The last time that I spoke of Hayami Akari, she was about to leave Momoiro Clover .Many of her fans feared the worst and a final goodbye to their idol as she retired to her private life.
Well that is not the case, here is a brief run down of what Akari has been doing since her graduation.
She was in a movie that was filmed before her graduation; she has been in no less then ten magazine shoots and was a guest actress in a music video.
Therefore, fans that were sad to see her leave the idol world, relax and put a smile on your face, for Akari is going just fine away from Momoiro Clover.
Her guest spot in a music video [She is not singing, one person sings the entire song both male and female parts]
Ricotta Veil
Ricotta Veil is a three member Kansai based unit, whose theme is idol princesses [The Young Princesses]. Ricotta Veil members are Hasegawa Risa [21], Ito Ayami [19] and Kobayashi Miki [17].
As a unit these princess idols have only been around since spring of 2010 and have one single and perform a number of popular cover songs at lives. Given their short time as a unit ,they are very active in the Kansai media market.
As individual idols, the three have also been active in the Kansai area for sometime doing product endorsements, child acting and other TV work, along with some modeling.
Ricotta Veil depend on information releases through their individual blogs and through a growing local cult fan following. Interestingly while this unit is still a new and growing unit, they have managed thanks to their YouTube postings to start to pick up a following in such places as Eastern Europe and Latin America with their videos being reposted in various video media outlets.
One of the great things about this genre is also it`s most difficult at times .You see the idol genre has many more times the number of independents then majors , and always will and limiting yourself to just the 48`s and other major media groups is missing out on the true heart of the genre ,the independents.
These hard working idols are truly some of the best-kept secrets in the genre and it takes time,to follow to get the most out of this branch of the genre.
Ricotta Veil is just another one of these wonderful little secrets, that is worth taking the time to get to know.
Ricotta Veil idol princesses and idol treasure.
Debut Single "I`M PRINCESS"
Miki is also in another unit called Sweet Ricotta
Risa and Ayami are also in a two member unit called Mercy Lapin
Footnote- The members as several others in Kansai also work under the group name KISS x KISS .Several we have already previewed are also members of that group.
CG Idol Eguchi Aimi, made her “Realife” AKB48 debut on July 24 by taking the stage as part of AKB48`s three night 90,000 fan ‘Yossha~Ikuzo~! In Seibu Dome’ concert series.
Eguchi took the stage in person with several members of AKB48 to start her career by performing her CM song “Ice no Kuchizuke”, leaving fans to wonder, “Hey wait a minute Aimi-chan is a CGI idol, what gives here”.
At the end of the concert, Takahashi Minami addressed the crowd about their newest member. Takahashi said, “I have to expose the truth about this, Aimi-chan is really kenkyuusei member Sasaki Yukari. To accomplish her role today Yukari put on prosthetic make up to make herself into Eguchi Aimi”
Takahashi concluded the announcement by saying “Please continue to take care of Aimi-chan and AKB48.”
Back when NMB48 was preparing to release their debut single, they issued a bold challenge. This challenge was if their single did not rank #1 for the week on Oricon, they would wear gym bloomers at their concerts.
“Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo” finished the week at 218,000 and at #1 so “No Bloomers For NMB48 “
The members in a press event shared their opinions on the results
Team N’s captain, Yamamoto Sayaka
“Since it is something we promised to the public, I am astonished that we were actually able to top the charts.”
“This accomplishment is all because of our fans and our seniors who have made the 48 group name so big. Even though we are powerless right now, we want to, as NMB48, to continue to grow so that we can keep up with our seniors.”
Yamada Nana
“I am really happy that we got first place and we don’t have to wear any bloomers. It’s like killing two birds with one stone.”
Watanabe Miyuki
I want to continue to do our best so that people will recognize our ranking so please back us up.”
You would think in some weird sick kind of way wotas would want to see their idols in bloomers, but you see here is were that thinking is wrong. When it comes to matters of idol pride and difficult challenges, wotas feel that it is their duty to go to the ends of the earth to support their idol in her mission. The relationship between wotas and idols is such that one will always need the other to reach certain goals.
This accomplishment was no easy task, while NMB48 outsold sold everyone by a comfortable margin, they did so by defeating the powerhouse unit Tohoshinki [TVXQ] single “Superstar”. I tip my cap to NMB48 for reaching their goal.
If there was any AKB48 Sub unit that could leave AKB48 as members for good and be fine as their own fulltime unit it`s DiVA. At first look this unit didn`t even look like members of AKB48 and if I didn`t know better, I would have taken several double looks.
I know in some circles AKB48 gets a lot of hot air blown at them for their vocal abilities or at times lack of. There is nothing to fear here from this release.
This track is one that leaves me thinking the what if they didn`t have AKB48 duties ,how far could this unit go as a fulltime recording and touring unit ,complete with their own TV show. It`s clear this unit is blessed by the Avex touch.
DiVA “Cry” is one track that if you are an idol collector you want to have in your collection.
QunQun is set up like AKB48, with a main unit, secondary unit and
trainees. But this were the similarities end, this is not an AKB48
clone, it`s just an idol group that uses a formation system. One of many
After all, it is not a system that AKB48 invented they just made it
Popular.
There is very little performance video of this unit as it is fresh
out of the box brand new.
So brand new, that if it was a new car, it still have that new car
smell. However. Here is a special look at this unit with their
Internet program
They are very active on their streaming channel, almost everyday
they have broadcast
Internet Show
Live @ QunQun [their version of Ustream] http://qunqun.xtre.am/
[This has several segments ,when one ends
there is a pause while they set up the next location . Imagine
running around H!P Compound visiting everybody.
LINQ
This 28-member unit includes two members named Alice and Angela
Akiyama, yes as your thinking, they are related and 1/2 Japanese and
they have their version of Yaguchi Mari [watch video #2 for that
joke] . In addition, just like QunQun they still have that new car
smell having made their debut on April 17.
LinQ is an alternate spelling of their name “Love in Kyushu” .LinQ
[pronounced Link] is a Fukuoka regional idol dedicated to promoting
themselves in Fukuoka and Kyushu Island while uplifting the hearts
and, the spirits of everyone in Kyushu.
LinQ was created on February 27 in Fukuoka through an audition that
was attended by 1,162 young idol hopefuls aged 12-24. That number by
the way is on the high side for Independents, there are units that
have been created with as few as 19 auditioning for 10 positions.
LinQ managed to select their final roster from this audition and
made their debut on April 17. In June, they released their debut
single.
This time I am leaving the world of idols for a cool rock-pop band.
Over at Avex is a band that I think is worth checking out called JURIAN BEAT CRISIS.
JURIAN BEAT CRISIS or JURIBE for short is actually the stage name of seventeen-year-old singer Kawakami Juria. Juria who is from Hokkaido took up the name after joining Avex in 2009. Juria, by the way was motivated to start singing to break her issues with shyness. Thankfully, she was able to overcome those issues and create this great band.
One of the things that I like about this band besides their music is their aggressive promotions coming out of their debut. Starting with their debut at the 2009 A-Nation concert series, were JURIAN BEAT CRISIS as it is officially written performed their first single “Go! Let's Go!” the band quickly followed with 11 more singles [all digital] in the next 11 months ,giving them 12 singles in 12 months . This was followed up with a full-length album that featured a 14 song CD and a 14 song DVD. So for buying the album you had the choice of the CD only version with all 12 digital singles and 2 bonus tracks or a CD-DVD combination, which gave you the same songs but also 14 videos.
It`s not often that you find a fresh band offering so much so soon.
JURIBE is defiantly and artist and band to keep a watch on as they are off to a strong start. If you are a fan of the band Lindberg, then this band is for you as they are the masterminds behind this band and JURIBE carries that similar sound and style.
A few of their releases.
Debut
Single #2 Hurricane Love
Single #3 Lonely Flight
The band has the official theme song for this years High School Baseball Championships
While all their singles are post worthy, it would not be fair to her or the band to post them all, while she is still active in this one post. I can tell you that the CD is worth the time to pick it up and have everything.
This band works very hard and are just growing their fan base, I am sure they would be glad to have you as a new fan.
While, I am tempted to preview all the singles, I will close this preview with a few special items.
JURIBE at A-Nation 2010
If you have never heard of Lindberg the producers of JURIAN BEAT CRISIS
Lindberg from 1991
Music is a wonderful thing and if it helps overcome shyness and deliver a great band, then it`s a double bonus. If you are a fan of rock music JURIAN BEAT CRISIS is worth checking out, you will not be sorry.
Fresh off their 131,000 + number one single day ranking NMB48have released two more videos for their debut singles coupling tracks.
The first PV is for “Boku ga Maketa Natsu”!
It`s a cute and simple PV , not sure if the wet T-shirt moment a couple have is a good idea for girls this age , but it`s safe somewhat or the removing of one’s top [she has a swimsuit on] .It seems NMB48 are not wasting anytime when it comes to fan service.
Sea☆A has released the DREAM SHOOTER PV making video ,It`s just under 10 minutes and gives you a look at the sometimes fun, sometimes boring world of making PV`s .What it does not show you is the 18 hours it often takes to film a PV [this is were the boring parts of PV shoots come, lol]
Your first is always fun, because you don`t really know anything, lol and this short clip shows the group enjoying their PV debut, camera flirting and a lot more goodness.
[Photo-Ricotta Veil ,Official image group for this series]
Osaka has as many idols as Tokyo ,in the first five volumes I have shown you Tokyo, Osaka,Hiroshima ,other cities and several units from Eastern Prefectures ,now it`s time for some more Osaka -Kansai Idols and a trip to Western Japan.
If you recall at the end of the fifth series ,I said that part 6 would have a connection to Ricotta Veil.
Here is the first connection. If you remember the video for Ricotta Veil performing a street live in one of the earlier previews ,there was a girl in the upper left behind the group ,dressed like an Idol ,watching the group perform.
Well that girl is a member of the first group in this preview .Connection #2 is this group ,Mary Angel ,Ricotta Veil are from Osaka-Kansai and often perform at the same lives.
Keep in mind when viewing any group in this series that Indies do their own songs , covers of top singles on the charts ,classic songs ,anime songs and it`s normal ,legal . Many groups create their own dances ,tempo changes to fit their style to cover songs . I respect the groups that actually sing their covers and not just pretend they are AKB or who ever. The very reason CDs include instrumentals is for groups to use the track for covers and for auditions. The artist gets a royalty payment so it`s all good. They are not trying to be anything but themselves.
S-Qty
[This unit does their own songs, plus pop covers that are not from the 48`s or H!P as part of their live , but they have a full album worth of originals] They have been active since 2010. They also have a very cool web site that’s worth watching .Even if you pass on this group ,go watch their web site .Don`t click anything on their web site just let it play for 5-10 minutes
HR [Hakata Reboot ] Fukuoka
I actually covered this group last year when they had their debut ,but they only had covers of H!P and AKB on a news clip. They were to be Fukuoka`s answer to AKB48 , but Aki-P has decided to put his own group there it seems . It remains to be seen if this theater unit can last with Aki-P`s invasion of Hakata coming. If they don`t it`s a shame because they had an entire island they could rule.
Speaking of Fukuoka . The local Indies are not going down without a fight with HKT48 and Aki-P. Five local units have stepped up to face them .
Fresh Faces will preview the Fukuoka idols in the future.
