• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Hangry & Angry Tickets (London)

Saturday, 13th March 2010 10:43 | 0 Comments

Sometimes I marvel at my own genius. When ordering the tickets for Hangry & Angry's performance in London I thought I'd be clever, just in case they needed to be signed for I decided that it would be best to have them sent to my parents, the thought of coming home and seeing one of those "We tried to deliver your letter but you weren't in..." cards sat on my floor and then having to wait till the weekend to go and collect them really didn't go well with the excitement I'm feeling at the moment about this whole concert, I wanted them in my hands as soon as possible.
There was however two flaws with this plan, firstly they didn't need to be signed for so could have been sent straight to my house no probs and lastly, and the more annoying of the two, my parents decided to go to Spain at the start of last week and so wouldn't be around to sign for them anyway, sometimes I wish I listened to what people tell me <_< LOL!

Anyway, having said that I would water the plants and sort out their mail I had myself a key, so no waiting for them to return to get my hands on them.


HANGRY AND ANGRY TICKETS!!! RAWR!!! These at the moment are my prize possessions I won't let them out of my sight, although that hasn't made me think that I've lost them more than once already, I'm totally useless at times. Chris no longer has an excuse to not come his ticket is here and waiting for him, although I get the feeling he's not overly keen on spending the day queueing with a bunch of hyper Hello! Project fans so I'm guessing he may turn up a little later in the day, we just all need to keep our sugar levels up enough so that out excitement has died down before he turns up XD

I've kept myself amused lately with the thoughts of Yossie fangirls. Out of the all the members of H!P she has to be the member that has the biggest following of girls, for kind of obvious reasons. Unlike when I went to France where the only people knew before I heading out there was CDevil and Paul, with the London gig there's a ton of people I know who are going and some of the Yossie fangirls are amusing me greatly with all of their pent up sexual frustration towards her XD And people say that us male wota are bad, I think that this gig may change peoples views on that HAHA!...Not that I have any problems being stuck in a crowd of overly excited Yossie fangirls ;)

Well, it's rolling up to half 11 now so I'm guessing the postman has already been which means no Berlin tickets for me today, unless of course I got them delivered to my parents again...hmmm, I think their plants need to be watered again. Tickets for France were booked last night, which was a relief as it now means that the coach tickets I booked wasn't a pointless purchase, now all that needs to be done is to work out where to stay when over there... I wonder if Aqua and CDevil enjoy scummy blood stained hostels as much as me?

TAGS [ Hangry and Angry ]
Posted Saturday, 13th March 2010 10:43 | 39 Reads | Leave a Comment

:3

Wednesday, 10th March 2010 18:03 | 25 Comments

I don't often do picspam posts, but I've felt that I needed to. Partly because of a slightly drunken conversation a few weekends ago whilst waiting for the EuroWota guys with CDevil, Lampshade and Matt_D and secondly because she always gets a bashing off of everyone I know and I really don't think she deserve it. So who am I talking about? The ever so cute Mittsi!


With Koha graduating it's done a very bizzare thing to my line up of favourites within Morning Musume, it's a complete reshuffle, I've found this a little odd as how can one members departure affect everyone else? Hmm, well more on this when I get this years poll up (which is coming I promise! sorry for the delay, just waiting on some pics and a few hours of free time) but it's fair to say that Mittsi hasn't done too bad out of it.

Now I'm all up for a bit of idol bashing, I've done my fair share recently with Berryz Koubou's lovely Captain and her resemblance (well at least in my head) to a certain Troma Character (gone with the more kid friendly cartoon version there), it's all done in good humour as there's not a single member of Hello! Project that I don't love! But in Aika's case I feel that she needs a bit more love. Because, I can't see what's not to love, she's just so cute!
From the 8th gen auditions she was the member that I'd taken to the most, she looked cute and she had an amazing voice. Not so much a great singing voice, but more of an amazing talking voice, I know a few people find her voice annoying but i ttally love it that old croaky sounding voice she has, it's so appealing!
Plus just look at that face, how can you not that love that cute little face? Seriously, just the fact that she looks like a smiley :3 has to be worth liking her right? And with her appearing in the Guardians4 unit, her look is just getting better, I really love how her hair looks in this unit!


Now although, Mittsi isn't my favourite out of the 8th Gen members, that place is reserved for Linlin, she's certainly the member within the 8th gen (and for that matter the member within Morning Musume) that I think should get a PB release next. After seeing her in the last Alo Hello! release my eyes were opened to how good should looks in a bikini, so with the potential for a great mix of totally cute photos and some great bikini shots it's a PB release I'm highly anticipating.


Feel the Mittsi love <3

TAGS [ Mittsi ]
Posted Wednesday, 10th March 2010 18:03 | 386 Reads | Leave a Comment

Hangry & Angry European Tour Confirmed!!

Wednesday, 3rd March 2010 14:18 | 25 Comments

I would say my initial excitement is over, but I'd be lying! Unless you're blind you can see why I'm excited by the title of this post, but in case you've overlooked let me tell you... Hangry & Angry European Tour in May 2010!!!

It certainly made my day when Paul IM'd me with the news, finger crossed this time we'll be able to do more than just hang out in the mens toilets <_<
Announced on their myspace page with more details at Twisted-Talent, Yossie and Rika will be doing 4 dates between the 23rd and 29th May in Berlin, Helsinki, London and Paris. Obviously for me, and presumably all the other UK H!P fans London is a dead cert. Performing in The Underworld in Camden on the 27th, it's a small venue which I've been to previously with CDevil and tasukidaisuki to see Abingdon Boys School... we left it a little late getting in and ended up way at the back at times awkwardly behind a pillar :S They'll be no chance of that this time as the day will be booked off work and I'll no doubt do a CDevil and turn up at about 10am with a coke and sandwich ;)
In my excitement I've also bought a ticket for the performance in Berlin and am currently looking to buy one for the Paris performance, if anyone finds them on there can you post the link, pls? :D

But let's focus on the London performance for the minute, how fucking awesome is this!? Whose going and what the hell are we all going to do? Might as well make a day of it right? Why queue by yourself when you hang out with people as cool (and by 'cool' I mean geekily into JPop) as yourself in the queue and fanboy/girl out for the day... well that's my plan at least.

...Oh, and I've got Chris a ticket as well, so he'll be coming along, I can't wait to see how he deals being surrounded by so many Hello! Project fans XD

GET YOUR TICKETS!

23/05/2010 - Columbia Club, Berlin KONTicket
24/05/2010 - Tavastia, Helsinki Tiketti
27/05/2010 - Underworld, London TicketWeb
29/05/2010 - La Maroquinerie, Paris Ticketnet

TAGS [ Hangry and Angry ]
Posted Wednesday, 3rd March 2010 14:18 | 476 Reads | Leave a Comment

Melon's Not Dead

Wednesday, 3rd March 2010 04:14 | 0 Comments

Much like my Ayaya and Nacchi fandom, my Melon Kinenbi fandom is something that I don't blog about that much, their single releases have always been a bit sparse not including the recent collabaretion releases there's been a grand total of 3 single releases since I first started blogging.
Musically Melon Kinenbi have always impressed me, their tracks have always had that riskier edge compared to the general JPop ness that comes out of Hello! Project, and the image of Melon Kinenbi has always suited this style, but I've generally always felt that they never really pushed their music enough whilst within H!P, for the most part it still had that H!P pop feel to it which I've always thought never really suited them, I always considered them H!P's answer to a rock group, but without going down the the Buono! route there's was only so far they could go. They have an awesome collection of songs, and although I really love their more Pop sounding songs like Akai Freesia, Chance of Love and Charisma - Kirei I've always found that the less tradional pop sounding songs like Natsu no Yoru wa Danger!, Lunch, 6gatsu no Sunshine and the more rockier tracks like This is Unmei and Akuma De FAKE are more suited to them as a whole.

With the mass graduation last year I had my doubts as to what they were going to do next, as they weren't a particulaly active unit when it came to releases BUT they did have the potential to be one of the, if not THE unit that could take full advantage of ditching their H!P ties and release something very impressive.


Along with Yossie and Rika's new unit Hangry & Angry the girls within Melon Kinenbi have tried for a different sound to what you'd usually hear with a H!P related group and unlike Hangry & Angry's approach of making the girls fit the music they're singing, it's the complete opposite with Melon's Not Dead in all the time I've been lisening to H!P I've never once heard an album that fits so perfectly with what I imagine and want a unit to sound like than this. Taking advantage of the collaberations they've produced an album which is exceedingly rock sounding but an album where each song has it's own individual sound.
As much I love this album, and I do love this album I haven't been this impressed/excited about an album release since the time of W, I know that it's not going to be everyones taste. Melon Kinenbi don't have the biggest of followings, well at least with the poeple I know and the sound is very un-H!P, the only thing I feel that I can compare this to is Buono! simply because they're both going for that rock sound, but even then it's a poor comparison on the one side of you've got a group of cute girls making happy fun sugar coated rock, whilst on the other you've got real rock, girls that look amazingly hot (why have I kept the inner Masoa fanboy in me quiet all these years?) and an image of pure coolness.

The artword for the inlay is just as original and creative as the songs on the album, reminisent in places of some other iconic album covers, the CD, DVD and parts of the inlay are very reminisent of the Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bollocks. The rest of the artwork is very pschedlic; we've got rainbow coloured owls, giant chiwawas and a three headed giraffe with human heads, and when I think pschedlic I think two things, the Beatles and their Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Which is oddly very convenient as the actual cover reminds me a lot of the Sgt Peppers, the central focus on the circle with the group name and album title, the colour scheme it's all very Pepper Land-ish. Interestingly the album has more in common than just a similar cover and colour scheme, Sgt Peppers was a change musically for the Beatles a step out of the mainstream and into a more experimental sound with a whole different atmosphere to the album than their previous works, and when I listen to Melon's Not Dead I can't help feel something similar. A step away from what we've heard before, taking a chance with a new sound and atmosphere, sure the music isn't as different/experimental as Sgt Peppers was, but considering they used to be part of the JPop machine that is H!P this is a very experimental and different sound.


Included with the album is a DVD featuring all of the PVs for the single releases, this is by far the best DVD included within any album I've bought! Although the PVs are generally fairly low budget filming of live performances, they are also awesome and really and are exceptional to watch, below you will find all of them with comments about each but don't take my word on them, if you haven't heard them before take the time to listen and enjoy them, they really are all that good!


Out of all of the indie collaberation singles on the album Beat Crusaders are the only group that I've been aware of before, having listened to a bit of their music back in 2000(ish). On first listening to this I knew that the series of singles was going to be something extremely special, although the PV was a low budget affair (much like all of the PVs) it really emphasised the sound and image they were trying to achieve, it was the Melon that we all knew but with an indie rock edge to it a look and sound that suited them perfectly.


Having never heard of NEW ROTE'KA I was amused to see the lead all face painted up and in a clown outfit, I can only presume this is trademark of the group? But wasn't entierly sure what to expect, but again on listening to it I was blown away, Pinch Wa Chance, Baka ni Narouze is by far my favourite of the single releases, it has a very heavy rock sound to it but is also a very high energy and fun sounding track, lots of towel spinning :D It was when listening to this that I realised how amazing the other releases were going to be, this wasn't just a one off let's try something different, this was a full on let's do the whole indie rock thing!


Out of all the tracks on the album this is the song that I can imagine most people not liking, it's more punk sounding that the others and it sounds out of tune, but that's how it's meant to sound and I found once I got over the initial shock, at no point could I ever imagine a H!P unit making a song like this, it really grew on me to the extent that this is my 2nd favourite track on the album. That and the fact that Ohtani looks amazing. I really LOVE her hair in this, she's really able to pull of literally any style and colour but there's something about her in this that I just totally head over heels for.

Although the PV focuses around the performance of the song much like the others, it is slightly different as the approach taken is more that the girls are not only singing it but also playing the instruments. Unlike other attempts with Buono! and Hangry & Angry the girls do a very convincing job in making you belive that they are playing them, quite possibly helped by the fact that it sounds like they're not playing them very well XD


The next collab single Seishun on the Road took a more calming and 60's style sound. The PV for this release is really nice (even if the crowd is taking things a little too easy) and gives us a chance to see what the girls may have looked like if they were around and making music 40 years ago. Megumi looks amazingly hot in this video, and by amazing I mean stupidly, the only way she could look hotter is if she whipped on her specs *drools*



Melon Tea was an extra special treat for me, the last of the collab singles and one that I'd oddly avoided listening to, I was able to download the album from iTunes whilst I waited for my copy of the CD to arrive knowing that I could listen to the it as much as I wanted but this single would be waiting for me to listen to when good old postie dropped it through my door. It's hard to talk about these singles without repeating myself, yet another quality song. This one I think is possibly the most catchy pop sounding song of old that they used to do. The PV although features yet another performance by the girlsm but this time in the recording studio. And we get to see the perfection that is Masao yet again. Little furry boots, geekily dressed in a drab zip up jumper and stripey shirt and really pulling off those thick rimmed black glasses perfectly... can I keep her?

All in all a perfect album, and in my opinion one of the best ever H!P related releases ever. The real shame with this is how my opinion changed of who I wanted to see some and perform live in the West. After last years performances from H!P there's always talk about whose coming over next and as much I'd love C-ute or Berryz I've always favoured the likes of seeing Ayaya or Nacchi. Melon Kinenbi have been on the list, but never that highly... not until I sat down and listened to this album! Hearing the album I had one thought "I need to see them perform live!" this album was made to be performed live, sure we wouldn't get to see any of the collab groups perform if they came over, but sod it it's the Melons I'm interested in. But as sods law would have it days after coming to the realiasation that they are the unit I'd love to see perform next, the news of their disbandment came out.
Much like W, this is going to have me wondering about how much potential was lost, considering how great this, their first album outside of Hello! Project was imagine what future releases could of been like! Sadly it looks like imagining is all we can do. At least they went out with a bang, Melon's Not Dead seems like the perfect title. With a departing album like this much like W Melon will never die, they'll have a special place in my fandom!

Along with the album I also made some photo purchases from HelloStoreUSA, my collection of photos of Melon Kinenbi aren't up to any sort of decent level, so this was the start of my purchases, unfortunatly it doesn't look like we'll be inline for many more so I'm making sure that I head over and pre order the Neko! Neko! Neko! sets they have, <3 tiger outfits to go with my cow outfits :D



TAGS [ HelloStoreUSA Melon Kinenbi PV ]
Posted Wednesday, 3rd March 2010 04:14 | 125 Reads | Leave a Comment

Smile For S/mileage

Tuesday, 2nd March 2010 00:21 | 7 Comments

For those of you that chat to me be on MSN or Twitter (add me @ptom98 :D) you'll noticed that I've yet to be won over by s/mileage, come to think about even if you don't you may have noticed by the complete lack of coverage of them on the blog. But much like Berryz and C-ute I feel my interest won't show until a good few single releases. As a unit the girls within it don't really appeal to me, personality wise none appeal to me (but then perhaps that's more that I don't follow them enough to get into something like that) and musically I'm not quite feeling them. Although I do have to say visually I am enjoying them, compartively their last PV was pretty damn good, it certainly showed up some of Morning Musume's.
But, I wouldn't want to see these girls miss out on any chances, as no doubt given a few major single releases I'll probably be wondering how I never saw how amazing they were to begin with. So let's help the girls out with their 10,000 smile picture campaign


So as a promotional stunt, and presumably a way to get a jist as to whether it's worth putting out a major release for the girls, Tsunku has asked for 10,000 smile photos to be collected. If this is achieved the unit will get a major debut. It's certainly an interest twist, especially considering that anyone can submit their photo to the site. Perhaps this is an indication that we might be seeing these girls heading over the sea and into an Expo sometime in the future if enough votes are submitted (and obviosuly from people outside of Japan).
I'll be taking a snap as soon as I've finished this post and submitting it to their site and I hope everyone takes a few minutes to do the same, it'd a shame for the girls not to get their debut... even more of a shame not to see them stick all of the photos onto the 2 x 4 meter board themselves.

Head over to http://form.s-mileage.jp/form to submit you details and your photo and join me in laughing evily at the thought of the girls having to stick at least 10,000 photos onto a huge wall XD



TAGS [ S/Mileage ]
Posted Tuesday, 2nd March 2010 00:21 | 187 Reads | Leave a Comment

Recent H!P Buys

Saturday, 20th February 2010 17:24 | 8 Comments

It's been awhile since I posted about all my Hello! Project buys, a mixture of laziness and I've managed to lose my camera (annoyingly as I just bought a new charger to replace the one I lost), relying only on my iPhone to take the snaps. It bugs me to have poor quality photos, but with the recent lot of purchases I've made I thought it was about time to sod off the worry of poor quality photos take a snap and post them up.


As an example of how long it's been since I posted down the bottom you'll see both Ayaya's and Nacchi's recent concert DVDs, I've managed to watch both and I have to say that they are both truly amazing concerts, worthy of everyones watch. Ayaya pulls off one of the quickest costume changes ever, literally the lights go down the crowd cheers the lights come back and we're treated to whole different costume! It's quite an awesome change as it's unexpected and begs the question, where did the previous one go? There's also an awesomely amusing appearance by Yossie and Rika in some amusing outfits. Nacchi's concert is quite possibly one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, the concert hall itself is amazing, filmed at the openair Kawaguchiko Stellar Theater we get to see a nice green lanscape and see day turn into night and a nice fireworks display. Nacchi's awesome voice is accompanied by a varied amount of instruments and some quality performances. I really hope I find the time to post about these performances seperatly as they are both exceptional concerts.
Whilst on the subject of Nacchi, I also purchased her sisters, Asami's first album Wishes and 2nd DVD Asamix!. As much as I love Nacchi's looks, I do prefer Asamin's more, she's kind of a shorter slightly odder looking Nacchi, but damn does she look hot XD

Awhile back Zendra contacted me and said that he had double ordered a couple of concert DVDs (Cute Cutie Circuit 2008 - September 10 wa Cute no Hi - and Hello! Project 2008 Summer Wonderful Hearts Koen - Hishochi de Date Itashima Show) and wondered if I was interested in them, with them being two that I hadn't seen before I gladly accepted the offer. As yet I've not found the time to watch either of them, I get a feeling one of them will fit nicely into the free few hours I have tomorrow morning :D Thanks Zendra I really appreciate you sending these over!

Also this week I've had a couple of slips posted through the door saying that the postman has missed me and I have a couple of items waiting for me. Popping down this morning I picked up the last few items that i purchased from Gina (if you're interested in seeing what else she's selling check out page on the Hello-Online Forums) and the latest Buono! album which I'd ordered from CDJapan. The previous Saturday my signed C-ute arrived and today I picked up the two missing Morning Musume albums I'm missing along with a Maki Goto concert, a W and Berryz concert and a signed Yossie card.
In my excitement I opened up the parcel as soon as I got into my car, I oggled everything and headed home. Walking through the door I went to put the CDs away, but noticed that I was missing Morning Musume's first album in a panic I headed back to the car and searched the passenget seat, nothing, searched the back seat, nothing, searched the floor, nothing. The only thought that went through my head was that I had somehow dropped in the Post Office car park, so I started the car up and reversed out of my drive way... then just as I pulled away I noticed the smashed CD case on the floor, yes I dropped it as I stepped out the car :S


The casing is totally beyond repair, but luckily the sleeve and all the paper inside are unscratched which means all thats needed is a new case :D But unfortunatly the CD didn't come out so well as you can see from the above photo, but unbelivably it still plays all the way through with out any problems :S

TAGS [ Abe Asami Ayaka Buono! C-ute Hello!Project Nacchi Yossie ]
Posted Saturday, 20th February 2010 17:24 | 293 Reads | Leave a Comment

Melon's Not Dead.... Oh Fucking Really?!

Friday, 19th February 2010 14:01 | 3 Comments

I don't know what to say. Seriously I don't. I try not to swear on this blog, as I get a lot of people of all ages on here, but I think this warrants it.

Melon Kinenbi will perform their last concert day on May 3rd at Nakano Sun Plaza and (I think) will officially disband in the 30th June.
I really can't express my frustration, I was planning a big long post but I literally can't bring myself to do it at the moment.

Put it this way, I haven't looked forward to an album this much since the days of W... And even worse is, having listened to it, it's more than I was expecting, so much more! I've literally been raving about the album the past 2 days, never has an album made me want to see a unit live as much as this, each song has it's own energy and it's own style. What I said to InsaneLampshade this morning pretty much sums up my opinion on the album "one of the best hp related albums EVER!".

WTF! Well, fingers crossed I'll recieve the album Melon's Not Dead in the post over the next few days (I couldn't wait for my copy so I downloaded it from iTunes as well) and I'll write a slightly more constructive post then. If you weren't thinking of buying it, my advice... buy it, it's AWESOME!!

FUCK!

TAGS [ Melon Kinenbi ]
Posted Friday, 19th February 2010 14:01 | 451 Reads | Leave a Comment

Onna ga Medatte naze Ikenai

Thursday, 18th February 2010 11:28 | 10 Comments

I have to put my hand up and say "I'm part of the reason that the last Morning Musume single release done so badly". Why? Well I've literally paid it no attention at all. I didn't post a review on it here, I haven't ordered a copy and I guess worst of all I've still yet to actually sit down and listen to it more than twice.

And the most bizarre thing of all it's not because I rank it along side their recent tracks, which just don't do anything for me. The few times that I've listened to it I love it, I'm listening to it now and totally loving it. And it's not just the song I'm enjoying for once the PV is actually a great watch, it's not perfect... it's still lacking that 'omph' that the Berryz have been having lately but there's more going on than just the usual dance shot and pouting for the camera, sure it may just be walking down a catwalk or putting on a bit of makeup, but it's something. AND there seems to be pretty much equal screen time for everyone, both JunJun and LinLin may still be in the back corners when it comes to the dance but we get to see them strutting their on the catwalk and they look good, all the girls look good, they're all giving off some serious attitude in this PV.

Vocally there's not much difference and follows the same sort of pattern as we've come to expect, Aichan and Reina getting all the main lines with some of the members getting the odd line and a group chorus, but as much as I'd like to knock this as I'd love for some of the other members to get huge chunk of lines (I'm still waiting for a single release where both Junjun and Linlin are the main focus) I can't. Ai has an awesome voice, we all know it, we all wish that she wouldn't hog as much lines as she does but here in this song I find I can't complain what's there is great and for me brings my interest into the unit up.


As for my lack of interest in a song that I really like, I couldn't quite tell you. It's the first single release since Koharu's graduation, could that be a factor? Hmmm, honestly? No. I've always said that a unit is more than one person and a member graduating doesn't distract from my overall love of a unit and my current Linlin obsession is making up for any disinterest lost by her graduation. The odd thing I'm clearly not alone, this is the unit's 2nd worse selling single after and to be blunt I can't tell you why that is, as I've said comparing this to the other single release on their soon to be released 10th album 10 MY ME personally I'd of thought it would have sold the most... Well I guess I'll be heading over to CDJapan once i've written this and making sure I grab a copy, see if my purchase can keep it in the top 10 for another week XD

I guess I can't mention this post without mentioning AKB and their latest single Sakura no Shiori. With it's first day of single sales not only out selling Onna ga Medatte Naze Ikenai but the entire singles sold my Morning Musume in the whole of 2009, it really does make you wonder what are they doing that Morning Musume arent? Lampshade discusses it more on his blog, Pori.co.uk. As I mentioned in my previous post H!P vs AKB I don't follow AKB in the slightest, I know extremely little about the unit and it's releases. There are a number of reasons on Lampshades blog as to why this out sold Onna ga Medatte Naze Ikenai by so much, perfect timing, the theme to a popular drama, good general promotion of the unit and a well known director to do the PV.
All of these things play a part, but I think ultimatly what it comes down to it's just a really good song and one that's totally different to Morning Musume's release. The PV fits the song is great, we've even given an intro to the PV with the girls checking out fabrics and their outfits. We get a nice basic couple of dance shots with the rest of the PV focusing on the girls enjoying themselves, it's a nice, fun, beautiful PV that fits the song perfectly. I've been waiting so long for Morning Musume to have a PV release like this, something with a bit of feeling, something that gives us a little bit more to the girls.
Hopefully this blow will force H!P to pull their finger out, hopefully this will see releases with more omph, hopefully we'll see H!P come up with better ideas for making a 'different' PV then just chucking 3 guys in animal outfits doing absolutly nothing noteworthy thorugh out the whole PV (Going On! Full PV)



TAGS [ Morning Musume PV ]
Posted Thursday, 18th February 2010 11:28 | 419 Reads | Leave a Comment

An Early Birthday Present and Card

Sunday, 14th February 2010 13:38 | 15 Comments

A few days ago, Hexi told me that she'd sent me a birthday card and present in the post and seemed a little concerned by the fact that she's now a poor stooodent. I think it's fairly safe to say that she had nothing to worry about XD

Getting home on Friday I waded through the usual post of bills and take away flyers there was a padded envelope on the floor that looked like it may have come from Hexi. How could I have guesed just from the envelope who it was from? Well take a look and then wonder if the bank know me well enough to send something like this out.


I'm slightly amused as to what my postman thinks of me lately, having put this through the door Friday morning and then whatever happened on Saturday. All I can remember is that he rung my bell at stupid o'clock (well... probably about 9ish, but that's early for me on a Saturday) I jumped out of bed in just my dressing gown, we had a conversation of which I have no recollection of, all I can remember is him turning around saying something about the tube in his bag (which I'll write about in my next post) and me taking it... if I think about what I'm generally like first thing in the morning the minute I wake up I might understand why he turned around, morning glory?

Not wanting to ruin such an awesome envelope out came the scissors and I made a slit in one of the sides and pulled out the cards and the presents. Both being Hello! Project fans, and knowing each other quite well, the presents were always going to be something I was going to love. A set of Buono! photos, a Koha photo and a LinLin strap and photo. It looks like I might have to get myself a case for my iPhone now as I desperatly want to have Linlin dangling from it!


Now as good as the presents are, they don't come close to how great the card is. There's always that special something with a gift made by someone, there's that little bit extra thought and effort gone into it that makes it something to remember. I think it's fairly to safe say that you had nothing to worry about Hexi, this card (and the presents) is totally awesome and I love it so so much! With still a couple of days to go until my birthday (I'm normally quite strict with myself when it come to presents and the like, always opening them on the day but with Hexi's I made an exception) it's the only card sitting on my side but even when I open up the rest it'll still have pride of place in front of the rest <3



TAGS [ Buono! Koharu LinLin Stuff ]
Posted Sunday, 14th February 2010 13:38 | 347 Reads | Leave a Comment

AX 2010 Problems

Wednesday, 10th February 2010 16:48 | 7 Comments

So ever since LA I've been keeping an eye out for any Hello! Project performances outside of Asia with the intent of trying to get there and show my support, so far I think I'm not doing to bad attempting to get 3 out of the 4 apperances (and after seeing Hangry and Angry in France I'm really regretting not trying to get to Seattle) so any H!P'ness that comes our with this year I'm certainly going to try my hardest to get there. Even if it means staying in a slightly odd hostel with blood running up the stairs into the room opposite *shrugs* for £15 a night (or what ever it was, I forget) it was totally worth it!

As a fan I think it's great that so many of us have been going to these appearances with the sole intention of supporting our idols, I enjoyed seeing all the H!P fans at the front of the queues standing in line for hours just so that we can show our support. I've always just presumed that the fan support is the one thing that counts at these events, you put in a good showing they'll come back. To a certain extent I still belive that, I don't think anyone can deny that the support for both Morning Musume and Hangry & Angry at these appearances didn't 'wow' UFA into thinking that they should come back. But having been checking out a link CatchFiveBats sent me awhile ago it made me think about something that had never crossed my mind before, what if the people organising the venue are crap?

To be fair it would seem that H!P haven't had the best of luck when it comes to these Western performances, well I'd say at the moment it's a 50/50 swing. Personally I have no complaints with the Chibi Japan Expo, overall everything was organised extremely well, the staff were friendly and helpful especially considering the troubles we were probably all causing when it came to grabbing tickets for the autograph sessions and turning up and hogging queue space/seats a good few hours before any appearance was due and the expo itself was great I literally have no complaints. Not having attended Sakura-Con I can't really comment on what it was like, but let's put it this way I haven't heard anythind bad said about it. So in my book that's two pluses.
But, on the other hand there was the Stokholm Japan Expo where poor ticket sales meant that the event was cancelled and now mixed with that we see the (possibly...as far as I know none of this is confirmed) troubles they had at AX, Anime Expo Situation As Seen By Silenced Staff Members.

Overall I had a great time at AX, I think all of us had our own little gripes and moans about how everything was organsied and handled, but overall it was a good fun. Personal complaints for me were the randomness of the staff not understanding me at times, the awful queuing systems, the lack of not actually telling people where the FAQ autograph session was being held (a squillion Morning Musume fans running all over the Expo in a mad rush was quite amusing though), the Nazi like running of the concert, I still don't quite understand why they needed to try and contain the 4 Japanese guys behind me who went a couple step out of their seats whilst getting into their dancing, or why we were threatened that we'd get our cameras taken away if they saw us taking photo whilst in the queue :S
But, these are all minor annoyances that just bug a little as to what was a great trip. But then that's the side we got to experience as fans, if it was bad for us what was it like for those invited to attend? Surely they'd treat the guests with respect? Well, you'd imagine so. From the link above and the following link (Multiple Anime Expo Staffers Resign in Board Dispute) it's clear that the Expo is having some problems. With rumours of 80% of the staff threatening to resign, and as yet no industry or musical guests it's a bit of a concern as to how the next Expo will turn out.
This in itself is a worry considering how big it is, but for me the thing that annoys me most is the apparent rudeness that someone would treat their guests, especially because it may give a negitive impression of these types of events. I've copied and pasted the two relevant H!P comments from the linked site below;

"5a)- In addition to lying about supposed contacts in Japanese industry, Lattanzio had initially refused to sign a contract previously agreed upon that allowed Morning Musume (last year's AX pop idol group) to releaes a DVD of their concert at AX in which 50% of the profits would go towards AX. After Morning Musume directly sent one of their people over, the contract was finally signed, but in the process, according to third party testimony by Chase, Lattanzio's attitudes toward the Morning Musume representative was extremely impolite (claming that he showed up in jeans and t-shirt) and called her a bitch. As a result, that person has refused to work with Lattanzio and subsquently the Anime Expo convention in the near future."

"2-Yes Michael Lattanzio was very rude to Morning Musume. Along with being rude he showed up to the meeting in flip flops, a t-shirt, and jeans. Though the rumors are wrong when they say he started cussing at them. They also got very pissed when he said he wanted money from the royalties from the show that they played at last AX."

Now rumours are rumours, and with regards to the Expo itself there are more things to be concerned about rather than the behaviour towards Morning Musume (haha, 2 plane tickets for the 5 memebers of Orange Range, WTF?), but as a fan reading this bugs me. Mainly because I'd hate for something so stupid to be factored into future appearances. To be fair, if this is true than I don't no how much of a concern it is, everyone has bad experiences and within business you shouldn't let one bad experience reflect on everything else, I guess what we can take away from this is that chances are they won't be working alongside AX again. I'm just pleased that as fans we were able to show our support to the girls, and at the end of the day that's all that really counts I'm sure!

TAGS [ Morning Musume Stuff ]
Posted Wednesday, 10th February 2010 16:48 | 795 Reads | Leave a Comment

Hello!Blog.co.uk     Back to Top ∧

                   Older Posts >

Archive