Flashback Friday: Perfume - Jenny wa Gokigen Naname | Live vocals desu

I have complained many times that I'm starting to tire of Perfume's singing voices and that Nakata and the girls need to let that shit go. Over the past couple of albums, we've gotten songs where the vocals are so damn inconsistent that we hear them anyway (i.e "Pick Me Up", "Everyday") so just do it.

But another issue I have is that Perfume rarely perform different versions of their songs. I'm not too fussed about them not singing live. There'd be no way they could do all of the choreo that they do and sing live anyway. But it would be nice to have them sing live for a song or two where there is no choreography, i.e "Star Train".

Perfume have given us instances of live natural vocals on their tours. Most notably the "Butterfly" intro on their Future Pop tour, and the intro to "Voice" for their 2019 Reframe gig. But they've also done entire performances live and to different versions of their songs. One of which is a 2008 performance on the Domoto Brothers variety show of their pre Game song "Jenny wa Gokigen Naname ", which was a cover of the 80s pop group Juicy Fruits.

The version of the song that Perfume released, and the one of which they've performed countless times on tour is more in line with the style of music they were releasing pre Game when they were signed to Bee-Hive records; where-as this performance is faithful to the original in its sound, with is synth pop with a bit of rock. The interesting twist however is that the original Juicy Fruits version of the song featured vocals more akin to how Perfume sing now, where-as Perfume's cover had them singing closer to their natural singing voices. Kashiyuka's voice is actually very similar to how the original singer sounds on the song.

I abso-fucking-lutely HATE Perfume's original cover of "Jenny wa Gokigen Naname". But this version right here? I can get behind. It's different for Perfume, but still feels Perfume. Which is why I look into the camera every time somebody says that Perfume can't be Perfume without Nakata Yasutaka.

Perfume's live vocals aren't anything spectacular, but they're decent. After all, these girls trained at a performing arts school, and were singing live whilst dancing constantly during their pre "Polyrhythm" days. That training is in part why they are so damn disciplined when it comes to their dance routines.

It's a real shame that Perfume are having this whole part of who they are just shackled because their producers wants it. Which is why Perfume should consider working with other producers, or at the every least put their Perfume's closet dance heeled foot down and demanding to be able to sing. I know a-chan is DYING inside at not being able to sing as she'd like. Every damn opportunity she gets, she tries.

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