Hello! Project 2008 Winter ~Wonderful Hearts Nenjuu Mu Kyuu~

Wonderful Hearts

Here we go, Disc 1 of the box set.  The way I see it, there are pros and cons when choosing to see the Elders/Wonderful Hearts seperately versus seeing the big extravaganza of Haru Pro Award.  First, you have the size of the production and Arena.  Seeing everyone at Yokohama Arena seems like a much bigger deal, and the large crowd creates alot of synergy.  On the other hand, it doesn't seem as if there is a bad seat in the house at Nakano Sunplaza, which creates a far more intimate experience.  Second you get to see more of your favorite seldom used idols in the smaller venue.  Maasa is a perfect example...She is barely seen at Haru Pro Award, but she is all over the place in this show!  Next you have lip-synching.  For better or worse there is far less of it in Elders/Hearts.  Finally you have the song selection.  At the "big" show there are so many artists with current hits, it takes most of the setlist just to accommodate those singles.  Elders/Hearts has alot more room for set list "surprises" and mixing of the units.  This gives you an opportunity to see something more unique.  Watching this performance is a perfect example.

Aozora ga Itsumademo Tsuzuka You na Mirai de Are! ~ Obviously there will be some duplication from the last review.  But since they don't have a "track" to run around, the performance itself is slightly different.  I've said many times that I like this song live.  Captain immediately caught my eye...there is something very cute about her short stature and that purple tutu.  I love that they put her up front with the other two leaders.  And Momo always looks as if she is having the greatest time when she performs live.

Renai Revolution 21 ~ I love this dance, it always reminds me of the Mechaike "Chorus Club"!  Gaki-san really shines here, she really gets into the hip-hop aspect of the song.  My first question of the night goes to Paul Thomas if he is reading this...How hot was it in there, temperature wise?  I know on one hand the younger groups put much energy into the dancing.  But the girls seem overly sweaty and tired throughout this show.  I have a feeling the spotlights at the Sunplaza are very strong.

LALALA Shiawase no Uta ~ After watching both versions of this in the set, I prefer C-ute doing this song by themselves.  If for no other reason than we get alot more Maimi.  Of all of the Berryz that could've gotten a solo line here, ofcourse it's Risako.  But in all fairness I think her singing is improving.  Lots of closeups of Jun Jun, she has great legs!

Tokaikko Junjou ~   Of the three core groups in Wonderful Hearts, C-ute are collectively the best dancers.  Or at least they get the best dance routines.  This is so sassy and energetic.  They do a great job singing this live as well.  Another great performance of this is the one they did at Yokohama Blitz!

Chance!/Happy ~  Great, we get to see Koha and the magic dress...again!  Same performance as Haru Pro, except more facial expressions and less skipping around.  She should wear that "prom dress" the whole time, as it is much more attractive than the plastic thing it is hiding under.  This is why I like "Happy" a whole lot more.  Koharu doesn't have a huge catalog, so they are limited in song choices.  Hopefully we will get to hear something different this summer, like Milky Way!

Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi ~  Wow, this performance is an EXACT replica of the PV!  Another cool thing about Wonderful Hearts/Elders is we get the second verses of songs.  Again I will give Risako props for much improved singing ability.  Now as far as the costumes go...

Kokuhaku no Funsui Hiroba ~  The long white dresses seem perfect for this!  They should have worn these outfits for this PV, and the 50's diner waitress outfits for Kataomoi.  My favorite part of this song is the bridge, I love the sad "key" it is written in.  Is it me, or is Risako crying during this?  Every time they show her she has a distressed look on her face.  It could be my "hot spotlight" theory at work.

Mikan ~  Like Berryz, the costumes and stage setup make this performance very similar to the routine on the PV.  Sayumi sounded like she was choking on her first solo line.  Aside from that they do a good job of singing.  Koharu dances very well, and Aika looks cute in every closeup.  And Momusu got the best costumes for this tour!

SEXY BOY ~Soyokaze ni Yorisotte~  The good news is it's a lesser performed song, although it isn't a favorite of mine.  The music reminds me of Reina's Alo-Hello! DVD, which is an absolute gem!  Koharu always makes a goofy face when she knows the camera is focused on her.  My favorite moment is the quick shot of Yurina sitting off to the side looking bored out of her skull!

Odore! Morning Curry ~   The first thing I noticed is what an asset Yossie was to this song.  Forget about Reina's facial ticks, what the heck is Gaki-san up to???  Was that a "bitter-beer" face she gave us?  Even better is the psychedelia going on the background screen...is this an Iron Butterfly concert?  And if that isn't enough, Koharu turns the entire song into a parody of itself with her solo line at the end!  A lot of "wackiness" going  on here.  Then again, it's a wacky song!

Renai Rider ~  I'm glad we get the chance to hear the entire song.  Momo isn't projecting as well as she can.  But I am glad to hear a "live" performance.  Overall, the live singing makes the song sound slightly more sedate, but that's okay.  I would have really liked to hear "Honto no Jibun" too!

Seishun! LOVE Luinch ~  Now this is a performance that I feel benefits from being live versus lip-synched.  Chisato's strong voice really overpowers everyone else, except for Gaki.  Chisato is really good.  Saki does a good job, but Aika was a tad slow-going.  She was too soft early in the song, but got better later on.  Sometimes I wonder if Aika is trying too hard to be cute at the expense of being a stronger singer.  Overall they did a much better job "live" than I thought they would, so kudos!

** At this point we get a series of "surpise" songs and "mash-up" units, which to me is the best part of this concert.  The song selection here is great!

Robokiss ~  This had the potential to be a total disaster!  But I don't think it was at all.  The biggest mistake would have been trying to imitate TsujiKago.  But while Michishige sounded like she would fit into "W" perfectly, Risako did her own thing in her own style.  And that was a good idea.  But Risako, you have to turn Sayu's crank "harder" if you want to wind her up!  Surprisingly good!

Ai~n! Dance no Uta ~  What a great unit!  Kamei, Maasa and the Pandas!  Lin Lin does the best Ai~n! face.  I'm glad the focus wasn't just on Eri, so the other three really got a moment to shine here!

Chokkan 2 ~  Many people have a problem with the original PV of this song, but the closeup version is one of my all time favorites.  It is a series of wacky facial expressions, in many ways not unlike Berryz' Khan PV.  Reina stands out here with the song that marked the beginning of her mugging for the camera.

**The next MC segment is very strange.  I am now sure the hot spotlights are getting the best of them.  First, Mari loses her train of thought.  And look at Sayumi, she looks like she's about to pass out!  Then Makoto fades out when Maasa tries to talk to him.  Quick!  Someone call a Medevac Helicopter!!!

Everyday Everywhere ~  Wow, they did some serious digging to pull out the old T&C Bomber song!  Reina and Takitty are very good together singing these slower ballads.  Their version of the Country Musume song last summer was a hit, and this one is just as good.  Could this be a sign of a future unit?  The style seems to fit Ai-chan more than Tanaka, but I think Reina's fanbase would stay with her no matter what she did.  My request for their next collaboration is Michiyo's "Tsuyoku naranakucha...ne"  By the way, Reina looks incredible!  How she lost to Kikkawa in the second round of Broomhead's "March Madness" I will never know.  I suspect some questionable officiating.

EVERYDAY YEAH! Kataomoi ~  This is definitely Hagitty's song!  I love C-ute's performance of it from the 2007 Spring DVD!  Mai, Saki and Kanna make a very cute unit.  And all three of them sing very well.  I love Saki's voice, and relish the opportunity to hear more of her.

Oujisama to Yuki no Yoru ~  I like Tanpopo, and I love Maimi and Chinami.  But this isn't one of my favorite performances.  It just seems kinda boring.  That said, the four of them did a fine job with the material they were given.

Renai Sentai Shitsu Ranger ~ When I saw the setlist, this was the song I was most looking forward to see.  Nochiura Natsumi was another great short-lived unit.  In fact, I think this would have been cool at the Elders' Club too.  Even with the quick tempo, I don't think it works as well with such a big group.  It sounds better as a trio.

Meguru Koi no Kisetsu ~   Another great dance routine.  This song is alot of fun.  But here is where I think C-ute gets a great "deal", and Berryz Koubou sort of gets the "shaft".  Look at these costumes...cute and flattering in all of right ways.  As for Berryz...

Omoitattara Kichi desse! ~  I refrained from mentioning it in my H!P review, but what the hell are those???  Are they supposed to be dressed as Christmas trees?  They look like maternity dresses!  What a horrible costume.  However, this is a great song!  I don't have Berryz' fourth CD, so this is my first time hearing it.  Another cool aspect is that it features Chinami,  Maasa and Yurina on lead.  Excellent!

Special Generation ~ Berryz and C-ute getting all chummy.  Isn't this fraternizing with the enemy?  Don't they have a big "Battle" going on this Spring?  Even with C-ute, it sounds like every other version of this song.

Bon kyu! Bon kyu! BOMB Girl ~  The "Sexy Caped Crusaders" are back!  I've seen this song so much lately that each performance is beginning to feel like a blur!  Let's see...Takitty squeaks her first "Yeah!" while flashing a peace sign?...check.  Air guitar?...check.  Gaki's wierd sound at the end of her line?...check.  Sayu "soft shoe's" across the stage?...check.  Jun Jun and Lin Lin barely seen?...check, check!  I really liked this song, but I'm starting to hate it now...WAAAA!

Go Girl ~Koi no Victory~  This is the first time I noticed those red rose-like things on their arms.  For some reason they remind me of the moment in "Tommy" when Roger Daltrey gets treated by the "Acid Queen".  I know, kind of a random thought.  This is a pretty standard performance of a Momusu classic.  No one stands out too much as there are no solo lines.

Hand made CITY ~   I always enjoy when they do songs in Semaphore.  I would love to hear them do one in Morse Code.  And why are the flags yellow?  They look like they're about to call "Pass Interference"!  But this is another example of the virtues of Elders and Hearts.  Every song doesn't have to be a top hit.  They can take a B-side and make it into a pretty good production number.  All jokes aside, the choreography with the flags is very good.  Takitty owns this song!

Nanni mo Imazu ni I LOVE YOU ~  Stealing the thunder from v-u-den's final single.  I know they end shows with this song quite a bit.  Maybe if they had known this would be v-u-den's farewell song they would have picked something else.  But it's a sweet song to end with.  This version sounds even sadder than v-u-den's

The best part of this show was the chance to hear some songs from the vault, especially that little Tsuji/Kago tribute in the middle of the show!  Although the energy is slightly more sedate than Yokohama, they all seem collectively more "loose" here.  I would love an opportunity to see this version of the Winter tour!  Now, onto the Elders...

CK in California