Just finished watching "Karaoke battle 2nd season" tv-show on TV Tokyo where Kawamura Mahiro appeared (thanks to Nogizaka46 tweet I was notified about that 30 mins before its start).
I won't tell any spoiler, but as I was watching her singing, I remembered about some girl in Nogizaka46 with amazing vocal skills I mentioned in some other thread.. there was a trio where one of the girl was Ikuchan.. It was a corner in "Nogizakatte doko" where Nogizaka46 members were singing hit songs of the past. Ikuchan's vocal skill is obvious.. and I wasn't really impressed with other girls' voices, but that other girl that was singing together with Ikuchan.. I wonder if that was Kawamura..
Poor Kawamura was asked by MC "Why were you chosen only twice on senbatsu when you have such a good voice?" and she answered "That's because I'm not popular in the group". She even shouted jokingly "then I will graduate!", when she was told to become an artist. However it's easy to understand her feelings of some regret - a small shining diamond blocked by glittering rubies, sapphires, topaz and other gemstones of bigger size.
I'm adding some points of popularity to her on my N46 overall ranking list..
And in the N46 vocal ranking list she is solid #2.... and she may get #1 if I'll have a chance to hear some more of her singing.
Ikuchan is really really good..
But still T&C's Ruru is my ultimate #1 female singer.
If Kawamura can get closer to Ruru's level, then she'll get N46 vocal #1 position.
For this kind of things I try to stay unbiased..
ps: I hope she won't gradute soon, but rather get selected in the next senbatsu!
ps2: when I say amazing vocal skill, I mean a vocal skill that hits you beyond expectation.. Not like super-awesome, but really really good one, especially when compared with others.. It's not a big achievement to stand out among ordinary people, but it surely shows a potential..