Domo's Music Domain #3 -「We are Buono! Buono! LIVE TOUR 2010 」Overview

Hello Friends!

If you haven't picked up on my slight Japanese Pop (JPOP) obsession, this post will surely confirm any speculation. I love JPOP; I specifically enjoy music produced by Hello! Project (H!P). So, as an ode H!P, this post is a review of my favorite Buono! Concert.

Buono! is a girl group formed with members from other two other H!P girl groups in 2007. The members are (in order from oldest to youngest) Tsugunaga Momoko, 21, Natsuyaki Miyabi, 20, and Suzuki Airi, 18. The group has an Ameba Blog and an official Youtube Channel that you can check out if you'd like to know more. They are both in Japanese, of course.

「We are Buono! Buono! LIVE TOUR 2010 」took place in February 2010 to promote the group's third studio album 「We are Buono!」(also released in February 2010). The tour DVD was released in May 2010 and featured bonus footage. The set list for the Concert and DVD were a mixture of songs from their third album and previous songs from singles and subsequent albums, which can all be found here in their discography. You can also find lyrics in English and Japanese on an amazing site I've been using for years, Project Hello!

What I enjoyed most about this concert is that the member's voices had matured so much by the time the album was released, that they sang with more power and clarity than they did in the studio recordings! It was a real treat to hear Momo hit her notes on key and not use her "cutesy" voice once. Anyone that has watched a Berryz工房 or Buono! Concert knows that poor Momo doesn't always hit her lines as great as she does in the studio recordings and that can be a real letdown because she is so charming and talented. In this concert, however, Momo does not disappoint. None of the girls do.

Here are a few video's from Buono!'s Official Youtube Channel of singles they preformed on in the concert.

『MY BOY』 (MV)

『Take It Easy!』 (MV)

『Bravo☆Bravo』 (MV)

『Our Songs』 (MV)

Overall, this concert was amazing and I wish I had seen it in person! I can only imagine the energy radiating from the girls and the crowd.

If you can get your hands on a copy of this DVD, you will not be disappointed if you want to be entertained by catchy tunes, energetic performers, and talented vocalists.

Until next time friends, peace, love, and green tea <3

~ Domo ~

Domo's Music Domain #2 - ℃-ute Releases Another Remixed Favorite!

℃-ute has released a second remixed video this week. This time it's 『都会っ子 純情』 (2012 神聖なるVer.) or Tokaikko Junjou (2012 Shinseinaru Version). I personally love the hearing the updated vocals because once again as the group lost members and their voices matured, the song didn't seem to fit anymore with their new image.

Now, as much as I love the updated vocals, I cannot stand the choreography nor the cheaply produced set in the background. Mai Hagiwara, the youngest member of  ℃-ute dances awkwardly in the beginning of the video and also speaks the first few lines of the song, previously spoken by Maimi Yajima. Mai Mai's voice is still too soft to get the reaction that Maimi's voice always had with those lines. Sometimes change is good, this time, I wished they'd left that part of the song alone.

Here are both the old single and new remixed version for your comparison. Let me know what you think in the comments down below.

『都会っ子 純情』 (MV)

『都会っ子 純情』 (2012 神聖なるVer.)

Until next time friends, peace, love, and green tea <3

~ Domo ~

Domo's Music Domain #1 - ℃-ute Is At It Again! Old Single, New Remix!

℃-ute has released their 2012 version of Massara Blue Jeans (まっさらブルージーンズ(2012神聖なるVer.)) and I am very excited to hear the updated vocals.! I've seen every ℃-ute Concert and it was becoming evident that as the girls matured physically and vocally, they were no longer able to sing the notes as beautifully as they did when they were children. Losing three members of the original group has changed the line distribution in the song as well.

I think the best idea H!P has had in a while in terms of CD releases is a compilation CD of re-releases that have been remixed and this new remix of my favorite song is awesome. The vocals are on point and their newest CD,②℃-ute神聖なるベストアルバム is full of new vocals over remixed songs of classics their fans love.

I recommend that you give these songs a listen if you get the chance. You will not be disappointed by the crisp, mature voices of the members or the updated dance routines and line redistribution to accommodate for a much smaller group.


Here is a comparison of the newer remix and older release:

まっさらブルージーンズ(2012神聖なるVer.)

『まっさらブルージーンズ』 (MV)

And now a word of advice to Tsunku & the management team of Hello! Project:

Please market your groups towards foreign audiences as well as domestic. You have many fans that want to purchase merchandise from your groups but cannot because navigating your site is not "English friendly," nor can we purchase items because we live outside of Japan. Please begin cater to your very diverse fan base. We will not disappoint you with our enthusiasm towards all members of the Hello! Project family.

That is all. :)

Peace, love, and green tea <3

~ Domo ~