Reviews

Each Pure Idol Heart staffer has  their own style and interests and  voice .Sometimes this voice  can only be found on the staff members blogs .So in order for Pure Idol Heart readers to know all the interests of the staff ,we have decided that starting  today Pure Idol Heart will begin cross promoting its staff members blogs.

First up are some reviews from Candy  on her fairly new Idol blog Strawberry Love.
The first one is
Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku: The Tissue ~Tomaranai Seishun~
http://strawberryberrylove.wordpress.com/2012/11/20/shiritsu-ebisu-chuugakuthe-tissue-tomaranai-seishun/

Second Is
Sakura Gakuin: Yume ni Mukatte/ Hello! IVY
http://strawberryberrylove.wordpress.com/2012/11/20/sakura-gakuin-yume-ni-mukatte-hello-ivy/

TIF 2012 Idol Talk

 Tokyo Idol Festival had a number of interview areas . Kawaii girl Japan sponsors a stage and translated some of the interview segments.
Cheeky Parade

Lyrical School

The story of STK48 [Stalker 48 Hours] [it`s an idol backstage joke] and other items of talk

Sakura Gakuin makes a surprise drop in

This is the story of Vanilla Beans [not TIF Related]
Near the end is a cool concept story ,if you want to know more about the group

Weekly Poll #6

The Question was: Which future release are you looking forward to the most?

CHA CHA Sing by Berryz Koubou is the winner of the poll. It got 45% (19 votes). Out of all of these choices, Berryz new single is a single that I'm really looking forward too. Lately, while Morning Musume and C-ute have been doing great, Berryz seems like their in a slump. Aa yo ga akeru and Be Genki were great, but they weren't the best from berryz for me. However, their cover of P'Bird's popular song ounds fun and energetic. The PV is a standard H!P studio PV, but it actually looks really nice for once.

Tweet Dream/Sparkle by Fairies received second place with 35% (15 votes). I definitely think some of Fairies past works are better than their new single. For me, this is one of their weakest. However, I give props to the girls for trying out a new style, instead of sticking with the same sound and playing it safe. Unlike another group I follow... The songs aren't all bad. Tweet dream is growing one me, and Sparkle isn't half bad either. It may be their lowest selling single, but Fairies have grown a strong fanbase, in Japan, and also oversees.

Song For Smiling by Sakura Gakuin received third place with 19% (8 votes). I was surprised. Sakura Gakuin usually scores very low on polls. They are so under appreciated by everyone, it's sad. But I think their popularity went up a little, and I'm glad they snagged third place. Song for Smiling is definitely the typical upbeat, and happy Sakura Gakuin song. It's probably my least liked song from them, but the English is refreshing, and the painting outfits are cute; a nice break from their School Uniforms.I'm not sure if it's an official single yet though...but hopefully, it's included on a CD.

Go! Go! Here we go! by Ebichu took fourth place with 16% (7 votes). I adored Ebichu's debut, Karikeiyaku no Cinderella. It almost reached 30k, which is really amazing! I heard the preview, and I'm loving it so far. I just really love STARDUST in general. They really know how to produce good talents.

Headbanger by BABYMETAL took fifth with 14% (6 votes). Technically, they shouldn't be on the list because this single was released before I put the poll up, but I made a mistake. Anyway,  this is another awesome single, with an awesome b side from the group! I love the PV.

One up!!!/Ichigo Gyuunyuu by Idoling!!! took last place with 9% (4 votes). This result does not surprise me. While Idoling!!! has really great success in Japan, selling 50-60k with every single, they are really  unpopular with the western fanbase. I guess it's because at a glance, these girls are normal idols that don't really stand out. But actually, when you get to know the group, you'll find that Idoling!!! is really fun.
I like to watch their shows. Also, they have a good range of music.

In total, 42 people voted.

Weekly poll #7 is now up.

Don't forget, you can send in your weekly poll. I'm running out of questions! To find out how, click the weekly polls tab at the top of the page

It`s BABY METAL

It`s BABY METAL ,do I really have to say anything else .
For those of us who love this ,nothing else needs to be said other then
It`s BABY METAL


Long Version

BABYMETAL: Greatness

BABYMETAL: Greatness

The greatness that is BABYMETAL can only be understood by seeing them live.
“So Ladies and Gentlemen”
BABYMETAL –Mini Live

15 minute hyper idol metal.  [you don`t want to miss the last song of the set after the encore calls]

120406 BABYMETAL 「15分一本勝負！！～見えづら... by _lpfmx20

BABYMETAL Special

BABYMETAL doing a TV program

BABY METAL Vs. The World + Li Ne

BABY METAL is coming, the world better prepare, lol


http://youtu.be/wqhIydd1bhc

Li ne PV
[Enjoy while it`s still up]

BABY METAL is back with another release “Li Ne”
The video features the group in various group styles, from idol pop, to rap group, to their trade mark princesses of metal. As much as I love the PV, I really wished they had stayed with their heavy metal style of their first release.

With my objection cast to the side, this is a great song and PV, if you’re not a metal head and like to go clubbing or practice dance, this song is for you.



http://youtu.be/5EdROY2yIf4

BABY METAL has another song coming out March 7 ,which is what the first video is about

EDIT
Here is the short version ,it`s not as cool as the long version that was on this post before but still good for now .

Sakura Gakuin: Tabidachi no Hi ni PV

Sakura Gakuin  3rd single  is called   “Tabidachi no Hi ni ”
The single will be released February 15th and come in two editions. Limited and Regular.
The regular edition will have 6 songs as will the limited edition .The limited edition will also feature a PV DVD and a J-MIX version.

Tabidachi no Hi ni PV
 Universal  J does not allow embedding
http://youtu.be/3-Ul6cLq548

Covers

Regular

Limited

Visit and join our brand new message board
http://z13.invisionfree.com/Pure_Idol_Heart/index.php?act=idx

BABY METAL Gets Ultimate Endorsement

Recently BABY METAL got what I believe as a rock musician to be the ultimate endorsement of acceptance of an idol metal group into the heavy metal genre . That endorsement came from heavy metal guitar great Marty Friedman and in this case I believe a picture speaks a 1,000 words .

Also by the way the ladies of idol metal will have new songs coming out in January ,2012

Here is a few more photos a reposting of their debut video and because in the video the song actually gets cut off a full audio version is added.

PV


Full track audio version


Related post

http://pureidolheart.blogspot.com/2011/10/baby-metal-princesses-of-loli-metal.html

BABY METAL :Ijime Dame Zettai Teaser

BABY METAL :Ijime Dame Zettai Teaser

Here is a little audio teaser for BABY METAL`s song “Ijime Dame Zettai” .however it is hidden on their homepage ,that is until I tell you where it is ,lol.

When you go to their home page look at their logo ,just above their logo is a very small floating skull , click the skull .You won`t get any vocals with this preview only the intro music ,however it does a good job in wetting your taste buds for what to expect from the song.

http://www.babymetal.jp/

UPDATE 
There is an update to the story posted here 
 http://pureidolheart.blogspot.com/2012/11/babymetal-ijime-dame-zettai-trailer.html

Sakura Gakuin : VERISHUVI

Sakura Gakuin : VERISHUVI

Sakura Gakuin is a group that I have not been able to cover in detail on Pure Idol Heart ,largely due to the fact that there is so many active groups both Indie and Major that I can`t cover everyone the way I want to as the only writer on Pure Idol Heart.

Even saying that the response to my post about the Sakura Gakuin members making up BABY METAL , was great [even some heavy metal media sites reposted it word for word or cut it up , but that is a different story ] , anyway the interest overall on Pure Idol Heart for BABY METAL showed me that I need to bring more focus to their main group, so I will try to make them more active on Pure Idol Heart from this point on.

Before getting to their new single here is a brief background .

Sakura Gakuin simply means Cherry Blossom Academy .The group started in 2010 as part of the TOY`S FACTORY recording label and Amuse talent agency. They got their first big media break at Tokyo Idol Festival #1 and by the end of 2010 had started releasing major label releases.

There are 12 members currently in Sakura Gakuin and the group has five sub groups they are Twinklestars ,BABYMETAL ,Mini Party ,SCOOPERS and sleepiece .Each sub group is set to a different theme .

Currently the group is preparing to support their new single VERISHUVI

VERISHUVI will come out on December 21


VERISHUVI by kk231mj

Related Links
http://www.sakuragakuin.jp/
http://ameblo.jp/sakuragakuin/
http://artist.amuse.co.jp/artist/sakuragakuin/
ch.nicovideo.jp/channel/ch1008

Baby Metal: Princesses Of Idol Metal

Baby Metal: Princesses Of Idol Metal

Under normal circumstances this would be posted on my hard rock blog, but as I have not opened it yet and the fact these three darlings of cuteness are idols it falls here on PIH.

Please welcome to the site Baby Metal

Baby Metal is a Idol  Metal Group, created from members of the idol group Sakura Gakuin and are all under the age of 14.

Baby Metal members are
SU-METAL [Vocals and Dance]
MOAMETAL [Screamer and Dance]
YUIMETAL [Screamer and Dance]

Baby Metal was born in 2010 to be a mix of Idol and Heavy Metal Music .They made their debut in October 2010 performing their debut single “Doki Doki Morning” .They followed that up with a song this July called “Ijime, Dame, Zettai” .This release became an immediate buzz in both the idol and rock genre for its music and lyrical content along with Baby Metal`s performance abilities for the song.

Because Baby Metal is a heavy metal group ,they have attracted a number of heavy metal wotas to their lives that Baby Metal lovingly calls “WELCOME TO THE MOSH PIT OF CHAOS”, that sees any idol event they play at transformed into a heavy metal mosh pit.

In October they were a part of a music event in Shinjuku called “NO MUSIC,NO IDOL?” and look set to continue their unique brand of mayhem for some time to come. While a few units proclaim that they are heavy metal idols, no one has embraced the concept to the degree that Baby Metal has.

While some metal and hard rock purists may scream this breaks everything we hold of value in the genre, I am not one of them .You see if your secure in your manhood, then you can see what Baby Metal is in its truest form, a tribute to the great genre that is heavy metal  and the “Princesses Of Idol Metal”. And for me, someone who makes his living as a hard rock singer and as a fan of idol genre, I say bring on the chaos and Baby Metal.

http://www.babymetal.jp/

Tokyo Idol Festival 2011

Tokyo Idol Festival 2011

It`s that time of the year again, when the idol world below the 48`s and H!P come together with over 30 idol units[final lineup should be near 50] for a multi day Idol festival  [Wota Heaven] .

The first lineups are out and is tradition the main acts get first billing .

Idoling!!!, Sakura Gakuin, The Possible, SUPER☆GiRLS, Tokyo Joshiryu, Vanilla Beans, Fudanjuku, Passpo☆, and YGA.

This year’s theme is “Eco & Smile” and will be an eco-friendly festival ,while bringing more need to the sufferers of the Tohoku Earthquake.

To live up to this theme power will come from private generators and there will be disaster relief projects that the idols will undertake.

One light hearted moment took place during the press conference when Sakura Gakuin`s Mizuno Yui was asked a difficult question , however the ever smiling idol stepped up to the situation and answered with “I’ll ask my teacher,” and ran over to their manager.

The developing lineup can be found on the home page below .

The festival will kickoff at Shinagawa Yoshimoto Prince Theater  on August 24,25,26 and will continue on August 27 and 28

HP
http://www.idolfes.com/2011/

NOTE- PIH may do a special on the TIF  ,if time allows