Okies, so it's official. Happy! Style's a new unit, not a clothing line. Still, the idea did have merit, no?



Anyways, they'll be performing live performances of famous idol and anime songs...kinda like a cover group, I guess. Their first one will be on May 6th, called Happy! Style Communication Circuit.



The members:
Noto Arisa (group leader) from Hello! Pro Egg
Abe Asami (no relation to Abe Natsumi), Nakayama Nana, Iwashima Manami and Suma Ai from Hello! Pro Kansai
Aoi and Yui, the 2 rookie trainees

No clue whether they'll be part of H!P. Still, it's a pretty good start for these young talents, especially for newcomers Aoi and Yui.

Source: Official Site

This is REALLY starting to get on my nerves. First they show a bunch of a silhouettes, then they start adding faces to them, then they added yet MORE silhouettes and faces. Now there's 6 of them and we still don't know who they are for sure or what this whole Happy! Style thing is about. Grrr....~_~

The popular speculation is that they're H!P Eggs. Hm...maybe..

But the way they're slowly introducing the silhouettes and faces though, makes it look almost as though they're a new unit, rather than a new clothing line.

Meh, guess we'll just have to wait and see. ^^;

Guess what. Gocchin's blog is back up, updating us once again on what's really going on in her life. About goddamn time too. I was starting to wonder whether you were gonna get back into showbiz, Gocchin. We all missed ya!

So she apologizes for all the inconvenience, including the case with her brother back then. And it seems she's still determined to work hard towards her dream. Which is a good thing. Only, it's still not clear which recording label she's planning to sign up with. For obvious reasons, she can't possibly go back to H!P. Well whatever it is, I hope she'll make the right choice that'll allow her to pursue her career and dreams as she had envisioned. Ganbare, Gocchin!

Hm, but what's she doing in LA anyway? She hasn't really let up why in her blog. So far, she's been having dance and vocal lessons in addition to just having fun in LA. Sounds like she's having a good time, heh.

Well at least now, we can put an end to the speculation of her future with this blog of hers. A comeback is definitely in the works. Only question is when and how. I suggest keeping a close eye out on her blog updates. I know I will.

Gold Goddess Gocchin Goodness!

For full translation of Gocchin's blog entries: Hello!Online

Amethyst-chan crashing in with something mysterious afoot at UP-FRONT STYLE.



Naturally, we'd assume it's something to do with Hello! Project...but the question remains...WHAT IS IT?????

The popular theory: a new clothing line - If that is who I think it is in the blue picture (Reina =D), then this would be a kick-ass idea! If there's one thing I like about Reina in particular, it's her sense of style.~<3

But then looking at the company profile, UP-FRONT STYLE seems to be involved in stuff like:
-artists, talent, voice actors in the development, management and promote business and casting
-music, video production and sale of software project
-cartoons, movies such as production, sales
-Live, concerts, and events, planning and production
-other business overall production

So maybe a new unit/sub-unit? I don't think so. Not with Milky Way and Manoeri graduating soon.

And then there's this older image...



What's the deal with 'SAVE THE IDOL POPS' anyway???? If it were a clothing line, yeah that's a real snazzy tagline. Save the idol pops, buy our clothes!! XDXD

Okay, so my other theories:
1. Movie!! Save the Idol Pops does sound more fitting for a movie, or at least a TV series anyway, yes?^^
2. Reality TV show. This is taking the Save the Idol Pops thing literally. Maybe it's gonna be a reality TV show ala _______ Idol, where viewers get to vote the girls off the show. I can imagine it being a hit with whatever wota fans left in Japan...

But then, going back to the 'Enjoy your Happy "Live" Style!!!'. That sounds more like a clothing line, and actually I think so too. But I think my other theories are pretty fun if they were true, don't you agree? ^^

Sources:
JpopMusic Forums
Happy-Style-
UP-FRONT STYLE

False alarm, people! Sorry! But really, when you look at her in the picture, doesn't she remind you of a younger Gocchin? XD The resemblance sure struck me when I first looked up the latest H!P sensation that is Mano Erina.

Obligatory Profile Thingy
Name: Mano Erina (真野恵里菜)
Nickname: Manoeri (まのえり)
Birth date: 11/4/1991
Birthplace: Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Blood Type: B
Hello! Project Groups: Hello! Pro Egg (2006–2008)
Ongaku Gatas (2007–2008)
Concert Units: Elder Club (2008–)
Other: Gatas Brilhantes H.P. (2007–)

She recently graduated from Ongaku Gatas on 2/3/2008 and will graduate from Hello! Pro Eggs on the 29th this month - my birthday! ...what? Imaginary friends can't have birthdays now? Well hmph.XP Anyways, back to Manoeri...

Okie, so I'll admit I'm taken in by the fact she reminds me so much of Gocchin lol.^^; I hope she sounds just as good. Never actually listened to any Ongaku Gatas songs before, so just now I gave Yatterezou a try. Pretty cool song actually ~! But Manoeri's lines didn't really impress me all THAT much. =(

I kinda doubt Tsunku would risk taking a H!P Egg member and train her to be a soloist unless he knew what he was doing. Then again, maybe he's banking on the fact she actually resembles Gocchin? I knew it! Tsunku misses Gocchin just as much as we do! XD Well in my opinion, you can't replace Gocchin!

Then again, I only listened to ONE song where Manoeri only had like what...2-3 lines? So I'm not really one to judge. Maybe with some training, she can make it. Well, we'll see in times to come I guess.

For now, all we can do is check her out in action in past Ongaku Gatas releases and this lovely collection of high-res pics. I've already went through them and saved a few faves, so I'll just be checking out the Ongaku Gatas stuff now.^^

Amethyst crashing out!

Oh, and Manoeri has a message for you...



=D

Well, in her excitement over Gocchin I guess Amethyst didn't notice this and since I can't edit her post...

Jyongri's been nominated under the Best Newcomer category. From the results of the poll so far though, she's not getting much love...

But really, I think she deserves the award. Just check her PVs, Possession and the upcoming Kissing Me, and I dare you to tell me I'm wrong! She's just way awesome.

So c'mon people, vote for JYONGRI!

Hweeeeel, Gocchin's been nominated for the Most Photogenic Artiste in the Yahoo!Music Awards 2007! XDXD

ALL YOU FANS OUT THERE, MAKE SURE YOU VOTE FOR HER NOWWWWWW!

Vote for Gocchin!!!

Remember, voting ends on February 18. SO VOTE NOW!!!

To quote Rift, 'Gold Goddess Gocchin Goodness!' ~<3

Credits to Cassandra at Hello!Online for bringing it to my attention.^^

Right on the heels of Morning Musume's single delay comes the unexpected announcement that Viyuuden will be disbanded.

Yeah I know...say WHAT!? O_O As if we hadn't enough bad news already.

I haven't really been keeping up with them other than a few songs now and then, but I'm sure gonna miss them.;_; I still remember my first time seeing them in action, when Rift got hold of the Hello! Project concert with Goto Maki as the captain kouen. Issai Gassai Anata ni Ageru ~<3

It's official. Tsunku's gone nuts.

Rika will still be in Ongaku Gataas, but as for Erika and Yui...who knows?

They'll have their last concert tour then disband in June.

I wonder if they'll release one last Best Hits album or something...

Source: Hello! Project Official Site

Oooookay! So this thing is held every year to award some of the best music videos in the Japanese media industry.=D

Ayumi, YUI and Hikki have gotten their music vids nominated.

Pop

Title: My Generation
Artiste: YUI
Watch it!

CG/Animation

Title: Kiss and Cry
Artiste: Utada Hikaru
Watch it!

Art Direction

Title: Part of Me
Artiste: Ayumi Hamasaki
Watch it!

The awards will be handed out on 15/3/2008(Saturday).

For more details on who's being nominated, visit SPACE SHOWER Music Video Award's website!

February 16, 2008 (Saturday)
Location: Shibuya DUO Music Exchange
Time: 17:00-18:00

Whooooo, Nana's bday is coming up!=D She's gonna turn 33 this year. Still alive and kickin'!

Source: Nanase Aikawa Official Web Site

In The Korea Times, there are some articles on suggestions to President-elect Lee Myung-bak. Part of it mentions the Wonder Girls. XD

"The world is changing apace, and yesterday’s technologies and products are “old” in consumers’ eyes. With such breathtaking changes to the digital culture, a moment of neglect can crumble efforts in the IT industry. I strongly advocate the importance of using information and communication technologies and the existing infrastructure to leap into the developed world.

The Korean pop song “Tell Me” by the Wonder Girls is sung everywhere in Korea today. I hope that the new government and the President-elect will promote Korea the Digital Wonderland around the world, so that they can tell the next generation of their great achievements."

Digital Wonderland...sounds like fun!^^

Source: The Korea Times