Why °C-ute is the world’s best

Surviving three live performances of  “Tokkaiko Junjou” in two days, even an abbreviated version of it, was going to be tough enough. That’s why it’s taken more than two months to sort it all out. TJ is not just a song, it is an unholy monster of a song, part and parcel of °C-ute's scorched-earth rise to prominence that has been toned down of late with two comparably tame singles, and a lukewarm album.

 

Remember that TJ was the song that catapulted °C-ute into the national spotlight in Japan, giving them the 49th Japan Music Award for Best New Artist in December 2007. We thought “Jump!” was the best song ever until TJ. Wow. This simply is proof positive that °C-ute is, at this moment, the best performing group in the world, bar none, regardless of age, style, genre, whatever. °C-ute is it. Period. End of story. Nobody can touch them right now.

 

The new album is a good one, but that and the two singles are clearly all designed to put control rods into the nuclear reaction triggered by “Tokkaiko Junjou’s” release last year. Well-received performances of the song were flawlessly executed by °C-ute in its own concert tours and the amazing Hello! Project Winter 2008 Awards Show at Yokohama Arena, Jan. 26-27.

 

Yes, this blog has already published results of the Sept. 30, 2007 storm TJ caused at the Yokohama Blitz, a theater way too small to handle the explosiveness of such a song. Roughly translated, “City Girl’s Pure Heart,” the song is apparently trying to describe the pain of a growing infatuation (a topic not uncommon with many Hello Project songs),

 

A reliable translation was hard to come by, but the Channel-Ai web site did take a stab at it and solicited some outside help. The English rendition that follows is design to better accompany the screencaps. Any further commentary that BIJP could offer would be meaningless.

 

First comes Maimi’s opening speech:

Speaking my true feelings ...
I'm a girl so I probably can't do it
But ... I'm not a child.
Your every move, everything about you is lovely.

 

The first day wasn’t that bad as we were at a safe distance, at a right-side angle to the stage and 20 rows back in the middle level. From there, it was OK until Maimi got done with her speech and they pretzel-twisted into their opening moves – then marched onto the middle runway, right at the opposite-side launch pad, headed right at us. It was almost too much to take.

 

Continuing ..

 

In my words I secretly hid a meaning.
I want you to notice what's in my heart.

 

Even when I'm walking I'm sending out hints.

I'm not an immodest child

 

(Don't Stop) I'm not a child.

(Don't Stop) But, but, but ...

(I have a pure heart) This determination won't stop.

 

(Don't Stop)
Even if this world turns on me,
I won't make myself an annoyance.

 

Second day, matinee, was more tolerable because the seat was along the far left and the angle was to see °C-ute marching up and down the middle walkway, back and forth, easily trackable with small binoculars. Again, far enough away to enjoy the show without having a heart attack.

 

Continuing …

 

I'm dreaming, I'm taking deep breaths.
I'm eating a meal, you're there.
If I put on a show, if I resist (?)
Everything about that is lovely.

 

Curving my glance eases the tension.
I tremble in crucial moments.

 

(Don't Stop) Autumn has long nights,
(Don't Stop) But, but, but …
(I have a pure heart) I'm hoping that you'll see into my heart.

 

(Don't Stop)
It doesn't seem like I can be patient,
But I'll put up with it
and I won't say selfish things.

 

I'm trying my best to get it through to you.
I'm yawning and stretching and you're there.
I seem to give in, but even when we flirt,
It's all lovely.

 

So, it basically a song about a first crush, or so it appears, and if the translation is half-correct, not as intense as what °C-ute appears to display.

 

Third show, night of Jan. 27, and when you’re on the floor, forget it. Basically, it’s painful to the eyes to watch precisely what is happening, and the DVD screencaps here are of just that show. Even the most hardened of the wotas could barely cheer or wave their omnipresent glowsticks; most just gaped as Miami, Chisato, Saki, Hagiawara, Kanna, Umeda and Suzuki swaggered past. We got stuck, pleasantly I might add, with Chisato staring us down while the group was on the middle walkway.

 

There is nothing more to be said. There is nothing more that can be said.

 

This is Rad signing off – for now.