Home News Selective Hearing’s News Roundup
Selective Hearing’s News Roundup
August 5, 2012 By

Selective Hearing’s News Roundup

It Ain’t A G Thang Anymore

Snoop Dogg announced that he is changing his name to Snoop Lion and will be releasing a Reggae album called Reincarnated. This transformation will focus more on political statements and positivity and less on thuggery and the “G” lifestyle.

Comments: Oh man, either Snoop smoked something really really really good or this is a fucking brilliant marketing move. The lead single La La La is fairly decent to be honest.

I may give this version of Snoop a go. It can’t be any worse than the dark years when he was on No Limit.

AKB48 will be inviting 30 viewers to a dinner party as a special project on their show, “Bimyo~na Tobira AKB48 no Gachi Chare”

Comments: Apparently the second season of Bimyo has completely changed from a sketch comedy show to a challenge show similar to that of Shukan AKB48. From what I gather from those who have watched the program the change is not for the better. But for those who still give a damn there is a contest for viewers of the show to guess what challenges the girls are doing.

Those who answer correctly will be entered into a lottery to participate in a dinner party in March of 2013. How this is related to the show is unknown to me, but if they use it to torture their fans with Mechaike-esque cruel jokes and pranks I’ll be happy with this dinner party thing.

If it’s just fans drooling over their oshi’s while attempting to eat food with utensils then this might be a waste of time.

Fans will be able to vote for an AKB48 song to be made into a music video (MV), and the #1 song in the poll will be made into a brand new MV.

Songs that are eligible are only those from AKB48 (none from the sister groups) and those that have not have a video made previously. A voting card this MV poll will be available with AKB48′s next album 1830m on August 15th.

Comments: Hmmm.. Gimmicked CD sales anyone? Yeah, I know. It doesn’t matter anymore. But hey, you get to vote for something! Yay!

But seriously, if Dear My Teacher never has never had a video I’d vote for that song. Of course I’m dead broke from planning to see AKB in person so if you’re reading this and are planning to buy the album put that as your vote for me. Thanks.

SKE48 will open their own theater. It’s located in Aichi at the newly renovated SUNSHINE STUDIO at Sunshine Sakae

Comments: I guess this is exciting news. Are they going to have two giant ass pillars there too? You know, for consistency’s sake. Well whatever, good news for SKE fans and possibly another place for me to visit on next year’s trip. Assuming that AKB & its sister groups don’t fizzle out because of overexposure & all that.

f(x)’s official Japanese website has also indicated that the group will also hold their first premium showcase in Japan titled, “1st Shock.” The showcase will be held in Japan on October 18th and 19th at 7PM local time at the Zepp Tokyo venue.

Comments: One of my favorite acts from SM Entertainment are taking the plunge into the Japanese music market. I really hope they do well as their Hot Summer actually sounds pretty decent in Japanese. I also think the mannish charms of Amber might be appealing to a certain segment of fans.

Unfortunately I can see them failing along with the dozens of other groups that aren’t KARA, Shoujo Jidai or Tohoshinki.

We’ll see how this goes. Maybe they’ll prove my doomsday prediction wrong.

Morning Musume’s 51st single, currently untitled, has been announced. Release date is October 10.

Comments: Already I can hear the chants of “100,000!!!!” from the H!P Kool-Aid drinkers. Much like their 50th single this is coming out in 7 different version. Whether those 7 versions have any special content is unknown at this point.

What will be telling is if UFA actually puts some marketing muscle behind the not so special single 51 whether the a-side is any good. IF (and this is a really big if) the stars align and UFA actually does give a damn for a non-celebratory single then there may be hope for Morning Musume.

I already expect the video to be complete shit because… Well it’s H!P. Setting your expectations high with them now is only setting yourself up for failure.

Of course everyone will call the song and video “amazing!” regardless of actual quality. The current H!P fandom prefers shiny things over substance I guess, so perhaps I should give up while I’m behind.

T-ara member Hyayoung has been dismissed from the group due to “attitude issues”

T-ara

Comments: I was quite confused about what actually went down. It’s hard to trust Twitter as a reliable source since it’s still full of hearsay & general fan bull shittery. I have to give props to the folks at my favorite K-Pop site Seoulbeats for weeding through the crap and giving a synopsis sans the fan meltdown aspect.

While the official word is that Hwayoung was booted for confrontation with staff members perhaps the bullying from the other members of the group may have had a part in this as well. I’m not sure what one would expect of member on crutches but there’s no way anyone can perform at 100% if their injury immobilizes them.

But if the girl was a complete bitch as the label seems to convey then alright. You get rid of the source of friction in the group and move on. I have completely ignored whatever fan uproar this has caused because I really don’t care. You all want to get worked up about this then by all means continue to provide unintentional hilarity for people like me.

My only question is, when is their next single coming out and will it be any good? Because despite all the internal strife that may or may not be within the group, their end product (the music, the part that you all seem to ignore in favor of this drama) is some quality stuff.

Powered By DT Author Box

Written by Greg

Greg

Greg is the creator, administrator, editor, code monkey, overlord and general jack of all trades at Selective Hearing. He can be found lurking among the overseas Asian pop fandom and at most major conventions and events where a J-Pop/K-Pop act (or Gashicon) appears.

Author’s Website


Related Articles

Filed Under: News
  • Miffy

    You know, just because some people really liked something you didn’t, does that mean they’re just following the trends and not thinking for themselves? I form my opinions on what I like based on whether I like it, regardless of what everyone else in the fandom thinks, but you insult anyone who happens to like Hello! Project’s recent releases. Some might say that everyone who likes AKB songs is “drinking the Kool-aid” too. I don’t think it’s a fair judgement to make of people.

    • http://selective-hearing.com Greg

      I am actually an equal opportunity hater. I am fully aware that AKB fans are drinking their own brand of Kool-Aid as well. Many AKB fans I have had discussions with hate a lot of what the current group has become. Very similar to what I don’t like about Hello! Project right now.

      I just happen to have more experience with Hello! Project overall so I don’t really have the right to bash anything AKB with as much venom as I do with H!P at this point in time.

      And from watching H!P fans over the years, not many have an independent thought left. Of course that is from my own personal experience having been around many different parts of the fandom. So perhaps it may be environmental factors that affect my opinion but that doesn’t make what I say any less valid.

      I used to be exactly like the the people I mock and fully bought into what ever UFA would tell me up until a few years ago.

      Now I get told to STFU because I’m not towing the company line like a “good fan” should. But hey, you’re not the first one to say it, nor will you be the last.

      • Miffy

        It’s not about being a “good fan” or not. If you don’t like something more power to you!

        My issue is that your blanket statements, about everyone that likes a recent HelloPro release, are insulting and alienating to some of the fans. I wouldn’t disagree that there is a large segment of annoying fans out there that deserve mocking (see: Hello!Online boards), but making the assumption that all HelloPro fans are that way is incorrect.

        Please don’t take this as saying you should shut up, that’s not my intent.

        • http://selective-hearing.com Greg

          I understand where you may find contention with my statements. Yes they are blanketing but what out there proves otherwise? My experience within the Hello! Project fandom has lead me to make the conclusions you disagree with. Again this is only because of my personal experience. A lot of what I say about H!P fans is inspired by real life and not just pulled out of thin air.

          Your journey in the fandom may have a taken a different route where you see things much differently than I and are exposed to those who rightfully do not deserve such mocking.

          And as much as I would like to think that those people exist somewhere, my belief that level headed individuals who don’t treat this stuff like their lives depend on it dwindles with each passing day as the sunshine, unicorns & rainbows approach takes over the collective mindset of the fans.