Muni

This ISN'T a rock song, though. This is a pop song with a teensy hint of rock. Reina could sing like this in every single song if she wanted to. She chooses not to. The type of song has nothing to do with it.

You're not... completely right
The one who gets to choose how Reina should sing isn't really herself. It's Tsunku. He produces, he asks if he wants a lower tone or a higher one. Just notice that when Miki left the group, Reina suddenly started to sing in lower tones... That's because probaly Tsunku asked her to fill up Miki's shoes. Before that, she worked as a higher counterpart to the strong and low voices of Miki and Ai.

In Uta no Rakuen Reina DID get to choose how she would sing and there's where we see Reina at her best, vocally speaking.

I might be late but, even though I'm not following Morning Musume as I used to, I didn't forget Reina's birthday. Somehow I got really emotional since Reina is my favourite member since she joined (just like aussie, I got into MM because of Maki but then Reina came in and she's the reason I've been following MM for all these years). It's funny to think about Reina's tragetory. Some people say she didn't change a bit. For me, she changed a lot. When she first joined, she was a very reserved, a bit shy but with lot of will to show the world her talent. But now she's full of confidence, talkative, responsable and professional. She had a lot of phases but, to me, she's now at her best. She's more mature, her peforming got sharper and she got more open. She came a long way to the top, but now she's the front girl of Morning Musume and she deserves it. It's so obvious to me (and somehow, it hurts when some fans doesn't get it) that she loves what she does. I love how Reina respects herself, her character and her own way of doing things. Not only her singing is great, but her personality is remarkeble and she always manage to surprise us somehow. We always expect to see the yankii Reina, who talks about whatever that comes to her mind... But seeing EriJunLin's graduation concert, and how she got really emotional in it, we got to see her real her. Or in Aichan's graduation tour when Aika was unable to peform and Reina just manage to include her in that event by bringing an Aika's T-shirt to stage.
Thinking about all those years I've been following Reina's tragetory, and how she manage to continue as my number one girl, makes me really want to keep rooting for her. I'm anxious to see how much she'll keep growning and how she'll develop even more.

Happy 22th Anniversary Reina

^ One of the biggest reasons I miss Eri. She was the only one immune to Reina's 'yankiiness' and could boss her around, and the only one Reina bothered to shut up and listen to I hope they continue to maintain their friendship, not just one of those sugary graduation comments they make to each other I know with how close Sayu and Eri had been they would continue to see each other and such, but with Reina it seems like this cannot be guaranteed.

Sorry for bringing this subject back, but I'm hoping for that too. Reina is somehow very on her own, and she doesn't seem to hang out with other members, but it's very clear that she treasures her fellow rokkies, therefore, I belive that Reina and Eri might keep in touch, even if they not hang out that much because, honestly, Reina isn't the kind of girl that will call the others one to go on a date, she seems just to wait to be called.
But what concerns me more is her friendship with JunJun. Those two were even closer then we expected, and this became so clear during Jun's graduation. Reina's crying was heartbreaker... But now JunJun is China and this make things complicated. I'll miss JunRei a lot....

Am I the only one seeing some similarities between Reina and the new cookie member Riho?
I mean, not physically. But somehow, during the auditions, I though that Riho had a lot of 'Reina' in her. I remember Reina's audition and both Riho and Reina were very confident during this process. Also, they were all talented and I remember that everyone felt in love instantly with Reina because she had everything to be a good idol, just like most people feel about Riho now.
Other point is that both really wanted to be in MM. Reina tryed to get in during 5th gen auditions and Riho auditioned to Fashionable and won
And, last but not least, Riho alredy said she wants to be MM's leader, just like Reina

Anyway, I think those similarites made me like Riho a lot because, of course, I completely love Reina.

I'm not sure if this is really a good thing. It's too soon and I don't think this is a good move to make.
10 My Me was just realeased, they are realising a single near to this date, there's the S/mileage's, Mano Erina's and Ayaya's album. The wotas won't have budget to all that.
This album can be great, like 10 My Me was (imo, 10 My Me was the best MM album since 4th Ikkimashou!) but I'm really worried about the sales. Really. really. Not a good move.