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Puffy Amiyumi - The Rolling Debut Revue 2002
- - - July 17 @ Park West in Chicago
The reigning trendsetter of casual style and irresistible cuteness has landed.
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Power-pop superstars Ami Onuki and Yumi Yoshimura (known simply as "Puffy" in Japan) rocked Chicago this week as they continue their first U.S. tour. Since 1996 the duo has enjoyed huge success in their home country, and have sold over 14 million cds, making them Japan's best-selling artists. They have hosted their own TV variety show "Pa Pa Pa Pa Puffy", Barbie-like dolls are made in their image, and their songs are used to advertise countless products, from Yamaha scooters to Shiseido cosmetics. Ironically, they're virtually unknown in the U.S., outside of J-Pop fan circles and college campuses.
But their American fans showed up in full force to meet and greet Puffy when they appeared at the Virgin Megastore on Michigan Avenue on July 17. When Jon and I arrived at 9:30, there were no customers in the store, and the little stage hadn't even been set up for Puffy. By 11:00 a line of a couple hundred anxious fans had formed, and more than a few jumped up and down when Ami and Yumi appeared at 12:20. One by one, they were led up to the platform where the stars waited for a "personal" meeting. Ami and Yumi spoke with the help of their translator and personalized copies of their newest U.S. release, "An Illustrated History". They had a quick conversation with each fan, saying "arigato" and "thank you" before moving on. It seemed to be particularly exciting for the Japanese students, who know that you can't get this close to Puffy in Japan. The pile of gifts grew as fans carried up small plush animals as offerings. (We presented them with specially-designed t-shirts; scoll down to see the characters.)
After lunch and some shopping, we took a bus up to Park West to catch the 7:00 show. Fans were lined up around the block to get in and stake out their place on the dance floor. After enthusiastic performances by locals "Manplanet" (Devo-inspired and space-themed, clad in bright plastic suits with hair dyed to match), and Boston-based "Bleu" (best-known, for now, for his song "Somebody Else" on the Spiderman soundtrack), the house was ready for the main event.
When Puffy took the stage the fans erupted in cheers. Everyone on the floor danced, sang, and bounced along as Puffy performed their biggest hits, plus a few extra gems. The duo's stage persona was casual and confident. Ami and Yumi addressed the audience in English, reading from their notes and then belting out, "HELLO CHICAGO!" and "HEY EVERYBODY!" After a little friendly small talk, they spoke quickly in Japanese, and those who understood laughed. Ami said, "If you do not understand what we are saying, ask a Japanese person next to you. They are probably exchange student and are dying to make American friends." (Laughter again)
Ami and Yumi had tremendous energy, as did their colorful backing band -- which is remarkable, considering the whirlwind tour they've experienced, with little time off for sightseeing! They admitted to the audience that they had to leave for their next show immediately after the performance, but they asked, "When we come back to Chicago, what should we do?" and "Where should we go?" For a city filled with things to do and see, the audience didn't have much to say.
During the show, Puffy announced that it was Bleu's birthday, and they pulled him back onto the stage to present him with a cake and a gift. He blew out the candles and unwrapped his...plush Spiderman doll! The audience, led by Puffy and the band, sang "Happy Birthday" to him. He seemed genuinely surprised and touched by the gesture.
Puffy and Bleu share a Producer, and Puffy sang backup on Bleu's "Sayonara", but this was the first time they had played together. Although their style is different, their sound meshed surprisingly well, and I was glad to experience Bleu for the first time live.
The show lasted about one and a half hours. After Puffy finished their encore and the lights came up, everyone filed out, seeming a little sorry that it was over.
(Or maybe everyone was just tired from dancing!)
For the uninitiated, Puffy's sound is hard to describe, as it combines many styles and influences (The Beatles, ELO, Stereolab, ABBA, The Who, The Cardigans, doo-wop, jazz, hard rock,'60s girl-group, you name it!), while somehow maintaining a totally unique, upbeat, and undeniably catchy sound. Puffy has 8 full-length Japanese releases in addition to "An Illustrated History" and "Spike". Puffy is Produced by Japanese star Tamio Okuda and Andy Sturmer of Jellyfish, and they have collaborated with Yasuharu Konishi of Pizzicato Five. Ami and Yumi's likenesses on their cd covers and website are designed by artist Rodney Alan Greenblat, well-known for creating Parappa the Rapper for Playstation.
If you're looking to get into J-Pop, you might as well start at the top!
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Play List
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Love So Pure
True Asia
That's the Way it is
Electric Beach Fever
Wild Girls on Circuit
Sign of Love
Sunday Girls
Mother
Brand New Days
Puffy's Rule
Jet Police
Boogie Woogie No. 5
Into the Beach
Your Love is a Drug
Fumio's "Asia's Major Excursion"
Kinoshita-san's "Jump over the K point"
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* Puffy has been featured in Nylon, Giant Robot, Zipper, WYWS, and Cha Cha Charming magazines,
and was interviewed by Scott Simon on NPR'S Weekend Edition 7/27/02 *
* Did you catch Puffy on their tour? What did you think of the show? Share the love, people!
Send an email and I'll post your comments. *
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Review © 2002 Jen Rarey
