My short review:
(Not posting that many pictures because they're all aine's and I expect him to post them later)
Before the concert:
I didn't get to meet them because I came late and all the autograph tickets were gone. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ryalot.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':danceman:' />
They performed Friday and Saturday. I arrived just a few hours before the Saturday concert. When me and aine were walking to the concert hall, the girls were walking around in one of the expo halls advertising their concert. I quickly ran up to them and called a few of the girl's names. And they responded to me! OMG I didn't expect to see them up so close. I was only expecting a concert at best... I was so happy. I called one girl's name, "SASSHI!" And she responded and waved at me, "OH SUGOI!" (Sounds so horrible and cliche, but she was looking straight in my eyes! She knew I existed! I totally melted <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ryalot.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':popper:' />)
Here's a picture of the event <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... tongue.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':hmph:' /> :
SASSHI waving at me! <3
Me and my big fat head with a few of the girls.
After walking with them awhile and fangirling out like no tomorrow, I decided it would be best to meet up with DS and his Klubhouse buddies at the front of the line for the concert. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... iggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D/' /> After waiting one and half hours or so, they let us in! And the security guards told us to not run. Did any of us listen? Heck no. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /noway.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wub:' /> A security guard touched my boob trying to stop me from running. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ek3run.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':weeeh:' /> We still got in the 3rd row or so from the front due to fan club and press people be there already.
Concert:
And then the concert started. It was so surreal seeing it all in real... They sang 3 songs, I believe in English. 1 song with chorus in French and another song with talking parts in French. Their English wasn't GREAT, but I consider it good for Japanese people. The pronunciation was good. It's still much better than RA-BU instead of LOVE. I was rather impressed because it felt like they actually tried to cater towards us! Not just wota! And the MC's were in French. They had written what they were saying on their palms, it was really so cute! Also, I totally became a wota during the concert. I was singing loudly to every song and calling every girl's name. They were really happy if you knew anything about them at all... so I felt really happy to give them my appreciation! And the fact that most of the girls that came were underdogs... I just can't imagine how they felt!
Some random pictures of the concert:
Me & Aine at the concert!
After they finished singing Aitakatta, I believe.
Kasai Tomomi~
Sakura no Hanabiratachi (video)
I swear one of the girls was smiling at me when I messed up the hand motions of the song! XD MOENO~ (the one in my avatar <3)
Signing
I didn't get a ticket... but at least I was outside the booths. I was with DS who had lots of guts interacting with the girls. He kept calling the girl's names and telling them random things, like "I like you in your song called blah blah!" And we got tons of pictures of them. They posed for us. The girls were smiling at me straight into my eyes! I can't put into words just how good these moments felt. There was one girl, Kana, who wasn't having a good time though, lol. DS tried talking to her, but she didn't seem amused at all. Otherwise, most of the others were, like !!!! REALLY??? You heard my song before? OMG! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... >/ohmy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' /> It just felt so touching for them to see they have foreign fans. And I'm pretty sure some of the girls remember me now! It's so amazing. I just feel I have to go to New York again to remind them again how they have foreign fans. And besides, they might remember me! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... iggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' /> I'm glad the undergirls came instead actually, I don't feel like the front girls would have appreciated our love for them as much since they get so much already <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />
I wish I had more guts because I knew enough about the girls as well to shout at them and tell them how much I liked their songs... my Japanese sucks, but I wish I could do that at least. I know song names! If there is a New York, I don't think I will hold back. Because I have my regrets now.
Here's some nice pictures of the girls!
Anyways, I got some favorites now since this happened. My favorite used to be Rinatin, but she graduated into obscurity despite being a front girl for some time ;_;
Sasshi was great... when DS mentioned that he liked her song to her. She was so happy and she started doing the dance too! It was so cute.
Moeno was great too... she seemed so shy during the signing, but I swear she kept staring and smiling at me. It was so adorable. This girl is kind of ugly, I'll admit it, but I really like the vibe she gave me.
-----
Random thoughts I meant to post in the AKB thread, but I feel like I wrote this whole review with this in mind, so I'm sticking it here.
I know a lot of people don't really care about AKB here, but they were really, really good. Which makes me kind of sad.
I know it's a whole lot of girls to get to know, but once you find one girl to like, you really just want to support them. After watching some of their shows, hearing them talk, I really feel each girl has to try their best to get support from fans considering how many girls they have competition with. Either way, I have a new appreciation for a lot of the girls after going to Paris. It's really darn silly, but I often feel like tearing up when they perform their debut single, Sakura no Hanabiratachi. It's an uplifting song and motivating... and somehow reminds me of how each of the girls try. Some of them don't try as hard... of course. The front girls, sometimes I wonder about. But that's another story.
And I daresay a lot of girl's lives are basically AKB. They perform everyday, I'm not sure how each individual girl performs each week, but I think 3-4? And they have new stages occassionally, which is like 2 albums a year or so? On top of that, they have tv shows (if the girl is popular enough) and concerts as well. I think they all really do try their best. It's touching to me somehow.
AKB48 has gone the HAPPY HAPPY single route and I hate it. I liked them for being able to do cool songs good. Either way, to really get into AKB, stage songs are where it's at.
My AKB Review in Paris!
Moderator: tsukinobyouin
- strawberryjam
- ANGERME
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- Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:47 pm
My AKB Review in Paris!
Last edited by strawberryjam on Thu Jul 16, 2009 1:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
rabbit reverie
here is a website in which I pretend I am an important person with important things to say.
here is a website in which I pretend I am an important person with important things to say.
Re: My AKB Review in Paris!
Very nice review, I always love to read such trip stories.
Travel back in time through the haze of memories that aren't your own
and melodies frozen in a particular place in history..
If you say run, I'll run with you
If you say hide, we'll hide
and melodies frozen in a particular place in history..
If you say run, I'll run with you
If you say hide, we'll hide
Re: My AKB Review in Paris!
Wow, nice! Glad to hear you had fun at that, and that they allowed such interaction. I love reading reports like these, too.
Re: My AKB Review in Paris!
I had no idea there was a fanbase for Jpop in France too. I guess I keep thinking only America has a big Asian immigrant population and stuff. Me and my America-centrism <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nfused.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':danceman:' />
I can't even imagine what a field day DS must've had there (it is too scary <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':popper:' />). Those pictures are so close up! The girls are cute!
I can't even imagine what a field day DS must've had there (it is too scary <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':popper:' />). Those pictures are so close up! The girls are cute!
Re: My AKB Review in Paris!
Great review SJ! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /weeeh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':popper:' />
I hope when you return to the Bay, you will share your experience again. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... umbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':danceman:' />
Oh, yeah... CHUYUU!!!
I hope when you return to the Bay, you will share your experience again. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... umbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':danceman:' />
Oh, yeah... CHUYUU!!!
Last edited by wramos14 on Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: My AKB Review in Paris!
That was an awesome read, it's nice the idol groups are starting to travel.
Re: My AKB Review in Paris!
I went looking for a Maki Goto/Sweet Black thread and I found this! Sorry, strawberryjam, but I'm terribly remiss in not having noticed this thread earlier and read your entertaining report, esp. before seeing the New York AKB48 event. At least I've finally read and enjoyed it. Thank you.
In the latest AKB48 news, I picked up their latest single, which includes a DVD with two nice videos on it. The first one is "Iiwake Maybe" and has a school/bicycling theme. Great fun and I was able to recognize several of the girls from the group who came to NYC (Sayaka, Takamina, Sae, Yuko, Haruna, etc.). The second song is "Tobenai Agehacho," a good dance number, the video of which features members I've never seen before (and who seem somewhat older) in sexy black outfits and Namie Amuro-inspired boots. Who are these members and what team are they on?
In the latest AKB48 news, I picked up their latest single, which includes a DVD with two nice videos on it. The first one is "Iiwake Maybe" and has a school/bicycling theme. Great fun and I was able to recognize several of the girls from the group who came to NYC (Sayaka, Takamina, Sae, Yuko, Haruna, etc.). The second song is "Tobenai Agehacho," a good dance number, the video of which features members I've never seen before (and who seem somewhat older) in sexy black outfits and Namie Amuro-inspired boots. Who are these members and what team are they on?
Last edited by Madara on Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- strawberryjam
- ANGERME
- Posts: 2504
- Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:47 pm
Re: My AKB Review in Paris!
No worries Madara! Glad you read and enjoyed it!
The girls in the 2nd PV, Tobenai Agehachou
22. Yonezawa Rumi (米沢瑠美) - Team B
23. Takajo Aki (高城亜樹) - Team A
24. Ohori Megumi (大堀恵) - Team K, just permanently joined SDN48
25. Masuda Yuka (増田有華) - Team K
26. Hirajima Natsumi (平嶋夏海) - Team B
27. Sashihara Rino (指原莉乃) - Team B
28. Katayama Haruka (片山陽加) - Team B
29. Matsui Rena (松井玲奈) from SKE48, Team S
30. Matsubara Natsumi (松原夏海) - Team K
(from J-ongaku)
Unfortunately, sometime this month, they're regrouping the teams so a lot of the girls will switch teams soon. A lot of team B girls went to Team K. And this is also why Ohori Megumi moved to SDN48.
For the single before Iiwake Maybe (Namida Surprise), it came with a slip which enabled you to vote for the girls in this single. Numbers 1-21 made it to the A side. And 22-30 made it to the c/w.
AKB's new single RIVER also has front girl and undergirl PV, as well as a theatre girls PV. Fans didn't vote this time though.
The girls in the 2nd PV, Tobenai Agehachou
22. Yonezawa Rumi (米沢瑠美) - Team B
23. Takajo Aki (高城亜樹) - Team A
24. Ohori Megumi (大堀恵) - Team K, just permanently joined SDN48
25. Masuda Yuka (増田有華) - Team K
26. Hirajima Natsumi (平嶋夏海) - Team B
27. Sashihara Rino (指原莉乃) - Team B
28. Katayama Haruka (片山陽加) - Team B
29. Matsui Rena (松井玲奈) from SKE48, Team S
30. Matsubara Natsumi (松原夏海) - Team K
(from J-ongaku)
Unfortunately, sometime this month, they're regrouping the teams so a lot of the girls will switch teams soon. A lot of team B girls went to Team K. And this is also why Ohori Megumi moved to SDN48.
For the single before Iiwake Maybe (Namida Surprise), it came with a slip which enabled you to vote for the girls in this single. Numbers 1-21 made it to the A side. And 22-30 made it to the c/w.
AKB's new single RIVER also has front girl and undergirl PV, as well as a theatre girls PV. Fans didn't vote this time though.
Last edited by strawberryjam on Sun Oct 18, 2009 8:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
rabbit reverie
here is a website in which I pretend I am an important person with important things to say.
here is a website in which I pretend I am an important person with important things to say.
Re: My AKB Review in Paris!
Hey, Madara, we should probably move this discussion to the general AKB thread, but I'll answer you here.
The single before Iiwake Maybe came with a way to vote for what member you wanted in the next single, these votes combined with fan club votes (etc) chose the members who would be in the single. The girls all recorded sad (but amusing!) pleas to vote for them and they also put up "election posters". You can watch the documentary of the results here: http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category...89967542tC26z2K
The top 21 girls did the single, 22-30 were called "Under Girls" and did the b-side.
Under Girls
30 - Matsubara Natsumi
29 - Matsui Rena
28 - Katayama Haruka
27 - Sashihara Rino
26 - Hirajima Natsumi
25 - Masuda Yuka
24 - Ohori Megumi
23 - Takajo Aki
22 - Yonezawa Rumi
Iiwake Maybe Chosen Members
21 - Kuramochi Asuka
20 - Oota Aika
19 - Matsui Jurina
18 - Miyazaki Miho
17 - Urano Kazumi
16 - Minegishi Minami
15 - Sato Yukari
14 - Miyazawa Sae
13 - Kitahara Rie
12 - Akimoto Sayaka
11 - Ono Erena
10 - Kasai Tomomi
9 - Kashiwagi Yuki
8 - Sato Amina
7 - Itano Tomomi
6 - Kojima Haruna
5 - Takahashi Minami
4 - Watanabe Mayu
3 - Shinoda Mariko
2 - Oshima Yuko
1 - Maeda Atsuko
EDIT: OH FINE, BERRY, YOU BEAT ME. BUT AT LEAST I HAD A VIDEO LINK.
The single before Iiwake Maybe came with a way to vote for what member you wanted in the next single, these votes combined with fan club votes (etc) chose the members who would be in the single. The girls all recorded sad (but amusing!) pleas to vote for them and they also put up "election posters". You can watch the documentary of the results here: http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category...89967542tC26z2K
The top 21 girls did the single, 22-30 were called "Under Girls" and did the b-side.
Under Girls
30 - Matsubara Natsumi
29 - Matsui Rena
28 - Katayama Haruka
27 - Sashihara Rino
26 - Hirajima Natsumi
25 - Masuda Yuka
24 - Ohori Megumi
23 - Takajo Aki
22 - Yonezawa Rumi
Iiwake Maybe Chosen Members
21 - Kuramochi Asuka
20 - Oota Aika
19 - Matsui Jurina
18 - Miyazaki Miho
17 - Urano Kazumi
16 - Minegishi Minami
15 - Sato Yukari
14 - Miyazawa Sae
13 - Kitahara Rie
12 - Akimoto Sayaka
11 - Ono Erena
10 - Kasai Tomomi
9 - Kashiwagi Yuki
8 - Sato Amina
7 - Itano Tomomi
6 - Kojima Haruna
5 - Takahashi Minami
4 - Watanabe Mayu
3 - Shinoda Mariko
2 - Oshima Yuko
1 - Maeda Atsuko
EDIT: OH FINE, BERRY, YOU BEAT ME. BUT AT LEAST I HAD A VIDEO LINK.
Last edited by EmEl on Sun Oct 18, 2009 8:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
What's the first thing you do when you return home after a concert?
LinLin: "I stop thinking and stare into nothingness."