Hello Project Winter 2012 - HaroPro Tengoku ~Funky-chan~ Part 2

And I'm back.  Wow, I actually managed to come back and finish this the next day.  (Report on Smileage handshake and last release event with Yuuka to still come... eventually)

So continuing where I left off...

Koisuru Angel Heart (By Mano, Ayacho, Kanyon, Fuku-chan, Take-chan, Rinapu, Kuduu ）
This was another song that I started spazzing as soon as the opening came on.  I mean, what is not to love about a song that has wota-gei built into it?  I did feel a pang of nostalgia remembering the few times I saw Viyuuden perform this song, but it was good nostalgia.  I only wish Yui-chan hadn't complete left the entertainment industry to become a dental hygienist.  I mean... really, with that body THAT was the career you chose?  Anyways, this was the perfect member set up for the song.  Although originally sung by 3 members, this song has often been used as a group ending song to concerts and works well with large groups.  I was sad to learn after that Kuduu was supposed to part of this, so I look forward to seeing her on the DVD.  Take-chan was probably the one who caught my eye the most during the song. I know, as a Kanyon fan I should have had all eyes for Cinderalla, but something about Take-chan's dancing really caught me.  She is very energetic and gives off a lot of power when performing.  It felt like they didn't really need Mano and Fuku-chan as this would have been fine as just a Smileage member song.

Yaruki! It's easy (By Sayumi, Maimi, Chinami, Yurina, Haruna)
Another song that I never would have expected to hear.  While a very well known song, it is an older song that is not often brought back so it was a welcome surprise.  I love the lyrics to the song, the idea of where there is a will there is a way.  It's a very positive way to start off what is hopefully a less eventful event for Japan than last year.  I know many seem to have low opinions of Haruna, but she is becoming a fitting Musume member.  Her dances still aren't perfect, but as someone with absolutely no experience coming into the business at 17, she is doing quite well.  She seems a bit lost as to what character she should take on, sometimes giving off a childish air and other times acting like your normal 17 year old, but that will settle with time.  Sayumi also did quite well with this song because it is the right style for her voice and I am assuming it is a song that she likes since she has said on radio shows that she puts more effort into her singing when it is a song she likes.  (Not really something you should admit in public Sayu...)

Ai no Sono ~Touch My Heart~ (By Reina, Miyabi, Rihoriho, Daishi)
Ah, the "Touch my heart and touch me please" song.  I have missed you.  I might be wrong, but the last time I recall seeing this song live was at the Elder Club graduation in 2009.  (Wow, it was that long ago that they "graduated") I absolutely LOVE this song because it is always a karaoke favorite.  It's upbeat, has a simple dance for the "Hey, everytime I'm so proud of you" part that the audience can follow along with and for the rest of the song gives the members on stage a chance to show off their dancing skills.  And this was the perfect member combination to do that.  All four are excellent dancers and Daishi will definitely be giving Rihoriho a run for her money.  I was a bit shocked by Miyabi's short hair back at Yomiuri, but it has grown on me and she now looks fierce dancing with it. 

Kikkawa You performing Konna Watashi de Yokattara
 After getting to briefly chat with her at Tsutaya I was really looking forward to her performance.  And a guest is a step up from being an opening act.  It's getting more and more obvious that eventually she will just be added to the Hello!Project umbrella, even if her agency stays as Universal.  Universal obviously has no plans to prevent her from being involved with things of her former agency (assuming she would be under UFA as an Egg) and that makes me happy.  I am happy she became a soloist and with Universal's direction, because after seeing her perform live a few times it's quite obvious that her voice is much stronger than your average idol voice.  She definitely holds her own on stage and her smile lights up the room.  There was one rude wota somewhere behind me that when Kikka announced her song title (which means "If I am OK as I am for you" (It's a hard title to translate so if anyone has any other ideas let me know)) shouted "It's not OK!" GRR I wanted to turn around and slap the boy.  Most wota are awesome people who just have a big obsession, but yeah there are a few bad eggs.  Kikka, I wish you the best of luck and will continue to follow you.

Please Mini-skirt Post Woman - Uchouten Love (By Smileage)
After seeing them live without Yuuka, 6-member Smileage is going to do just fine.  I was hoping to see the new single, but that was apparently only being performed at the Rock-chan concerts.  The formation for Mini-skirt does look a little strange with 6 instead of 7 as it was formed with a center, but to make up for this they seemed to have them dance in a line instead of an arrow (if that makes sense)  All six girls work well together and even Kanana has learned to stop grinning during every point in the song and make different expressions for different lyrics.  Now, why haven't they announced a Smileage spring tour!!! Even a mini one would be nice...

Doki Doki Baby - Glory Days (By Mano Erina)
I have always been in the middle when it comes to Mano, but I don't actually dislike her.  Her voice certainly is of a quality that you either like or dislike, but personality-wise she is an absolute sweetheart and I loved the handshake I did with her a couple of years ago (for her 4th single I think).  I don't know if I would ever go to her solo concerts, but I don't ignore her and half-sleep during her performances at the group concerts like I have seen some people do.  I didn't really like My Days for You but I loved Genkimono de Ikou and these two new songs reminded me of that style.  Both are very upbeat and fun to sing along and chant to.  The dance for Glory Days is quite intense yet both Mano and her 4 eggs (no clue who the new ones are since a few changed due to promotions etc) pulled it off flawlessly.  I look forward to checking out her anime debut.


Kimi ha Jitensha Watashi ha Densha de Kitaku (By C-ute)
I hadn't heard the concert rip preview of this song before going to the concert so was very surprised that it was a ballad.  C-ute went through a lot of changes after the two members left, and they have challenged a lot of new styles, really building up a new image for themselves.  Until this point they were marketing themselves as the dance idol unit of the company so to come out with a ballad... well ballads don't really involve a lot of dancing.  However, it is a very simple yet beautiful song.  All five girls have strong voices that are each featured (with not TOO much line hogging by Airi and Maimi) throughout the song.  The red outfits are also very cute.  A nice relaxing performance.

Be Genki "Naseba Naru!" (By Berryz Koubou)
First off, the superman costumes are brilliant.  I love how they used the group color of blue with bright red capes.  The only odd thing is well... Yurina.  She is over a head taller than most of the other girls in the group, and yet her costume is very obviously cut to the same length.  The skirt is the same, the boots are the same.  So... it ends up that she is showing a lot more of her legs than the other girls just because her legs are that much longer but wearing the same length and size of clothing.  It's quite amusing actually, they definitely should have lengthened her skirt and boots just a little so they wouldn't contrast so much with the rest of the girls' outfits. 

Anyways back to the song.  It's a great upbeat song that reminds me of the old Berryz(before they had their Inazuma collaboration).  I love it and can't wait for the CD to come out.

Ike Ike Monkey Dance - Tokkaiko Junjou  - Shock - Heroine ni Narou Ka - Ai no Dangan - Sayonara Geshiki Koi - JUMP - Cho Wonderful (By Berikyuu)
I was a bit apprehensive coming into the concert because a friend just leaving the morning stage said it seemed to be all about Berikyuu and I of course pictured them being over featured  with Musume and Smileage being pushed to the back (in fact it was just Mano who was given less stage time).  Yes, they were featured, but in the most awesome medley of all time!  I mean these are the songs that really keep me interested in Cute and Berryz.  Tokkaiko Junjou is probably one of my favorite C-ute songs and Sayonara one of the best Berryz album songs.  Even the two newer Berryz songs are two of my favorites from the Inazuma to post-Inazuma era.  And wow as it a high-powered medley.  There was no time to rest, it was just jumping and cheering the whole time.  I was completely exhausted by the end of it.  They had a great routine on stage, with the group whose song it was rotating slightly to the front but all members performing the dance to each.  Berikyuu really do work well together.  To the point where they almost might as well form them into one permanent group.

Pyoko Pyoko Ultra - Go Girl! Koi no Victory (By Musume)
I was wondering how they would pull off performing in baby chick costumes when they came out in completely different outfits from the PV.  White capri pants with yellow jackets and hats, though Risa was wearing red feathers in her hair instead of a hat (I suppose to denote her as the rooster?)  Apparently they did perform in the chick costumes for the Rock-chan version, but something simple and fun was chosen for Funky-chan.  Although overly simplified, the girls looked cute and were able to dance easily.  This song was where it was most obvious that Kuduu was missing, because one of the dance moves is meant to have Kuduu on the right side of a formation using her arm as a bridge that one of the girls is trying to go under.  So it ended up being just one girl with her arm outstretched and the other girl trying to break through a one-sided bridge.  It looked strange but they had no time to modify it with Kuduu having performed in the morning concert but unable to perform in the rest of the days' events. 

I fall in love with this song more each time I hear it.  I love the "Pyoko pyoko pyoko Jump" parts as everyone in the audience tries to jump as high as they can.  Also Reina and Sayu play up their lines so well, especially the "Look at me!" "And don't laugh".  I love it and think it was a good way to introduce the new Musume with its overwhelming two generations of younger members.  I do hope for something a bit more mature for Gaki-san's last in May, but would not be disappointed with something upbeat and cheerful along the same lines as this one.  Again though, seriously why couldn't Aika sit on the side to at least perform the Musume songs?

OK Yeah! (By All)

A Musume album song as a near-closing group song, can it work?  Oh, hell yes it can!  This is the perfect upbeat dance number to end a concert with.  In fact, it probably would have been great as the final number.  I laughed the first time I heard it because of the weird frog dance man sound effects, but after hearing it more and seeing at budoukan I was hooked.  Musume was featured as main, but everyone performed 100 percent.  It was amazing to see such a fast-paced song performed by all 29 girls on stage.  Good going girls.  Can't wait to see this when it's out on DVD.

Kono Chikyuu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negattarun da yo!
aka the song with the unnecessarily long title.  This, this wasn't the best song to end with.  It was performed well and is a good song to end in most cases, but not when it is following OK Yeah! which would have been the perfect ending.  Still, the song did not disappoint.  The dance works well with large groups so there was no awkwardness of members transitioning from upstage to downstage etc.  They seem to have toned down the head bobbing move as they diva point, which was one of my favorite moves.  A little strange to see this song without Ai but not disappointing.  All of the girls are learning to hold their own in Musume and I am looking forward to the spring tour.
~~~~~~


 Overall, this was an amazing concert.  The set list had so many nostalgic songs for me, and all were good ones.  I would have loved to see Rock-chan too but the winter/summer concerts are simply too pricey to see more than once.  I enjoyed the one I went to even though I was sad to see Aika's jip of an appearance and Kuduu being sick.  My one complaint was the MC's outfits.  They were both (Makoto and Yossy) in gold WTF shiny outfits.  Yossy's looked OK, pants with a long shirt/dress over them.  A bit too flash but somehow OK.  But Makoto... oh poor poor Makoto.  Gold shiny tuxedo is just not an attractive look for the guy.  And it's funny when he is introduced as Sharan Q's drummer - because the opportunity for him to drum comes up almost never. (Tsunku, your band does need you occasionally)

My next event is the Aika FC Event this Thursday, January 12.

Here's a pic of Zukky to leave you with after this essay.

 Cheerleader outfit from the B.L.T. Magazine shoot set.

Hello Project Winter 2012 - HaroPro Tengoku ~Funky-chan~ Part 1

Happy New Year!  A little late, but still worth saying, right?  So on January 3rd the boyfriend and I headed out to Nakano for the second concert of a day filled with 3 concerts.  Strangely enough the pattern was Funky-Funky-Rock.  I really hoped for Rock, but Funky did not disappoint.

After arriving at Nakano, we first headed up to Tsutaya so I could pick up Kikka's CD for the handshake that was to take place there later in the day.  After a quick lunch, we headed over to the venue and since the line was short I headed up to get goods.  From about a year ago I have held back on buying goods, preferring to save the money to do other events both related and non-related to Hello Project.  Plus, I am running out of places to put things x_x  So yeah, the only things I bought were the giant B-1 poster (probably to go in the spot that is currently taken up by the Rival Survival poster of the same size), Zukki's daily photo (so cute, and so mature looking recently), and 4 gatcha tries.  Well, all 4 were the lowest rung, so I got solo pictures.  After trading I ended up with pictures of Momochi, Zukki, Meimei, and Kanyon.  Not bad.  I wanted either Meimei or Kuduu but Kuduu was impossible with what I had (Rinapuu) and Meimei is just too adorable to resist.

With goods bought, it was time to head back to Tsutaya for the handshake with Kikka.  Kikka is such a kind and amazing person.  She really makes eye contact with you and her speaking seems so natural, her laugh is also very cute. She seemed to recognize me and I told her I was looking forward to her performance that day.  I will definitely continue to follow her in the future.

Soon we were headed inside, where I realized they were selling special Xmas chocolate boxes for FC members, so was sucked into buying one of those, in which I got a Reina pic.  It's actually quite a cute pic though so I am thinking of keeping it.  Then it was into the hall and down to the front section where our seats were.  I was surprised that after front row at Budoukan I ended up with even 9th row at Nakano (which is actually about 12th due to a "Row 0" that can be moved into various formations) and the view we had was great.  Though, I think I Have mentioned it before, but Nakano Sunplaza just is a great venue.  No matter where you are on 1st or 2nd floor you can easily enjoy yourself.  At other venues, if you are more than 10 rows back, seeing becomes difficult for those of us that are short.

Well, with my モ　shirt on from a couple of years ago, wristbands galore, and both a green and purple glowstick (which was complete fail as it died 2 songs in) I was ready and raring to go.  So off to the bathroom I went and was given some shocking news over the loudspeaker on the way back: Kuduu would not be performing in the rest of that days concerts due to illness after the first concert.  Later on in the day we were informed she had influenza... and apparently passed it to Maasa who was announced to be not participating in today's (1/8) concerts on the official website.  I really hope this week between concerts cuts off the chain so no one else comes down with the flu. 

Now, for highlights of the concert, intermixed with the set list of the day.  (The set lists are usually taken from Japanese blogs as I do not have a good memory for songs and the order they are sung in.  Today's set list is brought to you by http://luncht.exblog.jp/14358683/  and transliterated by me)

Opening Dance by the 12 (11) New Members
With Kuduu missing it is important to note that some of the dances for songs she was a part of did seem a little strange, as there was very obviously a missing link.  However, the opening dance was formed in a way that even with one member missing the strength of the dance was not lessened at all.  The dance itself actually wasn't all that complicated of one (you can see them practicing it on the Mobekimasu youtube channel here) but it was a good way to show off the new members without putting too much pressure on the performance.  I pictured them opening the concert as it being a song, but this was actually a good way to introduce them without making it seem like the concert was all about them.  Not that that would be a bad thing, all 12 have been great additions so far.

Busu ni Naranai Tetsugaku
Of course they had to do this song first since they have really been pushing the idea of MBCMS this year.  Since 11 of the members had been dancing previously, those members had to rush offstage (as everyone else was rushing on) in order to quickly zip up their stage outfits.  I wasn't paying too much attention to the opening of the song as I was frantically searching for Aika, ya know having it been announced that she would be in the concert though in a light manner.  Well, I am sure I am not the only one who imagined that "light manner" as being just coming out for a couple of MCs.  I mean, really?  She was performing sitting down for two months before finally being told she couldn't perform at all, pretty sure she could sit on the side and sing just fine by now.  Was a little bit disappointing but ah well.  Will see how she does at the FC event I am going to later this week.

With 29 members and several Eggs (or Research Students as they are called now) the stage was packed.  And yet, all the members performed very well.  Hmm, funny how dancing AND singing at the same isn't an impossible thing to do (like a certain other massive group seems to think it is)   And this type of strong performance, regardless of whether the singing is Broadway level or not, is why I love Hello Project. 

Medley: Inspiration ~ Ryuusei Boy ~ Massara Blue Jeans ~ Renai Revolution 21 
A great selection of songs, even RR21.  I agree with many others that the song is overdone, it works with group concerts.  It's a fun song that gets everyone in the audience dancing.  Inspiration is a song that I never thought I would hear at a current group concert so it was a very refreshing surprise.  A classic song that really brings out the youth in all of the current members.  Ryuusei is one of the better Inazuma-tied Berryz songs in my opinion, and really who could hate Massara (another one of those songs the audience knows the whole dance to)

The most interesting thing with this medley was how they rotated each group to the front as it was their song, even though all groups sang each one of the songs, they put the main onto the group it came from.  So I was surprised that S/mileage and Mano didn't have a song in the medley.  Maybe they have more of a role in Rock-chan?



Moshimo... (By Maasa, Maimai, Kanyon, Kanana, and Meimei)

This was the coupling to Busu, right?  As a semi-ballad, it is not the type of song I listen to very often.  However, every time I hear it I do find myself humming along.  The member choice was, well it wasn't what I would expect for a song of this genre (Meimei and Kanana being the ones I would take out) but it actually worked quite well.  If I remember correctly, Meimei wasn't given too many lines, which worked fine because her voice isn't up to ballad standards, and Kanana's voice stood out to me a lot more than I remember it doing so before.  The five made it work and it was a good song to just hum along to and take a little bit of a break after the medley.



Uwaki na Honey Pie (By Captain, Momochi, Risako, Nakky, Okai, Eripon, Masaki)
I practically said Kyaa!  as soon as the opening for this song came on.  I love this song!  And I mean love to the point that no matter how many times my iPod decides it wants to play it I just cannot skip it.  What a surprise to hear such an old song pop up here, though it certainly fits the Funky image.  The girls all did a great job with the dance and energy necessary for the song.

Seishun no Custard (By Gaki-san, Airi)
At first, I was practically kicking myself as I ran it over and over in my head, wondering just what this song could be.  I knew it was Gatas, that was for certain.  But was it... oh it was!  It was the Yossy song!  How could I forget even for a moment that Yossy had been involved in such an awesome pair song.  (Though I must admit I secretly hoped that it was also the "Oh Je-e-sus" song just for laughs.  Gaki and Airi are both very powerful singers, and as a pair they matched perfectly.  Girls, you did Yossy proud.


--- As a side here, I would like to note my thoughts about Gaki's graduation.  I was not shocked nor saddened.  I was a little surprised, mainly because I thought it would be in the fall.  But, she has been in the group over 10 years, and in the natural order of things it didn't seem like she would be around long now that the graduation rotation has gone back into pace again.  I think many new fans are shocked (new being the ones who joined after 8th gen came in and before Koharu graduated) because they didn't see this rotation.  Yet before the lapse after Miki's scandal, this was pretty normal.  Once a year is a bit close, yes, but not unheard of.  And the group is supposed to change.  No, it is not the Musume I came to know 10+ years ago, but that is not something that angers or saddens me.  Each formation of Musume is its own group and yet carries the legacy of the past with it.  I am sure the group will do just fine without Gaki and look forward to seeing who is announced as leader during the spring concert.

Yokohama Shinkiro (By Chisato)
Wow can Chisato sing.  It's only really in the past year that I have started noticing Chisato more.  And thanks to a friend who is completely in love with her, I see all the appeal she has.  She has a very powerful voice and has worked hard to bring her dancing up to the level of the other C-ute members.  I love this song, it's a Gocchin classic.  And it requires the edge that Chisato's voice has, not some sweet cutesy voice that many might prefer in an idol.  A very enjoyable performance with quite an intense dance.

Sotto Kuchizukete Gyutto Dakishimete (By Yurina)
I　actually just looked this song up on Youtube because I couldn't remember which of the 4 soloists had sung it.  I had thought it was a Gocchin song, so was surprised to find out it was Mikitty.  I guess the main solo song I associate with her is Romantic Ukare Mode due to the fun wota dance it entails.  The song suited Yurina's voice perfectly, and she held out each note with slight pauses where they needed to be for emphasis.  I think it every time I see her but DAMN is that girl tall.


To be continued in part 2... (cuz I'm sleepy)