This is a continuation of my last post, so make sure to read that before you read this one. Basically, Souki looked over the previous post and wanted to correct a few things.
February 21st, 2008
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: it wasn't that I lost interest, it was that I couldn't pretend to argue with someone who's obviously more versed than I am XD
CatchFiveBats: Ahhhh.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: What I was arguing from the beginning is that I didn't blame any H!P idol for being sneaky about it.
CatchFiveBats: mmm
CatchFiveBats: I get what you're saying.
CatchFiveBats: And, honestly, I really can't either.
CatchFiveBats: But that doesn't change the fact that they're not allowed to.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: The rules ARE the rules, totally.
CatchFiveBats: And that they're out of H!P if they do it.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah, that won't change at all.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I dunno
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I think
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: what it is with me is that I see H!P like Disney
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I shouldn't, totally
CatchFiveBats: Yeahhhhh, not like Disney...
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but I mean, you have Hannah Montana having a boyfriend and not putting on her seatbelt
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: and she's still very much idolized.
CatchFiveBats: But it's not idolizing in the same sense, really...
CatchFiveBats: I mean, I see what you mean.
CatchFiveBats: And it's a good point.
CatchFiveBats: But Japanese idols play such a severely different role from those that are idolized over here that you can't compare them.
CatchFiveBats: Or even approach them in the same way.
CatchFiveBats: Because then you just end up hating the idol business in Japan.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah, totally.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I guess it's not a slave trade, but it IS rather strict, comparatively.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Since the "idol" thing is kind of a side-effect here in America.
CatchFiveBats: But keep in mind that this is in Japan.
CatchFiveBats: They're a much more hardworking society than us.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah, it keeps them disciplined
CatchFiveBats: Exactly.
CatchFiveBats: It's not that much more strict than pop 'idols' over here, when you take that aspect into account.
CatchFiveBats: I mean, it's more.
CatchFiveBats: But not as much as you would think.
CatchFiveBats: From what I know, anyway.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: No, it definitely is. Idols are a business in Japan.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Here
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Vanessa Hudgens, miss High School Musical, had a nude photo scandal thingamajig.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: And she's still on for the next movie, from what I hear.
CatchFiveBats: Yeah.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Disney's keeping her.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: It's definitely less strict
CatchFiveBats: In Japan, if nude pictures of an idol surface, she's fucked.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: and the "idol" thing is definitely a side-effect. It comes riding on the coattails of the initial success. if that makes sense.
CatchFiveBats: Exactly.
CatchFiveBats: In Japan, idols are that, and only that.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah. Here they're primarily something else.
CatchFiveBats: Over here, it's just idolizing someone famous.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Idols are literally IDOLS in japan. Almost like buddha statues you pray to.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: only not quite like that.
CatchFiveBats: Sort of, yeah.
CatchFiveBats: It's like in Haruka 17.
CatchFiveBats: They give people dreams.
CatchFiveBats: Or, in the case of wotas, something to live for.
CatchFiveBats: Since most of them can't get a real girlfriend anyway.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Lolz, I totally wish wotas didn't see it like that...it gives me lulz. Pitiful lulz, but lulz nonetheless.
CatchFiveBats: They're a different type of otaku, and you know how otakus are viewed over there.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah. They're maybe one step above gaijins XD
CatchFiveBats: Heh.
CatchFiveBats: Something like that.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I dunno the hierarchy. I just know every japo girl's gonna want my black shaft.
CatchFiveBats: XD
CatchFiveBats: Wotas outside of Japan are a different story, though.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah.
CatchFiveBats: They're just into it because they like seeing cute girls do stuff.
CatchFiveBats: And be cute.
CatchFiveBats: And sing and dance.
CatchFiveBats: For most of them, it's not a lifestyle.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah.
CatchFiveBats: In my case...yeah, basically a lifestyle...
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Still...
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I agree that idols are personalities, like you said, besides being pretty faces
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but some things just ARE scripted...
CatchFiveBats: Yeah, of course.
CatchFiveBats: They're obviously given a lot of direction on how to act and all that.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I mean, god, some things are just too fucking obvious...
CatchFiveBats: Yeah, for sure.
CatchFiveBats: As an example, talking to the camera on the alo-hello DVDs ("I love meetings the fans, blah blah blah, watch my DVD a trillion times")...I'd be very, very surprised if they actually liked most of the wotas that come to handshake events.
CatchFiveBats: >.<
CatchFiveBats: They scare even me.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: That's where I stop thinking an idol is cute. When it becomes so terrifyingly fake. Because I'm not a wota, but I definitely think Kago Ai has wit and Maasa Sudo's too fucking cool.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: But that video you showed me recently....
CatchFiveBats: ...?
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: the one with all the "YAY"s
CatchFiveBats: Heh?
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: There's a girl in the video
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: and she's watching the singer do her thing on a television
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: and then she's mimicking her
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: and stuff
CatchFiveBats: I have no idea what you're talking about.
CatchFiveBats: XD
CatchFiveBats: I've watched a LOT of H!P stuff recently.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: If I could hum it XD
CatchFiveBats: Was it on a talk show?
CatchFiveBats: Or was it like an idol DVD thing?
CatchFiveBats: Or what?
CatchFiveBats: I'll know if you give me more details.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: music video.
CatchFiveBats: hmmmm
CatchFiveBats: Momusu?
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Not momusu.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: It's one girl
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Koharu!
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Right?
CatchFiveBats: OH
CatchFiveBats: OH
CatchFiveBats: XD
CatchFiveBats: Koi Kana is fucking ridiculous.
CatchFiveBats: That's a terrible example.
CatchFiveBats: XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: yeah, probably
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but you get what I mean
CatchFiveBats: Koharu is a terrible example.
CatchFiveBats: Yes, I do.
CatchFiveBats: And there are GOOD examples (XD) that would better prove your point.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah, totally, I dunno. Pick any lame momusu vid where they do the peace sign winking thing.
CatchFiveBats: lulz...Reina...
CatchFiveBats: ~.^ V
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: KILL
CatchFiveBats: I think that's cute.
CatchFiveBats: But anyway, as a wota, you learn to deal with the fake, cheesy stuff.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Obviously if you're moe~, but I'd probably value an idol that's more like Maasa or Kago Ai.
CatchFiveBats: Yeah.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Where mostly you do say "damn she's so fucking cool/cute" genuinely
CatchFiveBats: I've never seen Maasa seem fake.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Me either, honestly. She's always kicked ass and taken names.
CatchFiveBats: I think Kago acted more childish than she really was sometimes...to fit into the moe mold...
CatchFiveBats: But yeah, she's a hoot.
CatchFiveBats: Or...was...
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: she left?
CatchFiveBats: Yeah, Kago was expelled.
CatchFiveBats: Remeeeeember???
CatchFiveBats: We talked about this.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: THAT was THE Kago??
CatchFiveBats: YES
CatchFiveBats: THAT WAS THE KAGO
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: FUCK NO
CatchFiveBats: Yeah, she's the only Kago.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: AWW KAGO
CatchFiveBats: I know, it sucked.
CatchFiveBats: And was really random.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: What the hell. XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: That's where the facade comment comes in, too. You never really know a person. You're just enthralled with the person you see on TV.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: See, I had NO clue that was THE Kago.
CatchFiveBats: Yeah.
CatchFiveBats: She had a really shitty family situation, though.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Really?
CatchFiveBats: Yeah...
From there, I went on to explain Kago's family situation, and that was that. Hopefully this alleviates any issues that could have come about from the previous post.
- cfb
Showing posts with label souki. Show all posts
Showing posts with label souki. Show all posts
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Souki and I Discuss Kamei's Scandal and the Idol Business
Souki has a crappy view of idol agencies. >.<
February 20th, 2008
CatchFiveBats: Kamei...
CatchFiveBats: Scandal...
CatchFiveBats: D'''''':
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Whaaaat?
CatchFiveBats: http://www.hello-online.org/index.php?act=helloonline&CODE=news&topic=178
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: TOO LONG, DID NOT READ
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Paraphrase, ploz.
CatchFiveBats: Just glimpse over it.
CatchFiveBats: Cal got the idea of it from the article.
CatchFiveBats: If he's willing to do it, so can you.
CatchFiveBats: XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Heaves the biggest fucking SIGH on earth.
CatchFiveBats: DON'T EVEN JOKE ABOUT THIS
CatchFiveBats: I really am pretty upset about it.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Well, ok.
CatchFiveBats: Hopefully it doesn't go anywhere.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I hope it doesn't either, quite honestly.
CatchFiveBats: It's old news, so it's more likely to blow over than if it had happened recently.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: So...
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: it's not that they had sex
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but that they went out?
CatchFiveBats: Yeah, she's an idol.
CatchFiveBats: And she was in Momusu at the time.
CatchFiveBats: She had just joined.
CatchFiveBats: So...it's pretty touchy shit.
CatchFiveBats: But it happened a while ago.
CatchFiveBats: Yeah, Kamei joined in '03.
CatchFiveBats: So it's at least 3 years old.
CatchFiveBats: She hasn't had any trouble since then, so I'm hoping they just count it as a newbie mistake and let it go.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I mean, I honestly expected nothing else.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: 1) noob.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: 2) Really, they suck the fucking soul out of you. I don't blame her for wanting to feel alive.
CatchFiveBats: What?
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I don't blame her for wanting a boyfriend, with how fucking strict H!P is with their purity facade.
CatchFiveBats: Well, girls are expected to know what they're getting into when they become idols.
CatchFiveBats: The so-called purity 'facade' is one of the crucial points of idols.
CatchFiveBats: Without the purity ticket, a lot of them wouldn't be where they are now.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: What, it's NOT a "facade"?
CatchFiveBats: I just don't like that term.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Nor do I but that's exactly what it is. Sadly.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: In any case
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I still expected her to do this.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Just as I expect any teenager growing up to want to take risks and rebel against the Powers That Be.
CatchFiveBats: I don't know how you could have 'expected' this. It's no different from an actress being expected to act well.
CatchFiveBats: From a professionalism point of view.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Except Japan's fucking unreasonably strict with that purity lie they try to feed people. How can they NOT wanna take a risk?
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Shit, They'll never know the other side unless they try it, and I don't blame any of those kids for wanting that.
CatchFiveBats: Desire isn't the issue here.
CatchFiveBats: Idols just aren't supposed to do that.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: So? They're kids.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: They make mistakes like anyone
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: and they want things like anyone.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: So they do em.
CatchFiveBats: Doesn't change anything.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: And fuck the powers that be. Hell, we do it here in America.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Can't blame them for wanting a taste of life.
CatchFiveBats: Idolism is a career, and part of that career is staying out of the dating game. When an idol gets to be in her 20's, then it's usually okay. At least, with H!P, since by that point she's probably in the Elder Club anyway.
CatchFiveBats: See: Iida Kaori, Tsuji Nozomi.
CatchFiveBats: They were old enough that it didn't really affect their image as an idol. By that point they're just personalities.
CatchFiveBats: As much as those rules suck, they're still the rules.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Mmm. I dunno. Even despite that, and despite whatever Japan teaches their kids, I see them wanting to risk it.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: So I honestly couldn't blame Risako if she were texting a guy before a show.
CatchFiveBats: Regardless, I don't blame Kamei. She had just joined, so it's probably just her lacking proper judgement skills.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I don't blame her either, honestly.
CatchFiveBats: I mean, the guy said she texted him about her first concert.
CatchFiveBats: So she had seriously JUST joined.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: She WAS a n00b.
CatchFiveBats: Yeah.
CatchFiveBats: But in cases like Kago, I think it's reasonable to expel, even if I don't like it.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Kago, yeah. She DID mar the reputation far and beyond.
CatchFiveBats: Underage smoking, relations with an older man...and well into your career with the company...
CatchFiveBats: Bad, bad decisions, kago.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Kago, yes, absolutely.
CatchFiveBats: But I think Kamei just didn't understand the severity of what she was doing.
CatchFiveBats: And that obviously clicked with her, cause the relationship ended.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: But if it were Risako or Maasa or one of them just meeting a boy for a movie or such, come the fucking hell on. I can't blame them even if the rules did.
CatchFiveBats: If Risako or Maasa get caught doing something like that, it will NOT end well.
CatchFiveBats: I think that rules are rules.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: That's cause you're too logical about it.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but for everyone else, they don't mind risking it.
CatchFiveBats: But it's not about that. No matter the person, no matter how bad they want it, they agreed when they took the job to NOT do that.
CatchFiveBats: And if they can't keep that promise, something has to be done.
CatchFiveBats: You can't just let that slide.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Of course you can't, you gotta keep the mirage alive.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I dunno.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Kago was one thing
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but again, I wouldn't care if rules were rules. I don't blame any one of those girls for wanting to risk it. I've done it, you've done it, Cal's done it, we've all done it, even when rules were rules.
CatchFiveBats: That doesn't change anything.
CatchFiveBats: They still made an agreement upon becoming an idol.
CatchFiveBats: I don't care how human someone is, it's an agreement.
CatchFiveBats: H!P deals harshly with that stuff because they have to make it known that they take their idols seriously.
CatchFiveBats: If they just let their girls do what they wanted all willy-nilly, the whole thing would be shot.
CatchFiveBats: An idol isn't an idol when she's taken.
CatchFiveBats: That's just how the business operates.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Who the fucking fuck would wanna be THAT?
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: the epitome of a walking china doll.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I don't get it.
CatchFiveBats: I know you don't.
CatchFiveBats: You don't have to.
CatchFiveBats: But, regardless, that's how it works.
CatchFiveBats: And they aren't like a walking china doll. It's not all about the looks.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Whaddya mean? It's everything like a china doll. For your viewing pleasure, to never touch, and to just move on when you find the next prettier one.
CatchFiveBats: There's more to it than that. Idol agencies don't just find random pretty girls and say "Okay, you're in!". They find cute girls with interesting/good personalities and play off that.
CatchFiveBats: To the uninitiated, it seems to be all about the pretty girls.
CatchFiveBats: But a girl who's just a pretty face won't make it in the idol world.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Personalities? As if 90% of anything they do isn't scripted.
CatchFiveBats: Honestly, I don't think it's all scripted.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Some things may not be, you're right
CatchFiveBats: I think the agencies give them an idea of how they want them to play off of how they already are, and then they let them run with it.
CatchFiveBats: Which is why H!P has such a long training phase before the girls are actually brought into the public eye.
CatchFiveBats: It gives them time to learn what to do and not do during appearances and such. Also, during this time they learn to sing the songs and do the dances, and the agency has time to get to know what the girl is like, so as to make her an appealing idol without forcing her to be someone she's not.
CatchFiveBats: There's a balance there. It's not all "YOU BE CUTE IN THIS WAY OR ELSE" from the agency.
CatchFiveBats: There's a nurturing part that the agency plays, too.
CatchFiveBats: If they didn't take care of their idols, the average girl wouldn't stick around.
CatchFiveBats: And since H!P is made up almost entirely of regular girls who get in through auditions, it would make sense that they take care of them.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Mmmm
It had become obvious at that point that Souki had lost interest.
- cfb
P.S. If it seems like Souki and I now hate each other or something, read my next post.
February 20th, 2008
CatchFiveBats: Kamei...
CatchFiveBats: Scandal...
CatchFiveBats: D'''''':
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Whaaaat?
CatchFiveBats: http://www.hello-online.org/index.php?act=helloonline&CODE=news&topic=178
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: TOO LONG, DID NOT READ
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Paraphrase, ploz.
CatchFiveBats: Just glimpse over it.
CatchFiveBats: Cal got the idea of it from the article.
CatchFiveBats: If he's willing to do it, so can you.
CatchFiveBats: XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Heaves the biggest fucking SIGH on earth.
CatchFiveBats: DON'T EVEN JOKE ABOUT THIS
CatchFiveBats: I really am pretty upset about it.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Well, ok.
CatchFiveBats: Hopefully it doesn't go anywhere.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I hope it doesn't either, quite honestly.
CatchFiveBats: It's old news, so it's more likely to blow over than if it had happened recently.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: So...
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: it's not that they had sex
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but that they went out?
CatchFiveBats: Yeah, she's an idol.
CatchFiveBats: And she was in Momusu at the time.
CatchFiveBats: She had just joined.
CatchFiveBats: So...it's pretty touchy shit.
CatchFiveBats: But it happened a while ago.
CatchFiveBats: Yeah, Kamei joined in '03.
CatchFiveBats: So it's at least 3 years old.
CatchFiveBats: She hasn't had any trouble since then, so I'm hoping they just count it as a newbie mistake and let it go.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I mean, I honestly expected nothing else.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: 1) noob.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: 2) Really, they suck the fucking soul out of you. I don't blame her for wanting to feel alive.
CatchFiveBats: What?
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I don't blame her for wanting a boyfriend, with how fucking strict H!P is with their purity facade.
CatchFiveBats: Well, girls are expected to know what they're getting into when they become idols.
CatchFiveBats: The so-called purity 'facade' is one of the crucial points of idols.
CatchFiveBats: Without the purity ticket, a lot of them wouldn't be where they are now.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: What, it's NOT a "facade"?
CatchFiveBats: I just don't like that term.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Nor do I but that's exactly what it is. Sadly.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: In any case
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I still expected her to do this.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Just as I expect any teenager growing up to want to take risks and rebel against the Powers That Be.
CatchFiveBats: I don't know how you could have 'expected' this. It's no different from an actress being expected to act well.
CatchFiveBats: From a professionalism point of view.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Except Japan's fucking unreasonably strict with that purity lie they try to feed people. How can they NOT wanna take a risk?
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Shit, They'll never know the other side unless they try it, and I don't blame any of those kids for wanting that.
CatchFiveBats: Desire isn't the issue here.
CatchFiveBats: Idols just aren't supposed to do that.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: So? They're kids.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: They make mistakes like anyone
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: and they want things like anyone.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: So they do em.
CatchFiveBats: Doesn't change anything.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: And fuck the powers that be. Hell, we do it here in America.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Can't blame them for wanting a taste of life.
CatchFiveBats: Idolism is a career, and part of that career is staying out of the dating game. When an idol gets to be in her 20's, then it's usually okay. At least, with H!P, since by that point she's probably in the Elder Club anyway.
CatchFiveBats: See: Iida Kaori, Tsuji Nozomi.
CatchFiveBats: They were old enough that it didn't really affect their image as an idol. By that point they're just personalities.
CatchFiveBats: As much as those rules suck, they're still the rules.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Mmm. I dunno. Even despite that, and despite whatever Japan teaches their kids, I see them wanting to risk it.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: So I honestly couldn't blame Risako if she were texting a guy before a show.
CatchFiveBats: Regardless, I don't blame Kamei. She had just joined, so it's probably just her lacking proper judgement skills.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I don't blame her either, honestly.
CatchFiveBats: I mean, the guy said she texted him about her first concert.
CatchFiveBats: So she had seriously JUST joined.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: She WAS a n00b.
CatchFiveBats: Yeah.
CatchFiveBats: But in cases like Kago, I think it's reasonable to expel, even if I don't like it.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Kago, yeah. She DID mar the reputation far and beyond.
CatchFiveBats: Underage smoking, relations with an older man...and well into your career with the company...
CatchFiveBats: Bad, bad decisions, kago.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Kago, yes, absolutely.
CatchFiveBats: But I think Kamei just didn't understand the severity of what she was doing.
CatchFiveBats: And that obviously clicked with her, cause the relationship ended.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: But if it were Risako or Maasa or one of them just meeting a boy for a movie or such, come the fucking hell on. I can't blame them even if the rules did.
CatchFiveBats: If Risako or Maasa get caught doing something like that, it will NOT end well.
CatchFiveBats: I think that rules are rules.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: That's cause you're too logical about it.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but for everyone else, they don't mind risking it.
CatchFiveBats: But it's not about that. No matter the person, no matter how bad they want it, they agreed when they took the job to NOT do that.
CatchFiveBats: And if they can't keep that promise, something has to be done.
CatchFiveBats: You can't just let that slide.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Of course you can't, you gotta keep the mirage alive.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I dunno.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Kago was one thing
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but again, I wouldn't care if rules were rules. I don't blame any one of those girls for wanting to risk it. I've done it, you've done it, Cal's done it, we've all done it, even when rules were rules.
CatchFiveBats: That doesn't change anything.
CatchFiveBats: They still made an agreement upon becoming an idol.
CatchFiveBats: I don't care how human someone is, it's an agreement.
CatchFiveBats: H!P deals harshly with that stuff because they have to make it known that they take their idols seriously.
CatchFiveBats: If they just let their girls do what they wanted all willy-nilly, the whole thing would be shot.
CatchFiveBats: An idol isn't an idol when she's taken.
CatchFiveBats: That's just how the business operates.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Who the fucking fuck would wanna be THAT?
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: the epitome of a walking china doll.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I don't get it.
CatchFiveBats: I know you don't.
CatchFiveBats: You don't have to.
CatchFiveBats: But, regardless, that's how it works.
CatchFiveBats: And they aren't like a walking china doll. It's not all about the looks.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Whaddya mean? It's everything like a china doll. For your viewing pleasure, to never touch, and to just move on when you find the next prettier one.
CatchFiveBats: There's more to it than that. Idol agencies don't just find random pretty girls and say "Okay, you're in!". They find cute girls with interesting/good personalities and play off that.
CatchFiveBats: To the uninitiated, it seems to be all about the pretty girls.
CatchFiveBats: But a girl who's just a pretty face won't make it in the idol world.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Personalities? As if 90% of anything they do isn't scripted.
CatchFiveBats: Honestly, I don't think it's all scripted.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Some things may not be, you're right
CatchFiveBats: I think the agencies give them an idea of how they want them to play off of how they already are, and then they let them run with it.
CatchFiveBats: Which is why H!P has such a long training phase before the girls are actually brought into the public eye.
CatchFiveBats: It gives them time to learn what to do and not do during appearances and such. Also, during this time they learn to sing the songs and do the dances, and the agency has time to get to know what the girl is like, so as to make her an appealing idol without forcing her to be someone she's not.
CatchFiveBats: There's a balance there. It's not all "YOU BE CUTE IN THIS WAY OR ELSE" from the agency.
CatchFiveBats: There's a nurturing part that the agency plays, too.
CatchFiveBats: If they didn't take care of their idols, the average girl wouldn't stick around.
CatchFiveBats: And since H!P is made up almost entirely of regular girls who get in through auditions, it would make sense that they take care of them.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Mmmm
It had become obvious at that point that Souki had lost interest.
- cfb
P.S. If it seems like Souki and I now hate each other or something, read my next post.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Zac Talks to Souki About Forums
While I am talking about forums here, it's really just me getting down to why I made this blog instead of joining a forum.
February 7, 2008
CatchFiveBats: If I could meet people IRL who were into H!P, I'd probably hang out with them. But discussing it online is a definite no-go for me, except in blogs.
CatchFiveBats: Forums are like taking a bunch of people that all like different things within a similar context and throwing them in a room to argue with each other.
CatchFiveBats: In that situation, I always end up walking away from the community, and usually the thing that community is centered around as well.
CatchFiveBats: Which is why, if I get involved in the H!P community, I'll make a blog.
CatchFiveBats: Cause a blog lets you state your opinion with a sense of finality, instead of having to deal with people bitching at you about how their favorite part of that thing is better or whatever.
CatchFiveBats: I mean, there are comments, but it's not as involved as forums, or even close.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: : So you just don't wanna hear people talking to you about it.
CatchFiveBats: I don't want to argue with people about it.
CatchFiveBats: I like hearing others' opinions, and stating my own, but I don't want a clash between those opinions to occur.
CatchFiveBats: I can keep an 'outside' perspective while reading an opposing view in a blog.
CatchFiveBats: Discussing it on a forum, I get aggravated and confused and that never ends well.
CatchFiveBats: The Shiina Ringo community I was involved with being the ultimate example of this.
CatchFiveBats: WIth a blog, whatever you post is the last word.
CatchFiveBats: There's none of that back and forth and back and forth and back and forth and back and forth, each person deadset in their opinion, determined to turn the other party to their side.
CatchFiveBats: Which, in most internet arguments, neither side will ever win.
CatchFiveBats: Blogs let people express their opinion without feeling the need to win against someone else's opinion.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: : Aaaah
CatchFiveBats: Took me a while to get around to that...
CatchFiveBats: XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: : Hahahah
CatchFiveBats: Fangirls/boys can be as biased as they want and nobody gets hurt.
CatchFiveBats: XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: : Hahahah
CatchFiveBats: I mean, that's really what it's about.
CatchFiveBats: And that's why the video game console wars are so heated.
CatchFiveBats: People treat the console wars like a forum debate.
CatchFiveBats: It's just a big flame-war.
CatchFiveBats: No side will ever win.
CatchFiveBats: It's just everybody arguing with everybody over nothing.
CatchFiveBats: And it's stupid.
CatchFiveBats: And that's the primary reason that I stay away from forums.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: : Mmmmmm
CatchFiveBats: Except to share files and such.
- cfb
February 7, 2008
CatchFiveBats: If I could meet people IRL who were into H!P, I'd probably hang out with them. But discussing it online is a definite no-go for me, except in blogs.
CatchFiveBats: Forums are like taking a bunch of people that all like different things within a similar context and throwing them in a room to argue with each other.
CatchFiveBats: In that situation, I always end up walking away from the community, and usually the thing that community is centered around as well.
CatchFiveBats: Which is why, if I get involved in the H!P community, I'll make a blog.
CatchFiveBats: Cause a blog lets you state your opinion with a sense of finality, instead of having to deal with people bitching at you about how their favorite part of that thing is better or whatever.
CatchFiveBats: I mean, there are comments, but it's not as involved as forums, or even close.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: : So you just don't wanna hear people talking to you about it.
CatchFiveBats: I don't want to argue with people about it.
CatchFiveBats: I like hearing others' opinions, and stating my own, but I don't want a clash between those opinions to occur.
CatchFiveBats: I can keep an 'outside' perspective while reading an opposing view in a blog.
CatchFiveBats: Discussing it on a forum, I get aggravated and confused and that never ends well.
CatchFiveBats: The Shiina Ringo community I was involved with being the ultimate example of this.
CatchFiveBats: WIth a blog, whatever you post is the last word.
CatchFiveBats: There's none of that back and forth and back and forth and back and forth and back and forth, each person deadset in their opinion, determined to turn the other party to their side.
CatchFiveBats: Which, in most internet arguments, neither side will ever win.
CatchFiveBats: Blogs let people express their opinion without feeling the need to win against someone else's opinion.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: : Aaaah
CatchFiveBats: Took me a while to get around to that...
CatchFiveBats: XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: : Hahahah
CatchFiveBats: Fangirls/boys can be as biased as they want and nobody gets hurt.
CatchFiveBats: XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: : Hahahah
CatchFiveBats: I mean, that's really what it's about.
CatchFiveBats: And that's why the video game console wars are so heated.
CatchFiveBats: People treat the console wars like a forum debate.
CatchFiveBats: It's just a big flame-war.
CatchFiveBats: No side will ever win.
CatchFiveBats: It's just everybody arguing with everybody over nothing.
CatchFiveBats: And it's stupid.
CatchFiveBats: And that's the primary reason that I stay away from forums.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: : Mmmmmm
CatchFiveBats: Except to share files and such.
- cfb
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Zac and Souki Discuss Mikitty's Voice
Each time a new person is introduced, I'm going to go ahead and do a quick profile so the readers will know who I'm talking to. First off is Souki. I've known him for a good while, but only really became close friends with him in the last couple years or so. He is most definitely NOT a Hello! Project fan. He likes some of the songs I've thrown at him (Souda! We're Alive and Mr. Moonlight, as examples), but for the most part, he thinks it's pretty lame (he likes progressive rock, if that says anything). He and I actually spend a pretty decent amount of time discussing H!P and related matters, so there should be a lot of him on here. And about his screen name...I let everyone on here pick their own SNs for confidentiality's sake, and he chose CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT. Whatever, I guess... XD
I'll also be dating any conversations I post, to keep the progression of my H!P fandom in perspective.
In keeping with the spirit of my last post, this is me trying to convince Souki that Mikitty's voice is something special.
January 18th, 2008
CatchFiveBats: Fujimoto Miki's voice is awesome.
CatchFiveBats: Or, rather...I love her voice.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I'm noticing a pattern with J pop singers...
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: With the exception of Utada and Ayu...they sound very same-ish.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: and Yasuko (lead singer of Japanese noisecore group Melt-Banana - why he said this, I don't know)
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but she doesn't count.
CatchFiveBats: She's got a pretty original voice, in my opinion.
CatchFiveBats: Miki, that is.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I dunno, maybe I'm just not listening to female Jpop enough or something
CatchFiveBats: Well, of course you aren't.
CatchFiveBats: XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but everything that isn't Ayu or Utada sounds very similar to me XD
CatchFiveBats: Miki's voice has a very different quality compared to Ayaya.
CatchFiveBats: For a fact.
CatchFiveBats: Ayaya's is much younger sounding.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: And nasally
CatchFiveBats: That's the only difference I can put into words.
CatchFiveBats: There are others.
CatchFiveBats: Either way, I'm in love with Mikitty right now.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Mikitty?
CatchFiveBats: Fujimoto Miki.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Ah.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: By Ayu, I referred to Ayumi Hamasaki, you know that right?
CatchFiveBats: Yes.
CatchFiveBats: But seriously, I'm infatuated with Mikitty's voice right now.
CatchFiveBats: You can thank Shabondama.
CatchFiveBats: But that songs just owns anyway.
CatchFiveBats: I've just noticed over the last couple days that she's really, really hot when she's singing.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Heh
CatchFiveBats: I think it's the first time I've been turned on by someone's musical ability.
CatchFiveBats: Or...whatever you want to call it.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Hahah
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Usually it turns me on only when it's the one girl in the group full of guys.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Like Maki from HandMC.
CatchFiveBats: Ah.
CatchFiveBats: Yeah.
CatchFiveBats: I dunno, Mikitty is pretty tough to beat right now, in my mind.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Mmmm I'll hear it better tomorrow
CatchFiveBats: Yeah.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but yeah...it feels to me as though every Jpop singer has a very very similar voice
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: one thing's for sure...
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: when we go to Japan, we're going to a Maid cafe.
CatchFiveBats: We need to.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: totally.
A few days later...
January 21st, 2008
CatchFiveBats: ONE DEFINITE UNIQUE FEATURE OF FUJIMOTO MIKI'S VOICE:
CatchFiveBats: vibrato
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: One of the few with vibrato.
CatchFiveBats: Most of the notes she holds out are vibrato.
CatchFiveBats: Her voice is also a little lower than most others.
CatchFiveBats: And it's got a fairly unique timbre, but I doubt anyone would notice it unless they listened to J-Pop a lot.
CatchFiveBats: But the first two are definitely noticeable.
CatchFiveBats: All three of those traits combined = sex for my ears.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Then again...you don't really listen to a lot of Jpop....it's Momusu, Berryz, Matsuura Aya, and W or something or the other that is H!P.
CatchFiveBats: Well, yeah.
CatchFiveBats: I will say it doesn't vary too much musically.
CatchFiveBats: BUT
CatchFiveBats: There's a good variety of voices in all the members.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I'm not gonna pretend I'm a connoisseur or anything, but it just feels to me like her voice isn't that unique, if at all. Even by H!P standards.....
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I dunno
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: it's like
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I can't hear any given one individually for more than two seconds.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: so they all wind up sounding extremely similar.
CatchFiveBats: Well...I will say that generally, within groups, H!P tends to release fairly similar songs in close proximity to each other (time-wise).
CatchFiveBats: But, if you start to separate the singles by 5 or 6, there's definite differences musically.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: yeah, just like with anything
CatchFiveBats: And yeah, if you just listen to the single a-sides, you don't catch much.
CatchFiveBats: Voice-wise.
CatchFiveBats: But on b-sides and album-only tracks, you get a pretty good feel for how each member sounds.
CatchFiveBats: Also, watching the videos and paying attention to who sings what when helps you to identify voices too.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: But if it's gonna be that subtle of a difference, that the only way I can tell it's Miki is by listening to the whole group endlessly....then she's still not all that unique sounding to me...
CatchFiveBats: Well, regardless, I think her voice is fantastic.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: That's fine, I was just clarifying my view
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: her voice IS good
CatchFiveBats: Maybe not super-unique, but there's something special about it that I really, really like.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Mmmm
CatchFiveBats: She does have a voice that stands out a little from the rest, though.
CatchFiveBats: If you're familiar with the rest, anyway.
CatchFiveBats: It's like people saying that all asians look the same.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah
CatchFiveBats: You just have to gain a sense of familiarity with the group.
CatchFiveBats: Then you begin to be able to distinguish.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah
CatchFiveBats: Whether it be members of Momusu, or members of the Japanese race.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I dunno, for me, for something to be honest-to-god unique, I have to know what it is from a mile away.
CatchFiveBats: You get my drift.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: at least musically
CatchFiveBats: Yeah.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: yeah
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Like
CatchFiveBats: I get what you mean.
CatchFiveBats: And I'm not saying I disagree.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I know Akihito Okano ANYWHERE.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I know Ayu ANYWHERE.
CatchFiveBats: But, for me, right now, her voice is incredibly unique and special.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: But I just can't spot Fujimoto Miki half the time.
Bit of an abrupt end, I know, but from that point the conversation had nothing to do with Miki.
- cfb
I'll also be dating any conversations I post, to keep the progression of my H!P fandom in perspective.
In keeping with the spirit of my last post, this is me trying to convince Souki that Mikitty's voice is something special.
January 18th, 2008
CatchFiveBats: Fujimoto Miki's voice is awesome.
CatchFiveBats: Or, rather...I love her voice.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I'm noticing a pattern with J pop singers...
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: With the exception of Utada and Ayu...they sound very same-ish.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: and Yasuko (lead singer of Japanese noisecore group Melt-Banana - why he said this, I don't know)
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but she doesn't count.
CatchFiveBats: She's got a pretty original voice, in my opinion.
CatchFiveBats: Miki, that is.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I dunno, maybe I'm just not listening to female Jpop enough or something
CatchFiveBats: Well, of course you aren't.
CatchFiveBats: XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but everything that isn't Ayu or Utada sounds very similar to me XD
CatchFiveBats: Miki's voice has a very different quality compared to Ayaya.
CatchFiveBats: For a fact.
CatchFiveBats: Ayaya's is much younger sounding.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: And nasally
CatchFiveBats: That's the only difference I can put into words.
CatchFiveBats: There are others.
CatchFiveBats: Either way, I'm in love with Mikitty right now.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Mikitty?
CatchFiveBats: Fujimoto Miki.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Ah.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: By Ayu, I referred to Ayumi Hamasaki, you know that right?
CatchFiveBats: Yes.
CatchFiveBats: But seriously, I'm infatuated with Mikitty's voice right now.
CatchFiveBats: You can thank Shabondama.
CatchFiveBats: But that songs just owns anyway.
CatchFiveBats: I've just noticed over the last couple days that she's really, really hot when she's singing.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Heh
CatchFiveBats: I think it's the first time I've been turned on by someone's musical ability.
CatchFiveBats: Or...whatever you want to call it.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Hahah
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Usually it turns me on only when it's the one girl in the group full of guys.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Like Maki from HandMC.
CatchFiveBats: Ah.
CatchFiveBats: Yeah.
CatchFiveBats: I dunno, Mikitty is pretty tough to beat right now, in my mind.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Mmmm I'll hear it better tomorrow
CatchFiveBats: Yeah.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but yeah...it feels to me as though every Jpop singer has a very very similar voice
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: but
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: one thing's for sure...
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: when we go to Japan, we're going to a Maid cafe.
CatchFiveBats: We need to.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: totally.
A few days later...
January 21st, 2008
CatchFiveBats: ONE DEFINITE UNIQUE FEATURE OF FUJIMOTO MIKI'S VOICE:
CatchFiveBats: vibrato
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: One of the few with vibrato.
CatchFiveBats: Most of the notes she holds out are vibrato.
CatchFiveBats: Her voice is also a little lower than most others.
CatchFiveBats: And it's got a fairly unique timbre, but I doubt anyone would notice it unless they listened to J-Pop a lot.
CatchFiveBats: But the first two are definitely noticeable.
CatchFiveBats: All three of those traits combined = sex for my ears.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Then again...you don't really listen to a lot of Jpop....it's Momusu, Berryz, Matsuura Aya, and W or something or the other that is H!P.
CatchFiveBats: Well, yeah.
CatchFiveBats: I will say it doesn't vary too much musically.
CatchFiveBats: BUT
CatchFiveBats: There's a good variety of voices in all the members.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I'm not gonna pretend I'm a connoisseur or anything, but it just feels to me like her voice isn't that unique, if at all. Even by H!P standards.....
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I dunno
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: it's like
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I can't hear any given one individually for more than two seconds.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: so they all wind up sounding extremely similar.
CatchFiveBats: Well...I will say that generally, within groups, H!P tends to release fairly similar songs in close proximity to each other (time-wise).
CatchFiveBats: But, if you start to separate the singles by 5 or 6, there's definite differences musically.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: yeah, just like with anything
CatchFiveBats: And yeah, if you just listen to the single a-sides, you don't catch much.
CatchFiveBats: Voice-wise.
CatchFiveBats: But on b-sides and album-only tracks, you get a pretty good feel for how each member sounds.
CatchFiveBats: Also, watching the videos and paying attention to who sings what when helps you to identify voices too.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: But if it's gonna be that subtle of a difference, that the only way I can tell it's Miki is by listening to the whole group endlessly....then she's still not all that unique sounding to me...
CatchFiveBats: Well, regardless, I think her voice is fantastic.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: That's fine, I was just clarifying my view
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: XD
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: her voice IS good
CatchFiveBats: Maybe not super-unique, but there's something special about it that I really, really like.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Mmmm
CatchFiveBats: She does have a voice that stands out a little from the rest, though.
CatchFiveBats: If you're familiar with the rest, anyway.
CatchFiveBats: It's like people saying that all asians look the same.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah
CatchFiveBats: You just have to gain a sense of familiarity with the group.
CatchFiveBats: Then you begin to be able to distinguish.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Yeah
CatchFiveBats: Whether it be members of Momusu, or members of the Japanese race.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I dunno, for me, for something to be honest-to-god unique, I have to know what it is from a mile away.
CatchFiveBats: You get my drift.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: at least musically
CatchFiveBats: Yeah.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: yeah
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: Like
CatchFiveBats: I get what you mean.
CatchFiveBats: And I'm not saying I disagree.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I know Akihito Okano ANYWHERE.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: I know Ayu ANYWHERE.
CatchFiveBats: But, for me, right now, her voice is incredibly unique and special.
CantSpellShotaWithoutHOT: But I just can't spot Fujimoto Miki half the time.
Bit of an abrupt end, I know, but from that point the conversation had nothing to do with Miki.
- cfb
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