• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Merry Go Round's H!P Best of 2008 Poll

Thursday, 8th January 2009 02:26

This post is a bit later than I had expected, damn work! Taken from Amy's Merry Go Round blog, a questionaire that really got me thinking about last years releases;

Best Group Single
Quite a tough one as I feel that Berryz, C-ute and Buono! have all had an amazing year in regards to single releases. But I find the single that I listen to most of all has to be C-ute's Edo no Temari Uta II. It may have been bit on the short side but it when I first heard it I was amazed at unique the song sounded and it still feels that way with each listen.
I've also started growing a likeness to listening to the instrumentals and this has to be one of my favourites to listen to, just so damm funky!

Best Soloist Single
I really want to say that my favourite solo track from 2008 is Manoeri's Manopiano, it's not perfect but it's such a grower that with each listen you can't help but fall in love with it but unforuntaly the complete awesomeness of Ayaya always wins me over when it comes to solo releases, so I'll have to pick Kizuna I don't think anyone can touch Ayaya vocally.

Best Group Album
With out any doubt in my mind Cafe Buono has to be the best group album of the year. There's not a bad song on the album...there's not even an average song on the album, every track on there is amazing. There's no growers, every song is a pleasure to listen to straight from the start! And the rock/pop feel to the songs is still a nice unique sound which I never tire of.

Best Soloist Album
Koha's Kirarin to Fuyu is the obvious choice for me...actaully can it be considered a solo album? With it featuring the Milky Way tracks it's got me wondering..

Best PV
Easy! Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance is by far the best PV of the year. It has that certain something that I find missing from a lot of H!P PVs and that a sense of humour and that something extra that makes it stand out above the usual H!P PVs. I still remember the feeling when I first watched it, with the girls dancing in their normalish outfits and then suddenly....WOW! Monkey Suits!!!! And the normal version of the PV is only topped by the excellent Monkey Version, 100% monkey outfits all filmed in one take with the girls actaully showing us a huge chunk of personality and what likes genuine fun!

Group With Best Overall Releases
For me this year has been all about C-ute. Everything they've got their hands on this year has been of such a high standard and that's not just including Singles and their album, their concert DVDs have been great to watch as well. But it's not just the quality of their releases that have impressed me so much, it's how each of their single releases have had their own sound, the anticipation of listening to a new C-ute single is something I enjoy greatly as I never know what to expect.

Best New Group (debuted in 2008)
The best group that debuted this year for me has to be Milky Way. Obviously I'm estatic to have any excuse for more Koha, but with the introduction of this unit I got familiar with two members of H!P that I've shown no interest in before; Kikka and Saaya. Saaya stomach is still something that impresses me everytime I see it in the Anataboshi PV and Kikka's amazingly cute looks have grown on me so much since their first release.

Best New Soloist (debuted in 2008)
Even if there had been any competition Manoeri would have won. The simple fact that she's adding something to H!P which I haven't seen before, the introduction to something more in her performances, the use of the piano. I've really got into the whole H!P and live instruments over the past month or two, having had the oppurtunity to watch both of Ayaya's and Nacchi's recent concert DVDs I've been able to see how much this adds to their performances and the thought of always seeing Mano with her piano perfoming excities me alot.

Best Established Group (did not debut in 2008)
As I've said previously this year for me has all been about C-ute, so it's C-ute again. I just can't get enough of C-ute at the mo I just want more and more and more! Argh! Why isn't their album out sooner!!

Best Established Soloist (did not debut in 2008)
As ever Ayaya has to be my fave soloist within 2008. First off Kizuna was a great song but it's more her recent concert DVD that really pushed her for me over Nacchi. Although both of their recent concerts are great and feature a live band, Ayaya's was the first I saw and so it holds that extra little bit of fondness for me. And then there's the simple reasoning that I LOVE AYAYA!

Best Photobook
The choice of best PB falls to either Gaki or Sayu. Gaki, is by my most favourite H!P member to see in a bikini so obvious reasons as to why her book is here. Happy Girl is also the most perfect name for this release, when I think of Gaki I think of the best smile within H!P so Happy Girl suits it perfectly. Hmmmm, but Sayu's was extremely impressive, in fact sod it, Sayu's was the best PB of the year! Taking that step from cute to sexy is always a difficult one, espeically if you can do cute as well as Sayu, but her PB was at times mind blowingly sexy whilst turning the page revealed a totally cute photo! Sayu has the best of both worlds!!

Hottest Idol of 2008
Well, I don't think I could name one I have to give this to two girls that have really amazed me this year. Chinami and Chisato, both girls that I've never considered to be the attractive members of their units, but recently with a few adjustment to both of their haircuts my eyes were opened to the beauty of both of them! And Chinami's legs...I've no idea how I hadn't noticed them before!...Seriosuly where the hell was I looking?

Worst Group Single
I can't actually think of a bad group single. Hmmm, maybe Minna no Tamago? It's the only single that I can't actually remember how it sounds.

Worst Soloist Single
Okitegami was probably my least favourite single of the year, although I still like it it's just that it wasn't really what I was expecting to hear from Mikity upon her return.

Worst PV
The only PV that really sticks in my mind when I think bad PVs has to be the ones for Resonant Blue, I know a lot of people loved the PVs but for me they just felt like on big cop out, I was so disapointed with them. Perhaps it was the mix that they dropped the mini booklet in favour of a crappy rehash PV, I'm so hoping for good things this year from them!!

Worst Vocalist of 2008
Although I love Koha, my fave Morning Musume member...I just always feel a little dissapointed when I see her perform live, it's more the fact that she normally alway lip syncs :(

Least Attractive Girl of 2008
There's unattactive girls in H!P?? Where?!

TAGS [ Hello!Project Stuff ]
Posted Thursday, 8th January 2009 02:26 | 2650 Reads

Comments

Comment by Innovera on Thursday, 8th January 2009 11:28
Well Paul, I won’t go thru and list my picks for all of these questions because I generally agree with you on most of your pick, however and this may surprise to you, but I don’t think Monkey Dance was the best PV for 2008. I know, shocking isn’t it? Well life is full of surprises sometimes.

Seriously through, while I think any Buono! PV would be a good choice and I strongly considered Gachinko de Ikou! but, I think the best PV for last year was C-ute’s Edo no Temari Uta II. First, the set design is awesome and while I typically don’t care about fashion their outfits are just spectacular. I love how each girl was given a different look. Then too top it off you have the funky looking clowns dancing in the back ground. The only way to describe it is quirky fun. If there is one negative, it’s short. I think it run time is under 3 minutes.

I don’t think Koharu is a great singer but I think Mano Erina is weaker. I like the style she brings to H!P and that she is truly unique because she’s so different from everyone else. But that poor child’s voice pitch is under achieving to say the least. I think she currently has the toughest job and I know she’s trying her best so I don’t want to rag on her too much.



Comment by Matt_D on Thursday, 8th January 2009 20:28
Sorry to break it to you, Koha as lovely as she may be isn't a patch on Mano, I said it before on the first few times I saw Mano wasn't impressed, but after her oddball endings on yurasen, her blog, and seeing how awsome she is live, gotta say the girls diamond.

Mentioning Koha, her Kirin revolution special live show, watch out for when she goes off in the wrong direction - the girls a genius.

Beyond my fave soloist and new talent Mano (non of the other soloists really get my note, I have my solo idol singer already - Momo-i and there are a dozen good soloists out there who arn't in the idol catagory.)

Unlike everyone else in the cosmos I prefered Berryz to C-ute, although it was my first year of paying attention to either seriously.

Best photobook, Reina. I'm fanatical, it's true., 2nd Sayu, it was so smocking hot I think I burnt myself.

2nd Hottest (hottest is Reina but we knew that right?) hmmm this has been going on for some time, but I just can't' decide, somewhere between Eri, JunJun, Sayu and Saki. Depending on my mood my decision changes.

Best wife material, Eri.

Most exciting but short lived date material Reina.

Most traditional wife, Ai.

Most likely to go stark raving mad, Sayu.

Funniest MC onstage JunJun vs Koha cute face pose lol

Most likely to get it on with other members JunJun.


Comment by Moon on Friday, 9th January 2009 05:31
"And Chinami's legs...I've no idea how I hadn't noticed them before!...Seriosuly where the hell was I looking?"

You were looking at Miyabi's beautiful thighs. lol! They draw my eye in everytime. But seriously, Chinami was soo thin before but now that she's putting on that puberty weight she looks better and better. More and more beautiful and I hope she gets more attention.


Comment by Moon on Friday, 9th January 2009 05:33
Oh! Paul? Did you ever do a review of Sayumi's Love Letter photobook? I can't find it and I always love to read your view on the girls' books.


Comment by Morningtime on Friday, 9th January 2009 19:29
Thanks for the link Paul. I love these type of posts. I've decided to do some answers too. Although...knowing your love of Ayaya I wouldn't look. :o

The Merry Go Round blog is very entertaining. I've gotta say I'd not come across it before. Always good to find another blog to bookmark!


Comment by paul.thomas on Tuesday, 13th January 2009 12:06
Innovera, actually I was expecting a lot more people to turn around and say that Monkey Dance wasn't the best PV of 2008, I think more people dislike than like it but to me it's just such a cute video with so much humour in it, sure it's silly but it's so much fun.
I totally agree with what you say about Buono!'s and C-ute's PVs, Edo no Temari Uta II would be my 2nd choice for all the reason you said, plus I just love the dance routine for this it's just not usual H!P dance routine everything about the release is just so funky!
Manoeri's voice certainly sounds a lot weaker than I had imagined it to be after hearing her in Ongaku Gatas, but I do find that her voice does add something that perhaps a stronger voice wouldn't.

Matt_D, during last year I was getting a little bit worried that Reina's PBs were getting a little on the boring side, but then I saw some scan of Very Reina and I was blown away, it's such an amazing book, actually I still need to grab myself a copy. lol I love your little you're ending to your comment! I know quite a few people that say that about Eri, even people that aren't into H!P they watch clips and the first thing they say is, I want to marry her...which is always a shocker, usually when looking at attractive Japanese girls getting married is normally the last thing on their minds, usually it's things like "great boobs/bum".

Moon, LOL! I think for me Chinami's old haircut was what caused me not to pay her that much attention as I never really thought that it suited her. Now that I'm liking her hair I'm noticing more about her, I should probably have a look through some older PVs and see if her legs still draw my attention? Fingers crossed she'll get more attention, perhaps even a PB? I'm guessing with the Elder Club graduating we'll need some more members to fill the gap that'll be left from not having any Nacchi or Charmy PBs?
No, I never did, I really wanted to but as with everything H!P I find, unless I post about it the second I get it there's a whole ton of new things to write about and it just falls further and further down the list. Hmmm, hopefully I'll get around to it some point, I also wanted to do a review of Gaki's Happy Girl PB as well.

Morningtime, lol, well I'm prepared now so I'll take a little peek lol. There's so many H!P blogs out there it's hard keeping track of them all, I'm actually tempted to start using an RSS reader and just add the new ones as I come across them.


Comment by Matt_D on Tuesday, 13th January 2009 15:47
her photobook is great this time, but her Real Challenge DVD is epic, it's so much fun seeing her put to task unlike the other girls DVDs where it's kind of turn up, frolic, be pretty, which is cute, but Reina always has to do something ludicrous, swim with Sharks, Memorise all the big town names in Hokkaido or risk cleaning cow sheds. Poor thing.

As to the Marriage thing, it's become a common topic of debate at our concert viewing weekends, that and exaclty when Sayu is going to lose it and go on a rampage.


Comment by Matt_D on Tuesday, 13th January 2009 15:48
Also must be tough keeping photobooks and dvds fresh after 7 of them lol.


Comment by lil'liv on Sunday, 26th April 2009 18:23
for the attractive girl:
obviously the ice cream girls. i'm sorry, they aren't gonna make it far. they're gonna be the taiwanese coconuts musume....

and the worst of them is def either Anchii or Guuchan.

i'm sorry... they just aren't that cute.


Comment by lil'liv on Sunday, 26th April 2009 18:24
whoopsssi meant LEAST attractive girl, not attractive!!!

my badddd

Hello!Blog.co.uk     Back to Top ∧

< Debut! ~Koi Suru Kado ni wa Fuku Kitaru~ Full PV     Hello Project Battle Festival >

Archive