On my to watch on my Nico account, I had totally forgot that I had timeshifted a broadcast of a Golden Bomber One Man Live from 2008. I had it reserved for spring break, but if you read my previous posts my spring break wasn't that exciting. So right before I went off to school, I watched it. That show was so hilarious! Even though there were no English subtitles at all, I felt like I understood a good part of it and enough really to enjoy the show. I find it pretty amazing that I am able to learn a fourth language, Japanese, when I have completely forgotten the third language, Spanish. Watching all that anime and jdrama really paid off. After long time exposure and I mean constantly for more than five years, you start to pick up things along the way.
So this time, Golden Bomber opened the show with a Sadako reference with Kiryuin singing the first song with half his body sticking out of a TV. The guy wasn't even on stage, he was in the back of the audience so everyone had to turn to the back. The running gag for this live was a "broadcast" of an old lady (Kyan in disguise) running a marathon in the city every now and then Kiryuin and Jun act as newscasters on site. Golden Bomber essentially is really a performance band because they thought of a skit and had some really random funny things. One of the performances in the beginning was performing a pretty hardcore song, but Kyan would all of a sudden whip out some props and make yakisoba on stage while Kenji stripped down to only shorts started mimicking taiko drumming. I'm sure it would have been more funny during the live. That skit during the show was definitely hilarious though. It was basically a parody of a shounen ai manga only to have members of the band be the characters. The story is essentially narrated by Kiryuin and you can hear his inner monologue from time to time. It went something like this and I'm going to skip a couple of details. The following is all a very loose interpretation from someone who doesn't really know the language:
I am Kiryuin Sho. I am a second year in high school. I am different from other guys in class. And there were a lot of things that I couldn't pick up.
(Jun enters)Jun: Good morning Kiryuin.
Kiryuin: Good morning Jun-kun. (continues to look at Jun)
Jun: Hey stop looking at me like that. That feels disgusting.
Kiryuin:Oh I'm sorry. I can't do this.*Ikenai ikenai* Looking at him like this. The thing is that I like guys. He's Jun, we're in the same class. He's also the first person I like. I wonder if he likes guys too. I mean I've never seen him with a girlfriend, never seen him talk with girls, or see him read porn. Maybe he really ... maybe he really is ... ?
Jun: This is just plain frustrating. Hey ... Kiryuin. Are you in love right now?
Kiryuin: Eh?! Why do you ask all of a sudden?! (gives a laugh) Wait, could it be! Could it be! I don't know what you're talking about!
Jun: It's not fair! Minako-chan in our class is so cute and she already has a boyfriend!
Kiryuin: Ugh! Not fair. Oh so not fair, Jun definitely likes girls after all.
Jun: Wait what was that Kiryuin? Could it be that ...?
Kiryuin: Oh it's nothing! This is embarassing, I can't let him know that I like guys.
Jun: You like Minako too! Right, she's totally cute?
Kiryuin: Uh yeah.
Jun: I knew it!
Jun: I knew it!
(Kenji walks in and he plays the role as the homeroom teacher.)
Kenji: Ok class. We have a new transfer student. Please welcome Kyan.
(Kyan walks in like a delinquent and dresses like one.)
Kyan: Alright all ya girls. Don't even think about coming near me cuz I only like cute guys! *he uses "kawaii otoko"
~after school
(Kiryuin walks up to Kyan)
Kiryuin: Hey ... Kyan-kun.
Kyan: Huh? What's up?
Kiryuin: You said ... this morning in your introduction that you like cute guys? Is that true?
Kyan: Yeah that's right.
(A couple of lines I couldn't pick up at all. Cue in some sparkly music. Kyan and Kiryuin end laughing and kinda of start hitting each other playfully. Their hands touch and immediately stray away embarrassed.)
Kyan: ... (look away)
Kiryuin: ... (look away)
(I forget who did it but I think it was Kiryuin who leans forward to kiss Kyan. Of course, this was a staged though camera angles and there faces actually did not touch at all. Cue in some sparkly music)
Kiryuin: Kyan, there's a hanabi show going on soon. Would you like to come watch it with me.
Kyan: Sure. I promise. I'll see you then. Later.
Kiryuin: Later. Score! I got myself a date!
~At the day of the hanabi show
Oi, Kyan-kun is late. The show is about to start. Maybe I should call him now. (whips out a phone) Oh wait, I never even asked Kyan-kun for his phone number. It doesn't matter. I'll wait for him no matter what. It was a promise.
Voice: Oi~!
Kiryuin: Who is that calling? It's Jun!
Jun: Oi Kiryuin. What are you doing here?
Kiryuin: I'm waiting for someone. For Kyan-kun. *I'm not sure if he mentioned Kyan-kun*
Jun: Well it's getting late. See ya. *He said a lot of things I couldn't pick up and I'm guessing that he said that he Kyan at another place with some other people*
(Many hours later ... Kenji brings out a clock prop and starts spinning the hands like crazy.)
Kiryuin: This guy is really late. He broke his promise and he's not going to come. The show is already over and I'm still waiting. I'm going to leave.
Voice: Oi~!
Kiryuin: Who is it now. Kyan-kun!
Kyan: (On a bike) Oi~ Kiryuin. I'm here.
Kiryuin: You're late and the show is already over.
Kyan: I'm sorry that I'm late. It doesn't matter. Come over and get on the bike. (Points on the bike seat behind him.) I'll bring you somewhere.
Kiryuin: Eh?! Sitting there? That's the seat ... that your lover sits. Are you sure ... (extremely embarrassed at this point)
Kyan: It doesn't matter. Quick, hop on.
(Kiryuin get on the back with one arm around Kyan. Cue in music. Here in this break, Kiryuin starts singing. During various breaks of the skit, the members perform songs that go with the story.)
~At the designated place
Kyan: Ok we're here! This is my special place. It's a secret place that I know and I want to view the show here.
Kiryuin: Thanks Kyan-kun. Really, thanks a lot.
(some dialogue and monologue)
Kiryuin: Kyan-kun, how do you feel about me?
Kyan: How do I feel? I *fireworks* you.
Kiryuin: Eh? I'm sorry I couldn't hear you.
Kyan: I'm sorry. It was bad timing. I'll say it again. I... I *fireworks*
(Kyan tries hard to express how he feels, but more fireworks interrupt to the point it's impossible to hear anything. Kyan then at this point rushes over to Kiryuin's surprise to kiss him.)
I am Kiryuin Sho. I am a second year in high school. Essentially it's a similar monologue as the opening with some changes like how this year he's experienced something different.
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It was really funny watching the entire skit even though it pretty much seems like any love story out there. A couple of the jokes were inside jokes and a couple of them relied on live performance. Really it was the nature of the band members themselves that made the fans enjoy the show. I was originally introduced to Golden Bomber through a MMD video that used their hit song, Memeshikute. This song was stuck in my head and was used on a lot of parody videos on Nico. I was not that big of a fan of Golden Bomber due their nature of being an air band. I am convinced that they will not last long unless they actually start playing instruments. After watching this 2008 performance, I think they will only survive in the industry if they stay in Japan. I don't think the rest of the world will be nice. Golden Bomber is really a performing group and not so much a band. It's all about putting on a show in particularly acting. At least Kiryuin actually sings while the actual music is just an ipod playing. Hahaha I think they're a good band to lift your spirits when you're really down. Their silly antics are there to make you laugh.
(A couple of lines I couldn't pick up at all. Cue in some sparkly music. Kyan and Kiryuin end laughing and kinda of start hitting each other playfully. Their hands touch and immediately stray away embarrassed.)
Kyan: ... (look away)
Kiryuin: ... (look away)
(I forget who did it but I think it was Kiryuin who leans forward to kiss Kyan. Of course, this was a staged though camera angles and there faces actually did not touch at all. Cue in some sparkly music)
Kiryuin: Kyan, there's a hanabi show going on soon. Would you like to come watch it with me.
Kyan: Sure. I promise. I'll see you then. Later.
Kiryuin: Later. Score! I got myself a date!
~At the day of the hanabi show
Oi, Kyan-kun is late. The show is about to start. Maybe I should call him now. (whips out a phone) Oh wait, I never even asked Kyan-kun for his phone number. It doesn't matter. I'll wait for him no matter what. It was a promise.
Voice: Oi~!
Kiryuin: Who is that calling? It's Jun!
Jun: Oi Kiryuin. What are you doing here?
Kiryuin: I'm waiting for someone. For Kyan-kun. *I'm not sure if he mentioned Kyan-kun*
Jun: Well it's getting late. See ya. *He said a lot of things I couldn't pick up and I'm guessing that he said that he Kyan at another place with some other people*
(Many hours later ... Kenji brings out a clock prop and starts spinning the hands like crazy.)
Kiryuin: This guy is really late. He broke his promise and he's not going to come. The show is already over and I'm still waiting. I'm going to leave.
Voice: Oi~!
Kiryuin: Who is it now. Kyan-kun!
Kyan: (On a bike) Oi~ Kiryuin. I'm here.
Kiryuin: You're late and the show is already over.
Kyan: I'm sorry that I'm late. It doesn't matter. Come over and get on the bike. (Points on the bike seat behind him.) I'll bring you somewhere.
Kiryuin: Eh?! Sitting there? That's the seat ... that your lover sits. Are you sure ... (extremely embarrassed at this point)
Kyan: It doesn't matter. Quick, hop on.
(Kiryuin get on the back with one arm around Kyan. Cue in music. Here in this break, Kiryuin starts singing. During various breaks of the skit, the members perform songs that go with the story.)
~At the designated place
Kyan: Ok we're here! This is my special place. It's a secret place that I know and I want to view the show here.
Kiryuin: Thanks Kyan-kun. Really, thanks a lot.
(some dialogue and monologue)
Kiryuin: Kyan-kun, how do you feel about me?
Kyan: How do I feel? I *fireworks* you.
Kiryuin: Eh? I'm sorry I couldn't hear you.
Kyan: I'm sorry. It was bad timing. I'll say it again. I... I *fireworks*
(Kyan tries hard to express how he feels, but more fireworks interrupt to the point it's impossible to hear anything. Kyan then at this point rushes over to Kiryuin's surprise to kiss him.)
I am Kiryuin Sho. I am a second year in high school. Essentially it's a similar monologue as the opening with some changes like how this year he's experienced something different.
----------------------------------------
It was really funny watching the entire skit even though it pretty much seems like any love story out there. A couple of the jokes were inside jokes and a couple of them relied on live performance. Really it was the nature of the band members themselves that made the fans enjoy the show. I was originally introduced to Golden Bomber through a MMD video that used their hit song, Memeshikute. This song was stuck in my head and was used on a lot of parody videos on Nico. I was not that big of a fan of Golden Bomber due their nature of being an air band. I am convinced that they will not last long unless they actually start playing instruments. After watching this 2008 performance, I think they will only survive in the industry if they stay in Japan. I don't think the rest of the world will be nice. Golden Bomber is really a performing group and not so much a band. It's all about putting on a show in particularly acting. At least Kiryuin actually sings while the actual music is just an ipod playing. Hahaha I think they're a good band to lift your spirits when you're really down. Their silly antics are there to make you laugh.