Arashi Best Choreography
I've been meaning to write for some time but didn't have the time till now... so here we go:
This is the list of the best choreography (in my opinion) from all the concerts so far. There is no specific category why they are the best, but these are the ones that mesmerise me the first i see it and stick in my memory after.
1. Super Fresh
It started with Sho standing in front of the back gate of the stage since it came after his solo. The music starts with marching like rhythm although more on the pop side. Sho started to march in place while the gate opened and the rest of Arashi marched out to stand in one horizontal line behind Sho. They continue to march with this small twerk movements of the head and elbow before they shrink into one line behind Sho. The singing starts with Sho solo and the members going left and right interchangeably. By this time the juniors has also lined up behind the and followed the members to the left and and right interchangeably also. The way they walk was a lazy march with repeated several hand movements, infused with small head movements and occasional change in steps tempo, little jumps, small hops, twirls, swings, stops, and swags. The music is happy and fun and easy to your hear and the movements are quirky and fun and cute. It just really fun (yes i said this 3 times already but it really is!) but at the same time you can't help but appreciate the thought that has went into every movements to create this beautiful, eye-pleasing and fun (i will continue to repeat this word few more times) ensemble.
This continues until they reach the moving belt and Arashi just hop on and surf along the belt, still with the hand movements, until they meet again in the middle stage. Here the juniors cross the middle stage from left to right and vice versa and line up along the walk planks on the left and right side of the middle stage. Arashi starts walking again but in circle in the middle stage few times before lining up to connect the lines made by the juniors. All through this they continue to make the hand movements. Once they are all lined up, they dance somewhat in place with parts of the prior hand and feet movements and new moves but still quirky, like mannequin left to right movements, moonwalks, and pretend sitting while crossing feet. They end the dance with chain moves from the far left to the far right. It just adorable and cute and artsy and well thought of and complete and organised and unique and off course capital letter FUN!
2. Cosmos - Popcorn Tour (2012)
It started with 2 opposing sides dancing 2 different style of dance. One side was more street and earthy while the other is more artsy and refined. The member placement is also appropriate. With Sho, who is more street in style due to his affinity with hip hop and rap, and Nino, with his music and rhythm sense, properly representing the street dance group. While Ohno, with his kyoto butai history, and Jun and Aiba, who both have a refined posture, perfectly embodied the artsy dance group. The earthy/street corner dance moves were grounded and fluid in contrast with the artsy corner which dance with sharpness and flair. The highlight for me was the side to side movement for the earthy/street corner and the twirl from the artsy corner.
After the "dance battle", the music slow as if to give respite while Arashi moves to meet in the center. Suddently the music changes and this percussion rhythm blares while Sho started his rap. It was a slow rap but his voice combined with the percussion and the rising sun at the background just created this ambiance of new day, new hope and it just builds up your tension. And the upward side to side hand and feet movement and the chanting was just perfect for the build up. When the rest of the music joins in, the chanting becomes louder and the movement gain tempo, you just feel exhilarated. By this time, the 2 dance group has mingled and was dancing together. You could clearly see the remains of the dance moves from the different styles are now incorporated together one after the other creating a wonderful new dance.
The whole dance represents how differences could be dissolve with music and cooperation. And off course it has to end with Arashi singing just with a piano accompaniment, telling us that they will bring this togetherness with their music and dancing and cooperation.
Still cannot make up my mind on the third place... so will continue this list another time
This is the list of the best choreography (in my opinion) from all the concerts so far. There is no specific category why they are the best, but these are the ones that mesmerise me the first i see it and stick in my memory after.
1. Super Fresh
It started with Sho standing in front of the back gate of the stage since it came after his solo. The music starts with marching like rhythm although more on the pop side. Sho started to march in place while the gate opened and the rest of Arashi marched out to stand in one horizontal line behind Sho. They continue to march with this small twerk movements of the head and elbow before they shrink into one line behind Sho. The singing starts with Sho solo and the members going left and right interchangeably. By this time the juniors has also lined up behind the and followed the members to the left and and right interchangeably also. The way they walk was a lazy march with repeated several hand movements, infused with small head movements and occasional change in steps tempo, little jumps, small hops, twirls, swings, stops, and swags. The music is happy and fun and easy to your hear and the movements are quirky and fun and cute. It just really fun (yes i said this 3 times already but it really is!) but at the same time you can't help but appreciate the thought that has went into every movements to create this beautiful, eye-pleasing and fun (i will continue to repeat this word few more times) ensemble.
This continues until they reach the moving belt and Arashi just hop on and surf along the belt, still with the hand movements, until they meet again in the middle stage. Here the juniors cross the middle stage from left to right and vice versa and line up along the walk planks on the left and right side of the middle stage. Arashi starts walking again but in circle in the middle stage few times before lining up to connect the lines made by the juniors. All through this they continue to make the hand movements. Once they are all lined up, they dance somewhat in place with parts of the prior hand and feet movements and new moves but still quirky, like mannequin left to right movements, moonwalks, and pretend sitting while crossing feet. They end the dance with chain moves from the far left to the far right. It just adorable and cute and artsy and well thought of and complete and organised and unique and off course capital letter FUN!
2. Cosmos - Popcorn Tour (2012)
It started with 2 opposing sides dancing 2 different style of dance. One side was more street and earthy while the other is more artsy and refined. The member placement is also appropriate. With Sho, who is more street in style due to his affinity with hip hop and rap, and Nino, with his music and rhythm sense, properly representing the street dance group. While Ohno, with his kyoto butai history, and Jun and Aiba, who both have a refined posture, perfectly embodied the artsy dance group. The earthy/street corner dance moves were grounded and fluid in contrast with the artsy corner which dance with sharpness and flair. The highlight for me was the side to side movement for the earthy/street corner and the twirl from the artsy corner.
After the "dance battle", the music slow as if to give respite while Arashi moves to meet in the center. Suddently the music changes and this percussion rhythm blares while Sho started his rap. It was a slow rap but his voice combined with the percussion and the rising sun at the background just created this ambiance of new day, new hope and it just builds up your tension. And the upward side to side hand and feet movement and the chanting was just perfect for the build up. When the rest of the music joins in, the chanting becomes louder and the movement gain tempo, you just feel exhilarated. By this time, the 2 dance group has mingled and was dancing together. You could clearly see the remains of the dance moves from the different styles are now incorporated together one after the other creating a wonderful new dance.
The whole dance represents how differences could be dissolve with music and cooperation. And off course it has to end with Arashi singing just with a piano accompaniment, telling us that they will bring this togetherness with their music and dancing and cooperation.
Still cannot make up my mind on the third place... so will continue this list another time