An Early Snow for Kikkawa Yuu

I was actually very surprised to see there was a PV for the B-side of Kikka's 3rd single! I loved the A-side so naturally I was anticipating the B-side would be just as kickass as the ones on her past 2 singles. And in all honesty, I as very surprised at my initial reaction to this. It's a bit strange the way I feel about this song: I really don't care for the opening verses but once she gets to the chorus everything from that point on is really amazing. But I'll start with what I didn't enjoy so much. My problem with the opening lines is that it sounds like she's reverting back to the cutesy, nasally voiced she relied on a lot for Hapirapi ~Sunrise~ (one of the many reasons why I don't like that song) and I'd probably be more okay with it if it wasn't the opening. I think when you're opening a song you really have to deliver a punch or you'll lose your audience. Really Kikka doesn't sound that bad but she sounds light years better once the first chorus is done. The chorus is what really got me interested in this song and once I'd finished listening to the song, it's my favorite part!

I wouldn't say the song is a ballad, because it's got very upbeat undertones (contradictory as that sounds) and Kikka sounds lovely (except for the first part). If I had to compare it to anything, I'd say it sounds a lot like Winter Magic by KARA. The theme, the jingle bells, the tone, but overall I still really enjoy this song as a B-side and am very surprised and happy Kikka has a PV to go with it!

Speakng of which, let's talk about that PV!

♪Kikka the Red Nosed Idol had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it you would even say it glowed!♫

There's a happy Kikka! I always love how happy she looks in PVs

One problem with this PV is the profound lack of snow throughout the whole thing. If the song is called Early Snow shouldn't it come a bit earlier!?

I think the nature scenes are pretty. Even though I'm not sure what Kikka expects to find on that plant.

I do like the outdoor shots and how the camera looks.

It gives the PV a very "Macaroni" feel!

I feel like Kikka knows she's being ripped off because there's no snow in the PV.

I wanna be with you tonight...

I adore this chorus. I also like the way the camera doesn't switch to all these shots and focuses in one area for a while.

Kikka, I don't think your smile will light up a candle...

♪All of the MM members used to laugh and call her names
They never let poor Kikka join in Morning Musume!♫

Rolling in pillows? Pointless, but fun!

Another Macaroni shot. I like the blurred lighting surrounding the frame!

What are you looking at?

I just had a horrible thought. What if she accidentally dropped one of the lit candles!?

BWAH! No! That's not safe Kikka!

FINALLY! Snow! It took them 3:38 min to get some in there!

♪Then one foggy Christmas Eve Tsunku came to say
"Kikka with your voice so nice won't you be a soloist?"♫

♪Then all of MM loved her and they shouted out with glee
Kikka the Red Nosed Idol will go down history!♫

For a B-side, it's pretty nice PV and it matches the song well. The shots are very tastefully done and the setting is also very calm and muted. I like how everything sort of blends in with each other including the snow. Kikka herself seems subdued in this PV and holding back her energy which is both good and bad. She does manage to get some hilarious facials into the PV but overall keeps things toned down. To me, the PV seems like a dream. I feel like the whole thing plays out as a dream Kikka's having where she dreams of it finally snowing! Other than the very small snow plotline, there isn't much of a plot to this PV. And to be honest, I wish they'd taken that "waiting for snow" concept a little bit further. My biggest nitpick with the PV is how there isn't much going on. With KWdY there were a lot of different shots and it was paced well with the song. For Early Snow, I think the PV goes just a bit too slowly and makes the song seem longer than it really is. However, once again for a B-side I'm very impressed a the effort put in from both the producers and Kikka the Red Nosed Idol!

Multiple Kikkas + Sock Puppets = Amazing

When I first starting getting into idol music, I didn't know a lot about Kikkawa Yuu. Well, I did know she got fantastically shafted in Momosu's 8th Generation auditions (which may have been for the better considering how that generation turned out) and she was in a group with Koharu and her voice was fantastically underused! Then this year she got out of Hello Pro Eggs and H!P because they were still underusing her and moved to Universal Music Japan and put her good voice to use! I really do think the move was smart for Kikka, considering she's Mano Erina's age. However, none of her singles have impressed me. I mean, the B-sides are amazing but you're promoting the A-side! Shouldn't it hold up as well as the other songs? Well, none of Kikka's really did for me...

Until now.

After getting preview after preview of Konna Watashi de Yokattara, her third single, I'm finding myself loving it more and more with each listen. To me, it's a happy, fun song done right. It doesn't sound generic and I can tell Kikka's put a lot of her energy and charisma into it. Did I mention she sounds great? Don't get me wrong, she did for her past single but I think because I enjoy this song so much she sounds even better to me! One of the best things about this song is that there's so much going on in it; it starts off very simple with some piano music and some singing/rapping from Kikka but as the song progresses it just keeps building up the energy. It gets to the point where there is so much going on in the song but it never seems like it's being overdone; each addition to it (background vocals, echoes, more music) seems deliberate and I think that's partially because of how well Kikka delivers the song. She has a lot of charisma, an amazing voice, and a really good stage presence and I feel like that was really put to use for this single! In fact, I'd venture to call it her best one yet! Maybe her next one will even top it!

But that's not the main subject at hand. Finally the full PV was released and I was... intrigued. So let's move on to that!

I like these pictures; it's a cute way to open the song!



I was a little thrown off when I heard the first part but it grew on me! Kikka sounds amazing!

I hate to admit it but this set is kind of cheap. Why is she dancing amongst bathroom stalls again? Is it a shout out to The Peace?

I love the hand motions she makes in this. Maybe I'll learn them someday...

See? Adorable!

Oh hi new set! You look a little less cheap than the other one!

I will say the moving Kikka is used pretty neatly. I like how she moves with the beat.

WHOA! Either I have finally lost it or Kikka has cloned herself!

I love this move, even if it's been used thousands of times by other idols.

This move makes me think of rainbows and flowers. Not sure why...

Oh hi new set! I seriously thought this was a green screen at first >.<

Puppets? Okay, I'll go with that...

It brings me back to Goodbye Happiness... and Hikki... why did she have to go on hiatus!? Sorry, back on subject...

Why am I getting Charlotte's Web flashbacks?

I do wish Kikka would smile in this part but I guess she's trying to put more focus on the puppets.

There's that smile!

Oh hey, that isn't a green screen! I feel stupid now...

I feel like I should give these two puppets names... Kikka's lack of a smile is starting to creep me out. It's like Watanabe Mayu in reverse!

Yay! More cute hand motions!!

The more I look at this effect, the more I like it. I wonder if they'll take it even farther...

I love the faces in this shot; she looks like she just ate a lemon!

AGH! Smile already!!! You're scaring me!

BWAH!!! You scare me too!

Awww~ I love this bridge in the song

This key change is done really well.

Mr. Alligator is laying down the LAW!

So if I cut the arm off one Kikka does another Kikka grow back in its place?

This shot really bothers me. You just had to throw in something for the guys, didn't you?

With my personal clone army I shall use it to get revenge on Aika!!! MWAHAHAHA!!!

Adorable~

Take THAT Aika!!!

And there you have it! A entertaining PV for an even more entertaining song! I'll admit, I do wish they had done more with the PV in terms of stuff... I felt like it was lacking something. I'm just not sure what! It also felt like the two scenes in the PV (the puppets and the multiple Kikkas) didn't really go together and they just threw that in to do something with the PV. However, I do like the effects they used and Kikka is what makes this song so fun and she really adds a lot to the music video. Honestly, my philosophy with soloists is I'd rather have an interesting, talented, and really fun idol with a cheap PV than a really boring idol with no personality get an expensive PV (*cough* Manoeri). So yes, the PV is cheap and parts of it seem forced and awkward but Kikka shines just as brightly and the song is really good. I'd give it a listen!