Morning Musume Concert Tour 2011 Fall Ai BELIEVE ~Takahashi Ai Sotsugyou Kinen Special~

[Anderei]

The interview is over at Tokyohive. I'd post it but I can't access the site right now. But they've said in other interviews that 5th gen were yelled at for not really socializing with the other girls.

[Madara]

[quote name='rob' timestamp='1315398362' post='107713']

Don't forget Ai wants to leave, she saw the 10 year mark and decided to move on to something else.



Nobody is kicking her out.

[/quote]





Anybody know what Ai is going to do next? A solo career maybe? I would buy any solo album she records. Or is Avex going to snatch her, tart her up like they did with Maki, and give her a whole new image? (That wouldn't be bad either! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... >/perv.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':perv:' /> )

[al kusanagi]

Acting in a billion stage plays and possibly a movie career.

[rob]

In terms of seeing her from outside of Japan I think she is literally going to disappear, but in terms of the theatre performing world, she will be pretty damn famous in Japan.



And I personally took Ai's comments a little differently to that, to me she said she was thinking about it, tsunku said something about it around the time of eri, junlin graduation and she decided 10 years would be a good time.



It has always sounded like a personal decision by Ai herself to me.

[Gerald]

[quote name='rob' timestamp='1315371622' post='107702']

What everyone keeps saying is that concerts at the Budokan are HUUUUGE and even if the number of concerts is lower, the attendance will actually be higher.

[/quote]

Brief reply as I am a bit of a sickly Turtle today.



Two years ago the Fall tour was 42 dates, are you seriously suggesting that these 10 dates will give higher audiences? Assuming the average concert is at 2,000 seater venues then 42 venues = 84,000 tickest. 10 venues, two at 1,4000, 8 at 2,000 = 44,0000 so a 47% drop in ticket sales.



[quote name='Anderei' timestamp='1315340845' post='107674']

2 shows at Budokan is 28,000 people which is the same as 14 smaller venues. And even if it wasn't, dwindling audiences aren't an issue.

[/quote]

Part 1, see above.



Part 2, somewhere in the UFA headquarterss there is a figure (in yen) we will call X. Now X + 1 yen = Hooray, another year of MM BUT X - 1 yen = Goodbye, see you in the unemployment queue.



Now:



1 dwindling CD sales = dwindling revenue

2 dwindling ticket sales = dwindling revenue

3 dwindling CD and ticket sales = dwindling interest which = dwindling merchandising sales which = dwindling revenue



Can you see where I'm going here?



Dwindling revenue brings the day of X - 1 yen closer.





QED dwindling audiences are a very big issue indeed.

[Anderei]

But you have zero evidence that the fall tour being shorter is due to dwindling ticket sales. The spring tour wasn't any shorter than usual, the H!P Summer tour wasn't any shorter than usual, and for all anyone knows, the next spring tour will have more dates than the fall tour. All you're doing is turning your 'Takahashi is leaving' complaints into a 'MM is doomed' complaints because you hate the new lineup.

[Shoujo Q]

Okay everyone. Watch as I talk out of my ass! :D



It's quite obvious, Takahashi's Musume contract ends at the end of September and they would have had to make her a new one if they wanted her past that date, which is stupid.



But honeslty this is how I feel about the whole thing now that I look at OTHER stuff going on. Takahashi is going to be in a play starting the end of November that runs till December, she she's sharing the part, but it's still something! (A normal fall Morning Musume tour would end in December.)

But this is my biggest reason WHY there is a stunted concert this year. Morning Musume (Minus Sayumi and Aika) will be having their play in October. Usually Morning Musume's plays are in the summer (When they have them). (But I think because of the 9th gen, getting them prepped for the spring concert AND a summer play was a bit much.) And you honestly see them doing a play AND a concert at the same time when they've never done that before? Then you also need to prep the newbies coming in (if there's more then one.). That's a lot to manage, I can see why they have a stunted fall concert.



As for Takahashi having a hand in doing costumes for the concert.





I'm blaming her solely for this mess.

[Anderei]

I can't believe you overlooked this mess for that one. These might just be the Kare to Issho outfits and I've forgotten already but I'm blaming her anyway.

[Shoujo Q]

Yeah, those are PV outfits, so I can't blame her for those. Trust me, I would have.

[Anderei]

I saw some other outfits that looked acceptable, though. Riho was wearing a black and white vertical striped one (although I guess some people do have strong feelings about stripes) and Erina had a white outfit.







I'm a bit offended by the feather, though.

[Pucchi-Mo]

[quote name='PKyu' timestamp='1315438357' post='107763']

As for Takahashi having a hand in doing costumes for the concert.



I'm blaming her solely for this mess.

[/quote]



I think it might be a bride vs bridesmaids situation with the outfits.



The eerie part about that link is a few of those look like H!P costumes from the past. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /lmfao.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lmfao:' />



[quote name='KARAmelody' timestamp='1315332204' post='107669']

[quote name='Pucchi mo' timestamp='1315264352' post='107625']

(cutting out my rambling part) She's just kind of overall in the singles, I never could say "it makes sense that she's in this because it's such an Ai song." THE Manpower!!! sure as hell wasn't, and she's not from Osaka, that was for Tsunku. She's basically permanently featured because of her voice.

[/quote]



What about this number?



Not a Morning Musume single (though it is credited to 'Takahashi Ai (Morning Musume)'on the 'cover') and not a big-time A-side like the aforementioned, but does it have to be a single's A-side song?

Afterall, someone like Niigaki has Yowamushi or Koe as her focus songs, and Ai got her own solo digital single in this instance.

[/quote]

Well, there's no alternative if she's the only one singing it, she wins by default. I guess what I'm trying to say is they use her more like a musical instrument than a personality.



That could be a kind of cool experiment for a mixer, replace all of her lines in one song with an electric guitar or a ridiculous 80s synth. -or just remixing a single as the instrumental version where she should sing.

[rob]

Actually now PKyu brings up a good point, it would be pretty damn hard for 9th gen to be doing all of that in such a short space of time, hence the shorter tour this time round.



Turtle you agree with me that Buono! are fucking awesome right? Their new album is possibly the best thing H!P have ever released, but look at their tours, short and in small venues but do we think they are doomed?



It's glass half full half empty syndrome IMHO.

[Gerald]

[quote name='Anderei' timestamp='1315436871' post='107761']

But you have zero evidence that the fall tour being shorter is due to dwindling ticket sales. The spring tour wasn't any shorter than usual, the H!P Summer tour wasn't any shorter than usual, and for all anyone knows, the next spring tour will have more dates than the fall tour. All you're doing is turning your 'Takahashi is leaving' complaints into a 'MM is doomed' complaints because you hate the new lineup.

[/quote]

Whoa, steady there, it was eri not me who suggested the drastic reduction was due to dwindling ticket sales. I hadn't even thought of it as a reason.



2011 spring tour - 17 dates, 2010 spring tour - 30 dates, 2009 spring tour - 37 dates.... you were saying?



The H!P dates are harder to compare as they aren't so straightforward but the Hello! Project 2011 Winter ~Kangei Shinsen Matsuri~ is 14 dates, the 2010 Hello! Project 2010 Winter Kachoufuugetsu ~Shuffle Date~ and Hello! Project 2010 Winter Kachoufuugetsu ~Mobekimasu!~ which were on at the same time totalled 19 dates and the Hello! Project 2009 Winter Wonderful Hearts Kouen ~Kakumei Gannen~ / Elder Club Kouen ~Thank You for Your Love!~ was 21 and there were the Elder Club gigs as well.



[quote name='PKyu' timestamp='1315438357' post='107763']

Okay everyone. Watch as I talk out of my ass! :D



It's quite obvious, Takahashi's Musume contract ends at the end of September and they would have had to make her a new one if they wanted her past that date, which is stupid.



But honeslty this is how I feel about the whole thing now that I look at OTHER stuff going on. Takahashi is going to be in a play starting the end of November that runs till December, she she's sharing the part, but it's still something! (A normal fall Morning Musume tour would end in December.)

But this is my biggest reason WHY there is a stunted concert this year. Morning Musume (Minus Sayumi and Aika) will be having their play in October. Usually Morning Musume's plays are in the summer (When they have them). (But I think because of the 9th gen, getting them prepped for the spring concert AND a summer play was a bit much.) And you honestly see them doing a play AND a concert at the same time when they've never done that before? Then you also need to prep the newbies coming in (if there's more then one.). That's a lot to manage, I can see why they have a stunted fall concert.

[/quote]



No sorry can't see it, as that doesn't answer the heavily chopped spring tour and when the hell have UFA ever given a shit about the workload they put on their girls especially if it would mean a large drop in income. Also Fashionable followed right on the tail of the 2010 spring tour.





[quote name='rob' timestamp='1315461629' post='107782']

Actually now PKyu brings up a good point, it would be pretty damn hard for 9th gen to be doing all of that in such a short space of time, hence the shorter tour this time round.



Turtle you agree with me that Buono! are fucking awesome right? Their new album is possibly the best thing H!P have ever released, but look at their tours, short and in small venues but do we think they are doomed?



It's glass half full half empty syndrome IMHO.

[/quote]





Well yes, I do worry with their last single selling 12,000 and the one before less than 15,000 when they were selling 35,000+ at the start. Also they are different to MM as they are members on Berryz/C-ute so arguably that pays their salaries so Buono! can get away with smaller profits, but only for so long.

[emily]

[quote name='Anderei' timestamp='1315413459' post='107722']

The interview is over at Tokyohive.

[/quote]



Link

[Miss Moonlight]

[quote name='PKyu' timestamp='1315438357' post='107763']



[/quote]

MIZUKI'S ELBOW IS INSIDE OUT!

[eri]

[quote name='The Turtle Moves' timestamp='1315482564' post='107797']

[quote name='Anderei' timestamp='1315436871' post='107761']

But you have zero evidence that the fall tour being shorter is due to dwindling ticket sales. The spring tour wasn't any shorter than usual, the H!P Summer tour wasn't any shorter than usual, and for all anyone knows, the next spring tour will have more dates than the fall tour. All you're doing is turning your 'Takahashi is leaving' complaints into a 'MM is doomed' complaints because you hate the new lineup.

[/quote]

Whoa, steady there, it was eri not me who suggested the drastic reduction was due to dwindling ticket sales. I hadn't even thought of it as a reason.

\[/quote]



No, all I said was, the shorter dates are probably due to a myriad of reasons that probably include lower ticket sales (which are themselves a result of a myriad of factors).



Let me give you an abbreviated version of this thread:



Early discussants: How interesting, cheerio, la dee da.

Turtle: Why are there only so many dates?

Many people: (reasonable answers, talking about set list)

Turtle: No! I demand answers! The tour is short because they are shafting Ai!

Eri + Anderei + rob: Probably not. Tours are long/short due to all kinds of reasons.

Turtle: OMG you HATE Ai! I knew it! The group has no fans! They are doomed!

Rob: Turtle, you need to chill.

Turtle: DOOOMMMEEDDD AND NO ONE CARES

PQ: They have all kinds of event scheduled that probably changed the pl--

Turtle: DOOOOMMMMEEEDDDDDD



I wish I had sock puppets for this.





--

Anyway, I like the concert outfits so far except the lace bloomers thing going on.

[Gerald]

[quote name='eri' timestamp='1315492269' post='107801']

Let me give you an abbreviated version of this thread:



Early discussants: How interesting, cheerio, la dee da.

Turtle: Why are there only so many dates?

Many people: (reasonable answers, talking about set list)

Turtle: No! I demand answers! The tour is short because they are shafting Ai!

Eri + Anderei + rob: Probably not. Tours are long/short due to all kinds of reasons.

Turtle: OMG you HATE Ai! I knew it! The group has no fans! They are doomed!

Rob: Turtle, you need to chill.

Turtle: DOOOMMMEEDDD AND NO ONE CARES

PQ: They have all kinds of event scheduled that probably changed the pl--

Turtle: DOOOOMMMMEEEDDDDDD



I wish I had sock puppets for this.

[/quote]

<img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /lmfao.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lmfao:' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... umbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



I have to apologise as I got myself in a twist somewhere and there were actually 32 spring dates <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... cepalm.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':facepalm:' /> so please forget I ever mentioned that.



But that doesn't mean they're not doomed <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ek3run.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':eekrun:' />.

[Madara]

[quote name='eri' timestamp='1315492269' post='107801']

[quote name='The Turtle Moves' timestamp='1315482564' post='107797']

[quote name='Anderei' timestamp='1315436871' post='107761']

But you have zero evidence that the fall tour being shorter is due to dwindling ticket sales. The spring tour wasn't any shorter than usual, the H!P Summer tour wasn't any shorter than usual, and for all anyone knows, the next spring tour will have more dates than the fall tour. All you're doing is turning your 'Takahashi is leaving' complaints into a 'MM is doomed' complaints because you hate the new lineup.

[/quote]

Whoa, steady there, it was eri not me who suggested the drastic reduction was due to dwindling ticket sales. I hadn't even thought of it as a reason.

\[/quote]



No, all I said was, the shorter dates are probably due to a myriad of reasons that probably include lower ticket sales (which are themselves a result of a myriad of factors).



Let me give you an abbreviated version of this thread:



Early discussants: How interesting, cheerio, la dee da.

Turtle: Why are there only so many dates?

Many people: (reasonable answers, talking about set list)

Turtle: No! I demand answers! The tour is short because they are shafting Ai!

Eri + Anderei + rob: Probably not. Tours are long/short due to all kinds of reasons.

Turtle: OMG you HATE Ai! I knew it! The group has no fans! They are doomed!

Rob: Turtle, you need to chill.

Turtle: DOOOMMMEEDDD AND NO ONE CARES

PQ: They have all kinds of event scheduled that probably changed the pl--

Turtle: DOOOOMMMMEEEDDDDDD



[/quote]



That is brilliant, Eri! Can you do this for all contention-filled threads? It'll save us the trouble of plowing through them. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hahaha.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':hahaha:' />

[SilentCalv]

@eri - lol, alright, so that's the gist of it.



@emily - thank you for the link~!



Again, I am not sure whether they are doomed or not. I think the 9th generation members are interesting enough. Some help from another great song will do. I am not sure whether it is just me or not but their singles are not as good as those previous times. And am I too naive to put my hopes on the 6th generation members? XD

[showraniy]

[quote name='SilentCalv' timestamp='1315535595' post='107855']

Again, I am not sure whether they are doomed or not. I think the 9th generation members are interesting enough. Some help from another great song will do. I am not sure whether it is just me or not but their singles are not as good as those previous times. And am I too naive to put my hopes on the 6th generation members? XD

[/quote]





Turtle can be convinced of nothing. As much as we love him, he is the most obstinate little reptile you will ever see.

[MiniLovely]

[quote name='eri' timestamp='1315492269' post='107801']

Let me give you an abbreviated version of this thread:



Early discussants: How interesting, cheerio, la dee da.

Turtle: Why are there only so many dates?

Many people: (reasonable answers, talking about set list)

Turtle: No! I demand answers! The tour is short because they are shafting Ai!

Eri + Anderei + rob: Probably not. Tours are long/short due to all kinds of reasons.

Turtle: OMG you HATE Ai! I knew it! The group has no fans! They are doomed!

Rob: Turtle, you need to chill.

Turtle: DOOOMMMEEDDD AND NO ONE CARES

PQ: They have all kinds of event scheduled that probably changed the pl--

Turtle: DOOOOMMMMEEEDDDDDD



I wish I had sock puppets for this.

[/quote]







I had to confirm to myself if turtles were amphibians or reptiles, but reptiles it is!! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... lesson.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lesson:' />



Am I the only one who likes the lace bloomers? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... pyeyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':puppyeyes:' /> I think they're cute!

But that white dress and feather... groan.



Is there any sort of guide that states which costumes were and weren't designed by Ai?

[Shoujo Q]

I think that should be Turtle's avatar.



Lace bloomers are cute, lacing up a manly t-shirt. NOT cute.

[rob]

Be better with -



DOOOOOMMED



And I'm going to damn well moan about it!!

[eri]

[quote name='KARAmelody' timestamp='1315613916' post='107938']











[/quote]

you are my new favorite person.

[Melon]

That photo is so awesome I want it poster sized and hanging on my wall. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /lmfao.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lmfao:' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /lmfao.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lmfao:' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /lmfao.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lmfao:' />

[Haru]

Okay this whole thread is tl;dr for me but I will say the following.



- I like the idea of lace on a t-shirt or lace bloomers, but together you start to get lolitaish. I also like the button spam.

- Kara is my new favourite person as well. I think what does it in for me is the screaming turtle.

- GEE ROB YOU COULDN'T BE A BIT MORE RUDE COULD YOU. Seriously; maybe it's just me, but being one of the translators for one of the most looked-to sites for blog translations you could atleast play a little nicer and not be so inflammatory all the time. I'll admit I come off a bit snobbish sometimes towards people on H!O, as well as another site I am a forum moderator on, but I don't publicly flame people. n-n



Bye.

[Anderei]

[quote name='KARAmelody' timestamp='1315613916' post='107938']



Is there any sort of guide that states which costumes were and weren't designed by Ai?

[/quote]



I wish, but nothing is getting posted over on the H!O thread except mic hacs and who wants to listen to those?

[Gerald]

[quote name='KARAmelody' timestamp='1315613916' post='107938']



[/quote]

<img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /weeeh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':weeeh:' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ohyeah.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D/' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /lmfao.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lmfao:' />



[quote name='Shoujo Q' timestamp='1315618657' post='107954']

I think that should be Turtle's avatar.

[/quote]

No sooner said than done, I am even prepared to give up my Rina avatar for this <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... umbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> .

[tsukinobyouin]

That graphic/avatar is the best thing to happen to the BBS in a long time. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... umbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



I'm going to this concert tour tomorrow afternoon! I need to hurry up and decide on a favorite member or I'm going to end up with a looot of goods. I'll report in tomorrow night!

[MiniLovely]

[quote name='eri' timestamp='1315621732' post='107963']

[quote name='KARAmelody' timestamp='1315613916' post='107938']











[/quote]

you are my new favorite person.

[/quote]



Thaaaaanks I get that a lot. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... >/cool.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />





[quote name='The Turtle Moves' timestamp='1315651184' post='107985']

<img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /weeeh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':weeeh:' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ohyeah.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D/' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /lmfao.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lmfao:' />

[quote name='Shoujo Q' timestamp='1315618657' post='107954']

I think that should be Turtle's avatar.

[/quote]

No sooner said than done, I am even prepared to give up my Rina avatar for this <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... umbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> .

[/quote]



Thanks guys, I'm glad you liked it so much. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /happy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='^_^' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /heart.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />





I don't really feel like Ai is getting shafted. She's had pretty much the entire month of September dedicated solely to her and she has a lot of creative control over the concert... not to mention all of the other various coverage her graduation has received.