[Review] HKT48 - 3rd Single 桜、みんなで食べた / Sakura, Minnade tabeta

HKT48's third single is out! (I started this post 4 months ago hehe) I quite like this release, but the covers don't do the songs justice. The theme is graduation, as it usually is around this time of year. I'm still bummed that Sakura didn't get some special position or even a bonus video. But oh well. Sales are consistently the same in which I'm not sure whether to be worried about or not because HKT don't seem to be improving in popularity, especially in Fukuoka. 

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[Review] SKE48 - 14th Single 未来とは? / Mirai to wa

Hello everyone....|･ω･｀) Well... It is so good to see you all isn't it ahahaha.... Sorry all that we haven't really been posting anything up on this blog and keeping you all waiting for so long... especially for this single's review since well... Mirai to wa was released like.... 4 months ago... ahahah.... We are really sorry that we delayed this and many other things that we want to write for so long, so on behalf of everyone here from Pinkpride, I'll apologise to you all. <(_ _)> I'm sure I will post both preview and review for Bukiyou Taiyou ASAP when it releases...!!!
Anyways... I won't be in the way and shall let you all continue with this review... that is if you guys want to read what I think about each song.... |･ω･｀)

未来とは？/ Mirai to wa Music Video

TAKA
Costume: ★★★★☆
To be honest, when I first saw the costume I was like "I don't like the fairy wings in the front and back of their costume...". But that was when I only saw screenshots of it, so when I first heard the release of radio version, I changed my mind because I reckon it suits song very well...!! I really love the blue checkered skirt and the fluff around it. The overcoat they wore in the MV suits the style a lot as well. Overall, the use of light colours, material and style of dress makes them look very pretty like an angel or fairy~ I really like this costume~ And Jurina looks like an goddess~ (´▽`ʃƪ)♡ Also, according to some members, they said that there is "SKE" written on the costume but I just can't seem to find it anywhere... (I found it after I made this comment ahahaha...)

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[Drama] AKB48 - 35th Single 前しか向かねえ Mae Shika Mukanee

Just like the previous two singles released, AKB48 have included a 22 minutes short drama in this single as well. But unlike the last two drama, this one was filmed with a higher budget that can be aired as a featured film in the cinemas in my opinion, and with an interesting plot line of the Earth (or Japan, since we do not know if this is international wide or not) being in an apocalypse of some sort (Might be a zombie or disease apocalypse,but we will never know). I reckon AKB48 and any of the other sister groups should include a short drama or something similar in each of their singles, since this can let the girls practise their acting skills, but that is only if they have the time and resources to film.

Anyways... It will be me again, TAKA, doing the pleasure of writing the review for this single's drama, even if I'm not that good at all in writing a review since I'm bad at trying to convey what I think.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

*PLEASE DON'T SCROLL DOWN IF YOU DON'T LIKE SPOILERS*

*P.S. The review will be my perspective of the drama and I may say something that you guys will not agree with and perhaps set off some disagreements. If that is indeed the case, please don't bash me.*

From the beginning, we can see our senbatsu members in somewhat ripped and dirty clothing, following by a long shot of Mayu holding what I suspect is a M16 rifle?. This suggested to me that something had happened to Earth, perhaps a Zombie (or any kind of creature) apocalypse since it required the members to have some sort of a weapon to protect themselves, especially what they are wearing as well. Well... except for Kojiharu who is wearing high heels and a dress like she was about to go on a date... LOL!
I'm not that professional when it comes to guns but I still know a few from playing games such as Resident Evil series and so on, so if that is not a M16 please correct me!! And I love love LOVE the story line of an apocalypse!!!

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[Review] AKB48 - 35th Single 前しか向かねえ Mae Shika Mukanee

The 35th and 2014's first single "Mae Shika Mukanee" was finally released on the 26th of February. This will also be the last single in which Oshima Yuko will be participating in as she has announced her graduation from AKB48 last year on the night of Kouhaku. This may be sad for most of us since our one and only Yuko will not be with us anymore (I think all AKB48 fans are sad...), but let us enjoy every last moment we have with Yuko and create a memory that we will never forget..!! 
Before moving onto the review... I would like to congratulate AKB48 for continuing the million sale streak by achieving an approximate number of 1.091 million copies sold for this single and to the fans for reaching over 100,000,000 views on Youtube for the iconic MV "Heavy Rotation" in remembrance of Yuko. 

前しか向かねえ / Mae Shika Mukanee Music Video

TAKA
Costume: ★☆☆☆☆ / Performance Costume: ★★★★☆
Don't even talk to me about the costume in the MV... Can't they just wear what they wear during the performance? They just have to use the one from the campaign they are currently doing...（￣□￣；）It doesn't even suit the setting as well...Moving on to the performance costume (The actual costume for this single in my opinion) I absolutely love this single's costume!! Checkered... My favourite plus skirt with shirt and a tie... bonus for me and add all this up is just perfect...! Really love the details they have gone through as well! I have realised that the patterens on the inner edge of the jacket is all different for each member, this is the same for their belt.

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Rubberball's Rambles #3 Team A Stage Performance 2012.11.16

Current Team A
banner made by RUBS

I honestly did not think I would write up another Theatre performance review so soon because the previous one took a lot of work and was bothersome (but fun) and I'm quite the lazy one. But this performance had an element of surprise and turned out to be one of the best Seitansai's (Birthday celebration performance) I've watched. This is Kasai Tomomi's seitansai and I have to be honest here, I was not exactly paying attention whilst watching it. Because:

1. I was extremely tired from watching waaaaay too many LODs in one sitting.
2. It was emotionally hard to watch Chiyuu on oshi-cam, knowing that she'd graduated quite a while ago.

Anyway on with the show! During the opening songs I was having a hard time watching the actual performance because I was busy figuring out who was subbing for whom. hahaha 

If you are curious (caution: it's quite complex) :

• Marina>Ryoka>Mayu
• Izurina>Tano>Takamina
• Shiorin>Yuihan
• Ayaroid>Annin>Mariko

">"subbed for

I'll only write about the highlights of the show, since I wasn't concentrating  Also, in my opinion this setlist was sort of boring and I've seen these units a thousand times.

• Junai no crescendo with Chiyuu Oshi-cam was glorious 
• Kuroi Tenshi was pretty good also, with the stoic character of Annin. She looked really stiff and I think that's perfect for this unit.
• Ame no pianist was awesome! Tano is extremely cool and her dance style is very unique and Sakippe's hair was gorgeous 

Anyway the rest of the show was pretty mediocre so I won't comment on the other songs. Now you're all probably wondering why the hell this turned out to be one of the best Seitansai performance. Well I cut the part where I literally squealed at my computer screen. So you can watch it below...

Yes. I know, she's perfect. Did your heart stop beating? Are you breathing? It's okay because Sae is here. Can we all just have a moment to appreciate how much of a gentleman Sae is 
Okay, moment over.
Sigh. Everyone look at all those girls fan-girling and squealing when Sae rolled in the cake with her freaking Ikemen megane and hat and ahsdjkahsjkdakshd her perfect face. Let's not talk about what atrocious, plaid, bath robe she is wearing though  Did you guys also notice how Chiyuu and Sae looked so much like a freaking couple?!! 
NO? YOU DIDN'T? Well, here are some caps to make up for it.

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Rubberball's Rambles #2 Team K Stage Performance 2012.11.01

Current Team K
banner made by RUBS

Theatre performances have always been a major appeal point for me. I think it's the differentiating factor between a normal, run of the mill Idol group and the 48 group. I have started watching theatre performances quite religiously recently and I enjoy each and everyone of them. Of course, some I enjoy more than others. So I thought I would review them and maybe translate some interesting MCs that occur/have occurred and show some interesting antics the girls have. 

As I am only a 10 month-old fan, I have a lot of catching up to do with the 48 group history so I have been watching some LODs (Live on Demand-website where you can watch the performances live) from late 2009 straight through to recent ones. Today's performance is quite a special one. It's Team K's first day performance (shonichi) as the new Team K since the Tokyo Dome 2012 shuffle.

This was a great shonichi and the setlist is pretty good but I prefer the June 2013 setlist with the new units. You can view the setlists here. I love how they performed the 1st three songs of the first three original Team K stages, very nostalgic. Also Scrap & Build has a very strong K-vibe so the beginning of the stage was already quite high tensioned. But you know what hurts? 
Seeing all those already graduated members performing. Some, I wasn't even in the fandom until after they graduated, members whom I really like (Nakayan, Yuttan, Natsumi). And of course, whenever seeing Sayaka and her strong presence in Team K, really hits the heart, hard. Don't even get me started on not seeing Sae in a Team K performance. Sigh. Sorry for the depressing note. I'll get on with the show.

During the self introductions, Mocchi made a silly mistake...

Apologise to Abemaru! that's right Nakayan slap her! hahahha so cute. Onto the units!
Himawari, is a great song! I've watched various versions and I must say my favourite is Team E's current line up with Meimei, Kinchan, Umechan and Igucchi. This version fell a little flat for me. But Yuka looked stunning with her fringe pinned up. oh by the way, during the self intros Yuko pointed out she and Haru had the same hairstyle, and our Takoyaki girl was not pleased ahhahah.

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[Review] AKB48 - 5th Album 次の足跡 Tsugi no Ashiato

On January 22nd 2014, AKB48's 5th single was finally released. It included the single's song from "Manatsu no sounds good!" to "KFC" for its CD1, and some new and never-recorded songs for CD2. Tsugi no Ashito also made a record of selling 961,531 copies in its first week which was more than 1830m's 870,621.
Anyways... because CD1 is just single's songs, we have decided to just review the never-recorded songs from CD2.
 
Type A CD2
TAKA
01. After Rain | ★★★★☆ - This is actually not a really long song considering it is only 3:26 long, but I really like the lyrics how it is like don't give up and there is always hope? I love it when they perform this song as well when they play the head-finger game. I reckon they should always perform this song at the end of a concert (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ

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[Drama] AKB48 - 34th single 鈴懸の木の道で「君の微笑みを夢に見る」と言ってしまったら僕たちの関係はどう変わってしまうのか、僕なりに何日か考えた上でのやや気恥ずかしい結論のようなもの / 鈴懸なんちゃら Suzukake Nanchara

Just saying... This gif is really big... (around 7 MB)
But I just gotta gif this part because is so damn pretty~
sorry if I drain you guys internet...

Finally, I have time to write a review on the short drama of Suzukake Nanchara which was released ages ago on the 11th of December last year. I know I was suppose to do this within like a week of its release but work and other stuff just caught up with me and I just didn't have enough time to focus on it... This review would be like a personal view of it I guess, because I am just not used to what critics actually do... (*´_ゝ｀)

Anyways... It is going to be quite long I think and there is alot of screenshoots so I'll get on with my review~

The drama begins in the year of 2003, with Jurina, Shizuka, Emika, Mina and Rie burying a time capsule containing stuff that they would want to bury and look at after 10 years. I guess with them starting off the drama, that means they are the main characters but I wonder why isn't it the top 5 members.... Oh well~ Along with a soft piano playing as background music, I reckon this short drama has started off really well to set where the story is heading and created the appropriate atmosphere.
I have always wanted to bury a time capsule myself actually xD 

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[Review] Nogizaka46 - 7th single バレッタ Barrette

乃木坂46's 7th single with first-time and first-ever 2nd generation centre, Hori Miona. There has been a lot of uproar and a lot of cat scratching and name-calling. But I'd say, almost breaking 400k is really something worth celebrating. I (RUBS) would be considered a casual Nogi fan but I do enjoy a lot of their music and I have some members that I definitely keep my tabs on. So please don't hate me if I mention something incorrect about Nogizaka46. Without further ado, let's review  バレッタ.

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[Review] AKB48 - 34th single 鈴懸の木の道で「君の微笑みを夢に見る」と言ってしまったら僕たちの関係はどう変わってしまうのか、僕なりに何日か考えた上でのやや気恥ずかしい結論のようなもの / 鈴懸なんちゃら Suzukake Nanchara

AKB48's 4th Janken Single continued the Million streak, whilst breaking Oricon History! It also happened to own the title of having the longest 48Group Song name. One thing for sure, Aki-p sure knows how to keep things interesting. This single included "Request hour setlist Best 200 2014" voting tickets which was most likely another sales campaign to boost the typically lower Janken single sales. Nonetheless, another quality AKB48 Single with great B-sides to boot.

鈴懸の木の道で「君の微笑みを夢に見る」と言ってしまったら僕たちの関係はどう変わってしまうのか、僕なりに何日か考えた上でのやや気恥ずかしい結論のようなもの/ Suzukake Nanchara Music Video

TAKA
Costume: ★★★☆☆
I quite like this costume but I think that it is not the right style for this kind of song. Because the song is more upbeat and happy, I reckon the use of a brighter colour or like not

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[Review] AKB48 - 33rd single ハート・エレキ Heart Ereki

AKB48 did it again! Heart Ereki topped the charts making it the 14th consecutive million sale single. AKB48 is now tied with B'z, holding the most consecutive million first day sale singles title. YAY^^ 
Fun fact: If the upcoming Janken Single is also a million seller, AKB48 will make oricon chart history! Come on wotas open up your wallets!

That said, with the release of the CDs, the music videos have also been revealed.

ハート・エレキ/ Heart Ereki Music Video -Dance Ver-

NESS:
Costume: ★★★☆☆
The dance costume was classy, jazzy and English soldier looking. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I dislike them or anything, but I personally think they aren't really one of AKB's better costumes. That said, I do appreciate the details the designers have gone into with all the patterning and stitching on the top and I guess overall it does fit in with the song. I'm holding back my comments on the finger glove. 
Dance: ★★★★☆

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[Review] SKE48 - 13th single 賛成カワイイ！ Sansei Kawaii!

Title:  賛成カワイイ！ Sansei Kawaii! 

Artist: SKE48

Release Date: 2013.11.20

Management went all out for this single having the Sansei Kawaii MV shot oversea in Thailand, added another type that allowed more songs to be recorded and included a scratch card that allowed the buyers a chance to enter this event where they might be able (extremely rare) to take photos with a member they chose with their own mobile phone...! But I was surprised that the Oricon chart weekly sales was only 449,003 copies, which is much lower than Utsukushii Inazuma's 510,673... I really love this single and was kind of sad that the sales declined so much... (I wonder how the SKE girls would feel about this as well...) but I guess one of the reason why the sale went down is maybe because of Jurina's upcoming janken single...(I feel bad for not buying all types of Sansei Kawaii....) I hope their next single can be much  better than their previous singles...!!

Anyways having RUBS here with me as well, we shall continue with our reviews on the single~

賛成カワイイ！/ Sansei Kawaii! Music Video

TAKA
Costume: ★★★★☆
When I first saw the costume at Kobe Hall concert, I thought that it was just for the concert and not the actual costume for this song, but when I know that it actually is, I was thinking

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