Maasa and Maimi
Chance — what a hell of a word. I’ve lost count on how many times it pervaded Hello! Project’s releases and Japan’s airwaves this year. We heard it in Kusumi Koharu’s fourth Kirarin☆Revolution single, “Chance!”, and again in Morning Musume’s flop single, “Mikan”, when we were quite brazenly told that we have a chance, and that life is only ‘one time’. Well, Momusu’s message might not be very popular with the spiritualists who believe in reincarnation, but it was a strong sentiment, and brought back the same style that the group lost circa 2004. (It’s also probably the most coherent English ever heard in a Momusu song.) Aside from the two obvious choices, I’ve noticed the word is popping up in some other miscellaneous H!P picks. But the word isn’t only notable to lyrics — besides, sometimes actions speak louder than words.
Tsunku decided to take a chance on ℃-ute and released their hit single, “Tokaikko Junjou”, which broke out a little from the style of the group’s two other major releases, “Sakura Chirari” and “Meguru Koi no Kisetsu”. He took a chance on Melon Kinenbi and, thus, Black Kinenbi was born to a lot of “boo”s and low sales that the foursome is known for. Berryz decided to take the leap backwards to a more cutesy sound with “Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi”, combining elegant white costumes and a lovely backdrop with an obnoxious and even downright annoying song (although the B-side is badass). Earlier this year, H!P had no choice but to fire Kago Ai, making her the first girl to have her contract terminated in the history of this company’s existence. Tsuji Nozomi and Iida Kaori both got pregnant, and the former’s baby girl is positively adorable, although her birth probably ruined her mother’s future career as an idol. Goto Maki took a chance and graduated from Hello! Project (and showbusiness entirely, it seems). The addition of two Chinese girls to Morning Musume and Tsunku’s declaration of war on the rest of Asia, should they not succumb to his group’s charming spell and buy all their shit.
I took a chance and watched Momusu’s “Go Girl ~Koi no Victory~” PV near the beginning of the year, which is exactly why I’m sitting here typing this in the first place as “ＬＯＶＥマシーン” plays in the background.
