tl; therefore, read only if you're on my side :D

[catskilt]

Gasp! Gem is posting about NEWS!

But yes. I've read the post on news_jpop about Yamapi's 'statement' to the fans and the subsequent reactions of the fans to it. Summarily, there's the group that says 'Let's relax and wait and believe in Yamapi' and the other group that says 'We should be concerned about it!'

Needless to say, I am of the second group.

Comments

[fairy_illusions]

Basically, you have summed up my thoughts on NEWS~~

I still love them, but the lack of...well...any and everything...makes it hard for me to feel the need to squeal for them.

As you said, Soukon was a step in the right direction and I wholeheartedly agree on the whole "I don't care as long as you even bother to show up and say hi" thing. How hard was it for Pi and or Ryo to show up and tell the members to gambatte? Cannot be that hard.

And like 2/3 of a year of not being on screen TOGETHER then a releasing a single that they promoted for/performed for within a week and then going straight back into hibernation...it's too BLAH. There's a significant lack of fans + NEWS interaction and that's a giant problem. We can't cheer for and love something we don't even hear from...

I'm not even sure that IF they did anything to fight for more work that any more than leftover tasks will be handed to them. They need to set their own...theme/genre so to speak. If they always stick with generic pop that's leftover from Arashi's remains, I'm not sure NEWS will last. Clearly, the sponsors think the same or they wouldn't be losing CMs.

NEWS, I love you. I really do. But I think there needs to be change or I won't even recognize you when you ARE on tv...SIGH.

[catskilt]

It's hard to get excited over a group that you barely see :| It really makes me wonder what JE is doing, or whichever company that's managing their publicity and activities. It's just odd business sense to have a perfectly good group languishing about doing shitty stuff after spending money on their debut/concerts/etc.

ngl, Ryo and Pi aren't coming off very well to me. I know that it's not really their fault but the whole spiel from Ryo about 'not having talked to the members in a gazillion years and you know I don't even have their numbers!' was not funny to me. One thing that attracts us to idol groups is their friendship and closeness; and if you aren't even talking to each other, how are you ever going to get over being awkward on stage?

NEWS has never had their own theme, unless it was 'fresh', and who knows wth that is. They aren't together enough to have a solid group image :| Whenever they seem to get into their groove, they're thrown apart and the next time they come together they're starting all over again.

Have they been losing CMs?

[fairy_illusions]

Good question!! Splurge on their debut/concerts, but then kick NEWS aside...um...that's such a wise business choice....not.

Oh yeah, Ryo's blurb. You know he always mentions how he's missing someone's number or email or he doesn't want to go shop (with Massu) and even though he thinks it's funny, it got old really quick and now I'm just like -_-' in such a case, you really are just acquaintances who have to work with each other..not even friends..... Guess that's why NEWS is sometimes still so awkward....

"Fresh" won't last that long...especially not since they've been around for a good what? 6 years? They need something better. SIGH. I agree though. They aren't together enough to even have a group image. Right when they get moving, they're separated. I want to know, why?! Sure they each have individual talents, but I think using them together is more constructive (and a better thing for the fanbase and member-ai...)

They already lost Kose and I think their Lawson campaign's over. And rumors keep starting and stopping and then restart that Russ-K will let NEWS go too...

[catskilt]

....losing endorsements is really sad. It's a sign that there's really something wrong, so I don't understand the fans who're still being complacent and insisting that there's no need for fandom to be concerned.

Ugh, Ryo. Sometimes he irritates me. I know he works hard for both groups and all, but just, seriously? I dislike how after seven years, NEWS is still so split into four and two. They are not four and two. They are supposed to be six. It's okay to have a power/popularity disparity, but for JE and NEWS to distinguish it so markedly is annoying.

Solo projects are well and good, but ultimately what fans want is group activities. This is not what JE is giving fans. What kind of idol company doesn't give fans what they want? I don't get it. Isn't the whole point of showbiz about giving fans what they want? LOL. (ofc, there's artiste self-fulfillment and w/e but hey, it's all about the money in the end, okay.)