On the Keep the Faith PV
Again, too lazy for paragraphs and am procrastinating as we speak, so notes form it is:
- Koki break-dancing in slow-mo is, without a doubt, the best part of the video.
- Ueda's really coming into his own: in Yorokobi no Uta and now in this PV, he really has learned how to work his screen time so you remember him. His manner is just the right combo of cute and cool - meaning, the one that works for him.
- Jin, on the other hand, really sucks ass in this. The tired eyes are fail. The attempt at nose-scrunching rock 'n' roll face (a la YOU PV) was extreme fail. And the sweater was MASSIVE fail. All of which could have been made up for by a little shot of Jin-in-the-rain which was not there. T_T
- Kame is looking similarly tired. I don't know if it's that I'm getting tired of their schtick or if they themselves are getting sick of it, but something is not working and needs to change.
- Junno's cool face is pretty good - so much so that I'm not wincing at the blond hair anymore. Though it's still kinda nasty. Ugh. Regardless, Junno gets a big thumbs up.
- Choreo is fail, as is Kame's sweater. I think they're trying to make him old-school JRock, but it's not working.
- Koki's gangsta look is win. Koki's gangsta attitude is fail. Dude, you're a Johnny's and thus are fundamentally un-ghetto. Though you can rap, for which I love you, it doesn't need to be in every single song. It's okay here, but in general, the standard-issue Koki rap is starting to wear on my nerves.
- Okay, that rain looks like snow. It is snow. And as such, does not look nearly as hot as true (or better) rain would look. I'm a bit disappointed by the wet shots.
- Maru's movements are very nice. I love the things he does with his arms and hands. The eyes, however, are looking a bit dead. Are all of them just overworked at the moment? Maybe that's why Ueda's the only one who looks energetic...
Overall impressions:
Nice video, even if the slo-mo was overdone. The fire was silly, but the environment was cool. Also, this being the first time I've heard the song all the way through, I actually really like it. =D
Why Ueda wins the video:
His eyes are intense...honestly, he looks the most like he gives a shit. And he very neatly balances his innate cuteness with that KT edge. It's beautifully done. Koki runs a close second only because the One True Gangsta act is starting to annoy me, and there are no cute moments with him that make me go all melty. He's just hardcore kakkoi, all the time - which, honestly, we all know he's not. But yes, 10/10 Ueda Tatsuya-san. Keep up the good work! XD
*Random Note*
Sono egao boku ni misete by NewS is the loveliest new song I've heard. I wish it were longer, and that the ending harmony were a little better, but damn, Ryo has a good voice when he chooses to use it well. Also Yamapi and he harmonize very prettily. It helps that I'm truly a sucker for a capella. XDD
- Koki break-dancing in slow-mo is, without a doubt, the best part of the video.
- Ueda's really coming into his own: in Yorokobi no Uta and now in this PV, he really has learned how to work his screen time so you remember him. His manner is just the right combo of cute and cool - meaning, the one that works for him.
- Jin, on the other hand, really sucks ass in this. The tired eyes are fail. The attempt at nose-scrunching rock 'n' roll face (a la YOU PV) was extreme fail. And the sweater was MASSIVE fail. All of which could have been made up for by a little shot of Jin-in-the-rain which was not there. T_T
- Kame is looking similarly tired. I don't know if it's that I'm getting tired of their schtick or if they themselves are getting sick of it, but something is not working and needs to change.
- Junno's cool face is pretty good - so much so that I'm not wincing at the blond hair anymore. Though it's still kinda nasty. Ugh. Regardless, Junno gets a big thumbs up.
- Choreo is fail, as is Kame's sweater. I think they're trying to make him old-school JRock, but it's not working.
- Koki's gangsta look is win. Koki's gangsta attitude is fail. Dude, you're a Johnny's and thus are fundamentally un-ghetto. Though you can rap, for which I love you, it doesn't need to be in every single song. It's okay here, but in general, the standard-issue Koki rap is starting to wear on my nerves.
- Okay, that rain looks like snow. It is snow. And as such, does not look nearly as hot as true (or better) rain would look. I'm a bit disappointed by the wet shots.
- Maru's movements are very nice. I love the things he does with his arms and hands. The eyes, however, are looking a bit dead. Are all of them just overworked at the moment? Maybe that's why Ueda's the only one who looks energetic...
Overall impressions:
Nice video, even if the slo-mo was overdone. The fire was silly, but the environment was cool. Also, this being the first time I've heard the song all the way through, I actually really like it. =D
Why Ueda wins the video:
His eyes are intense...honestly, he looks the most like he gives a shit. And he very neatly balances his innate cuteness with that KT edge. It's beautifully done. Koki runs a close second only because the One True Gangsta act is starting to annoy me, and there are no cute moments with him that make me go all melty. He's just hardcore kakkoi, all the time - which, honestly, we all know he's not. But yes, 10/10 Ueda Tatsuya-san. Keep up the good work! XD
*Random Note*
Sono egao boku ni misete by NewS is the loveliest new song I've heard. I wish it were longer, and that the ending harmony were a little better, but damn, Ryo has a good voice when he chooses to use it well. Also Yamapi and he harmonize very prettily. It helps that I'm truly a sucker for a capella. XDD