NHK MUSIC JAPAN SPECIAL 2011 Haru Matsuri (Live Recording)

Been too busy (and lazy) to write anything longer than a tweet lol.
I have 3 February event reports in draft .. will somehow get it done. ;__;
I’m also planning something that I couldn’t really say before I’m 100% sure, but that will need to wait after my exam.

Anyway, MJ is much easier to write so here goes. :3

NHK Music Japan Special 2011 Haru Matsuri
7 March 2011 @NHK Hall
*to be aired 19 March 2011.

Another MUSIC JAPAN SP, not Anison but Spring Festival!
(..regardless of how freezing it was today. It even snowed!)

This time I wasn’t so lucky and ended up in 2F, but still in center seat (and there’s the worse alternative of 3F lol) so no complaints here. Couldn’t see the performers’ faces very clearly but there’s a screen for that, and no obstacles in viewing the whole stage / enjoying the sound.

They distributed 1 ultra blue (10-mins bright lightstick) for everyone, but without any notice what for, so most people broke it during the DJ filler performance before the real thing. Host Aoi Minoru quickly announced that it was supposed to be used during Nana’s turn, but too late. xD

There were 3 rows bench-like seats on left-side of the stage for interview (technically filler talk during stage preparation). Talk led by MJ host team Aoi Minoru, Sekine Mari (+her radiant smile ♥), and Perfume. Plus secret guest Takeda-sensei (see Kaientai below). Mostly related to the performers’ high school time or graduation.

It’s funny after a while that they kept trying to fill the bench, which was easy with 15 SKE + 15 AKB girls.

Announced that Spring Festival’s theme is “Graduation“.
In case the hundreds hours you spent watching animu haven’t told you yet, Japanese school term ends in late March.

Can’t remember the exact order lol I’ll just go by preference. xD

Mizuki Nana

-Joined the bench filler talk after 3 songs. Didn’t expect to see her that fast!
-First song in Spring Medley, short version of 赤いスイートピー (Akai Sweetpea)! When I heard the intro I was liek OMGLOL Kapuchu character song in national TV! well technically a Matsuda Seiko cover song so it’s okay :3 Didn’t expect Nana to perform this.. well it is a spring song! It was zero degree outside but spring warmth filled my heart~ (っ´∀｀c) ..okay it didn’t sound this cheesy when I tweeted that in Jap. xD
-Main act New Sensation! It’s one of Nana’s older songs that is still popular until now. I can see how the lyrics fit, you only live once so make the most of it and never give up! p(^ ^)q
-Before you ask about Scarlet Knight, it’s still too soon for that. I’m pretty sure she will sing it in another (normal) MJ end of this month. You’ll see my report.
-Joined all performers to sing Tabidachi no Uta in Spring medley and the last song Kaientai’s Okuru Kotoba.
-Talk. Nana mentioned everything we already knew, going to Tokyo by herself for high school, etc. Honestly I missed few things she said because the Perfume retards behind me kept shouting names.. fff.

AKB48
-They had serious props: HUUUUGE sakura tree that looks darn real from 2F lol. Tree stayed during all spring-related songs.
-Started with newest single 桜の木になろう (Sakura no Ki ni Narou) was a very fitting sweet graduation ballad.
I like how my favorite AKB girl Mariko-sama stood out although she wasn’t a main vocal in this song. Oh yeah I forgot to inform you that I officially admit I like AKB48! Yay for future wallet disaster, but for now just catchy songs and eye-candies, no obsession (yet?).
-Sakura special medley: １０年桜 (10-nen Sakura) -> 桜の花びらたち (Sakura no Hanabiratachi)!　OMG I just got addicted to 10-nen Sakura few days ago so hearing it live so soon was darn lucky!! Actually I was pretty sure they lipsynched but whatever. xD

Spring Medley
-All cover songs related to graduation or spring seasons in general.
-REAL graduation anthem 仰げば尊し (Aogeba Totoshi). Collaboration of Perfume, Nishino Kana, and Funky Monkey Babys.
-Nana’s Akai Sweetpea. The only solo in the medley <3
-AKB and SKE covered what I assumed to be a popular graduation song too. ^^;
-Everyone performed Tabidachi no Uta.

SKE48
-Top batter. SKE has similar concept with AKB just that they represent Nagoya’s otaku area Sakae. Adorable blue uniform.. but they still lack personal appeal.
-First song opened MJ, latest single out this week, catchy upbeat バンザイVenus (Banzai Venus). PV recorded in Sakae, as mentioned in MC they gathered 1000 people lols. Followed by 1!2!3!4! ヨロシク! (1!2!3!4! Yoroshiku!).

Kaientai
-Secret guest. Kaientai‘s vocalist Takeda was very popular since he starred in long-running drama Kinpachi-sensei of Class 3-B. He stayed for all filler talk. In a sense he was pretty charming but jeebus he acted as a teacher for too long… talked WAY too much and bored me very quickly.
-Did the most popular contemporary graduation song 贈る言葉 (Okuru Kotoba). All performers joined midway including Nana. Ditto to MJ’s closing song 人として (Hito Toshite).

Perfume
-Only did ワンルーム・ディスコ (One Room Disco). To be fair their new single is still due a long time, and I doubt they have spring-themed songs. ^^; imo they only performed as part of the MJ hosts job.
-Loved the unique dance and technopop, just lol autotune.
-As I’ve said, Perfume fanboys behind me were the most mannerless fans I’ve ever encountered. Shouting names even when other performers were talking. I heard AKB fans were about as loud, but at least they did it appropriately during AKB’s time.

Funky Monkey Babys
-Did Lovin’ Live and latest single Runway Beat. Probably the first time I enjoyed hip-hop, well the 2 dudes can actually sing! Tho the “DJ” didn’t do any DJ job at all and just danced.. xD
-Every year since 7-8 years ago, FunMon will randomly appear in a high school graduation ceremony for a surprise performance. That’s pretty cool.

Nishino Kana
-Did Kouhaku song Best Friend and latest single Distance.
-Pop songs with R&B feel proved to be very easy in the ear, plus she sounds very down-to-earth in MC despite her gyaru look, I can see why she has SO many young female followers.

Porno Grafitti sang 1 song I didn’t recognize, sorry.

…

Some things happened before the event that reduced my viewing enjoyment, but I’d say it was done pretty well, especially song choices. Well AKB has countless highschool-related songs so it wasn’t that hard? xD
-I like how they bothered to distribute lightsticks to everyone just for Nana, though they need to slip a notice paper or people will keep breaking it during the DJ filler time.
-Rehearsal was late, so the event started late, sensei talked too much.. it ended 40 mins over scheduled time.

It will be aired next week 19 March 2011. Tune in! :3