Even though I’ve already went on and on about the music I’ve enjoyed this year, I had to reserve a special article about the Idol scene in 2011. As far as I’m concerned, 2011 was really the year of the Idol. The wave may have started back in 2010, but it didn’t reach its full potential until this year.
AKB48
AKB48 has had the defining year of their career. They’ve created and shattered numerous records, sold millions of singles, and appear just about everywhere you turn in Japan. And they’re only growing. An Idol group hasn’t seen the kind of success enjoyed by these now 64 girls since Morning Musume was popular 10 years ago. The girls appear on a dozen different television shows a week, not including their own productions. They hold daily performances in their theater in Akihabara. They conduct excessively large Dome tours across the country. They travel across Asia to promote themselves internationally. Several of them are involved in national ad campaigns. They shoot video games, calendars, gravure spreads, photobooks and fashion shows. The hold handshake events for just about any reason. And some of them are still in middle school. These girls are quite possibly the hardest working young ladies in Japan.
Though their first single of the year, Sakura no Ki ni Narou was somewhat boring and a little weird (let’s be sakura trees? What?), AKB’s 2011 catalog is quite impressive. Along with their following singles, Everyday KACHUUSHA, FLYING GET, Kaze wa Fuiteiru, and Ue Kara Mariko, AKB have cemented their place in Oricon history. And whether that’s because the wota are spending all their hard earned money in order to get those photocards, vote for their favorite girl in the senbatsu election, or simply because the music is that good, AKB is a sales monster. But in all honesty, I think these singles are fantastic (though Mariko left something to be desired), Kaze being one of my top 25 singles of the year.
Morning Musume
I’ve made plenty of references to ‘when Morning Musume was popular.’ And that’s because they’re not anymore. I used to be quite the momusu fan, but the past couple of years these girls have just fallen off. And earlier this year, on September 30th, 2011, the once great and iconic Idol group Morning Musume officially died. With the graduation of long time member and then current captain, Takahashi Ai, the group is just simply no more. For me the group ceased to be truly important after Tsunku decided to graduate all the personality in the group (my last tie to momusu Kamei Eri and foreign funny girls JunJun and LinLin), but I could at least still acknowledge their potential staying power. But now, without Takahashi’s vocals, I find the group desperately clinging onto their twilight. The group is nigh unrecognizable to the lineup that made them so famous and popular years ago and I’m not sure how much longer it can really last on the shoulders of Tanaka Reina’s vocal talents and Michishige Sayumi’s character. I’m sorry momusu loyalists, but the ship is sinking, either get in the lifeboats or go down with it.
Top Idol Releases
Though not a definitive list of Idol releases this year, here are some of my favorites listed alphabetically. Some singles first, then a couple albums.
BANZAI Venus by SKE48
H!P fans should be able to get behind SKE’s music fairly easily. I think the reason why I enjoy SKE’s music so much is because it reminds of me good quality H!P. The songs are catchy, chaotic, energetic and fun. SKE’s catalog tends to remind me of tracks like Sou da!, Renai Revolution 21 and other arrangement driven songs. BANZAI is Idol pop to a T for me, the kind of song you can’t wait to see them do in concert. But, that’s a lot of SKE’s catalog to me.
Kaze wa Fuiteiru by AKB48
AKB’s ‘message’ single for 2011, Kaze is different from most Idol pop. Though you may not be able to describe it, Idol pop has a distinct sound—and Kaze throws it out the window for acoustic guitars and underplayed organs. Couple this with the song’s lyrics and you get a track that’s poignant and relevant.
Kiss! by bump.y
After hearing bump.y perform this song I ran to the internets and looked up every song they’ve done. Not a single one is anywhere as good as Kiss! This song is auditory crack, I hear it once and I’m humming, singing, whistling it the rest of the day. The production is extremely reminiscent of Kawase Tomoko’s MALIBU CONVERTIBLE, but is actually the doing of Korean hot topic producers Sweetune. Fuzzy bass lines, subtle wah guitar licks, and a good dozen or so layers of synth ranging from slick and polished to dancy and funky make up the expert production. The track is retro and fun and ultimately one of the best singles of the year period.
PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! by twinklestars
twinklestars is apparently an offshoot of another Idol group called Sakura Gakuin who I’ve never listened to. But the reason I’ve listened to twinklestars is simply for the fact that they are produced by an actual musician and not a business man with great understanding of musical theory. This small group gets their production by way of former Cymbals member Okii Reiji. Having an indie pop band’s bassist and guitarist at your controls lends you a certain sound. No other Idol group out there right now has the same tone, feeling, or drive backing their vocals. The piano line driving the song is big and fun, reminding me almost of big band, doo-wop, boogie woogie style jams sessions. If only groups like this could get more exposure, we’d have a whole new breed of Idol pop.
A Class by miss A
You can read my full review of miss A’s debut album over here, but let me just tell you that I loved it. The album is full of slick, fun, retro production by JYP and talented vocal performances from the girls. Obviously I have a thing for retro influenced music, which is what really draws me to miss A. Almost none of this album really sounds like modern day Korean pop to me, which—if you know me—is a huge plus. I won’t say the record is completely devoid of present day musical trappings, but JYP blends, bends, and molds them so well to still work within the structure that he’s created for these four ladies that it’s something of genius. To put it simply: I would buy this album.
Check-In by Passpo☆
The girls of Passpo☆ were my first (and only, so far) Miss Right Now, and for good reasons. Their sophomore album came out only earlier this month, but I think it’s one of the best Idol albums of the year. Check-In continues Passpo☆’s cabin attendant concept and girl rock image, but elevates the latter passed the sound we heard on their debut. As much as I liked the girls’ debut, Take Off, I think this album surpasses it. It’s only been a year but the girls have matured, the producers have learned new tricks, and the music all together has gotten better. The tracks still have that Idol undertone, but some are even more convincing of their girl rock origins, so much so that a track like Street Fighter wouldn’t be out of place on SCANDAL’s next album.
With Idol super soldiers AKB48 basically taking over the country, Idols are more prevalent now than they have been since a decade ago when Morning Musume were the queens of the game. And it’s not just AKB anymore, Akimoto Yasushi has created a regime of cute preteen to young adult girls based all over the country ready to empty your wallet and infect your ears. But aside from Akimoto’s crazy 48s, Idol groups have been pouring out of the faucet. I can’t even count all the Idol groups out there anymore, and I’m learning about new ones every day. With numerous national television shows doing Idol related specials, this resurgence in Idol worship has allowed dozens of new groups to gain recognition and carve out their own niches within their markets. How long will this Idol boom sweep Japan? I think we’re in it for a few more years.
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