Getting "Glitter Way Down☆"!

A couple days ago both versions of the new Prism☆Box video "Glitter Way Down☆" were uploaded to YouTube in their preview edits.  The new single will arrive on November 26, 2014.  I'm really into this song a lot!  Prism☆Box singles are what I'd listen to if I needed something  to perk me up.

Regular Version:

Dance Master Version:

It's Time For An Idol Renaissance!

In December 2013 Sony Music decided to celebrate their 40th Anniversary by creating an idol group!  They started with twelve candidates.  The name Sony chose for this group was Idol Renaissance.  Is this a revival of old fashioned idol groups?  A brand new start to a new wave of idol groups?  Those are the questions that the group's name brings to mind.  Interviews with the candidates of Idol Renaissance began appearing on YouTube in January 2014.  The official YouTube channel was created in March.  A nine member version of Idol Renaissance made their live debut on May 4, 2014 (although originally it was meant to be ten members until one candidate became ill).  The candidates blog became the group's official blog on May 7.  Idol Renaissance performed at TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2014 and @JAM EXPO 2014 among their other regular live performances.  By this time they had been reduced to their final lineup of seven members.  Idol Renaissance's first single, "17 Sai" ("17 Years Old"), was given a limited release on July 6, 2014, and the official music video debuted on YouTube on the same day.

Now here's the bad news.  All of Idol Renaissance's videos except one are (as far as I know) blocked from all countries outside of Japan.  That two track limited release CD and other merchandise can only be purchased from Rocket Express's website, which I believe requires a Japanese address.  There is some good news, however.  While I have had the official website and blog bookmarked for a few months now, and I been following Idol Renaissance on Twitter for the same length of time, I didn't take notice of their official Facebook page until today.  When I clicked on the Facebook page link I figured I'd find the usual things; i.e, lots of Japanese text that I can't read, photos of the group and links to YouTube videos that I can't watch.  While I did indeed find all of this, I also noticed that pinned to the top of the page was the official music video.  I clicked on the video and to my surprise it actually started to play!  I clicked on the HD which made the picture so much better!  So this video may be blocked on YouTube, but I believe anyone can see the video on Facebook.  And see it you should, as "17 Sai" is a fantastic rocker that is already on my list of the best idol songs of 2014.

Some trivia for you.  Hashimoto Kana is the only member of Idol Renaissance that is actually 17. Momo-oka Koyoi was previously in B Flat, the same Step One Sendai group that Dorothy Little Happy and Party Rockets came from.

The only video on their YouTube channel that overseas fans can watch is an interview with Minamibata Maina.

Members:
Hashimoto Kana - Born on December 5, 1996; Blood Type: B; 152 cm
Arai Noa - Born on January 17, 1999; Blood Type: A; 158 cm
Minamibata Maina - Born on February 21, 2000; Blood Type: O; 150 cm
Higa Nanako - Born on February 26, 2000; Blood Type: A; 152 cm
Ishino Riko - Born on October 29, 2000; Blood Type: A; 155 cm
Miyamoto Marin - Born on April 23, 2001; Blood Type: AB; 155 cm
Momo-oka Koyoi - Born on April 30, 2001; Blood Type: A; 156 cm

Single:
"17 Sai" ("17 Years Old") (July 6, 2014)

Official Website
Official Blog        
Official Twitter
Official Facebook
Official YouTube

JS Idol Spotlight: Pocchimo

Yesterday I mentioned that I was watching some new idol videos including one by a group named Pocchimo.  Pocchimo are what is known as a JS idol group, or elementary school age idol group.   JS idols are not new at all, but there has been a new wave of them lately.  Perhaps many of these groups won't achieve the level of success of an AKB48, but the tide is turning in the idol world and they are poised to become the next big thing.

Pocchimo is a group created by Pony Canyon who made their live debut on May 10, 2014.  All three girls are child models and TV actresses.  The group's blog was created on May 1, and a Twitter account was made on May 11.  The video for Pocchimo's debut single, "JS Datte!! Ima Shika Nai!!", was uploaded in a 360p version to YouTube on July 31, with the CD (and CD + DVD set) being released on August 20.  Also on August 20 the group's website appeared.

The Limited Edition of Pocchimo's single comes with a Region 2 DVD.  If you have a DVD player capable of playing this or VLC Media Player on your computer then you are all set!  The DVD menu screen is in both Japanese and English, with options such as "All Play", "Music Video", "Dance Shot Version" and "Making Of Shooting".  As you can guess, the picture quality of the music video is superior to the video that you can see on YouTube.  The dance shot version is fun as the clothes on the girls changes every so often.  The making of the video is pretty standard, but fun to see the girls be themselves behind-the-scenes.      

Pocchimo's musical style is mid-paced traditional pop.  What I personally like about them is that they are not trying to copy a popular idol group, they don't have an anime tie-in (at least not yet), they aren't an autotune electronica group nor are they a fan-service group.  Pocchimo are simply trying to be a cute pop group that wants to entertain people and have fun.  The girls are young and they act like it too.  No one is trying to be mature and dress up in clothing to make them look older.  This is refreshing to me.

Since I already linked the video for "JS Datte!! Ima Shika Nai!!" in my last post, I'll share some other Pocchimo videos.  The first one is a low quality video of their live debut.

 
Pocchimo dancing videos....

"Attack Hip" (Sorry, I can't embed this.)

"Nanana Gymnastics":

The Making of "Nanana Gymnastics":

Members:
Hata Mei, Leader - Born on April 10, 2002
Ishii Momoka (Momo) - Born on December 19, 2002
Shinta Maki - Born on March 7, 2005

Single:
"JS Datte!! Ima Shika Nai!!" (August 20, 2014)

Official Website
Official Blog
Official Twitter
Official Vine   

Cool New Idol Videos!

I've been neglecting my blog for a month now because I'm busy with promoting idols on Facebook and forums and I'm working on an idol project which I'll reveal hopefully before the year is over.  In the meantime I'll share some of the newest idol videos that I have been watching lately.

CoCo DeCoRu, "Kiss Me Kiss Me" 
I'm unable to embed this video (thanks again, Blogger!), but it was just uploaded today.  The venue-only single was released on June 25, and it included a DVD.  Now those who don't have the ability to buy it can see CoCo DeCoRu's debut video!  The video contains some kind of religious symbolism, and I'm not sure what exactly is going on, but it's possible that some people might be offended.  You have been duly warned.

Candy Zoo, "CWB!!"
The first video from this cute young group was uploaded on August 19.  It features the two new members of the group, Miyu and Mikara, along with Himiko's shorter hair style.  It's also a five minute commercial for Candy A-Go-Go!

 
Pocchimo, "JS Datte!! Ima Shika Nai!!"
This is the debut video from a new group from Pony Canyon.  I haven't written about them yet, but I plan to soon.  Pocchimo are a trio of elementary school girls who are trying to be the leader in a new wave of JS (elementary school age) idol groups.  One Japanese article I came across basically said that older idol groups that have been around for a while are getting stale and it's time for younger groups like Pocchimo to offer something fresh!  That's a subject that surely will get a few opinions from idol fans.

Millennium Girls, "Kyoshitsu Sabaibaru" 

I don't normally go for fan-service type of groups but this song from a new group named Millennium Girls (who were created by the Tokyo branch of a famous American dance studio and taught by an American dance instructor) are really good dancers.  This catchy song was uploaded on July 17, so it's two months old, but I've been watching this and some live versions (in which a different girl gets a solo dance during the song's break) several times lately.  This is another song that won't leave my head!    

I'll be back in a few days with some idol group profiles.  Keep your idol spirit high!
 

MINAMI Graduates From ORI ☆ HIMETAI

I noticed that for the past few months that MINAMI, the only trainee in Michinoku Sendai ORI ☆ HIMETAI, has not been in group photos.  I thought it was due to illness but apparently there were other reasons.  According to the ORI ☆ HIMETAI blog, MINAMI has been taking exams to get into the high school that she wants.  Her chosen school has strict rules about the students being in the entertainment industry, so MINAMI had to think about being in ORI ☆ HIMETAI over.  The final reason that MINAMI has chosen to graduate has to do with her father getting a job transfer, which means her family will be moving far away from Sendai.  It's pretty sad that MINAMI never became a full member of ORI ☆ HIMETAI before she had to leave.  MINAMI is also one of my favorite singers in this group, so I hate to see her graduate.  MINAMI will perform with ORI ☆ HIMETAI for the final time on August 31, 2014.  Farewell, sweet princess, and good luck with school!                

A Quartet Of Q♥Ts!

Recently I have become aware of a group of young idols who are also models named Q♥T.  I have done some digging and have found a little bit of info for this group.  I still don't know everything, but I'll share what I have discovered.

Q♥T debuted sometime in March 2014.  At least their first photo is dated March 15, 2014.  They performed, perhaps for the first time, perhaps not, at an idol event on April 26.  The members in the photo below, left to right, are:

Mio - Born on January 1, 2004
Luna - Born on September 16, 2002
Himari - Born on December 15, 2004

Q♥T's Twitter account was created on May 1, 2014.  They have two Ameba blogs, one created on May 3 and the other created on June 4.  One of their blogs has other idols whose photos appear on it.  On July 10, 2014 Yano Myu was announced as a new member of Q♥T on her blog and on Q♥T's Twitter.  Her last photo with the group was uploaded on July 23 (see below).

On July 29 Myu announced that she was joining usa☆usa Girls Club.  The blog article that announced she was joining Q♥T was deleted.  Myu went to TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2014 with usa☆usa Girls Club, although she did not perform with them.  Instead Myu simply watched the other members perform, shook hands with the fans and signed autographs.  On August 10, 2014 Myu performed at the Ikebukuro Junior Idol Festival where Q♥T also performed separately.

Yano Myu - Born on December 25, 2003

Myu still has not performed with usa☆usa Girls Club, and I haven't found a video of her singing, but I hope this will change soon.  Q♥T have released an indie single with a new one due soon.

Single:
"Happy Happy" (May 1, 2014)

QT Official Blog #1
QT Official Blog #2
QT Official Twitter
Yano Myu Official Blog

"Happy Happy" clip.

MC

A fan video.  

 

Caramel ☆ Ribbon's "First Secret" Video

Caramel ☆ Ribbon's first music video for 2014 and their second studio video was uploaded to T-Palette Record's YouTube channel today.  "First Secret" is the fifth single for this indie idol group and it's another winner!  Most of the video has the girls of Caramel ☆ Ribbon, Fukada Seina, Ueno Amane and Yoshinaka Aoi, dancing in front of a beach.  They also have some fun with sparklers and walk on a bridge.  Nothing innovative, but it's still fun to watch.  

The B-Side to "First Secret" is titled "Nana Iro no Niji no Muko ni", and it's an energetic pop rocker. Here is the live version.   

Caramel ☆ Ribbon don't release lots of singles like other idol groups, but the singles they do release are all above average.