The Conventions of Unconventional Idols

It's tenth-grade biology class again, and you, reader, have been assigned with your lab mates to dissect a frog. So you get out your lab manual, follow the instructions, and everything is going according to the teacher's plan as it has every year the tenth-grade biology class does this experiment. But then you look over to the table in the back corner and notice something odd. A few of your classmates aren't dissecting the frog, as per the lab instructions. Instead, they've attached wires to the frog and are attempting to bring it back to life a la Dr. Frankenstein. Blood spatters everywhere, utensils fly across the floor, yet this group of students remain completely enthralled with their little experiment. You yourself cannot understand why these students decided to completely ignore the instructions and wreck havoc on the classroom, but they aren't interrupting your group's experiment, so you do your best to ignore them. Other classmates express their outrage and annoyance, and a few classmates even admire this strange little group of lab mates trying to resurrect their dead frog buddy. For better or worse, they have left one hell of an impact on the lab assignment today.

I like to think of unconventional idols as that frog-resurrecting lab group.

Ah, unconventional idols. They're almost as divisive as Youtube idols! But what exactly is an unconventional idol? According to the Miriam-Webster dictionary, the definition for unconventional is:

"very different from the things that are used or accepted by most people; not traditional or usual; not conventional"

So the very broad definition of an unconventional idol could be an idol who is different from the traditional idols. When I say "unconventional idols" I'm simply referring to idols that purposely defy the current standards set by popular idol groups. Said idol groups being AKB48 and all its sister groups. However, I should also distinguish that when I say unconventional idols, I'm not talking about idol groups like Momoiro Clover Z and Dempagumi.inc. While both those groups do have a lot of quirks and rather unconventional idol music, neither one of those groups is constantly and intentionally trying to defy the traditional concept of idols. They're playing with the concepts, yes, but in a safe and market-friendly way. Actually, there are a lot of idol groups today that are straying away from the "pop" sound that's defined idol music (in other words, everything that AKB48's been releasing). And in that special little niche are the idol groups produced to have a sound and image about as far from friendly as possible. I'm talking about the idol groups like Alice Juban, Bellring Shoujo Heart, Babymetal, and of course, Brand-new Idol Society. You know, those idol groups that make everyone uncomfortable!

Something really cool about the idol industry of today is that a lot of idol groups are backed by producers willing to experiment in different sounds, such as popular producer Hyadain who's produced both Momoiro Clover Z and Dempagumi.inc just to name a few. Other groups like Rhymeberry and Tokyo Girls' Style also have very distinct music styles that don't fit with popular idol music. My point is this era of idols is a producer's playground for music styles and gimmicks. I like to think of these producers as artists with the idol groups they produce being their canvases. So with all the different sounds to try out on a pile of girls who have little to no creative control, why produce them with a more unconventional sound? I'm going to ignore the obvious answer that it's to make money, because everything in the idol industry exists to make money. I swear to god, if I hear that complaint one more time from an idol fan, I am going to set something on fire. Idols are products and if you can't wrap your head around that, you are following the wrong industry. I think there may be some self-produced indie idols you can find if you look hard enough, but at the end of the day this industry is not known for being one with self-control.

Anyways, back to unconventional idols. I think it's pretty easy to understand the appeal of traditional idols. They represent an idealistic portrayal of youth, the purest and cleanest facets of adolescence. For young girls, idols are role models; for older men, they're a picture of innocence hung against the backdrop of harsh reality. The objective of an idol is to stir feelings of hope and happiness in people. Many idol songs convey some form of positivity whether it be in love, friendship, perseverance, etc. Said positivity is typically presented through catchy pop songs meant to appeal to wide demographic. Idol groups like Super Girls and of course, AKB48 exemplify these traits. Even if Super Girls is more-or-less a punchline on my blog, I can at least acknowledge that they embrace all the cliches of idol music and imagery with such commitment. And AKB48 is the most popular idol group on the market right now, even if their welcome may be overstayed depending on whom you ask. As the most popular idol group (at least for female idol groups, male idol groups are not my department), AKB48 sets a precedent for other companies looking to cash off idol groups the same way AKS has.

Unlike Super Girls and all those other idol groups that look and sound exactly like them, unconventional idol groups exist to defy the norms of idol music from the look to the music to even the objective. Traditional idols represent a positive, innocent set of ideals so that they can appeal to a wide range of demographics. But unconventional idols often do the opposite. They're not trying to be positive or be role models or roll with the tropes of traditional idolry. Most of these idol groups have very small niches and never achieve widespread success. They're a stark contrast, and for a lot of people, it's a contrast that's too different and sometimes too disturbing. Sometimes the lengths an unconventional idol group goes to be unconventional can be too much. After all, is an idol group really an idol group if they exist only to subvert every common element of idol groups? So what is the appeal then? Even as someone with a tendency to gravitate toward unconventional idols, I couldn't really figure out an answer to this question for such a long time. Now I'm not even sure if I have the right answer. I think trying to fully dissect the appeal behind unconventional idols and why they exist is the equivalent of opening Pandora's box. It won't be easy fully explaining why, but as someone who is a fan of more unconventional idol groups, I want to at least try.

To understand where the concept of an unconventional idol originated, we have to dig into a little history. The Japanese idol concept originated in the 1960s, but really hit its boom in the 1980s. So much that the 1980s is referred to as "The Golden Age of Idols in Japan." Left and right were idols debuting, some of them never to be heard from again. Others quickly rose to the top of the idol hierarchy. And the golden girl perched at the top was Matsuda Seiko. Even if you're like me and don't look into older idols, you've probably heard her name before. With more than seventy-five singles under her belt and a string of high-charting singles, Matsuda Seiko is one of the best-selling idols in Japan. While she isn't anywhere near as successful today, in the 1980s, Matsuda Seiko owned the idol industry. There's a reason that she's called "The Eternal Idol" and Oricon ranked her as the number-one everlasting idol in Japan. Matsuda Seiko was the quintessential, girl-next-door, smiling, shining idol in the 1980s. Even when her popularity started waning after the 1980s, Matsuda Seiko still maintained a legacy as the face of this "Golden Age" for idols.

I've listened to a few Matsuda Seiko songs from when she was in her prime, and I can see why she was so popular. She had a very sweet voice, with just enough power to carry her songs. And her songs are just a nice as her voice. Matsuda Seiko's songs have all the sugary sweetness that you can find in idol pop. Watching her performances, I get a sense of deja-vu. Because her demeanor and performance style is so reminiscent of many idols of the future. Take this performance of her debut single, Hadashi no Kisetsu. So many idols of today are probably crafted around that same approachable friendliness that Matsuda Seiko popularized in the 1980s. And at the time, Matsuda Seiko helped set the standard for what the conventional idol was at that time. An idol was pure, but not distant the way they were in the 1970s. Idols of the 1980s were mostly sweet in that girl-next-door kind of way. And there are many idols in the 1980s vying for that top spot. As many as 60 idols could debut in a year and be gone the next. I can imagine that this time period is similar to the boom of idols today. So surely not all idols during this Golden Age were cookie-cutter copies of Matsuda Seiko, right? Wasn't there at least one idol trying to defy the norms of the Golden Age of Idols?

Enter Togawa Jun.

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Togawa Jun is an artist that started out as a idol in the early 1980s. Outside of her solo work, she participated in a variety of side projects, including lead vocalist for band Guernica and lead vocalist for Yapoos in the late 80s and early 90s. In her idol career, she was never the universally adored dream idol that Matsuda Seiko was in the 80s. However, Togawa Jun did have a large underground fanbase who admired and respected her work. Why? Because her music was insane. Togawa Jun wrote about murder, parasites & insects, sadomasochism, even menstruation, and a plethora of other dark, bizarre topics all while maintaining a grim sense of humor. Her debut album, Tamahime-sama is basically an exploration of insects and the human body, and you should all totally listen to it. And she was the same age as Matsuda Seiko when she did all this. There's a live performance on Youtube showing her performing the title track from Tamahime-sama, clad in insect wings and twitching around like a dragonfly squished by a boot. I think it sums up pretty well her angle of approaching the idol industry. Togawa Jun was (and probably still is today) strange, grotesque, and most importantly, unconventional. Can you guys think of any idol groups today that are strange and grotesque? I'll give you a hint: they're about to disband soon.

Back to Togawa Jun for a moment though. In my opinion, Togawa's album that most clearly twists the concepts of being an idol is Suki Suki Daisuki, released in 1984. While her previous three albums forayed into rock, enka, and even electronic, Suki Suki Daisuki had a much more pop-oriented sound. However, combined with that saccharine pop is Togawa's theatricality and strangeness. The songs range from the sarcastically straightforward Angel Baby to Osozaki Girl which is about "late blooming" if you catchy my drift to Sayonara wo Oshiete which is about Togawa loving a boy so much she swears to come back from the dead as a ghost to be with him. But the standout track of Suki Suki Daisuki has got to be the song that shares the title of the album. There's a reason BiS Kaidan covered it! Suki Suki Daisuki is probably my favorite idol song, if you can count it as one. I suppose that's a little ironic, considering how the song is mocking every idol long written ever. But Suki Suki Daisuki goes from cutesy and adorable to harsh and operatic so quickly, I think it really showcases how well Togawa Jun plays with the conventions of idol music back then. Compare the chorus of Matsuda Seiko's Akai Sweet Pea to Suki Suki Daisuki.

Kiwi Musume's translation of Matsuda Seiko's Akai Sweet Pea:

"I will follow you 

I want to follow you 

I will follow you

Even though I'm a bit weak-willed 

Because you're a wonderful person 

My red sweet pea 

Growing on the shore of my heart"

Jun Togawa Collective's translation of Togawa Jun's Suki Suki Daisuki:

"Kiss me like thumping, as blood clots on my lips 

Hold me, as my ribs breaking 

I love you so much 

I love you so much 

I love you so much 

Say you love me or I'll kill you!"

In the 80s, Nakamori Akina was always pushed as the "rival" to Matsuda Seiko, for her more mature and sensual image being the opposite of Seiko's sweet and innocent image. But I think Akina doesn't quite serve as the complete antithesis to what Seiko stood for in her peak days. I think Togawa Jun takes up that role. What makes Togawa Jun so unconventional is that the conventional standard of that time was a stark contrast from the way she presented herself. Honestly, Togawa Jun seems like a very interesting person. No doubt an eccentric person, but still fascinating. I've read several of her translated interviews, and she just has so much interesting stuff to say. Even better, I think Togawa Jun presented herself the way she did because she wanted to. Not because some management company realized "Hey, anti-idols make money!" and produced her with that image. And I think that's what separates her from the idols of today. Sure, Babymetal and BiS and Bellring Shoujo Heart can be as unconventional as they like, but at the end of the day they're still idols produced to maintain a certain image that appeals to a certain demographic. That doesn't mean it doesn't work for them, but compared to Togawa Jun, all the unconventional idol groups of today seem downright tame.

So let's fast-forward to the present day. AKB48 sits at the top of the idol pyramid with all its sister groups (and Nogizaka46) not far behind. Just below them is Momoiro Clover Z and then below them all the other idol groups ranging from mildly popular to practically nonexistent. My point is that AKB48 is in a position where they've set new precedents and enforced old ones for new idol groups. It's the same position that Matsuda Seiko was in during the 1980s. What an unconventional idol relies on is taking whatever is currently popular/standard in the idol industry and doing the opposite. Brand-new Idol Society exists to be the "anti-idols" but ironically, if idol groups like AKB48 weren't around, then neither could BiS be, at least not with the concept they have now. Same for Babymetal. The difference between BiS and Babymetal are their gimmicks, with BiS actively defying idolry and Babymetal embracing it, only adding metal and headbanging. However, both exist under the umbrella of unconventional idol groups that have been emerging these fast few years. In fact, I think that BiS and Babymetal actually helped kickstart that. After the controversial My Ixxx music video, BiS got a lot more attention than previously, and ever since then, they've been getting crazier and crazier going more and more out of their way to maintain unconventionality.

In the wake of BiS and Babymetal's debuts, a slew of other idol groups created with similar unconventional gimmicks have also popped up, such as New Idol Order, Death Rabbits, Passcode, Fruitpochette, Next Shoujo Jiken, and my personal favorite (and the only one that really interests me) Bellring Shoujo Heart. I am noticing a pattern in a lot of these unconventional idol groups that have emerged though. A lot of them either copy the aesthetic of Babymetal or BiS. New Idol Order for instance, defines themselves as a strictly "metal" group, a Babymetal sans the idol pop. Death Rabbits has pretty much the same description. These groups are all described nearly the same with a few different spins like "Lolitas and metal" or "a metal duo" or something of that nature. Generally, all these new unconventional groups are abrasive, morbid, and weird. They hold live concerts with blood and dead animals and other crazy antics that separate them from the "conventional" idol groups their producers are satirizing. But here's what happens when a group of people trying to be different do the same thing: they create a new set of conventions to abide by. It's kind of a paradox.

And it brings up another question: is an idol still an idol if they're doing everything that idols weren't conceived to do? Or are these unconventional idol groups changing the criteria for what an idol has to be? How much can you strip away from the standards of being an idol until you've created a shell that's only an idol in name only? The answer is debatable. BiS is not a well-liked group in Japan. Oh yes, they have their fanbase, but they still get a lot of flack for their concept and performances. Just go and look at any of the comments sections on their Youtube videos to see what I mean. So why go to so much trouble to attract fans when there are easier and more conventional ways of doing so? I know what draws me in personally to BiS and other unconventional idol groups is the sheer audacity of them. It's interesting seeing an idol group strive not to be like an idol group. To see all these creative variations and odd songs and music videos. And I have to think that there are BiS fans out there who feel the same way I do. BiS (and every other unconventional idol group I've mentioned) will always be divisive for disturbing concert performances, un-idol like behavior, and taking risks. But even if it's all manufactured like every other aspect of the idol industry, unconventional idol groups still draw me in at least a little bit.

I don't think unconventional idols will ever have real, breakthrough success the same way idol groups like AKB48 and Morning Musume and Onyanko Club have. So why do the producers of today go to so much trouble to create an unconventional image for certain idol groups when the alternative is much more marketable? Well, obviously there is at least a small niche for unconventional idol groups. I mean, look at Babymetal. They started out as a subgroup from Sakura Gakuin, then blew up over the Internet, and now they're performing in Europe and Canada and all over the world. As of now, they might even be more well-known than Sakura Gakuin. Sure, Babymetal's international recognition primarily stems from the mindset I like to call, "Look at this weird Japanese thing!! Hot diggity-dog, Japan is so gosh darn wacky and strange!" But attention is attention, regardless of where it stems from. And these unconventional idol groups do garner a good deal of attention. It's not always positive attention (BiS for instance is not a revered group amongst Japanese otaku). Nonetheless, it's enough attention for these unconventional idol groups to carve niches for themselves. And sometimes, that all producers strive for. Not every idol group needs to sell millions to stick around.

What I'd like to see is another idol like Togawa Jun. No, not a rip-off of Togawa Jun but an idol with her own vision of being an idol that's maybe a little weird and a little strange but nonetheless her own idea. As of now, this is the best time to try out these more different idol groups. The market is ripe with other idol groups trying out different music and concepts. Self-produced idols may not be the most well-known, but they're out there doing their own thing. BiS wouldn't even exist if Pour Lui hadn't the idea of making her own idol group. I'm not just sad that BiS is disbanding because I enjoy their music and style. I'm sad because of what they represent in the current idol industry. They weren't always great, but they were always interesting and vivacious. And they kept me sane when AKB48 was driving me crazy with all their bland music. Unconventional idol groups can be hit-or-miss with idol fans and for good reason. But I find something exciting and intriguing in listening to idols like BiS and Bellring Shoujo Heart and Togawa Jun. And maybe hardly anyone else does, but I don't care. At the end of the day, it's my own personal taste. I do hope that unconventional idols can always find a niche though.

Who knows? Perhaps someday a crazy idol like Togawa Jun will come along.

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 jumped ship graduated by now. Maybe it's because AKB48's music has gotten so unoriginal that there's no point in getting excited now. Or maybe it's because I know that the same people who got it last year are going to get it this year with little to no surprises. And those surprises will probably be dull ones. Sasshi's gonna get center, Mayu and Jurina won't be far behind, and the members that AKS pushed for Senbatsu will get in the Senbatsu. I'm sorry, it's just boring now. I don't feel that same nervous anticipation from elections past. I think it's just because I don't really care about any of the members now. Most of them are from different groups anyways, so the Senbatsu's probably gonna end up with like five of sixteen girls actually being in AKB48. Gosh, I don't see why AKS just doesn't go ahead and shuffle all the members together since they like cherry-picking their favorites from other groups so... much... wait a a minute...

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!

9/8. Rena & Risa (Vanilla Beans) - I don't follow Vanilla Beans very closely, but from the songs I've listened to and PVs I've watched, the two members of the duo come off as very classy. Like refined, stylish robots from a retro-style future. I don't know much about the members' personalities, so I've no idea how either one of them would mesh personality-wise with the rest of my Senbatsu. But visually, I think they would contribute both finesse and style to my Senbatsu, giving a veneer of effortless class. Kind of like GAM did except with more style and slightly less sexual tension. Like GAM though, the legs of the Vanilla Beans girls go on for miles.

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!

Let's Talk about Babymetal

Man, guys, sorry again about peacing out and not reviewing stuff. Especially since in my time of not blogging, I've gotten tons of requests, nearly fifty. I've just been so in demand to review things, it's difficult to leaf through all these requests in a timely manner! But with this review of Babymetal's album, I'll finally be catching up to this utter boatload of requests I've gotten. Boy, it's hard being such a popular idol blogger.

Okay good, my time outside of blogging has not affected my sarcasm levels. But I did seriously get a request to review something by Babymetal.

I should also mention that I got a Prizmmy request, but since they haven't released anything recently, it's Babymetal that I'll be reviewing today! Some of you may already be familiar with this idol trio but for the rest of you, a brief history: Babymetal is a subgroup of junior high idol group Sakura Gakuin. Apparently, Sakura Gakuin does this thing where they create a bunch of subgroups with varying images and themes. Like they have a science group, a baton group, a tennis group, a newspaper group, you know, school-themed groups! Maybe one day they'll have a celibacy group! Anyways Babymetal was conceptualized as a "fusion of metal and idol" which is exactly what you think it is: metal and cutesy idol pop. The group was lead by Su-Metal aka Nakamoto Suzuka and backed by Yuimetal and Moametal who provide the "screams." After Suzuka graduated from Sakura Gakuin due to being old, Babymetal looked to be disbanding. However, due to popularity, management decided that Babymetal would continue on as a unit independent from Sakura Gakuin. And so here we are. I will be honest, I knew of Babymetal before I got a request to review something from them, but I never really followed them. I'm not a metalhead, so I never had much interest in reviewing a metal idol group. But the few songs I've heard from Babymetal are decent so hey, maybe they're a cool group! I figure the best way to find out is by reviewing their eponymous debut album! So I hope you've got a neck brace because we're about to do some serious headbanging! Or I assume so. Do metalheads actually headbang or is that just a cliche?

1. Babymetal Death

So the first song opens with some ethereal choir chants that wouldn't be out of place in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It reminds me of Momoiro Clover Z's Neo Stargate, although maybe not as bombastic. The chanting is kind of calming, which only makes me believe that at some point the song is going to go absolutely crazy. And what do you know? It does! The guitar comes in and then there's guttural screaming spelling out the group's name! The guttural screaming continues throughout Babymetal Death, moreso than the girls' actual vocals. Actually, Babymetal Death serves more as an introduction song to the album, albeit a very long one. I probably could have done with the song being cut down a bit, because it starts to drag a little over halfway through. Not to mention you don't really get to hear the girls sing at all in this song. We do get to hear some crazy guy scream and chant though! Which is kind of creepy. I guess if I liked metal more, this song would be kind of cool?

My Rating:


2. Megitsune

Now I have heard Megitsune. The beginning reminds me of Mizuki Nana's Etsuraku Camellia; I guess because both songs start with a semi-traditional sound. But then Megitsune goes into metal mode and the guitars and synthesizers come in at full swing! And thankfully we get to hear the girls sing! I'd like to take this moment to say that I really love Su-Metal's voice. Like even before I reviewed this album, I've always liked her voice. It sounds very clear and powerful. Maybe not the best voice for a metal singer, but for an idol singer, her voice rocks. And in Megitsune, I think Su-Metal's voice is utilized to the fullest! There are long, drawn-out notes and crescendos. The music itself is also very neat. I always love to hear to genres of music blended together, especially two very different genres. The blend of traditional and rock in Megitsune gives the song a lot of punch. I'm kind of surprised I didn't pay more attention to this song in 2013.

My Rating:


3. Gimme Choko!!

A song called Gimme Chocolate? Well, I can get behind that! Gimme Choko!! does sound like the deranged ramblings of someone desperate for chocolate... Which is not exactly a good thing. Gimme Choko!! has the same problem that BiS's StupiG had in that it's really disjointed. I think that may have been intentional, but that doesn't mean I enjoyed it. There are parts where Gimme Choko!! goes into Autotuned electropop, hard rock, pop, and none of those musical styles blend together the way they did in Megitsune. I feel like I'm listening to several different songs. If Gimme Choko!! wanted to go all the way with the crazy for chocolate concept, musically, they should have taken it farther. In its current state, Gimme Choko!! is kind of a mess. A mess that can be cleaned up with time and effort but still a mess. There are parts of Gimme Choko!! where it's more fun, mainly in the chorus so I wouldn't say the song is an irredeemable wreck. It's just... very disjointed.

My Rating:


4. Ii ne!

Um... I am still not sure what I listened to. I guess Ii ne!'s kind of electropop... ish? But then it's also metal? Like the middle of the song has this very calm rapping and then... more metal? Ii ne! is this really weird combination of cute and perky and hardcore and brutal and robotic and... many other things. Look, I don't get this song at all. I really don't. It's trying to be fifty different things over the span of several minutes. And nothing works together. There are a few nice parts but they're quickly overshadowed by all the different vocals and sounds clamoring for attention in this song. I guess Ii ne! shares the same problem that Gimme Choko!! had in that it's really disjointed. But hell, Ii ne! makes Gimme Choko!! look absolutely cohesive! I mean, I get that Babymetal supposed to be a fusion of idol and metal, but Ii ne! fails to properly fuse them together. Instead we get... whatever this is. I don't know, I had to lie down after listening to Ii ne!

My Rating:


5. Benitsuki -Akatsuki-

So after Ii ne! is more of a straight-up death metal song. It starts with some pretty pianos then the drums and guitars come banging in. Admittedly, Benitsuki -Akatsuki- is one of my favorite tracks on this album. I think what really sells the song are the vocals. Suzuka's voice works really well in a song like this, where the instrumentals aren't overwhelming her vocals. And she sounds so good. There's also a lot less screaming in this song. In fact, I don't think there's any at all. Are Moametal and Yuimetal even vocalists on this track? It sounds like it's all Suzuka. Maybe they do some of the backing melodies? As much as I hate to say, I would actually be 100% okay is Suzuka just went solo, especially if she got more songs like this one. No offense meant to Moametal and Yuimetal; I'm just not a huge fan of screaming in music. There's such power behind the vocals and the instrumental of Benitsuki -Akatsuki-. I definitely recommend this one!

My Rating:


6. DoKi・DoKi☆Morning

Ah, here's the single that started it all. DoKi・DoKi☆Morning was the first taste the world experienced of Babymetal, and it definitely sounds like it. Unlike the later singles from Babymetal, DoKi・DoKi☆Morning has a much more idol-y sound. There's a lot of idol chanting, the melodies are very idol-friendly, the chorus is about as perky as I've heard metal get, and it just... sounds like idol music. As a metal song, this is probably not a very good song. The instrumental does throw in some metal, but the vocal arrangement is primarily idol pop. I don't really mind; I review idol pop all the time, and idol pop with some metal mixed into it is at least an interesting musical choice. DoKi・DoKi☆Morning is catchy in the way that so many idol songs are catchy, but ironically, it's doesn't leave a very strong impression with me. It's an all right song, I suppose, but probably not my favorite Babymetal A-side I've listened to.

My Rating:


7. Onedari Daisakusen

Bringing back the semi-traditional sound of Megitsune is Onedari Daisakusen... but nowhere near as good as Megitsune did it. I have no idea what's going on in this song. It's like someone took the vocals from a really cute idol song and put them over a really hardcore metal backing track. That can work, but for me, it does not work in Onedari Daisakusen. I just can't get into this song; I'm not completely sure why either. I don't know, I feel like every time this song finishes playing, it doesn't leave a huge impression on me despite being incredibly weird. I think it's one of the songs on the album that features only Moametal and Yuimetal? I don't know what it is about idols talking in songs, but it very rarely works for me. It does not work in Onedari Daisakusen at all. It all sounds so awkward and weird and... Okay, I know it's probably supposed to be weird, but this is too weird for me. Like I have a line between enjoyable weird and awkwardly weird, and Onedari Daisakusen crossed it.

My Rating:


8. 4 no Uta

Next up Babymetal goes into reggae! Man, first Furikaeru to Iru yo, now this? Next thing I know Hello! Project will be bringing back 7nin Matsuri! The thing I've noticed about idol music and reggae together in one song is that it either works really well or... doesn't. In 4 no Uta, I'm not sure. I feel like the reggae bits are too choppily separated from the metal parts. I kind of have the same problem with 4 no Uta that I did with Gimme Choko!! and Ii ne! It's really disjointed. That and is Suzuka even featured on this song? It just sounds like Moametal and Yuimetal. I mean, I guess they can get a song on the album to but... I just really like Suzuka's voice better. Oh well, a song featuring only Moametal and Yuimetal could have been so much worse. 4 no Uta does balance the line between cute and metal pretty decently. I think it just depends on how much you personally like reggae and how much you can get into this song. For me, 4 no Uta was okay.

My Rating:


9. U.ki.U.ki★Midnight

All right, this is gonna sound weird, but U.ki.U.ki★Midnight sounds like a Momoiro Clover Z song. Okay, maybe if MomoClo turned into a metal idol group but still! I could hear this song on 5th Dimension, couldn't you guys? Is it just me? Oh well, there are parts of U.ki.U.ki★Midnight that I like and others I don't like. I'm not digging the backing vocals that much, but that's probably because, again, I am not a metalhead. Have I mentioned that enough yet? I feel like I've said that fifty times by now. Also, what's up with the electronic breakdown in the middle of this song? It's really... I don't know, uncalled for? I think U.ki.U.ki★Midnight would have sounded fine without it. Because all the other parts of this song sound great. They're really upbeat and energetic; the chorus is the best part! I don't want to completely discredit U.ki.U.ki★Midnight; I feel like it has the chance to grow on me over time. For now, I think it's an all right song, but not exactly geared to my tastes.

My Rating:


10. Catch me if you can

You know when you're listening to a song, and you know that it's good but you're still like, "Yeah, this is not for me..." Not only can that apply to my entire feelings toward Dempagumi.inc, but it also applies to Catch me if you can. In another dimension, if Nia were a metalhead, she could probably get into this song. She'd probably enjoy this song a lot for combining metal and idol pop into one song. But this dimension's Nia does not feel the same way. Switching back to first person, I like the pop-ier parts of Catch me if you can, but I could do without all the hardcore metal bits. In fact, this probably isn't even hardcore metal, but to my innocent ears, it sounds hardcore. The fun parts of Catch me if you can are really fun, but they're drowned out by all this screaming and chanting. It's just too much for me. I know, I'm quite the wimp, aren't I? Well, I can be a wimp and still not like Catch me if you can! It's really just not something I personally don't want to listen to...

My Rating:


11. Akumu no Rinbukyoku

So this song's got a really cool song title! It translates to Nightmare's Rondo and sounds like something out of The Addams Family! This is also another Suzuka solo, or at least I think it is. I can't hear Yuimetal or Moametal in the song, so even if they're just backing vocals, Akumu no Rinbukyoku is primarily driven by Suzuka's vocals. And once again, she sounds great! I'm noticing she sounds very consistent in all the Babymetal songs. Like even if I don't like a song, Suzuka still sounds good. Akumu no Rinbukyoku is appropriately nightmarish-sounding for a song titled Nightmare's Rondo. I assume the piano backing the song is a rondo, but it's hard to tell with all the other instruments layered over it. Even if it's not a rondo, the rest of Akumu no Rinbukyoku is very enjoyable to my ears. And after finding the last few songs on the album to be not my cup of tea, Akumu no Rinbukyoku is a breath of fresh air. Definitely another one of my favorite tracks!

My Rating:


12. Headbanger!!

Oh hai, song I've actually listened to! I am no stranger to Headbanger!! nor the music video and all its neck-brace wearing goodness. I think this was actually the first Babymetal song I'd ever listened to. At first, I didn't know what to make of it. Metal is not my preferred genre of music so to my ears, so Headbanger!! sounded insane. Like BiS levels of insane with a dash of Momoiro Clover Z insane. Giving it a re-listen, Headbanger!! is just as crazy as it was back in 2012. But it's crazy awesome. There's so much energy ricocheting around in this song; my favorite part is the chorus! And yet again, Suzuka's vocals are so strong. I don't even mind Moametal and Yuimetal's backing vocals; in some of these songs they feel kind of unnecessary. But in Headbanger!!, they give the song this strangely adorable edge. I don't quite know how to explain it. Overall, Headbanger!! is loud, explosive, slightly demented, and a totally fun listen all the way through.

My Rating:


13. Ijime, Dame, Zettai

And closing out Babymetal is one other song of theirs I'd heard beforehand, Ijime, Dame, Zettai, which roughly translates to No more bullying. A pretty good song topic in my opinion, especially for an idol group. The piano intro to this song is actually really pretty, and the repetition of that melody in the chorus is even stronger. So Ijime, Dame, Zettai is naturally about bullying, but I will admit the lyrics are vaguer than I thought they would be regarding the subject. Still, I think the subject is broached pretty well for an idol metal song (who'd a thunk I'd ever use that phrase in a sentence?). And the overall structure of Ijime, Dame, Zettai is really well-done. The song is about six minutes long, but it's paced perfectly. I think Ijime, Dame, Zettai ends the album on an extremely high note. Between this and Headbanger!!, both songs are probably my favorite Babymetal songs. Maybe it's not Keibetsu Shiteita Ajiou, but Ijime, Dame, Zettai stands strong as its own metal-fused take on bullying.

My Rating:


The Verdict

You know that feeling when you're showing your friend something really cool like a movie or a TV show? But then about halfway through showing them, you realize they're nowhere near into as much as you are? Well, I would be that friend if someone was playing this album for me. As I have said a bajillion gazillion trillion times by now, I. Am not. A metalhead. I have never been able to get into that genre of music, it's too abrasive, the vocals are too harsh, etc. etc. So an album consisting of metal and idol pop fused together already would be playing against my tastes. Now don't get out your pitchforks yet, I'm not gonna slam this album! Personally, I was not able to get into this album. However, I can still take a step back and appreciate Babymetal for what they are trying to do. I always like seeing idol groups push the boundaries of idol music, like BiS and Bellring Shoujo Heart do. But Babymetal pushes it into a genre that is I am simply not a fan of.

However, the album wasn't a complete waste for me! There were several songs I liked! All the A-sides featured on Babymetal I enjoyed tons, except maybe for DoKi・DoKi☆Morning. I especially think the last third of the album (which included two A-sides and Akumu no Rinbukyoku) was really strong. But when the pop got washed out in favor of the metal, that was when I couldn't really get into this album. Most of the songs in the middle of Babymetal I will probably not listen to again, unless they magically show up in a playlist someday. But that doesn't mean they're bad songs! I'm certain metalheads out there looking for a strange bridge between pop and metal can really get into songs like Catch me if you can and Ii ne! Even if Babymetal isn't my favorite album ever, I do at least think Suzuka is a really good singer, especially for her age! I think her voice is ultimately what prevented some of these songs from being outright terrible for me. So in the end, I wouldn't say this album got me into Babymetal, but I can at least respect them for trying to do something different. Speaking of unconventional idols... I'm pretty sure I have a BiS album review to start typing up now...

I will give Babymetal's debut album Babymetal three and half out of five apples. If you're a fan of idols and metal, then you should definitely check this album out. If you're not, then I'd recommend just a few tracks off this album. Either way, Babymetal definitely has a very different sound that'll at least draw in a lot of attention! I wish the group all the best in spreading idol and metal all over the world.