3363 replies to this topic

[honeyharunanfan]

It’s just sad... But I wish them all the best.

[jigenbakuda]

I  was really annoyed by the news, so I wrote a blog article commemorating the grand descision to disband. I picked one of their most important songs to me. Anyways, if you want to read it on the blog, you can do so here. Otherwise you can read it in the spoiler.

 

『書いては消しての “I Love You”』

 

Spoiler

So first off, I am not a big Country Girls fan. I have nothing against them, I just was never a big fan of their music. But there is a logical reason for this. I entered the fandom around 2013, then in 2014 I went to law school, so, naturally I feel off a bit with my Idol Loving ways. Before Law School, Berryz was still a group, after I left law school (2017) Both Berryz and C-ute had disbanded... So I heard Momochi was in a new group. I listened to some of the songs and was not impressed. Fast forward to the first suspension of country girls after Momochi graduates and they split the girls up.

This sets the stage for how I begin to learn about the individual girls in Country Girls. I learned of chii-chan when she got added to Morning Musume, I learned of Funnaki when she was added to Angerme, I learned of Yanamin when she was added to Juice=Juice, I learned of Yammaki by Sayu commenting on her audition video. So I met these girls at the end of ther tenure. However, they all really affected me deeply after learning of their struggles. Anyways, I  saw their charms too late. In fact, it was an article on wota in translation that alerted me to their charm, a wota mentioned Peanut Butter Jelly Love, and it showed me the way to their charm.

But now we come to the recent news of Country girls disbanding and most graduating. It is a travesty. Even as a non-wota for the group I realize that this break-up was wrong. They could of handled that better and why mess around with the girls and the fans. If you did not want them, you should have just disbanded the group after Momochi left, don't just let them flounder ad slowly asphyxiate.  They deserved better. If they are publicly saying how they strongly felt for the group and each other in their blogs, just imagine what they told management privately. If it was about money, why not just reduce the budget? The biggest slap in the face is the starting of a new group.

I do have negative feeling about chii-chan not graduating with the rest of Country Girls, but its her choice. However if the Country Girls Reboot has her as the leader I will definitely view it even more negatively. But I do understand her enjoying her spot in Morning Musume.

Anyways all that drivel above this can be summed up with, "Country Girls deserved better."


So on to my honorary song review to celebrate Country Girls. The song that I associate with them because it was BGM on Hello Stage.


Lyrics and Composition: Maeyamada Kenichi (Hyadain)
Arrangement: Suzuki Tomoki

Now this is the first song I have reviewed by Hyadain. I was a fan of his before H!P. I remember watching and covering his videos on Nico Nico Douga. The one that left the strongest impression with me was the Final Fantasy IV song,"Four Fiends of the Elements" (FF 4で、ゴルベーザ四天王登場！). I am a gamer and VGM remixes got me through my young adulthood. So I am very happy to be able to talk about his musical ideas.

This song was used as the intro music for Hello! Project Station from August 2018 to March 2019 until the episodic format was dropped in favor of short videos.

So about the charms of Country Girls. If Morning Musume is Cool, then Country Girls, as expected of a group led by Momochi, is sugary sweet kawaii idols. Like textbook idol. There were groups like S/milage that was Ero-kawaii, but Country Girls was just fluffy cotton candy and ribbons cute, like kawaii-culture cute. Their song lyrics and sonic profiles matched that aesthetic. So most of Country Girls sounds sounded.... cute. This song is no exception. Bouncy Bass lines, Tubular bells, and tambourines, just a very cutesy sound.

The lyrics are FANTASTIC! They are a huge selling point for the song, great cutesy protagonist who lacks confidence. Standard 3rd cutest girl in the class viewpoint. Its great.

The protagonist says things like its too old school to write a letter, but there is no way I can tell my love interest to their face that I like them... So there is no option... but I keep ripping up the letter, it takes me forever to write anything. Man this is gold! Too shy to talk in class, so looks like I have to write a letter after all. A tender, cute, and frantic, Hatsu Koi song, we really are spoiled as H!P fans...


Anyways, I am using this song review to voice my frustrations with the direction the management is taking with this group. Country Girls deserved better...

 

[Aeria]

I updated the first post with everything that will happen in December. I'm still sort of numb to what's happening, but I hope they won't revive them in the future.

[洋hiromi水]

Country girls was such a lovable group from the very beginning. The whole Momochi-thing, even though I was suspicious at first, turned out to be good as the girls really learned a lot from her. Makes me think whether it would be good to have a senpai/OG for every group, maybe not as active, but definitely to share their wisdom.  

 

Every one of the girls had character and was good at talking, something many H!P idols lack at the moment. They knew exactly how to act as a group too, how to keep things interesting. That was my only positive thought when the girls got divided into other groups - I was hoping they'd push that trait in those other groups as well.

 

Even when their activities were very limited it was always a joy to watch their performances... I'm quite heartbroken about this too. 

 

And PLEASE don't revive CG with completely new girls. I'm usually all in for adding new members, but this way it just wouldn't feel right. They should have done that a year ago for the new members to be able to pass CG on. 

[kittykoo5]

It was odd that they revived it in the first place instead of creating a new group. They shouldn't revive it again, even if they want to make a new group or a Hokkaido specific group, it doesn't need to be another CG. It's not like it's a well know name and they weren't particularly known by the public so I don't see the point in reviving it at all.

[Greyface]

^
Satoda Mai, after a decade of carrying the name on her own, wanted the name to continue. AFAIK it was part of her retirement negotiations with the agency.

[Recognizer]

Eh, Country Girls News?

[Yuachii]

Starting a new segment for a group that's disbanding in less than a month? Sounds like as close to a guarantee as we can get that they're planning to revive it again lol

[midnightbottle]

I am sure that's just a one-off parody to promote the album.

[Recognizer]

^ Oh, that makes sense (shouldn't have had my hopes up)

[rcb2418]

In my opinion, what a nice way to say goodbye. We get to see the things they are doing and how they are preparing for their graduation.

[Nayok-Kihara]

In case more people may be likely to see this here rather than the "tiny tiny" thread.

 

Ice Cream & My Jiggly did a long summary the recent episode ft. Yamaki & OZeki in a twitter thread. They talk about the upcoming graduations, among other things.

https://twitter.com/...197061373349889

 

[hallowen]

anyone here have link or will stream CG last concert

[Yuriko Akiba]

Country Girls Last Concert - Setlist

01. Itooshikutte Gomen ne
02. Wakatte Iru no ni Gomen ne
03. Kaite wa Keshite no “I Love You”
04. Peanut Butter Jelly Love
05. Shining Itoshiki Anata
06. BYE BYE Saigo no Yoru
07. Natsuiro no Palette
08. Koi ga Suteki na Kisetsu
09. Iroppoi Onna ~ SEXY BABY ~
10. Boogie Woogie LOVE
11. Good Boy Bad Girl
12. Matenai After Five
13. Senpai ~ LOVE AGAIN ~
14. Kasa wo Sasu Senpai
15. Koi wa Magnet
16. Koi Dorobô
17. Mousou Rehearsal
18. Rhythm ga Yondeiru zo!
19. Uwaki na Honey Pie (2015 Country Girls ver. )
ENCORE
20. Zutto Zutto
21. Kimama na Kataomoi
22. Idol Sotsugyou Chuui Jikou
23. Viva!! Barairo no Jinsei

https://www.oricon.c...impression=true

[midnightbottle]

https://www.bilibili...ideo/av80765194

This is the recorded livestream.

 

Edit:

There goes my current favourite H!P group. It was definitely a great last concert although I would have loved them to perform all the singles considering this is the last chance.

 

I am sure the girls know that Country Girls is where they feel most at home.

The concurrency was a grave mistake and I am very sure it has done a huge part in accelerating the graduation for Yanamin and the eventual disbandment of Country Girls.

I hope all of them Uta, Momoko, Yanamin, Risa, Mai & Musubu (once she has graduated from H!P/Angerme) will continue to shine in their future endeavors and Manaka & Chisaki will continue to enjoy their activities as members of J=J and MM.

I hope they will keep the Country Girls' music catalogue in hiatus for a while because I don't think anyone can do justice to the songs.

 

Thanks for the 5 years! It has been a memorable experience.

[midnightbottle]

Apparently Satoda Mai and Momoko attended the concert. I wonder if Yanamin or Uta attended too.

 

EDIT:

So Mai is now with Up Front Promotion, she is listed as an artist in the "Artist" page.

http://www.up-front-...n.co.jp/artist/

 

So we can be sure to see more of her in the future.

[GBA]

Country Girls Live 2019 ~Itooshikutte Gomen ne~ (2019-12-26 - LINE CUBE SHIBUYA)
Part 1: https://www.dailymot...m/video/x7pqe4k
Part 2: https://www.dailymot...m/video/x7pqe4m
Part 3: https://www.dailymot...m/video/x7pqe4l

[celestia414]

Only a few days left to vote for your favorite Country Girls songs in the H!p song of the year fan poll! Link to vote is in my signature

[GBA]

Hello! Project 2019 SUMMER 「beautiful」 DISC 1
Part 1: https://www.dailymot...m/video/x7q113i
Part 2: https://www.dailymot...m/video/x7q113j

Hello! Project 2019 Summer 「Harmony」 DISC 2
Part 1: https://www.dailymot...m/video/x7pymgd
Part 2: https://www.dailymot...m/video/x7pymge
Part 3: https://www.dailymot...m/video/x7pymgf

[Nayok-Kihara]

Skoban on twitter has an ongoing thread of summaries/translations from the February 2020 issue of Up to Boy magainze, including Country Girls final UTB interview before ceasing activity.

https://twitter.com/...564458928791557