AKB48's triple-costume switch of 2007

Hello Project’s performing units are famous for the concert quick-change. Morning Musume, Berryz Kobo and °C-ute often start off their shows with a double-decker costume – shedding an overlay going into the second set. Essentially, they are costumed in a derivation of the old vaudeville-style layer system, and it keeps performers cool as the set goes on while giving the audience a different look with minimal effort.

 

The alternative all-girl group AKB48, in its second major concert tour during summer 2007, took that a step further by having a three-layer costume at the start of that memorable show. The screencaps that illustrate this essay reflect a three-song set that was uninterrupted by emcee breaks, solos or shuffle songs. It was one single take, and ABK48 members just made the costume changes very quickly in front of everyone.

 

It was amazing, and makes Kusumi’s drop-dress gimmick while doing “Chance” as part of the Wonderful Hearts concert tour in January a mere parlor trick in comparison.

 

AKB48's first switch was the most brutal, with the performers having to peel off their gingham overdresses and toss them into a central collector (if you look closely, you might catch the arm of a stage hand gathering in all the breakaway garments). That occurred between the songs “Virgin Love” and “Bingo.”

 

But what appeared under the gingham was a surprise – real-looking undergarments, colorful, making "Bingo" quite a different song than the first.

 

However, AKB48 wasn’t done there. In yet another costume switch – this one done by the singers themselves without any help from staff – they pulled off the second outfits and, lo and behold, there were white sun dresses under that! This occurred between “Bingo” and “Tanjoubi no Yoru.”

 

Now that is some serious costume changing, and it was all executed with zero problems, leaving the wotas in the theater shaking their heads along with their glowsticks – wondering what the heck happened each time.

 

The preparation for this must have been more like packing parachutes for the 101^st Airbone. Think about it: The white frill dress first. Then, cram an undergarment around that. Finally, a gingham dress, with flaps. Sheesh. Might as well have given them parkas for good measure. Amazingly, nobody really looked all that plump at the start; maybe because the outfits were strapped on corsit-style.

 

The bottom line was that it was an excellent touch to what was a stunning concert. Kudos to AKB48, and may their influence extend far beyond the hallowed eighth floor of the Don Quixote Hotel in the famed Akihabara district of Tokyo.

 

This is Radicalipton signing off – for now.