let’s go where this dawn ends

Hilarious, and way better than the New Year SP (which tried too hard).
It felt... honest?
Like Arashi weren't just making comments for the sake of making them/hamming it up for the camera.
(I think they really enjoy the older brother/mentor sort of role?)
And great food ofc and it doesn't hurt that Tanaka Rie and Haruma are absolutely adorbs. *O*

AND I'M JUST IN TIME FOR SHO'S BIRTHDAY!
HAPPY 32NDDDD

Literally unable to stop replaying Blind Love.
Goodness, song, why so beautiful. ;~;
I've been liking K-idols' recent JP output, actually(!);
it's pretty cool seeing nice music come out of all these dubious forays into the market
once companies run out of songs to remake
(though this statement is of course less applicable to CNB per se).


Some motivation and intelligence would be nice to have, right about now.


Fun fact: attempting to sing along to Kana's songs is a surefire way to induce a headache!
I'm half-convinced she does all of it in a lower key
and leaves it to the studio engineers to nudge it up a few tones.


Was watching some Shiyagare
and... SINCE WHEN HAS MATSUJUN'S HUMOUR BEEN MY STYLE? HAHA. <3
Also: new respect for Sho's professionalism as an emcee -
he might not be the most versatile when it comes to working with others (compared to, say, Nino),
but he is so good at hiding discomfort/glossing over awkward moments.
(Meanwhile, you have Jun letting it hang out all over his face l-lol.)


Sometimes I think 'ugh fandom acts like its average age is thirteen' -
then I realize in horror that that might, in fact, be close to the truth
(cf. all these kids in YT comments calling Zelo 'oppa'(?!!)).
OH, Z. LOOK AT YOUR LIFE, LOOK AT YOUR CHOICES.

HnA 2012.01.12:
Okay so Ohno teaching Nakama Yukie how to fish was the most adorable thing ever.


Wow what what whattt WAIT.
Is it just me, or are they changing up Arashi's variety personae
(presumably because they'll all be in their thirties this time next year?)?
The recent episodes feel more down-and-dirty and intense -
risque-r jokes/anecdotes/questions, more-cutting remarks, more-complex personalities
(like how Nino mentions Ohno's dedication to his work in the Becky Share House ep
in a way that makes Ohno sound like Jun(!),
and now I am confused because I'm wondering if I should be taking Nino's word or second-guessing it
since Nino's OWN persona has become more complicated, lololol).
On one hand, it's thrown me for a loop.
On the other, IT'S WORKED, because I am back on-board the Arashi variety train
and wondering why I ever disembarked.
It feels a little like that initial fandom period,
when you're trying to get a grasp on the members' characters?
Ack - so, so exhilarating. xD

making sure I say this early this time round:
HAPPY 32ND, OH-CHAN, YOU AMAZING BEAUTIFUL MAN.
There's still so, so much I need to learn from you. ;__;
May you be able to fish to your heart's content this year. xD <3333

ETA:

HnA 2011.11.03: And that's why you're forever my fave, Ohno. ;~;
Overall I really enjoyed this episode too -
Ishida Yuriko is an awkward, self-deprecating oddball <33,
and her request for fish market coffeeshops threw up such lovely things
(and was very nicely removed from the typical young starlet date).
I'm not the biggest fan of the HnA pair format -
or, for that matter, most of the new 2011/2012 HnA corners
(though it IS interesting how much the dynamic changes when it's just two members) -
but VIP Limousine (and, I assume, Sharehouse, though I haven't caught up to that extent)
definitely has its moments.

I was just watching the 05.05.2011 ep of HnA
(the VIP Limousine with Tominaga Ai and Tsuchiya Anna as guests),
and Ohno and Sho ran to Sho's Shibuya board of shame to take a commemorative photo at one point.
Sho, after getting back to the bus:
'But everyone was looking at us as if they were looking at something they should not.
It was kind of lonely.'
I mean, it was sort of jokey/laughed-off,
but that stopped me short for a second -
fame really is a double-edged sword, isn't it.

HAPPY, HAPPY - AND VERY BELATED - BIRTHDAY, OHNO:
you awesome person with truckloads of talent
and an utter lack of the attitude/initiative to match.
It seems as if, every time I start drawing away from Arashi,
you're always the one to bring me back. <3
Never stop painting. Or fishing. Or dancing.


So the 11.11.11 Meikyuu Music Station appearance
was essentially a bunch of amazing.
Sho's impromptu attempt at Sexy Zone's choreo, for one
(and Jun's/Nino's not-so-secret LOL-ing,
and Sho's self-important thumbs-up, and. Ohno's FACE).

And: the Mini Sta.
- Ohno's totally random peace signs. And FACES. (Seriously, Ohno, seriously.)
- Aiba's hilarious karaoke episodes!
- And, can I just say,
I adore the way they lovingly prod Sho/poke fun at him/adjust his clothing
when he's asked to introduce the song. xD
And how Sho is clearly happy with all the ~attention~ from his bandmates.

But the highlight - the talky bits.
- Oh, Ohno. 'And after 12 years, even the nostril hairs will grow, yes?'
Hahaha THE SPECTRUM OF REACTIONS FROM ARASHI ARE SO CHARACTERISTIC.
Sho jumps in to explain away the weirdness, Jun looks vaguely scandalised,
Nino throws a sarcastic comment or two,
and Aiba is half a beat behind everyone else
but cracks up heartily when he does get it.
- Sho. Burning candles in his green room.
Burning CANDLES in his green room, like NISHINO KANA does.
And Nino, labelling it an 'urban legend'.
I love this already.
- Tamori putting Sexy Zone on the spot
by asking them if they'd want to emulate Sho's candle-burning ways.
(Lol, poor Shiori.
You could tell he wasn't quite sure how to
avoid offending Sho and give an honest answer at the same time.
ANDAND OT, but Shiori is qt. You can tell he's taking it upon himself -
as a centre -
to lead/speak up, even though he doesn't always know what to say. xD)
- AIBA SUGGESTING THAT THEY LOAN THE A.RA.SHI OUTFITS
(YES, THOSE ABOMINATIONS) TO SEXY ZONE.
*Sexy Zone look vaguely horrified*
Aiba: 'It's for Sexy Zone's sake! So they can be sexier.' (WHAT, AIBA.)
Sho: 'Right, the sexy part.' (?!!)
Jun: 'But that outfit is not sexy!' (THANK YOU, Jun.)
Aiba: 'No, no, no! There were many sexy spots on it!' (This was where I truly cracked up.)
- Aiba and the woodcraft dolls -
WHICH HE BOUGHT BECAUSE THEY REMINDED HIM OF MATSUJUN.
AND ACCIDENTALLY BROKE BEFORE HE GAVE THEM TO THE MEMBERS.
And Matsujun, being annoyed while being... happy.
Aww these guys will forever be adorable, even if they're nearly 30.
-Sho placing a fatherly arm over Marius' shoulders. xD
(I really, really want to see this guy with kids of his own.)
-OHNO - RATHER CONVINCINGLY, I MIGHT ADD -
IMITATING A CHICKEN DURING THE ENDING CREDITS.
WHAT IS WITH THIS GUY, I CAN'T EVEN. <33


Recently watched various Shiyagare eps,
and ack when this show is good, IT'S GOOD.
I love it when (a) guests come and ACTUALLY teach Arashi a new, useful skill
(because Arashi is more interested, and I get to learn something too)
and/or (b) the guests are familiar with Arashi (HIJINKS.).
Notable episodes this round:
20 (Ayanokoji Kimimaro), 23 (Yashima Norito), 25 (Miyane Seiji) (THIS EPISODE. BEST EVER.),
30 (Neptune), 31 (Higashiyama).


エナジーソング～絶好調超!!!!～
EXCELLENT SONG.
A little K8-ish (i.e. v. boisterous; the ad-libbed shouts.
Btw, I love how ad-libbing in Arashi-speak
means adding the strangest things to the track,
whereas in Kpop it refers to variations on the melody?
Haha, the differences in priorities. xD),
but the contents are well and truly Arashi,
and - believe me - what you see on the label is exactly what you get.
HEARTS, as always.


Stuck on In Time With You.
I am such a sucker for BFFs-turned-lovers stories.
It reminds me of 9 End 2 Outs, actually -
maybe not exactly on the same level
(less-believable male lead/less-realistic inter-character relationships,
a script which leans dangerously to this side of pretentious),
but nevertheless a step up from most other dramas.

Thank you, LORD, so freaking much.
For overruling and helping me to do well last year.
Nothing would have been possible without you.
Please help me stay grounded and focussed this year,
so that I can keep going at that level and get a good degree.
I don't want to disappoint Mom and Dad
and anyone else who's had faith in me.
<3


Starting to catch up on Shiyagare episodes again.
Oh, Arashi variety, how I've missed you.
(Which reminds me -
I need to do a recap of good Shiyagare episodes at some point. xD)

Mayonaka no Arashi, Ep 9:
This episode is absolutely, absolutely hilarious.
And awfully endearing, to boot.
Inadvertently trespassing into matsutake land,
being an inept guard,
halting matsutake growth (and not feeling sorry about it),
AND catching a matsutake thief -
all in a night's work for Aiba. xD
The boy may be many things, but 'conventional' is definitely not one of them. :)

I'm also watching SHINee's Hello Baby,
but... nah, I don't know.
I still prefer Arashi's shows to the K-idol brand of variety.
(I felt the same about Beast's MTV shows.)
I wonder if it's just me? Or if the fans of these shows would feel the same way if they watched other sorts of idol shows?
Am I generalising here?
I just wish the idols would be forced out of their bubble MORE/
be subject to less-contrived contexts/less editing/
less milking of the most insignificant actions&words for entertainment value.
Less (or less-obvious) image-manufacturing.
More heft.

Edit: I admit it. I was wrong.
It started off slow, but Hello Baby is amazing. xD
Less the interactions with Yoogeun,
more the inter-member back-forths.
Jonghyun's comebacks are lovely ('IS THIS THE REALITY YOU WANTED?!'),
and SHINee's ad-libbing is firstrate.
They're not always the nicest people, but it makes for enjoyable watching.

How is this possible: Lonely Rain gets more amazing upon repeated listens.


yarukizero's Beautiful World con reports sound wonderful.
Can't wait for the DVD release.


The Sakuraiba HnA episode was love.
I really, really hope they film a similar episode for Ohmiya :D:D:D
(Maybe for the upcoming Kaibutsu-kun movie? One can hope.)
I loved how Sho seemed genuinely moved by Aiba knowing his favourite foods.
And Aiba's ingenious!ideas for a beach date
(I'd actually like to try the sumo tube - it looks like fun,
provided I don't fall off the second I get on xD).
And Aiba failing at cooking.
...And Aiba building Sho an Everest of a sand penis
(EDIT: Aiba apparently built boobs as well,
according to a comment on aatash's post? Oh, Aiba.).
I LAUGHED SO HARD, YOU HAVE NO IDEA.
30-YEAR-OLDS BEING IMMATURE TOGETHER EVIDENTLY NEVER GETS OLD
(GET IT GET IT?).
How did that even get through the editors, anyway?
But it's always nice to be reminded that,
underneath the blander programming,
Aiba is still your resident overgrown teenager.


A few days late,
but I just read the omona post on Boom/Suju's racist infraction,
and here's what I think:
it all rests on whether
(a) they were making fun of black people in general, or
(b) if they were parodying a specific person (some are suggesting Stevie Wonder).

If the former, it WAS blackface and should be condemned.
If the latter, the dark makeup was merely an attempt
to get as close to a person’s look as possible.
Yes, an insensitive, hurtful attempt
completely disregarding the history of painting one's skin darker,
but nevertheless not 'blackface' as traditionally-defined.
You can say lack of intent to offend doesn't justify an action,
but - for me, at least - being ignorant of racist subtleties is (while by no means right)
is by far the lesser sin compared to purposefully playing on racial stereotypes to generate laughs.

So, the bottom line is, any omona-esque oppa-did-mean-it hollering is probably premature,
since there is essentially no way of telling if (a) or (b) was the case
without any actual vids of what Boom actually did in that getup.
It seems kind of strange to be sending accusations/defences flying left and right
based on some stills, which -
despite being rather incriminating -
provide an incomplete picture of the situation.

If (b) was in fact the case, however,
there still remains the possibility of Boom making disability-related jokes as part of his spoof,
which is a whole other issue on its own
(one as UGH as racism).
BUT. Similarly, judgment should be reserved till after the vids are released.


On less touchy issues,
Matsuken and Koyuki are having a baby!!
One thing I can say: odds are, he/she's going to be awfully attractive.
So happy for them. <33
Also: the cute guy from Maou is getting married. :)


There's going to be a new H!S!J song called Beat Line,
which sounds like it's going to be awesome as well.
Loving the kiddos' music is getting to be a trend, I tell you.
I even like the Magic Power song they did for the Smurf movie(!).
AND. SPEAKING OF THE SMURF MOVIE.
That blue carpet clip with Chinen and Yamada?
When. did. Yamada. get. so. attractive.?!

HnA 2011.07.28:

This episode's VIP Limousine is ridiculous amounts of adorable.
There's Ohno. AND NINO.
ARRANGING FLOWERS (okay, Nino chickened out, but still.).
And - as if that isn't enough -
Nino and (fabulously-refined!) guest Nakatani Miki
take turns to play who-can-embarrass-Ohno-the-most.
Hilarious over-the-top compliments are hilarious -
not to mention, Ohno's awesome secretly!pleased! faces. <3
("Do a close-up! Do a close-up!"
"DON'T FILM ME.")

Also:
Nino dissolving into peals of laughter over Ohno's opinions on fashion?
Ohno and Nino getting positively giddy with excitement
because they (ooh! exciting) manage to introduce the segment in sync? xD
Ohno cracking up at his own randomness?
Ohno scolding Nino for not adding a "-san" to Tsurutarou?
I am all over this.

Plus the nageire pieces were gorgeous.



So, apparently.
Aiba broke Sho's TOILET -
because he didn't know it would open automatically and tried to force it open.
Hahahaha. OH, AIBA. <3


Also, Hanako 2011.08.25:
Aiba: Eh? The T-shirt that Leader is wearing now.... has "BHUTAN" written on it~!!! My souvenir from Bhutan, you wore it~!!
Sho: Moreover it has the feeling that it already has been washed several times. (laugh)
Aiba: I'm happy~. Let me take a picture.
Ohno: (sticks out his chest so as to let the words be more obvious)
Sho: He's multinational~, Ohno Satoshi~ (laugh)

Nino: Aiba-san, your baseball uniform's back number, you made it the same as Jordan's right? Was it number 24?
Jun: It was number 23, and after he made his comeback it was number 45.
Aiba: I was always under the impression that Jordan was numer 24 so I put number 24 as the back number. (laugh)

I love these guys.