Morning Musume ~Pika Pika~ LIVE!

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Concert day! Feeling jittery all over. It was near Shinjuku, so we did a bit of shopping in the area. Shinjuku was full of massive department stores with tons of international mainstream brands. Couldn’t find anything we wanted there, so we headed to scout the concert venue at 2pm. The actual concert starts at 7pm, went early to get concert merchandise. :D

Concert Venue
There was already a queue when we got there, but not as bad as the one we went last year. There were wotas set up outside with bags and display mats offering photos and other merchandise for trade. The venue was Kousei Nenkin Hall, with a capacity of 2062. I thought, smaller hall = closer to the stage! Good :D

Lockers? Yes?
We asked the guys at the place if they had any lockers, since we couldn’t bring camera equipment into the place. Unfortunately none of them spoke English. We asked the concert staff, and found out they’re able to keep our stuff safe until after the concert for collection. Yay!

Trading with Wotas!
Went ahead to get concert loot for some of the dudes back in Singapore. It took me 3 times to get everything on the list. Ordering was quite straight forward, they had the catalog all laid out on the table, with real samples behind the sales people. I just pointed and said said how many I wanted. In total I spent about S$400 on stuff. Another thing I discovered, Chad runs away from me when I carry Morning Musume stuff in public. lol!

Went to this very weird Freshness Burger place to sort the purchases. They had this huge random A4 sized pin up photos that came in envelopes. I was helping some of the fans back home get concert loot, and because some of them were random, some trading had to be done with the Wotas to get the correct members. Ended up with some Mitsui and Lin Lin photo sets. Which meant, had to trade! I’ve never traded stuff with the fans before, so I thought, this should be fun xD

I walked up to where they were gathered, holding the opened envelope, and I guess I had this ‘looking to trade’ face. Cause they were super friendly and immediately asked what I was looking for. I showed them the photos and said which member I wanted to trade with. It was there and then that I found out from the guy, apparently Mitsui and Lin Lin are low ranking members, and can’t be traded up higher ranked members like Aichan or Eri. I asked around and most of them did a ‘X’ motion with their arms, signaling ‘impossible’.

Apparently Reina is the most valuable of all, and portraits are more valuable than full body shots. Aichan’s full body cannot be traded to Reina’s head shots! And I also realize they don’t sell the photos, only trade. Ah well, too bad :\

Meeting fellow Wotas!
We waited around till 6pm where they opened the place for seating. Once again the crowd never fails to amaze me in their dedication to their idols. Decked out in color coordinated T-shirts, wrist bands and all manner of concert merchandise, they started stretching, prepping their light sticks and other glowing contraptions. You can see many of them walking around, swapping seats and just chatting with other fans. They all seem to know each other.

We had the 2nd row seat, and in front of us were 2 guys that looked in their 40s. Salaried businessmen! How else could you afford front row seats xD He asked where we were from, and was quite amazed to learn there were Morning Musume fans all the way in Singapore too. He asked who our favorite member was, we said Sayumi, and he motioned to his partner beside him, which was decked out in full pink attire. He took out these air traffic controller light wands, turned them on and it flashed PINK! ZOMG. He even taped the handles with pink tape. How awesome is that. Our lightsticks felt minuscule. lol.

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Extreme Morning Musume concert content from this point on.
You’ve been warned! :D

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Morning Musume Concert Tour 2010 ~Pika Pika~ BEGINS!
They started off with this image of a wolf silhouette against the moon on the large projector, with purplish lighting. It was quite creepy at first, then they all came out in bunny costumes + ears + cute wands and posed on the stairs. You could roughly see the outlines of them, and just can’t help but feel excited that they’re really up on stage, and this close!

The music started, lights came on and that was it. Everyone just exploded into dance and cheers. The mega upbeat moonlight night was such a terrific opening song, it got everyone just roaring and jumping. It was the first time they performed it live, so the fans couldn’t follow along very well. They didn’t know when to insert the chants nor follow the choreography. Everyone was just randomly jumping like crazy :D

I was in a bit of shock in the first 30 seconds or so. They all looked so beautiful with their flawless make up and fluffy outfits. I remember staring at their abs and thinking to myself, wow they have nice abs dammit! Only Gaki-san had a bit of fats rounding out her waist. LOL! I have to admit, I’ve fallen in love with Gaki-san’s short bob + Kamei’s new un-braided hair. ^-^

Seeings the girls so close, only 4 metres away! zomg was surreal. We were at the corner, so we didn’t know what was going on the far end. Doesn’t matter, when Sayumi came over to our side it was like whoaa…. lol. Chad was saying we could just run a few steps up and grab her if you wanted to. They were just, so close!

The costumes for this concert is the best I’ve ever seen. No loud crazy colors, or goudy extravagant stuff. Everyone was dressed very fashionably in stripes and various textured clothing. Some of the costumes they can actually wear on the streets and not look crazy :D

Setlist ( 19 March 2010 )
As for the Setlist, I was a bit worried that they would do all their new songs and non of the old ones, but they did a mega mega awesome mix of all the old songs in their medley. After the set list song titles, I’ve embedded the actual concert recording. So you can hear what was going on, and what i was referring to. It’s the hardest to convey an experience across the the internet, especially if you weren’t there, this is the best I can do until more photos are released in the coming weeks. The DVD of the concert only comes out in another 6 months or so.

01. Moonlight Night

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They were in their super cute bunny outfits for these 2 songs. I couldn’t think of anything except for ‘waaah….’ I was just trying to overcome the shock of seeing them so close and just trying to take in everything at the same time. I was awestruck. Couldn’t process thoughts properly. T_T

02. Kimagure Princess – View original PV

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If you saw the PV, this was the one with the butt rubbing and chest pumping moves. So sexy zomg! Nearly died. I remember the ‘OI OI’ chant for this song, since I saw it in the previous concert. I missed the timing on some of them but got the majority of them spot on. Hahah! True wota-ness! Trust me it’s insanely more enjoyable to do the chants and shouts with everyone else. Unison ++

- Member Introduction VTR -

03. Renai Revolution 21 – View 2009 Performance

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As soon as the drums and violin came on I was like OMG RENAI REVOLUTION 21!! They came out in these very sharp looking black and white tartan textured outfits. The famous rowing boat dance move is a sight to behold indeed! I couldn’t follow the dance, but everyone else was spot on. I could only follow with the chants and jump along. Haha!

The loudest ever “REINA!” call came from this song (2:18 in the audio clip). It was the first song in the entire concert where you can yell any one of their names, and yes, everyone knew exactly when to do Reina’s call. :D

- MC 1 -

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At every first MC they will yell out to all the girls in the crowd to scream, then any kids, then everyone else. Surprisingly there were a lot of high pitched screams :D The kids part was the most hilarious. Everyone around will just point their glow sticks towards the nearest kid, and from the stage it’ll look like the kid has light sticks floating all around him/her xD

04. Aishite Aishite Ato Ippun

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This was Kimagure Princess’s B side song, not very familiar with it. The crowd wasn’t too. But it was quite up beat, and the dance was so, super, sexy. One part they were dancing on the floor, in their own individual spotlights. Everyone was going wooooo~ :D“

05. Nanchatte Renai – View original PV – View 2009 Performance

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This was another favorite. Sayumi took over Koharu’s lines, and the dance routine was modified a bit from the 9 member line up. Sayumi was singing a lot in this one, which made her look especially stressed. I guess she finally got her wish for more solo lines. I was spot on in the name calling. lol.

06. Shouganai Yume Oibito – View original PV – 2009 Performance

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This seems to always come after Nanchatte Renai. No complaints though. Singing along and enjoying every little bit of it. Seeing the dance routine live in all it’s finger biting ballet spinning glory was beyond epic. Aichan was so graceful in all the the ballet type moves, instant melt.

- MC 2 (Kamei . Michishige . Tanaka) –

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Kamei was literally dripping with sweat during the MC. I had no idea what they were saying, Chad mentioned it was some toilet talk, and everyone was quite speechless. LOL. Reina had the most evil hearty laugher ever (2:00 in the audio clip). xD

07. Ano ni Modoritai (Takahashi, Niigaki)

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This was just beautiful. They came out in these pastel, country looking dresses with umbrellas. It was a nice, slow, beautiful song with an equally graceful choreography to match. If you compared Aichan totally owned in the graceful dance department. Great slow song to start get the energy going after the MC.

08. Osaka Umainen (Mitsui, JunJun, LinLin)

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Wasn’t very keen on this one. You could see the crowd stop jumping as well. All 3 of the lower ranked members grouped together. Cute song, but that’s about it really. Mitsui certainly looked like she was enjoying her self on this one ^-^. Jun Jun and Lin Lin just looked like they were just following choreography. I don’t know, I wasn’t feeling the vibe from this group.

09. Ooki Hitomi (Kamei, Michishige, Tanaka)

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Oh my god these 3 were the BOMB! They came out in matching cowboy styled outfits, and the crowd instantly came alive again. The song was good, very disco, clubbing feel. There was a section where their dance was very robotic, sort of like Perfume’s Secret Secret. Epic epic. I remember looking at Eri and Sayumi for nearly the entire song. Sorry Reina! xD

10. Resonant Blue – View 2009 Performance – original PV

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They all came out again and just rolled into Resonant Blue. I was in OMGWTFYES! mode again. DANCE SONG! Overplayed, yes. But it doesn’t matter. In concerts it gets the crowd so insanely hyped up, it was the perfect song to end the first segment with.

This was also the first song where I really started jumping. If you watch their dance there’s a part where everyone goes ‘fooo~!’ and jumps at the same time. I mean, literally the whole audience jumps in sync! Awesomeness~!!

- MC 3 (Michishige) PV: Namida Tomaranai Houkagou - View original PV

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This one was hilarious. Sayumi said she was upset she could not sing well, and mentioned her only prominent single was Namida Tomaranai Houkagou. We thought she was going to sing it, and everyone went ‘ooooo~’ but she added a ‘VTR’ at the end of her sentence and everyone went ‘eeehhhhhhhhhh!!!’ You can hear this part early in the audio clip.

They literally played the entire PV, and everyone was laughing and going for real?! Like, literally, they played the whole PV during the concert. lol.

11. Morning Musume Hit Medley

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I guess they need time during the PV to recharge, because the medley was nothing short of awesome. Medleys are like short mash ups of popular songs. This is the part I look forward to most at every concert :D They haven’t released the setlist for the concert yet, so no one knew what songs were coming up next. It felt like we were watching and listening to a jackpot machine.

Medley – Love Machine – View 2009 Performance
The first 20 seconds we couldn’t tell what song was going to be played until the 1st sentence. Yes it started with Love Machine. Their best selling single, ever. Classic.

Medley – The Peace – View 2007 Performance
A lot of people went ‘whoooaaa!’ When they recognized what was coming. OMG THE PEACE! Rika’s song! lol. I’ve never seen it live, so doing the peace sign and jumping along was super :D

Medley – Kanashimi Twilight – View 2008 Performance
Another unexpected hit. Lots of ‘OOOOOOOOO’. This was Miki and Yossie’s song. Old, rarely played! They only played the first verse though. Song was over in a flash.

Medley – Koi no Dance Site – View 2008 Performance
This was a concert standard. They got everyone to echo the ‘HU-HA’ parts. Gaki-san did the famous ‘sexy-beeeeaaaamm!’. Up till now I can’t understand they anyone would want to shoot a sexy beam out from their chest. Quite short too. Building up to the next epic one.

Medley – Roman ~ MY DEAR BOY ~ – View original PV
Yes this one had the loudest ‘OOOOOOOOOO!!!!’ I mean, even I wasn’t expecting it! An absolute old school favorite of mine. Also never seen live. Manage to catch the opening “whooooOOO” build up chant in time. haha! Wota ++

Medley – Koko ni Iruzee – View 2008 Performance
The best part about their concert medleys, they involve the crowd in their songs! This song was where they did it. Sayumi yelled “issho ni!!(together!!)” and they sang the phrase twice, then the 3rd time they cut the music, Aichan yelled “mina! (everyone!)” pointed all their mics out at us, and we sang along! 4th time they added more music, 5th time they joined us and everyone sang together. The whole interaction was so AWESOME!!

12. Ame no Furanai Hoshi dewa Aisenai Darou (Chinese Ver.) – View 2009 Performance

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There was a short break for them to change into another outfit, then a mini MC segment, before they launched into this slow number. Since the whole song was in Mandarin, it was led by Jun Jun + Lin Lin, the 2 members from China. Beautiful slow song to let everyone rest a bit after the crazy medley. Plus it was a welcome change to actually understand what they were singing. Hahaha!

13. Onna Ga Medatte Naze Ikenai – View original PV

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Their latest single~ not a real fan of it. Not a lot of spaces to insert chants too. The girls were more focused on the dance than anything else. They had almost zero crowd reaction. Just so so for me.

14. 3.2.1 Breakin’ Out – View the OPV submission – 2009 Performance

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When the drum beats started, I completely went into OMGWTFYES! mode again. It drew a lot of ‘OOOOoooos’ from the crowd. You can hear it in the audio clip.

Remember the OPV contest in July last year? I spent a full month sleeping breathing with this song in my head. Got into the top 25. Didn’t win :( But the fact that they’re performing it LIVE, here and now, made me so happy, I nearly fainted haha! Yes I knew every single part of this song + dance. Super super enjoyable!

15. Mikan – View 2009 Performance

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I was still high from the previous song, then they hit us with Mikan! ZOMG crazy dance number! Once again everyone exploded into jump mode. Of all the songs this one had the most places to insert chants. I could follow every one of them because this, was the opening for the concert we went to last time! This time I came prepared! lol!

16. Genki Pika Pika

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This was from their new album. Perfect closing song for this segment. Also first time LIVE, so no one knew any of the moves or chants. The dance moves were super kawaii though. Sayumi was closest to us at the edge of the stage when she did the cute round face rubbing move. Chad said he instant melts! hahaha~ I remember still being a bit high from the past 2 songs, so I couldn’t focus properly on this one. lol!

-MC 5-

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We gave Gaki-san the hardest time when she made the last song announcement. Every few words she said we went ‘eeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!’ LOL! Hilarious!

17. Loving you forever

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Perfect song to wind down the concert with. If not for the lyrics being flashed on the screen, I couldn’t tell they were singing the “Loving you forever” part in English! I stole a picture during this part. Click for a larger version.

ENCORE

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We yelled our share of “ENCORE-RU” for a good 5 minutes with everyone else. Now we know why they brought bottles of water in. lol.

18. How do you like Japan? ~Nihon wa donna kanji dekka?~ – View 2009 Performance

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Oh my god I cannot stress how pumped up this song was. They started these electric bass guitar sounds, combined with a screen full of static. I was thinking, whoa, what song is this! It didn’t sound like ‘How do you like Japan’, cause that one always started with the mic check line my Gaki-san. Then they all ran out with mic stands, dressed in flannel overshirts, super casual rocker jeans + pimp sneakers! OMG what song is this!

Immediately the music got pumped, they started yelling ‘JUMP-JUMP-JUMP!’ Reina led the jumping cheer while Eri, Aichan and a few others came all the way in front to get us all into a into a jumping frenzy~ When 6th gen asks you to jump with them, how can you resist! LOL! I remember thinking, OMG the song hasn’t even started and we were jumping like mad!

The music cut, then Gaki-san started the famous YOYO, MIC CHECK MIC CHECK 1,2,1,2~ COME ON COME ON!~ Everyone instantly recognized the song, and we were off to even more crazy jumping! The whole arena was just so pumped up, you HAD to jump to see, since everyone in front was jumping. LOL! Gaki-san was just oozing with so much attitude and rock, you can tell this was HER song.

I don’t remember ever jumping so much for anything. I got 2x toe blisters jumping to this song. The energy was max high all the way till the end, where Gaki-san ended with the loudest “I LIKE, TOKYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” and everyone cheered like mad. F***ing awesome I tell you. Their fiercest performance of this song yet. Sweat like mad :D

- MC 6 -

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Ai chan cried at the last MC, I think she said something about this being their first concert without Koharu, and everyone was missing her during practice. Kamei was going on about her hair, worried about how it looked so fierce, always covering her face when she danced. Then she saw the fans going whoa! in a good way, and was relieved. Trust me she had the best hair of the lot. Sexy to the max :D

Reina was complaining about how she got these huge red fluffy sockings as her costumes while everyone else was decked out in cool jeans. LOL! She had us do a mega huge Ostuka REINAAAA with her after she ended. haha super fun! Gaki san, for the first time stumbled during the opening after the awesome awesome “How do you like japan!” encore song. She spoke halfway then ran out of breath, panted for a while. Everyone loled! She was going oh dear what is this haha.

I had no idea what Sayumi said. She talks a lot. JunJun, LinLin, Mitsui were very brief and didn’t reveal anything. Nothing much to say about their segments. :[

19. Namidacchi

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I thought this was a slow song, but no, it was crazy! It started off slow, then at the chorus went super fast, the light started flashing and everyone started jumping! After the chorus it slowed down again. Max strange! The middle part was rocking though, they had a rap session before going into the super fast jumping chorus, then slowing down into the emo parts again! Was the most random unique song I heard from them, ever. lol.

Post Concert!
After waving our hearts out at the end, the lights came on and the Wotas did a post concert cheer, both 1st and 2nd floors did them together. Felt like a super saiko victory chant. ^-^

Outside and around the concert hall you could see people stripping down, spraying deodorant, changing into their normal clothes. Transformation complete! lol. I remember holding on to my T-shirt all the way back to the hotel and feeling super cold. I couldn’t fit it into my bag because it was soaked with sweat from all the jumping, and my bag was loaded with concert goods. lol. Classic moment.

We were planning on going for only one concert, but dammit after tonight, I think we’ll cancel our Saturday plans, go over budget to get some last minute tickets for the concert tomorrow! Chad agrees that the whole point of going to these crazy concerts was not for the music, but for the up close interaction with your favorite idols! Eye contact ++! Cannot win.

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