UuU~ Genki Birthday for Yayoi!

200% Genki and all about Family!

It's the lovable and reliable genki girl Yayoi Takatsuki's Birthday today! Bursting at the seams with energy and the loving care for all her siblings, this girl really deserves a great day for all her hard work!

Here's this strange little "Human-powered Vocaloid" video of Anzu no Uta, sung(?) by Yayoi!

Nico

A Sing Song Happy Birthday to Chihaya!

Happy Birthday Chihaya!

It's the singing diva with a cool demeanor, Chihaya Kisaragi's Birthday! This time it's our turn to sing for you.

Also, it's time for new Birthday banners from the idolmaster.jp site!

And here's a cute little video someone made for her birthday. Featuring Haruka, the ever so great friend. A laughing or smiling Chihaya is a nice thing indeed.

Nico

Subliminal Namco Impact

Nico

Creepy little video featuring Nonowa (のヮの）　and a strange vending machine...

And who's that in the background? She seems to be form Home.


Also, today was a crazy project day. Had to do a lot of stuff because one of our members was sick... What bad timing.

Day of the Future (band arrange remix)

Nico

Neat little remix of "Day of the Future", Miki's character/image song from the Idolm@ster 2 Master Special Second Season.

Of course it was for Miki's birthday the day before.

Afuu~ Birthday to Miki Nano!

The Napping Queen being super stylish as usual!

It's the favorite napping girl Miki Hoshii's Birthday!

What to do? Eat/offer lots of onigiri and nap a lot!

Then? Go work hard on something (or for someone) you love!

Nico

Here's "Ne~e?" a song with lots of "nano"'s~



Time to sleep. Afuu~

Mobage Change!!!! (in-progress trace)

Nico

This is a pretty nicely done - but incomplete - trace of the Idolm@ster second OP "CHANGE!!!!" with the Cinderella Girls. I hope to see the full version when they finally complete it.

Coin, Election & Freetrade

Nico

Neat Cinderella Girls parody OP of "Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate" or "Love, Election, & Chocolate". I really like the sprite work they have for the various Mobage girls.

Also, it has a very clever title.

Asapon : The Great Imitator Returns

Alternatively, Ami (and Mami, even though she's technically not in this) : The Great Imitators Return.

Nico

Asami "Asapon" Shimoda does it again in the latest Namassuka Special 04. Her challenge (as Ami) was to imitate all of 765pro, so now we get to hear her takes on Takane, Hibiki, President, and even Producer-san. That Azusa and Miki voice always get me.

Honey Heartbeat - Namassuka SPECIAL 04

"3! 2! 1! Say ho!"

And now for... Namassuka.... (almost) Sunday 04!! Preview medley below!

So right after my "review" of 03 comes 04. I came in with only slight expectations such as there being a "Groovin' Magic" cover by Makoto, which she pulled off very well. And of course the rap filled "Honey Heartbeat". A nice M@STER version indeed with tons of rap and fun. The rest? Well I'll have to take a listen again, but it was all around pretty good. Hatsukoi this time was rockish, and it was pretty good though not as great as the others past. I'd have to listen to that again before having a better opinion.

Oh and we can't forget the extremely entertaining talk tracks! Haruka(kka) OTL! Brilliant Ami impressions! And Makoto... being girly? That... was a bit unsettling to say the least. And the extra talk with the upcoming duo plus one who's going to be in the next album. Oh Kotori, never change.

"Zunzun. Zunzun."
"Shiny Smile~ Hai na futari~"
"Say ho! Say ho ho ho! Sawage!!"

Nico

I guess something I forgot to mention was the new NicoNicoDouga (or just plain niconico now) interface. Seems pretty nice even with the bugginess at the beginning.

Ai LIKE Hamburger - Namassuka SPECIAL 03

Oh Yayoi. Eating on the job eh?

This is going to be edited in a bit, but I just want to put out my thoughts on the 3rd Namassuka Special even though 04 already came out a while ago.

Video medley of songs below.

First off, I didn't know Yayoi's and Ritsuko's voices could work together so well! That intro to the M@STER version of Ai LIKE Hamburger was a bit strange, but in the end it was still pretty good. Though not quite as great as Nanairo Botan, it's still incredibly catchy and repeatable.

As for the talk tracks, I haven't really payed my full attention, but I love the reactions of Ritsuko. Yayoi being the onee-chan is always fun. As well as the "surprise" visit from Producer-san himself.

For the cover songs, I have to say that I like them. His cover songs were not bad at all. As always, the Hatsukoi in this one was a nice listen as well.

Full thoughts will be edited in a bit I hope.

Nico

HaruChiha "Love Letter"

Nico

Such a sweet love letter for the person sending it.

Doya Robot

Nico

Doya?

THE iDOLM@STER SINGS ”MUSIC”

Nico

De de Mouse is... very interesting. And so is this video.

THE IDOLM@STER COMPILATION MEDLEY

Nico

Another medley! With an... interesting intro.

[由々] Yukipo Toeto

Nico

"由々" is the one who sings it, but it does sound a lot like Yukiho/Yurishi herself eh?

Toeto is probably one of those songs that I heard about, but never got to sit down and listen to the whole thing. Such a nice song, with a great little character with that iconic cat hat. Very bombastic instrumentation constrasts with the shy persona of Toeto.

As for this Yukipo Toeto video, the voice and the character works very well. Yukiho herself being kind of like Toeto when it comes to men (or a certain man).

Kosmos, Cosmos Vocal Only

Nico

Not a complete acapella, but it is very good. That guitar, the echo, the great techno bit. And of course Yurishi's Yukiho voice. Her Kosmos, Cosmos is still the greatest. Her voice is this is hard for me to describe, but it is beautiful.

Rainbow Button - Namassuka SPECIAL 02

Nico

Or "Nanairo Botan" as most people know it.

The video above is just a medley, but it gives you a taste of the great things in this album.

So I had the chance to listen to the whole Namassuka SPECIAL 02 and I got to say that it sounded spectacular. "Nanairo Botan" especially. Hearing some old and not so old anime songs in the mix were good. Like "Itazura na Kiss" covered by Ami, which was an ending theme of Inuyasha. "Reflectia" by Azusa from True Tears. And "Houki Gumo" by Iori, an song used in Yakitate Japan!

The rest of the cover songs include "Koi to Machine Gun" by Iori, "Aruite Kaerou" by Ami, and "U Fu Fu Fu" by Azusa.

The final original song is "Hatsukoi ~Nishou Kokuhaku no Hanabi~", which really surprised me on how great is was.

Overall this album was much stronger than the first Namassuka SPECIAL. I wonder how the next one will sound, considering Producer-san is actually singing in it. And of course we can't forget the Ritsuko-Yayoi pair singing "AI Like Hamburger".

Dame... Dame yo Kotori~! Birthday

Aka Happy Birthday to the delusional 2X year old iD:[OL] Kotori Otonashi!

It's actually on the 9th of September, but heck why not celebrate during Japan time?

Nico

Here's a new video that's also a blast to the past. How fitting of Kotori.

Makoto Makoto Makoto Makoto Makoto Makoto Makoto Makoto-chan Nariyo~

Nico

"on and on" I can't believe I missed this during her birthday. Anyways, here's some endlessly looping Makoto Makoto Makoto Makoto Makoto Makoto Makoto Makoto-chan Nariyo~

約束(Yakusoku) -STAGE451.2-

Nico

Quite touching... and oh so sad. Poor girl.