In BiS's ever-changing member lineup, Terashima Yufu was always my favorite, her and Tentenko. I loved Yufu's distinctive voice and her appearance. Even if she and Pour Lui got along horribly behind the scenes, I was still sad to see her depart from BiS.
Of course, things got better when I found out she was going solo.
And so here we are to Terashima Yufu, post-BiS and singing solo, and her second single, Campanula no Yuuutsu! In hindsight, I regret not reviewing her first single, #Yuflight. At the time, I just felt there wasn't much I could say about it. It's a good song, with some nice strings; it sounds like something I'd hear from ClariS. So there you go, a one-sentence review of #Yuflight! Now let's talk about Campanula no Yuutsu! Yufu's first attempt at a summer single, Campanula no Yuuutsu is quite a change from BiS's music. I was expecting that though; this single just confirms that Yufu plans on staying far, far away from the same style(s?) of music BiS released. Instead, Yufu seems to be going the traditional idol route with catchy pop songs and a much more approachable image. Which is perfectly okay! I love my catchy pop songs, and it is kind of fun seeing Yufu do something much more lighthearted in contrast to her involvement in BiS! I know I keep bringing up BiS (definitely not because I miss them or anything), but I feel like I kind of have to. When I listen to Yufu or even any other post-BiS units, I keep making comparisons subconsciously. So I may as well get said comparisons out of the way right now.
Okay, moving on from BiS (and definitely not with a heavy heart yearning for a reunion), how does Campanula no Yuuutsu stand as a solo idol song? As I mentioned before, it's a summer song, and it's got that light, happy sound you hear with so many idol songs. That being said, I think it is one of my favorite summer songs I've heard this year. The competition's not too high, so standing out isn't much of a challenge for Campanula no Yuuutsu. Still, I really do like this song. It has kind of this Hawaiian sound; you know, the sort of thing you'd hear at a luau. Maybe a luau in Japan. Do they have luaus in Japan? Oh well, that's what Campanula no Yuuutsu sounds like. I blame the xylophone and the bongos. Actually, there's a nice variety of sounds in this song; there's the aforementioned percussion, some brass, even some strings! Yet with all the instrumentation, the song still sounds very laid back. It's the kind of song you're supposed to chill to on the beach. And hey, since I'm at a college by the beach, maybe I will chill to Campanula no Yuuutsu sometime. Probably during the off season though.
Now if this song wasn't sung by Terashima Yufu and just some generic idol, would I devote time to reviewing it? I'm not sure. What draws me to review new idols are songs that stand out and/or eye-catching music videos. Campanula no Yuuutsu is a good song, but it wouldn't stand out enough to draw me in had Yufu not been the idol singing. However, what makes Campanula no Yuuutsu work is Yufu's voice. This was also what prevented #Yuflight from sounding like a generic anisong single. Yufu's voice is not only very pretty but also very recognizable. I could always identify Yufu's solos in BiS, and her voice shines even more as a soloist. Yufu's never had a resonant, powerful voice, but Campanula no Yuuutsu works in her advantage. The song is soft and laidback, making Yufu's voice stand out even better than it did in BiS. Campanula no Yuuutsu may not be as impressive as the songs she did in BiS, but the song has its merits. If you are looking for some BiS-inspired material, Campanula no Yuuutsu is sadly not going to fulfill those expectations. Maybe go check out Pla2me's debut single. Overall, I liked Campanula no Yuuutsu, and I could see it growing on me in the future. Even as a summer song, it's worth checking out!
Another reason I didn't review #Yuflight was because the music video was a little basic. Campanula no Yuuutsu on the other hand has a music video with a little more... pizzazz. And pastel. Lots and lots of pastel. But why waste time telling you what's in this music video when I can show you?
We start our PV with a black and white title drop!
Then we cut to that fight scene from Kill Bill- oh wait, that's just Yufu!
Oh hey, they got the guys from Utsukushii Inazuma!
Awesome!
So... are we yay or nay on that fruit basket skirt?
Oh hell, Yufu could somehow make a trash can look fashionable.
Why the sudden flames? We're not going back to hell, are we!?
Tea Time with Terashima Yufu!
Projection images: the poor man's location shooting!
No, this is seriously cool. It reminds me of that Faint Star PV.
This one!
Yufu prays to the gods for more success than BiS!
I could totally see Matsuura Aya wearing this outfit. She probably did at some point.
...the producers really loved the title of this song, didn't they?
And I think they adored those Cheerio-shaped special effects.
These shots feel so vintage. I blame the pastel. Pastel just makes things look dated.
See? I give you Exhibit A of the power of pastel!
Trumpet Guy is gettin' it in the background! You go, Trumpet Guy!
In fact, let's all give a moment of appreciation for the backing band in this PV.
It's a little hard to be noticed when you singer is wearing one of the five food groups.
Okay, this is... different. Kind of seductive and... hellish.
I guess I should take this opportunity to ask what the hell is going on?
I'd say this makes more sense in context... but it doesn't. It really doesn't.
A quirky mascot!? I'll watch I Kyarypamyupamyu PV if I'm looking for a quirky mascot!
????????????????????????
I... got nothing. Someone take over for me.
Okay! Now this screencap is back on track!
These visuals effects will hypnotize us into forgetting that whole interlude!
I love these little drawn effects! They add a touch of cuteness to the PV!
Trumpet Guy is my favorite person in this PV.
Don't be sad, Torch Man. BiS will return someday. They must!
And we end Campanula no Yuuutsu on one final pose! Voila!
It's pretty obvious that Yufu's production team doesn't have a lot of dough to work with. Luckily, they're good at making an engaging PV that doesn't look tackily cheap! For a summer PV, Campanula no Yuuutsu is definitely one of the more scant ones. Everything takes place in a studio save for that one outdoor shot with the giant Pokemon-thingy (and maybe the scenes with Torch Man). They do put some effort into making the main set look tropical though with a few random palm trees and a backing band dressed up like a safari crew. And Yufu herself definitely looks very... nutritious. I'm still not sure about that outfit. Anyways, the whole set is kind of bare-bones. I feel like there was at least some effort put in to it. And that at least counts, right? There's a nice mix of shots in this PV! My favorites are the ones where Yufu stands in front of a blank board with images project over her. It's a simple effect that never fails to look cool and artsy to my eyes. I mean, the designs look so cool. There are so many of them too! It's kind of hypnotizing to look at them! I bitch about cheap PVs all the time, but throw some pretty visuals in front of me, and those complaints are magically forgotten...
So is Campanula no Yuuutsu a good summer PV? Well, it's definitely not an overtly summer PV. The colors and some of the scenery do give off a summer vibe, the same kind of laidback summer vibe the song has. But you know what? For a summer PV, parts of Campanula no Yuutsu are just plain weird. The backing bad alone is doing all kinds of crazy antics. Pay attention really close to them next time you watch the PV. They're always doing something random like jumping or spazzing out or just... acting strange in general. Special mention goes to Trumpet Guy. Then the band have that whole bit during the interlude where they run around in a circle which is never explained or seen again. And did I mention that hellish red lighting in the interlude too? The interlude in general just has all sorts of weird stuff that wouldn't be weird if this wasn't an idol PV. But I went into this PV expecting traditional idol summer stuff, not a crazy backing band and a giant quirky mascot that's only ever seen twice in this PV! You could make the argument that those weird little moments make Campanula no Yuuutsu a more memorable, but that still doesn't give me an explanation!
Admittedly, weirdness and cheapness included, I like the PV for Campanula no Yuuutsu. Is it my favorite music video of this summer? Psh, no way does this summer PV overshadow Nettaigyo no Namida. But it's better than Labrador Retriever! Besides, even if this PV had as much extra stuff as #Yuflight did, its one highlight would be Yufu herself. I think the PV for Campanula no Yuuutsu made me remember why Yufu was my favorite member of BiS! No matter what music video she's in, whether she's covered in blood, wearing a fruit basket, swinging a spiked baseball bat, Yufu always manages to look good. Effortlessly good. She's incredibly photogenic, and she knows how to work the camera to her advantage. Along with her voice, Yufu's presence alone is what makes me think she makes a good soloist. She never feels trumped by the screen, even in those big projection image shots. Even doing that oddly choreographed dance, she somehow manages to exude charisma and confidence. I can see her going far in her solo career.
My final verdict on Campanula no Yuuutsu's music video is a thumbs up. No, this is not a groundbreaking music video nor is it the most summery of summer PVs. It's a low-budget music video that works as well as it can with said budget. The final result is a nice-looking music video with a nice color palette and a handful of strange, random moments. The strongest aspects of Campanula no Yuuutsu's PV are Yufu herself and a nice overall aesthetic. I really do love the colors in this music video, and again, those projection images are so entrancing. Other than that, this PV offers what you'd expect from your traditional idol PVs. Fans of Terashima Yufu in her BiS days may be a little jarred by the lack of shocking imagery and general friendliness. But if you look past that, you'll see a fun music video from a solo idol with a lot of potential. I don't know how much of Yufu I'll review in the future, but I hope to see her release further material! After a promising debut and a decent follow-up single, I'd love to see where she goes next! If you're still craving a summer PV, then pop by Yufu's Youtube channel and watch Campanula no Yuuutsu!
Maybe it isn't BiS, but Terashima Yufu's Campanula no Yuuutsu is a good release in its own right! It's a four apples kind of release. As a summer song, Campanula no Yuuutsu is of the calmer sort but still enjoyable. And it comes with a fun, low-budget music video that still manages to have its own quirky moments. If you're looking for the solo equivalent of BiS, this is not where you want to go. But if you're looking for idol music sung by a talented individual, check out Terashima Yufu and Campanula no Yuuutsu. And while you're at it, look at #Yuflight!
Showing posts with label terashima yufu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label terashima yufu. Show all posts
Friday, September 5, 2014
Thursday, May 22, 2014
If I Could Build My Own Senbatsu...
So the preliminary results are out for AKB48's 5th Senbatsu Election. As you have probably seen by now, there are a variety of ups and downs with these first-day results. As there are still a few weeks to go until voting time ends, I'll just briefly go over my own opinions- You know what? I really don't care.
Yeah, do you guys wanna talk about something else? Like Perfume? BiS disbanding? The state of the economy and how it will effect graduating students? Do any of you guys actually care about the Senbatsu election this year? Because I really don't. I don't know what it is about this year. Maybe it's the fact that most of the members I liked have
What if... what if AKS could take other members from other idol groups?
I'm not talking about just the sisters groups, I'm talking about any idol group. From Morning Musume to Team Syachihoko to Brand-new Idol Society, it doesn't matter. Any group. Obviously, this can't ever happen due to conflicts between agencies, but abstractly speaking, it's a cool idea. I always love seeing idols interact with each other on music and variety shows, even if it's just for a little bit. And one of my favorite concepts is the shuffle groups from Hello! Project. It's a shame they don't do that anymore. Seeing other H!P idols out of their usual groups is such a cool, kind of surreal thing to watch. Thinking about this got me thinking about what members I would choose if I could make my own Senbatsu. I'd definitely get different idols from vastly different groups into one group. I think to do this I'll stick to the 16-member format that the current AKB48 Senbatsu election has. Everything else though is fair game. I am sticking to idols that are still around, so no idols from the 80s or 90s or early 2000s. Besides, I don't follow enough of those older idols to even make a full Senbatsu of them. So not only would I build my own Senbatsu, but I'd also be in control of who produced the songs on my Senbatsu single.
I think I'd have the leading song be produced by Togawa Jun, former idol herself. Togawa Jun is known for her weird, usually morbid and grotesque music and lyrics, but she has a very theatric style. I always remember what her songs sound like after the first or second listen. I think it would be cool seeing the former ero-guro idol produce a song for an idol group, especially a Senbatsu along the lines of AKB48. It would probably be weird and may even turn people off from it, but it would be so interesting. But I'd also want a song produced by Shiina Ringo, and definitely Hyadain, and maybe even Nakata Yasutaka or Usagi Disco. I think what I'd do is split my Senbatsu into little subunits, and each producer would create a song for each subunit. So Nakata would do an electronic song, Ringo would do alternative, and Hyadain would do... whatever you call his stuff. Those would all be the B-sides of the single, and the Togawa Jun-produced song would serve as the A-side. The overall single would be a collage of different styles of music from pop to techno alternative. Most importantly though, there would be any bland, generic AKB48-style songs on them.
There's also the matter of a music video... I love reviewing music videos, so mine definitely wouldn't be the generic dance shot/close-ups idol music video. I think I'd want a story in mine. Nothing deep or mind screw-y, just a clear storyline. Maybe it would involve saving the world from a government agency set to destroy idol groups. And all these idols in my Senbatsu are survivors from their own groups, so they all band together to release a song so epic that it destroys the powers trying to suppress idols. It wouldn't be a long PV, but I think I'd have it at around 10-15 minutes. It would be mostly action, taking performance with fight scenes and mashing them together. I would either have that as the music video or this: an homage to idols. It would include re-enactments of famous idol music videos and performances, from Matsuda Seiko to Morning Musume. I've always liked it when idols reference other idols, but it never happens that much. This music video would be kind of like Togawa Jun's music video for Suki Suki Daisuki but not satirical.
Then there's the most important aspect of my Senbatsu: the members. Since I have free reign in my own little imaginary world, I'd want as many members from different groups as possible. There would also be this melting pot of different personalities! Like some would have dancing as their strong point or vocals or personality! And a lot of these idols are just personal favorites of mine. So let's take a look at Nia's Senbatsu and see how impossible it would be!
16. Masui Mio (Passpo) - At the bottom of my Senbatsu, I'd go with Mio from Passpo. Her and Negishi Ai are my favorite members of Passpo, but between the two, I'd go with Mio in my own Build-a-Senbatsu. Not that Ai would be a bad choice either, but I think Mio has a stronger personality that would shine better amongst fifteen other girls. In such a big group, it's easy for certain idols to get drown out by more prominent personalities and voices. While Mio may not have the greatest voice, she's got just enough charisma and charm to hold her own in my Senbatsu! And besides, she's such a cutie; how can you not love that mischievous little grin?
15. Kanazawa Tomoko (Juice=Juice) - I like all the members of Juice=Juice, but I think the member that would fit the best with different idols is Tomoko. She has this poise and confidence in her singing and dancing that some of the younger members of Juice=Juice lack. And since most of the members of my Senbatsu would be older, Tomoko would fit nicely among them. But she isn't only a fitting member visually; Tomoko also has the pipes to back that up! Sure, her voice isn't the strongest, but it's still a nice balance between low and high. Which is good considering the two members behind and ahead of her in this Senbatsu...
14. Momota Kanako (Momoiro Clover Z) - Of course, a good Senbatsu isn't a good Senbatsu without some different flavors in it! And Kanako of the zany and crazy (or at least they used to be) Momoiro Clover Z could bring some real zest to the Senbatsu! I wouldn't want her to be leading vocals of this Senbatsu though, so she'd be at a lower position. That way she still has presence, and I don't have to hear her shriek! Maybe at their live performances, Kanako could performance her signature "shrimp jump" at the end of one of the songs! She may come off as a bit creepy in some of the group singles, but Kanako would still provide a lot of entertainment!
13. Nishiwaki Sayaka (9nine) - As A-chan's little sister has already proved with 9nine's joint concert with Perfume, she's capable of fitting in with another group nearly seamlessly. I thought about putting A-chan herself in this Senbatsu, but I think she fits better with Perfume. Sayaka on the other hand has got just as good of a voice as A-chan and just as great of a smile! And she's more seasoned to being an idol rather than a performer! Sayaka could do the MCs at my Senbatu's concerts and provide the waterworks! I wonder if emotional, passionate crying is a genetic trait in the Nishiwaki family...
12. Tentenko (BiS) - There's nothing like an idol who isn't afraid to do weird things for the sake of entertainment, and every member of BiS could basically qualify for that. But to me, the member of BiS that seems the most okay with doing anything weird is Tentenko. Seeing some of her antics on music shows, I firmly believe that Tentenko is up for anything, even a Senbatsu with fifteen other girls. Tentenko could be the more risque, unconventional representative of this Senbatsu, doing strange, sometimes grotesque things on and off stage. But still being freaking adorable. And with BiS disbanding, that would give Tentenko an outlet to something else idol-related!
11. Yamamoto Sayaka (NMB48) - The only thing that tops a cute idol is a cool idol, and Yamamoto Sayaka is just about as radical as mainstream idols get. She plays the guitar, she's the badass and understanding leader of NMB48, and she has a nice voice to boot! Should my Senbatsu ever do a single in which they decided to play as a band, my management would be sane and allow Sayanee to play the guitar. Should my #1 Senbatsu member not be around for a performance, Sayanee could easily take up her heels and lead the rest of the Senbatsu to a great performance. Other than that, Sayanee's just cool. Can she be in all the idol groups?
10. Ishida Ayumi (Morning Musume) - Why did I pick Ayumi out of all the Morning Musume members? Well, because she's one of the groups best dancers and doesn't shriek the same way Riho does. Speaking of which, in my Senbatsu, all the girls will hit notes that are comfortable to their ranges, Ayumi included. Speaking of which, there's a position in K-pop groups called the "lead dancer" that I wish J-pop groups would utilize more. Because Ayumi, along with one other girl on this Senbatsu would definitely take up that position, with kickass dance solos in my Senbatsu's songs and special dance numbers in concert performances!
7. Nakajima Saki (C-ute) - Here we are now in the Kami 7 of my Senbatsu, those holy seven idols who make up the top tier. Filling that first Kami 7 spot along with the other position of leader dance in my Senbatsu would be the lovely Nakky. Not only is Nakky one of my favorite H!P members, but she's also one of the best dancers. Nakky can pull off both adorable and sensual dance, sometimes at the same time. Not only that she can look cute and sweet or sexy and badass. She's kind of like a chameleon! In my Senbatsu, she and Ayumi would have dance solos, and maybe even a dance battle like the ones Ayumi partakes with Riho in Momusu!
6. Nakamoto Suzuka (Babymetal) - While I'm not a fan of Babymetal, I do love the voice of the main singer, Suzuka or Su-Metal as she goes by in Babymetal. Her voice has such great power and resonance, along with a very distinct sound. I love strong voices, so I would definitely have her in my Senbatsu. That's why I have her in one of the higher positions, so she could sing more prominently than in any of those lower positions. And her experience in a metal idol group should give her a different perspective than the other Senbatsu members. But she still also has experience in traditional idol group Sakura Gakuin. It's the best of both worlds!
5. Minegishi Minami (AKB48) - I guess I'm kind of cheating by including a member of AKB48 on a Senbatsu that's kind of not supposed to be solely AKB48 members... But Miichan is just awesome! She's adorable and kooky and sweet, and she went through so much crap last year. And from the looks of it, she's probably not gonna make it onto this year's election Senbatsu either. And if she does, it won't be a high position. So on my Senbatsu, Miichan would have a high position in the Kami 7! The only reason she's not higher is because I have a few more idols that I like just a teensy bit better. But still, I'd definitely want Miichan up high for her bubbling personality!
4. Terashima Yufu - I've always missed Yufu ever since she left BiS, but it does make me happy that she's started solo activities again. I think Yufu's got one of the most distinct idol voices on the market right now, and it really makes her stand out. So I'd want her to be at the top of the Senbatsu, where the more solos/duets/trios would be. Also like Tentenko, she has a past with BiS, along with being an idol on her own. So she's been both a member and a soloist, with two very different images for each! And Yufu's such a photogenic member. Even in BiS she always looked very pretty, whether she was swinging a baseball bat or covered in fake blood!
3. Konishi Ayano (Tokyo Girls' Style) - Even though her voice has been struggling these past two years, I'd still like Ayano in my Senbatsu. She has such a distinctive voice, and her performance skills are pretty high too! I'd want Ayano in my top 3 because again, she has a strong voice and I think she'd carry herself well in the top 3 of my Senbatsu. She also comes from the mature Tokyo Girls' Style, so I think she'd be up for doing a more mature concept despite her young age. I mean, have you guys seen the PV for Juujika? She totally rocks it! And so does Hitomi, but when it comes down to those two, I'd still have to go with Ayano. She's got the pipes for my Senbatsu!
2. Curumi Chronicle - Much like Suzuka, Curumi Chronicle offers a different angle of idol music than many of the other idols on this list. As the only purely technopop idol, Curumi might enjoy performing more traditional music. And I think it would help her to participate in a group! She seems a little nervous and hesitant when it comes to performing. So singing with a big group of girls might help Curumi come out of her shell and allow her to grow more comfortable with performing alone. I thought about making her #1, but I figured she wouldn't be up to centering a single. Besides, I had one person as #1 from the very beginning I thought of this idea...
1. Akimoto Sayaka - I don't care if Sayaka's graduated from being an idol, I'd still want her to be the center of my Senbatsu! Sure, she's 25, but so what? If Shinoda Mariko stayed an idol until she was 27, I'm sure Sayaka could too! Something that always pained me was that Sayaka never got a really high spot during the Senbatsu elections, only making it so far as #12. Personally, I think she deserved better, even after that scandal that wasn't really a scandal. Sayaka has a great voice, vibrant personality, commanding stage presence, she was probably so cool that AKS got blinded by her coolness and were afraid to promote her!
There you have it! Now this would just be my Senbatsu. As for what B-sides would go on each single and who would produce them, I think I've figured that out:
- Shiina Ringo: Akimoto Sayaka, Konishi Ayano, Terashima Yufu, Nakamoto Suzuka, Yamamoto Sayaka, Tentenko
Ringo could definitely do something weird and experimental, and these six idols have the vocals to pull off some weird stuff. I don't know if Ringo would go the more jazz or rock route, but either one would work! I'm thinking maybe a little bit more jazz though, something mature and sensual like Meisai. And she could add some percussion in too! This would be kind of bombastic and scattered song, with smooth, sexy vocals to carry it through.
- Nakata: Curumi Chronicle, Rena & Risa, and Nishiwaki Sayaka
For the electronic number, I think I'd want something more on the pop side for Nakata's work. Not like straight-up idol pop, but maybe something that combines a futuristic sound with the peppy sound of J-pop. I'm thinking along the lines of Aira Mitsuki's works or even Perfume's Computer City or Electro World. And if there was a music video, it could be similar to Spring of Life! That would be so cool... I just love technopop that sounds like it comes from The Jetsons-style future...
- Hyadain: Minegishi Minami, Momota Kanako, Kanazawa Tomoko, Masui Mio
The crazy ones, all in one group together. Okay, Tomoko's not that crazy, but it would do her good to be around Kanako and Miichan! The Hyadain single would be totally all over the place, with a variety of random sounds kind like what he did in Wani to Shampoo. This would definitely be a pop song, maybe with elements of ska or punk in it. I'm thinking something very fast-paced, that doesn't require strong vocals but is still really catchy!
- Nakata (again): Nakajima Saki and Ishida Ayumi
What? I really like Nakata's work... In contrast to the other group, this duo of Nakky and Ayumi would have a dance song. Something like Party Maker or The music or maybe even Jumper, with minimal vocals and an emphasis on the dance aspect. In fact, wouldn't be cool if Mikiko could choreograph it? I would love to see Mikiko choreograph a duo, I think she could really work off that dynamic! It would be a long song too, five minutes at least, mostly instrumental.
Admittedly, my ideal Senbatsu and single would be a mess. But it would be a wonderful mess. I noticed from doing this that I either like cool idols with strong voices or idols with outgoing personalities. And that I like music that isn't boring, but I already knew that. My ideal Senbatsu will never happen. It isn't feasible in any way possible, but it's still really fun to imagine this kind of Senbatsu in lieu of the usual one that we're gonna get at AKB48's Senbatsu election this year. So I want to extend this question to you guys: who would you have in your Senbatsu. You can pick anyone, retired or not retired, old or young, as long as they have been an idol at some point. You also get total creative control over what they release. They can be a concert-based idol group, more commercial, street-performers, etc. They can release any genre of music bland or unconventional, same for music videos. You are in control, which is something that none of us will probably ever get to be when it comes to idol groups. I'm sure some of you guys have fantasized what it would be like creating your own idol group. And if you haven't, you should try it! It's really fun! And it may even reflect your own personal taste in idols and even music!
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