2009 Moment of Anime: Melting into the Fandom of Miku Hatsune

Going the whole hog on CCY's call is a tall order for me, but I'd like to at least give it a stab.

As pointed out by ETERNAL, Miku has been around for more than two years. But prior to the I Love Anisong concert on AFA09 Day One, I had not heard a single one of her songs - except her hilarous rendition of levan polkka aka the leek spin song.

I had gone to see her 'live' event at AFA09 simply because, well, it were there. And so was I. I also happened to be wedged in between two avid Miku fans. I asked how a virtual idol could give a 'live' concert and they related to me how, at Miku Fest' 09, her holographic image was projected on stage amidst a live band. That was not the case at AFA09, the 'live' was just a series of music videos albeit on a really big screen, a shout-out to Singapore (again mostly lost in non-translation), confetti and stage fireworks. Miku Fan Left became progressively more excited as the 10 minute show progressed, waving his light stick tepidly as first but gradually increasing in tempo, his body moving in tandem, the look of rapture stealing over his face until, finally, in the midst of Miku Miku ni Shite Ageru, with Miku shaking her leeks like maracas and making a >_< face, he could not contain himself anymore - barely holding back tears, he gushed: 她好可爱啊~~!!

I agree. To use a TYPE MOONism, Miku's Origin is surely Cuteness. And it was Melt (lyrics) and the accompanying dance (which I hear was performed by some of A Certain Anime Goods Shop crew including the Dollfather and CV63) that has overwhelmed my initial skepticism about whether her songs were any good or whether she would staying power.

Everything in Melt complements her sound and her chara design. And yet the cuteness has an innocence about it and never becomes cloying. The song itself conveys the strong yet unstable feelings of a young teenage girl in love; the words are simple and sincere, the images draw on well-known motifs (like sharing an umbrella, parting is such sweet sorrow at the train station) and I found it both cute and clever how the song's opening found an echo in the ending - the second line 思い切って　前髪を切った (itself a fun use of the word 'cut' as compounded as part of a metaphorical expression and then literally) where she makes the fringe cutting motion (00:40) and then she repeats the motion, as the song winds down, but with a wink added as she quips なんてね！ (02:42) which cuts through the mushiness with a refreshing dash of playfulness.

Damn, she is very cute - 今日の私はかわいいのよ！

Related posts:

1. [Zyl] Hatsune Miku Live In Sapporo 2011 Screening
2. [Zyl] Hatsune Miku Live Party in Singapore 2011
3. 2009 Moment of Anime 8: To Hug Or To Be Hugged