For anyone who doubts for a minute they just saw and heard the two best musical performing groups in the world after watching the “Battle Concert:” Show me someone better. Show me. You can’t.
It was a masterpiece. For the fan, the astonishing event of April 20 between Berryz Kobo and °C-ute was like being the kid who is invited into a toy store and can pick out any dozen items he or she wants and start playing immediately.
It’s either Tsunku himself or his associates; they really have the Hello! Project fan dialed in, and this concert is the epitome of that relationship. Well done. Bravo. What else is there to say? There is nothing left to say – except, of course, for the scorecard:
Darling I LOVE YOU, ダーリン I LOVE YOU: °C-ute is just a shinier penny and this is their song, the flip side to “Color of Tears,” so the first point goes to °C-ute. *** °C-ute 1, Berryz 0.
Special Generation, スッペシャル ジェネレ～ション: Another shared number, but give Berryz Kobo kudos for one of the greatest Hello! Project songs of them all. *** °C-ute 1, Berryz 1.
Ooki na Ai de Motenashite, 大きな愛でもてなして: Hmm. Strangely, though this is °C-ute’s song, Berryz Kobo did a more thorough job in this joint effort. Nod to Berryz. *** Berryz 2, °C-ute 1.
Color of Tears, 涙の色 (°C-ute) vs. Munasawagi Scarlet, 胸騒ぎスカーレット (Berryz): In the first of the clearly head-to-head matchups, Berryz takes this one based on the exceptional quality of the single, and “Tears” represents a gear-down for the hyperkinetic °C-ute. *** Berryz 3, °C-ute 1.
LA LA LA Shiawase no Uta, ＬＡＬＡＬＡ 幸せの歌 (°C-ute) vs. Dschinghis Khan, ジンギスカン (Berryz): At first glance, it should be a slam-dunk for Berryz, but “Khan” just didn’t transfer to the big arena as well as “La La La,” which has mushroomed into a brutal arm-waving audience-participation favorite. *** Berryz 3, °C-ute 2
City Girl’s Pure Heart (Tokaikko Junjou), 都会っ子 純情 (°C-ute) vs. Even Though We’re Dating, It’s Unrequited Love (Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi) 付き合っているのに片思い (Berryz): There’s no denying °C-ute in one of the most dramatic and daring singles ever attempted by a Hello! Project unit. *** Berryz 3, °C-ute 3.
VERY BEAUTY (Berryz): In the first of the very cool and well-thought-out shuffle combos, Risako of Berryz Kobo solos on the first stanza of this fabulous ballad. But you have to feel sorry for Risako as Suzuki carries the second half of this song and she is one of the best voices in all of Hello! Project. Brutal, but °C-ute gets the point and surges into the lead at this point. *** °C-ute 4, Berryz 3.
Our Radiance (Bokura no Kagayaki), 僕らの輝き,(°C-ute): Another mismatch in this combo. Chisato and Kanna of °C-ute own this song, and the Berryz combo participants were mere spectators. . *** °C-ute 5, Berryz 3.
Goodbye, Tempestuous Love (Sayonara Hageshiki Koi), サヨナラ 激しき恋 (Berryz): Saki of Berryz steps up and delivers to push Berryz into victory lane this time around, but the °C-ute shufflers, including the other Saki and even Hagiwara, handle a very touch and complex song very well. *** °C-ute 5, Berryz 4.
That's the POWER (C-ute): This has always been an interesting song, and it remains C-ute’s despite a valiant perf by the Berryz shufflers. *** °C-ute 6, Berryz 4.
Dodongadon Ondo, ドドンガドン音頭 (°C-ute): Berryz has no answer to °C-ute’s comedic abilities, and Umeda’s fun-packed solo here with the amazing color (it is a combo song but the Berryz participants merely backdance) was preceded by one of her bits. Like Hagiwara’s “D.J. Mai Mai,” it’s a °C-ute exclusive. *** °C-ute 7, Berryz 4.
My Real Self (Honto no Jibun) ホントのじぶん and Love Rider (Renai Rider) 恋愛♥ライダー (Buono!): Berryz Kobo is going to get two points out of this because, simply, Buono! Is more Berryz than °C-ute. All three voices are killer, and the double score is deserved despite this being a medley. *** °C-ute 7, Berryz 6.
Summer Heart Beating Lipstick (Natsu DOKI Lipstick), 夏 DOKI リップスティック (°C-ute): Turnabout is fair play, This is Maimi’s solo and°C-ute’s territory, and Saki of Berryz is simply outgunned as Saki of °C-ute joins this shuffle trio. Dynamite version, by the way. *** °C-ute 8, Berryz 6.
Brand New Blue Jeans (Massara Blue Jeans!) まっさらブルージーンズ！(°C-ute): If any one song epitomizes why °C-ute is just a cut better than Berryz, it’s this one, and both full units put on a glittering, sensational combo display. And, as in many past examples, °C-ute gets the flashy silver unis while Berryz is stuck with the inferior color, a dull, dark maroon. *** °C-ute 9, Berryz 6.
I’m Running Out of Patience (Jiriri Kiteru) ジリリ キテル (Berryz): Just the opposite of “Jeans.” Berryz owns this song as they showed by leading off the historic April 1, 2007, solo concert at Saitama Super Arena with this tale of teen angst (a Berryz speciality). *** °C-ute 9, Berryz 7.
JUMP (°C-ute): Major upset here. Yes, this is °C-ute’s song, and the Chisato Whoop and Saki of C-ute’s “Oh, yeah!” rule the day. But … Berryz Kobo out-danced °C-ute – including Miyabi’s sky-high vertiucal leap to kick off this classic. Nod to Berryz (sorry °C-ute). *** °C-ute 9, Berryz 8.
Friendship, Pure Heart, Oh Youth (Yuujou Junjou oh Seishun) 友情 純情 oh 青春 (Berryz): No such reversal here, Berryz owns this song and wiped up the floor with it last year at Saitama in the explosive conclusion to that rumble. *** °C-ute 9, Berryz 9.
We Are Berryz Kamen (Cutie Rangers); Warera! Berryz Kamen (Cutie Rangers) 我ら！Berryz (°C-ute) 仮面: °C-ute gets the edge here on two counts (although they will get just the single point). First, the Berryz Kamen stumble in at the beginning of the sketch and get mowed down by the evil alien. The Cutie Rangers have to come in and clean up the mess. Nod to the Rangers. °C-ute is also better on the song, and they are just … well, cuter than Berryz. *** °C-ute 10, Berryz 9.
Cherry Blossoms Scattering (Sakura Chirari) 桜チラリ(C-ute): Unfortunately the “Battle Concert” ends on a wimpy note as °C-ute’s first-ever (and, as it has turned out, weakest) single is comboed to end this spectacular event. It’s °C-ute’s song, °C-ute’s point – and °C-ute’s match. Final score: *** °C-ute 11, Berryz 9.
This is Rad signing off – for now.
There’s no real way to describe this concert. It’s the best thing since last April 2007 when Berryz Kobo invaded Saitama Super Arena, but this April 20 concert with °C-ute added was too much. Too much. What a great idea and what a great use of the hit songs of both groups.
°C-ute won, by the way, on the strength of its singles. But Berryz was right there all the way, limited only by one ballad too many. Even Risako’s solo on “Very Beauty” wasn’t enough to counter Umeda’s incredible comedy routine and her traditional enka-like solo (with staggering visuals by everyone including the Eggs).
Throw in a great early battle of singles (°C-ute carried the edge) in the first half, some combo numbers and a few shuffles and, bingo, it was a fantastic time had by all. But both °C-ute and Berryz had a devil of a time deadling with the animated enemy force, going down in a heap before eventually prevailing in their super-hero personae.
And to think Berryz and °C-ute did this thing three – count ‘em, three – times in a single day! This DVD shoot probably occurred during the third and final show; note that Risako almost stumbled and fell right before her solo, and Saki of Berryz has a scary-looking leg wrap on her left knee (which has bothered her before) with the wrap continuing all the way up her hamstring. Take care, Little Captain. We can’t lose you.