Hard edges know no age.
This isn’t even the newest, updatedest Party Rockets GT.
I really have to cop to not having the slightest blessed idea what the interrelationship between Party Rockets, Tokyo Rockets and Party Rockets GT was until I started to work on this site; from the little bit that I’d read while absolutely totally legally obtaining their music, I was under the impression that Tokyo Rockets was the original, Party Rockets was a junior/trainee unit of them, and Party Rockets GT was just plain confusing.
Fear not! (“I wasn’t afraid.” “Shut up, yes you were.”) As it turns out, Party Rockets GT is Party Rockets, only with a highly revamped membership. They also aren’t a junior or trainee unit for anybody, but are actually kind of a weirdly positioned “elder” unit in the revitalized idol rock scene (it’s weird because their average age is like 17). And it’s Tokyo Rockets that’s the add-on sister group.
Anyway! Party Rockets started out as a six-member unit all the way back in 2012, and I’m pleased to see that their group identity has pretty much always been an all-over-the-place rock vibe, with the obligatory J-pop-as-hell vocals coming from these tiny teenaged girls. Who those girls are, however, has largely been in flux, and whether that’s due to agency (yes, they’re an agency creation) or label (major label!) things or just teenagers being teenagers is unknown.
This is surprisingly helpful.
Those major industry connections mean that Party Rockets/GT, despite being a fun project, aren’t quite fully homicidol; their origins go all the way back to Dorothy Little Happy’s parent group, for goodness sake, and ex-members keep finding their way into highly typical idol units. They even did one of those cool temporary group mergers with Otome Shinto (to form Otome Rockets, naturally).
What maybe matters is that, after the usual roster changes over their first few years, Party Rockets did a soft reboot by adding new members in 2015 and rebranding themselves Party Rockets GT. It’s way too soon to tell if they’re going to change much sound-wise or look-wise or anything — and, considering the history, maybe it’s time to just settle on something. Though the latest releases from the next most recent iteration, like “Miraie” and “Kasabuta,” were their way of drifting in a more deliberate kawaiicore direction.
Now, while their sister group Tokyo Rockets is a very clear kawaiicore group, Party Rockets GT, as far as can be told so far, is an absolute in-betweener; in fact, despite probably their most notable songs being deliciously heavy and intense, they edge as close to being typical-idol-and-also-some-rock as they do to idolcore, and that’s fine, but they might not be a group that stays on this site if they ultimately ditch the harder edge.
This is a pretty incomplete profile, as much commentary as substance, but let’s keep our eyes out for good stuff to come; what good they’ve done so far has been very good.
What they sound like
That part of the movie’s soundtrack when the hard-boiled detective and his wacky vaguely-foreign-accented partner go into the seedy strip club to find the Russian (always Russian!) arms/drug dealer, only have it turn out to be as imagined by a Japanese version of Marie Osmond.
You’ll like them if
You like hard rock music, and you also like J-pop, and you wonder why it took so long for somebody to come up with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
Entries on the Ultimate Homicidol Playlist:
From earlier iterations of Party Rockets/GT:
Members
Haruka |
Fumika |
|
Nanase |
Himeka |
Ayumi |
Discography
“Miraie” (single)
“Setsunasora” (single)
“Let’s Go!!” (single)
“Kasabuta” (single)
Triangle (album)
“Nijiiro Jet” (single)
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nothing better than a new Party Rockets single- glad they went GT, Haruka is the best.
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Hey Maniac, It appears as if Party Rockets GT is Stumpin’ for Trump as well. See for yourself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrHMNADDpb0
Very funny, Jaxson. Very funny.
Good morning to you too. (;_;)
LOL. Such a wanker.
Wanker? You still love me despite our wankerous tendencies don’t you?
Apparently it’s my job around here to have random thoughts about ex-members of groups (see the Passcode page)
Do we know where Akari went after her stint in PR? I loved her in the lives and the MV for Kasabuta. She had so much passion in her dancing, so I hope she’s continuing to use that somewhere!
Hey phillter, according to our sources, our former idol Akari, has made her way into the world of extreme sports.Recognized for her passion and skills perfected in the choreography of Party Rockets, Team Kawasaki has signed Akira to represent Japan in the upcoming IJSBA World Hydrocross Championship. Utilizing her small stature and quick, ninja style reflexes, she will be racing in the 785cc Superstock Ski (standup)class. Quoting Team Kawasaki manager Ahiro Kawasaki, “Akira possesses all of the prerequisite qualities that are necessary to compete at such extreme levels”. Also noting her rapid adaptation to the water, cat-like reaction and recovery skills and fearless attitude, her teammates subsequently gave her the nickname,”The Slasher”. Look for Akira on ESPN2 this summer. http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/elfmarine/imgs/8/b/8bde53d2.jpg
And it’s my job to have info! The correct answer is not what Jaxson says, though ha, but that she was moved into GALETTe, which I guess is kind of a promotion?
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As Akari was my former favourite in the group I can state, that GALLETTe is the right answer. I will never get her reasoning. Sure, they are more popular, but Haruka and Fumika have been friends with Akari since their school days. Too bad, that Party Rockets lost their best singer with her. But now there is Ayumi, who even speaks perfect english!
By the way, listen to Dream on Dreamers or the recent single. You should definitely like the style. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXWbzOY2rM0
What a song. Did you catch the #DailyPartyRockets fever back during the spring when they were posting live video every day in the lead-up to their one-man? That was a lot of fun.
I look at PRGT now and always feel kind of bad for Fumika; the overall talent level is really high now, and she always seems a little bit left behind in the arrangements. Which, hey, good for the group, but she’s been there since the beginning. Haruka got passed, too, but at least she’s still the leader.
Oh yea, those video postings back then were a blaze. Always made me anticipate the next day. Though some of those had terrible quality (video or sound wise).
Interesting point with your statement. Fumika wasn’t the best singer to begin with but on the other hand her voice is other than the others, deeper in tone. So she could be made more useful. I always considered Haruka’s voice rather weak. Nanase is the best singer currently in the group.
But don’t worry: In my opinion Fumika is the most important member. Although Haruka is the leader, Fumika not only because she is one of the founding members, but with her character it seems she holds the group together. At least it appears to me that way.