Frances & Aiko : New Taiwanese Duo

[Shoujo Q]

Frances and Aiko; They are the two littlest girls that went through the New Star audition, but because of their age didn't make it into Ice Creamusume. But Tsunku seemed to adore them. They are now officially the youngest (and will probably keep the title) group in H!P history. Joy~





Frances is 8 years old.





Aiko is 6 years old.



They appeared in the Elder Concert, same with Ice Creamusume, but I don't think they sang or anything. I hope they continue to function more along the lines of the Eggs, but who knows what Tsunku has planned in his crazy mind. Maybe Tsunku just wants a duo that he knows wont go off finding a man or smoking or doing anything adult for a really really long time. xD





Video -> If you want to see them, skip to 2:48. If you want to skip right to the performance, skip to 6:10 (And they DO sing)

[swiggy]

After watching that video.... Day're so widdle and kayute! Day make me go squeeeee! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /weeeh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



However, what a sad future that's a head of them. I wish them luck.

[Special Needs Tricycle]

I'm sorry, I don't think I can support this.



It's not even a moral thing really, but for real, debuting a 6 and 8 year old in a foreign country whose language they can't speak? I can't imagine what Tsunku was thinking. Usually I can wait and agree with whatever weird shit Tsunku throws out (And it usually works out pretty well.), but if he's seriously debuting these girls, instead of just keeping them in egg-like status, then... <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hatthe.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Kaworu]

Aw They're SO cute. If there was any chance that they would become idols for asian little kids from 4-10 years old it'd be awesome, but we all know they're fanbase will consist principally of 30+... sad.

[AEUGNewtype]

[quote name='PQ' post='61156' date='Mar 1 2009, 07:15 AM']They are now officially the youngest (and will probably keep the title) group in H!P history. Joy~[/quote]

Is IceCream actually considered H!P? I keep forgetting.



[quote name='Kaworu' post='61165' date='Mar 1 2009, 09:23 AM']Aw They're SO cute. If there was any chance that they would become idols for asian little kids from 4-10 years old it'd be awesome, but we all know they're fanbase will consist principally of 30+... sad.[/quote]

This is really true, and its really unfortunate. If they could use them to market to kids, that would be pretty interesting, but I don't see it just happening that way, even if they started out with such an intent. The kids are cute and have boatloads of charisma, but they're not great performers by any stretch of the imagination. Though, as we've seen from the past *cough*sayumiandkonno* he doesn't always choose people based on anything but their charisma.

[Shoujo Q]

[quote name='The☆AEUGNewtype' post='61167' date='Mar 1 2009, 09:33 AM'][quote name='PQ' post='61156' date='Mar 1 2009, 07:15 AM']They are now officially the youngest (and will probably keep the title) group in H!P history. Joy~[/quote]

Is IceCream actually considered H!P? I keep forgetting.

[/quote]



They are official Hello!Project members, they just stuck on Taiwan at the end of their "label".

[BeForJess]

Wasn't Mai 5 when she was in the "group" 4-Kids singing the song "Genki Jirushi no Oomori De"(with Mini Moni & Takahashi Ai)? I think she beat them.



But they are just... ooh I want to squish them! They're like little dolls. <3

[Shoujo Q]

[quote name='BeForJess' post='61176' date='Mar 1 2009, 11:06 AM']Wasn't Mai 5 when she was in the "group" 4-Kids singing the song "Genki Jirushi no Oomori De"(with Mini Moni & Takahashi Ai)? I think she beat them.



But they are just... ooh I want to squish them! They're like little dolls. <3[/quote]



Mai was 6 when she joined H!P, her birthday was in February and she didn't join H!P officially till June (I think?). Aiko is also 6, but her birthday isn't until December.



Genki Jirushi no Oomori came out in November of 2002. So Mai was still 6, but almost 7? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... iggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> And 4Kids weren't a real group, more of an add on group. I don't consider them official the way H!P is making Frances & Aiko official.



And to make you squirm even more. Aiko wasn't even born yet when Mai debut! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nceman.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':danceman:' />

[EmEl]

I hate when children shout-sing.



Well, at least these girls have an advantage in picking up the language much better than the girls who were older than they. It'll be a rough first year of immersion though.

[JPope]

[quote name='The☆AEUGNewtype' post='61167' date='Mar 1 2009, 09:33 AM']*cough*sayumiandkonno* he doesn't always choose people based on anything but their charisma.[/quote]



*cough*kusumikusumi*kusumikusumi*



As for these two children joining H!P, what a waste of resources.

[madlandyman]

they got rid of the elder club to make way for this? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nfused.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':danceman:' />

[AEUGNewtype]

[quote name='JPope' post='61194' date='Mar 1 2009, 04:25 PM'][quote name='The☆AEUGNewtype' post='61167' date='Mar 1 2009, 09:33 AM']*cough*sayumiandkonno* he doesn't always choose people based on anything but their charisma.[/quote]

*cough*kusumikusumi*kusumikusumi*

[/quote]

Perhaps, but at least she looks good and still has some personality to her past what a concrete brick would usually have.

[ostrich]

...They were born after the year 2000... <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hatthe.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':danceman:' /> wasn't expecting to see something like that for a few more years...



As for child singers... I've heard better...

[vanillacat]

Why is her name Frances? Is she half or something? She's kinda big, too... I know it's baby fat, but the fact that she's got like a foot on the other girl just makes it more obvious..



I guess they're kind of cute, but I'm not seeing the appeal. If it was an Airi-like situation, where it was clear that she was a good singer at a very young age, I might feel a little differently, but... they're basically screaming it (voices WORSE than Koharu!?) and I guess them dancing is cute, but you can also teach a monkey to dance. I... I just don't know.



I think this'll be more of a kitschy-cute act than anything official, however - kind of like KohaPinku and SayuPinku but, with children actually acting their age? Either that, or Tsunku's just doing the Age Limbo with us - how LOW can we go? How young will the fans tolerate? I dunno. I'd rather see them just a smidge older with something resembling vocal talent or training.

[tsukinobyouin]

Watching their Chance performance reminded me of this show a while back that hosted a Koda Kumi contest. Kids of all ages and a few celebrities came out and performed her songs and she eventually selected a winner. There were a few kids just like these girls that were kind of flailing around and having a good time but it was cute and made Kumi laugh. That's kind of what I see these kids as. Good for a moment of "aww" but not an act you'd give a record deal.



Who knows what Tsunku plans for them though. So far they just sort of confuse me. Even their names are confusing. Frances and Aiko? I guess I can see Frances, since a lot of Chinese, Taiwanese, and Koreans have a Western sounding name in addition to their native-language name (at least celebs anyway), but Aiko? Is that a common Taiwanese name that just happens to sound like a Japanese one, or did they decide to assign her a Japanese name and leave the other kid as Frances?

[loli-tan]

They're very, very adorable but eh.

[Special Needs Tricycle]

[quote name='TnB' post='61239' date='Mar 1 2009, 11:01 PM']Watching their Chance performance reminded me of this show a while back that hosted a Koda Kumi contest. Kids of all ages and a few celebrities came out and performed her songs and she eventually selected a winner. There were a few kids just like these girls that were kind of flailing around and having a good time but it was cute and made Kumi laugh. That's kind of what I see these kids as. Good for a moment of "aww" but not an act you'd give a record deal.



Who knows what Tsunku plans for them though. So far they just sort of confuse me. Even their names are confusing. Frances and Aiko? I guess I can see Frances, since a lot of Chinese, Taiwanese, and Koreans have a Western sounding name in addition to their native-language name (at least celebs anyway), but Aiko? Is that a common Taiwanese name that just happens to sound like a Japanese one, or did they decide to assign her a Japanese name and leave the other kid as Frances?[/quote]

Frances is actually half French, I think.



And what I hear is that Aiko is half Japanese? Either way, they're just reading her name in Japanese, since it works. Pretty sure 愛子 can easily be a Chinese name too.

[alita87]

[quote name='vanillacat' post='61208' date='Mar 2 2009, 10:29 AM']Why is her name Frances? Is she half or something? She's kinda big, too... I know it's baby fat, but the fact that she's got like a foot on the other girl just makes it more obvious..



I guess they're kind of cute, but I'm not seeing the appeal. If it was an Airi-like situation, where it was clear that she was a good singer at a very young age, I might feel a little differently, but... they're basically screaming it (voices WORSE than Koharu!?) and I guess them dancing is cute, but you can also teach a monkey to dance. I... I just don't know.



I think this'll be more of a kitschy-cute act than anything official, however - kind of like KohaPinku and SayuPinku but, with children actually acting their age? Either that, or Tsunku's just doing the Age Limbo with us - how LOW can we go? How young will the fans tolerate? I dunno. I'd rather see them just a smidge older with something resembling vocal talent or training.[/quote]



I think a lot of the name thing just has to do with many chinese parents (seems to be especially popular in Taiwan and Hong Kong) giving their child a western first name, or the child/adult taking on that name when they go into show business. Think about Andy Lau and Kelly Chen, those arent　their birth names, but thats what everyone knows them by. (sorry no `s they are harder to get to on a Japanese keyboard)



As for the age, Johnnys is 8 but they are almost immediately thrust into being the dancing hip thrusting boys that grow up to capture middle aged womens hearts (really no different than female idols capturing male hearts, so it can be so sexist to assume something dirty and wrong about a man liking a younger women when the Johnnys hardcore fans are the same ages looking at underage boys).



They were awesome in the audition. Yes Aiko scream sings, but shes six give her a break. She was a cute girl and a cute dancer. Francis did the most awesome robot dance and captured everyones hearts. I dont see them actually debuting in Japan, it seems to be mostly Ice Creamusume that will be cross over, and these two youngsters will be some of the faces of H!P Taiwan. They were adorable and really good as backup during the Kirarin song.



I kinda saw them doing something when they were given a special award at the end of the show.

[Hana]

[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='61245' date='Mar 1 2009, 11:03 PM']And what I hear is that Aiko is half Japanese?[/quote]

That made sense to me given how good her Japanese seemed to be in the audition boot camp phase. Not that she spoke a lot of it, but IIRC she was doing better than some of the others?

[Shoujo Q]

From what I hear, Frances's father isn't Asian, I'm not sure what he is. He's white?



The only benefit for having girls this young is that they will be easier to train the Japanese with. Considering how well half of the H!P Kids turned out. They can make miracles happen (sometimes). <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/meh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';/' />



Since they were last seen performing back-up for Koharu at the Elder concert, and Koharu's career will be over soon. I wonder what they'll do? Be like a mini-egg back up dancer group for IceCream?



Just thinking of them at a concert makes me go. -> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... >/sick.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':puppyeyes:' />

[tsukinobyouin]

Frances is actually half French, I think.



And what I hear is that Aiko is half Japanese? Either way, they're just reading her name in Japanese, since it works. Pretty sure 愛子 can easily be a Chinese name too.

I figured "愛子" could be a Chinese name, I just figured the reading would be different. Reading it in Japanese (whether she's half or not) is much better than giving her a panda name though XD

I think a lot of the name thing just has to do with many chinese parents (seems to be especially popular in Taiwan and Hong Kong) giving their child a western first name, or the child/adult taking on that name when they go into show business. Think about Andy Lau and Kelly Chen, those arent　their birth names, but thats what everyone knows them by.

Hey look! The exact same thing I just said!

As for the age, Johnnys is 8 but they are almost immediately thrust into being the dancing hip thrusting boys that grow up to capture middle aged womens hearts (really no different than female idols capturing male hearts, so it can be so sexist to assume something dirty and wrong about a man liking a younger women when the Johnnys hardcore fans are the same ages looking at underage boys).

What does Johnnys have to do with anything? For one, your comparison isn't really accurate. Johnny's groups tend to have a much wider age range of fans. The younger the group, the higher the number of younger fans they have. There are always going to be some middle aged housewives into each JE group, but their fans tend to age with the group while H!P fans of late tend to be in the same age range regardless of the age of the group (with the exception of the anime-based units). The reason people are grossed out by older men liking younger women is that in H!P fandom, wota post pictures of their jizz on these girl's photobooks. Obviously this isn't every single wota, but this tends to gross people out more than housewives squeeing over JE boys. The day some old bitch posts a picture of her used vibrator next to a Yamada Ryousuke photobook, you'll probably hear just as much outcry as you do over H!P wota. BUT you will probably hear it in a thread that has to do with JE where it would make sense, and not a thread about a new H!P unit. It's not people being sexist, it's just them staying on topic.

[jochin]

Ew why. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hatthe.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wub:' />

[JPope]

[quote name='The☆AEUGNewtype' post='61199' date='Mar 1 2009, 07:01 PM'][quote name='JPope' post='61194' date='Mar 1 2009, 04:25 PM'][quote name='The☆AEUGNewtype' post='61167' date='Mar 1 2009, 09:33 AM']*cough*sayumiandkonno* he doesn't always choose people based on anything but their charisma.[/quote]

*cough*kusumikusumi*kusumikusumi*

[/quote]

Perhaps, but at least she looks good and still has some personality to her past what a concrete brick would usually have.

[/quote]

Sayumi looks good, too -- better than Koharu, IMO. And I'm not aware of this personality that you speak of, unless you're refering to her grating vapidity. Konno was plain looking, but her personality was far more charming and honest than that which Koharu exudes.

[peachgirldb]

Contrary to popular belief, every topic is NOT for shitting on the members you don't like.

[Melon]

I could watch it with an "aw" factor for the first time. I could not buy it. I could not watch it repeatedly. I could not be a fan. It feels creepy, like I'm watching the exploitation of little girls. Mind you, I feel the same way about beauty pageants. There's something creepy about watching young children being made to do adult things/giving them an adult image. And it's difficult because I KNOW there will be some fans in it for the pedoliciousness. It's one thing to have them on a TV show imitating their idols, it's another to have them becoming actual idols. That's a line I'm not willing to cross.

[vanillacat]

And you know?







IMHO, I've seen much, much cuter Asian babies. Just saying. I guess she might have ~*charisma*~, but...

[zlilzlilzlil]

This is so bad, even Mano Erina in better then them (and I think she is really bad, she is the worst thing ever in H!P in my opinion)...



This is just stupid to put a 6 and 8 years old childs on themself, the reason C-ute and Berryz Koubou did well is because they had years of practice before debuting, and risako (the youngest in BK) was 10 when the group debut, Mai (the youngest in C-ute) was 10 also when C-ute debuted (two years later, she joined H!P at the age of 6), but still the had people with them that wer'e bigger, and on their first singles (more about BK) Tsunku would have been heard better then the girl that sing the solo...



When they started the song they were off key, even koharu and sayumi before they got in MM knew how to sing in key, but they both sang off key, and they aren't singing they screaming the words, I'm starting to hate many things in H!P when I tought H!P is amazing...



I got sad...



By the way, I'm not cursing any one or insulting any one, I'm just saying it's not normal and it's not responsable to debut 2 girls that can't sing on the right key, with the music on, give them a year of practice or more and then we'll see, even miki fujimoto trained for a year before debuting solo...

[Joel]

The sad thing is, I kinda saw this coming. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ryalot.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':kodama:' />

[Special Needs Tricycle]

[quote name='zlilzlilzlil' post='61335' date='Mar 2 2009, 03:18 PM']This is so bad, even Mano Erina in better then them (and I think she is really bad, she is the worst thing ever in H!P in my opinion)...



This is just stupid to put a 6 and 8 years old childs on themself, the reason C-ute and Berryz Koubou did well is because they had years of practice before debuting, and risako (the youngest in BK) was 10 when the group debut, Mai (the youngest in C-ute) was 10 also when C-ute debuted (two years later, she joined H!P at the age of 6), but still the had people with them that wer'e bigger, and on their first singles (more about BK) Tsunku would have been heard better then the girl that sing the solo...



When they started the song they were off key, even koharu and sayumi before they got in MM knew how to sing in key, but they both sang off key, and they aren't singing they screaming the words, I'm starting to hate many things in H!P when I tought H!P is amazing...



I got sad...



By the way, I'm not cursing any one or insulting any one, I'm just saying it's not normal and it's not responsable to debut 2 girls that can't sing on the right key, with the music on, give them a year of practice or more and then we'll see, even miki fujimoto trained for a year before debuting solo...[/quote]

You can't be fucking serious. Really? Really? Are you really so upset that a 6 and 8 year old with no vocal training can't sing a song on key? Really? And you're comparing them to girls in their teens who've had months/years of vocal training? Really? Do you think a normal child can sing a song like Chance on key? With no training? Really?



Also, Koharu and Sayu were very much tone deaf before they entered MM. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm4bFAfdS-s



I can't find a Sayu video from her audition but believe me, she was bad.



I honestly can't believe that people still get upset when girls who can't sing join H!P. Especially children. With the exception of 1st gen MM and soloists, singing talent has never been a big factor in auditions, considering the outcomes most of the time.



I don't even understand. I can see the point of not liking this because they're too young, but because of their musical talent? And you're starting to hate H!P just now because of these two not being able to sing? Have you seen any auditions before this?



I'm sorry for being a dickhead, but really, there's so much wrong with that post, and general thought of people being surprised at girls with little singing talent joining H!P is really grating. Charisma and looks go way further than musical talent in the idol world nowadays. If you really need generally good singers, then find an actual singer to enjoy.

[vanillacat]

[quote name='zlilzlilzlil' post='61335' date='Mar 2 2009, 03:18 PM']Mai (the youngest in C-ute) was 10 also when C-ute debuted (two years later, she joined H!P at the age of 6)[/quote]



6 + 2 = ... 10? Clearly.

Trike, don't waste your energy with this guy.



I don't like them because I just don't find them all that cute. They're cute, if anything, in more of that Beauty Pageant way like Melon said - kind of like creepy automated dolls. Who can dance, sort of. Who have Japanese lyrics programmed into their voice boxes. I can't support that kind of... well, child exploitation. How often do child stars turn out normal?