43 replies to this topic

[Shinji]

I really like this one, it could easily have been an anime OP but I guess it would have already been announced if that were the case.

[midnightbottle]

I am surprised that Arashi no Number is out on Spotify since 2 Oct:

https://open.spotify...45db2565bc943b5

 

Not sure about the rest of the digital platforms. Quite a sneaky release?

[Kimagure Princess]

I really like the second A side! The song, outfit, pv, all of it. The first A side was just ok for me.

[Zoe]

I am surprised that Arashi no Number is out on Spotify since 2 Oct:
https://open.spotify...45db2565bc943b5
 
Not sure about the rest of the digital platforms. Quite a sneaky release?

They announced the release of both songs on all the usual platforms back on October 1st.

[midnightbottle]

 

I am surprised that Arashi no Number is out on Spotify since 2 Oct:
https://open.spotify...45db2565bc943b5
 
Not sure about the rest of the digital platforms. Quite a sneaky release?

They announced the release of both songs on all the usual platforms back on October 1st.

 

 

I see. Just saw the announcement on JPRoom that "Arashi no Number" will get an early release.

The rest of the songs will see a release on 6 Nov on the usual digital streaming platforms, which is earlier than the physical release. Interesting.

I recall previously they will release the songs on streaming platform one week after the official physical/downloads release.

[Touki]

Kachou Fuugetsu Shunkashuutou

This one though!
Solid single this time around, and love her low voice, this one definitely has anime song vibes.

 

I wish current MM songs are at least 50% as catchy as this song 

[Shinji]

I can't find the CD to preorder on any of the usual sites, like CDJapan or Yesasia

[midnightbottle]

Is Maa-chan in danger of fizzling out? Why is her 2nd solo single's sales seem to be under-performing so far when compared to the recent solo releases.

 

Oricon

Day 1: #3 (7,282)

Day 2: #2 (1,616)

 

Billboard Japan

First 3-day single sales report (11/4~11/6) - #4 (9,043)

 

For comparison (Billboard Japan First 3-day single sales)

- Masaki's debut Single: 13,957

- Risa's 2nd Single: 12,302

- Manaka's debut single: 28,234

- Mai's debut single: 14,177

- Karin's 3rd single: Unknown as she didn't rank in top 5.

[Kumi-chan]

Yeah, I was surprised too. I don't know if it's because there was less promotion, or because the songs were less well-received. 

Also, Maa had to wait more than a year before being added to M-line Tour and few more months for her second single. They killed her momentum.

[Touki]

Yeah, I was surprised too. I don't know if it's because there was less promotion, or because the songs were less well-received. 

 

Well, it can be both. However, I think there's another problem: UFP has tried their best not to let Maachan outshine current MM. When I watch current MM performances, I am like "Ouch, that's boring", and I see something difference in Maachan's performance even if the song is not that great.

[Mr. Take It Easy]

 

Yeah, I was surprised too. I don't know if it's because there was less promotion, or because the songs were less well-received. 

 

Well, it can be both. However, I think there's another problem: UFP has tried their best not to let Maachan outshine current MM. When I watch current MM performances, I am like "Ouch, that's boring", and I see something difference in Maachan's performance even if the song is not that great.

 

Strongly disagree. Maa-chan just was not all that and now is showing, besides that these songs are literally whatever.

Weak release = weak sales.

 

MM23/24 were/are more than fine. Erina has proven to be a strong leader. The 2 newest gens are VERY strong, there was NO WAY management would think Maa-chan would outshine MM lol.

 

Anyway hopefully she keeps releasing stuff, I like her voice.

[midnightbottle]

Oricon

Day 3: #7

Day 4: #21

Day 5: #1 (2,552) -- Very well done here. At least she can have this #1 daily record under her belt.

 

She has definitely hit 11k (which is expected and a given), but will she be able to do more than her debut single's first week sales (16,165). Seems like she may struggle with that.

[midnightbottle]

Oricon

Day 6: #8

Week 1: #3 (12,851)

Day 7: #14

 

For comparison:

- Masaki's debut Single: 16,165

- Risa's 2nd Single: 10,587

- Manaka's debut single: 20,065

- Mai's debut single: 9,327

- Karin's 3rd single: 20,328

 

Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales

Week 1: #4 (12,618)

 

For comparison:

- Masaki's debut Single: 16,645

- Risa's 2nd Single: 13,341

- Manaka's debut single: 31,059

- Mai's debut single: 16,442

- Karin's 3rd single: 20,179

 

So Masaki didn't outsell her debut as expected. I didn't expect she sold the least out of the recent solo releases for first week's Billboard figures.

 

Do note that Masaki has 7 editions for her debut single and 6 editions for her second single. Karin has 6 editions too for her 3rd single.

Risa, Manaka and Mai got 5 editions for theirs.

 

So Manaka did incredibly well for her debut single.

[Mr. Take It Easy]

No wonder why they brought Manaka back, over and over, girl is an outstanding idol. 

Masaki did great, anything over 10k is more than fine once you’re out of the spotlight. Let’s hope for better music next single.

[Touki]

Well, Manakan always has that idol aura so I'm not surprised. Maa-chan, despite is skill, is still a hit-or-miss and it depends on the songs written for her

 

 

 

Yeah, I was surprised too. I don't know if it's because there was less promotion, or because the songs were less well-received. 

 

Well, it can be both. However, I think there's another problem: UFP has tried their best not to let Maachan outshine current MM. When I watch current MM performances, I am like "Ouch, that's boring", and I see something difference in Maachan's performance even if the song is not that great.

 

Strongly disagree. Maa-chan just was not all that and now is showing, besides that these songs are literally whatever.

Weak release = weak sales.

 

MM23/24 were/are more than fine. Erina has proven to be a strong leader. The 2 newest gens are VERY strong, there was NO WAY management would think Maa-chan would outshine MM lol.

 

Anyway hopefully she keeps releasing stuff, I like her voice.

 

 

Except for Eripon as a strong leader, Ayumin as a strong dancer (soon she will graduate), and Maria/Kitario as visual members, I DON"T see a single MM member who has a strong performing skill enough to bring back MM to glory like at least Colorful Era. Let me remind you that the 2 newest gen members are Sakurai Rio, Inoue Haruka and Yumigeta Ako. They are still quite new so it's hard to judge, but the 15th gen members are weak, except for maybe Kitario.

 

MM fanbase is still based on old Wotas, new fans are not attracted to MM. If you see the Japanese trending: groups like 46's, KawaiiLabs and Takane no nadeshiko are trending. Imagine that a lot of Maa wotas decide not to follow current MM because their performing level is meh. The way to fix that is to give Maa-chan a mediocre single.

[patapataful]

Well at least they finally gave her a 2nd Single After more than a year? Mostly these are a lackbuster for Most Artists. Only a few outsold their 1st. I hope they don't loose faith in Maa-chan and let her release the Next Single sooner!

All the M-line Artist releases are kinda mehhh in comparising to the timespan

[Ducky Mioda]

Except for Eripon as a strong leader, Ayumin as a strong dancer (soon she will graduate), and Maria/Kitario as visual members, I DON"T see a single MM member who has a strong performing skill enough to bring back MM to glory like at least Colorful Era. Let me remind you that the 2 newest gen members are Sakurai Rio, Inoue Haruka and Yumigeta Ako. They are still quite new so it's hard to judge, but the 15th gen members are weak, except for maybe Kitario.

 

MM fanbase is still based on old Wotas, new fans are not attracted to MM. If you see the Japanese trending: groups like 46's, KawaiiLabs and Takane no nadeshiko are trending. Imagine that a lot of Maa wotas decide not to follow current MM because their performing level is meh. The way to fix that is to give Maa-chan a mediocre single.

 

since you mentioned Takane no Nadeshiko would it be safe to mention that one of its members (Hashimoto Momoko) used to be in HelloPro Kenshuusei? I wonder if she would've reached her current levels of popularity had she debuted in HelloPro instead

 

but yeah, if there's gonna be a Momusu member or more with strong performing skills that could bring the group to at least Colorful Era levels of fame in this day and age I feel like UFP should stop using open online auditions and instead either promote HelloPro Kenshuusei trainees to Momusu member status (like Fukuchan and Duu-chan and Panda-san were) or visit different dance academies and contact their best-performing students about the prospect of joining Momusu (for someone with Daaishi-level dancing skills) or visit different local churches and talk to some of the younger girls in their choirs (like those between the ages of 15 and 18) about the same prospect (for someone with Odasaku-level singing skills)... oh and also ik I already suggested a lot of other things that UFP could do about HelloPro on this same forum in the past so

[Touki]

A little bit off-topic: Hashimoto Momoko would never have succeeded in H!P had she decided to stay because there were many prominent KSS at that moment. She's not the top Nadeshiko member, but things would have been worse had she stayed in H!P. Regarding KSS, they are very well-trained, but they usually don't stand out. Also, the approach you mentioned has been done by Tsunku in the past, and that's how people like Ogata Risa, Sasaki Rikako and Kiyono Momohime were recruited. Sadly, none of them stood out because UFP had no clue about how to utilize their talents. I wish there are members like Momomiya Himeri of Nadeshiko, because she's like another Kishimoto Yumeno.

 

Back to Maa-chan's topic: people never thought Maa-chan could become like today when she debuted, except for one person: Tsunku. However, her talents are not utilized by UFP, both when she was a MM member and right now. She shines the best when she can turn the songs into her own, which does not happen here. UFP has wasted talents like Tanaka Reina and Natsuyaki Miyabi, so Maa-chan is not the exception. 

[ulises]

And meanwhile, the woman that can't sing (Chayu) have published six albums and one "greatest hits". The unfathomable ways of UFA are inscrutable. 

[Ducky Mioda]

A little bit off-topic: Hashimoto Momoko would never have succeeded in H!P had she decided to stay because there were many prominent KSS at that moment. She's not the top Nadeshiko member, but things would have been worse had she stayed in H!P. Regarding KSS, they are very well-trained, but they usually don't stand out. Also, the approach you mentioned has been done by Tsunku in the past, and that's how people like Ogata Risa, Sasaki Rikako and Kiyono Momohime were recruited. Sadly, none of them stood out because UFP had no clue about how to utilize their talents. I wish there are members like Momomiya Himeri of Nadeshiko, because she's like another Kishimoto Yumeno.

 

Back to Maa-chan's topic: people never thought Maa-chan could become like today when she debuted, except for one person: Tsunku. However, her talents are not utilized by UFP, both when she was a MM member and right now. She shines the best when she can turn the songs into her own, which does not happen here. UFP has wasted talents like Tanaka Reina and Natsuyaki Miyabi, so Maa-chan is not the exception. 

 

^^ this  sometimes I wonder if UFA talents like Maa-chan should go down Amuro Namie's route (taking up self-production and self-marketing responsibilities like that now-retired singer from Okinawa did starting in 2001 when she left Komuro's company) for better success in showbiz  

 

(also ik Momohime was in other idol groups prior to joining HPK but didn't she join after Tsunku stepped down from general production?)

And meanwhile, the woman that can't sing (Chayu) have published six albums and one "greatest hits". The unfathomable ways of UFA are inscrutable. 

maybe the agency wants to push Chayu's desire to maintain a cute image regardless of age to its maximum potential? idk

 

anyhow speaking of maximizing people's talents I might have to digress somehow from the Momusu OGs for this but afaik Mano Erina got to play whatever piano parts were in her songs live while she was still a HelloPro soloist due to her past experiences learning the piano from her elementary school days which ig was a neat maximization of talents... btw idk if I can consider them the most talented but I got this feeling that Mittsii and Hachi should've both been given at least one solo single on a major label each while they were still under HelloPro bcuz imo they managed to make pretty good singers out of Momochi and Yurina based on what I can tell from the Berryz songs I've listened to (though still not Miyabi or Risako-grade) so