4513 replies to this topic

[sukibeam]

^ I do miss when the groups had their own themes. MM was was the emo-song group; Berryz was the quirky song group; C-ute was the power ballad group with great harmonies; S/mileage was the cutesy group with short skirts.

 

After Tsunku's productivity dipped and he eventually left due to health concerns, it feels like they just rotate the "good" songs between groups. Most of the groups only put out maybe 1 song every few years I genuinely enjoy and don't simply acclimate to. There is no consistent sound, only "whose turn is it to have the banger this time".

 

I guess I should leave an unpopular opinion so my post is on-topic: Juice=Juice is the only group keeping me following H!P apart from my sunken-cost-fallacy attitude toward MM. I consistently enjoy their releases and think the members are highly entertaining. I could watch their online signing events all day. Juice=Juice is, for me, the best all-around H!P group at the moment. And no, I do not find Tsubaki or Beyo engaging at all the last couple years.

[Satur]

 Probably your idea was easier when Tsunku controlled all the production, even when he wasn't the composer. I always though Juice=Juice was created because him wants a group to give out to his retro compositions.

[Touki]

Even though the departure of Tsunku marked the new era of H!P, the franchise becomes weird after the pandemic. Actually I think at least Tsubaki Factory has a theme, but it is not a cup of tea for H!P fans since TF does not look or sound H!P-ish. J=J is great, but the music was meh during the time Aari was a leader, and I hate the fact that she was featured too much. MM also has a theme, but everything is executed poorly. I think it's better to let Tsunku be in charge of MM, while UFP can focus on other groups.

 

Currently it's hard to define images of each groups, since UFP only focuses on making the groups survive. I mean, J=J's jazzy songs or Tsubaki's sad songs sound nice, but I don't think singles featuring those songs will sell well. Furthermore, current J=J's album songs are so much better than their single's songs, since the manager is OK to take some risks regarding the album.

[Touki]

Oh anyways, I think this is very unpopular, but why does everybody on Tiktok dance to idol songs from Kawaii lab (Cutie Street, Fruit Zipper, Candy Tune), Momoclo, Takane no nadeshiko, Not Equal Love, some 48's, 46's, and the only exceptions are H!P songs? Does it mean that even though UFP tries their best to generate profits from concerts, the status of H!P idols has sunk to the bottom of the idol world? Also, I think that if a Japanese person is asked about H!P, there's a chance of 80% that he/she say he/she does not have any idea what H!P is, or any related terms like MM, Angerme.

[megumibex]

In my experience of telling Japanese people I like MM, they say "huh, so they're still around? What are they up to these days?". I do pretty often hear H!P songs playing on the radio, so they're not completely underground, but they're not in the zeitgeist at all. 

[ulises]

What MM needs is not an Utahime, is entertainers and tarentos, girls who could stand in front of a TV camera/Radio Mic and be funny and interesting.

 

We have to kill the Platinum concepts and return to the Golden spirit. Nobody give a shit about the vocal quality in Idol scene, just we Harowotas are obsessed with that, rest of the people only wanna to have fun with the Idols they follow.

 

I mean, and if they also sing like Tanaka or Aichan, better for all! 

 

 

 

Ps: Don't get me wrong, i'm a crazy Platinum wota. I'm here because of them.

[megumibex]

I somewhat agree, but I think what they really need is strong management. When there's internal strife there should be a system in place to deal with it internally, not the members turning to private social media, or making snide posts on their official blogs. 

 

It seems from what Fuku has said in the past, their current management let the older members run the show, and are severely lacking in experience. The members themselves, even the more mature ones shouldn't be trusted to handle the group atmosphere on their own, they have their own careers to consider to. They need a manager who will consider the needs of the whole group and rein them in when necessary. 

 

Once they have that, part of that managers efforts should be bringing out the members personalities and showcasing them (and adding members who are naturally gifted in this arena), as you said.

[minaeshi]

I don't think either of those two posts above this one could be considered an 'unpopular opinion' as I'm sure most fans (at least internationally) have the same sentiments. 

 

One unpopular opinion i have personally is that, MM as individual members don't have the drive to push themselves into the public eye compared to say Ocha Norma or Tsubaki girls, who I think utilise the avenue's they have a lot more. We can say that its because management don't let them do these things, but at some point i start to wonder if it's because they're simply satisfied with the current state of affairs. I think there are only three members of current MM who fully maximise their growth through their own means - creating their own catchphrase, becoming known for something annoying or cute, doing something consistently like posting makeup or tiktok trends or dances on socials, performs in a slightly different way from the rest to draw attention to them or has their own 'thing' during concerts. I don't need to mention names but I'm sure just based on these examples you can figure out who I think does this best.

[thegabriel]

We have to kill the Platinum concepts and return to the Golden spirit. Nobody give a shit about the vocal quality in Idol scene, just we Harowotas are obsessed with that, rest of the people only wanna to have fun with the Idols they follow.

I remember years ago reading about Japanese 48G fans saying that 25% of AKB48 can't sing, 25% can't dance and 25% can't sing or dance.

At that time they were everywhere, insane handshake events, sold a crap ton of CDs and having concerts at the Tokyo Dome.

[megumibex]

I wish M-line club (or at least the active soloists) could remain a part of h!p and operate like the elder club used to. It would be so fun to have soloists in h!p again, and they could be part of hinafes, or bring back shuffle unit singles including them... 

With h!p as big as it is, I suppose they don't have room, but it would be fun for me.  

[Shinji]

I wish M-line club (or at least the active soloists) could remain a part of h!p and operate like the elder club used to. It would be so fun to have soloists in h!p again, and they could be part of hinafes, or bring back shuffle unit singles including them... 

With h!p as big as it is, I suppose they don't have room, but it would be fun for me.  

I don't know how unpopular this opinion is, but I feel the same way.

[sukibeam]

MM as individual members don't have the drive to push themselves into the public eye

 

I feel that way too. It almost feels like right now there's really no incentive to challenge the status quo. They know they will sell well enough with their established fanbase, and the front singers/dancers are already chosen, so what's the point of trying harder than needed? They won't be force-graduated like Junjun/Linlin, and eventually others will graduate and they'll get a moment to shine.

 

I want to see the members get challenged by management when it comes to promotion. An 'if x, then y' situation. And make the threshold attainable but not a cakewalk.

"If you get X number of cumulative views on tiktok, we'll let you have a solo slot in the next tour."

"If you get X number of new followers on instagram, you get to do a brand deal."

"If we reach X copies sold of the next single, the group gets to pick a fun activities to do."

"If you personally sell X copies of the new single (think like the Ai no Tane demo), you will get to lead the next single."

 

It would encourage them to put their selves out there and create some buzz, even if only a little.

 

If I wanted to be really extreme, I'd say they each have to bring in certain numbers for goods or get graduated - an everyone pulling their own weight sort of scenario - but it could lead to a very cutthroat environment I wouldn't enjoy in H!P.

[thegabriel]

H!PUO:

The KSS is a gold mine, there shouldn't be any reason why the "flagship" group shouldn't be stacked with the best.

Imagine current MM with Yonemura Kirara, Kitahara Momo, Goto Hana, Kawashima Mifu, and Yofu Runo.

[megumibex]

Honestly, I feel like it's due to how all the most popular kss and best songs have been going to other groups for years at this point, but still they can't touch MM in terms of sales. If the recent dip in sales continues, I think we'll see the good KSS going to MM again.