2016 is nearly over and done with, and thus it’s time to look back and see what the year had to offer. (While you’re at it, feel free to check out the best of 2013, 2014 and 2015!)
Please note that this list is not in order of best to worst. It’s simply a list of what I thought were 15 of the best 2ch threads posted on Wota in Translation this year, in the order they were published.
Did I miss anything? What were your favorites from 2016?
“Is there anyone you personally respect?”
Tsunku♂: Well, my parents — naturally.
But as for someone I admire?
The Beatles.
“Positive Hon — Pucchi Seikou e no Chikamichi” (2005)
Henkka: The Beatles are, without a doubt, my favorite band. If someone asked me why I like the music of Tsunku♂, my answer would be along the lines of “well… because I like The Beatles.” Some people might not understand what I mean by that. But if they didn’t, I would assume they don’t hear the music of The Beatles or the music of Hello! Project in the same way as I do.
There are endless of nods to The Beatles in the music of Hello! Project. There are so many callbacks to their sounds, melodies, chord progressions, recording techniques, and even direct allusions to their song titles, if you didn’t notice them you’d have to be intentionally trying not to.
I would make the case that, regardless of whether you care much for The Beatles or not, their music is unquestionably linked with the musical output and outlook of Tsunku♂, including all of the works he has produced for Hello! Project throughout the years.
Thus, here are some translated texts of Tsunku♂ talking about perhaps the biggest musical influence on Hello! Project and his work in general: The Beatles.
1: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/11/01(火) 23:27:11.47 0.net
Why didn’t any of the current fans tell me this?
4: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/11/01(火) 23:30:07.99 0.net
“Koi wo suru ni wa ososugi demo / asette nanka inai no yo” (“Although I’ve been slow to fall in love / I’m in no hurry.“)
Especially this lyric. So heartrending and painful.
6: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/11/01(火) 23:31:04.57 0.net
>>4
Especially when it comes after the interlude. That’s the best part. I didn’t like the song at first for some reason, but now I just love it.
8: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/11/01(火) 23:31:54.26 0.net
Tsunku’s songs always make you go “oh, I see, it’s just another one of your typical Tsunku songs,” and you forget about it entirely… until it comes back to bite you in the ass. Then you’ll be hitting yourself, going “why didn’t I realize how great this song was sooner…?!“
1: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/12/09(金) 08:50:37.90 0.net
Where did the Sayashi wota go?
3: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/12/09(金) 08:51:46.64 0.net
I just finished crying as I was watching her final performance of ENDLESS SKY.
5: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/12/09(金) 08:54:47.40 0.net
They didn’t become ghosts like all the Kamei and Megu fans?
7: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/12/09(金) 08:58:27.32 O.net
The way Sayashi went out was what it was, so I bet many of her fans don’t even want to talk about it.
8: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/12/09(金) 09:01:28.71 0.net
It’s been almost a year now, huh?
1: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/12/02(金) 23:58:12.72 0.net
They’d have a whale shark floating around in the fish tank behind them.
6: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/12/03(土) 00:03:14.03 0.net
Iikubo-san would have G-cup boobs.
22: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/12/03(土) 00:15:12.33 0.net
Ayacho would appear during every single second of every single episode.
2: 名無し募集中 2016/12/02(金) 23:59:31.05 0.net
Justin Bieber would be saying something in the comment section.
7: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/12/03(土) 00:04:34.52 0.net
Up-Front President: “I reeeally like you.“
310: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/12/23(金) 00:05:13.27 0.net
Happy birthday, Eririn!
311: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/12/23(金) 00:07:28.33 0.net
Congrats.
28 years old, huh…
312: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/12/23(金) 00:10:09.27 0.net
Happy birthday, Eri-sama.
Please marry me already.
318: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/12/23(金) 06:43:28.11 0.net
Congratulations, Eririn!
If it’s Eririn, I’m sure you’ll live up to 120 years old!
327: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/12/23(金) 10:27:19.95 0.net
Eririn’s birthday is a public holiday.
— Could each of you tell us about your responsibilities?
Kamata Koji: Well, I do a lot of things. But basically, I’ve been in charge of Morning Musume and S/mileage.
Yamao Masato: I mostly work with Berryz Koubou and °C-ute.
Hashimoto Shin: You’ve been with them since their debut, right?
Yamao: Right. I’ve been there from the beginning with Berikyuu.
Hashimoto: And Taisei has worked with Mano, Melon in their later years, and…
Taisei: Also later Matsuura, SATOUMI, SATOYAMA… Mostly the non-Tsunku♂ songs. Nowadays I work on ANGERME and Juice=Juice.
Hashimoto: I was involved with pretty much everything beginning with the creation of H!P up to around 2002 — up until “AS FOR ONE DAY,” I think. Then there were some personnel changes and I had a long break from that kind of thing as I worked as the chief manager of °C-ute. Recently, I’m back to being the general production manager.
1: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/11/30(水) 19:45:55.65 0.net
Yes?
2: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/11/30(水) 19:46:24.01 0.net
Smelling her own socks after concerts.
4: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/11/30(水) 19:46:47.76 0.net
Squeezing lemon juice on the fried chicken without first getting the others’ permission.
6: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/11/30(水) 19:47:30.73 0.net
Trying to light a cigarette, discovering that her lighter is out of fluid, and proceeding to throw it at the wall.
12: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/11/30(水) 19:50:03.89 0.net
Repeatedly shouting out the words “glue gun, glue gun!“
13: 名無し募集中。。。 2016/11/30(水) 19:50:28.30 0.net
Of the things listed so far, I could easily forgive her for all of it.
