Yamapi to appear on Hey, Hey, Hey

[inala.livejournal.com]

An email was sent to Fan Club members yesterday announcing that Yamapi will be making a solo appearance on Heyx3, the recording will be on Sunday June 27 and giving details to ballot for tickets. There was no mention of NEWS.

There is no official confirmation as yet to what this is about but there are rumours of a new solo single and concert tour.

Comments

[meissa.livejournal.com]

THIS. Exactly. Just because he can probably go and say "Old man (or woman, if he's talking to Mary), I wanna do this" with probably mostly positive results doesn't mean he can make them do the same for the others. Plus, he doesn't seem to be the type who'd want to speak for others unless they actually TELL HIM TO.

In this case, the other NEWS members really need to be more vocal/active about getting together as a group -- more than just random hints dropped in magazine interviews that are often, really, just empty words meant to placate fans. It just really annoys me when fans assume that the entire future of NEWS is in Yamapi's hands. He's just 1/6 of the group, leader or not, and he's just -- what 1/500 of Johnny's -- golden boy or not.

[wanderingreen.livejournal.com]

Your last two lines, MTE. It annoys me when all responsibility for NEWS gets laid on a single person's doorstep again and again. There are six of them. I have no clue how vocal they've all been about NEWS' inactivity (to the label, not to the public), but they all bear the same amount of responsibility for the group.

Plus, he doesn't seem to be the type who'd want to speak for others unless they actually TELL HIM TO.
THIS. From everything we've seen of him, personality-wise he's never come off as someone who finds it easy to speak up or take charge in group situations. It might not be a good thing for the group that he's like that (and that most of NEWS seem to be like that too) ... but that's Pi for you. Even with his solo activities, it sounds like he didn't realize he had any say in his own career for a long time. It's telling that he was the last of the members to have a solo stage of any sort. Potentially having influence is very different from the ability or the willingness to use it.

Also, it's easy for us from the outside looking in to go, he must have loads of bargaining power ... but things might be different in reality. Who knows how the Jimusho works and what sort of contracts they have?!

[meissa.livejournal.com]

I don't know if I should be amused or exasperated by how much power some fans seem to think Yamapi has. Even if he is currently in a position to make certain demands (which, given his personality, he probably doesn't do often), he's still bound by whatever contract he's last signed.

And I'm pretty sure he's aware of his limitations (that long period of silence for the first half of 2009 brewed up all sorts of conspiracy theories) and the politics of the jimusho -- which is why he addresses fans directly A LOT. Something which none of the other idols in JE do. He knows that while he, himself, has limited influence within the agency, the FANS have it.

I did wonder if that "Please believe in NEWS" statement is as much to ask fans to let the jimusho know that they ARE still waiting as it was to reassure them that he's not abandoning the group.

[wanderingreen.livejournal.com]

lol if he had that much power, TomaPi would have done something more concrete together by now! There are those like Kinki who have influence in the Jimusho for one reason or another, but they're the exceptions rather than the rule :x

I can't say he's the only one of my idols who genuinely tries to connect with the fans and actually seems to treasure them, but it's definitely a smart move (if it's a calculated one at all lol). D: his mini-hiatus, never want to see it happen again. Whether it was self-imposed or due to the Jimusho or maybe just circumstances, I'm glad he's come back more focused and motivated than ever.

"Please believe in NEWS" statement is as much to ask fans to let the jimusho know that they ARE still waiting as it was to reassure them that he's not abandoning the group.
idk but it feels like fandom is giving too much weight to what seems to be an off-handed response. From the translations, looks like someone at JFC asked him about news and this is what came out of his mouth. So yes, it's not scripted which makes it more touching ... but what else could Pi have said to a group of fans?! It's not like he could have gone: Uhh I have no clue what's up with NEWS because they don't tell us much *weaksmile*

OT: As for contracts, I'm inclined to believe the idea that they're salaried employees of the agency with base pay. It fits the idol industry model. The agencies create the concept, the music, the marketing and basically everything ... and all the talents do is put it into action. Some groups start taking more ownership of the process with time, but that's something I haven't seen with NEWS yet. NWPD was a small step in that direction. xDD I can't wait to see a NEWS PV directed by Shige or something.

[meissa.livejournal.com]

I can't say he's the only one of my idols who genuinely tries to connect with the fans and actually seems to treasure them, but it's definitely a smart move (if it's a calculated one at all lol).

Oh, no. Many other idols connect with the fans and value them. It's just that the way Yamapi usually drops seemingly-vague or pointless statements addressed directly to the fans only for them to make sense later seems like something that he actually thinks about. Of course, I'm not saying his attention towards his fans is ENTIRELY calculated. It's just something I notice in his expression sometimes.

Idk. Reading and watching so MUCH Johnny's-related stuff has probably made me see things that aren't there. But then I'm a conspiracy theorist by nature, and Johnny's as a whole are an interesting subject for speculation. Sometimes I think I can write a whole thesis about these boys.

And LOL. A Shige-directed PV would be so much win. Massu can be in charge of costumes this time.

[meissa.livejournal.com]

it sounds like he didn't realize he had any say in his own career for a long time

I agree. At a certain point, Pi stopped actively caring what he was doing and just did whatever he was told. Add to that the diffident personality that he seems to share with most of NEWS, and it seems clear that he didn't even think to ask for much in the past. And it was only last year when he started talking about WANTING things again. Which, naturally, his agency is exploiting for as long as it lasts.