What’s in a Soloist? Pt3 (Berryz pt1)

Morning Musume’s been covered, but what of our lovely Kids?  Both groups show individual promise, but not every member would be strong enough to handle a career on their own.

Shimizu Saki

Recently, Captain’s really been stepping up.  Her voice has improved so much from Berryz 4th album to their 5th, and she’s been given a bigger role within H!P since it’s been announced that Elder Club’s been graduating.  Unfortunately for Captain, she’s been given the shaft since the beginning of Berryz because of Miyabi, Momoko, Risako and (especially in the beginning) Yurina.  Personally, Captain’s my third favourite in Berryz Koubou.  She’s gotten much better looking (read: hot) recently, too.

Let’s not forget her dancing, either.  She’s got the same blessing and curse as Eri:  She’s a great dancer, so she’s given that as her charm and gimmick.  I’m sre anyone who knows anything about H!P knows about Captain’s solo dance rendition of Anata Nashi de wa Ikite Yukenai a few years ago.  Basically, Captain would be a great soloist if she had a greater role in Berryz, but she doesn’t so her solo career would probably flop unless she got the kind of fanclub events that Manoeri’s gotten or some sort of tie-in like Koharu.

SOLOIST?: She has the potential, but not the popularity.

Tsugunaga Momoko

Momoko’s definitely one of the most popular members in Berryz Koubou, even H!P.  She’s consistently been the lead singer in Berryz songs and has been in several units outside of Berryz, specifically Buono!  Since she’s joined Buono!, she’s really stepped it up to handle the more varied vocal range of the Buono! songs, so she’s become a good little singer as well, even with her sometimes too sweet voice.

Let’s not forget to mention her dancing skills, second in Berryz only to Captain.  She’s frequently center dancer in the more difficult Berryz dances, most specifically Munasawagi Scarlet.  She’s always been a fan favourite to the wota, and usually new fans pick her as their first favourite until they learn more about the members.  Momo’s solo appeal, however. . . I’m not quite sure what to say about her in that regard.  She’s a good singer, but even I get a little sick of her voice if I hear songs like Gag 100kaibun Aishite Kudasai on repeat.  In Buono!, even with her recent position in the center and as ’self proclaimed leader,’ Miyabi and Airi’s voices cancel out her sugar-sweet singing.  So maybe She would be a great soloist, but her success probably wouldn’t leave the wota community.

SOLOIST?: She’s got the talent, but her success would probably be limited because of her voice.

Tokunaga Chinami

Chinami has recently become more popular in Berryz, even if Berryz as a group has lost a little popularity.  She had lead vocals in MADAYADE and she was a main vocalist in Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance.  Unfortunately, as is the case of many of the H!P kids, it was too little, too late.  Her recent boom in popularity has kept her hidden from the general public, and unless she gets lots of pimping like manoeri has been getting or like members of Morning Musume or the main H!P Kids have been getting, she wouldn’t make it outside the wota public as a soloist.   Her voice is a little too much to handle in high amounts, so that is also a hindrance to her popularity as a vocalist..

Her personality, on the other hand, is perfect for solo stuff.  She makes lots of jokes and puns and her facial expressions are priceless, as well as some quick events that have happened in Making-Of sections of DVDs and things.  She would probably have a lot of fun with the hosts of Utaban or Music Fighter if she were on there on her own.

SOLOIST?: She’s recently gotten much more popular, but her voice wouldn’t cut it.

So there you have it: The first half of Berryz.  Next up is the second half.  I swear I will finish this series.