[Discussion]Morning Musume

Part Two:



History

Japanese producer Tsunku started the group in 1997 through an audition for a female rock vocalist for his band Sharan Q. The audition was held on the Japanese TV show Asayan. The winner was Michiyo Heike, later to become a soloist under what would eventually become known as Hello! Project. Tsunku decided to form a girl group consisting of five of the runners-up: Natsumi Abe, Yuko Nakazawa, Kaori Iida, Asuka Fukuda, and Aya Ishiguro. They were issued a challenge to sell 50,000 copies of their demo single, "Ai no Tane", with just five days of promotion events. They managed the feat in four promotion days (spread out over November, 1997) in a very grassroots manner, and Tsunku began his mission to create the most famous all-girl group in Japan.

1998

In early 1998, the girls were ready with their first official single, "Morning Coffee". The success of this single (hitting number six on the Japanese pop charts) brought them three new members known as the second generation: Kei Yasuda, Mari Yaguchi, and Sayaka Ichii, bringing the total member count to eight. The second single, Summer Night Town, was the first single of the new lineup—a mature pop tune about unsuccessfully attempting to hide one's true feelings. Their third single, "Daite Hold on Me!", continued in the same vein musically as Summer Night Town, and managed to hit number one on the charts. Leader Nakazawa also started her solo career.

First Time was released in July 1998, featuring the singles "Ai no Tane", "Morning Coffee" and "Summer Night Town".

That year, Tsunku also formed Tanpopo, the first subgroup of Morning Musume, with Kaori Iida, Aya Ishiguro, and Mari Yaguchi. Tanpopo touted slower, more mature songs.

1999

1999 kicked off with the group's fourth single "Memory Seishun no Hikari", failing to hit number one but managing to snag number two on Oricon (Glay's "Winter, Again" was number one for the week, with 1st week sales of 955,780 copies, while Morning Musume's Memory Seishun no Hikari's was 195,720). The song contained a rap section and intense vocal harmonization on the girls parts. This was Asuka Fukuda's last single with Morning Musume, making her currently the shortest-lived member at 2 years. Asuka claimed that she was leaving in order to focus on her studies, only to drop out of school soon after.

"Manatsu no Kōsen" was released in May and was a summer tune. It went to number three on the charts, and the sales dropped by half from Memory Seishun no Hikari. Morning Musume's chart position was visibly lagging at the time: their sixth single, "Furusato", only sealed the fact. Natsumi Abe was the only one who sang the melody on "Furusato"; the other members just harmonized discreetly. This was their fifth single, and the sales once again decreased by half.

Second Morning was released in July 1999, and contained the singles "Daite Hold on Me!", "Memory Seishun no Hikari", "Manatsu no Kōsen", and "Furusato". "Daite Hold on Me!" and "Manatsu no Kōsen" were remixed.

Eager to add new life to the group, Tsunku held auditions for the third generation of Morning Musume. Two girls were expected to be admitted, but ultimately only Maki Goto was added. Goto was 13, the youngest member of Morning Musume at the time. The group's seventh single, "Love Machine", sold 1,760,000 copies, making it a major hit; it is still their highest-selling single to date. The song touted an image of Japan as the future "envy of the world" and cheered the masses during a period of economic recession. It was Maki Goto's first single and Aya Ishiguro's last. Its wild success dramatically increased the popularity of the group.

Soon Goto was paired with Kei Yasuda and Sayaka Ichii to form the subgroup Petitmoni (also known as Pucchi Moni). Petitmoni's first single, "Chokotto Love", rivaled the success of "Love Machine", selling over 1,123,610 copies.


SKIPPING YEARS!!!!!!

2011

The three audition winners, Riho Sayashi, Kanon Suzuki and Erina Ikuta, were announced on stage by Tsunku at the Hello! Project 2011 Winter: Kangei Shinsen Matsuri concert on January 2, 2011. He then announced that Mizuki Fukumura, a Hello! Pro Egg, would also be joining Morning Musume.

On January 9, also at the Winter concert, it was announced that leader Ai Takahashi would be graduating from Morning Musume and Hello! Project at the group's Autumn 2011 concert. The decision came after Tsunku suggested that Takahashi should consider her own graduation soon. After Takahashi's graduation, Risa Niigaki will take over her role as leader, and Sayumi Michishige will take over as sub-leader. Takahashi will continue her musical and theatre careers after her graduation.

On February 3, 2011, Morning Musume's 45th single, Maji Desu ka Ska!, was announced. The single was set to be released on March 23, 2011; however, due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the single was postponed until April 6. The new single reached number 5 on the Oricon weekly charts.

Morning Musume 46th single, "Only You", was released on June 15, 2011. There were five versions to the single: Regular, Limited A, Limited B, Limited C, and Limited D. The single reached number 4 on the Oricon Weekly charts.

On April 13, Morning Musume launched a weekly 1 hour Ustream show called UstreaMusume. On their official website, there is an e-mail provided, so fans can submit questions, messages and requests.

It was announced May 8, that 10th Generation Audition "Genkijirushi" submissions were starting until June 13. This surprised many fans as it had only been four months since the 9th generation had joined.

During the summer, Morning Musume did a Fanclub Tour in Hawaii from July 20–26.

On September 14, Morning Musume released their 47th single. This was the previous leader, Ai Takahashi's last single with Morning Musume after a tenure of 10 years with the group. In order to celebrate Ai Takahashi's long career with Morning Musume, their 47th single was released as a double A sides. This is the first time in history that Morning Musume has purposely done a double A side single. There will be five versions of the single: Regular, Limited A, Limited B, Limited C and Limited D. Furthermore, in the Limited B version of the single, the B side will be a Ai Takhashi solo, which has also never been done before. The single names are as follows: "Kono Chikyū no Heiwa o Honki de Negatterun da yo!/Kare to Issho ni Omise ga Shitai!" as the double A side and Takahashi's solo song has been revealed to be called "Jishin Motte Yume wo Motte Tobitatsu Kara". The 47th single reached number 2 on the Oricon daily and weekly charts.

Morning Musume's fall tour was revealed to be called "Ai Believe ~Takahashi Ai Graduation Memory Special~". It has also been revealed that Ai Takahashi would graduate on the final day of the tour, September 30, at the Nippon Budokan.

On September 29, the second last day of the fall tour and the day before Ai Takahashi's graduation, Tsunku announced the four winners of the tenth generation audition, Haruna Iikubo, Ayumi Ishida, Masaki Satou, and Haruka Kudou from Hello! Pro Egg. This brings the group to 12 members, excluding Ai Takahashi, which is the highest number of group members since late-2004 and early-2005 before Iida Kaori's graduation. On September 30, Takahashi graduated, handing over her position as leader of Morning Musume and Hello! Project to Risa Niigaki.

It was announced that Morning Musume 48th Single will be called Pyoko Pyoko Ultra, this will be the first single feature the 10th generation and Niigaki Risa as leader of the group. The set release date is January 25, 2012.




Life in the Group

The audition process has been described by Ai Takahashi as involving a training camp of three days and two nights, in which participants were expected to learn a new song, a dance routine and a script.

The girls are afforded three holidays a year of five days each, in winter, summer and for New Year's.

In the past, the group has always had a leader and sub-leader, though neither comes with any responsibility. Takahashi has said that the role merely includes encouraging other to do their best, while Niigaki has said that as sub-leader, "there is nothing I have to do, but I want to support [the leader]". Michishige said on her radio show that there isn't a sub-leader this time.

The girls tend to spend their social time together as well as their work time, and have said that they are encouraged to discuss problems if any in-fighting occurs.

More in part 3 lol

Kanashimi Twilight



Koko no Iruzee



Souda! We're Alive



Onna to Otoko no Lullaby Game

HAVA-RAVA wrote: I SOOOO love them ~~
They're my life *___*

All time fav members of mine are: Nono, Aibon, Yossie, Gakki and Koha-chan and of course H!P "mom" Nakazawa Yuuko ~~
I'll be so sad to see Gaki graduating ;____;

I loved Aibon too lol

christypop wrote: The only song that I've listened to from them is Maji Desu ka Ska.

Haha It's a really catchy song. Did you like it?

This my the most favorite jpop group :) I like almost every song, I didn't find last two albums + last single very amusing. My the most favorite members were Koha-chan, Marippe, NonNon, Kaorin, Mikitty and Yuko-chan. Well I liked every member of MoMusu and I like the ninth generation as well though I don't have an attachment to the tenth generation yet. I really love their choreographies, that's why I made a dance cover of one of their songs and I would like to make more but I'm a hard drama-addict LOL.

Aibon was my original fave from Momusu :D

My favourite song is definitely "Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari".



I find it extremely funning having all the members coming up front and sing their lines about their bandmandes.
There are also versions with the newer members - but this one is my favourite. :)

I find their latest single "Pyoko Pyoko Ultra" very strange, though, the song isn't too bad, but the costumes... rofl
(As far as I know Renai Hunter hasn't been released yet...?)