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About time to make up my mind on my current favourite idol ranking list, before I forget.
1. Kago Ai
Well, I must confess that she still has the 1st place only due to her brilliant past. To me she was near to perfect as an artist. I still support her to some degree (What? Really? Didn't you unfollow her twitter recently?), but modern Aibon is.. umm.. how should I put it not to hurt anyone's feelings. It's not about her age or public activity or anything like that.. All of that is perfectly fine and non-questionable as we're all humans and shouldn't expect any miracle. It's about her attitude, I guess. Um.. not sure if this is a good idea to share my thoughts, but.. um... ok...
This is just my very humble opinion, which may be totally wrong. She was definitely spoiled by her crazy popularity. At the time of first smoking scandal she was somewhat fed up with Up-Front agency and H!P activities, so she started to pay more attention to what she wants rather than what other people want from her. When she was kicked out from Up-Front, she holded grudge (probably still holds) about that inappropriate treatment on her. She was one of the most popular H!P members, she put so much efforts to become one and after all of that she was just kicked out. Seeing other members continue their activities made her jealous. I may be wrong, but I think she never appologized properly in some official manner for all the inconvenience she put on agency, staff and other members (not to mention Tsunku, who picked her out of ~25000 audition contenders). Probably that is why she is still an outcast for H!P and for TV-stations (except some occassions) - nobody wants to deal with a person who put himself/herself over others (especially others, who are related somehow). If she would properly appologize to Up-Front, she could get back to music industry way faster and easier. Also, as some Japanese fans noticed, she still acts like a teenager, when she's expected to behave like an adult (using proper speech manners). It's perfectly fine to use tameguchi (informal style of speaking) by being a baka-chara (like Rola, Suzuki Nana or Fujita Nicole), but Aibon isn't that good at acting as baka-chara. Anyhow I hope she will do some breakthrough and get her crazy popularity, like before.
Despite that, I still don't see anyone who can get close to her in terms of charms and cuteness when she was in H!P (in my eyes, of course).
2. Kamei Eri
Basically same reason as for Aibon, except that part where I whine about her current state. Kame-chan was great and here is why. Foxy eyes! Naturally cute baka-chara! Not a single "got slipped" moment (I mean, a moment that I didn't like.. for almost of my favourite idols and artists I have some moments they did something and it made me cringe). I remember I promised to do a certain thing if Yaguchi and Gomaki will come to public (back in 2014), but now the only thing I wish for is public comeback of Kame-chan. Not necessarily to public media, just a personal blog will be enough. Not sure if this will ever happen, but who knows..
3. Ikuta Erika (N46), Hoshino Minami (N46), Kitano Hinako (N46), Ano (You'll Melt More), Pikarin (Shiina Hikari)
Well, Ikuchan was my oshimen in N46, but with time Minami and Kii-chan became able to catch up her. What I like about Erika is her inconsistent character - diligent at some times and surprizing at others. Hoshino is just cute, like a younger sister. Kii-chan is a Loki in disguise, who is yet to reveal her true identity, lol. Ano is quite unique person in idol industry. For the first time I noticed her on that idol tv-show on New Year's night this year and at that time I thought she's funny and I watched some other videos with her, but I didn't pay much attention later until a thread for "You'll melt more" was made. After that I realized she's one worth following. Pikarin is funny, smart, diligent and quite polite. I randomly found her while surfing Youtube videos just a few weeks before (or few months? I don't remember). Unfortunately, there are not so many videos available with her (despite her multiple appearances on different tv-shows). I downloaded her tv-shows from Line Live (720p .ts files), but I'm kinda lazy to share them on torrent tracker, because she is not well known, thus not so many downloads, thus not worth the efforts. I uploaded some episodes to Youtube though.
4. Ruru, Goto Maki, other N46 members (including former members), hy4_4yh
Well, Ruru is still #1 in my vocal ranking top-10. Like with Aibon, I don't see anyone who can get close to her level (not only in H!P, but in Japan Music industry overall.. haha, quite opinionated statement, but it is what it is). Goto Maki didn't have the best career she deserved, but still she was really good at what she had. May Gomaki fans forgive me, but she could have a broader range of music genres to try and become a true artist (like Matsuura), not just "a former idol with a cute face". Nevertheless, she chose her own way and she was good at it (despite declining popularity). I respect and admire her because she was a humble fighter going her way. As for Nogizaka46 members.. well.. I honestly tried to look at AKB48, SKE48 and other extremely popular 48 groups.. also Keyakizaka46.. but.. I'm sorry, but Kame-chan is way cuter. I mean Nogizaka46 girls are more interesting to me. Though I have to admit that last episode of "Keyakitte, kakenai?" was somewhat funny and maybe I became interested in some K46 girls. At this moment I can confirm once again to myself that it's extremely important who are the tv-show hosts. For example, Bananaman duo make jokes on each other (mostly on Himura though, though he's a tsukkomi in duo and Shitara is boke). "Keyakitte, kakenai?" hosts are not that good (probably because they're not comedians, but actors).
[Edit] ps: I forgot about hy4_4yh, lol. At first, I wasn't sure where should I put them, but I guess it's somewhere between 4 and 5, thus making it 4. For some reason it's more enjoyable to see their gags (even with their rap songs which I don't like much.. R'n'B are not that bad and Funkot are the best) than some of MM1-6ki.
5. Rest of MM1-6ki (except some members), Matsuura Aya, Rinne, Satoda Mai
Morning Musume slowly disappears from my attention focus. However, I prefer to watch some MM old videos rather than some modern tv-shows with other unknown to me idol groups. Matsuura Aya is so much talented, both at vocal and acting, it's such a tragedy she is not involved anymore in music industry. Perhaps, she had it enough. But, who knows.. maybe she will come back some time. Rinne didn't become spoiled and she showed her fighting spirit, that's why I love her. Satoda Mai is pretty.
6. Rest of H!P (1998-2006)
You were my "first toys to play with".. I mean first idols I cared about, lol. So, I won't leave you outside my top-10. Yet.
7. Nakazawa Yuko, Ichii Sayaka, Fujimito Miki
Haters gonna hate, but that's how it is. They dropped down low with time (as my understanding of Japanese language and Japanese society got somewhat better).
8. Ohori Megumi, lol
Literally, the only AKB48 member to me that was fun to watch.
9. Rest of major idols
This includes Stardust groups, 48 groups.. Maybe some of current H!P idols (1-2?).
10. Rest of indie idols
I really like what's going on with indie scene in Japan and also on the torrent tracker. Thank you for uploading those groups! I don't download those yet, but I'm really looking forward to it! At some point I will probably get tired of N46 (maybe when most of 1 gen members will graduate) same way I became less interested in MM, so at that time I'll start digging in indie scene.. Too far? Maybe.. maybe.. Well, who knows, maybe it will start earlier. I just need to buy more HDD and have more free time (really? you need more free time? how about less sleeping time?).
1. Kago Ai
Well, I must confess that she still has the 1st place only due to her brilliant past. To me she was near to perfect as an artist. I still support her to some degree (What? Really? Didn't you unfollow her twitter recently?), but modern Aibon is.. umm.. how should I put it not to hurt anyone's feelings. It's not about her age or public activity or anything like that.. All of that is perfectly fine and non-questionable as we're all humans and shouldn't expect any miracle. It's about her attitude, I guess. Um.. not sure if this is a good idea to share my thoughts, but.. um... ok...
This is just my very humble opinion, which may be totally wrong. She was definitely spoiled by her crazy popularity. At the time of first smoking scandal she was somewhat fed up with Up-Front agency and H!P activities, so she started to pay more attention to what she wants rather than what other people want from her. When she was kicked out from Up-Front, she holded grudge (probably still holds) about that inappropriate treatment on her. She was one of the most popular H!P members, she put so much efforts to become one and after all of that she was just kicked out. Seeing other members continue their activities made her jealous. I may be wrong, but I think she never appologized properly in some official manner for all the inconvenience she put on agency, staff and other members (not to mention Tsunku, who picked her out of ~25000 audition contenders). Probably that is why she is still an outcast for H!P and for TV-stations (except some occassions) - nobody wants to deal with a person who put himself/herself over others (especially others, who are related somehow). If she would properly appologize to Up-Front, she could get back to music industry way faster and easier. Also, as some Japanese fans noticed, she still acts like a teenager, when she's expected to behave like an adult (using proper speech manners). It's perfectly fine to use tameguchi (informal style of speaking) by being a baka-chara (like Rola, Suzuki Nana or Fujita Nicole), but Aibon isn't that good at acting as baka-chara. Anyhow I hope she will do some breakthrough and get her crazy popularity, like before.
Despite that, I still don't see anyone who can get close to her in terms of charms and cuteness when she was in H!P (in my eyes, of course).
2. Kamei Eri
Basically same reason as for Aibon, except that part where I whine about her current state. Kame-chan was great and here is why. Foxy eyes! Naturally cute baka-chara! Not a single "got slipped" moment (I mean, a moment that I didn't like.. for almost of my favourite idols and artists I have some moments they did something and it made me cringe). I remember I promised to do a certain thing if Yaguchi and Gomaki will come to public (back in 2014), but now the only thing I wish for is public comeback of Kame-chan. Not necessarily to public media, just a personal blog will be enough. Not sure if this will ever happen, but who knows..
3. Ikuta Erika (N46), Hoshino Minami (N46), Kitano Hinako (N46), Ano (You'll Melt More), Pikarin (Shiina Hikari)
Well, Ikuchan was my oshimen in N46, but with time Minami and Kii-chan became able to catch up her. What I like about Erika is her inconsistent character - diligent at some times and surprizing at others. Hoshino is just cute, like a younger sister. Kii-chan is a Loki in disguise, who is yet to reveal her true identity, lol. Ano is quite unique person in idol industry. For the first time I noticed her on that idol tv-show on New Year's night this year and at that time I thought she's funny and I watched some other videos with her, but I didn't pay much attention later until a thread for "You'll melt more" was made. After that I realized she's one worth following. Pikarin is funny, smart, diligent and quite polite. I randomly found her while surfing Youtube videos just a few weeks before (or few months? I don't remember). Unfortunately, there are not so many videos available with her (despite her multiple appearances on different tv-shows). I downloaded her tv-shows from Line Live (720p .ts files), but I'm kinda lazy to share them on torrent tracker, because she is not well known, thus not so many downloads, thus not worth the efforts. I uploaded some episodes to Youtube though.
4. Ruru, Goto Maki, other N46 members (including former members), hy4_4yh
Well, Ruru is still #1 in my vocal ranking top-10. Like with Aibon, I don't see anyone who can get close to her level (not only in H!P, but in Japan Music industry overall.. haha, quite opinionated statement, but it is what it is). Goto Maki didn't have the best career she deserved, but still she was really good at what she had. May Gomaki fans forgive me, but she could have a broader range of music genres to try and become a true artist (like Matsuura), not just "a former idol with a cute face". Nevertheless, she chose her own way and she was good at it (despite declining popularity). I respect and admire her because she was a humble fighter going her way. As for Nogizaka46 members.. well.. I honestly tried to look at AKB48, SKE48 and other extremely popular 48 groups.. also Keyakizaka46.. but.. I'm sorry, but Kame-chan is way cuter. I mean Nogizaka46 girls are more interesting to me. Though I have to admit that last episode of "Keyakitte, kakenai?" was somewhat funny and maybe I became interested in some K46 girls. At this moment I can confirm once again to myself that it's extremely important who are the tv-show hosts. For example, Bananaman duo make jokes on each other (mostly on Himura though, though he's a tsukkomi in duo and Shitara is boke). "Keyakitte, kakenai?" hosts are not that good (probably because they're not comedians, but actors).
[Edit] ps: I forgot about hy4_4yh, lol. At first, I wasn't sure where should I put them, but I guess it's somewhere between 4 and 5, thus making it 4. For some reason it's more enjoyable to see their gags (even with their rap songs which I don't like much.. R'n'B are not that bad and Funkot are the best) than some of MM1-6ki.
5. Rest of MM1-6ki (except some members), Matsuura Aya, Rinne, Satoda Mai
Morning Musume slowly disappears from my attention focus. However, I prefer to watch some MM old videos rather than some modern tv-shows with other unknown to me idol groups. Matsuura Aya is so much talented, both at vocal and acting, it's such a tragedy she is not involved anymore in music industry. Perhaps, she had it enough. But, who knows.. maybe she will come back some time. Rinne didn't become spoiled and she showed her fighting spirit, that's why I love her. Satoda Mai is pretty.
6. Rest of H!P (1998-2006)
You were my "first toys to play with".. I mean first idols I cared about, lol. So, I won't leave you outside my top-10. Yet.
7. Nakazawa Yuko, Ichii Sayaka, Fujimito Miki
Haters gonna hate, but that's how it is. They dropped down low with time (as my understanding of Japanese language and Japanese society got somewhat better).
8. Ohori Megumi, lol
Literally, the only AKB48 member to me that was fun to watch.
9. Rest of major idols
This includes Stardust groups, 48 groups.. Maybe some of current H!P idols (1-2?).
10. Rest of indie idols
I really like what's going on with indie scene in Japan and also on the torrent tracker. Thank you for uploading those groups! I don't download those yet, but I'm really looking forward to it! At some point I will probably get tired of N46 (maybe when most of 1 gen members will graduate) same way I became less interested in MM, so at that time I'll start digging in indie scene.. Too far? Maybe.. maybe.. Well, who knows, maybe it will start earlier. I just need to buy more HDD and have more free time (really? you need more free time? how about less sleeping time?).
