Passpo- Perfect Sky

This post is going to first in a series I’m calling “Late to the Party”, where I write about songs and topics that are not exactly fresh. First up: PASSPO’s “Perfect Sky” release from March 26, 2014. It’s not that old, but I haven’t written about it, yet. So here goes nothing!

This is probably a strange question to begin a review of a pop song, but I’ll ask it regardless: what is a song? What does it represent, and to whom does the song speak? Is the song meant for us the listeners, or the writers, musicians, and performers? I know these are strange questions, and the average consumer probably doesn’t take the time to consider these things. Not only that, the truth behind these questions probably changes from song to song and from listener to listener.

PASSPO☆- Mousou no Hawaii PV

Man, I love Hawaii. Something about the place, the vibe, the islands makes relaxation easy. I also ordering spam and eggs with a side of rice for breakfast at a restaurant. I didn’t think something that simple makes a difference, but it does. I suppose one never really knows how under the yoke of ethnocentrism one is until that yoke is removed. But, this isn’t the internalized racism blog, this is the PASSPO “Mousou no Hawaii” blog.

PASSPO☆ x Takiron

To tell the truth, I don’t know what is going on here. This is a collaboration between PASSPO and Takiron, that much I know. But, I don’t know much about Takiron. Are they selling something? Are they spokesmodels? What is going on here?

The flight attendants frolic along to their new single “Truly“, which you know I love. At least we can watch the girls out of their uniforms acting all cute. Or, I’ll enjoy it.

Negishi Ai

Fujimoto Yuki

Tamai Anna

Anzai Naomi

Makita Sako

Mori Shiori

Okunaka Makoto

Masui Mio

Iwamura Natsumi

Bonus points: if you play the videos from the bottom of the page up, you’ll get most of “Truly” in order!

PASSPO “Truly” PV

Do you even know how much I like PASSPO? I don’t exactly know what it is about this group, but sometimes listening to their singles brings a tear to my eye. At their best, I find them an inspiring breath of fresh air in the idol world. Their “gimmick”, the flight attendant angle, which really doesn’t extend to much more than the styling of their outfits and the specific PASSPO nomenclature, doesn’t tell the full story of this group. In other words, they are not defined by their gimmick. For me this is the best of the idol world- cheering on a group of “B Class Idols” as they fight their uphill battle for relevancy.

PASSPO – “Step and Go”

Do you like your idols with CG graphics? Have I got the PV for you. PASSPO’s “Step and Go” has the “B class idols” (See Shaku-Uma TV) in a variety of CG scenarios, like they are components of video games. In fact, at some point, they literally become a video game!
We are told that MioMio designed the outfits for “Step and Go”, so she rightfully gets a spot in center for most of this PV. The video begins with the girls on a boat that veers wildly and transforms into an airship to avoid certain destruction via waterfall.
Some map reading

Mio sees the problem

PASSPO – Candy Room PV

I know it has been a while since I posted anything substantial. My other responsibilities took its toll on both my time and my mental strength. It’s the same for all of you, I’m sure.
The real shame here was my inability to write about some great PVs that were released! I’m making a real effort to catch up with these releases starting with PASSPO.

PASSPO do Karaoke

Here’s a fun recent clip of PASSPO singing at a karaoke place!  The renditions you will hear are

(0:00) “Linda Linda” (Blue Hearts) performed by Mio,
(2:48) “Disco Flight” (Ling Tosite Sigure) performed by Yukimi with Anna Tambourine,
(4:47) “Hatsukoi Cider” (Buono!) performed by Makoto and Shiori,
(8:27) Mornging Musume Medley (Mr. Moonlight, Pyoko Pyko Ultra, Go Girl! Koi no Victory, The PEACE, Renai Revolution 21) performed by Sako, Naomi and Natsumi , and
(11:46) “Tenkuu No Canaria” (Nana Mizuki) performed by Ai.

It’s a bit funny/telling how Sako, Naomi and Natsumi just flubbed their way through Pyoko Pyko Ultra, yet knew all of the other songs (and choreography) in the Morning Musume medley.

I LOVE IT WHEN MY IDOLS GET TOGETHER!

PASSPO – Sakura Komachi

Let’s just put this out there first: I need more of the Sakura shots from this PV.  In one of the two sets for the PV, the PASSPO girls looking quite comely underneath artificial cherry trees and a rain of blossoms.  The girls are seemingly naked under pale pink blankets and look quite loverly.  But wait, how did we get here?

You can buy “Sakura Komachi” by PASSPO at CDJapan

Passpo are a bunch of goofballs

Passpo seem to do this better than anyone else.  Random videos of the girls goofing around backstage or during rehearsal litter their official youtube channel.  Like I wrote earlier, videos like these allow us fans a glipse of what the girls are like offstage, when the spotlight is not so apparent.  We get a better idea about what these girls are really like, get to see some occasionally unpolished rehearsal footage, and smile because the girls are smiling with their genuine smiles.

The video I watched this morning features Matsui Mio and Makita Sako in a weird tumbling/breakdancing showdown.  Of course neither of the girls are accomplished breakdancers but that is beside the point!  What I have learned from these videos: Miomio is a superfreak!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHPZHTf64xU]

Some other videos after the jump