So... Not much time now, huh? I'll probably be asleep by the time the graduation actually takes place, so I thought that I would postwhore a bit over here before I hit the hay.
It hasn't been all that long since Ai left, but the few songs that have been released since then have had this piece inherently missing. It wasn't until I heard Shabondama playing over my speakers did I realize what had happened; I grew so used to hearing Ai's voice in almost every song, that all the new pieces felt a little strange to me. Then it struck me that I had been hearing Risa's distinctive tone in all of the same songs, though maybe not at the forefront. Now, after Ai left, I've loved hearing Risa take up a majority of the solo lines, it's been quite a treat to one that truly enjoys her soothing tones contrasting with Reina's high vibrato.
And all of that enjoyment will be kicked down another notch after tomorrow, when the longest tenured member finally leaves.
Now, I've been through quite a few graduations, not as many as some, but I came into the fandom when Morning Musume was still known for it's ever changing line-up, and I've never cried at any of the heartfelt sentiments that bring the others to tears on stage or from the audience. That's just not how I work. If anything has ever brought me close to that point, though, it would have to be this realization I came to a few days ago.
Risa is leaving and Ai is already gone.
It's very likely that Reina will be next.
Even Aika won't be back to on stage anymore, no matter how much I dislike her singing.
My Morning Musume is almost gone...
Now, I recently came back from a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun, having gone to collect memories of my beloved group, and while I was there, I had the opportunity to attend a handshake even that was being held for the 9ki and 10ki members. I never really felt much for these new kids, I've watched them, chuckled at their antics, accepted them as here to stay, but before getting to meet them face to face, my Mornnig Musume had always been the older girls, had always been this group lead by cool older sister types (and Ai-chan
) singing cool and sexy songs, and relating to me as people my own age.
I had forgotten that those girls had been young once, too. That I had watched them grow up and mature and become the mature group from recent memory.
As I was shoved down each line, greeting the newest additions, I saw similarities in each of them to girls I had already grown to respect and love and after it was all over and I was grinning from ear to ear, I thought to myself, "The kids are alright."
Maybe I can't look up to them as role models who happen to be peers in age, but I can look at them and warmly support them through their trials and tribulations. I have a new respect for Daishi and Harunan, I love Erina and Fuku-chan, the wotas, Haruka and Riho are adorable, and Zukki and Ma-chan are crazy.
So, even though I came to this startlingly emotional realization the other day, I also knew that I shouldn't cry, because graduations are never an end, only a new beginning for everyone. And It's the reason why some many different people can love the same group, like I do.
Morning Musume forever