Questions about Erina Mano...

[Madara]

I'm trying to figure out Erina Mano. I watched her "Debut Concert" and blogged about it. Has there been any other idol who played the piano? Or any other instrument? (And I'm not talking about Rinne Toda holding the guitar during her brief stint as Country Musume's only member.)



What's next for Erina? The only idol I can think of who's remotely like her is Aya Hirano. But Aya found a niche with anime voice-acting and anime songs, in a project (Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) that's quite a step up from the H!P anime choices. And in her album, Riot Girl, Aya went in a hard rock direction. (Well, a J-pop idol's notion of what hard rock is.) I don't see Erina going in that direction.



But is an anime voice-acting/singing gig on Erina's horizon? Or is she going to pull an Aya Matsuura and try to sing in a more mature style? I wouldn't mind seeing her try that. But I'm not sure how much longer she can pull off what she's doing now before people get tired of it. I'm hooked on a couple of her catchier songs, but I don't know how many of those she can deliver. Is there some other idol than Hirano who's a more logical model for Erina who might give us clues to where Erina is headed?



And when's her solo album coming out?

[Melon]

[quote name='Madara' post='68702' date='Sep 9 2009, 04:38 PM']What's next for Erina? The only idol I can think of who's remotely like her is Aya Hirano. But Aya found a niche with anime voice-acting and anime songs, in a project (Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) that's quite a step up from the H!P anime choices.[/quote]



I'm not a fan of Erina, so I can't say jack, but the comparison to Aya is incorrect. Aya is a voice actress first and foremost, not an idol (think Megumi Hayashibara, who released songs/albums but did voicework as primary).

[Vikitty]

Kei Yasuda also plays piano -- she's accompanied herself and others at various dinner shows and fan club events.

[Shoujo Q]

I consider Mano to be a cookie cutter 80s idol. She's got the girl next door, natural hair, cute personality, and most importantly, doesn't look 18 which she is. I swore she was younger then that. D:



If Mano was ever able to do her own music I'd put her into the category of Mari Iijima and Moritaka Chisato as far as idols go. But for right now she's stuck in the manufacturing stage with an instrument gimmick to catch fans. But it wont last long if she keeps floundering between piano idol and dance idol with s/mileage as backup dancers.



As for non singing stuff. Mano has done some drama work, Pocky 4 Sisters, Tokyo Shojo, and a internet drama Koisuru Seiza.

Pocky 4 Sisters just came out on DVD last month. And Koisuru Seiza is supposed to come out in November of DVD.



She's also going to appear in her first play as a human Hello Kitty. Which is potentially pretty big considering how iconic Hello Kitty is.



And despite the fact that it feels like she's been around awhile it's only been a year for her so she has a long way to go.



I predict her album to come out either the end of the year or the beginning of 2010.

[Madara]

[quote name='Petit Melon' post='68705' date='Sep 10 2009, 09:32 AM'][quote name='Madara' post='68702' date='Sep 9 2009, 04:38 PM']What's next for Erina? The only idol I can think of who's remotely like her is Aya Hirano. But Aya found a niche with anime voice-acting and anime songs, in a project (Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) that's quite a step up from the H!P anime choices.[/quote]



I'm not a fan of Erina, so I can't say jack, but the comparison to Aya is incorrect. Aya is a voice actress first and foremost, not an idol (think Megumi Hayashibara, who released songs/albums but did voicework as primary).

[/quote]



I dunno. To me, Erina and Aya Hirano have a lot more in common than do Aya and Megumi. And I do tend to see Aya as an idol. I was listening to Megumi for years as a singer and voice actress before I ever knew what she looked like. I wouldn't be surprised if I knew what Aya looked like well before I ever heard her sing or do an anime voice. And all the DVD volumes of HARUHI SUZUMIYA include "Making of" featurettes that showcase Aya in true idol fashion. And I believe Aya was in a Cham-like idol trio long before she did voice-acting. (Cham=the idol trio in the anime film, PERFECT BLUE, 1997, my first real glimpse of idol culture)



P.S. I bought the first box set of the NANA anime series tonight. Aya does the voice of Reira of Trapnest, the part that Yuna Ito played in the live-action movies. I watched the first episode. Great stuff. (Although the manga is the best.)



P.P.S. I'd love to see Kei perform at the piano. I did see her playing a saxophone briefly at the "Acoustic Nacchi" concert.

[EmEl]

I have to agree with Petit about Hirano. Her acting career seems more important to me. I mean, sure, idols are idols and they do everything, but Hirano's idolness seems much more about acting. And about her idol unit, are you talking about Springs? She was doing a little bit of voice work at the same time, I think she was just trying to make it as star in any way as a 15 year-old.



Like PQ says, Mano has always reminded me of idols of the past (with less stage presence... for now! Okay. For always), which is one of the reasons I love her since I love me some old idols.



I don't really know what's next for her since I don't really understand what the production side is trying to do with her, but I suppose an album should be soon since she has so many singles. I assume the fast pace of singles is supposed to lead to an album when they'll settle down.

[Shoujo Q]

If we're going to talk about voice acting idols, who by the way I think out of H!P Kusumi Koharu has more in common with then Mano Erina ever will, unless she decides to go into voice acting, which I doubt it. Her whole thing is her face. I mean her company is hitting you over the head with it everywhere you turn. It would go against the nature of their manufacturing of her to all of a sudden say, "Hey! Let's throw you in an anime!" Voice actors are in a studio all day, you don't see their face you hear their voice.



Canary Club's Ogawa Mana is a good idol to show off if you want to talk about voice acting idols. She's got quite a few roles under her belt and she sings and dances and does photobooks too!



Mano Erina as a voice acting idol is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, it ain't gonna happen.

[EmEl]

[quote name='PQ' post='68721' date='Sep 10 2009, 05:50 AM']Her whole thing is her face.[/quote]

Are you trying to say that Mano will never wear an upside-down bikini top like Hirano?

[Vikitty]

Madara: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lHpsEjChOY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm-U3gFhMHU

[Madara]

[quote name='Valerie' post='68723' date='Sep 10 2009, 11:16 PM']Madara: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lHpsEjChOY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm-U3gFhMHU[/quote]



Thanks for those links, Valerie. I'd pay for a solo Kei album. And it was nice to see Mari and Kei performing together again. I only just bought the recent Mari single. I like it.



I'd never heard that nickname used for Kei, though. Kemeko. When did that start?

[Shoujo Q]

[quote name='Madara' post='68741' date='Sep 10 2009, 05:41 PM'][quote name='Valerie' post='68723' date='Sep 10 2009, 11:16 PM']Madara: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lHpsEjChOY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm-U3gFhMHU[/quote]



Thanks for those links, Valerie. I'd pay for a solo Kei album. And it was nice to see Mari and Kei performing together again. I only just bought the recent Mari single. I like it.



I'd never heard that nickname used for Kei, though. Kemeko. When did that start?





[/quote]





The nickname Kemeko comes from the Hello! Morning days when Kei played a character named Kemeko during the theater skits.

[BeForJess]

About the piano playing idol thing... There is Ootsuka Ai, who plays piano, but she's also got boatloads more talent than Mano also.

[Vikitty]

And Aya Kamiki, and Younha. Both who rock.

[neshcom]

Angela Aki basically only plays piano, but I don't know if I'd call her an idol. Or popular. Or female.

[Shoujo Q]

[quote name='neshcom' post='68751' date='Sep 10 2009, 09:06 PM']Angela Aki basically only plays piano, but I don't know if I'd call her an idol. Or popular. Or female.[/quote]



I'm listening to Angela Aki right now. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... iggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> If you tilt your head and squint a little she looks like Tina Fey.

[Melon]

[quote name='Madara' post='68711' date='Sep 9 2009, 08:55 PM']I dunno. To me, Erina and Aya Hirano have a lot more in common than do Aya and Megumi. And I do tend to see Aya as an idol. I was listening to Megumi for years as a singer and voice actress before I ever knew what she looked like. I wouldn't be surprised if I knew what Aya looked like well before I ever heard her sing or do an anime voice. And all the DVD volumes of HARUHI SUZUMIYA include "Making of" featurettes that showcase Aya in true idol fashion. And I believe Aya was in a Cham-like idol trio long before she did voice-acting. (Cham=the idol trio in the anime film, PERFECT BLUE, 1997, my first real glimpse of idol culture)[/quote]



Two things - One, Haruhi was her breakout role. Two, DVDs come out after the anime has aired. The thing about Aya is that unlike most VAs she's not buttface ugly. If you watch interview clips where they have her do her gambit of voices, you'd see that it's her main focus. Comparing her to Erina(who doesn't do voicework at all) is downright insulting to her talent. And frankly I think she has the better singing voice too. They might engage in idol like activities with her, but she is not an idol nor do I consider her one. Just look at her role list and tell me she's not a voice actor primarily. Hell, half of her music releases are themes for games or anime...where she's also doing a voice.

edit - sorry for threadjack



Erina is a nice "girl next door" sort of gal, from what I've gathered of my limited viewings of her. She seems more "soft" and "gentle" than MM/Cute/Berryz.

[Ap2000]

I've never thought of Erina and Aya to be remotely similar.

She really is primarily a girl that does anime stuff (dubbing/singing), as Petit said.



An Idol, to me, is somebody who first and foremost is in the business to entertain people directly.

Which is something Aya doesn't do, except for some photo shootings now and then. While most idols main selling point is smiling into the camera, that's certainly not what Aya does all the time.



I also don't see why you first talk about "Mano plays an instrument" and then later on come up with Aya, who (afaik, I'm not a fan of her) doesn't play any or at least isn't known for playing one. (or were you just asking in general who else plays instruments ?)

Judging from her lame singing, I'm not too sure if it would be a good choice for her to do voice acting. (or if anybody would want to even hear that <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... >/rofl.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> )

That being sad, has she ever done voice acting ?

[EmEl]

[quote name='Ap2000' post='68756' date='Sep 10 2009, 09:49 PM']Judging from her lame singing, I'm not too sure if it would be a good choice for her to do voice acting.[/quote]

I don't understand the connection. I can't sing at all, in fact I'm terrible at singing, and yet I've done voice acting. A good singing voice doesn't mean you'll be good at voice acting, nor does it work the other way around (this is disregarding the fact that there is a certain group of people who do find her singing voice pleasant to listen to, even if it's not technically sound).



I'm pretty sure Mano hasn't done voice acting, but she has done a radio show for about 5 months now, and if her talking voice was so unbearable, I'm sure it would start to show there.

[Madara]

I appreciate the responses to my attempt at an Erina/Aya comparison. I'm trying to place them properly in the whole J-pop spectrum and it's helpful to me to know how Aya is perceived. I'm glad, actually, to learn she's not primarily considered an idol. I like Aya and think she's talented (much more so than Erina) and I enjoyed her work in "Haruhi Suzumiya" and I like the theme song a lot. I haven't yet gotten to the episodes in "Nana" where her character (Reira) appears. I just picked up her latest(?) single. It said "Set Me Free Sing a Song" on the cover and she's holding up a plate of cookies and pastries as an offering and I just couldn't resist. The two songs on it, though, are more in the rock vein she was moving into on the "Riot Girl" album, which really isn't my style. But I like her voice a lot.

[EmEl]

[quote name='Madara' post='68768' date='Sep 11 2009, 06:56 AM']I just picked up her latest(?) single. It said "Set Me Free Sing a Song" on the cover[/quote]

Close. "Set me free/Sing a Song!" was her last non-anime related single from April, but "Super Driver" (the opening to the "new season" of Haruhi) was released afterward in July.



Although there has been no announced Erina Mano album, you may be interested to know that Aya Hirano's second album has been announced for November.

[Ap2000]

[quote name='EmEl' post='68765' date='Sep 11 2009, 08:37 AM'][quote name='Ap2000' post='68756' date='Sep 10 2009, 09:49 PM']Judging from her lame singing, I'm not too sure if it would be a good choice for her to do voice acting.[/quote]

I don't understand the connection. I can't sing at all, in fact I'm terrible at singing, and yet I've done voice acting. A good singing voice doesn't mean you'll be good at voice acting, nor does it work the other way around (this is disregarding the fact that there is a certain group of people who do find her singing voice pleasant to listen to, even if it's not technically sound).



I'm pretty sure Mano hasn't done voice acting, but she has done a radio show for about 5 months now, and if her talking voice was so unbearable, I'm sure it would start to show there.

[/quote]



You might be right, I was just basing my assumption on what I think about her singing.

Maybe she can be used for some shy/moe characters.