Idol - A-to-J Connections

A Look Back at Mon Histoire by Ayu_star

6/30/2016

On March 25th, 2015, Ayu_star released Mon Histoire, her first mini album. Composed by SYUN, the songs have their own distinctive style.

The release kicks off with ‘Tenderness so Melodies!!’ which has an extremely catchy tune along with a soothing vocal style. It’s the kind of song that makes me feel like I’m going on a journey, and would be fit to be the introduction to an anime. ‘I’m proud’ goes with a completely different approach. It begins with a very slow and relaxing vocal focus and then transitions into a cool beat that is supported by a strong piano presence. Despite the transition, it still manages to keep the relaxing tone coupled with the slight pace increase. Moving into ‘Yume no Kuni no Jumon Wa Farara!!’ we get a more upbeat and fun song that really lifts the spirits!

‘Hana’ evokes a sense of calm and longing in the way that the music is composed, and is only heightened by Ayu_star’s singing. Finally, the release closes out with ‘Zutto Ishi ni’, a song that follows in similar theming to ‘Hana’, but with a different instrumental focus that helps make it stand out as a pretty conclusion to her mini album. If you’re looking for something sweet and pleasant to listen to, you should definitely check this out. You can get it via cdjapan.

Ayu_star is a Japanese artist based in Nagoya who debuted with Mon Histoire. Since then, she’s released two singles with more to come. She generally performs a couple times a month and has even performed in Los Angeles for AnisonUSA earlier this year.

- Teepu

cdjapan: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/FSM-11

Official Site: http://ayu.nagoya/#
Profile: http://hokkemirin.com/prof_ja_eng.html
Blog: http://ameblo.jp/ayu-star0822/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ayustar0822/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ayu_star0822

AKB48 45th Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo ~Bokutachi wa Dare ni Tsuiteikeba ii~

6/18/2016

The votes are in. The stage is set at the HARD OFF ECO Stadium Niigata. Fans sit in anticipation, soon to be joined by the girls vying for the elusive Senbatsu. It’s AKB48 Sousenkyo time.

The AKB48 45th Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo ~Bokutachi wa Dare ni Tsuiteikeba ii~ (45thシングル選抜総選挙～僕たちは誰について行けばいい？～) was held on June 18th, 2016. This was the 8th annual AKB48 Group members election, where fans vote for their favorite members. Fans could cast their votes through anyone of 20 different methods (including buying the 44th single, "Tubasa wa Iranai”). Out of the 271 girls who entered themselves into the running, 80 will participate on the single as one of 5 groupings which were distributed as follows:

1st-16th place: Senbatsu (A-side or main song)
17th-32nd place: Undergirls (B-side 1)
33rd-48th place: Next Girls (B-side 2)
49th-65th place: Future Girls (B-side 3)
65th-80th place: Upcoming Girls (B-side 4)

(results and more after the break)

Guso Drop - Yume shi

6/18/2016

Guso Drop is out to prove they're more hardcore than BiSH (which unfortunately at this point isn't very hard to do...) and they're here with a new EP to drive that point home. The idols who famously encouraged more stage diving and audience lifting the same day BiSH banned those activities have returned with some seriously hard-hitting punk idol songs which might be the best they've put out so far.

Never Forget: Kanon Suzuki's Last Night With Morning Musume。’16

6/13/2016

©UP-FRONT PROMOTION Co., Ltd.

Recently, A-To-J Staff Writer/Correspondent, Alita, attended Suzuki Kanon's final concert with Morning Musume。’16 and here is her report!

「Alita has been living and working in Japan for over 8 years. She has followed Hello Project since discovering Morning Musume。in 2001. Kanon Suzuki was the third "oshi", or favorite member, that she has seen off and she has no plans of leaving the fandom any time soon.」

Yukueshirezutsurezure - Antino未deology

6/13/2016

If you just got chills reading the title of this review, it's because Yukueshirezutsurezure are some kind of eldritch abominations come to wreak havoc on the planet. If you're reading this it's far too late, so you might as well see what this is all about, right?

Featured Idol Friday: Yukueshirezutsurezure

6/10/2016

We've talked about Yukueshirezutsurezure before, but somehow never got around to really telling you who they are. Luckily for you, it's Featured Idol Friday! With their debut mini-album fresh in everybody's minds, this is the perfect chance to tell you all about the enigma that is Yukueshirezutsurezure.

AKB48 Cuts Ties With International Sister Group SNH48

6/9/2016

In a sudden and shocking move, AKS (the management company behind AKB48 and its sister groups) announced that its Chinese sister group, SNH48 (based in Shanghai), has violated its contract and has cut ties with the international sister group. This move comes after an interesting series of developments from both the AKS and SNH48 camps.

BiSH are Embracing Their Horrifying New Aesthetic, And So Should You

6/7/2016

The night Hug Me officially left rebel idol group BiSH, the remaining members also debuted their new look. Fitting in somewhere between "monster hospital" and "wouldn't want to meet them in a dark alley", the members of BiSH have taken to social media to flaunt their terrifying new look. Some highlights: