poem and reading 45 pages of history)! I'm glad their over now (mostly), so I have a few hours to actually finish this!
Before I start though: Happy Birthday to International Wota :D
Most people have been comparing this song to Berryz Koubou's "Munasawagi Scarlet" because...well, the PV certainly is similar to it. I also have found similiarities in a Morning Musume song. I'm sure you can guess which one.
The Song-
How come its always the songs that you don't really like that always get stuck in your head? Probably because they're always so catchy!! Shiawase no Uta is diffently not my favorite single C-ute has come out with (this is including indie singles...) but its much more composed than Sakura Chirari or Meguru Koi no Kisetsu. The group sounds much more confident and the group sounds more developed. Which is great, but doesn't make me like the song itself much more. A good thing would be...instead of having Maimai and Saki having the "minor solo lines", it could Okai, Erika, or Kanna. seriously...those two girls may be super cute, but their voices grate on my ears (and I'm positive they grate on others). Not even in a Koharu, way. I can handle Koharu, her voice can be fine a lot of the time, but Saki...I can feel my ears shudder when she sings...But really, other than my Saki/Maimai problem the song isn't bad. The whole minute of La's gets annoying, but reminds me of Aruiteru...which grew on me considerably. Its definitely fun. I think it would have been a better song to release in the summer, but hey, C-ute's also releasing another single towards the end of April. Its like Tsunku/UFA were saying "JK!!!! We're going to have C-ute release a real single soon, lawlz." *sigh*
The PV- It definitely owns Munasawagi Scarlet budget-wise...The make-up is much more fitting of a younger girl to be putting on/playing with. Theres lots of shiny things, too! Like necklaces and probaly some bracelets. Its a lot more like "dress up" then "Lets do each others make up, yays!" (the later being Munasawagi Scarlet). The whole set looks much less cheap, even the hideous costumes/outfits are less hideous than Berryz. The background, which is an off-whiteish-gray, makes the outfits fit, at least I think so. The dance which is...most of the PV, is very cheerleader-esque and very simple to dance to...which makes me happy. So, while that song isn't great, the PV is at least pretty good.
The C/W: Saikoukyuu no Enjoy GIRLS
I love the Tenor Sax XD It just fits the song perfectly. I honestly think this should have been the A-side. Have the original song on the A-side, a cover of a song should always = Coupling With song. But thats just my opinion...It also has a much more even ammount of solo lines...which always desirable. This song is very fun, like LALALA, but its not as catchy. I still like it better, though!
Member Review!
Umeda Erika- Like most/all of the girls gipped out of solo lines, she looks very bored throughout the PV. When dancing, putting on makeup, or trying on a necklace, she looks bored. "I wish this song was more interesting." is what her face reads. Really, I love Erika, and for her sake, I wish she played more of a role in the PV! "Gawd, please make it end!"-Erika
Yajima Maimi- I've been enjoying her much more since Tokkaikou Junjou. She seems to be having a pretty good time throughout the PV. Well, she can...she actually gets camera time! She also gets to wear the pink dress, which is less hideous, in my opinion. She has every right to look happy...She's arguably the most popular member of C-ute right now (part of this is based on Paul's Hello! Project Poll), therefore she gets a lot of screen time. I'm not saying this is bad. Maimi seems like she puts her heart into everything she does. That says a lot for me...idols actually caring about what they do...(yeah, she's gone up in my list)
Arihara Kanna- Similar to Erika, Kanna looks bored. Unlike Erika, Kanna looks like shes actuallly trying to look like she's having fun. Throughout the PV her 'happy' look goes downhill, eventually forming into "Wow, I'm really bored." This can be seen when the song starts its "LALALA's!" toward the end. She looks as though she is about to laugh and say "This is completely worthless, I'm only going to get like 3 close ups." Her next close up, she looks completely bored. Its kind of amusing, but depressing at the same time..
Nakajima Saki - Ah! This girls voice is terrible >_<. Its good that other members are getting lines, they all deserve them, but come on...Erika has a kind of squeaky voice, but sounds more developed...They could have used her instead (and maybe Erika wouldn't be so bored out of her mind)! This PV shows that Saki may be a good person to talk to maybe, but please don't ask her to sing! The part that really bothers me (more like creeps me out!) is that in a close up of her in the "Lalala" part of the song, her veins in her neck bulge...maybe its just me. That has always creeped me out. *shudders* This isn't to say I truly dislike Saki, I don't. I don't know much about her...but....from what I know, I don't like her much.....
Suzuki Airi- It looks like C-ute is becoming more and more Maimi centered. I like Maimi, but I like a lot of the other members more...Airi being one of them. I prefer her voice over Maimi's (Maimi used to sound really strange to me). Both girls are deserving of solo lines (but this still doesn't make me wish other girls had solo lines)...I suppose I'm just naturally drawn to Airi more. I feel as though she got less screen time than Maimi, but thats not really bad either, since she dominated Tokkaiko Junjou...I'm really neutral towards Airi, if you can't tell! She's c-ute and has a good voice...I like her better in Buono! (maybe the trio just go better together), though. I feel as though I can't make a proper review of her because of my neutrality! Maybe I'll have more of an opinion with her next single ._.
Okai Chisato- Frst things first: Has anyone noticed that it looks like Hagiwara Mai has surpassed Chisato in height? This is very strange for me...but it makes Chisato an adorable shorty? Haha. Unlike Kanna or Umeda, she looks like she's having fun most of the time. Maybe, like Chinami from Berryz, she can have fun no matter what. Thats a really good quality, really...I wish I had it. Or maybe she's just a good actor. Eh, whatever the reason is, I still love her :D. It sort of surprises me that she just...doesn't get any lines...ever. I can understand why she would be unpopular, she's adorable in a different way from most of the girls in C-ute, making her sort of an aquired taste. Her voice is amazing, but I've seen people say "I don't like her because her voice is too mature for C-ute." This sort of baffles me, but hey, its their opinion. Even if she never gets a solo line in an A-side of a single (from C-ute), she will still get lines on the the C/W..which I guess is good....
Hagiwara Mai- "Stop looking like a dead fish!" is what I want to tell her. She looks...emotionless for most of the PV. Or she has shy-ish reactions. She's still young and has time to develop, but really now...what kind of a persona is 'dead fish'? *sigh* She has the potential to be a pretty good singer and a decent dancer, but it really just seems like she's along for the ride XD. Her voice teeters between bad and good quality, which she could improve on if she tried...I guess she just seems like she has a lot of potential, but she just doesn't really care. It sort of bothers me. Perhaps this will change throughout time!
Overall, this single was only...okay. Even a lot of the girls seemed bored with it. I did like the C/W, though...so, this single will be graded as a C.
Just a straight C, like 75%.
As a closing note, I will be gone starting on Wednesday to...next friday? I think? I'm going to Hawaii for spring break! I will hopefully have less of a homework load afterward...
Bye for now :D
-Hotaru <3
Here they are! I didn't get it up when planned (loaded with homework!), but its here now :D
1. Chisato Okai - I really love her...She is extremely underused, why? I don't know...because she's not as cute as Maimi or Airi? Probably..I think she's adorable, but UFA probably doesn't D:.Her voice is powerful, dynamic and overall amazing. Her voice is best shown in JUMP...if you haven't heard it (You're crazy if you haven't), go listen now! I really hope she gets some solo lines in future!
2. Umeda Erika - With Maasara Blue Jeans, I thought C-ute was going to do the same thing as Berryz were doing. With three mains (Airi, Maimi, Megumi) and one other main but with consistantly less solos than the other three (Umeda). She has a pretty solid good voice. I understand why people wouldn't like it, it can be a bit irritating at times. Although she isn't noticed much, I think she's one of the 'solid' members of C-ute (she has to be thought of as good from UFA/Tsunku, she was given most of Megumi's lines in the indie singles) :D
3. Suzuki Airi - Honestly, I thought I'd be ranking her lower! But...perhaps its that her status is the same and yet so different from Risako's. They're both the girl who gets the most lines per single and probably get the most attention in the two groups...but Suzuki just seems so much more...grateful. I guess. She isn't portrayed as a "Sexy" Idol, more like a teenage girl 'growing up and being herself' and the like. Which is how UFA/Tsunku should portray Risako, but they don't...um...yeah. Enough about Berryz. I like Airi. She has a nice voice. She deserves the amount of lines she gets.
4. Arihara Kanna - Eh? Kanna is really this high? I guess I've always just naturally taken a liking to her. She sings okay....her voice often sounds like its going to break at any point, but she always makes it through. Thats pretty impressive, now if only she improved vocally...sounding..nice. Anyway...I think she would have been second...had she note seemed so constipated in Tokkaikou Junjou...I dunno. She'll probably lower some more if she doesn't get some more personality :(
5. Yajima Maimi - I'm kind of surprised she's so low! Maimi is a great member! She is a really strong dancer. You can tell she puts her all into it. I used to think her voice sounded weird, but, like I said before, she somehow changed, and doesn't sound like the awkward girl she did. I can imagine she'll be rising sometime within this year :D
6. Hagiwara Mai - I know I've said this, but she looks like my sister. Not so in the picture ranker-thing, but in Tokkaiko Junjou. They're both the same age...both so tiny...both used to have awkward smiles for the camera...both have similar pudgy cheeks and hair...I dunno. I see it. I don't dislike Mai at all. She's very young, and has a lot of time to show her personality. Her voice is good for a 12-year-old, but like Kanna's, it teeters tremendously, almost on the verge of being bad. But she's so young, its hard to criticize her for it. Ah...last thing: She's c-ute now, but just wait, she'll end up like Aibon >_> I can see it now....
7. Nakajima Saki - Meh. Saki just...bores me. Her voice makes me want to rip my ear drums out, unless she's rapping, honestly. She has gotten prettier as of late, but...that doesn't help...she's still not very pretty in my eyes >_>. I really...don't have much to say about this girl. I don't hate her, but she's just...not...interesting to me.
So there you have it! My rankings for C-ute...!
I'm so sleepy! I'm going to bed. Oyasumi~!
-Hotaru~
And now its time for my late review on Tokkaiko Junjou! As many know already, this is quite
possibly (I'm saying that for other peoples opinions) the best song since Maasara Blue Jeans. C-ute has finally become a real group, not a "I'm almost THE Possible" Level!" (Yes, I am aware the THE Possible is now a group...I just have no interest in them.) To put it simply, in my opinion, Sakura Chirari was really boring, Meguru Koi no Kisetsu was better and catchy but not that great. Now...Tokkaiko Junjou is a completely different story, as you will see :D
The Song:
First things first: Yay Kinda-Techno!! Techno is "always delicious" on this blog, so this song was easily accepted into my "Good Song" Category. Its a powerful song with strong lyrics, voices, and musical beeps and bleeps in the background. Now for full review of the song! Maimi's beginning vocals are great, she really fits the part. C-ute really knows how to convey emotion! Of course, theres LOTS of Airi. And now for the best part! The Chorus! (is the chorus? Thats the one thing that confuses me about this song) It reminds of Berryz Koubou's Jiriri Kiteru and Momusu's Onna ni Sachi Are combined together to make the ultimate C-ute single! One last thing before I move on to the PV: Saki Nakajima got lines!!! No wai!! Someone not in the "I get most of the lines C-ute" Group got solo lines! Yay :)
The PV:
Thankfully, with this great song, came a great PV. Its set in the city, which makes the PV look much less cheap, and makes sense, since the title means "City Girls Pure-Heart" (At least according to projecthello.com it does). The girls are wearing great clothing, they're perfect for the single. The dance is great, it really matches the music and makes me want to dance too. And wow, have a mentioned that Maimai really looks like my sister sometimes? Some of Maimai's close ups look so much like her >_<. I'm thinking its the cheeks that make them similar, which will both probably disappear with age. Best part of the PV: When Maimi throws Chisato's baseball into the river/lake/ocean and Chisato's expression says "Hey...thats not nice!". Its priceless.
Individual Review Time, Yay!:
Umeda Erika: Its really a shame she doesn't get more lines. She was one of the leads(ish) when part of ZYX, wasn't she? Oh, so sad. Anyway, She doesn't get much attention in the PV, but for the few close-ups we get of her, its obvious that she's growing into a very pretty girl. Is it just me though, or does it look like she has a tan? She reminds me of an indian because of it (<_<)
Yajima Maimi: Ahh, spoken first lines make a good song, don't they? She flawlessly says the lines and almost reminds me of Sayumi. I don't know if its her hair or her voice...Anyway, She didn't get a whole lot of lines this time, which you would think I wouldn't mind, since I really don't like her voice. Or didn't. Maybe its the techno song, I don't know, but her voice sounds really good here! I'm happy :D She's also wearing my favorite outfit out of the seven. I really like the top and necklace!
Arihanna Kanna: Ooo, this just wasn't the best PV for her. While she tries to look sad or heart-broken, she just ends up looking like she needs to use the bathroom. She's really cute, usually! What happened *sob* Maybe they were in the 'scary' part of Tokyo and told her she couldn't use the bathroom or she would get taken away.......Huh. Weeelll, lets hope for the best for her next time :D
Nakijima Saki: Joy! She got lines!! Saki actually getting attention!? It was thought to be impossible, but not anymore! Usually she's just the short one in the back who looks like she's 10. WOW, she looks really mature in this PV. Its great! Her solo lines aren't bad either, they are pleasent to listen to!
Suzuki Airi: Ah, She's such a line hogger (XD). Really, she may have a really good voice, but I'm sure everyone (or almost everyone) wants to hear the "seen but not heard" members, too. This happens in most Hello! Project groups, though, so since its completely normal...theres not much else to say..
Okai Chisato: By far my favorite in the PV. I really wonder why she isn't given more lines and such. She's a cute girl, but maybe not cute enough for UFA's standards :( And wasn't it proven that she can sing really well in the one YouTube video where she sings Romantic Ukare Mode and she sounds ridiculously similar to Fujimoto Miki? Thats clear "I have real potential to be an awesome singer!" material there. Ahhhhh how some of these members are so under-estimated...
Hagiwara Mai: Such a cute, tiny girl! Thankfully in this case, with a cute girl comes a cute voice! She gets some lines, which is good, and she's getting more lines these days :D She looks very mature in this PV, which is good, but she's still young, so don't push her too far UFA!
The C/W:
Shiritsu Kyougaku...Ah, good. Okai, Arihanna, and Umeda got...a line! Really, Okai sounds fine, she should get more lines *glares at whoever decides who gets what line* Anyway, the song reminds me of Dekiru Onna, but more...happy and less "sleazy" sounding. Sleazy probably isn't the right word...but I can't think of anything else. I'm starting to think that c/w are mainly to get the members who didn't get solo lines on the single get lines on the c/w to make up for it >_<
Overall, C-ute has finally become a group I can love. I can't wait for more! 10/10!!
As a side note: Marching Band is finally over! I will hopefully be able to make more timely posts. My Marching Band came out second this year, with just about a point lower than the winner. Its angering, but I'm happy we're 2nd in state and that its finally over :D
As most of you know, C-ute released they're 2nd single, Meguru Koi no Kisetsu (Which translates to 'To Go Around The Seasons'). Most of you don't know, however, my opinion on it. (cue evil laughter....or something)
Meguru Koi no Kisetsu is an okay song. And when I say okay, I mean "In my opinion, this song is a hell of a lot better than Sakura Chirari, but I miss those good ol' Maasara Blue Jeans days." Yeah. The song is upbeat and catchy, but it doesn't have that "Wow, this is cool." punch like their indie singles did. Sure, C-ute has great harmonization and an altogether nice sound, but wheres the energy? They sound like they're kinda bored to me. And maybe they were, but can't they put emotion into their singing? Seriously. I do think this song is fun to listen to, but at the same time, I think its really weak.
About The PV:
Despite the boringness of the song, this is a pretty nice PV! Arihara Kanna still looking adorable, I see. The PV is simple and fun. The dance is actually pretty cool...despite my opinion on this song, I might just have to learn it. My favorite part of the PV (as some of you may know) is when the girls clap their hands during the dance and their outfit changes. I don't know what else to say about it.....
As you might have been able to tell, C-ute just doesn't do it for me. I prefer Berryz...
I give this a 7/10!
