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)