Since Berryz Koubou will go on an indefinite hiatus in a few days, I decided to look at one of their older songs. The group has been around for 11 years now, so they have a very big discography. It was really hard deciding on one song, since there are just so many great songs and videos. But I knew it had to be something with Maiha, because she's one of the original members and I just want to take a look at the time when everything started for this group. I first thought about reviewing ''Special Generation'', since this song is just awesome and it was also one of the first of them that I discovered. But I decided against it, since the video isn't as interesting as some of their other ones and a few members weren't featured that much. So after listening to all of their early singles again I finally decided to review their 4th single Happiness ~Koufuku Kangei~.
Being released back on August 25th 2004, this is still one of their very early singles and all the girls were really young. To be honest, I've never known this song before listening to all of their older singles again. To me it seems like this single isn't actually one of their most succesful and popular singles. Nevertheless, I was surprised by this.
But first of all, let's talk about this song. With the young ages of the girls and the title Happiness ~Koufuku Kangei~ you are right with guessing that this will be a happy song. It's just sooo much fun. But listening to the song, I can't help but feel a bit nostalgic. Even though I haven't been a fan at the time this was released, it just sounds so much like the old H!P songs and hearing the young voices of Berryz is just really interesting. Of course, they didn't really have really great voices and were more screaming than singing back than, but it isn't annoying and I quite like the young Berryz voices, since they are so fresh, happy and innocent. :)
It just makes me happy listeing to this song and their voices. But I mean, who could say no to kids that are singing ''We will welcome this happyiness tonight''?
So let's take a look at the most interesting part now: The video!
It all starts with the title of the song.
And here we have a very real looking train (*cough* not) flying through the sky.
Chinami: Wooow, this looks so cool *genki*
Risako: WTF? Where are we?
Man Risako, you could at least try to look enthusuastic..
Momochi: Gaaaaah, here I come.
Yuria: Wah, she's creepy.
Well, it's Momochi, what do you expect?
Yeay for the kids who are having fun even though their dance doesn't look perfect! :D
And the background looks like a temple.
Chibi Miyabi. When I was new to Berryz, I wondered it she was half Japanese, wince she was having light brown hair from the eraly days on. Seems like she already liked to change her hair.^^
Momochi and Maiha: We are Power Rangers!
Chinami: Naah, this isn't my thing.
It's funny to see Chinami with long hair and the other two are looking freaking cute.
Yurina!! :D She was still growing back then. xD
Yurina: Hehe, I love being tall.
Berryz is sitting around a table with a lot of food now.
Risako: Heyoooo.
Risako looking really cute and Maasa was already beautiful. *-*
Risako: Hohohohohoho.
What the heck?
Momochi is taking that box.
Momochi: Yurushite nyan.
Momochi: It can't be helped, I'm simlpy the cutest!
Risako: This is so bad, I don't like it.
Miyabi: Peace guys, look at my head!
Yurina: So funny (not).
Chinami: Look at my hands!
Momochi: Eeew, what are you doing?
Kyappu: Yoooo, hi there camera.
Chii: huh?
OMG, Miyabi looks as if she has a side-cut. XD
Yurina: Miii, what's with your hair?
Yurina: I like my hair way more!
Good for you. XD
Risako: *bored* Not the biggest fan of this food.
Maasa: Then why are you still eating it?
Maiha: Hi theeeeere, I'm still in the group!
Maihaaaa! She's so energetic. :3
Yo, captain has so much swag..
And why is Miyabi placing a cupcake on her head?
Miyabi: This is like the funniest thing ever, right?
Saki: #Swag
Maasa: I don't get these kids.
But you're still a kid, too at this point. xD
I really love how much fun they seem to have in these scenes.
Group shot.
Lol at Chinami, who's jumping to be on camera while Momchi can hardly be seen. And Risako's face is the best!
Maasa: Yeah, I'm the tallest.
Yurina: You won't be forever though, muhahahaha.
Yep, Yurina will beat everyone.
LOVE!
A wild Chinami appears!!!
OMFG!! Momochi looks simply epic here.
Momochi: I can't..
Miyabi's smile is so funny and innocent here. :)
Where are the clouds coming from?
Yeaaay, of course I welcome happiness. :D
An awkward Risako kid smile. Loving those ears though.
Yeah, Momochi almost didn't change at all. xD
And Chinami has the most fun. xD
Captain still looked awkward back than. OMG, I can't believe how much she changed.
And I really love how much they are shaking and jumping in their solo shots. xD
They are in the train again.
Miyabi: I have hands!
Oh really?
Yurina: I love you!
Maasa: Ooookay.
Kyaaah, Maiha is so cute. *-*
Why did she leave the group?? :'(
Maasa: Well, that's life.
Wow, Maasa, stop being so serious all the time. xD
Momochi: Eeeeh? I'm not the cutest?
Risako: Hehe, well, that title goes to me.
*wild jumping*
Just some crazy Berryz kids.^^
Now this is funny, Risako you're failing a little bit. xD
I love these group shots.
Is captain winking?
And it's just sooo funny how overdramatically Miyabi and Maiha are posing. XD
Maiha: I want you!
It's cool to see how much energy this kid has. :D
Risako didn't really have such a great voice back then..
More of the dance. Isn't the hardest dance ever, but they were kids. xD
More awkward smiles. But I kind of like them. xD
Chinami didn't change at all..
I love those rabbit teeth. :D
Fighting pose! (so they are Power rangers? xD)
The train is back
Miyabi, Yurina, Maasa and Chinami.
Saki, Momoka, Risako and Maiha.
Happiness everywhere!!!! :D
Chinami looks way more excited in the dance shot. xD
Risako: Don't go away or I will slap you!
Miyabi and Saki are going into the train again it seems.
Everyone is inside now..
.. and they are leaving now (how fitting).
Some funy faces. xD
And the end pose.
What a funny video. xD I truly enjoyed everything about this. Seeing Berryz as kids is just so much fun alone and I love them being all happy and energetic. The dance was okay, but I really loved the group shots a lot more. Berryz sitting on the table was awesome to look at, since they had so much fun. And even though there were still some awkward moments in there (Captain!), the members were mostly showing funny and interesting faces. It's just really nice to see those kids having fun and being motivated. Of course, the girls changed a lot after that, so seeing their first steps is really cool and they were so cute, especally Maiha. Now, I honestly don't really now much about Maiha, which makes me a bit sad, but it's still nice to see her. *-* She and Chinami were definetely the most enthusiastic, but as a whole I just really like the energy of Berryz frm the early days. They were such a fun group! :D
So yeah, this has been my review of such an old song. I hope you liked it, I had a lot of fun doing it. It's nice to look back at the beginning of this group.. Now it makes me feel really sad that they will leave us ._.
But more about this in another post, we still have a few days and concerts with them^^