Okay! Musume Digest #52

Contrary to what you believe, this is NOT my One-Year Anniversary Post. My actualy One-Year Anniversary Post for this Digest series is on June 4th, because some of my digests were not posted a week later, but a few days later... this was when I was only just starting it, so bear with me.

TWO WEEKS TO GO UNTIL MY DIGEST IS OLD!!!! :D

Welcome to a Week's worth of news. Are you ready to get your Digest on?

In this Weeks Digest, we shall see...

A butt-load of Berryz! PB Previews! Ayumi the Shark to release a Photo book as well!? There's a new group on the scene! MomoClo dance on an Ice cream tub!? Aibon has an interview about tea! Bump.y's Sakuraba Nanami is going to star in a new Drama adaptation! And MOOOOORE!!!!!

So, ready to get yo' Digest on?

Tanaka Reina has Officially Graduated from Morning Musume

Today, on May 21st 2013, Tanaka Reina of Morning Musume officially graduated. For 10 years now, Tanaka Reina has been a part of a group that has lasted for over 15 years, and has also been the fact of that group for some time now, leading songs and becoming well-known amongst fans.

Whilst I am not a fan of her, I want to wish Reina the best in her future as a singer She is letting go of that Idol image that we have been painfully watching over time, and will be taking on her new Rock persona as a part of the group LoVendoЯ.

Holy Cow, there's more shoe here than there is dress!

Right now, I really don't know what to say to Winky; all has pretty much been said in this one week where I took on the challenge to review PV's and songs that Winky starred in. In this past Week, I have found that I started to like Winky, only to come to dislike her so much as I do now, as a present fan. But, the week that has gone has taught me a lot about Reina, that she is a good singer and that once, she was a natural cutie who had a lot going for her, and that she was at the top of her game on a rising star in MoMusu...

And also that she descended into Darkness, and never came out, cackling and winking away as she threw glitter everywhere.

Are those tears in her eyes that I see, or is it just the fucking glitter?

Even though I currently have no feelings towards Reina or her graduation, I do want to say that I am completely taken aback by her choice of attire for her graduation; I was expecting a dress, but instead we get more Shoe than dress here! But, as my friend said, this choice of outfit combines everything Reina that we know of her; Cat Ears (BURN THEM!!!), Leopard Print, one Giant Ass BOW, her glittery hair and also... her winky eyes.

Oh, should I also mention how half-assed the costume looks? Seems like the designers know that Winky herself is Half-assed, so they didn't even bother to finish the dress. Nice.

My friend also mentioned that Reina looked bad-ass, but in general, this woman never looks bad-ass, so yeah...

Right now, as a fan of Morning Musume, I have no feeling towards this graduation. I have not cried, but I have not cheered, either. I just know that right now, it's the end of an era, and the end of the Reign of Winky in Morning Musume. I am looking forward to what happens from now on. I will probably wonder where her voice is sometimes, and why her Winking eye is not roaming around somewhere in a PV, but honestly? I am excited to see what will happen next, and also...

I am just so happy to see the back of her. BON VOYAGE, WINKY!!!

She has given her Final Wink and a Final Wonk, but now it is time for a new chapter, a new Reign in Morning Musume, a passing of the Bows and the burning ceremony of the Cat Ears. Tanaka Reina, it is time to go, so finally I will say this to you, as a fan of Morning Musume and someone who just does not give two figs about you:

Tanaka Reina, Omedetou Sotsugyou! Good luck in your future endeavours, I can only wish you the best!

... Too bad I won't be following you hear on afterwards, unless you catch my interest... which I sincerely hope you don't.

JA NE, AU REVOIR, ADIOS AND BYE BYE CHA CHA!!!! Here's to you leaving, finally! -cackles-

Chiima~

Tanaka Reina - The Graduation Appreciation Post (Sorta)

This post contains my thoughts and feelings towards Tanaka Reina as a part of Morning Musume. If you feel offended by what I saw, then please feel free to ignore this post. I don't cater to everyone, but I do say what I want to say, so either get over it or ignore it.

Note* This is the final chapter in my series 'A Week with Winky'. This Appreciation post was created before the other posts, before the series was even thought up, but it is my final word to Tanaka Reina as a part of Morning Musume. With her graduation looming nearer, I feel that this is my final goodbye to her... well, until I post about her having officially graduated, that is.

What can you honestly say about someone you don't really care about in an Idol group you love? That you're going to miss them, that you wish you had given them the chance you should have long before they graduated, or that you appreciate all they have done for however long they have been in the group? Who knows. All I know right now is that, whilst Winky is graduating Hello! Project, I am glad to see the back of her.

It's pretty obvious that from the get-go I was not a Reina fan; I have always preferred the under dogs and the underrated singers. Yeah, she can sing, and there are a few songs where I can fully appreciate her voice and enjoy her talent, but in recent singles that voice very rarely shows; she sounds like a squirrel on helium half the time, and I really can not enjoy that because when she sings like that, I can't help but wonder why people think that she is talented.

And I'm sure I am not the only one.

But I am not here to berate Winky for all her errors and squeals. I'm here to try, and try I might, appreciate her in this Appreciation post before she leaves this tree for another one, flying away like the flying squirrel that she is, and making her home somewhere else.

... This won't be easy, I assure you.

So where to start? Well, I got into Morning Musume in 2009, about the time that the Reina-Ai era was coming to an end and other vocals were being used a lot more, giving diversity to the Morning Musume of the dying Platinum era. At that point in time, I really had no clue who she was; all I knew was that she was not Koharu or Gaki, and that I didn't care about her. I found her to be a rather so-so person in the group, though I was quite aware of her prominence in Morning Musume.

It pissed me off.

But, once I got over that giant hurdle, I found Reina to be a tolerable person, however she still never appealed to me like she did others; I always felt that she lacked something in singles, and really didn't stand out amongst the others. Everyone had great personalities that shined through the PV's, but Winky was a totally different matter for me. She never shined or stood out, she was just... there. Singing away, doing what she had to do, looking bored and basically doing her job.

... And then Seishun Collection came out.

Stolen from some poor souls tumblr

I don't know what it was (probably the hair), but for some reason Reina just seemed to shine, and when I say shine I mean truly shine, like the glitter she abuses on her inner corners. In Seishun Collection, I saw Reina in a new light; she was happy, cute, cheeky and undeniably wonderful to watch. She was a pure joy, and for me as a new fan, this was the first time I had ever seen her like this. It was like she wasn't tolerating the PV for the sake of it, but instead she was actually enjoying it, going at it with full force and basically stepping up her performance to the next level like I had never seen before. In my short time as a fan, this was the first time that I had seen Tanaka Reina smile like it was genuine, and perform like she truly enjoyed it and couldn't get enough it.

And admittedly, I could not get enough of her. She was so endearing and just so happy that it made me happy! I was surprised, I never thought that I would see Tanaka Reina look like this, a youthful, cute and bubbly girl who was genuinely interested in the song and video, a person that I liked and thought was just so damn beautiful and could dominate the world with that smile and those eyes... it was a shocker, but hell, I was so happy to finally appreciate Tanaka Reina and see a new side to her that I had never expected to see!

Of course this didn't last too long, because during the next single she reverted back to her old self; bored and uninterested, and basically acting like her old Winky self.

For a while I forgot about the Tanaka Reina I had seen in Seishun Collection. For a while, I really did not pay attention to her or care about her enough. Sure, I complained about her and wondered why she was getting a good amount of lines, but other than that I ignored her; I was fangirling over Gaki at this point and how breathtaking she was, and also crying over Kamei Eri and JunLin's graduations before reverting to fangirling over what was, at that time, a new generation in the form of the 9ki's.

I did not care about Reina, in fact I had no plan to (much like before), until something happened... AGAIN!!!

I was bowled over. Tanaka Reina absolutely blew me away in Only You, and in that PV I truly found myself falling over myself at her beauty. She was just gorgeous, she seemed to, in a sense, shine like she had never shined before. She was standing out, reminding me that she wasn't that boring and that it took something special, or something that she liked, to make her work hard and stand out. In Only You she looked flawless, and once again, like she wanted to be there. Once again it was as if this wasn't just another single that she had to do because it was required of her; it was as if she wanted to be there herself because she loved it.

The Tanaka Reina that I could appreciate and enjoy as a performer was back, and watching her in Only You made me so happy. She was simply flawless, and I really did hope that she would continue on this way in other single. Of course that didn't happen, well, not until Ren'ai Hunter at least.

Sadly, this happens to be the last time that I was blown away by Reina in a PV; she was simply flawless here. She looked like she was in her element, like she belonged there and that she loved doing what she was doing, and she looked gorgeous as well. Again, this is the last time I saw this version of Reina, and that is really sad; It has been a year since this song was released, and I have not seen Reina perform this passionately since in a PV. But, she looked great here, and I loved her in this. It made me like her, it really did, but sadly the other singles and her performance attitude in them really kills how I feel towards her.

I know that many people love Reina, and I know that she is regarded highly in the Hello! Project fandom, and in some aspects I do appreciate her, but I also do not care about her; I know that after she's gone I will wonder why she isn't there, and I will probably miss her voice a little bit, but I also know that realistically I will be so happy to see the back of her. Yes, I have enjoyed her in some things; I think in certain PV's she really shined and made me want to like her more, and in concerts she is actually a treat to watch because you can see that live performances are the things that she loves the most, and I also know that she is a hard worker... but I just don't care, even if I do know that there are things there that make her more appealing to me as a potential. I would like to, I admit, but realistically I do not really rate her highly, and I do not think she is as good as people say she is.

I think that Reina is a good performer, a decent singer who can be amazing when given a song that she is passionate about, and that she can shine when she does something that she truly enjoys. She is gorgeous too, that doesn't hurt, and her smile is dazzling when she is stirring up a crowd. She is good, I know she is, we all know she is, but sometimes she just does not give it her all, and I know that that is why I don't appreciate her as much as I could, or at least care about her as much as I want to... you decide.

But, when in doubt, I do remember a few things that make me like Reina more; this girl can really make me smile. Whether she is performing, singing or acting, when she gets it right, she really knows how to make me like her. She can be an absolute burst of energy and cheer that makes me fall in love with her, and whilst these bursts of energy and happiness may not last long, I do appreciate them, and in those brief moments I find myself looking at Tanaka Reina as if she is the most beautiful girl in the entire world, or even the only girl in the world, because when she brings out that dazzling, natural smile of hers, I become completely lost in her and very rarely take notice of anyone else.

Tanaka Reina... someone who conflicts my emotions, and someone who can really turn me off of her, but switch me back on in a surprising turn of events. Yeah, it rarely happens, but when it does I do think that she truly shines... and I guess that that is all that counts.

I may not miss you when you're gone Reina, but when I think of you I will remember you fondly... or at least imagine you riding on something that looks similar to a toilet.

This is when you realise that I should never be allowed near photoshop... EVER!!!

And, in the same wise words that Nia told me on facebook when discussing Reina; Fly away, Reina Squirrel! Fly awaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!! So Reina, spread those furry little wings of yours and fly to greener pastures. We are awaiting you~

Tanaka Reina Sotsugyou Omedetou! Keep on Winking and keep on Smilin'! OtsukaReina!

Chiima~

[A Week with Winky] The Final Wink, er, Rock...

I have opinions, and so do you. Don't like mine? Then stick to yours... and find someone who agree's with you. I don't care if you hate my opinion, because I like it, and I live with it. YAY!

*About this series: I have created this series with the intention of looking at groups or songs where Tanaka Reina is a focus, or where she has grown considerably, from way back then until now. Because of this, I may be looking at songs or PV's that I previously ignored or loved once upon a time. There will, hopefully, be a mix of things here. I hope you enjoy.

I really should be asleep, but I know that tomorrow (er... today?) my time will be spent doing other things that need to be done. So of course, I have decided to procrastinate on sleep. Yep.

Smart moves there, Chii. Greeeeat~

So we're coming to an end with this series, and this will, sadly, be my final post about Winky... or at least, the final review post. Tomorrow's post is actually the final one of the lot I believe, so look forward to it, but this is the penultimate post, the final review... the final PV with Winky in it. Can you guess what it is?

Of course it has to be Winky's final PV in Morning Musume, the last song and her final Wink before she goes AU REVOIR, BITCHES! and jets off to Lavender pastures where she will continue to wink, but out of sight (YAAAY!) and with fewer girls to compete with.

Too bad she still sounds like a dying cat with this new group of hers though, but whatever. We'll see how she does there and how long the band will last, but for now... we must rejoice! And talk about her final PV in Morning Musume, or at least as a singer under Morning Musume's title.

Yeah, let's get into the Definition of Rock, Rock no Teigi! Not that I think that this song is the definition of rock, because 1) Reina does not have the voice for rock music and 2) This is Idol Pop-Rocks.

Derp. Let's get into this video, shall we? If this seems rushed it's because I am tired, so forgive me, and I think my Week with Winky is getting tiresome... kind of like her personality and voice over the years since she started.

... Has anyone else noticed how excited I was at the start of this series and how, suddenly, I have come right back round to how bored I am with Winky in general like I am in the present time? Anyone? Yeah, I thought so...

SPAM TIME!!! (before I get into sleepy-rant-mode... and we don't want that now, do we?)

Well, what a promising way to open a video...

When's she gonna strip? I clearly have no hope for LoVendoЯ

Oh good, she's trapped! Now, let's keep her in here until she learns to stop being 'kawaii' and glittery and, er... well, Winky.

Winky: "What's wrong with my cuteness?"

Girl... you had more cuteness when you were a Yankee. Right now you're just... well, not so cute.

Holy crap, are those desks tied together with barbed wire!?

Oh good lord, a Pink Bow with leopard print...

Oh wait, that's classic Winky, isn't it?

I think I just walked into a scene from Battle Royale 3: You Wink to Wonk Edition

Don't touch that barbed wire, Winky. You might just poke yourself and bleed to death.

I do wonder if Reina thinks that sticking a bow on her head and wearing pleather makes her look 'cool', because it doesn't.

There's so much glitter around her eyes, Management decided that they didn't need to blow any budget on extra lighting equipment for the shooting of this video.

A lil' bit of the ol' shoulder to get them Wota gasping for breath, and reaching for the tissues...

Looks like someone (Winky) has been stealing from the H!P stock cupboard...

How very Yankee of her.

Winky: "BWelcome to ma Crib, homeys!"

Holy fuck, Winky, what did you do to that classroom!? IT'S A MESS!!!

Winky: "It's called Breakin' an' Enterin', ya FOOL!"

Holy fuck, she's more Yankee than I thought! The spirit is still there!!!

It's like Chaos meets... er, well, Descent into Darkness, really.

Winky: "Hoo, boy, stealin' them ol' microphones from H!P storage and messin' up dis place makes meh TIRED."

Hm, I only just noticed that she has stupid pigtails...

LIGHT!!!!!!!!! HOLY EFFING LIGHT!!!!

... Okay, what the fucking heck did I walk into? It's like Reina's hair and eye gliter blew up and turned into disco balls!

Also, who else has noticed that she's been raiding the H!P stock cupboard again? I certainly did!

Okay, who else is creeped out by these eye shots?

I bet that there are many Wota who hope for her to hold their own 'mini microphones' just like that, if you know what I mean *wink*.

Okay, that's actually pretty sexy, and in general Winky is not sexy... but she pulled that card and played it well, in my opinion.

LIP SHOTS!!!!

I don't like her cuff/bracelet over her sleeve. It looks weird.

Holy hell, she is creepy! SAVE ME!!!! The Yankee wants me dead!!!!

... Okay, is that a smile, or an attempt at looking like Riho?

Holy crap that's a whole lotta mess. I bet the teachers won't be happy to see their classroom has been destroyed on Monday.

... Okay yeah, that's fucking creepy. Get me out of here!

It's never any fun when you have to loop the song you're reviewing and you don't particularly care for it, but hey... I actually like it more now, which is a pity, because I don't want to care for Reina any more than I do already. I am also still extremely underwhelmed by her voice in this, because yeah... she sucks more now than I thought thanks to looking back at how awesome she used to be. It sucks, really.

Anyways, let's talk about the PV and song at hand here, Rock no Teigi. What can we say about it, huh? I mean I have already reviewed the song for the Brainstorming/Kimi Sae single review I posted way back when... but yeah I need to review this PV, and to start that off, I will let you all know about the story I found and created behind it, for my own idiotic pleasure.

When I first watched this video, I basically thought that the story behind it went a little like this:
 Tanaka Reina is a notorious Yankee, and after breaking into the H!P Headquarters and making off with some supplies, a valuable microphone from the Jishin Motte set and also a million disco balls from the Dakishimetex2 and Asian Celebration sets (she's a magpie, she likes sparkly things, duh), Reina set off to a school that she could easily break into. After breaking and entering, she found a classroom and set about destroying it, overthrowing all of the desks and chairs in a blind fit of rage, whilst also setting up the disco balls and microphone for her own entertainment. After a while though, the police came in and found Reina, and as punishment, barricaded her inside of a cage made of desks and barbed wire. What's more, she had to change her clothes. No idea why though, maybe she just had a new set that were her 'Prison rags' or something.

... And that's the story. Did you enjoy it!?

Okay, so my own stupid story and idea's behind, I did see other things in this video that, to me, made some sort of sense and had a bit of meaning behind them, especially the scenes where she is barricaded from everyone else. I had to watch this PV a few times before seeing these meanings, however when I did finally think of them, I did like the idea behind them. Now I may be the only who see's them, however if you feel that there are deeper meanings behind certain scenes, please do let me know because it will be interesting to hear it all!

So, when I watched this PV a few more times, I concluded that the scene where we see Reina barricaded behind the desks is like a hint to her current position in Morning Musume; caged and ready to break free, but still locked up because she has yet to graduate. It's as if Reina, who has been in Morning Musume so long, wants to leave but is still shackled by her duties as an Idol. The scenes where we see the desks everywhere in the background, up-turned in an act of chaos, is her breaking free from that cage and becoming herself, standing alone and no longer trapped by her duties; she is a free woman, a spirit who can do what she wants and can stand alone. She is no longer being held back by this cage, and is instead taking life into her own hands, as opposed to letting someone give it to her on a silver platter.

Also, I find the school setting (and the desks) have some form of symbolism behind them, but this is more so me just being... well, me. And that means horrible to some, so horrible I shall be. Anyway, these school-like things indicate to how Morning Musume is, currently, like a school to Reina; there are children there, and she feels trapped by these school-kids running around, but now she is breaking free from these kindergartners, and going on to Lavender pastures, ready to rock it all out and such... etc etc.

When it comes to the disco balls and the barbed wire, I do believe that the barbed wire is meant to represent her 'tough' exterior, whilst the disco balls and the pink shirt are there to represent that 'Idol-like' and 'girly' exterior that we all see, and how she contrasts her own personality sometimes. It's also like a change in how she is, where she is going; the glittery, cute Reina we see is the Reina that we all know, but the 'rocky' Reina is the one that she ultimately wants to become now as someone who is breaking free of Morning Musume and becoming a new person. You see both sides of her; New Reina, Old Reina, and it's as if she is conflicted over her characters; a rocker chained inside by her duties as an Idol, or an Idol who wishes for freedom by breaking through her persona and taking a new path, whilst trying to stay the same so that her fans won't feel betrayed by her change in look and personality.

... And those are the meanings that I find behind the video, that Reina is conflicted over her Idol and Rock persona, as well as the fact that she wants to break free (start singing, everyone, I know you want to) from her duties as a Morning Musume member and become her own person, someone who is no longer an Idol, but now a singer, and admittedly, after thinking that these are the meanings behind the video, I do like it a lot more.

... Well, the glittery disco balls annoy be, but that is such a classic Winky thing in my opinion; glitter and sparkles EVERYWHERE!!! The desks were a cool idea though, especially when they were turned into a cage. Pretty damn cool if you ask me. The barbed wire is also good, though why a school would have barbed wire in it is beyond me!

Anyway, long story short: For Tanaka Reina's final PV, I think that this video did her justice. It's the sort of video that shows the to sides of her that we know about, and is also quite forceful, just like Winky herself in a way. Okay, so it doesn't play up to her performance skills like it could, but for the Winky we know now... the video does suffice. It isn't perfect, but it certainly has something about it that makes it interesting and so-very Reina-like. In fact, I do feel that it has 'Tanaka Reina' written all over it. It suits her, and I like the destruction-like appearance behind it all, as if Reina is chaotic and ready to take on all that is in her way, like a Tornado or a storm... either way, this is her final video, and it really does feel like she is saying 'This is me, Tanaka Reina, as I am now. I am now standing alone, and I will ROCK ON until I burn this place down.' and I honestly do believe that, on her own, Reina can support herself and do amazing things.

... Regardless of the fact that she has a band now, that is.

To be honest, it is actually weird thinking that this is 'The End' of Winky from Morning Musume. This is her final PV, the end of an era, the end of a 10 year legend... well, if you can call her that, that is, but either way, it's the end of something, and honestly? I wonder what will happen to MoMusu now that she's leaving for good, like who will get the lines, who will have a solo song on the next album and so on (I bet Riho, despite how poor she is at singing) and most importantly; how the lineup will be now sound wise thanks to her departure. Who knows, really? It could be a good thing, or it could be a bad thing.

All I know is that I need to get the wine out, because hey! SHE'S LEAVING!!!! ROCK ON, WINKY! WHOOO!



The Definition of Rock... because Rock is apparently set in a school that a Yankee tore apart, you know?

Chiima~

[A Week with Winky] Tanaka Reina: Solo Collection

All opinions are my own and such, and I know my opinion is not favoured by all, however remember: I don't care if you hate my opinion, and you should not care if I don't agree with your ideal opinion, so get over it, kay? YAY!

*About this series: I have created this series with the intention of looking at groups or songs where Tanaka Reina is a focus, or where she has grown considerably, from way back then until now. Because of this, I may be looking at songs or PV's that I previously ignored or loved once upon a time. There will, hopefully, be a mix of things here. I hope you enjoy.

Before I had even decided on a title for the 'A Week with Winky' series, I had originally intended for this post to be included at some point; in fact, this was the first post that I had wanted to create and talk about, but after deciding how the Week would go, I decided not to use this idea... and then, after opting out of reviewing Resonant Blue because of how much I actually dislike/loathe that song and video (Aika is hot in it, though) and also getting a request for a certain solo song by my sister (which, incidentally, was already included in this post) I decided to return to this idea; it is not a PV Review, but more like a look back at Tanaka Reina's solo songs in her Morning Musume career, and seeing what I think of them.

This post basically just compiles together a selection of Tanaka Reina's solo songs since she began in Morning Musume, and just my basic thoughts on them. As one of the supposed-best singers in Morning Musume right now, and also one of the members who has the most solo lines and solo songs within the current line-up, I do of course have high expectations... especially from Past-Winky compared to Now-Winky.

Anyway, enough blabbing on. Let's start this Solo Collection and see what I think, shall we?

Way back in 2004, about a year or so after her debut with Shabondama, Tanaka Reinas solo cover of the Morning Musume song Memory Seishun no Hikari was released on the Morning Musume Best Shot Vol.4. Of course this as back when Reina actually sounded pretty damn good. Sure, she was still at the point where she had raw talent, but her voice was not annoyingly painful, it was just quite pretty and extremely wonderful to listen to. In fact, I find her voice sounds extremely confident and bold here, as if she really is stepping up in how she sings. She isn't holding back at all, and is just going for it. She also sounds extremely passionate in this song, and I love hearing that passion in her voice.

Simply put, she sounds freakin' amazing. I think her voice in this song is just glorious! You can really hear that power and determination, and how good her voice really once was. She does not sound strained or forceful like she does in present singles... she just sounds really nice and decent. She has an extremely enjoyable voice in this as well, and her vocals fit the tone of the song, too.

The PV for this Best Shot is something that I don't much care for, but even in the video Reina looks so cute and innocent! I know that there isn't much to go on with the video, because it's all one shot in a ferris wheel, but hey, who cares? The focus is pretty much Reina and her vocals, but the setting is really nice I think. It gives you that lonely sort of feeling, like the tone of the song does, so I think that they work well together.

All in ll, for her first solo work under Morning Musume song-wise, I think that Memory Seishun no Hikari was a fantastic choice; Reina sounds amazing, and she is just so cute! Sadly, that Reina has left the building. Boohoo!

The next solo song didn't come along until around two years later, way back in 2006 after Winky's 'transformation' into the sparkling Squirrel we know and, sadly, have to bare today, though I do think that this is her 'in-between' state where she is just getting into the stupid sparkles, glitter and such, and before she fucked up her voice... Oh wait, I'm going off into a hate-tangent. Better get back on track!

Anyway, this song was Tanaka Reina's first official album solo within Morning Musume, as well as her first original song to sing, and was present on the 7.5 Fuyu Fuyu Morning Musume Mini! album. Of course I am talking about the winter-sparkles song, KiraKira Fuyu no Shiny G, a song which, title wise, strangely fits in with Reina's obsession with sparkly things... but I digress. Admittedly, this is one of my favourite solo songs by Reina, being the sort of song that I will actually listen to happily even if it isn't winter. I also love singing along to it, if you must know! It's just so cute and catchy!

Now, whilst Reina is all sparkly and less-Yankee cutie during this Morning Musume era, you have to admit that she sounds fantastic when she sings this song; she isn't squeaky or too try-hard with her voice, and it's as if she truly enjoys singing it. Even the performance video shows that she is really having a blast, like she truly wants to bring the songs feelings and story across to the listeners and viewers rather than letting the tune and lyrics carry it for her. Reina is truly enjoying this song, and you can hear it in her voice that likes performing it, because she seems so enthusiastic and determined when singing, a Winky we hardly see now unless you're lucky enough to see her in concert-form.

Long story short, I do love this song. It's cute and bubbly, and great to listen to. You don't even have to keep the song for the winter seasons, because it doesn't sound like a Winter song. It's just cute and carefree, and when you hear it, you know that Reina loves it, and that in turn makes me love it too.

This next song is from the album Fantasy! Juuichi, the last album to feature Kamei Eri, JunJun and LinLin. Tanaka Reina's second original solo song, Ai no Honoo, was featured on this album... and probably one of the few solo songs by Tanaka Reina that I really do not give two f's about.

Okay, so I will be blunt with this one: Tanaka Reina, to me, sounds like absolute crap in this. By that, I mean that her voice is how I hear it in most Morning Musume singles now; strained, forced and unbearable. She seems to have gone into that Winky state I loathe where she sounds like she is forcing herself to sing a certain way because it's expected of her, and not because she wants to. It doesn't help that the song itself is pretty dull, either, but that's my own opinion.

Okay, I am not saying that the song is bad, because it isn't, but when I hear Ai no Honoo I can't help but think that maybe this was a song that was made for either Takahashi Ai or Niigaki Risa, because I can totally see either one of them singing it - they have the voices to pull it off, and Reina doesn't, simple as that. Her voice just strains with this song, and when I listen to it I just think 'give me the Reina who sings Genki songs, PLEASE!!!' because she just fits them, and she even seems to enjoy them more... Genki Reina is, admittedly, a great Reina. Here, even in the performance, she doesn't seem to bringing her A-game. She's just singing it, with no passion or enthusiasm attached.

Personally, her performance bores me with this song... give me KiraKira Fuyu no Shiny G any day.

Okay, so this song came a year before Ai no Honoo, however I hold this song in higher regards, and really, who doesn't? This is one hell of a song!

Heya to Y Shirts to Watashi is a cover of the original song by Hiramatsu Eri, and was present on the Chanpuru 1 ~Happy Marriage Song Cover Shuu~ that was released back in 2009. This is also the song that my sister requested I review for A Week with Winky after she had heard it, because I believe she was actually pretty impressed with Reina's voice after hearing it, and who could blame her? Even I am impressed by Reina when I listen to this, because she sounds so good... especially when compare to Ai no Honoo, which was only released a year after this was. Wow, what a change, eh?

Anyway, Heya to Y Shirts to Watashi is a ballad, and whilst I found Reina's voice boring in the slow and dull Ai no Honoo, she sounds truly spectacular in this, as if the song was made for her. She really does sound outstanding, doesn't she? It's like she truly does feel the emotions in this song and is portraying them through her voice, allowing the listener to feel what she is feeling. She doesn't sound forced or strained, just natural and like she is enjoying the song. Her voice, as many will agree I believe, sounds absolutely beautiful in this. It just sounds so right, you know? The instrumental and Reina's voice paired together is a perfect mix. It is just so glorious to listen to...

Still thinking of Reina's voice and the tragedy that is Ai no Honoo, one of the top comments for this video actually brings up a valid point that I want to talk about a little, and it's about how the commenter did not know Reina was actually a good singer, because in MoMusu songs she never sounds this good... and really, they could not have put it better, because current MoMusu Reina sucks.

I will get bashed for that comment, I know, but in my personal opinion Reina does suck in MoMusu now; here, she sounds like she truly enjoys the song, and she isn't straining her voice the song, but in Morning Musume, from around 2010 onwards, she really sounds like she is straining her voice and just singing because it's her job. In fact, I think the strain on her voice has more to do with the songs and their arrangements rather than Reina just singing in a terrible way. All the current songs seem to be written in a key that is too high for Reina (and Riho for that matter), a key that at that time, I am sure only Ai, Sayu or Kamei could hit, and no one else. Just liike at Kimi Sae Wah Wah when compared to Brainstorming; Brainstorming's key was perfect for Reina, but  Kimi Sae Wah Wah's just made her sound forced and her usual, squirrely self. See what I mean? No? OKAY!

Anyway, long story short and point made, I love this song and the sound of it. It's a cover, I know, but it's one of Reina's best solo songs in my opinion, and really showed off just how good she can be as a singer. I wish she would sing like this more, but I know that's asking for too much really... so, I will just have to suck it all up, and bare with the screech that is Reina's MoMusu-made voice... urgh.

So this is the final song I will be looking at, and the penultimate solo song by Tanaka Reina as a part of Morning Musume. Namida Hitoshizuku was present on the 2012 album 13 Colorful Character, with a PV that was shot in Hawaii. The song itself is a ballad, and whilst not a terrible song, it is one that I do tend to ignore because Reina's voice is, sad to say, quite unbearable in this, though it isn't the worst I have heard from her.

But it's still pretty bad to listen to, because she sounds quite strained and high and just generally... well, horribly pitched I guess? I don't know, I just hate how high her voice sounds in this, it doesn't suit the song in my opinion, and ruins the nice sound of the instrumental, because that instrumental is quite pretty to listen to.

In fact, her voice gives me a headache from this song. Not good, Winky, not good.

Again, this isn't a bad song, but much like Ai no Honoo, I have a feeling that it was made for someone else... like how The Matenrou Show was clearly made for Niigaki Risa and Tanaka Reina, rather thank Winky and The Spoon (Riho). I feel like this song would have sounded better if Risa had sang it, actually, and not Reina, but... you can't win them all, can you? I do think that her attempt at singing this song as nice, but she doesn't give it any justice really.

Long story short... no, I don't like it, and it is mostly to do with Reina's voice.

Conclusion:

To be honest I am having a harder time reviewing these solo songs as opposed to reviewing Tanaka Reina in a PV, but oh well... I told myself I would do this, so I'm doing it. Anyway, my conclusion...

As people have said, Tanaka Reina as a solo singer is a lot better than Tanaka Reina in Morning Musume, and I do agree, but there are also a few things I disagree with when I see that statement. Now that I have seen Tanaka Reina in older PV's and looked at her performance, and after seeing past solo songs compared to new solo songs, I think that even as a solo performer Tanaka Reina lacks certain qualities about her that she did not lack in the first so many years of her Idol career.

Looking at songs like Ai no Honoo and Namida Hitoshizuku especially, I do feel that around late 2009-early 2010, Tanaka Reina started to go downhill in terms of how good she was as a performer and singer; her voice sounds a lot more strained in these solo songs, whilst in Heya to Y Shirts o Watashi, a ballad song, she sounds like she is singing how she wants to sing, and you feel like you are hearing someone who is passionate about this song rather than just doing it because she has to. Now though, even in solo songs, it feels like it's more of an obligation, and like Reina is bored - she is not enjoying it, and in turn, I am not enjoying it.

I feel that I have concluded, after looking at these solo songs, that whilst Reina does seem to sing better when alone, this is only in past songs and not present ones, because even in the present ones it's like I am just seeing Winky, the one who I see now in Morning Musume. I just hear someone who is bored with her career and has given up, so is singing how everyone wants her to sing, instead of letting her true talent shine. She still sounds decent, but not good enough, and is just preserving her talent for better things I believe, though better things are not coming along, and so she's just doing what she has to to keep the fans and management happy, which is truly saddening because, as we all know, Reina is a fantastic singer.

She's just wasting away her talent by singing in keys too high for her and being bored of her own career, or just giving up on it all together... who knows? I'm not Reina, but from my perspective, that's what I see and hear when I look at these solo songs; the first lot sound amazing, but the last two she has done from 2010 until now... well, they suck, and I do think that it has a lot to do with the fact that Tanaka Reina is just bored of Morning Musume, and bored of being given everything from the get-go.

... and that's my opinion on it.

WOW this was a hard post to write for, hopefully tomorrow's post will be a damn sight easier!!!

Chiima~

[A Week with Winky] The Tanaka Reina Complex? - High-King's 'C/C (Cinderella Complex)' PV Review!

All thoughts and opinions written on this blog are my own and no one else's. You may disagree or agree with me, however do not hate me for what I say; I don't care if you think the way you think is 'right', and that I, as a person, should follow how you think - that's taking away my freedom to think how I want, so if you come to blogs like mine to basically bitch and whine about how my opinion is inferior, then get out. Other than that, enjoy~

*I would like to point out that, whilst a review, this is a post written with Tanaka Reina as the focus, so if I fail to talk about anything else other than Reina, just remember that my focus is, for now, Reina and Reina alone... however weird that may seem to you all o-O

*About this series: I have created this series with the intention of looking at groups or songs where Tanaka Reina is a focus, or where she has grown considerably, from way back then until now. Because of this, I may be looking at songs or PV's that I previously ignored or loved once upon a time. There will, hopefully, be a mix of things here. I hope you enjoy.

This post is a little late due to me not scheduling a new post or even writing it until the day it is meant to be posted. That's my own fault, plus random college stuff (well, not random, but you get what I mean) and sleeping. YAY, SLEEPING!!!

Anyways, guess where we will be travelling back in time to this Week with our dear old Wonky Winker? Yup, back to good ol' 2008! HIT IT!!!

Now, should I really call this post Tanaka Reina Complex, because let's be honest; the only thing I have a complex about Winky is that she is now an eye-sore in MoMusu because of how much she does not care, or how bored she looks in PV's... kind of like Yajima Maimi in this PV, actually, but I digress. I guess looking back at past PV's of Winky has given me a complex about how I wish I could have seen her 'past-self' rather than seeing this Winky, because I might have appreciated and liked her a whole damn lot more.

Ooh, I think I do have a complex with Winky! Or, at the very least, a real issue. Who knows?

Anyway, today I will be taking a look at a group I found way back in 2009, the year of the beginning of a fandom I never wanted to fangirl over... yeah. So, back in 2009, a year after this songs release and the groups debut, I listened to this song and, admittedly, this was mine and my sisters favourite jame. It was jazzy, cool, funky... well, simply put, it was amazing. And that's more to do with the song and the clothes and the PV, not the girls. In fact we pretty much ignored them; we just enjoyed the damn song and that was what mattered, though I remember liking Ai more (I think) because for a while I went into a trilby hat phase, so I blame her.

Of course I now know who everyone in this PV is, but that's besides the point; me and my sister were quite fond of High-King, even when we found out about their other musical numbers present on Petit Best albums, and we thought that they were quite cool.

But, looking at this PV now, I realise just how unappealing Reina is to me; after watching Shabondama, FIRST KISS and Inshouha Renoir no You ni, I have come to the PV, one of the first non-MoMusu related video's I had watched in 2009 I believe, that shows off Tanaka Reina in the light I see her in today; totally unappealing, though admittedly her performance skill in this is a lot higher than in current MoMusu PV's.

Okay, I'm blabbering. I will talk more about my thoughts on Winky here (and now, I guess?) later on, but first, we must dash darings, my Cinderella Complex is kicking in and I need to get to the pic spam, so pip pip off we pop!

Oh, joy unbounded, tacky sparkles and... well, it basically looks like Modern-Reina designed it, doesn't it?

Okay, Saki, what are you doing? You're meant to stand still, not look like an Extra from a Zombie flick.

Winky: "Bitches, I'm BAAAACK!"

Oh good Lord, it looks like the Yankee Army has been formed, with Reina at the centre of it all! What is this world coming to!?

... Oh, and she's loving it. Great.

On the other hand, Ai looks quite delightfully hot in this. Niiiiice.

Winky: "Ayyyye wha'chur lookin' at HEEER foooor... *hic*"

I think that Winky's been hitting the bottle again, Management. You really need to sort her out.

Okay, niiiiiiiice. I would tap dat... also, I do want that trilby. It's gorgeous.

... Winky, stop thrusting, you have no ass or sex-appeal to thrust with. Ai, on the other hand... hnng!!!

Ai-but: "... me?"

Okay, is it just me, or does she look extremely erotic in this? Yeah, I didn't think that it was just me.

Ai-spam!!!! Because she is FABULOUS!

... Especially in that hat. Yikes!!! I might be in love!

Yuukarin: "Give me your LOOOOOVE!!!"

I never knew who Yuuka was when I first watched this, but dang, she is cute as a button!

High-King: "STOP!!!! High-Five the High-Kings!!!!"

Hold on to your hats, Ai-butt and Saki, cos Winky is just gonna get worse in the next few years to come!!!

Winky: "Ayyye, how would you know, ya HICK?"

Because I am from the future!!!!

Winky: "Do I control MoMusu in this future?"

... Pretty much, sadly.

Winky: "Aweeeeeshooooooooome~"

... Yup. Totally erotic and hot and DANG YES!!!!!! Whoever marries her is one lucky dude.

FABULOUS, BITCH!!!!

Yes, please Reina, shoot me now, because your Yankee, Winking ways are a bit too much for me...

Saki: "Heeey, where have I been in this entire screen cap!?"

I really have no interest in Saki in this MV, however she is one dang good rapper and also looks quite swish in those clothes.

Winky: "Come to me, potential minion of mine..."

Winky, please don't lean down if you have no cleavage to show off. K, thanks, BYE!!!

Ai-butt: "Oh my GOD, this hat makes me look super HAWT!!!"

Ai-butt is so go-damn lovely in this, I can't even...

Hng... I will give you my Love, Ai-butt!

Oh, I was unaware of the fact that Saki's hat seems to have grown pigtails. Hm...

Winky: "Make way for *hic* REEEEEEINA BITCHES! QUEEN REINA, YEEEAH! *Hic splutter hic*"

Oh Lord, Winky's on the Sauce again, and she's heading my way!!!!

Winky: "Give me a *hic* huuuuuuuug!!!"

My lord, that is one scary and determined look!

... Why is this quite eerie looking, aye?

Well, at least this one is all hng and NNNG!!!!

Yuukarin is so adorable, and she seems so out of place in this but who cares? XD

Winky: "Why the eff are you payin' attenshun to tha' kid, aye?"

Winky is so unappealing in this, looks wise...

But Ai-butt, on the other hand... hng!

... Even when she looks crazy!

Winky: "Bitch, I'm fabulous and you know it!"

Oh wow, this actually looks half-decent for Reina in this MV.

... Put the peace sign DOWN, WINKY!!!!

Oh, hi Maimi in the background trying to get the camera to focus on her!

Winky: "RAWR!!! GRRRR"

... ARRRRGH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?

Oh, this revolving podium... thing reminds me of that new-ish song, Basu ni Naranai Tetsugaku and also One Two Three... except everyone is one it, and not one random person.

... Oh yeah, I forgot she existed. Better put her in here or people might suspect I don't really like her...

Is it even legal for her to be bending down like that?

Saki has some sass, you gotta admit... even with that hairstyle.

Ooooh, it's like I'm looking at Kono Chikyuu, but instead of just Ai reaching for a star, everyone is!

I call this the 'Put the powder on ma FAYSCHE' dance move.

Now class, this is an example of how to grow up the Wrong way as an Idol...

... And this is an example of how to grow up the Right way as an Idol. Understand, Yuukarin?

Yuukarin: "Yes, m'am..."

D'awww, she looks like a deer caught in the headlights! Or a Victim caught in the middle of a Yankee fight, whichever one works better here...

Winky: "Please... PLEASE start liking me... What have I ever done to you...?"

Erm, well you started to get all 'cutesy' in how you sang, for a start, and then became tacky. Once upon a time you were so cute and natural and awesome as a singer, and such an enthusiastic performer! Now though...? Yeah...

Maimi is, as always, looking like a derp (not a good one, either) whilst Ai is being her sexy, erotic self... and Saki is luuurving the performance!!!

ASSES, hell yeah! Well, except for Winky. She has no ass...

And c'est FINI!!!!

... The comments for screen caps took longer to do than I hoped, but I kept flitting between eating and being in my room, so oh well... but anyway, after finally getting to this part of the review, we can finally, er, REVIEW!!! So, let's hit (Yes, come again! UH!)

Okay, so where was I back when I was in ramble-nostalgia mode at the beginning of the blog? OH YEAH! I was blabbering on about how, for me, unappealing Tanaka Reina looks in this PV now that I know who is who, and after viewing Reina's performance in older PV's, back when she was actually extremely likeable and very very cute. Seriously... from Inshouha Renoir Reina to High-King Reina, what the heck happened? I would like to say puberty, but honestly, I just think that someone gave her a tub of glitter and it went from there.

Now that's not to say that there isn't anything to like about this Reina; in fact, I did quite like her in this video. She seems really enthusiastic and happy performing in the video, and her smile seems so genuine and sweet most of the time. It's just her hairstyle and how she sings that is very unappealing for me as a viewer, because she basically looks like the Winky we view in video's today; generic (in terms of looks and style) and far too over-used, as if she can't be bothered to change up her looks because it takes some sort of effort. But that's just style, really, and whilst her voice is that same annoying squeak I hear a lot in singles today... I think it works quite well for this song, even if it isn't a breath-taking tone of awesomeness that was once her amazing voice.

Also, I could swear that how she pulls faces gets worse the older she gets; she looks wonkier and drunker every time I see her. It also seems very try-hard, not effortless like Takahashi Ai, or old Winky - even in Aa!, where her performance skills were upped, she was very effortless and seemed to just do everything naturally. Here, everything just looks, well... forced. Except for her smile. Her smile and pure enjoyment for this group and song seems extremely genuine.

... And that is actually my analysis of Reina for this video, because really, what more can I say about her? She does not impress me like she did in the other video's, because it's the Winky I see today - someone who looks the same and just seems to try too hard in her expressions to make herself look appealing as a performer, and someone who sounds like a shrieking squirrel that can hold a tune... wait, can squirrels even hold a tune?

Long story short, looks wise she has basically become the Reina I know today, and the Reina that I don't like or acknowledge, however performance wise... well, it's like I am looking at that younger Tanaka Reina who is so enthusiastic about her work, and wants to try hard because she loves what she does. It's pretty damn clear that she loves this song and the girls she is working alongside, and is not doing it because she has to, but because she genuinely wants to and thinks that this is awesome. And it is... High-King is pretty damn awesome.

Which will bring me to the PV itself for C/C (Cinderella Complex)... it's pretty dang awesome, isn't it? Who can actually hate this song, really?

This is actually a nice change of pace in terms of sound for H!P - it's modern, edgy and very catchy. It actually doesn't sound like Idol-pop (WOW), and there is a bunch of talent behind the instrumental giving it the vocal work; by talent I do mean Reina, Ai-butt, Yuukarin and Saki, because I still can't stand Maimi's nasally voice even here, however all the girls bring forth nice dance-talent... or as much dancing talent as thrusting can give, but anyways! All the voices fit this song, and whilst the only childish voice present is in fact Yuukarin's, the group has an entirely mature and cool feel to it that makes it seem so grown-up, modern and amazing, and I think that was what appealed to me the most about the group other than this awesome song; they were modern, and also, there was a nice little variety of young women present in the group like the awkward child, the sexy one, the boyish one, the pretty girl-next door type and the generic squirrel; there was a girl there that quite a few people could to relate to, rather than having one 'type', and each girl has a different look... and I liked that about the group.

So back to the PV (I talked about the group by accident! ARGH!); I found this PV, even way back when, really cool to watch. It's a very cool looking set, and the varying scenes add a nice mood to the video. I love the dark-to-light contrasts and the use of red-toned rooms and a black room to add to that cool feeling. Actually, the video itself, whilst pretty simple, looks quite expensive in how the sets look and adds a touch of class to this modern and trendy video. I have no idea what my favourite scene is, though; quite possibly the dark-dance scene where the lights show their silhouettes? It looks really edgy and just brings a nice balance to the video in my opinion. It also gives the video that little extra bit of variety too, and makes it very very cool and awesome.

I say 'cool' too much, but whatever.

Now, in terms of the PV still, I found the performance of the girls quite varying; Maeda Yuuka, the cutest of the bunch by far, looks so sweet and awkward in this, as if she's been shoved into a group of scary adults not out of choice, but because she had too. She is pretty much a deer-caught-in-the-headlights here, and you can just see how out of place she is in a few scenes; when she's singing, performing seems quite natural, but most other times she just seems like she wants to be anywhere else but there, especially in the close-ups. It's very endearing, actually, but also quite worrying in a way... it's a good thing that Reina and Ai-butt kind of made up for Yuukarin's awkwardness with their enthusiasm for this PV, aye?

Speaking of which... Ai-butt is glorious in this, isn't she? She is so sexy and it kinda kills me with ecstasy (hahahahaha) when she just... well, looks at the camera. Basically, she is eye-fucking the viewers with every chance she gets, and she is god-damn irresistible as she does it! I swear, how can one person be so effortlessly gorgeous and sexy? She is also really charismatic, because I was put right under her charm when I re-watched this PV for this review! Out of everyone in this video, performance (and singing!) wise, Ai-butt totally steals the cake; she just knows how to work the camera and show off her good points. She isn't too enthusiastic, but you know that she loves it, and I think a part of her charm in this, other than being sexy, is that she doesn't seem to be trying to be sexy... she just is. It's flawless, perfect... amazing. Her performance is top-notch, and totally above everyone else.

Especially the Queen of Awkward and Snooze-ville, Yajima who, as you probably noticed, bored me to death in this video. In fact, I kept forgetting she existed in this group until she popped up randomly... however, she is very girl next door pretty in my opinion, but again... boring. Where Reina was overly-enthusiastic and practically jumping at the camera, Maimi was just... well, she was just there, being herself; boring. Even Saki, who I sometimes hardly notice, did more in this and appealed to me more than Maimi did. Oh well... can't like em all, can I?

And then there is Saki who, admittedly, is so unappealing to me, but also a beauty. Or at least, she's a beauty with long hair. With her short hair I tend to ignore her, but in this video she is extremely cool and just so... well, charismatic. She doesn't seem so girly in this like the others do, and I think she takes that into account and uses it to make herself stand out. Much like Reina, I do think that Saki has clear enthusiasm for this video, and whilst she isn't shown much, her scenes are pretty memorable; she seems quite forceful at times, as if she wants you to remember her, and she also seems a lot sharper than the other girls when it comes to performing, like how she presents herself. Her moves, the way she dances or does her hand movements, are more refined and a lot quicker than everyone else's, like she's really getting into the spirit of the song. It's extremely noticeable, and whilst I am not a fan of Saki or this hairstyle in High-King, I think that she stood out in her own way in this, to the point where she managed to embed herself in my mind.

In fact, if I had to say who were my Top Two memorable members in High-King, I would have to say Takahashi Ai and Shimizu Saki; they have a camera presence you can not ignore here, and they just seem like they really do work hard and enjoy it, and their moves, whether forceful or effortless, are noticeable.

... And I think that's it, pretty much. C/C (Cinderella Complex), a song that I found in 2009 and liked greatly, has been played once again, but this time from a new perspective, one where I can judge the members with the knowledge that I actually know, as a fan, who they are. It's strange looking back at High-King now and thinking 'Oh, I used to never know who was who, and I only like them for their music and look...' because really, I did not know anything about them and I just loved this song and the style of clothes they wore. They were cool back then, but they are cool now still... however, Reina is a lot more unappealing to me here now than she would have been back then, I think, but only because her current look (not performance, though) is very much like the Winky I watch on PV's today. Tis sad, but tis very true, my Chimian Chums.

Anyway, that's all for today... but who is your Member Complex?



Mine might just have to be Ai-butt... yum, Ai-butt~

iChiima~