Today I received an email letting me know that Morning Musume’s new album “COVER YOU” is now out. For those that don’t know, Morning Musume is the Japanese female version of “Menudo”.

What’s Menudo?

For those that don’t know, to older Latin American folks, it’s a traditional Mexican spicy soup made with tripe. It’s often used as a cure for a hangover. Sort of like sul lung tang, but not Korean. But to the younger Latin American folks (under the age of 30) it’s the quintessential boy band that just won’t die. Every album has older singers leave (puberty’s over?) and new singers come in. Being a multi-singer group allows some leeway to have more in the looks department than the singing department. After all, depending who you ask, New Kids on the Block only had one or two guys that actually had any talent (once again, depending who you ask and who thought who was cuter).

Let’s give Menudo credit tho. It’s been going strong for about 30 years now. Plus it gave the English-speaking world Ricky Martin, even if it did take Ricky a nose job before he could be “Livin’ La Vida Loca”. But I digress.

Back to Morning Musume!
(モーニング娘!)
Today’s release marks the Morning Musume’s ninth album in 10 years! The girls are as cute as ever. The songs upbeat and catchy. Some girls have ‘graduated’. This is THE all-girl Jpop group. Period. I know many of you reading this are BIG Morning Musume fans, and that’s cool. I like “My Dear Boy” and on the new album I actually found one song (”JShiroi Chou no SAMBA”) that I could make it through, but just barely.

So why did I bring up Menudo? I wanted to point out the universality of tweeny pop and how America is far behind in the race for tweeny pop imperialism. When I realized that Morning Musume had successfully broken through in the Cpop market (早安少女組) without being treated as invaders, I realized that America was seriously behind in the tweeny pop race. I know what you’re all saying now…

“LAZYTOWN!!! USA!!! LAZYTOWN!!! USA!!!”

Ok, I’ll accept that argument. Let’s take a look:
Lazytown: Cute Living Anime Girl, Pink Hair, Girly Girly Voice, Haru Juko Fashion Sense, Puppets

Morning Musume: Up to 12 Cute Girls, Hair Color changes with latest fashion trends, Up to 12 Girly Voices in Chorus together (but not Girly Girly), Haru Juko Fashion Sense has moved more towards Ginza High Fashion, New Girls every year.

Ok, so I know it’s tough to pick a winner. You can argue that Lazytown should get triple points for the Cute Living Anime Girl. I will say that’s a fair argument.

So with that I must disclose that even tho Lazytown is broadcast on Nick, Jr in the USA, in fact, it is a rebroadcast of an Icelandic TV show!
Sorry, America.
Pwned.

Tweeny Pop Winner: Morning Musume, Japan.
Get your act together, America!!!