Re-Reviewing Renai Kinshi Jourei, Seven Months Later

Some of you will remember the first time I attended an Aturan Anti Cinta (Renai Kinshi Jourei) show seven months ago. It was the first time I had seen JKT48 in person, and it was also the first time I saw my would-be oshimen Beby Chaesara Anadila. After several months of failed attempts to meet her again, I was finally able to watch her performance on Thursday, December 26, 2013. This is not meant as a recap of the show itself, but rather a reassessment of whether my perceptions of several members and the set list has changed in the few remaining pre-senshuuraku shows.

Beby was of course my objective of watching this show. Her attendance was uncertain until the day prior to show, but she later replaced Melody as a last-minute change to serve as overall center of Aturan Anti Cinta. (At one point she was off the member line-up entirely to my dismay, but my wishful thinking is that by letting her know I would be watching she could arrange to appear in the show.) I’m not certain whether this is the first time Beby has become overall center of the set list, but I felt fortunate regardless to be able to see her in the limelight. She danced with full strength as usual, and it was clear she wanted to fill the gap left by JKT48’s designated center. Her movements were clean and energetic, and she knew quite well how to control her expressions.

Perhaps she hasn’t recovered fully from the second anniversary concerts, but by the time the show reached member self introductions, Beby seemed quiet and concerned. Her introduction and discussion topic were brief and without embellishments. My only suspicion was that she knew how much energy she had put out in the first few songs and was concerned whether she would last through the set list. This is not to say that she eased up or began performing poorly. On the contrary, she continued to give her best moves in “Malaikat Hitam” (Kuroi Tenshi) and subsequent group songs. I could catch moments when it seemed she was running out of energy when she puffed her cheeks as if to exhale large gasps of air. This continued into the final talk session, when Beby returned backstage and did not return for “Sneakers Waktu Itu” (Ano Koro no Sneakers). Fortunately, she was able to squeeze out what energy she had left in the encore songs. As much as I admire Beby for her tenacity, sometimes I am also torn as to whether she pushes herself too hard. If she indeed gave all her energy so that I who came from overseas could enjoy the show, I am very grateful as she reaffirmed her status as my oshimen.

I was also fortunate in this show to listen to Jessica Veranda’s solo introduction of “Cahaya Panjang” (Nagai Hikari) for the first time. Previously I had heard Stella and Haruka, but Ve’s rendition completely creates a different mood for the song. Her soft voice is like magic to the ears as it turns a bittersweet song into one where optimism for the future overwhelms the singer’s yearning for lost love. As a matter of fact, this was the first time I had an appreciation for her elegant performance in the set list simply because she was positioned as lead singer in the first song. Having seen three different renditions of the solo, I feel that that the mood of each Aturan Anti Cinta is highly dependent on who is assigned as that lead singer.

Interestingly enough, this was also the first time I had seen Ve and Kinal together on the same stage. The captain was the evening’s show announcer prior to and following the show, and it was clear that Kinal’s leadership position has made her assertive and well-spoken. One often hears of Kinal and Ve’s friendship among JKT48 fan circles, but I think it is difficult to appreciate its depth until it is witnessed in person. One thing I like to do during the talk sessions is not look at the member currently talking, but instead other members who are listening along. In doing this, I discovered that Ve often has the best reactions to Kinal’s jokes and punchlines. Even in one incident during “Di Tengah Hujan Badai Tiba-tiba” (Squall no Aida ni), the two came a bit too close together during the positional changes, but after a quick exchange of glances they were able to readjust themselves as if knowing what the other would do next.

As a Trainee substitute, Dena performed very well in this show. This was the first time I had watched a Trainee stand in for a full-time member in Aturan Anti Cinta, but I was already impressed. If indeed all Trainees are already of such skill caliber, why have they not been promoted six months after their second generation comrades were elevated into Team KIII? I feel that Trainees are gaining more experience in expressing themselves through Team J’s talk sessions, which are less rowdy and have better conversational flow rather than Team KIII’s. Dena fit into Rena’s usual position for “Virus Tipe Hati” (Heart Gata Virus) quite well, and she struck a good balance and chemistry with Haruka and Ayana. Even Ikha, who came in as a surprise substitute for this show from Team KIII, seemed to fit well into the night’s flow despite not knowing Team J members as well. Her performance in “Malaikat Hitam” was a stark contrast to what I have seen her done in “Cinta Higurashi” (Higurashi no Koi) in Matahari Milikku (Boku no Taiyou).

In the early days of following JKT48, I had some difficulty differentiating between Dhike and Ghaida. Although this seems rather silly now, I used to find their similar hairstyles difficult to distinguish from one another. However, Dhike soon began to grow her hair longer and has become one of the more beautiful members of Team J. In a way, she has outgrown her boyish looks for a more elegant one. In the meantime, Ghaida maintains her boyish appearance, but I believe her demeanor has changed since I first saw her months ago. She may have grown much after the incidents of her abortive graduation as well as the graduation of her best friend Diasta. When seeing them together in “Mawar Natal Musim Panas” (Manatsu no Christmas Rose), it is clear that the two girls I once could not differentiate have taken different paths toward their own futures.

Overall, there seems to be a special energy to Aturan Anti Cinta now that it is in its final run. It feels like a different set list from the one I watched seven months ago. Each member is doing her best to treasure her final performances in the set list. I have no doubt that when the final show closes, fans will look back and appreciate how far Team J has grown over the past year through its ups and downs. Aturan Anti Cinta will be remembered as the set list that gave Team J a name for itself among other teams in the 48 sister groups.