...Tears of joy that is from viewing the spectacular PVs featuring each individual member. I told OnDiet I was gonna write an entry about the girl's solo 'Naichau Kamo' close-up PVs but that came to naught as I got sidetracked by Risa's Alo Hello 2 post and a whole truckload of school assignments and projects. I still have a partially written document about it somewhere but I have no idea where I saved it. That might have been a good thing since between then and now, a new batch of PVs emerged with the release of MM's Platinum 9 Disc album. This set of videos are way better as they incorporate the close-up, dance and rain scene clips all in one. Talk about cowlabunga awesome! Now for a ranking of my top 5 starting from bottom up.
#5 Takahashi Ai aka the Human Tap
Her position came as a real shocker as I ranked her #1 for the close-up versions. Her half a beat delay at mouthing the 'Kamo' at the beginning cost her a few points and the fact that I kept getting distracted by the other girls during the dancing scenes added on to her slide to the bottom of the list.
You would think that as the 2nd or 3rd best dancer within MM (Depending on if you're a bigger Gaki-san or Kame fan), anyone watching the PV would have their eyeballs trained on her the entire time she displayed how flexible her body was with the side thrusting and stuff. Yet I didn't find that she exhibited her full potential for this particular dance sequence.
However, it's undeniable that Ai looks ravishing (I have always been a fan of her this hairstyle) and she has the most number of extended scenes where she succeeds in conveying the forlornness of Mariko beautifully (See 2.22 - 2.29 min, 2.49 - 3.20 min, 3.29 - 3.33 min, 3.56 - 4.20 min). Her looking up at the falling rain and catching of the water droplets in her palm at 0.18 min and again at 1.23 - 1.40 min made me feel that she is a worthy actress as she made the effort to include details that would better bring out the emotions of the song.
#4 Niigaki Risa aka Ai's Supporter in the Emotion Department
Risa too did a lot of glancing up at the rain which was similar to what Ai did. Nevertheless, the feeling I got while watching TakaGaki acting was different. Ai-chan's was more on the verge of breaking down whilst Risa's was more serene, as if she was contemplating about the past and how she handled the relationship. 0.17 - 0.33 min was the first time she tilted her head towards the sky and she did it again at 1.23 - 1.39 min. I'm convinced there is no other person who can look as good as Gaki-san does from that angle :P
She was darn cool at 2.27 min when she stepped backwards and Ai and Koharu came up front. Besides Sayumi's famous Mariko line, the next sentence I most like in the single has to be the one that Risa sang from 3.02 - 3.11 min. Her little action of flicking her hair with her hands some time during that verse totally killed me with how smexy she looked <3
One thought that kept appearing in my head while watching Risa is, since when did her lips get so deliciously thick? Not that I'm complaining as they look incredibly kissable :P My all-time favorite Mame scene is from 4.24 - 4.33 min. The way she brought her eyes gradually downwards and her resigned sigh was enough to make me wanna strangle whoever brought her so much pain XD
#3 Kusumi Koharu aka the New Hawt Girl
I think I've mentioned this somewhere before that Koharu isn't the most competent dancer. Heck, she can sometimes rival Sayumi for the I'm-suffering-from-an-attack-of-fits award but then again, the 164.8 cm (Refer to Music Fighter NCK episode) beauty has improved tremendously from her black stare expression days. She had a couple of hilarious footage including the OMG-I-Need-to-wipe-the-window-quick hand actions at 0.47 min and her Ow-my-contacts-are-too-dry-and-might-pop-out-at-any-moment-so-I-gotta-blink-loads-to-keep-them-from-falling-out look at 1.22 - 1.39 min XD
Nonetheless, her drenched look during the raining scenes and gorgeously wavy hair during the close-up shots more than makes up for her lack of dancing skills :D Koharu even manages to channel the cool vibe on a few ocassions. I can't help drooling every time the camera does a zoom in on her pretty face or prevent myself from thinking how a 16 year old can look so pretty.
Therefore, I'm sold as a believer that Koha will blossom into an extremely beautiful young lady when she turns 18. She has the height and slim figure on her side plus she doesn't have a face that girls love to hate. Thus I can't see why she won't find success in the acting realm if a good script was presented to her. I guess what I'm trying to say with my senseless rambling is that Koharu truly is the miracle member in my eyes. I can't really explain why I feel this way, I just do. Something tells me she will be the one to look out for in the near future.
#2 Kamei Eri aka the most Adorable Alien / Turtle / Pokepokepuu
When the camera slowly panned up and caught Eri's expression at 0.15 min, that was already enough to kill me. Now I know what the phrase "If looks could kill" mean. Damn, Eri oozes sensuality just by fluttering her eyelids. Her turning around prior to that was a nice build up for what was to come at 0.51 min when she killed me again. The nail in the coffin was hammered in from 1.14 - 1.20 min. That broken expression and the swallowing was epicly done!
The pursing of the lips at 1.56 min is one trait of Eri which makes me melt, every single time. What does that smile at 2.17 min mean? The ironic circumstance that Mariko is in? HOLY SHIT!! Eri sliding her fingers down her hair at 2.56 min *Stares with slacked jaw* Did you hear a bell ring? That was the sign annoucing I'm 100% out cold, totally killed by the power of the turtle.
When it comes to Kame-chan, how could I not say anything about her dancing? I felt her best moments were from 4.01 - 4.08 min. She makes it look so darn effortless. Yet another brilliant guesture - the abrupt twisting of her face away from the camera she delivered at 3.29 min. *Hammy feels a jolt through her heart* Goddess Eri ensures your every last breath is stolen completely with the ending scene at 4.39 min. *Hammy collapses to a heap on the floor*
#1 Michishige Sayumi aka Her Time Has Come
Ooooh, I like the hand on glass scene at 0.22 min. And the slight tilting of her head upwards is great too. I could actually feel how cold Sayumi was when she was filming this PV. There is this hypnotizing effect when you gaze into her eyes, those pure black orbs just suck you in so deep you can't get out of falling in love with the girl known as Ichiban Kawaii. It's like she's telling you to bring her home and love and care for her so that no one else can hurt her anymore.
Costume wise, Sayu already wins hands down since I'm such a big sucker for ties. She was one of the two / few who had a polka-dotted piece hanging around her neck. I adore her hair in the dance portions and she undoubtedly looked the best in the red leather jacket. I don't know if it's just me but man, did her legs look appealing in those fishnet stockings. To those who claim her legs are too skinny, take that XD
Sayumin's classic line at 0.48 min was executed perfectly. The manner by which she ran that finger down the side of her face was so temptingly seducing. Gawd and the hip-shaking was damn attractive too. When did she learn to wiggle her body like that??! She drips sex appeal again at 2.22 min. A drop of water rolling down the glass panel at 2.23 min coincided with her lifting of her face and and that made it seem as if she was weeping. The bunny is the sole member who draws her brows arched at that particular angle and it is really alluring to me.
