Bonkyu Bomb, aka Finnegans Wake...a Concert Review

Bonkyubomb

Morning Musume Concert Tour 2007 Aki ~Bon Kyu! Bon Kyu! BOMB~

Okay, I know I said I would be doing retro reviews.  But after reading True Life Seek's lambasting of this concert, my initial reaction was "NOOOOOOOO, say it ain't so!"  Luckily, YesAsia.com delivered today, so I get to have my own take on it.  I'll do another retro review this weekend as well, probably Kei-chan's graduation.

This was the concert I had originally planned on flying to Japan for.  But alas, it wasn't to be.

Opening/Bonkyu Bonkyu Bomb Girl:  Whats up with the somber/grand version of Onna ni Sachi Are, segued into the uptempo Bonkyu Bomb Girl?  I used to work as a radio dj.  We had a name for that kind of transition...TRAINWRECK.  I liked this song at Yokohama, it was pretty much the same here.  Fun song, Ai-chan stands out with alot of the solo lines.

Mikan: I like this song alot better live than on CD/PV.  It seems tighter here.  Two things I noticed, 1) Sayu had the cuteness on overdrive, and 2) Koharu does the EXACT same facial expression on her first solo line as the PV.  Geez, these girls have their parts down!

Hand Made City: Those video screen intros in the background looked pretty cool!  First time I've heard this song.  I've never seen Momusu do a song in Semaphore before!  Perfect fit for the uptempo opening to get the crowd going.

Kacchoii ze! JAPAN: I really hope they have something new for Charmy after v-u-den splits up.  She plays a very secondary role to Yossie in Gatas, and she deserves to be a headliner.  Any chance we can bring back Country Musume ni Ishikawa Rika?  Or is Asami too busy with the "dog-thing"?  This is a pretty tight performance.

Please! Jiyuu no Tobira: Cute outfits.  Kamei is beginning to stand out to me.  Her tan complexion and long hair has her looking "beachy", and a bit more mature (or I could just  be thinking of the scandal)  This is a great look for her.  Catchy tune, and I like the "Pete Townshend-esque" song intro...

Kanashimi Twilight:  Fine, but not one of my favs.  Everyone seems to be talking about the next MC segment, Sayu terrorizing Tanaka and Eririn, with JunJun and LinLin looking on in horror.  Cute segment, alot better than the weird puppet show that came later.

Chance:  Now I know how Koharu changed the costume!  She did the same song with the same outfit at Yokohama, but I never had a good angle of it.  Once again, great material.  I wish she could do it live.

Suki na Senpai:  Cool, a song from my favorite Momusu period.  I love the 4th album.  I'll admit, JunJun needs some work, especially with confidence and projection.  LinLin is clean, but a little high-pitched.  I'm just glad they got to lead on a song.  The polish will come with experience.

Shanimuni Paradise:  Ahhhh, my favorite part of the show.  I thought the four of them were all great here.  Ai-chan's little facial expressions, Gaki-san being Gaki-san, Eri looking beautiful, and Tanaka's winking etc...all great.  I think Tanaka is the greatest in this group right now.  I love every wink, blink, peace sign, pouty look.  So cute!...

Ikamasshoi!:  Cool, another song from the 4th album.  Good performance, Eri looking and sounding great again.  More cute Reina facial-ticks, and Sayumi starting to show en edge...I like it.

v-u-den: It is a Morning Musume concert, so I'll keep it brief here.  I like v-u-den alot, and am sorry they have become a "lame duck".  I love the red mini-skirts with the tight black top and black boots.  Very sexy!  They are very strong singers, and good performers overall.  I liked Bi ~Hit Parade~ the best because they seem to do the other 3 songs ALOT!  I'll always have fond memories of seeing them perform Koisuru Angel Heart in person, a very pretty song.

Otoko Tomodachi:  Yay, Mittsi gets to headline...good for her!  I think it was very brave of her to solo on a song that is so identified with Nacchi.

Puppet Show/Gyutto Dakishimete:  Uhhh...Well....Ummm...I guess if I understood more Japanese the puppet show would've been "hysterical".  At least the girls got a chance to rest.  Oh, Ai-chan...I love you so.  But if these are the kinds of songs we can expect if you go solo, Nostradamus predicts around 4,000 copies per single.  However, I'll still buy the photobooks.

HOW DO YOU LIKE JAPAN?:  I've never been a fan of this song.  It's not very melodic, and it reminds me of why I hated Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" when it came out.  But I'll save my Nirvana/Kurt Cobain rant for another time.  I don't buy Morning Musume as "tough and edgy"

Shabondama:  A Tanaka headliner...I'm happy.  Gaki-san does a great job with her expanded role.  Perfect song for her.  Wow, an angry Kamei taking over Charmy's solo...I'd hate to be that ex-boyfriend about now!  Alot to like about this performance!

NATURE IS GOOD!:  Another song with a live version far superior to the recorded version.  I like the melody, and the girls sound good doing it.  One of the highlight performances of the show, despite the dumb title...

Ambitious! Yashinteki de Ii Jan:  Good, but the 2006 Wonderful Hearts performance on Dohhhup is a lot better.

Go Girl ~Koi no Victory~:  I always enjoy this song, makes me think of the PV's, which I love!

Love & Peace!  HERO ga Yattekita:  This was one of my favorite moments of Haru Pro Award '08.  This song is alot of fun to see, and that one part in the chorus where everyone jumps in unison was exhilarating.  This version seems on par with January's performance.  Cool finish to the main set.

ENCORE:  First off, what's up with all of the fur?  Now I understand why an American performance wouldn't work.  With those outfits, some nut would douse them in fake blood for sure!  I like HELLO TO YOU!, but it seems a little late in the concert for that.  I always think of it as an Eggs song, as they were the first I ever heard perform it.  Onna ni Sachi Are...fine, but not one of my favs.  Bonkyu Bomb: First Tsunku borrows a Berryz song from Eurovision, now he is taking set list advice from James Joyce?  Ya know, I am fine with them finishing with the same song they started with, but they could've changed up the singing order and choreography.

I did like this concert...a lot.  We'll see how it's "shelf life" holds up.  I did notice that it is very much the Ai/Risa/Reina/Eri show.  To be honest, that's fine with me.  For now, they are the group's four strongest performers.

CK in California