Goto Maki’s Graduation – My Thoughts

Just months ago, before the release of Glass no Pumps, I had an ever flaming dislike of Maki Goto. Then, GnP was released, and that changed. God, did it change.

Since then Maki became my favorite H!P member, and the only member I actively followed. I suppose a long time Maki fan would look down on me for that – but before a release that called so much attention to it’s self, I figured she was just another H!P girl with a false cutesy act and squeaky voice. By the time I heard Suppin to Namida I decided “I should give her a chance.” and by GnP I was going “I have GOT to get to know this girl.” It was like seeing and hearing a completely different girl than before.

And now, I realize I had such little time knowing this girl, this girl who I quickly realized I was beginning to look up to as a talent, but yet it feels like losing an old friend when I read about her leaving H!P. I started finding the good in all her past releases, not to mention continuing to love her new style. Old and new, through and through, I loved everything Maki released.

In school, we have friends, and only when the time arrives do we realize that our school-time friendships do not last forever – college, pregnancy, marriage or lack thereof seems so far away, and you’re almost afraid to think of it. And never did I think Maki would graduate H!P before H!P bowed out all together.

I can only ask one thing, and that is that Maki continues an active singing career. After she has left H!P I have absolutely no one I actually feel is worth actively following.

I just hope Maki is happy in the end – she had often asked for more room for creativity, and now I hope she will have it. Maki is a talented girl and I know she has it in her to continue doing great – if she wants to. If she wants to settle down, then, well, good for her. In the very least, I can always cherish the music, music videos, lives, photos, everything she has had up until now.

I give Maki complete support in whatever she wants to do from now on. No matter how high or low sales are – I vow from now on to purchase anything she releases in the future that I can possibly get my hands on.

And on the less positive note…
What would a blog entry by me be if it didn’t include some form of bitching? Here’s what I’ll tell you – if idols were given any choice in their scheduling, image, music, or even able to write a lyric or two, they wouldn’t quit nearly as often. Maki wasn’t even really an idol anymore, it wouldn’t have hurt them in anyway to allow her any form of choice in matters. Maki has had so much experience in the business – if only they’d allowed her to turn down a live here or there, or maybe to co-write on a song (she’d asked to before)… I wish so many asian labels didn’t keep such a choke hold on their artists.

GO-MAKI  GODDESS MAKI