Selective Hearing Radio

Opening – Morning Musume – One Two Three

Biggest waste of time. (a.k.a. most insignificant news item)

Most disappointing and welcome future endeavors and why.

Look into your crystal ball and predict what will happen in 2013

Next likely future endeavor?
Breakout artist or group?
Will the Japanese idol boom continue?
Will the Hallyu wave continue to churn out failures & 1 hit wonders? Or will 2013 be the year Hallyu gets its street cred?

Festivus Airing of Grievances

Just start giving everyone and everything shit so you can start the new year with a clean slate. There will be no virtual feats of strength to end the holiday.

Ending – AKB48 – UZA 

Opening – Omori Miyu – Romance Kakurenbo

AKS

Best album
Worst single
Worst album
Favorite artist
Artist or group who sucked wookie

Best and worst video you have seen in 2012

Random Questions

In an MMA battle between Tsunku and Aki-P, who would win and why?

In a deadliest warrior / Battle Royale simulation who would win? Wota or K-Pop fan girls?

Most shocking or scandalous news item or moment.

Happiest moment of the year.

Saddest moment of the year.

Favorite album/song title of the year.

Favorite lesbian kiss of the year.

Ending – NMB48 – Virginity

Opening – AKB48 – Eien Pressure

Introduction

Introduce yourself & pimp what you feel needs to whored the to the people.

Your life in 2012

How has your 2012 been?
Was it good, bad or just meh?
Anything exciting happen in your life this year that you want to share?
Have you kept most of your 2012 resolutions? What do you resolve to do in 2013?

2012 Best/Worst

Quick response type answers
Feel free to mock other people’s choices

General J-Pop

Best single
Best album
Worst single
Worst album
Favorite artist
Artist or group who sucked wookie

K-Pop

Best single
Best album
Worst single
Worst album
Favorite artist
Artist or group who sucked wookie

Hello! Project

Best single
Best album
Worst single
Worst album
Favorite artist
Artist or group who sucked wookie

AKS

Best single

Ending – Not Yet – Suika Baby

The Topic: Tanaka Reina announces her graduation from Morning Musume

Your initial reaction? Do you care?
Admit it, you got trolled by the title of Morning Musume’s spring concert and thought Sayumi was getting the boot.

Does Tanaka’s departure signal the death knell for the remaining remnants of past Musume?
Was this graduation long overdue?
Will the 11th generation miracle girl Sakura Oda take all of Reina’s lines?
Or will this be the rise of Sayashi Riho as lead vocal bitch?
How long do you think Sayu will last before she gets retired?

Is Nakano Sun Plaza the right place for Tanaka to graduate? Should she be sent out to pasture in a bigger venue? Or is Momusu’s general popularity so low that it’s the best that H!P and UFP cut their losses at a smaller venue?

When does “The Chosen One” a.k.a. “The Second Coming of Jesus” Miyamoto Karin get inserted into Momusu?

What do you think about Tanaka’s band?
Where the hell is the drummer?
Does anyone know who the bass player and lead guitar are?
What kind of music do you think they will play?
What would you name the band?

Ending: Tanaka Reina – Kira Kira Fuyu no Shiny G

Opening: Momoiro Clover Z – Mouretsu Uchuu Koukyoukyoku Dainana Gakushou ‘Mugen no Ai’

The Topics

What’s Up With You?:

Catch us up on your life. For new people, tell us a bit about yourself.
America saved Big Bird and made Sesame Street safe again. Pat yourselves on the back.

Internal Review:

Submitted by idol panel member: ToZ

For those who write for or have contributed in some way to a site or podcast:

How do you choose what music you cover?
What is your approach to reviews and general coverage of music?

AKB48’s Team Shuffles:

AKB48’s team shuffle will go into effect Nov 1. With the discontinuation of Team 4, AKB48 is back to 3 teams: Team A, K, and B.

Is there hope for the mythical beast known as “new stages” or are the new teams just going to be singing the same old stuff for eternity?

Are there going to be songs that will not be the same because of the shuffle? (Team B Oshi comes to mind.)

Which of the former Team 4 girls do you think will break out with their promotion into the big 3?

SNH48:

AKB48’s overseas sister group SNH48 (based in Shanghai, China) revealed that 26 girls have passed the first generation audition.

It is stated that the goal is to make this group a nationwide phenomenon much like their Japanese counterparts. Is that possible given your knowledge of Chinese music or Japanese influenced music outside of Japan.

What do you think of the rumors that SNH’s management want zero Japanese involvement with this offshoot of the 48 family.

If the above statement is true, where does this leave those transferred from Japan?

Is it even a good idea to shun involvement from any Japanese part of AKS?

Idol video games:

Submitted by panel member Mandy

What do you think of them?

What or is the future of this sub genre of games?

Would stuff like this ever go mainstream outside of Japan. Like if you could play the Miley Cyrus let’s get high & show my hoo ha game or something like that.

0048 fam has a game, MM had a game. Who is the next idol/idol group to get a game?

Ending: NMB48 – Junjou U-19

Opening: Color Me Badd – I Wanna Sex You Up

The Topics

Idol career changes

Submitted by panel member Tenkei:

@hibachifinal tabloid reports Goto Maki accepting large sum of money to do 2 AV. no credible reports yet, though.

• Do you hope it’s true?
  • How many of you pervs (other than me) are going to watch this? Be honest.
  • If true, how does this affect Goto’s standing as a musical artist? Will she get the Rina Nakanishi treatment?
  • Can she ever come back to music in the same capacity before her hiatus if she does AV? After all her AVEX stuff was pretty decent & she was rebranding herself as a more serious artist
  • Would it be a downgrade if she were to be on the same level of Ebisu Muscats?
  • Will the sales of Tengas and lube increase if this turns out to be real?
• Or is this false hope for the many who are praying to the AV gods to throw them a bone(r)?

Idol careers cut short

Recently there have been a rash of departures of idols due to injury, educational pursuits or just because.. This has been most prevalent in the 48 family as of late. Of course this is not just limited to them as many idol groups in the past have had to deal with membership losses of this nature.

• Yagami Kumi throws in the towel. God is angry with idol fans for some reason. Express your emo over this unfortunate occurrence.
• Do you think that idols are being worked like rented mules or is injury an accepted risk of the job?
  • Are idols expected to be like pro athletes during playoff time and perform hurt for the good of the fans?
  • Would you rather have someone who is hurt sit out or give it their all at the risk of further physical damage?
• Is the “pursuit of studies” becoming an easy out for those who can’t handle the idol life and school or are just not good enough to advance in their respective groups?
  • Can it also be used as excuse to get away from discontent generated from change? (i.e. Ogawa & Yuuka leaving S/Mileage after 2nd Gen was finalized.)
• Does the stress of being an idol play into possible injury or failing grades due to fatigue?
• What advice would you give to those who are not good at multi-tasking or handling stress?
• Who do you think is the next idol to call it quits? And for what possible reason would they leave?
• If you were an idol/idol hopeful do you believe you would have the testicular/ovarian fortitude to survive the trials of the industry?

Image Analysis

Submitted by panel member Allen

• Who needs a sandwich?
• Who needs their sandwich taken away?

Products mentioned in this episode

Tenga
Tengirls
Tenga on Wikipedia

You decide. Maki’s assets, real or not?

Tito Rommel thinks there is too much sand in this picture

Ending: Weird Al Yankovich – Fat

The Topics

Opening – AKB48 – Dear My Teacher

AKB48 featured in Disney movie Wreck-It-Ralph

Will you go to the movies to watch the 5 -7 minutes that AKB48’s music is featured in?

• Will you leave the theater shortly after their segment is over screaming “I got what I paid for!”

Are you expecting Sugar Rush to be Heavy Rotation part 2?

Do you think they will do the same promotion that Perfume did for Cars 2?

Hypothetical thinking: Idols in bed & other after hours questions

Of all the idols of age that you know of, who do you think would be a demon in the sack? Provide a clear explanation of why Any, or all examples of qualities that they possess can be used for your argument

Conversely, who do you think would be a disappointment?

Who do you see aging gracefully?

Who do you think has peaked early?

Of all the remaining single ladies remaining in idol land, who do you think will get married and / or preggers next?

Would you date an idol if you had the chance to help them break one off or just break the rules in general? If so, who would you consider good dating material? (other than your oshimen.)

Ending – Tom Jones – Sex Bomb

Opening – J-Kwon – Tipsy

The Topic

Maeda Atsuko gets plastered

Thoughts?
Was it too soon after her graduation to get liquored up?
Did she just party a little too hard?
Would you have carried her home?

• Would you have let Nakagawa carry a drunk as fuck Maeda on her back or be a man & carry her on your back instead?
• Thirdly, would you have roofied both of them & had your way? =P

Under your definition of a scandal, is this one?
Who do you think would win a drinking contest between Nakagawa, Oshima and Maeda & clearly explain why.

Ending – Willow Smith – Whip My Hair

Opening: Epik High – Wordkill

The Topic

What do you feel defines a scandal?

• Are they major incidents or do minor infractions count as well?
• What mitigating factors result in something being called a scandal?
• Do you think the term is being overused?

Why do you think so many idols risk getting caught breaking the rules?

• Is it human nature to do so (i.e. puberty, sex drive, etc.)
• Are they rebelling against the corporate binds that tie them?
• Do you think that J-Pop idols should get the same slack that K-Pop idols get when it comes to dating and “relations”?

What are your thoughts on fan reactions to scandals?

• Are there too many over the top, OMG THE WORLD IS ENDING reactions?
• Does social media have a role in how people react to the news about their favorite idols getting into hot water?
• Have there been so many reactions that you just don’t give a damn anymore & want everyone to shut the fuck up?

Ending – Village People – Macho Man

Episode 2 of the audio version of the Selective Hearing roundtable wrangles in Tenkei & boykunnn from Nandake and fellow staff member TOZ into the conversation. This month’s discussion covers a wide variety of AKB related topics including the recent Senbatsu election, the upcoming janken tournament and Sashihara Rino’s scandal.

We also discussed several Hello! Project related topics including the recent graduations of Niigaki and Mitsui, leadership changes in Morning Musume, member changes and the legacy of the Elder club.

This does go longer than the usual show but it’s full of useful (& possibly very offensive) material.