The Underdogs and Enigmas of Pajama Drive Revival Show
by Angga · September 8, 2014
As much as I despised the voting mechanism of JKT48 various fans voting event, I can’t help but love the (somewhat) surprising result it always ended up with. Pajama Drive Revival Show voting is not an exception.
Who would’ve guess that Nabilah, the one with a million followers on Twitter, a regular front-line member, ended up as a backdancer? But rather than that, I really would like to talk about those who rarely chosen but somehow managed to gained enough votes for Pajama Drive Revival Show.
The Underdogs
Gaby
Ah..Gaby. She just..I don’t know how to explain this, but she is known to be a good utility performer for years but yet never got her chance to shine. Yes, she’s a jack of all trades but none a master of one, but she really deserves a chance to be on the spotlight after all these years. I’m really really glad that the fans have the same thinking as me and she shows that her fans effort is not in vain. Her performance is quite satisfying for me aside from her sub-par MCs (which is understandable since she rarely lead an MC session)
Frieska
It’s hard when your own sister is practically the face of JKT48 as much as Alan Shearer to Newcastle United. Years after years without a chance to shine in the spotlight, she got her chance at last when fans coalition gave her enough votes for her to appear in Pajama Drive Revival Show. Her performance was great albeit -ironically- got chosen in the same fans coalition with her sister who centered Junjou Shugi. I really do hope Frieska will make it at the next senbatsu.
Rachel
Many (from comments on videos and Twitter) speculate her physical appearance is to blame for her not being able to grab the spotlight, but may I just say that I disagree completely with it? I mean, look, she’s as charming as one would get with her dance moves. It’s not the best but yet, you can actually feel all the hard work she had put into it. Every step is full of confidence and may I just say that she totally deserves her place in Pajama Drive Revival Show? because she is indeed deserve it. Alas, she doesn’t get much MC time so yeah…
The Enigmas
Rona
Rona, Rona, Rona. One of the most baffling case in JKT48. She’s good at dancing, great at singing, incredibly gorgeous, getting pushed since the beginning of her generation but yet, she failed to make it into single senbatsu in the recent years. I don’t know who’s to blame for the “flop” (pardon me for the term). Before Pajama Drive Revival Show’s voting began, it feels like her distance with the fans is getting further and to be honest, I kinda worried that she’s not gonna make it at all.
But fortunately, she’s in. And she proves her worth is not just an over-hype created by the management. It’s in a coalition for Kagami, but at the very least, she can start rebuilding the fans’ support for her and hopefully, she will aim high enough for a single senbatsu next time.
And last but not least, one of the Enigmas that really captivates me yesterday..
Dhike
We can say that she’s currently in the same pond as Rona. Being one of the original senbatsu members and getting pushed by the management here and there yet, getting drown amidst all the competition between the girls in the recent years. Thankfully, the votes got her high enough position to be included in the Pajama Drive Revival Show and oh boy…, did she got all my attention throughout the show.
It’s a rarity that I will asked people around and search for trivias after I watch one of the girl performance, but Dhike did the same thing to me yesterday. I was like a headless chicken looking for more information about Dhike here and everywhere since the only thing that I know is that she is hard to understand. Thankfully, some of my friends helped me out and here are some of the trivias I got about Dhike which makes me more interested with her.
– She often used a shuttle bus along with Frieska to travel from where she currently lives (Bandung) to Jakarta. An approximately 3-5 hours road trip depending on the traffic.
– Due to her habit to utilize the affordable shuttle bus, it is not a rare occurrence that she will meet fans along the road. Many reported on Twitter that she is overwhelmingly nice to the fans she met on the bus and even took the effort to joining in the conversation.
– She kept her hair long before she joined JKT48 since she really loves her long hair. When auditioning for JKT48, Aki-P asked her to cut her hair short if she really want to join JKT48. She complied with it and cut her long loved hair short.
– She enjoys Dynasty Warriors and she collects anything related to Stitch, Hello Kitty, and Gaara from Naruto.
– Was once a fan of Mariko Shinoda.
What makes it more interesting was her MC yesterday on the first show, she admitted that she once performing without realizing she still got her short’s unzipped. She thought that the fans FINALLY notice her and paid more attention to her until she realizes that is not exactly the case.
And this is the point where I just went head over heel for her: She respected all her fans. From many I asked, not once she ever tried to distance herself from the fans who asked for a two shot with her in the official two shot event even though some of them admitted that they are not in their best “perfume-day” condition. More than once that she actually tried more than the fans to create a good two shot moment, such as, she literally took the fans by their arm and asked them to pose for the camera.
From all of those trivias above, I finally understand that she is not the one that is hard to understand, it was actually me that failed to understand who she really is. And with her performance yesterday, this enigmatic girl deserves to be my MVP of the show.
多くのJKTファンが群がる投票という仕組みはあまり好きじゃないものの、結果として、いささか驚くべき結末に出会うことは決して嫌いじゃない。だいたいがいつもそうなるのだ。今回のパジャマドライブ・リバイバル公演の投票結果も例外ではない。
百万ものフォロワーを持ち、フロントラインの定位置を譲ったことのないあのナビラがバックダンサーだなんて、いったい誰に想像し得ただろう？しかし、それもさることながら、僕はここで今まで投票にあまり縁がなかったのに、このパジャマドライブ・リバイバル公演では多くの票を集めることとなったメンバーたちについて語ってみたいと思う。
“地味メン”
ゲビー
おおゲビー、そうだね、どう言えばいいのだろう。彼女はどんなポジションでもこなせる有能なメンバーとしてずっと評価されてきた。でも、なかなか表舞台に立つチャンスは訪れなかった。そうなんだ、君は何でも屋だけれど、これぞという自分の切り札がないんだね。でも、本当にいつスポットライトを浴びてもおかしくないメンバーだと僕はずっと思っていた。彼女のファンが僕と同じような気持ちを持ち続け、彼女もついにファンの応援に報いることが出来たのが本当に嬉しくてならない。彼女のＭＣはイマイチだけれど（ＭＣではめったに前に出ないのも分らぬでもない）、パフォーマンスにはすごく満足している。
フリスカ
自分の実の姉がニューカッスル・ユナイテッドにおけるアラン・シアラーの存在のごとく、JKT48の絶対的な顔であるという現実はなかなか厳しい。何年もスポットライトを浴びるチャンスがなかったが、大同団結したファンの力でついにパジャマドライブ・リバイバル公演に出ることになった。彼女の素晴らしいパフォーマンスが観られたのは、皮肉にも同じ純情主義のセンターに彼女の姉を推したファンの力によるところでもあるのだけれど。次の選抜にもぜひとも選ばれて欲しいと思う。
ラヘル
多くの人が（ビデオやツィッターのコメントによれば）、彼女の見た目の地味さがなかなかスポットライトを浴びられない理由だと憶測しているけれど、僕は全然そんな風には思わない。いいかい、よく見て欲しい。ダンスの動きなんかとてもチャーミングだ。最高とは言えないまでも、彼女が自分のありったけの力を注ぎごんでいるのを感じるはずだ。ステップのひとつひとつが自信に満ちている。パジャマドライブ・リバイバル公演に選出されたのも当然だと思わないか？そうだろう？ただ、まあMCはほどほどでもいいかな・・・
“謎メン”
ロナ
ロナ、ロナ、ロナ。JKT48において最も不可解なケース。ダンスも歌も上手いしすごく華もある。研究生の頃から“推されメン”だったはず。しかし最近はなかなかシングル選抜にも入れないでいる。この“大コケ”（ちょっと言い過ぎ？）の理由は何だろう？パジャマドライブの投票が始まる前は、彼女のファンとの距離のとり方が気になっていて、正直、今回もちょっと無理なんじゃないかと心配していた。
でも嬉しいことに彼女は入った。運営の強引な推しでここまで来たわけじゃない事を自ら証明したのだ。“鏡の中のジャンヌダルク“への一極集中作戦が功を奏したわけだが、少なくとも今回で彼女はファンとの絆を再構築出来たように思う。これを機に目標を高く持って、取りあえずは次のシングル選抜を目指して欲しい。
そして最後に大事な話を。昨日私の目を釘付けにしたもうひとりの”謎メン“について・・・
ディク
彼女もまたロナと同じような状況にあると言える。もともと不動の選抜メンバーのひとりであり、色んな場面で運営にも推されてきた。でも最近はメンバー間の競争に落ちこぼれることもあったが、嬉しいことにパジャマドライブ・リバイバル公演では十分な票を集めることが出来た。そして公演の間じゅう、僕の目は彼女に釘付けになったのだ。
公演を観た後、特定のメンバーについていろいろ情報を集めたりは僕は滅多にしないのだが、昨日ディクを観たあとはその滅多にしないことをやってしまった。僕はディクについての情報を求めてあたふたとあちこち歩き回ったのだ。というのは僕が彼女について知っていたのは、なかなか分かりにくい女の子だという話だけ。ありがたいことに、友人の何人かが彼女についての次のようなトリビアを教えてくれた。その結果、僕はさらに彼女に対する興味が増したのである。
・彼女はしばしばフリスカと一緒に、自宅のあるバンドンからジャカルタまで長距離シャトルバスを利用する。道路の混み具合にもよるが、３～5時間はかかる。
・庶民的なシャトルバスを使う彼女の習慣のおかげで、道中でファンが彼女に出会うことも珍しくはない。ツィッターにも沢山アップされているが、そんな時の彼女はファンに対して信じられないほどの神対応で会話もはずむらしい。
・JKT48に入る前はロングヘアーにしていて、とても気に入っていた。JKT48のオーディションの時に、Aki-Pが短いほうがよく似合うねと言ったので、JKT48に入りたい一心で思い切ってショートにした（ただしこれは現地のディク推しによってガセネタ認定済み）
・アクションゲームの「真・三國無双」が大好きで、他にもスティッチ、キティちゃん、ナルトの我愛羅のグッズを集めている。
・篠田麻里子のファンだった。
昨日の公演（一回目）の彼女のMCはさらに面白かった。前にスカートのジッパーを締め忘れてステージに出たことがあると言ったのだ。ふだんにない熱い視線を感じた彼女は、やっとファンが自分の存在に気づいてくれたと喜んだが、すぐに理由を悟った。
そして、これこそが私が彼女にほれ込んだ理由でもある。彼女のファンに対する感謝の念はとても強い。公式ツーショット撮影会での彼女の対応振りをいろんな人が話してくれた。彼女はファンとの間に文字通り距離をおかない。多くの人が語っているが、例えば自分がちょっと汗臭いかなと遠慮しても、彼女は全く気にすることなく親しく腕を取ってポーズを決めてくれるのだ。
上のようなトリビアを聞いて、僕は彼女が分かりにくい女の子なんかじゃないと言う事をやっと理解した。分かってなかったのは僕のほうで、彼女の本当の姿が見えていなかったのだ。昨日のパフォーマンスを観て、このエネルギッシュな女の子こそ本公演のMVPにふさわしいと僕は思った。
Japanese Translation by Tokyo Pop
The ultimate reason why dhike can’t shine now is thelong hair. I really really like her when her hair is short because she looks special in short hair. I think many people like her too in short hair and dissapointed when her hair is long
I think it really depends on each individuals though. For an instance, I like the way she felt she most comfortable with her hair, any hair-do she chose will suit me just fine
“I like the way she felt she most comfortable with her hair”
I completely agree with you Mr. Angga. No matter what other people says about which of her hairstyle is better: the short one or the long one, she herself has stated more than once that she herself favors the latter than the former. Furthermore, whenever discussing about her previous short hairstyle, Dhike has often expressed her dislikes with it because she says her previous short hairstyle makes her head looks like a match heads.
happily to know it, sure…:)).
angga oshihen? shania gmn?
Nope, still shan
Oh,Dhike,
Please know that you have a lot of fans here in Japan!
Really? Dhike has lots of fans in Japan?
If that so, please help us to vote Dhike in next year sousenkyo. :p
She deserve to be there. This year lost was just the start of long struggle to victory!
hopefully…:))
I love dhike very much. Her body flow, step and foot work are the best. Please watch junjou shugi on dvd first gen. pajama. Nobody can pull off like what dhike had done.
I still not getting chances to watch all members. But, as far as theater show I’ve attended. Dhike and Tata really caught my attention.
Well, Dhike is my kami-oshi and I never regret choosing her as my kami-oshi. It’s already 2,5 years now.
From my opinion, her performance is not the greatest of all, but she is over average in every performance parameter. She is too well-balanced and that’s what make her unique. She is really charming when MC-ing and everything she does is interesting to watch. I never thought that seeing a girl eating orange will be that interesting. haha..
I think she has ‘true idol’ aura and the management see that too, that’s why she keep being pushed as senbatsu member until now.
Too bad that she has low ‘engagement rate’ with her far fans via social media (or in normal conversation, she is not active in social media).
From some of her fans opinion, Dhike is a ‘down-to-earth’ member, she never feel that she is a famous actress. Eventhough her default faceplate is kinda ‘tsun’, but she is really warm in the inside (dere). That’s why called her ms. Tsundere.
Om bebek jgn oshihen ya… ;))
Cendolnya dong om bebek xi xi xi
Are you om bebek?
nice inpoh…:D
First of all, I’d like to express my gratitude to Angga for writing an article regarding Dhike and Ayen, both are my Oshimen in JKT.
Anyway, I’d like to reply to some things:
1. “she failed to make it into single senbatsu in the recent years”
In the recent years, eh? Instead of “recent years”, I believe you might have meant “this year” (2014). “Recent years” actual meaning is: this present year (2014) AND last year (2013)/some years prior to this present year. It does not mean this year (2014) only.
Now that has been taken care of, I believe that you’re aware with the fact about Ayen being one of the only Team KIII members (the others are Yupi and Naomi) who always made it to JKT48 single Senbatsu in 2013 (post-RIVER).
2. “When auditioning for JKT48, Aki-P asked her to cut her hair short if she really want to join JKT48”
How did you come with this one? Let me clear it: The FIRST TIME Aki-p (and other guys from AKS) met the girls (the finalists) was on 2nd November 2011, on the FINAL STAGE of the JKT48 1st gen. audition at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, where he acted as one of the judges. Aki-p did NOT participate as one of the judges in the previous stages of the audition. Aki-p wasn’t even in Indonesia while the previous stages of the audition took place. As you can see it yourself on Dhike’s video profile on JKT48 Youtube channel, days prior to 2nd November 2011, Dhike had already had short hair (while training and preparing for the importand day with the other finalists).
Anyway, I was there at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on the 2nd November 2011 and
I even got Rosiana Silalahi’s autograph.
Thanks for the information! I got the 2nd one from a friend of mine when I’m trying to collect for trivias etc.
sendy is not an underdog anymore?
anyway, please watch this sendy’s awesomeballs heavy rotation… dangdut style!
Mr. Gorgom, I believe Mr. Angga was limiting the discussion to those who were part of PDRS 2014 only. We know that Sendy didn’t make it to PDRS 2014.
tokyo popさん日本語訳ありがとうございます。確かに今回のリバイバル公演ではナビラを始め常に選抜では定位置にいたメンバーも外れていたり興味深い結果でしたね。
ディクに関しては本当に同意見です。デビューした頃から彼女とリカが何で人気が出ないのかなと不思議でした。リカに関しては前回の総選挙の結果を見ての通り現地の人のハートを掴んだ様ですがディクは何故なんだろうと思ってます。かわいいしダンスもMCも頑張っているのに…。
3期生も入ってきて更に競争は厳しいですが彼女の魅力は十分トップクラスだと思います。今回のリバイバルを機に上昇気流に乗ってくれると嬉しいですね。
インドネシアの現地の皆さん応援して下さいね。そうでなければ日本移籍運動起こしちゃいますよ。頑張れ！ディク。日本から応援してるよ〜。
ありがとうございます。
このJKT48Stuffは2chの本スレからスピンアウトした部分も少しありますから（Anggaさんもjapartaさんも私もあそこにいました）、よく覗いています。2chだから色々あるのは承知ですが、ディクに関する2chの書き込みがインドネシアに逆流して、全くいわれのないデマが向こうで広がる前に、私はディクの本当のところを紹介したいなと思っていたところでした。Anggaさんも同じ気持ちだったようですね。ありがたいことです。
全くです。2chに書き込んでる人達のメンタリティーは理解しがたいし、読むに耐えられない物も多いですね。
ああいった書き込みが日本のファンの声の代表していると思われてしまっては悲しいしJKT48のおかげで何か近しくなった様なインドネシアの人達が嫌な思いになってしまうのは一番あってはならない事です。
そういった意味でも、このサイトは重要ですね。これからもAnggaさん、Japartaさん、Tokyo Popさん、宜しくお願いします。
私自身はやっぱり本スレが好きですし、貴重な情報も相変わらず多いです。少々荒れたりきついコメントがあっても気になりませんが、一部全く付いていけない書き込みもあるということですね。本スレに来る方を否定しているわけではないので、念のため申し添えます。
I watch the final show through live-streaming, and I agree with you Angga-san, Dhike really caught my attention during the whole show, especially in group song. Perhaps it’s due to there were no Melody or Nabilah on the front row of the group song
Angga-san, I think you need to add Elaine to the underdogs, as the only Trainee manage to participate on Pajama Drive Revival Show.
Just wanna says, Grab it ^^Dhike….:))