2005 Nen Natsu W & Berryz Koubou Concert Tour - High Score!

W, the dual act consisting of Aibon (Ai Kago) and Nono (Nozomi Tsuji), which was disbanded in Feb. 2006, did two concerts with Berryz Kobo, one in 2004 and this one in 2005. This concert is probably the closest thing to a true W concert we'll ever see. Even though the Berryz girls, in varying numbers, are onstage most of the time as well, we get to see more W numbers here than in any other concert the two did, including the "Hello Pro Party" they did with Aya Matsuura and Melon Kinenbi that same year (2005) and also reviewed on this site. We see them do their three 2005 singles here, "Koi no Fuga," "Ai no Imi wo Oshiete!" and a rousing performance of their last single, "Miss Love Tantei," one of my favorite songs of theirs. And they do it in these gorgeous white-and-blue party dresses with white boots, easily their prettiest outfits in the entire show. They follow it with a very nice song I'd never heard before, "Sexy Snow." They also do "Matsu Wa" and "Robokiss," this last one with a little help at the end from two of the Berryz girls. Aibon and Nono are at their peak here, and if you're at all a fan of theirs, this is the concert to get. Berryz Kobo is in a formative stage here, infused with youthful energy, good cheer and vitality, and always fun to watch, but not yet the formidable, finely-tuned dance unit they would become in a few short years (see the 2009 Single-V, "Dakishimete Dakishimete"). There are eight members here, since Maiha Ishimura hadn't left the group yet. In the opening number, they join W in a performance of "Aa Ii Na!," the video of which they'd appeared in only as back-up dancers. Here they sing along and dance with W for the whole number, another favorite of mine, and it's just pure delight. Later, they join W for the Morning Musume classic, "Mr. Moonlight," with Aibon taking on the lead role originated by Yossi, complete with her version of Yossi's rock-style howls. More delight. If I have any complaint, it's with the camera crew. Why the fast-cutting during the rap portion of "Miss Love Tantei?" I want to SEE the girls dance, not have my eyes shake uncontrollably. And why so many shots from the audience with fans jumping up and down in front of the camera and blocking our view? It's a stupid directorial choice. Audiences at Hello! Project concerts should be heard and not seen. Just for that, I take one star off the rating.

Yu'll love this concert if you are a Berryz Koubou or W fan. W perform all their singles except Koi no Vacance and Berryz Koubou perform their most popular song 'Special Generation', and all of their singles at this time except Anata nashide wa sekite yukenai and Koi no Jubaku. The shuffles in this concert are amazing, be prepared for a Chinami x Yurina combo, A Nono x Miyabi combo and an Aibon x Momoko combo, all of which are amazing. This concert also is one of Ishimura Maiha's last so it's a must have for any Maiha fans. W fans must buy this, W are amazing in it and as they've split up now, it's one of the few lives you'll see and it will be the jewel of your W collection. Buy it or you'll regret it later.