S/mileage New Member Audition!

[Farrah]

[quote name='Anderei' timestamp='1307256160' post='100752']

[quote name='freezingkiss' timestamp='1307231443' post='100717']

[quote name='TnB' timestamp='1307225568' post='100701']

- These auditions are apparently being done pretty differently from typical H!P auditions:

"For the first time in Hello! Project history, there was no screening based on paper applications, it starts right with the first interview. It seems this method has given Tsunku new motivation. "The beginning level is high, they're good at singing. Unlike the Morning Musume auditions up until now, it feels like "heroes" have gathered." "

[/quote]



I am sorry, but Tsunku had LOADS of chances to add decent singers to Momusu. He just DIDN'T. A LOT. So hopefully in this audition and in tenth gen, he will learn BANDS NEED SINGERS. Also, this really sounds like he eventually wants S/mileage to be his flagship group. Which would just be a huge slap in the face to Berryz and C-ute.

[/quote]





Bands need good singers, but idol groups don't really need them.

[/quote]

Untrue, imho. Every idol group needs at least one exceptionally good, consistent singer to lead every song - and after Ai leaves, we'll be down to Reina, who is much less consistent than Ai, and Risa who is less consistent than Reina. Every single singer beyond them in current Momusu is completely useless, even Riho and Mizuki (though possibly not forever - we'll see in a year or two)



Anyway, basically everyone in S/mileage is on the same level of mediocrity, so as long as he doesn't add anyone who is worse than everyone else, it should be okay.

[Shoujo Q]

[quote name='Farrah' timestamp='1307273396' post='100757']

[quote name='Anderei' timestamp='1307256160' post='100752']

[quote name='freezingkiss' timestamp='1307231443' post='100717']

[quote name='TnB' timestamp='1307225568' post='100701']

- These auditions are apparently being done pretty differently from typical H!P auditions:

"For the first time in Hello! Project history, there was no screening based on paper applications, it starts right with the first interview. It seems this method has given Tsunku new motivation. "The beginning level is high, they're good at singing. Unlike the Morning Musume auditions up until now, it feels like "heroes" have gathered." "

[/quote]



I am sorry, but Tsunku had LOADS of chances to add decent singers to Momusu. He just DIDN'T. A LOT. So hopefully in this audition and in tenth gen, he will learn BANDS NEED SINGERS. Also, this really sounds like he eventually wants S/mileage to be his flagship group. Which would just be a huge slap in the face to Berryz and C-ute.

[/quote]





Bands need good singers, but idol groups don't really need them.

[/quote]

Untrue, imho. Every idol group needs at least one exceptionally good, consistent singer to lead every song - and after Ai leaves, we'll be down to Reina, who is much less consistent than Ai, and Risa who is less consistent than Reina. Every single singer beyond them in current Momusu is completely useless, even Riho and Mizuki (though possibly not forever - we'll see in a year or two)



Anyway, basically everyone in S/mileage is on the same level of mediocrity, so as long as he doesn't add anyone who is worse than everyone else, it should be okay.





[/quote]



But then you run into the problem, what if he adds someone better then all four and then people realize that and it becomes somewhere down the line That girl + the four (or six, depending on how evil Tsunku is) and then S/mileage turns into a tragic comedy.



I wonder if this isn't what Em-El mentioned in the H!P concert thread about UFA trying to fix their egg system? Send another girl to Morning Musume along with a new recruit from the auditions and the rest become S/mileage trainees with a few other recruits from their auditions. Or send a few more over to the UFA Girls.



Of course nothing I say ever becomes true, but the limited number of eggs left might make it possible.

[tsukinobyouin]

Untrue, imho. Every idol group needs at least one exceptionally good, consistent singer to lead every song.

Also untrue - at least in terms of the success of the group. Takahashi's reign over MM is an exception in the the group's overall history and really in the idol world in general. In JE, the only group to ever really have an exceptionally good and consistent singer that dominated the group was Arashi, and as they've become more popular the vocal distribution has evened out some. AKB obviously shuffles their girls around all the time, but hardly uses solo parts in their songs and rarely sings live anyway. Up-and-coming Momoiro Clover has no real vocal lead and also no stand-out amazing singer. Idol group success is based much more on personality, looks, and to a degree the catchiness of the music. As long as the group doesn't completely sound like nails on a chalkboard, then those other things overshadow the singing talent.



I.e. ...

Anyway, basically everyone in S/mileage is on the same level of mediocrity, so as long as he doesn't add anyone who is worse than everyone else, it should be okay.

This. xD I would even take it a step further and say "as long as he doesn't add a bunch of Koharu's with no personality" it should be okay.





I really wish Tsunku would give more of an explanation of what he means by "sub members." This is the part that's most worrisome to me about the entire audition process.

[Pucchi-Mo]

sub member= shafted of lines to Jun Jun & Lin Lin proportions. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... lleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rolleyes:' />



[quote name='Molly' timestamp='1307226789' post='100709']

I hate this so much, I really don't understand why they have to mess with something that isn't broken. I actually teared up reading the translation because S/mileage is the first group I've been around to watch from the beginning and I don't want it changed.

[/quote]



Well then it should also be exciting that it's the group where you're witnessing an entirely unique strategy out of the history of H!P.

[Farrah]

[quote name='TnB' timestamp='1307288570' post='100763']

[quote name='Farrah' timestamp='1307273396' post='100757']

Untrue, imho. Every idol group needs at least one exceptionally good, consistent singer to lead every song.

[/quote]



Also untrue - at least in terms of the success of the group. Takahashi's reign over MM is an exception in the the group's overall history and really in the idol world in general. In JE, the only group to ever really have an exceptionally good and consistent singer that dominated the group was Arashi, and as they've become more popular the vocal distribution has evened out some. AKB obviously shuffles their girls around all the time, but hardly uses solo parts in their songs and rarely sings live anyway. Up-and-coming Momoiro Clover has no real vocal lead and also no stand-out amazing singer. Idol group success is based much more on personality, looks, and to a degree the catchiness of the music. As long as the group doesn't completely sound like nails on a chalkboard, then those other things overshadow the singing talent.

[/quote]



I'm not really speaking about success, but I will say that all of the top idol groups have at least one singer who can somewhat carry a tune, which is what I consider exceptionally good in the land of idols (after all, there are a lot more people like Sayu, Aika and Matsujun than there are Ai, Tegoshi, or Takamina). I suppose Reina and Risa would fall into this category most of the time, but god, I hate their singing.

[momoirosaya]

Tsunku wants a girl who pulls you (him) in with her power in 3 seconds & someone who is inspiring. S/mileage is like "Nooo..."

Nothing new, but if you can read Japanese and are interested, or just like looking at pictures of Tsunku:

http://natalie.mu/music/news/50719



Tsunku wants S/mileage to be like MM and slowly increase in members,

http://hyperhobby.jp/pickup/201106_smileage.html



No new news :P

[BonkyuAsh]

S/mileage would be their own thing. We don't need a mini morning musume.

[showraniy]

I'm sure the idea is to replace Morning Musume, not make it a mini anything.

[momoirosaya]

There already is a Mini Morning Musume and it's called Mini Moni <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... lesson.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lesson:' />





It's like the LOVE MACHINE curse!! Those on the right side got married, and those on the left side went to America!! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... omgwtf.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':omgwtf:' />

Haha I'm joking about the curse thing btw. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... stling.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':whistling:' />

[BonkyuAsh]

I totally set myself up haha. still s/mileage souls just do their own thing. I'll probably end up liking the end result though.

[aine]

Cleaned up the thread after the tsunkurific derailment. You can carry on airing your woes. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... smooch.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='=3=' />

[rob]

No woes from me, I'm looking forward to seeing the new member and the new S/mileage.



Not everything has to be better in the past, be positive and enjoy what you have, that's my pov.

[Anderei]

Some footage of the auditioners



Yuuka looks like she's not sure how to react to all the potential new girls, but Wada handles it well. There's some really cute girls, though, and a pair of adorable twins. We don't get to see any singing, though, and we only get to see one dance. Then it's all Tsunku talking.

[eri]

Underwhelmed by the auditioners except for hula girl just because it was silly. And, something about their body language -- those twins should be a manzai duo.

[Shoujo Q]

Tsunku could be a total jerk and stick one twin in S/mileage and the other in Morning Musume just for subgroup purposes of course. :D



Also, I wonder how many of these faces we'll see again in future AKB stuff. History always seems to bridge the two together.

[rob]

Knowing AKB they will probably hire every single girl that doesn't get in, then they can make AKB 4888

[Anderei]

Or maybe they'll end up in AKBN0 since girls continue to drop out of that group like flies, so I'm sure there's plenty of open spots.

[rob]

or maybe AKBSND48DMGNOBODYGIVESASHIT48?

[alita87]

The twins are adorable, I think I want both of them in.



As a note this isn't the first time of skipping the paper auditions even though they are billing at as such. Musume auditions up til the 9th gen were often direct interview first ala the 8th gen audition I went to. Tsunku wasn't present so that is a first though.



It will be interesting to see what Smileage is in the fall tour this year.

[Prettycatchy]

I'm just wondering what are the chances that a Lucky 7 might happen...

[momoirosaya]

Does anyone know when the new members are being announced?

[eri]

[quote name='Saya' timestamp='1309315307' post='102601']

Does anyone know when the new members are being announced?

[/quote]



August 14:

http://blog.mm-bbs.org/wada-ayaka/19203

[rob]

I haven't heard any official announcement but I imagine it will happen on their upcoming tour?

[al kusanagi]

Niconico will also be broadcasting the next stage in the S/mileage auditions.



Says they are going to narrow it down from 2000 girls to 50.

[momoirosaya]

^It says it's the 50 that passed the first round, which was 2,000 participants.

So there will be 50 girls there!!



And a new video from S/mileage's YT channel.

[eri]

Lots of interesting girls - I feel hopeful.



Tsunku needs a new hairstyle <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... umbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Anderei]

That girl from :45 to :55 is pretty. I like her.



Tsunku's hair looked fried.

[Haru]

[quote name='Anderei' timestamp='1310141621' post='103262']

That girl from :45 to :55 is pretty. I like her.

[/quote]



Yes.

I want her and nobody else <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... lesson.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lesson:' />



The girl at 1:14 is cute too but she almost looks like she's too old to join.

[al kusanagi]

None of them are worthy. I hope they've been keeping the best hidden away.



So according to Tsunku the next round takes it from 50 to 30, then 30 to 10, and then the final round?

[Pucchi-Mo]

I can completely imagine Tsunku just making a new group from the finalists. Threatening s/m was probably just for publicity. The results rarely turns out to be the plan that they announce.