H!P’s Buono! to Anime Expo 2008?

Buono! is starting to take off like a rocket, and it’s time for Anime Expo to make its move – before anyone else does.

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Like the Kenyan marathon runner that breaks away from the pack midway through the race and buries the competition, Buono! could very well do the same to Morning Musume and the rest of Hello Project if the second single, “Renai Rider,” is any indication.

“Renai Rider” sounds a little like “Angel Hearts,” the V-u-den song used in a large-scale number as part of the massive Hello Project concert at Saitama Super Arena in July 2007. But it is clear that Tsunku is driving three luxury voices – Suzuki’s Cadillac, Momoko’s Mercedes and Miyabi’s Lexus – into the promised land, no matter what they sing.

As rough as this has to be on the rest of the girls in °C-ute and Berryz Kobo, they would be wise to leave any feelings of jealousy behind. Suzuki’s presence on Buono! will only enhance °C-ute, and Miyabi’s and Momoko’s involvement in Buono! will only raise the stock of Berryz. Why? Because Buono! gives both °C-ute and Berryz what is referred to in marketing parlance as an “outside draw,” so anything Buono! does will trace back to °C-ute and Berryz.

That’s what, in essence, Kusumi did for Morning Musume in 2005. Make any sense? Probably not, but nothing about J-pop is based on common sense, anyway.

“Renai Rider” is far from anime fluff. It is a driving rock song, a la Puffy AmiYumi, and a departure for Hello Project just as the first single, an anime theme, turned out to be. All three voices, like a roaring Harley-Davidson (sorry, Suzuki), are on full throttle throughout. Looks like we’re not going to see a ballad from this trio in a while.

Which begs the following:

Anime Expo, which drew 44,000 fans last year to Long Beach over the Fourth of July weekend, is moving to the Los Angeles Convention Center this July 4.

How about getting Buono! out to L.A. this summer? Hmm?

This is Radicalipton signing off -- for now!