I always mean to leave some kind of "review/thoughts" after I watch a concert but rarely get round to it, so here we go, hope it's not too rambly...
So, I've watched disc one (ends at the Mariko solo song), and overall, there were a few really standout songs which make it worthwhile, but as a whole, I enjoyed it a lot less than the first one. A lot of this might come down to the fact that with the first one, no-one knew what to expect - plus it had the excitement of a livestream.
I did not watch any news footage or any of the DVD clips from the last single so I had no exposure to this beforehand - just Paruru's solo which Masa played on her jphip radio birthday special a few hours ago. When I saw the setlist at the time, I remember thinking that pretty much all the unit songs were repeats of last year, and this felt much the case when watching it, and was disappointing, as the first year felt very fresh and this a bit of a rehash. Let's get on with the highlights though:
1. Oogoe Diamond acappella version. This was fantastic, and not what I expected. It had the parts like a real a cappella group to make the song feel complete. So good they even did a reprise in the MC.
2. Kitagawa Kenji performed by JKT48 and Kitagawa Kenji himself. The man took centre stage and rocked it. The JKT girls did well too and this is always a great upbeat song.
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3. Sakura no Hanabiratachi - Yukirin solo with an acoustic guitar player. Really different to both Acchan and Wasamin's solo versions, Yukirin delivers again.
4. Heavy Rotation - the Hey!x3 break - nothing special, I just really liked hearing/seeing the song, and seeing Mayu and Yuko lots since they started/ended the show so did not see them the rest of it...
5. Anata to Christmas Eve - like I said, I was disappointed with the repeat units from last year and so when Sakiko came on the grand piano - I was like "oh no", but she did not sing, Kojiharu and Sayanee did - and there was a choir, which is what made this version different.
6. Oshima Yuko's solo Give Me Five! - not for her bits, but rather for the instrumental solos.
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It's also worthwhile mentioning that Mariko-sama did a really good job with Mujin Eki and looked great there. The best of the repeat units was AnRiRe Heart Gata Virus. I also enjoyed Joan D'Arc. Less so the rest of them. Maria was great in Yuuhi wo Miteiru ka? which just wanted to make me watch Team 4.
The concert started really well, with Team Aka Oshi and Wasshoi Shiro being new versions of great upbeat songs. Then came the solos for my oshis. Which was one thing I was not looking forward to - and also meant they were kind of a warm-up act and I would not see them the rest of the concert. Paru did really well with Soredemo Suki da yo, and I was really proud of her. I never thought Mayu would suit Kimi wa Boku da, and it did not really work. She looked absolutely stunning but the performance lacked the sass and liveliness of Acchan's.
Nothing much to say about the rest. They wheeled out a lot of Japanese comedians, who aren't my thing at all, and definitely not what I watch an AKB concert for. One of whom even dragged out the intro for HKT's Takeuchi Senpai for ages, and it was disappointing that HKT only got to do a song I do not like much. Apart from a unit where Meru was in - guess she is certified as future AKB ace. Yuria seemed to have a new role in Ame no Doubutsen that I've not seen in other performances, kinda a joke role though. There were professional cheerleaders in one song that completely outshone all the 48 group members, and little kids dancing it one song, which was odd. There was some wotagei folk doing backing for another song which was fun. They also stripped UZA down to a two-member performance, inexplicably, but remixed it slightly to make it sound even more like generic Western pop.
Overall, I'd say it's definitely worth checking out the highlights, which were mostly the unique arrangements of songs. And if you do watch the whole thing, maybe skip the MCs...
Topic: [2012.12.17] 2nd AKB48 Kouhaku Taikou Uta Gassen (Read 14140 times)