ThePeace
06.21.2005, 12:45 AM
This article is written by Al Kusangagi from mm-bbs
I decided to go back and update a classic work or art from the old days. Hard to believe so many changes have taken place since I first wrote it. So, Al fanclub, once again step into the world of Morning Musume 101! As usual, my opinion is more important than yours, and I will force it upon you mercilessly.
Al's Morning Musume 101:
Part 1: The History-
Okay, so way back in 97, Sharan-Q vocalist, Tsunku held an audition for a new female rock vocalist (Sharon-Q was a hugely popular rock band back in the day. Think a Japanese Queen, only while Freddy was gay, Tsunku seems to be frighteningly asexual). The audition was held on the popular show Asayan・(they were doing the American Idol・thing long before, only it also features actor and spokes model searches as well). When it was all over, the winner was a young woman by the name of Michiyo Heike. More on her when I do my Hello Project treatise.
Now, our story truly begins. A few months after the audition, Tsunku got a brilliant idea and called back the five runners up to his rock vocalist contest. He offered them a proposition: He would have them record a song and if they could sell 50,000 copies of it in five days, he would give them a recording contract. He named them Morning Musume・(Morning Girls・or Morning Daughters・, handed them the lyrics to Ai no Tane,・and turned them loose on the unsuspecting world. They personally hit the streets to sell their single, meeting people on the street and even going door to door. After four days, in the city of Nagoya, they sold the 50,000th copy, and proceeded to change the Japanese pop scene forever!
In 1998, the group made their professional debut with the single Morning Coffee.・Initially, the group was made up of five girls: Yuko Nakazawa, Kaori Iida, Natsumi Abe, Aya Ishiguro and Asuka Fukuda. Shortly afterward, for their third single, three more members were added to the group, Kei Yasuda, Mari Yaguchi and Sayaka Ichii. The group grew in popularity, and even made a frighteningly bad and intensely amusing movie with Michiyo Heike called Morning Cop.・br>
They were enjoying modest success as a light R&B group, but little did they know what was in store for them. Asuka Fukuda left the group to pursue her education.・(And good riddance!) To fill the void, the Third Morning Musume Audition was held on Asayan, like the previous two. Tsunku's intention was to add two more members to the group, but when it was over, only one worthy addition could be found. The winner was thirteen year old Maki Goto, and with her coming was a massive image change for Morning Musume. On 9-9-99, Maki took center stage with her first single with the group, Love Machine.・Gone were their former mellow R&B stylings, replaced with upbeat, fun lyrics and a hyper kinetic dance routine. It debuted at number 1 and became their first million selling single, gaining them the title of Super Idols.・br>
The next member to leave the group became Aya Ishiguro, who married the drummer from Luna Sea and got pregnant (not necessarily in that order). Just after, the Mo-Musu girls made their second movie, Pinch Runner,・which was a nationwide hit. In 2000, Tsunku held the Fourth Morning Musume Audition on Asayan. This time around, four members were added, Rika Ishikawa, Hitomi Yoshizawa, Nozomi Tsuji and Ai Kago. Their first single with the group, Happy Summer Wedding,・was yet another number 1 hit.
In the next year, Morning Musume had a double loss with Sayaka Ichii suffering burnout and leaving to pursue a career as a singer songwriter, and Yuko Nakazawa, the group's leader deciding that she was too old to be in a group with girls half her age and Graduating・from the group to focus on her solo career.
On August 26, 2001, Love Audition 2001, the Fifth Morning Musume Audition (minus Asayan) was held to power up・the group again. Three girls were initially picked, Ai Takahashi, Makoto Oogawa and the new baby・of the group, then 12 year old Risa Niigaki. Then, Tsunku put everyone on their *** by throwing in an additional member, a girl who stumbled through the auditions and apparently had no talent, just a huge heart and a never give up attitude. Since then, Morning Musume's ugly duckling,・Asami Konno, has become a standout fan favorite.
On September 23, 2002, her 17th birthday, Maki Goto performed her final concert with the group at Yokohama Arena (I was there, man!), graduating・to a full time solo career (she had released four hit solo singles while in the group).
Next, big changes were in store for the group. On January 7th, 2003, fans were shocked when they learned that Hello! Project's up and coming soloist superstar, Miki Fujimoto, would be added to the group. Shortly after, on the 19th, the winners of Love Audition 2002 were annouced, the loli-con triple threat of Sayumi Michishige, Reina Tanaka and Eri Kamei.
On May 4th, 2003, the four new members officially joined (although Miki had been performing MM duties for a bit longer), temporarily bringing the group up to SIXTEEN members. However, the next day, Kei Yasuda graduated from the group, taking up the role of Hello! Project's sub-leader.
Perhaps the biggest blow to the group came in January of 2004 when the heart and soul of Morning Musume, Natsumi Abe, graduated from the group on the 25th to pursue her own solo career. Later that year, she was followed by the twins・Nozomi Tsuji and Ai Kago when they graduated on August 1st to form the duo W.・br>
The mass exodus continues into 2005, where it seems like members are now fleeing like rats from a burning ship. On January 30th, 2005, the final original member and leader of the group, Kaori Iida, graduated for her less than exciting solo career, leaving Mari Yaguchi as the new leader. Then, in one of the happiest days of Morning Musume history, on April 14th, Mari Yaguchi quickly exited the group, the result of a scandal involving herself and a young actor, leaving Hitomi Yoshizawa as the new leader (HEIL!). And all was good. But the changes for 2005 weren't over yet・br>
On May 1st, after a failed previous audition, Morning Musume added its newest member member, twelve year old Koharu Kusumi, the lone 7th Generation member (so far). Finally, on May 7th, 2005, Morning Musume's squeaky voiced beauty, Rika Ishikawa graduated to lead her own group, Viyuden.・br>
From a five member group at the beginning, sixteen members at their largest, and currently a ten member roster, the history of Morning Musume has been a roller coaster ride. With dozens of top ten singles, Morning Musume is one of, if not the best selling female group in Japanese music history. They have recorded image songs for the past two Olympic games (I WISH,・Sydney 2000 and Souda! We're Alive,・Salt Lake 2002), have several hit TV shows, a few movies, and a number of members have successful side careers as dramatic actresses. Morning Musume is and will remain, a cultural phenomenon.
*coming soon: Part 2- Current Members, Part 3- Ex-Members, and Part 4- The Sub-Groups*
I decided to go back and update a classic work or art from the old days. Hard to believe so many changes have taken place since I first wrote it. So, Al fanclub, once again step into the world of Morning Musume 101! As usual, my opinion is more important than yours, and I will force it upon you mercilessly.
Al's Morning Musume 101:
Part 1: The History-
Okay, so way back in 97, Sharan-Q vocalist, Tsunku held an audition for a new female rock vocalist (Sharon-Q was a hugely popular rock band back in the day. Think a Japanese Queen, only while Freddy was gay, Tsunku seems to be frighteningly asexual). The audition was held on the popular show Asayan・(they were doing the American Idol・thing long before, only it also features actor and spokes model searches as well). When it was all over, the winner was a young woman by the name of Michiyo Heike. More on her when I do my Hello Project treatise.
Now, our story truly begins. A few months after the audition, Tsunku got a brilliant idea and called back the five runners up to his rock vocalist contest. He offered them a proposition: He would have them record a song and if they could sell 50,000 copies of it in five days, he would give them a recording contract. He named them Morning Musume・(Morning Girls・or Morning Daughters・, handed them the lyrics to Ai no Tane,・and turned them loose on the unsuspecting world. They personally hit the streets to sell their single, meeting people on the street and even going door to door. After four days, in the city of Nagoya, they sold the 50,000th copy, and proceeded to change the Japanese pop scene forever!
In 1998, the group made their professional debut with the single Morning Coffee.・Initially, the group was made up of five girls: Yuko Nakazawa, Kaori Iida, Natsumi Abe, Aya Ishiguro and Asuka Fukuda. Shortly afterward, for their third single, three more members were added to the group, Kei Yasuda, Mari Yaguchi and Sayaka Ichii. The group grew in popularity, and even made a frighteningly bad and intensely amusing movie with Michiyo Heike called Morning Cop.・br>
They were enjoying modest success as a light R&B group, but little did they know what was in store for them. Asuka Fukuda left the group to pursue her education.・(And good riddance!) To fill the void, the Third Morning Musume Audition was held on Asayan, like the previous two. Tsunku's intention was to add two more members to the group, but when it was over, only one worthy addition could be found. The winner was thirteen year old Maki Goto, and with her coming was a massive image change for Morning Musume. On 9-9-99, Maki took center stage with her first single with the group, Love Machine.・Gone were their former mellow R&B stylings, replaced with upbeat, fun lyrics and a hyper kinetic dance routine. It debuted at number 1 and became their first million selling single, gaining them the title of Super Idols.・br>
The next member to leave the group became Aya Ishiguro, who married the drummer from Luna Sea and got pregnant (not necessarily in that order). Just after, the Mo-Musu girls made their second movie, Pinch Runner,・which was a nationwide hit. In 2000, Tsunku held the Fourth Morning Musume Audition on Asayan. This time around, four members were added, Rika Ishikawa, Hitomi Yoshizawa, Nozomi Tsuji and Ai Kago. Their first single with the group, Happy Summer Wedding,・was yet another number 1 hit.
In the next year, Morning Musume had a double loss with Sayaka Ichii suffering burnout and leaving to pursue a career as a singer songwriter, and Yuko Nakazawa, the group's leader deciding that she was too old to be in a group with girls half her age and Graduating・from the group to focus on her solo career.
On August 26, 2001, Love Audition 2001, the Fifth Morning Musume Audition (minus Asayan) was held to power up・the group again. Three girls were initially picked, Ai Takahashi, Makoto Oogawa and the new baby・of the group, then 12 year old Risa Niigaki. Then, Tsunku put everyone on their *** by throwing in an additional member, a girl who stumbled through the auditions and apparently had no talent, just a huge heart and a never give up attitude. Since then, Morning Musume's ugly duckling,・Asami Konno, has become a standout fan favorite.
On September 23, 2002, her 17th birthday, Maki Goto performed her final concert with the group at Yokohama Arena (I was there, man!), graduating・to a full time solo career (she had released four hit solo singles while in the group).
Next, big changes were in store for the group. On January 7th, 2003, fans were shocked when they learned that Hello! Project's up and coming soloist superstar, Miki Fujimoto, would be added to the group. Shortly after, on the 19th, the winners of Love Audition 2002 were annouced, the loli-con triple threat of Sayumi Michishige, Reina Tanaka and Eri Kamei.
On May 4th, 2003, the four new members officially joined (although Miki had been performing MM duties for a bit longer), temporarily bringing the group up to SIXTEEN members. However, the next day, Kei Yasuda graduated from the group, taking up the role of Hello! Project's sub-leader.
Perhaps the biggest blow to the group came in January of 2004 when the heart and soul of Morning Musume, Natsumi Abe, graduated from the group on the 25th to pursue her own solo career. Later that year, she was followed by the twins・Nozomi Tsuji and Ai Kago when they graduated on August 1st to form the duo W.・br>
The mass exodus continues into 2005, where it seems like members are now fleeing like rats from a burning ship. On January 30th, 2005, the final original member and leader of the group, Kaori Iida, graduated for her less than exciting solo career, leaving Mari Yaguchi as the new leader. Then, in one of the happiest days of Morning Musume history, on April 14th, Mari Yaguchi quickly exited the group, the result of a scandal involving herself and a young actor, leaving Hitomi Yoshizawa as the new leader (HEIL!). And all was good. But the changes for 2005 weren't over yet・br>
On May 1st, after a failed previous audition, Morning Musume added its newest member member, twelve year old Koharu Kusumi, the lone 7th Generation member (so far). Finally, on May 7th, 2005, Morning Musume's squeaky voiced beauty, Rika Ishikawa graduated to lead her own group, Viyuden.・br>
From a five member group at the beginning, sixteen members at their largest, and currently a ten member roster, the history of Morning Musume has been a roller coaster ride. With dozens of top ten singles, Morning Musume is one of, if not the best selling female group in Japanese music history. They have recorded image songs for the past two Olympic games (I WISH,・Sydney 2000 and Souda! We're Alive,・Salt Lake 2002), have several hit TV shows, a few movies, and a number of members have successful side careers as dramatic actresses. Morning Musume is and will remain, a cultural phenomenon.
*coming soon: Part 2- Current Members, Part 3- Ex-Members, and Part 4- The Sub-Groups*