Souki and I Discuss Idol Personalities and Wota Psychology

More insights into the mind of wota, or something like that. I had posted a similar conversation to this not too long ago, and hastily deleted it after I realized that everything in that one was explained more adequately here...so if you're wondering why that post disappeared, here's your reason.

CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Zac
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I'm not gonna lie
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: sometimes I think that reality TV stars here have more depth than idols.
CatchFiveBats: Well, they're normal people just doing what they want to do.
CatchFiveBats: People have depth, that makes sense. XD
CatchFiveBats: But I think some idols have a lot of depth to them, really.
CatchFiveBats: Especially ones that have gone on to other things.
CatchFiveBats: Aya and Miki being the obvious examples. XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I guess. I dunno, I just hear the canned responses.
CatchFiveBats: That's just Japanese culture though.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah, but it doesn't really change that it seems flat.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Like, where do you see that Aya and Miki are interesting?
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: And I'm not asking to bust your balls
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I'm seriously asking
CatchFiveBats: Honestly, I couldn't tell you.
CatchFiveBats: Not specifically.
CatchFiveBats: But I know, from how much time I've spent watching them on TV shows, and in concerts, and at promo events, and in DVD magazines, and in everything I've watched (including recent TV appearances where they weren't parading around as idols, but as musicians, and real people) that there's depth to them.
CatchFiveBats: On the surface, it doesn't seem that way.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah, but how do you know they're not just canning the same "I wanna make people happy, lucky lucky I wanna give dreams" responses in those shows?
CatchFiveBats: Cause they're not just saying that stuff.
CatchFiveBats: Not Aya and Miki, anyway.
CatchFiveBats: Not recently.
CatchFiveBats: But as you get involved with the idol 'thing' and get to know the girls, you see the depth to it.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: mmm....
CatchFiveBats: It's the difference between a casual observer and a hardcore fan. XD
CatchFiveBats: There's depth to everything if you spend enough time with it. :P
CatchFiveBats: And those who argue against that just haven't been involved with it like the fans have, to risk sounding like an elitist dick.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I suppose...I just don't know if companies capitalize on their personalities or if they mold them into idols.
CatchFiveBats: I think it's a little bit of both.
CatchFiveBats: Like, they really direct the girls as they start out.
CatchFiveBats: But as the girls get more confident and develop into better idols, they're given more freedom to act on their own.
CatchFiveBats: They wouldn't stay idols if they weren't doing what they wanted to.
CatchFiveBats: There are members who have left cause they couldn't handle the idol life.
CatchFiveBats: Maiha in Berryz, for example.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: aaah....
CatchFiveBats: It seems very manufactured at first, but I think all the manufactured stuff is just the big picture...what you see from the outside looking in.
CatchFiveBats: The details, the idols themselves, are for the most part real, from what I've seen.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: aaah...and that's where understanding Japanese comes in, I suppose.
CatchFiveBats: Obviously it's not a perfect argument, but you could say the same about the members of a band here in the US.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah, you could.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: But a band doesn't really market itself as an IDOL.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: They market themselves as musicians.
CatchFiveBats: Well, yes.
CatchFiveBats: But that's because musicians and idols serve different purposes.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: mmm...idols are images and examples.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: And as such they have to uphold that throughout their career.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I mean, examples for people to follow.
CatchFiveBats: They're there to inspire and be an object of affection, on top of just entertainment.
CatchFiveBats: So of course there will be some awkward or seemingly manufactured parts.
CatchFiveBats: The purpose requires it.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: mmm....seemingly?
CatchFiveBats: Seemingly and not-so-seemingly, both.
CatchFiveBats: It just depends on the situation.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: aaah
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: It feels like the times you can see a real idol for what they are is when they're on game shows and stuff.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Or so it seems to me.
CatchFiveBats: Exactly.
CatchFiveBats: Or situations where they're put on the spot, or kind of tortured a little, like the stuff the hosts pull on Utaban.
CatchFiveBats: And, from what I've seen, they still act mostly the same.
CatchFiveBats: Either they're very well-trained, or the people who manage idols know how to play off an already-existing personality.
CatchFiveBats: I'd be more inclined to the second option.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Unless those situations are written, but I doubt that.
CatchFiveBats: There's no way.
CatchFiveBats: Part of the fun of idols and TV personalities in Japan is that they're not acting.
CatchFiveBats: It's kind of like reality TV in that respect.
CatchFiveBats: And there's a blogger who has said that he approached idols like reality TV when he was into them.
CatchFiveBats: The taboo-ness of it.
CatchFiveBats: And how ridiculous it is that something like idols actually exists.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: mmmm
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I mean, I don't think it's a taboo.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: It's just something for...very open minds.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: You'd have to be open-minded to even entertain the idea of getting attached to something on a screen.
CatchFiveBats: Oh, of course.
CatchFiveBats: But closed minds are what bring taboos about in the first place. XD
CatchFiveBats: You kind of defined what a taboo is. XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: A sort of hive-mind creates societal taboos.
CatchFiveBats: mhmm
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Kind of everyone thinking the same way just cause someone in power thinks one thing.
CatchFiveBats: Yeah.
CatchFiveBats: One person thinks it, then everyone jumps on the bandwagon.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: One person of power, mind you.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I'd imagine most of the very hopelessly hardcore would agree with Aya if she suddenly decided killing jews was a good idea.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: And from there, it'd build off.
CatchFiveBats: haha
CatchFiveBats: I suppose...but from what I've heard from a guy who actually went to Japan and saw Momusu in concert, and another idol group, most wotas aren't these pitiful lemmings who live for their idols.
CatchFiveBats: A lot of them just do it as a hobby.
CatchFiveBats: It's not a lifestyle like I've tried to make it. >.>
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: aaaah
CatchFiveBats: And I'm coming to terms with that, too.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I see...
CatchFiveBats: As much as I love all these girls I'm into, it's unrealistic to live just for that.
CatchFiveBats: When I'm at home, I live for the idols I love.
CatchFiveBats: When I'm at school or work, I live for that.
CatchFiveBats: But it's not like I can't enjoy school or work.
CatchFiveBats: Or that I'm distracted from it because I can't stop thinking of Miki. XD
CatchFiveBats: I'm perfectly capable of functioning (not that I need to make that point...).
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Oh no XD
CatchFiveBats: It's not a crippling thing...
CatchFiveBats: Just an eccentricity.
CatchFiveBats: No matter what I'm into, I'll be into it as much as I'm into idols right now.
CatchFiveBats: Idols just happen to be an entertainment form that pull you in a little further than most things.
CatchFiveBats: There are days where I just feel like sitting around and swooning over Miki all day. XD
CatchFiveBats: And, if the opportunity arises, I'll do that every now and then.
CatchFiveBats: Cause I enjoy that.
CatchFiveBats: It's what I do for fun.
CatchFiveBats: But it's not like I live just for that.
CatchFiveBats: Even if it feels like I do sometimes.
CatchFiveBats: I mean, I still do my job and enjoy myself and work hard and everything else, and often have just as good of a time as I do watching H!P concerts or looking at photobooks or whatever.
CatchFiveBats: I've always viewed myself as a being fairly versatile in what I'm able to enjoy...as in, I can enjoy just about anything if I set my mind to it.
CatchFiveBats: I don't have any idea where I'm going with this. XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: XD it's okay lol
CatchFiveBats: I suppose you get the point. :P
CatchFiveBats: You haven't seen this happen, but I'm even more defensive with Miki than I was with Berryz. >.<
CatchFiveBats: I've just stormed out of wotachat a couple times because someone started making sex jokes about Miki.
CatchFiveBats: I just don't want to hear it.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I haven't really noticed it! I think it's just cause we (he's referring to my group of friends here) don't do that much anymore.
CatchFiveBats: Yeah.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: The joke kinda wore itself out.
CatchFiveBats: haha
CatchFiveBats: Yeah.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Unless something severely witty comes along.
CatchFiveBats: mhmm
CatchFiveBats: Anyway, that makes me feel as though I'm hopelessly lost in this whole wota thing.
CatchFiveBats: But then I go out and do 'normal' stuff, and I have no trouble at all.
CatchFiveBats: It's confusing, honestly. XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: XD it's just what you enjoy.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: It bugs me when Jack Thompson or any other mother mouths off about games.
CatchFiveBats: haha
CatchFiveBats: I guess it just shows that I really enjoy my hobbies.
CatchFiveBats: It's nice that I'm able to fall that far into them and still maintain a fairly normal life, I guess.
CatchFiveBats: I see lots of kids at conventions who can't do that very well. :P
CatchFiveBats: And I've explained the whole pissed-at-Miki-jokes thing as being similar to someone making sex jokes about my girlfriend or something.
CatchFiveBats: The relationship isn't the same at all, of course.
CatchFiveBats: I know that.
CatchFiveBats: But the emotions are similar.
CatchFiveBats: If the wrong person develops that, they could end up completely hopeless. XD
CatchFiveBats: But I guess I'm somehow not that kind of person.
CatchFiveBats: Even with all the insane stuff that I think sometimes...
CatchFiveBats: Think and/or do.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I'll be back in a bit
CatchFiveBats: k

- cfb

lol

Just a quick something lulzy. Shouldn't take myself too seriously. XD

January 26th, 2009
pootyfrebbles: Whoa, her birthday is coming up
CatchFiveBats: Miki's?
CatchFiveBats: It's the 26th of February :P
pootyfrebbles: kago's
CatchFiveBats: Well, Miki's is coming up too.
CatchFiveBats: I'll stick a candle in a cookie and cry myself to sleep or something pitiful like that.
pootyfrebbles: Hahahahahahahah
CatchFiveBats: Have a real bang-up party.
pootyfrebbles: Fucking awesome

- cfb

December 2008 Purchases

I'm feeling lazy, so I didn't crop the pictures for this post. Guess you readers get the privilege of seeing some of the other things sitting on my desk. :P

• Morning Musume - COVER YOU RE (w/slipcover)
• Shugo Chara Egg! - Minna no Tamago LE (w/DVD)
• C-ute - FOREVER LOVE RE
• Pucchi Best 8
  

• Matsuura Aya - Double Rainbow RE (w/slipcover)
• DEF.DIVA - Suki Sugite Baka Mitai RE
• Morning Musume - Ambitious! Yashintenki de Ii Jan LE (w/DVD)
• C-ute - FOREVER LOVE Single V
• Buono! - Rottara Rottara Single V
• Berryz Koubou - Dschinghis Khan TaruTaru Mix Single V
  

Morning Musume

• Souda! We're Alive Single V
• DO IT! NOW Single V
• AS FOR ONE DAY Single V
  
• Ai Araba IT'S ALL RIGHT Single V
• Iroppoi Jirettai Single V
• Ganbacchae!/HEY! Mirai Single V
  

• Matsuura Aya Single M Clips 1
• Matsuura Aya - Ne~e? Single V
• Nochiura Natsumi - Renai Sentai Shitsu Ranger Single V
• Fujimoto Miki - Okitegami Single V
  

• Morning Musume - DVD Magazine Vol 3
• Matsuura Aya Concert Tour 2007 Aki ~Double Rainbow~
• Matsuura Aya Concert Tour 2004 Haru ~Watashi to Watashi to Anata~
• Tsugunaga Momoko - Momo no Mi PB

So yeah, purchase craziness. Some quick thoughts:
- COVER YOU is incredible. It feels pretty damn close to the Folk Songs albums, which is an extremely good thing. Speaking of, I recommend them wholeheartedly. Listen to them.
- I bought Pucchi Best 8 pretty much entirely for GAM's unreleased single (and, in a sense, the GAM Rakuten Eagles support single, although I do plan to actually buy that someday...). Do what you gotta do, I guess. XD
- Dschinghis Khan TaruTaru Mix, both the single and PV, is still like some kind of bizarre dream that I would tell my friends about and laugh at how stupid it is. Sadly, it's more fun to talk about than listen to. >.<
- I went insane on Single Vs this month...and January is more of the same. I've acquired so many CDs over the last year and a half (which, by the way, it's crazy that it's been that long X.X) that I guess I feel the need to back off on buying those for a bit. I've got a lot of listening to catch up on, haha.
- It feels pretty damn cool owning a DVD Magazine. Fanclub releases ftw?
- Watashi to Watashi to Anata is AWESOME. Download it, buy it, watch it somehow. Ayaya has and will always own the stage.
- Momo no Mi is HOT. Like, seriously. Momoko's got a smokin' bod. :P

And just a reminder, I keep a complete, up-to-date list of everything I've got here, if you're curious as to what all I've accumulated.

Until next month. :P
- cfb

H!P Best of 2008 Poll

ami over at Merry Go Round has been bugging me to take her poll, so I guess I'll cave.

Bests

Best Group Single
High-King - C\C (Cinderella\Complex) (both songs on this release were really solid, moreso than any other single...except maybe Pepper Keibu, and both tracks from that release were on Cover You)

Best Soloist Single
Matsuura Aya - Kizuna (as much as I love Okitegami, I think Kizuna was a better single - sorry Miki)

Best Group Album
Morning Musume - Cover You (neither C-ute nor Berryz' albums impressed me very much, and I rarely listen to Buono! or Ongaku Gatas - but even still, Cover You is a great album, and it deserves the spot)

Best Soloist Album
Nakazawa Yuko - Legend (I haven't even listened to this album, actually...but I can guarantee it's better than Koharu's...which I also haven't listened to XD)

Best PV
Athena and Robikerottsu - Seishun Love Lunch (best PV - and best guilty pleasure to torture your friends with, hands down)

Group With Best Overall Releases
Buono! (even though I almost never listen to them, I can't deny how high-quality pretty much everything they release is)

Best New Group (debuted in 2008)
MilkyWay (I would have gone for High-King, but they already got best single, plus they were a one-shot :P)

Best New Soloist (debuted in 2008)
Is there even a choice to be made here? I haven't gotten into TNX yet, so Ogamana is out of the question...and honestly, Manoeri has done little musically to impress me thus far (she's adorable, but that doesn't make her a good soloist...just a cute idol). As such, no takers.

Best Established Group (did not debut in 2008)
Morning Musume (I don't care what anyone says, cover releases ftw)

Best Established Soloist (did not debut in 2008)
Fujimoto Miki (not even speaking from my bias, I have to give her this for all the promotion she did for Okitegami - it didn't end up as the longest-charting single by itself)

Best Photobook
Suzuki Airi- - 6gatsu no Kajitsu (seriously a beautiful photobook - Airi rules)

Hottest Idol of 2008
Do I even need to answer this? Fujimoto Miki.

Worsts

Worst Group Single
Tie between MADAYADE and FOREVER LOVE (honestly, I barely listened to either, but what I heard did little to impress)

Worst Soloist Single
Kusume Koharu - Papancake (actually, I love this single...but you can't deny that it's awful XD)

Worst PV
Berryz Koubou - Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance (you're in one of two boats on this PV - love the monkey suits, or hate the monkey suits...I hated them)

Worst Vocalist of 2008
Koharu is the only one that springs to mind, and I don't hate her voice or anything. No takers on this one.

Least Attractive Girl of 2008
Honestly, every currently active member is at least moderately attractive. I'll give this to Yasuda Kei, even though she did nothing...because I can.

- cfb