Best of 2017: Sakamichi Series

This year I am looking back on the Sakamichi Groups, Nogizaka46 and Keyakizaka46. I started to like these groups even more so I decided to dedicate a whole post to them. They both released some awesome singles and albums and had some epic concerts. Of course there has been some drama too, but I started to like all the members even more and I feel like they improved so much. Nogizaka46 really established their status as a top Idol group this year and Keyakizaka46 didn't feel like a new group anymore with all the power they were showing. So let's take a look at my favourite songs:

18. Mirai no Kotae (Nogizaka46 3rd Gen)

This is such a cute song and I really started to like Nogi's 3rd gen.

17. Ballet to Shounen (Keyakizaka46)

Included in Keyaki's album, this is a kind of retro and nostalgic song about falling in love with a blue-eyed boy. It's relaxing to listen to it!

16. Soredemo Aruiteiru (Hiragana Keyakizaka46)

A beautiful song starting of with Kyoko's beautiful voice. I'm really starting to fall in love with Hiragana Keyaki and watching Re:Mind helped too.

15. Nigemizu (Nogizaka46)

This single is centered by two 3rd gen girls and the song is really lovely. I had to get used to the small interlude's right before the chorus but now I like this song!

14. Kimi wa Mou sagasanai (Keyakizaka46)

Part of Keyaki's album, this is a more fast and dramatic song. I really like the modern feeling and love to listen to it.

13. Sanbanmeno Kaze (Nogizaka46 3rd Gen)

The song that introduced Nogi's 3rd Gen. It's a fun song and I already feel that it's gonna be nostalgic in the future.

12. W-Keyakizaka no Uta (Keyakizaka46)

A song that includes both Keyakizaka46 and Hiragana Keyakizaka and it's so much fun to listen to. The music video is really really adorable!

11. Itsuka Dekiru kara kyou dekiru (Nogizaka46)

Nogi's latest single is quite dramatic and you can really feel that it's Nogi style.

10. Natsu no Hana wa Himawari dake janai (Keyakizaka46)

This is Imaizumi Yui's solo and she rocks this song. She has such a ncie voice and this song is beautiful and sad at the same time. Since she went on a hiatus it's even more special to hear her voice.

9. Wareta Sumaho (Keyakizaka46)

A unit called Aozora to MARRY consisting of 5 members. This song is kind of dark but also funny to me and I really like the sound of it.

8. Another Ghost (Nogizaka46)

A unit consisting of Himetan, Nanase and Ashu. I love these three a lot and the song is awesome too. It's kind of melodic and feels somehow different..

7. Hiraishin (Keyakizaka46)

Hiraishin is showing Keyaki from its darkest side. The Hirate scenes in the video and the whole tone of the video go along so well with the kind of even depressing sounding song. Definitely a favourite out of Keyaki's b-sides.

6. Kaze ni fukaretemo (Keyakizaka46)

Kind of the first happy and upbeat song in a long time for Keyaki. This single is quite cool, everyone looks so fancy in suits and the dance is so much fun to watch.

5. Eccentric (Keyakizaka46)

A crazy song about how crazy the members are. There are spoken passages and they really give the song a nice tone. It's still kind of dark but I like how they are like: We don't care what other people say about us. The video and dance are crazy too btw.

4. Bokura no Shoudou (Nogizaka46)

Favourite B-side of this year. It feels so epic and gets me pumped up, hahaha. It's really nice to dance or do sports when listening to this song. This is another 3rd gen song and I really like the epic music video too!

3. Getsuyoubi no Asa Sukaato Kirareta (Keyakizaka46)

Keyakizaka46 has been slaying so hard this year and this song in particular has been so cool. I like how this group keeps talking about problems and serious situations.. Quite a dark song with an amazing music video and even more symbolic dance.

2. Influencer (Nogizaka46)

This epic single must be Nogi's best. Influencer is everything I ever wanted from them, it has cool music and an amazing dance. Seriously, this dance looks sooo hard to do though!!

1. Fukyouwaon (Keyakizaka46)

And here is my favourite song of the year. Fukyouwaon was the best thing to happen this year. I can't even describe its epicness, it's strong message and the instrumentals give me chills. Dark and epic is the best to describe it and it got me addicted to this group, haha.


Top 9 members

I really want to talk about a few members, so here are the members I care for the most (I do like all the members though haha)

9. Kobayashi Yui

Kobayashi Yui is the first member I reall started to notice and like out of Keyaki. She has amazing vocals and I really like her in the Yuichanzu combi. In real life she is really really shy though and she kind of has a sad personality.. Sometimes I don't get it, but I do feel close to her and she is an interesting kind of Idol to me.

8. Sakurai Reika

Don't get me wrong, I still love Reika a lot. Seeing her makes mehappy, she has amazing vocals and is so funny. Lately there have just been other members that I got drawn into more. She's still such a cool person!!

7. Saito Kyoko

My favourite Hiragana Keyaki member is definitely Kyoko. She is so funny and I LOVE HER VOICE!!! Not only her singing voice but also when she is talking.. she's also a great actor and I feel like would be a great comedian.

6. Terada Ranze

Ranze has been climbing my list and everytime I see her I fall even more for her. Her looks are just so special and she has this kind of aura that draws me into her. She's a really nice person and I wish she would be pushed more..

5. Sugai Yuuka

Sugai-sama, a.k.a captain is such a sweet person. She's so ncie to all the members, has the purest smile and personality and she just seems so relaxing. She's also a beauty a fun person to watch on stage, even though I feel like she is shining more in happy or nostalgic songs rather than dark songs.

4. Matsumura Sayuri

To be honest, if Sayuri had her own comedy show or YouTube channel I would be her first follower. This girl is HILARIOUS and I love her so much. Seriousl, she's so funny and whenever she says something on a show it's the highlight of the show.

3. Wakatsuki Yumi

Wakasamaaaa! Always when I think: Oh I didn't hear about Wakasama lately, she pops up with something new and I get all excited again. She's a lovely person and for now the only Sakamichi person I met in person.

2. Hirate Yurina

I've been up and down with Hirate. From the first moment I though she was special, but I didn't fall in love directl. But after seeing her perform, listen to her voice and knowing her complicated personality there is just something that draws me to her.. she is really cool, has this melancholic look and simply seeing her on stage is the best thing ever. I feel sorry for her kind of suffering under all the attentiona and always being center.

1. Nishino Nanase

Still my favourite lalala. Nanase still has that melancholic look and even though she radically did change her hairstyle now she still looks like the shy girl from next door. But she did gain more conficence and I feel like she is really enjoying her life and I'm still so excited to see her!

Special mention; my 3rd gen favourite:

I don't know them that well yet so maybe it's gonna change again, BUT I really like Ito Riria. She looks different and even though she kind of has a really serious looks sometimes I like that.



This year ahs been really exciting and these two groups have been so so sucessfull and fun to watch, I can't wait to see what next year has to offer.
Let's hope for more good music and fun shows!!

Best of 2017: Hello!Project

This year a lot happened in Hello!Project. From °C-ute disbanding to Kudo Haruka's graduation, Tsubaki Factories major debut and some other graduation and promotions. There have been a lot of single and album releases, concerts and events, even I could attend some of these.
So let's talk about all the groups individually, starting with the one group that doesn't exist anymore:

°C-ute

With this group having their last activities together it has been a quite nostalgic and sad beginning of the year. They released one last Best-Of album and their last single. Especially Final Squall has been a really bittersweet goodbye song. I managed to go to two concerts, including their last concert, which ahs been awesome and sad at the same time. But I am really really happy I got the chance to see them live. I also went to Suzuki Airi's birthday event together with a friend who is Airi fan as well. I have some beautiful memories of this group and I'm so happy to see them all going their own way!
Forever °C-ute!!

Morning Musume '17

Momusu had an awesome year. With 13th gen finally participating in promotions and Chisaki (14th gen) being added in summer there have been a few new faces.They released two singles and an album with soem awesome music! I especially liked BRAND NEW MORNING, Jealousy Jealousy, Wakaindashi and some tracks from the album like CHO DAI. One downside was Maachan being sick in the beginning of this year and not participating in single and concert promotions until march. Still, she came back as energetic as ever and the whole groups performance level was pretty high! The biggest shock was Kudo Haruka's graduation announcement and her actual graduation this month. That was really hard for me at first but now I just want her to be happy on her own. I'm just so glad I got to meet her in person and also see this group's concerts. Since I met almost every member at handshake events I feel really happy to be a fan of this group and despite my favourite member leaving, I'm looking forward to what they will be doing soon.

Angerme

Angerme released only two singles this year, both have been pretty solid with my favourite song being Ai sae areba nan ni mo iranai. They had succesfull live tours and two members, Kawamura Aano and Funaki Musubu, were added to the group in summer. I also got to see them live in concert and they have been really amazing! After °C-ute disbanding, Angerme's leader Wada Ayaka has also been promoted to H!P leader. I think she is an awesome leader and I wish her all of luck for that and hope she won't be graduating soon. The only downside this year was not hearing about Aikawa Maho. She was one of my favourite members and I would be happy to see her back but of course her health is more important and I just hope she will be healthy and happy again.
Update: Maho now left the project and while I'm really sad about that I wish her all the best for her future!

Juice=Juice

This group made quite a big impact this year. Releasing their 9th single, some digital songs and their first digital single Fiesta Fiesta, which is my absolute favourite of them, they have been doing quite weel. Danbara Ruru and Yanagawa Nanami were both added to this group and even though I didn't expect that at all, they make a great addition. Starting from September they also went on a World Tour and I got to see them live in Germany. That was a really nice experience and they are a really strong performance group. I got to like Danbara Ruru a lot this year, starting from her still being in Kenshuusei so I am looking forward to her growth in this group.

Country Girls

So Country Girls has been kinda confusing this year. Until Momochi's graduation in June they released only one single and I especially liked Peanut Butter Jelly Love from it. The graduation was sad and togetehr with °C-ute she has been the last member of the Hello Project kids. From summer on, Country Girls have kind of been on anhiatus though, with Morito, Yanagawa and Funaki being added to other groups as well and Yamaki and Ozeki concentrating more on their school life. They still appeared on some concerts and released digital songs but haven't been active that much since summer.

Kobushi Factory

Unfortunately this group released only one single this year and had three members leaving, making it not a really good year for them. Fuji, Ogawa and Taguchi all kind of had scandals and the whole thing only happaned in the span of a few months so I feel like it's really strange. The remaining 5 members are giving their best though and it can only go up from now on and I'm looking forward to their next activities.

Tsubaki Factory

Tsubaki had the best year of all the groups in my opinion. they have been a rising group from the beginning of this year. With the major debut and awesome first single with all three songs being simply prefect to their second, also strong single and a lot of live performances and events. They even got to win two Best Newcomer awards with rounds up such a successfull year for this group. I couldn't be more happy and proud of them and I just hope they will continue like this!


Hello!Project Kenshuusei

With some promotions and the annoucement of a new group it has also been a good year for the Kenshuusei's. They got featured more in Hello Project Station, in concerts etc. The highlight of this year was definitely Inaba Manaka returning to the Kenshuusei's, being leader of The Hello Project Kenshuusei Hokkaido group. I'm really happy she's back! :D

As you can see this has been a roller-coaster year for the project with so many things going on. With a new year starting soon I'm excited for what's going to happen in the future.


Top 10 songs

10. Gobaku ~We can't go back~

Performed by Ichioka Reina, Danbara Ruru, Kawamura Ayano, Takase Kurumi and Kiyono Momohima. This song was first performed at H!P's Sumemr concert Tour and later released digitally. I really like this song and it's all about sending messages to the wrong person which is hilarious! I would love to see this line-up again even though it's unlikely since they are added to different groups.


9. Seishun Say A-HA

Another concert song which was then released on Morning Musume's 15th album. This song is literally pumping up the audience and I'm really happy I could listen to it live three times and now it's released. It's also special as it has no solo lines but that makes it sounds really different and I love the dance.


8. Peanuts Butter Jelly Love

My favourite Country Girls song because it's just so lovely and it's kind of like Momochi's goodbye song. I love the cutesy Idol sound of this group so much.


7. Uruwashi no Camellia

Part of Tsubaki Factory's first single, this song has a really nostalgic sound and I'm simply in love with it. The members are so charming and I also love the style of the video.


6. BRAND NEW MORNING

This is such a badass song and I'm just so happy about this epic debut song for Kaedy and Yokoyan. Everyone sounds and looks so cool, definitely a song to remember!


5. Final Squall

My favourite song of °C-ute's last single. This sond is really good and I love how they used different dances of their old songs for Final Squall. I also tried to dance it and even though it's quite hard it's still so much fun.


4. Hatsukoi Sunrise

Tsubaki's debut also had this amazing song that just makes every concert reall exciting!


3. Jealousy Jealousy

Most fun song of Momusu, a nice mix of a beautiful song with nice vocals and a fun rap part. Also my favourite Karaoke song!


2. Fiesta Fiesta

Best Juice=Juice song of the year! I'm so happy to see this live too, because this song is full of energy and amazing performance skills, topped by the best vocals of everyone.


1. Wakaindashi

Duu's graduation sing is also my favourite song of 2017. It's just such a happy and upbeat song and I simply love Duu's solo parts and the members all just having fun and loving each other. It warms my heart to listen to this song



Top 8 members

8. Makino Maria

Maria has really impressed me the last two years. She is getting better and better in singing, dancing and her energy in performances is top quality. It is just so nice to see her having fun and I also think has a great personality and great humour! Adding to that she is really tall and beautiful.

7. Danbara Ruru

Ever since the beginning of this year Ruru has caught my eye. When she was still a Kenshuusei she had awesome performance skills and seeing her with Juice=Juice just exceeded my expectations. She is so talented and fun to watch and on top of that she is an absolute cutie!

6. Kaga Kaede

Kaedy has been in Momusu only one year but I was already following her when she was still a Kenshuusei, and she was my favourite. She has a great voice, really fierce dancing and acting skills and I like my tall&short haired girls!!

5. Kishimoto Yumeno

Another short haired-beauty! Kishimon has also improved so much over this year. With Tsubaki's major debut and her getting more confidence it already feels like she is a real star!!

4. Oda Sakura

Queen of singing and performance. When she's on stage she is shining like a star and is an absolute diva. Off stage she is the sweetest and nicest human being possible and needs to be protected at all costs!

3. Wada Ayaka 

Leader of H!P, leader of Angerme. Queen of Arts! Wada Ayaka herself is a piece of art and looking at her having fun on stage it just really makes me happy. She is also such a sweet person, being nice and welcoming to every member ad having simply a great personality.

2. Sato Masaki

Maachan is crazy.. but at the same time she is just normal, she has her own kind of system and she is really clever. I really like how she changed over the years, she not only improved her singing and performance skills.. she also created her own kind of style and it's so amazing to watch!

1. Kudo Haruka

Last time I will be able to include her in something like this. But I wanted to tell you again that Kudo Haruka is/ was my favourite Idol of H!P! She may have graduated now but she brought me so much joy over last few years and loved her as a performer, a singer and definitely as an actress. I really only wish the best for her!!


Special Mention:

Suzuki Airi

Maybe I told you how it was always hard for me to pick a favourite in °C-ute.. it always felt like the all belong together. But Suzuki Airi is just simply amazing and to me she was something like the perfect Idol.. maybe even more than that, because she really has everything: the voice, the performance skilly, the looks and the personality. She's so funny yet so fierce on stage and I really need to honour her for that.


So that's it for my Hello Pro rewind post! All the groups have been doing pretty good and even though there have been some sad events too, I'm really looking forward to 2018!!
Bye bye for now :)