Listening to [Can't Stop] by the Red Hot Chili Peppers while reading will enhance your experience.
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Watching the [ASAYAN] semi-finals at the Ichigo Production office, Ai wore a look of deep suspicion. While AAA's performance had been excellent, the stage delivered by Enfants Terribles was on a level that transcended mere excellence.
"But 2 to 1...?"
Crossing her arms in thought, Ai could vaguely sense what was happening behind the curtain. As the center of the unknown underground idol group [B-Komachi], she already knew the entertainment industry was a world built on [lies]. However, this didn't feel like typical, unfair [industry practices].
'I knew it already. But to think it was this bad...'
Her eyes were stained with a dark, heavy shadow.
"Oh yeah!! One win down!!"
"Hey, chrome-dome, turn the tension down. Your head is reflecting so much light I can't see the front."
We had secured our first win. While it was a shame we didn't win [3:0], band music's true vitality is best felt live. I settled my mind with the thought that this was simply the limitation of broadcast technology in the mid-2000s.
Then, I threw my arms around the shoulders of Shuji and Yokishi.
"Everyone, keep this pace. Whether it's 2:1 or 3:0, a win is a win either way."
"Leader, our goal isn't just winning; it's making thirty thousand people our fans."
"Baldy's actually saying something right for once, huh?"
Unlike the commotion among the audience, the Enfants Terribles waiting room was tranquil. They were simply focused on showcasing their music on stage, regardless of the victory or defeat.
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In contrast to the peaceful Enfants Terribles waiting room, the [AAA] dressing room was a scene of chaos. They knew they had been overwhelmingly outmatched—in both performance and musicality.
The moment thirty thousand people sang along to their opponent's song, the battle should have been over.
"We still have a chance. We lost 2:1, but that's only a one-point difference. Let's do just a little better."
"But... we..."
"No. Our music was clearly appealing enough to the public. Have confidence. The results speak for themselves."
Nishijima knew something was off. But the match wasn't over yet. Even if there were suspicious elements, as musicians, they just had to play their [music].
Suppressing the doubt rising in his heart, Nishijima, the leader of AAA, encouraged his teammates.
They prepared for their next stage while watching Enfants Terribles' performance on the waiting room TV.
"Damn it...."
Once again, Nishijima's face contorted with frustration, his fists clenching so hard the veins bulged. While not quite the same vibe as [Hey Jude], the band was once again overwhelming.
[Can't Stop] was an indisputable representative track of the legendary funk-rock band, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, capturing the very essence of their funky style.
'And the riff of this song is one of the most iconic of the 2000s.'
Since I was currently in mid-2000s Japan, [Can't Stop] had a high probability of aligning perfectly with public taste.
Of course, I couldn't expect a sing-along this time. The lyrics were dense, occupying a space somewhere between singing and rapping, and the tempo was incredibly fast.
"We will now begin the second stage of the [ASAYAN] semi-finals!!!!!!"
The moment the host finished speaking, Shuji's punchy slap bass and funky guitar riffs began piercing the ears of the crowd. Just before the vocals started, the stage lights flooded Enfants Terribles, revealing them standing shirtless, muscles fully exposed.
'After all, muscles are a basic requirement for funk rock.'
As their physiques were revealed, gasps of admiration mixed with the pleasant screams of fans. In a conservative Japanese society, seeing artists perform shirtless was a first—a trailblazing move by Enfants Terribles, so the reaction was only natural.
The core of funk rock is to resist the absurdities of the world while remaining cool and sexy. As if showcasing our defiance, guitar sounds laden with heavy distortion and sticky, sexy basslines echoed throughout the arena.
The heat from the audience began to induce sweat, making the band members' muscles appear even more defined. Captivated by the sight of men brandishing instruments while flaunting sculpted physiques, spectators actually started calling music stores on the spot.
In my past life, [Can't Stop] was a song so popular that every guitarist or bassist knew how to play it. This was due to its funky, sexy riffs and brilliant lyrics that spoke to those who had lost themselves to the world's oppression.
As mentioned, punk resists every irrational phenomenon in society.
By the midpoint of the song, even though the audience couldn't understand all the lyrics or follow the rap-style vocals, they were shirtless and swaying their bodies just like the men on stage.
The scene lacked rigid discipline or synchronization, but freedom and sincerity had taken their place. Unlike idol stages, a band's performance is meant to be overflowing with wild, uninhibited spirit.
Enfants Terribles displayed the pinnacle of punk during this set. While the previous stage had introduced the concept of the sing-along, this performance liberated the crowd from the artificial joy of idol concerts where focus on choreography often buried the music itself.
The semi-finals of [ASAYAN] could truly be called one of the most glorious moments in the history of popular music. It was a moment that freed spectators worldwide from invisible constraints.
Enfants Terribles had birthed a completely new type of performance culture.
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AAA and Enfants Terribles stood side-by-side, awaiting the results of the second stage. AAA, in their meticulously coordinated outfits, stood in stark contrast to the arrogant, shirtless members of Enfants Terribles.
However, the members of AAA did not look bright. They had already sensed their defeat.
But then, an unexpected result was announced.
"The ASAYAN semi-finals are neck and neck!! The winner of this stage, with a score of 2 to 1, is AAA!!!!"
As the result rang out, a murmur began to ripple through the audience. They could have accepted a 2:1 lead in the first round, but an outright defeat? For the fans who had lived through that performance, it was incomprehensible.
Logically, the crowd had already stripped off their own shirts and danced along with Enfants Terribles. To lose the [Audience Evaluation] in such a state was an absurd anomaly.
The audience had felt doubt in the first round, but now, in the second, they felt genuine indignation. Amidst this brewing storm, the stage moved toward the third round.