generasia:Featured article for 2014 week 31
Momoiro Clover Z
Momoiro Clover Z (ももいろクローバーZ) is a female idol group of selected members from Stardust Promotion Agency's 3-B Jr Department. The group formed in 2008 as Momoiro Clover and made their musical debut a year later with the single "Momoiro Punch" under the indies label Happy Music Record. In early 2010 they signed with Universal Music Japan, however they only released one single under this label, "Ikuze! Kaitou Shoujo", before moving to King Records' sub-label StarChild.
On April 10, 2011, Hayami Akari graduated and the group decided to be renamed Momoiro Clover Z.
The band's songs are intentionally ridiculous "hyperactive J-pop numbers". Their live performances are heavily choreographed and feature acrobatic stunts. The group is noted for their "anarchic energy" that is similar to that of punk bands. Although the girls' voices are not very stable when coupled with an intense dance, the group performs on stage live and does not lipsynch.
The group has worked with many noted songwriters and musicians, belonging to different genres of music, from pop to punk and heavy metal. Overall, the group and its music has been noted as progressive and forward-thinking. Ian Martin from The Japan Times dubbed Momoiro Clover "a pop group who provoke squealing, teenage admiration from punks, indie kids, noise musicians and heavy-psychedelic longhairs throughout the Japanese underground music scene". A music critic from The Japan Times cites Momoiro Clover as an example of "a seamless integration of personality, image, and music, with each element mutually complementary".
The group's newest single "MOON PRIDE" will be released this week on July 30, 2014.
