Charisma.com is a two-member electropop and rap group that was formed in 2011 by MC Itsuka and DJ Gonchi.
On January 27th, the duo performed their solo concert Charisma.com Desu, Gokigenyou 2018 at Zepp Tokyo. This show was their final performance together before going on indefinite hiatus, and signaled Gonchi‘s (DJ) farewell from the group and retirement as an artist.
Gonchi’s DJ booth is a familiar sight at Charisma.com shows, but this time it was betwixt two closed white coffins, with portraits of a skeletal Itsuka (MC) and Gonchi floating above. Eerie music played in the background, giving the room a strange vibe, before everything cut to black. The sound of a mokugyo drum turned into a dance beat, and the coffins opened, revealing Itsuka and Gonchi dressed in complete black, throwing the crowd into excitement in an instant.
The first track they performed was Ribbon, the first song on the duo’s greatest hits album Charisma.BEST. Cheers rolled through the crowd as Itsuka gave the finger in time with the lyrics. Otobune Rock chimed in as fans clapped their hands, and a red ladder was brought onto the stage from which Itsuka hung and climbed for the performance. When she reached the top, she looked down at the crowd and ad-libbed a “Get ready, it’s not the end yet.”
Itsuka dropped the mic and danced for sodai gomi no koi. Gonchi gave her “Gokigenyou” (“Good Day”) greeting, which led into Buta, signaled by lasers painting a giant image of the song’s title, causing the crowd to go wild.
After 999, the first speech of the night was given. Itsuka greeted everyone by saying, “Welcome, and thank you for coming. Are you ready for our first, final show?” She prompted the crowd to put their hands over their head to do the ‘Tongari Pose,’ and, basked before the light of the crowd, humourously said, “Ah, I see you’re quite obedient today!” After the playful jokes, Charisma moved onto Tongari Young.
This was followed by a mash up of Like It, Pain Off, AUTOMADE and Menhera Busu in a flash. The songs weren’t played in full. Instead, parts of each track were taken and laced together with beats. The crowd was excited to hear a selection songs from their early days not featured on their greatest hits album.
Itsuka joined the DJ booth and the both of them performed a riotous melody of NOW Remix, Toushindai Grey, Jenga Jenga, LOOKER, and Berusassa. The music was tied together with visuals that were projected onto the screen at the back of the stage and on the stage coffins, creating a projection mapping-like experience. The vividly colourful setting and nonstop dance music launched the crowd into infinity.
In the next speech, Itsuka commented about Charisma.BEST, their greatest hits album. “I’ve reflected on it – my bad mouthing. But I want everyone to like that album.” Although Gonchi responded to Itsuka‘s question on which song was her favourite, saying “all of them,” she was pried for her particular favourite, making her fluster in thought.
Itsuka said, “Time to enter the zone of gentle songs,” signaling the ballad OLHERO. She played the keyboard and sang Gurara, and while basked in the spotlight lulled the room with not not me. The crowd simply watched and listened in memorisation.
Once they finished up Tasogare Kakui, the musical ensemble sounds of big band danced in, inviting everyone to be uplifted, and Itsuka called for Gonchi. “Prepare your hearts, Zepp Tokyo! Come on out, Gonchi!” Upon saying this, Gonchi appeared on stage wearing a wedding dress. In the applause and cheers, the two of them performed Muko ni Oide as if they were negotiating.
The entire room sang the chorus phrase “moya moya shite” over and over before Charisma headed onto the third speech. Prompted by Itsuka, Gonchi checked in with the crowd to make sure their excitement was still at max capacity. “Are you alllll enjoying yourselves!?” Afterwards, Charisma headed into the final section of the night.
Gonchi fired a laser beam from her glove in Kongara Girl, like it says in the lyrics. The duo also changed to hand mics and danced in front of the coffins during Iinazuke Blue, before announcing the final act.
“Our next song will be the last,” announces Itsuka, sparking sad voices to roll through the room. “Shut up! We’re all singing it together!” she commands. With a final performance of Around 30 dreaming, Itsuka says to a singing crowd, with a smile on her face, “I was a really great around 30, wasn’t I. Thank you all so much!” before leaving the stage.
Rather than clapping for an encore, Charisma fans instead sing the group’s song Meki Meki more, something they have done since their tour last spring. Itsuka and Gochi reappeared on stage and announced that they will go into indefinite hiatus after the show.
Gonchi, who has retired her work as an artist, said her goodbyes. “Thank you all so much. Please keep on supporting Charisma.com!” Though she prefaced it by saying “Hiatus means that things will definitely move again,” she also encouraged strongly, “Both of us support everything that everyone of you does, so please keep on supporting us forever too.”
Just as the crowd had called it, Charisma performed Meki Meki more. “Because this is your song.” Fans sang their hearts out, filling the air with an intimate warmth. But Charisma weren’t finished yet. “That’s not how we’re going to end tonight. We’d like to end it with this song, the kind of thing we’re known for!” They signed off the night with a performance of HATE.
With no guest musicians or dancers – just the two of them – and having performed an incredible set of 32 songs, Itsuka and Gonchi stepped back into their coffins, closing the book on over half a decade of unrivaled and matchless work.
<Release Information>
Charisma.BEST
Price: ¥3,000 (+tax)
Warner Music Japan / Atlantic Japan
<Digital Release Information>
If you purchase Charisma.BEST on the iTunes Store, you can receive two iTunes-only tracks: Buta and Hello 2〜Midnight Reboot ver.〜.
Charisma.BEST – iTunes Store
<Latest Music Video>
Charisma.com – “Ribbon”
https://youtu.be/EBrKbRDg9bg
Charisma.com Official Website: http://official-charisma.com