RKJ Report – What an Amazing Show
Last night, March 4th 2013. I was lucky enough to witness an amazing show performed by JKT48 Team J. What makes this show goes far to my A list is not just because of their performances. This is my personal notes about the miracle that happened that night.
Pre-Show
I have this really bad hair day that night. The day before I’ve just lost something very important in my life and I woke up with this teary feelings. In the end I decided to just attend the show, trying to forget my sorrow and just enjoy it the best I can.
I got in to the theater and sat on the fifth row at the blue area.
The Show
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Ghaida open the show as the Shadow Announcer.
This past few weeks, I paid my attention just to my oshimen when I watch their performance. I kinda not in the mood today and I just want to watch the show in overall. And that is my biggest mistake ever. I suddenly felt this guilty feeling inside of me since I never paid enough attention to the other members all this time.
Opening Songs
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Since the very first time I saw RKJ JKT48 Team J version, I already feel very amazed by their performance for this 4 opening songs which according to my own honest opinion is much better than the Team A version which I already experienced before live in AKB48 Theater, November 2008.
Nagai Hikari
As usual, Stella open the solo part with grace. And then all the rest of the girls enter the stage with their sparkling costume.
And Sendy..she really is able to took my eyes away from the other girls. With her bangs and new hairstyle she looks so adorable not to mention her easy to the eyes dance.
Squall no Aida ni
This song is as if it was designed for the girls to show their own charm to the audiences with how they change their position so that the audiences could see all of them.
The trainees closed the song with their dancing session.
JK Nemurihime
This song costume is one of my favorite costume among all 48 family costume. A nice song with a nice beat. In this song, Beby owns the stage…ahh..it’s been pretty long since the last time I paid my attention to her.
Beby is indeed the best overall dancer in team J, supported with her physical appearance and her friendly smile and her confidence; it was a blessing to see Beby’s dancing live.
Kimi ni Au Tabi Koi wo Suru
My favorite song in this set-list. Touching lyric, good music and interesting dance. The particular song that always reminds me the reality that I will always falling in love with team J every time I saw their performance.
MC1 – Jikoshoukai
Theme: What will you do to tackle sleepiness in class
Judging by the content itself, there’s nothing extraordinary here. The most interesting part is when there are only 4 members on stage : Shania, Sendy, Cindy and one other which unfortunately I kinda forgot who.
As usual, the girls have their “Yaay” ritual but this time, they like screaming the “Yay” out of their lungs. All the audiences laughed at that and without us realizing it, there’s a domino effect due to that little fad : The energy, spirits and atmosphere in the theater is rising up. In each “Evening!”,”Ganbatte!”,”Gimme your Voice!” in this MC session is answered by extra loud, extra spirit by the audiences and this is the starting point of the high energy we all felt until the end of the show.
Unit Songs
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Kuroi Tenshi
Member: Melody, Kinal, Jeje
All this time, this is the weakest link in RKJ Team J version. Well, except for Jeje that always performing this song flawlessly with her “I don’t give a damn”-style and high confidence.
But that night..it was all about to change.
Melo took her formal lady style to the next level, her cold and cynical aura really makes the audience having a sudden goosebumps.
And Kinal..oh Man, her expressive dance and the lady in control-like aura as if saying “This is me, and you are mine!”
More than once Jeje’s aura is nearly crushed by Kinal’s, but Jeje doesn’t take that too long since she strike back at once with her “I don’t care about this world, I care only about me”-style.
If I might say, Melo is the weakest one compared to the other two. But no matter what, Melo is REALLY GOOD and able to make the audiences felt the goosebumps needed from her cold and cynical aura. It is just that Jeje’s and Kinal’s really owned the stage that night.
All in all, Kinal felt really dominant and as if setting the landmark of Kuroi Tenshi image that night. Kudos to Kinal that able to change the weakest unit song in RKJ (Team J version) into something new we have never see!
Heart Gata Virus
Member: Rena, Haruka, Nabilah
Nabilah is simply adorable! All this time Nabilah always tried her best to have this lady-like image that even surpassed some mature women. But I think that image is not really a fit to her explosive personality and the fact that she still 13 years old.
In this unit song, Nabilah’s image is having a complete make-over. Childish with a mixed of a little bit portion of silly, innocent and shy. She is totally extremely adorable!
And can I say that I decided for a temporary oshihen to Nabilah during this song? I LIIIIIKE her in this image! Innocent, energetic, silly, shy and cute!
Renai Kinshi Jourei
Member: Stella, Beby, Ayana
This unit song is the one I always wait for the dance routine. Stella with her fiery dance, Baby with her accurate and energetic dance and also Ayana with her own sleepy personality that able to bring a unique color to this song.
But that night..I really can’t focused myself to the dance. As soon as the song started, I could hear Stella’s voice singing this song LIVE!! And that blows my mind in an instance. Stella’s trained vocal chord really makes me unable to focus to other things, all my attention is being sucked by Stella’s voice. AMAZING!!
In the middle of the performance, it looks like Ayana is having some trouble with her microphone that resulted in her performing with one hand busy holding her microphone. And she did all that with grace!! Kudos to Ayana!!
Tsundere
Member: Nabilah, Cindy, Sendy
My favorite unit in this set-list. As soon as the song started I becoming “hi-tension” as usual. But in just a few seconds, I was surprised and just screamed happily when I heard Sendy singing her lines LIVE!! Sendy did all the singing with her special “Cengkok” (Dangdut vocal technique) that makes it even more special!
At the beginning of RKJ set-list by Team J, they did the song good but we can’t feel the chemistry between the unit members. Looks like 3 girls performing on their own on the same stage. But that night, they did it perfectly, we can feel the high energy and chemistry between the girls.
Sendy’s killer move, the chemistry of the unit and that live singing bonus really makes this song performance that night SUPER AMAZING!!!
Manatsu Christmas Rose
Member: Ghaida, Shania, Rica, Dhike
Rica that night had her hair styled with twin tails which makes her already small frame looks like an adorable child.
That night, this unit is the weakest. Not because they performing bad, perhaps it was a side effect after all the previous unit song that makes this unit song felt just a “mere” good. Shania as usual is a perfection with her great dance and her cheerful smile. Dhike could utilize the dance in this unit with her hip and twist as an improvisation. And Ghaida…she could dance well but it felt like she’s the weakest link that night with the formation. Her confidence and synchronization is lacking compared to the other three. With more flying hours, I’m pretty much sure Ghaida will soon reach, if not surpassed, her compatriot level.
MC2
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Theme: Stupid thing that you have ever done
Kinal: Well, there’s a foreigner* eating Nasi Goreng and asked for one portion of chili. But since I’m a very generous girl, I gave him three portion and ended with him complaining that it was too hot. I answered him with Sundanese which means “Just eat it will ya.”
[TN : Kinal was a Nasi Goreng vendor waitress? ]
Jeje : When I was in the 2nd grade, there’s this cooking class and we cooked Choco ball. I mixed that up with clay and I gave it to my friend which then he complained that it was tasted weird. I told my friend that it was due to vitamin, so just eat it. When I got home I was very worried that my prank could kill him and when I met him at school the next day, I thought I was seeing ghost.
While Jeje telling her story, Haruka keep on disturbing her by saying “Oh, Really?” over and over again. Jeje was annoyed and scolded Haruka, which then Haruka hiding behind Rena [TN : The usual naughty Haruka gag]. Jeje then continued with her story but this time…it was the audiences starting to annoyed her by saying the same thing Haruka did : “O RLY??”.
Jeje, knowing her personality, started to scolded the audiences with “Yeah, really. Now shut the hell up,” which ended up with the whole theater bursting in laughter. The interaction between the audiences and the members in JKT48 stage is totally amazing!
Group Songs
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Switch, 109, Hikoukigumo
They sang some of the solo line live, Stella and Nabilah line is the one we could hear the most.
Dhike really up the ante with her own improvised hip twist dance. Nabilah really surpassed my expectation with her expression and body language that fit in right to the songs. Rena who usually doesn’t go full power with her dance now is improved and started to try to performing more expressive and powerful.
Overall, the team J performance in this three songs is totally stunning. All the members exchanged glances and smiles as if they’re supporting each other, guiding each other and becoming the foundation for each other. The chemistry and energy between them is very very good. I feel both blessed and moved to see this kind of atmosphere in team J. The last time I felt the same is when I saw K4 in AKB48 Theater. As a Team K wota, I feel very happy and moved that I could also feel the same protecting and supporting each other aura in Team J. KUDOS TEAM J!!!
MC3
Theme 1: What will you do as a teacher if you saw your student sleeping in class.
The most interesting part in this is the mini drama between Teacher Stella and Student Ghaida.
Stella: Why are you sleeping?
Ghaida: Sleepy Ma’am.
Stella: So you didn’t paying any attention to my lecture?
Ghaida: Nnnnooope Ma’am
Stella: So you totally don’t understand the teachings?
Ghaida: Nnnnooope Ma’am
Stella: Oh well, once the school is over, I want you to come home with me to my house for a private session.
Ghaida: *in a very perverted way* YEEEEEESSSH!
And all the audiences and members laughed.
Theme 2: Your experience with test and teacher
Sendy once expelled from her class due to she was caught red-handed cheating in a test.
Ano Koro no Sneakers
A very relaxing song. In this song, Rica shows her aura as an Idol. For those watching this set-list and in range of Rica’s point of view, get ready to be oshihen.
In this relaxing song, Rica really utilized her friendly and mature aura. If you call her name or she knew you looking at her, she will respond to it with her smile while tilting her head a little bit and wink. A smile that is so meaningful you could almost hear her whispering “Hey You..”
Rica is not the spreader of cheerfulness Shania nor the sniper-ish eye-locker Cindy. Rica is just your neighborhood girl who gave her smile not only to us but sincerely FOR us. In this song, Rica could makes us feel that she’s performing specially for us, a very rare skill that not everyone have even in AKB48. The last time I feel an aura like this is when I saw Urano Kazumi (CinDy) in Pajama Drive set-list Team B version.
Rica has improved to be a very dangerous idol on stage, long gone that awkward girl image that just fulfilling her subs role on stage in Pajama Drive set-list. Rica now is a tough performer that could grab someone’s heart with just her glance and smile.
Encore Songs
JKT Sanjou
A pounding of energy, both on stage or from where the audiences sitting. Again I could see the same atmosphere that I felt when they performing the group songs earlier. A protecting and supporting each other aura from Team J.
Namida no Sinkokyuu
The rhyme and the notes that could play with the audiences emotion, performed with soul perfection. Dhike, Kinal, Shania sang this song with expressive and stunning movements, Sendy with her soulful notes swing that makes us hold our breath, Nabilah with her energy, Beby with her accuracy and Cindy with her deep facial expression really makes us feels involved and attached emotionally with this song.
Oogoe Diamond
The closing song, Ooge Diamond really blows the theater roof. All members performing with full of energy and spritis, and the audiences is screaming even without holding their voice.
Conclusion
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That night, only 15 members able to perform, but the level of their energy, chemistry, atmosphere, skill improvement, the members bravery to explore their new power and some live singing really left me in awe.
With this, I dare you all of 48 family fans who all this time thinks JKT48 is a nobody and underestimate them to come and see Team J performance. Not just once or twice, but for the third time, more and more.
You will not see the same idol as you already see with their older sisters in Japan, but you will see an Idol group with their own identity, their own confidence and their own unique prowess.
An Idol group with different colors but with powers that you could never underestimated.
Kudos to all Team J members.
* TN : She used the word “Bule” which usually means Caucasian Foreigner.
Loosely translated from ecwx48 journal in G+
Yes agree team J now already in another level… But please also support the kks, now so many empty seat on their show …. I think kks also need our support so they can be as good as team J
it’s not that the fans don’t support them..
it is just..it seems that most JKT fans still don’t see their struggle or effort to a significant level..
just take a look on the struggle of the 1st gen; performing from one parking lot to another, experienced internal hardship, criticized not just by other fellow artist but also by Indo (even Intl) AKB hardcores who thinks that JKT will only bring shame to 48family (still remember the moron who says black dirty thigh? or the dope who says Melody deserve to die because of her scandal?)..
those things seems cruel and irritating, but that is also what makes them stronger and better..
this is purely me personal thought; unless the 2nd gen experiencing the same situation, they won’t be brighter like the 1st gen..
The problem is, the 2nd get doesn’t have enough exposure to get that kind of treatment. The only people that know gen 2 is people that came to theater. The gen 2 only have 1 times show in TV(w/o team J with them). Being forgotten i think more hurt than anything else. it’s like fans doesn’t care about them. Even if someone hate you, it means the one that hate you is know you. so someone will never hate you if he/she never knew that you exist from the beginning.
So being forgotten is the KKS issue from the beginning. Some people still think they never exist. If i want to be honest to my self, the KKS already struggle, but different type of struggle then the gen 1. if the gen 1 is try to build the image of JKT48, and the gen 2 is try to get out from the shadow of team J. they try to show the fans that they exist. And they need our support also, so please support them, please criticize them, by that then they can shine, so people know that they also struggle.
This kind of struggle reminds of AKB48’s team K during their early days. Although I may not follow AKB since the early days, I can say that “history repeats itself” happened to JKT48. The 2nd gen of AKB and JKT are similar to some degree.
The similarity lies in how both are trying to escape from the shadow of their predecessors; team A and team J respectively. They struggled to light their own beam so that they can shine despite being in shadows.
And team K had proven it greatly.
Now, if history indeed repeats itself, we will see JKT48’s trainee grew into a team that is unique to themselves. For myself, the trainees had a lot of potential to be desired. I’m optimistic that they can stand on equals with team J, or even outrun them.