「featured post」~Beauty & the Ham♥

Starring C-ute’s:

Yajima Maimi as Beauty~♥

&

Suzuki Airi as Ham~♥

Happily this most unique live release once again became available after an initial pre~order period at which time this release had gone out of print much to my surprise and sadness originally…a few weeks later though while I had been seriously pondering the auction option to get a copy this DVD reappeared @ Cdjapan under a new catalog number!! (=

You can shop for “Pokemo Presents Yajima Maimi & Suzuki Airi Acoustic Live @ Yokohama BLITZ 2012/03/03” DVD here.

The stage set up and atmosphere is most intimate and free of any frills or distractions making the music and C~ute’s duo up front and center and while I’ve longed for in the past to see much more musicianship amongst idols as the extra presence of instruments coupled with these all too often hidden talents we know so many of our favorite idols possess, when taken to stage adds an immeasurable dimension to their presence and I believe that to their appeal as well. The presence of a live band versus a recording, then too makes these real~live events even more enjoyable both musically and visually as the nuances of musical improvisation and re~arrangements to familiar songs gives the audience entirely new moods and twists to the set lists breathing an endless possibility for both your eyes and ears.

Here the underlying musical theme of sweet~folk~pop takes the reigns on this set list which includes a wide variety of familiarity ranging from a few of C~ute’s very own including their major debut in “Sakura Chirari” and beyond all finding all new acoustic arrangements to the 80’s Bananarama hit “Venus” (of course already a latter remake) reaching a wonderful highlight in Aiko’s hit “boyfriend” and that at just a bit past half way through~ as many more familiar songs are translated and embraced here through all new interpretations. I especially got an extra kick out of their performance of “Boyfriend” as aiko’s trademarked free spirited vocals here see an equally enthusiastic vocal performance by Maimichan and Airiin. And getting back to the musicianship amongst idols, as pictured on the DVD’s front cover both girls take on solo acts both with minimum backing as Airiin performs “Remember You” on acoustic guitar while Maimichan serenades “Ame” on the keyboards. (=

Hm…and does the title “Ame” ring a bell? The Moritaka Chisato connection with Hello! Project has lived on in the past through Minimoni, Ayaya, Gomaki and Nacchi and here the always beautiful Maimichan performs this beloved J~Pop classic much in the same vein as its author Moritaka Chisato~san did, on solo keyboards here though with minimum backing.

~Yajima Maimi “Ame” (Acoustic Live @ Yokohama BLITZ)~

The clip above is a bit extra long as I’ve kept in Maimichan’s cute little blooper gone adorable~♥ as her nervousness at first creates a sudden road block in her mind =P…her demeanor immediately afterward is too cute for words and in an almost scripted sense Airiin quickly appears to help spread the embarrassment much like Nutella across sweet~bread toast =D!! You gotta love their comraderie♥ so funny and sweet!

~Moritaka Chisato “Ame” (Lucky 7 Live)~

And here’s the original performed by musician and J~Pop legend Moritaka Chisato during her ‘93 tour~♥.

~Suzuki Airi “Remember You” (Acoustic Live @ Yokohama BLITZ)~

A cute little moment occurs when Maimai’s pv DVD single comes to light in a well placed prop advertisement (=.

~Yajima Maimi & Suzuki Airi “Boyfriend” (Acoustic Live @ Yokohama BLITZ)~

Love~Love~Love aiko!!!!! ♥ A most sweet surprise finding a performance of one of her great ones here!

~Beauty~

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Scans of “Tabioto” and “Oasis” which I did awhile back but never got to post here, thought this to be a perfect~* time to add them here. (=

In a bit of irony though during the acoustic live on frequent occasions it was Maimichan playing the ham♥ instead so I guess either way these titles are interchangeable…both photo books so gorgeously shot! The ham♥ cuddly~fun~playful~and~sexy (love the plaid here too!) while Beauty is perfect and angelic~*~~* in anything and yet so girl~next~door…like the girl you only wished were next~door~to~U o(*´∀｀)o゛ー♥♥♥。

~The Ham♥~

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Um there’s “something” quite wrong about this photo ↑↑↑ (・o・)！