[stepchart update] Hirai Ken - fake star & A&R - Seishun! LOVE Lunch

Click the banner to download! Text in Bold is new.


fake star
Hirai Ken
BPM: 62-125

Hard 8
Steps: 507, Holds: 19, Jumps: 69
Mines: 17, Hands: 0, Rolls: 0

Expert: 11
Steps: 784, Holds: 67, Jumps: 94
Mines: 0, Hands: 19, Rolls: 0


Seishun! LOVE Lunch
Athena & Robikerottsu
BPM: 150

Medium: 7
Steps: 338, Holds: 91, Jumps: 49
Mines: 0, Hands: 0, Rolls: 0

Hard: 9
Steps: 478, Holds: 80, Jumps: 74
Mines: 5, Hands: 0, Rolls: 2

Expert: 11
Steps: 778, Holds: 18, Jumps: 51
Mines: 8, Hands: 22, Rolls: 11

Special thanks to Raid-Kun for the Seishun! LOVE Lunch banner!
Making banners really isn't that hard and therefore I'll be making banners for each of the songs I do now which won't be so hard since I could just use the single covers. Backgrounds are still greatly appreciated! Background dimensions should be 4:3, I'd say 400x300 pixel minimum in PNG format. Thanks :D

[live review] Nicole Atkins & The Sea @ Lee's Palace - February 17th, 2008

Happy Family Day, Ontario! Nicole greeted us. Apparently, this was her 4th gig in Lee's but this was only my second time seeing here. This was, however, their first headlining gig and boy oh boy, they tore the Palace down. Oh Nicole was on fire. It filled all our hearts with desire. La De Da. Amazing that she was sick the day before and had no voice. Someone up there loves us and Nicole for giving her voice back and letting us hear it in all its glory.

Well, I think I should stick to some sort of logical order. The opening band was Toronto's Magneta Lane which I haven't heard of before but the friend I went with apparently has but didn't really know much about them. They were pretty cool except for one thing both my friend and I realized. They didn't seem too dedicated to their show. They suffered from a few technical issues with their bassist's pedals and the lead's guitar strap disconnected mid song but they continued anyway which was good of them. They shrugged it off. But at the very end, the lead had a vocal section where she was just screaming "yeah" on the quarter notes for maybe 8 beats and she looked over at her bassist at shrugged like, "zomg that was pretty blah... whatevs." It just didn't seem like they wanted to be there very much. Oh well. They were pretty entertaining none the less. I was there to see Nicole anyway.

AHHH, I KEEP ON FORGETTING TO ASK FOR A PICTURE. But whatev. The show was batshit insane. Ms. Atkins hit every single note spot on - it was an eargasm. I don't lie. She started off with the title track, Neptune City, and just did everything in between. She did my friend's and my favourite tracks near the start of the set which made us happy - Maybe Tonight, Carousel, Party's Over. The arrangement on Together We're Both Alone was quite interesting and more mellow and laid back. The vocals on The Way It Is was just insane to watch and hear since every single note, belting and everything, sounded exactly spot on and sent chills up and down my spine. The things she can do with her voice. Everything else was just awesome to see live. Everything about that night was perfect. She encored with War Torn and a cover from The Doors that I don't know because I don't listen to the Doors but anything Nicole covers will be awesome, which it was. AH. I don't even know what to say anymore. The whole night was awesome.

Post concert, she and the sea, and the opening band were at the back of the Palace signing and talking to fans etc. I got my CD signed and bought a shirt and FORGOT TO GET A PICTURE but oh well. I hope you come back soon, Nicole! So awesome. AH.

For your enjoyment, here's Maybe Tonight:

[ranking] Hello!Blog's H!P Poll Results - johpan edition

Morning Musume Rankings

1. Takahashi Ai - The Complete Package Musume
She's got the voice, she's got the moves, she's got the quirk, and she's got the look (imo. Yeah, I know that's totally subjective).

2. Niigaki Risa - Most Improved Musume
Anyone who's been around since the debut of the 5th Gen, when recorded, Risa was alright. But live? Oh dear. I think that out of all the current members who began as "mediocre musume", Risa is the most improved. If Konkon were still in MM, I think she'd give Gaki-san a run for her money for this award.

3. Michishige Sayumi - I'm Gonna Be Cute Today Musume
I'm sorry, well, no I'm not, but I find Sayu's narcissism to be quite adorable. I know her voice isn't up to par (lol understatement) with other members but I still kinda enjoy it. Don't ask why because you won't get a straight answer.

4. Junjun - I don't know yet Musume
I don't know why she's up here yet though what I've seen of her on Haromoni@ is quite hilarious. That and she's very easy on the eyes. And I love her thighs. lol. I'll let you guys figure out that one.

5. Tanaka Reina - Ideal Musume
I don't care how often she does that wink, it's always gonna be cute. Vocally, I find her to be fairly consistent and easy on the ears. Tsunku called her the Ideal Musume. I can't really argue.

6. Kamei Eri - I kinda disappeared into the background Musume
She used to be higher on the list except with the Haromoni@ layout, I haven't been seeing as much as I've been previously used to from her Eric Kamezou segment on Hello Morning. Since then, I haven't been able to get the same vibe from her. Maybe the line of GakiKame vids on MouTube might spark something new. I enjoy her vocally but the lack of presence brings her down.

7. Mitsui Aika - Cute but what else Musume
I still haven't been able to classify this one other than she's a cutie and has a pointy voice. Other than Koharu having Kirarin, I find that Mitsi has more TV presence which was evident during the Chinese segments on Haromoni@ where, from what I remember, Mitsi ended up doing most of the talking.

8. Kusumi Koharu - I've got Potential Musume
Like Mitsi, Koha is cute as hell (however cute hell just happpens to be) but other than her as Kirarin, I don't really see her as a separate entity from Morning Musume and I don't even take Kirarin too seriously. That and her voice is definitely something to get used to. If she improved that and got her cheeks pinched more, she might be more than the cute puff-ball of potential she currently is for me.

9. Linlin - Why am I a Musume
I really don't know what to say about poor Linlin. She really doesn't do anything for me. Seriously.


Berryz Koubou Rankings

1. Tokunaga Chinami - The Girl Next Door
Her hair in Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi is to die for. She's been my favourite Berryz member since no nyu~. She could work on her lives but I could care less. She's always gonna be #1 for me.

2. Kumai Yurina - The Model
Yurina could work on her live vocals but she's a knockout which makes it not matter for me. It's not that I don't pay attention to vocal abilities, I do, but this isn't a ranking based on vocal abilities. This is a favourite member ranking. This girl has serious model potential. And given the proper song choice, she could probably knock 'em dead with a little more work.

3. Tsugunaga Momoko - The Surprise
Buono! worked wonders for everyone's favourite sqeaky-voiced Peach Child. She should really do less songs that throw her into uber cutesy mode and more that bring out the lady that's on its way. They should've done that with so many other H!P members but nooooo. Cutesy sells... *sigh* I found it interesting in the Renai Rider Making Of when she was in the catering room with I don't remember who, but she was talking in, I suppose, her non-stage voice and I found it to be cuter than her squeak voice. *sigh*

4. Natsuyaki Miyabi - The Performer
Hands down, Miyabi is the most consistent performer in Berryz. She's got the voice and look to boot but I really want to see her on BerryKyuu! If I enjoy her there, her ranking will probably rise.

5. Sugaya Risako - The Superstar
I'm not saying she IS a superstar but they're treating her like one already. Her voice is cute but not spectacular. She's pedolicious, I guess I could use that term, and all upper management knows it and that's why they milk her but I suppose that's why she loses points for me. Bottom line, she's cute but not spectacular.

6. Shimizu Saki - The Dancer
Or so I'm told. I haven't really paid attention to her since she's usually in the back with like a half a line to sing. *sigh*

7. Sudou Maasa - The Massive
I don't know why I call her that. It just sounds like her name in a weird way. It makes sense in my head. She's got height but she has her off and on days with her look. Not as consistent as Yurina. Her live vocal performance is shaky at best. Maybe I just haven't paid much attention since, like Saki and Chinami, she gets no lines.


C-ute Rankings

Note: OK SRSLY. I so totally drew a blank when faced with the challenge of ranking the C-ute members. I don't even think this really reflects what I feel for each individual but whatever. Here goes nothing.

1. Hagiwara Mai - Miss I've-got-more-presence-in-my-little-finger
Hagitty's got presence. I've come to this conclusion after watching C-ute on Music Fighter while promoting Tokaikko Junjou. She's quite the talker and comfortable in front of the camera for such a young idol. She gets two thumbs up from me. I wonder what she'll be like in the future...

2. Nakajima Saki - Miss Gonna-be-the-next-big-thing
Even more so than Koha. Hrm, maybe they should do a duet together. That might prove to be entertaining. Her voice right now isn't particularly bad but has enough room for improvement. I can't wait to see her reach her full potential.

3. Suzuki Airi - Miss Line-whore
I know it's not really her fault she gets all the lines but she can handle them. She's consistent and quite entertaining. She has her lazy dancing moments but all the ingredients to a proper H!P idol are there. No complaints outside of her line-whorey-ness.

4. Yajima Maimi - Miss Leader...-san
I felt like her title needed a hyphen. What to say about Maimi? Her and Yurina should do a duet together. It might be interesting. She does a good job at doing what she does. Nothing to complain about which puts her in the middle.

5. Okai Chisato - Miss Give-me-some-spotlight-plz
Probably the most underused talent in all of H!P. I know it's not her fault she's underused but because of that, she gets lower marks. So, Okai, I suggest complaining. Put your foot down! Be like, "I WANT MY SPOTLIGHT, BETCHES!" You can go further than most H!P girls with a voice like that.

6. Arihara Kanna - Miss I-don't-quite-know-yet
I don't know much about her and don't really focus enough attention on her to make a good comment. So I won't. I just know I like the fact that I don't know more about her more than what I know about Erika.

7. Umeda Erika - Miss Tall-Stick
I remember calling her that back in her ZYX! days because she was a tall stick. I believe she was the tallest of the group and looked malnourished. These days, she's not so much a stick but is still tall relative to her group mates. She's still thin but at least looks healthy. Vocally, she's not the brightest bulb in the bunch. If I could, I'd rate Erika and Kanna the same.

[stepchart] fake star - Hirai Ken

As requested by raid-kun, here's a stepchart to Hirai Ken's 27th (correct me if I'm wrong, I'm going off theppn's wiki) single, fake star. I've heard it once or twice in my random Jmusic surfings. I've head a few of Hirai Ken's songs but I never really paid much attention to them.

In the comments for the stepchart I did for Seishun! LOVE Lunch, raid-kun asked if I took requests and requested 2 songs but was winking to make one for fake star. I youtubed it and almost instantly had ideas for it. 12 hours later (not that it took me 12 hours to make... I had to acquire said song first...), here's the hard stepchart for it.

fake star
Hirai Ken
BPM: 62-125

Hard 8
Steps: 507, Holds: 19, Jumps: 69
Mines: 17, Hands: 0, Rolls: 0

I won't bother talking about the steps to surprise you. ;) I'll probably be making an Expert stepchart when I get the time and if I get any request for easier, I'll make.

Download here.

As always, comment and critique!