“Morning Musume Concert Tour 2012 Haru ~Ultra Smart~” Concert Setlist Released

The concert setlist for “Morning Musume Concert Tour 2012 Haru ~Ultra Smart~” has been released.

1. Pyocopyoco Ultra
2. Guruguru JUMP
VTR
3. Kanashiki Koi no Melody (without Mitsui Aika)
4. Give me Love (without Mitsui Aika)
MC / Mitsui Aika, Niigaki Risa
5. Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari
6. Kaiketsu Positive A (without Mitsui Aika)
7. My Way 〜Joshikou Hanamichi〜 (without Mitsui Aika)
8. Otome no Timing / Mitsui Aika, Ikuta Erina, Suzuki Kanon
9. Silver no Udedokei / Tanaka Reina, Sayashi Riho w/ Niigaki Risa, Mitsui Aika
10. Suki da na Kimi ga / Michishige Sayumi, Fukumura Mizuki
MC: Quiz! Ultra Smart – Mata Mata Senpai ni Kikimashita / Niigaki Risa, Iikubo Haruna, Ishida Ayumi, Satou Masaki, Kudou Haruka
11. Suki na Senpai / Iikubo Haruna, Ishida Ayumi, Satou Masaki, Kudou Haruka
12. Namida ga Tomaranai Houkago / Fukumura Mizuki, Ikuta Erina, Sayashi Riho, Suzuki Kanon
13. Genki Pikappika! / Fukumura Mizuki, Ikuta Erina, Sayashi Riho, Suzuki Kanon, Iikubo Haruna, Ishida Ayumi, Satou Masaki, Kudou Haruka
14. Egao ni Namida 〜THANK YOU! DEAR MY FRIENDS〜 / Niigaki Risa (Back-up dancers: Fukumura Mizuki, Ikuta Erina, Suzuki Kanon, Satou Masaki)
15. Shanimuni Paradise / Niigaki Risa, Michishige Sayumi, Tanaka Reina, Mitsui Aika
MC / Michishige Sayumi, Tanaka Reina
16. Itoshiku Kurushii Kono Yoru ni / Michishige Sayumi, Tanaka Reina
MC / Mitsui Aika, Ikuta Erina, Suzuki Kanon, Iikubo Haruna, Ishida Ayumi
17. Special Medley: HOW DO YOU LIKE JAPAN?〜Nihon wa Donna Kanji Dekka?〜 → TOP → Ikimasshoi! → Yamete yo! Sindbad (without Mitsui Aika)
18. Sono Bamen de Bibiccha Ikenai jan! (without Mitsui Aika)
19. Kare to Issho ni Omise ga Shitai! (without Mitsui Aika)
20. OK YEAH! (without Mitsui Aika)
MC
21. Aruiteru
ENCORE
22. Renai Hunter (without Mitsui Aika)
MC
23. Namidacchi

Thanks to Starra

This is the first concert for Morning Musume without Ai-chan so I’m really curious as to what performances will be like without her since she was a lead vocalist for quite some time. Aika also participates in a few performances and it’s been a while since we’ve seen a “complete” Morning Musume so I’m looking forward to seeing the performances with her.

When they mentioned that the concert would be called “~Ultra Smart~” the first thing I assumed is they would have songs from 12, Smart. I thought that this setlist would be really similar to their fall concert last year so I was a bit disappointed that they were doing the same things two times in a row.  The setlist though doesn’t look that bad though and I really like that they had each “generation” got to do a few songs for themselves since it’s easier for them to show off their talents in small groups than trying to compete with everyone else.

One thing that caught my eye a lot was Gaki performing Egao ni Namida 〜THANK YOU! DEAR MY FRIENDS〜 . Her graduation single has her covering a past H!P song and seeing her perform this solo makes me think that this could be the song on her graduation single. Out of the entire setlist she’s the only person to have received a solo so it makes me think that this could be her graduation song, though I still somewhat doubt that this could be her song. Mainly because it’s kind of weird for her to be singing her graduation song so early in the concert.

Tsunku has also recently blogged about the concert rehearsals:

Sayashi and Ishida’s dance battle is worth seeing.
Kudou and Fukumura – the egg group – have grown better to express themselves.
Suzuki and Satou have suddenly grown so much it will shock you.
Ikuta is a really good girl. Might be a genious of smiles.
Iikubo is the one who were the most behind and worked the hardest. But one can tell that she practices until midnight and put in a lot of effort.
But more than anything, none of them complain. Everyone is positive. It’s admirable!

Mitsui has made quite a come-back and was able to take part in rehearsals too. Her RAP is quite good too. She’s cool.

Niigaki is, no matter what, in an amazing condition. All members are like that but, whenever they get closer to their graduation, they become even more perfect. Or rather they get better at their singing, dancing and expressiveness so that it makes me think “Aa~ I wish I could have them in the group for one more year…”

Tanaka and Michishige’s 6ki MC is great, but that they’ve improved their performances is amazing. Tanaka’s singing, it’s amazing.
She’d be able to do anything.
Michishige is sometimes out of pitch (lol), but as she gets better keeping the rhythm, her singing improves, too.

On the first day of the tour, the next single “Renai Hunter” that will go on sale 4/11 will be performed for the first time. It’s really worth checking out!

He mentioned a dance battle with Ayumi and Riho though there’s no mention of it yet. I think a dance battle between these two members is something a lot of fans are looking forward to so hopefully they do it at least once during the concert. Also Tsunku mentioned awhile back that the dance for Renai Hunter was intense, since it’s featured in the setlist I’m really looking forward to a preview. The preview may give us some hints of what the dance is like and I have really high hopes for Renai Hunter so I’m really excited for it. This is what’s been said about the song so far:

from bluemaple at H!O:

one 2ch netizen said renai hunter sounded like Aki Urara
and another said it was great with cool high notes belting by risa, riho and reina,
an agitating song with many cool facial expressions from risa lol
and the dance was somehow like zombie and robot, but was a high-level formation dance
outfits are in silver color, sleeveless and with pants

I’m very positive that a concert rip for Renai Hunter will come but I also hope that other concert rips will become available too. I’m really looking forward to seeing this on DVD and I think hearing the concert rips might calm my anxiety for this release.

Here’s the date and times for the rest of the concert performances:

Schedule Page