So, are we not supposed to be staring at their asses?

I'm not complaining. In fact, I'm having a bit of a crisis, here. The "image" of C-ute was already starting to shift to a more mature one with Tokkaiko Junjou, only to be obliterated by LALALA Shiawase no Uta. Now, with Namida no Iro, they are rocking the sort of smouldering sexiness that U-15's are far too good at pulling off, sometimes. Even Morning Musume's having a problem pulling this off lately. But, if nothing else - even if the debate of "is this too sexy too soon" consumes the blogosphere, I'll make two things known now:

1) I like the sexy C-ute. Nay, I LOVE the sexy C-ute. They seem more at home with this PV and with Tokkaiko Junjou.
2) If nothing else, these next few months should be magnificent for Hello!Project sales. There are passionate fans for every upcoming release - this, Anataboshi, Resonant Blue, Nannimo Iwazuni I LOVE YOU...an EPIC second quarter for H!P seems evident. At least, I can hope so.



Maybe it's my big sister complex kicking in and they're not as sexy as I see them, or maybe I'm a dirty U-15 pervert in disguise. Whatever the case, they manage it with demanding poise. Does that make sense? Take a look at the PV. They're dancing their hearts out (no knee-flapping or goofy moves in sight...), rocking wonderful costumes, and everyone (even MaiMai D:) seems to be saying, with her eyes, "bring it on". Oh, C-ute. You are working your way up my Hello!Project favorites list steadily and surely. True to the most optimistic speculations across the blogosphere, LALALA Shiawase no Uta seemed to just be a wrinkle in the C-ute fabric. It's almost (almost) safe at this point to assume that Berryz is being marketed now toward the safe, fun, charismatic "Golden Age MoMusu" crowd, and C-ute is playing right into the hands of the current J-Pop market. Which is fine by me. That the Kids groups seemed far too similar in the early couple of years was troubling, but I think here in 2008 they've finally discovered identities - or UFA has shaped them into those identities. Or maybe I'm just wildly speculating. Or maybe I'm just so excited about how cool this PV is that I'm going to try and spin some sort of credible yarn into my review without just slobbering my fangirl all over the page.

All that said, let's talk presences. Maimi (and her ass) is the Number One draw, as usual. And she deserves it. She looks absolutely stunning, sounds absolutely stunning, and...is Maimi. Is it just me or does it seem that she's grown about three years since we last saw her in that horrid pink furry chicken suit PV? Airi is, again, a force to be reckoned with, but much like my beloved Koha of Morning Musume, my beloved Airi of C-ute just doesn't seem to know when to turn off the kawaii and go for the kakkoi. She's stellar, vocally, as usually, and her ass looks great, but she's just a tad too happy-looking. This is not a happy song. It's not like she doesn't look great with a more sorrowful expression - past PV have proven this. But when she's singing, her whole face lights up. It might just be me, but it seems incongruent with the song and the rest of the images. Erika is the surprise winner of the PV, with numerous close-ups and a kickin' hat. MaiMai still pisses me off just a tad, and if I had any complaint about this PV she'd be it. But, I take C-ute as a whole, and she's part of the package. When she grows up by a couple of years I'll probably love her. Nakki, despite an unfortunately-screenprinted t-shirt (thanks for the free advertising, but this is a video about asses), looks downright fabulous and icy cool in something I would've worn while I was in high school (and probably did, with a different graphic. I'll try to find photos. That hat is just TOO familiar). She gets her fair share of screentime, as well.

It doesn't matter to me that Kanna and Chisato are shortchanged in the screentime department, because Chisato (my sentimental favorite, if you know me) just SHINES in this video, with a calm, mature radiance I always expected but never...prepared myself for, I suppose. If I could stop talking about these girls' costumes for a moment, I would, but I can't. Seriously, Chisato's outfit has to be my favorite, with the rad off-the-shoulder sweater, the single fingerless glove, and those boots. They're finally doing her hair right, too. She looks like a mini-me of Ohtani Masae, and I could only hope they'd follow this "punkish" image forward with her. That's just me, however. Every moment she's onscreen, she's completely in control. Kanna doesn't have the same sparkle, probably because they stuck her with the most unfortunate costume. Oh, well. Ass check? Terrific. This makes up for it.

What a great PV, what a great song. The lighting, the staging, the dancing, the screentime given to every girl - it all seems to be the antithesis of Resonant Blue (though I loved the dance on RB...I seem to be alone in that department...T___T). I'll quickly cast my vote for Namida no Iro (so help me, everytime I type that I want to type LOVE Namidairo!!!) having the best dance of this round of singles. The PV is a toss-up; are we even considering Dschingis Khan with this round, since it's already been released? Regardless, the styles are SO dissimilar, it doesn't matter! Berryz wins in their own way, C-ute wins in their own way. An ulcer that was threatening to form over my divided loyalties regarding the Kids groups has calmed, finally. Because they are now markedly different...if only UFA keeps this up.

( Now...tons of screencaps, with commentary!!! )