True Life Seek

I should have seen it coming. Last February, Perfume was on Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ, which I wrote a post about. Perfume was very friendly with Porno Graffiti, who were also guests on the episode. A comment on the same post cleared up the connection between Perfume and Porno Graffiti for me. Why didn’t I see this coming? See what coming? Why, Perfume and Porno Graffiti collaborating with each other.

I could have made so many jokes over the last few months…

The PV is already out and it is ridiculously good. Now, I loved “GAME”, but I am more excited about them being featured on this PV than I was about “GAME.” I know that I am going to need to explain that one. And well, since Perfume is my favorite group right now, and has been for some time, I might as well go over it. As well as posting a bunch of screen caps.

Watch it first though:

Perfume is at a great place right now. “GAME” has crossed the 300,000 (or 500,000 depending on who you talk to) sales mark. “Complete Best” is over 100,000. They are doing concert tours now. And now, they are being used for their popularity.

I’m not going to claim that collaborations should be the be-all end-all factor in determining popularity. However, I do think it is pretty significant who decides to collaborate with who. I am sure that some acts collaborate to challenge each other musically. However, I think more acts collaborate with each other to raise the presence and sales of both acts. I think that’s why we saw Namie Amuro & Double do “BLACK DIAMOND” and why we saw Fergie & Koda Kumi do “That Ain’t Cool.” I also think that is why we see Perfume & Porno Graffiti together in “Itai Tachiichi.”

Why else would Porno Graffiti use Perfume in “Itai Tachiichi?” Why didn’t they get some random wannabe idol girls and use them? It’s pretty simple to me. Perfume is popular, thus using Perfume can make Porno Graffiti more popular. How does it help Perfume? It’s the same idea. Perfume is very popular right now, but they could stand to be more popular. I think any pop group in the music industry that doesn’t want to be atop of it is in the wrong business.

I think back to a recent Road to the Deep East entry where Santos talks about how Amuse may want Perfume to take the place of Southern All Stars. They need more exposure to do this. It is a delicate balance though. It is not easy trying to the find the right amount of exposure without overexposing the product. Granted, Perfume need to get a lot more popular to even make it possoble to be overexposed like Pink Lady was. Still, it makes me sad thinking of that possibility.

“Itai Tachiichi” itself is very much a Porno Graffiti song and PV. It is not what one would expect from Perfume. However, Perfume have not swayed from what they are. Their voices are still post-processed, to great effect, into the technopop that is expected. The only difference is that there is now a saxophone in the background. They are not in their usual PV, but it’s not as if they are prancing through a flower patch.

The main difference is the attitude that the girls give off, especially Kashiyuka. Instead of being dolls devoid of emotion, they are totally divas in this. This fits right along with the song. It is not what I would expect from Perfume from here on out, but should show to the general public that they are not a one trick pony.

I don’t believe that this one PV appearance, and with Porno Graffiti of all people, will turn Perfume into some unstoppable force. However, it is the right direction. Remember, when Morning Musume was popular, we used to see Ai Kago hanging out with Gackt. This association gives off the vibe that idol groups are not just for wota. Perfume will need to keep their own material popular in addition to more recognition from other acts to really reach the top of the music industry. I think it’s possible, but you never know.

As for the PV itself, I’m not really sure what to make of it. The girls are on a night out, at what appears to be a cabaret. They interact with guys, but I am not sure if the guys are strangers hitting on them, boyfriends or if the Perfume girls are playing out some expensive call girls.

A~chan is often looking at her phone instead of the guy she is with. I can’t help but think she is calling another guy. In fact, the guy she is with confronts her while she is on her cell phone (in a telephone booth heh). She ignores him and is more concerned with who is on the opposite end of the phone.

Kashiyuka displays more interest in the guy she is with than the other girls. However, when the guy she is with goes and talks to a friend, she dumps him like a bad habit. This is where I am getting the diva vibe from. She loves to have a good time, but if you don’t pay attention to her then she isn’t going to stick around.

Nocchi is more concerned with keeping her lipstick perfect than who she is with. The guy she is with is somewhat ignoring her. Perhaps she is so concerned with her looks because he is ignoring her? I get the feeling that she is trying to look good to attract another guy though.

The Perfume girls gather in an elevator and leave the club together. So maybe the story is that if you don’t pay attention to the one you are with then they are going to leave you.

As much as I love Nocchi, and she is my favorite, Kashiyuka really stands out in this PV. She gives off such a diva vibe that you have to recognize her. Demanding my attention, the best thing an idol can do.

Posted on June 9th, 2008 by broomhead. Filed under PVs.
Tags: A~chan, Kashiyuka, Nocchi, Perfume, Porno Graffiti