I started getting into K-pop over the past years (thanks to Stryfe, Running Man, Twice and Blackpink).
Since I also have a rich history with AKB48, this show came at the perfect time for me.
To make the most of it, I figured I'd write down some of my initial thoughts to get to know all the girls. Plus it might be fun to reflect on them later.
Stryfe posted his pre-show top 12, which I think is a fun idea. Making this list is part of my process to narrow it down.
I'll be sure to make a proper top 12 post later this week. I don't expect anyone to read the list down below.
Finally, Produce 101 China has thought me to be brutally honest, so I hope some of these comments aren't too harsh, haha.
I based this mostly on their introduction video's and random footage from here and there.
Korean contestants:Hong Yeji
- Not my type
- Looks older than 17 years old
- Good vocals!
Kim Yubin
- Nope.
Kim Dayeon
- Not sure if comic relief character
- Dancing skills are on point!
Cho Kahyun
- Annoying voice
- Kinda annoying in general
Ahn Yewon
- Pretty cute!
- Pineapple outfit makes her look like a J-pop girl
Lee Yujeong
- Born to be an idol
- Might be too young / unexperienced
- Mad cute
Choi Yeonsoo
- Deep voiced sexy chara
- Lacks a bit of enthusiasm
Yoon Eunbin
- Reversal charm might actually work
- Kinda cute with dancing skills
- Potential here for sure
Han Chowon
- Horrible introduction video
- Seems to lack dilligence
Park Jinny
- Hot as hell
- If she was in the running to become a Black Pink member, that says a lot about her skills.
Park Seoyoung
- Don't throw scissors on a wooden floor!
- She's trying way too hard to look sexy
- I don't like her face
Jang Wonyoung
- I like her enunciation
- Her intro felt too unnatural
An Yujin
- She's not as cute as she thinks she is
Cho Sarang
- She can sing, but she chose the wrong song to dance to
- Poor choice of outfit either
Son Eunchae
- She gives me Suda Akari vibes a little bit
- Dancing skills are good too
Kang Damin
- Gotta love the annoyingly bubbly maknae chara
Hwang Soyeon
- She has a wonky right eye, which can either be a charm point or distracting
- Might be some potential here, but I'm not convinced yet
Jo Ahyoung
- Airplane themed idols are done. Just ask Passpo.
- Luckily her bag is already packed
Park Haeyoon
- I don't like this style of vocals at all
- Ukeleles need to go away as well, I'm surrounded by them everyday
Lee Haeun
- She probably has a decent set of skills
- But she doesn't stand out, because her face is too generic
Kim Dahye
- Ooh, a Japanese x Korean halfie
- She looks confident, which results in a nice mix of cute and sexy
Kim Nayeong
- So annoying! But not in the cute way like Kang Damin.
Park Jieun
- Voice is too hoarse and deep for this kind of chara
- She looks a bit old and tired already
Na Goeun
- Not my type at all, reminds me of Noro Kayo a bit
- Vocals seem pretty good tho
Kim Minju
- Gotta need a wacky chara for sure
- It can go either way with this one
Lee Sian
- Way to not hit the nail on the head
- What a strange introduction video
- I like her outfit tho
Bae Eunyoung
- Nope.
Jo Yuri
- There is a lot to like here!
Jang Gyuri
- She seems fun
- Wish she had chosen a normal outfit tho
Yu Minyoung
- Distracting eyebrows
- Rap not that convicing
Wang Ke
- I could make a wang pun as well
- I know several JAV actresses who wore this exact same outfit
- Stop saying wang!
Alex Christine
- Yeah, no.
Kim Minseo
- She's like a stereotypical pretty girl who never had to work a day in her life
Choi Yena
- Balancing between funny and hella annoying
Kim Sihyun
- Not bad at all
- After watching about 50 of these intro video's, she doesn't really stand out anymore
Wang Yireon
- Very elegant
- I think this is the kind of girl who would do well in a show like this
- Not really my personal pick tho
Kim Hyunah
- Try hard with a vengeance
- She looks pretty badass
Lee Chaejeong
- Army concept won't appeal to the Japanese fans
- Nor to me
Park Chanju
- She seems genuine, I'll keep an eye on her
Park Minji
- Pass.
Shin Suhyun
- No X-factor as of yet
Kim Choyeon
- Not my type at all
Kim Doa
- Cute hair and outfit
- Vocals and dancing are a bit iffy
Won Seoyeon
- She looks like the short-haired one in Twice
- I don't like her look
Lee Seunghyun
- Bonus points for 171 cm length
Lee Chaeyeon
- Another one with the doctor concept, but not as good
- Facial expressions look weird during her dancing
Chou Youngin
- Not bad, but not wow either
Yoon Haesol
- Very eloquent, lots of potential
- I kept expecting that jacket to come off
Choi Soeun
- This girl is pretty awesome
- A cute rapper is always good to have in a group
Go Yujin
- She looks good, another sexy chara
Kang Hyewon
- First (only) K-girl to pick a Japanese song
- Definitely potential here
Kwon Eunbi
- She feels like a veteran who didn't quite make it earlier
Kim Sohee
- She brings a smile to your face
- I hope she'll do well
Kim Suyun
- I think a gimmick like Suyun Energy will work well with the J-pop crowd
Kim Chaewon
- What an angel
Heo Yunjin
- Nope.
Lee Kaeun
- She's really pretty
- If she sings the way she talks we're in for a treat
Japanese contestants:Hasegawa Rena
- Feels to forced
- I'm not into baseball
Yamada Noe
- She can be really entertaining, but she has no business being here
- I'm saying that for her own sake, there's gonna be tears
Kurihara Sae
- The intro video was forgettable
- I know Sae has a great body, so hopefully she can show it off a bit
Motomura Aoi
- I think this may be right up her alley, plus it came at the right time
- Cute crybaby, who is becoming more and more mature
Matsuoka Natsumi
- I never particularly cared for her and I still don't
Asai Yuka
- No idea who this is, but she's pretty cute
- She didn't showcase any skill whatsoever
Aramaki Misaki
- I already feel for her
- She's a delicate flower, who is gonna get crushed somewhere along the way
- She should've focused on her Fairy Wing momentum
Imada Mina
- She's lacking in the visual department
Tanaka Miku
- Like Aoi, I feel Miku is a great fit for this project
Yabuki Nako
- NakoMiku have been a pair since day one, so it'll be interesting to see if they'll stick together or go their own way
- I hope Nako has enough confidence
Murakawa Bibian
- Bit of a nutcase
- Horrible outfit for someone who loves clothing
- I don't think she's right for this project, typical J-pop girl
Miyawaki Sakura
- She was a beacon of hope in the dark ages of 48G after Maeda Atsuko left
- Destined for greatness, born to be an idol.
Matsui Jurina
- I've know Jurina since she was 11 years old in 2008
- She used to be fresh, fun and amazing
- But lately she's turned into a caricature of herself
- She's become so obsessed with becoming #1 that she lost all her charms
Naiki Kokoro
- She looks terrified
Murase Sae
- She looks completely different from what I remember
- She seems good with Korean, but otherwise I'm not impressed
Kato Yuuka
- Uuka is fresh and cute, fun to watch
- But I don't see her in a K-pop group
Shiroma Miru
- I guess people like her for her baby face and good body
- But personally I always thought of her as Milky light
- I don't think her intro video captured her selling points at all
- She should have gone sexy, because many of these girls do cute better than her
- That said, I think she has a decent shot of getting pretty far
Ichikawa Manami
- She has so much potential, but this video was really bad
- I think she lacks confidence and that's why nobody is gonna notice her
Shitao Miu
- Someone else had this exact same concept...
- Yukata looks nice
Shinozaki Ayana
- A third calligraphy video
- And yet another sexy chara who tries to be cute
- Her main appeal point are her boobs right? Is that gonna help her in Korea?
Sato Minami
- Hey, this girl is in one of my Bomb magazines
- Vocals are really bad
- Otherwise fresh, but that's not gonna be enough if you go up against NakoMiku
Nakano Ikumi
- We know she's great at dancing
- I think she will do very well if she can keep her emotions together''
Mogi Shinobu
- She looks pretty good in her introduction video
- She doesn't stand out in 48G, so I fera it'll be the same here
Nagano Serika
- As a fan of the Toyota Celica, Serika will always have my support
Takeuchi Miyu
- I don't like the way she sings
- I don't like the way she looks
Chiba Erii
- This girl is awesome
- She has guts and she is funny
- No idea if she can sing or dance tho
Nakanishi Chiyori
- Hasn't been funny in a long time
Honda Hitomi
- Not familiar with her, but I feel she could do well
Miyazaki Miho
- We all know she loves K-pop and has some friends in the industry
- Glad for her she can participate, but it should've come five years earlier
Oda Erina
- Great, every group needs a girl with a short cut
Kojima Mako
- For a while it seemed like she'd become a huge star, but haven't seen her in ages
- I think she's better off in Japan. She's a good J-pop idol.
Asai Nanami
- She looks so fragile
- I'm not a fan of saxophones
Goto Moe
- The timing is perfect for her
- One does not simply cover IU tho
- Perfect look, good attitude, she'll do well
Iwatate Saho
- Another one who I think is perfect for this
- She's great with languages, she'll pick up Korean in no time
- Mad aegyo skills
Muto Tomu
- Nothing against her, but I have no idea why she's so popular
Takahashi Juri
- She's in my top 5 of most disliked 48G members
- That says a lot considering there are like 300+