Atarashii Gakko World Tour 2024, Singapore

Spent a lovely evening with Atarashii Gakko! It's not surprising that the gateway drug that is BABYMETAL has had me open up to more Japanese music, and this dance idol quartet inevitably pinged my radar. They have an impressive catalogue of groovy tunes, that while not metal, genre-blend a very wide range of non-metal music. Their repertoire of songs is as energetic as it is catchy, and the ladies, themselves, make great entertainment both performing for and engaging the crowd.

Lead singer, Suzuka, who shares the same first name as SU-METAL, does everything with her stage presence and vocal tones to distinguish herself from her metal sister. Where SU-METAL (on-stage) is always dignified and regal, Suzuka is zany and erratic with her movements and vocalizations. Vocally, where SU-METAL goes high and is precisely controlled, Suzuka goes deep and shouty with occasional bursts of high-pitched screams. She may seem random, but Suzuka is well-practiced in her stage persona, so there is discernible method to her madness.

From the pix (above), Suzuka is at 12 o'clock. At 9 o'clock is Rin. Sporting shaved sides and back, she is the group's rapper and her solo dance movements tend to comprise electric tics, like a short-circuiting robot. Suzuka and Rin provide the vocal punch to their songs. At 6 o'clock, is Mizyu (twin pony tails), while Kanon (untied long, flowing hair) is at 3 o'clock. These two add the sweet harmonies, rounding out the total package that AG delivers.

The group seemed extra hyped in this evening's performance. Maybe it's because after tonight, they go on a 3-month vacation before commencing Part 2 of their world tour in September. Suzuka had to be supported by the security guys a couple of times as she tried to pitch herself into the audience. With enthusiastic high kicks, she also launched two shoes into the crowd and I don't know how or even if she got them back. Well, maybe it's something she is known to do, and she keeps a stock of spare shoes handy upstage and out of sight. And for a surprise, during the encore, they walked into the audience and cheered with us from the stands.

This is Suzuka just two or three rows in front of me, while Mizyu surprised me as she drifted past my right shoulder and I only caught a fleeting glimpse of her passing by. Too late for a photo.

Atarashii Gakko are an idol group, but they style themselves like very down to earth people. They remind me of friends and neighbours, colleagues, and familiar faces like maybe in the supermarket or hawker centre that we encounter daily. It's this kind of affinity and affability they project that makes up much of their charm.

To round up this entry, let me put up the set list for Atarashii Gakko World Tour 2024 Pt 1, Theatre at MediaCorp, Singapore, 29 June 2024:

1. Toryanse
2. Omakase
3. Giri Giri
4. Pineapple Kryptonite (they didn't actually sing this, but the remixed instrumental played in the background while they interacted with the audience. A pity 'cos I like this song -- the lyrics are quite sad)
5. Otonablue
6. Arigato
7. Hello (from the Tiger's Apprentice)
8. Forever Sisters
9. Candy
10. Fantastico
11. Woo! Go!
12. Suki Lie
13. Fly High
14. Tokyo Calling
15. Nainainai (for the 'live' show, Suzuka adds lines about not wanting to go home, while Rin insists that they have to)
16. Free Your Mind (encore)
17. Que Sera, Sera

Back to work and already deflated

When you hear a steady flapping noise over the Japanese metal you're playing in your car, you know you've got a puncture. I hoped to make it to Knight Auto Accessories, the tyre shop I'd patronized once before, but the flapping got so loud and frantic that I had to pull over to a side road and park as it would have been too dangerous to continue driving. Glad I stopped as the damage to the tyre was pretty extensive.

Here's the leak. Judging by the scuff marks, I'd probably hit a kerb at some point earlier. I have a dim memory of having done something like that quite a while back, but I didn't notice any damage when I checked at the time. Back then, I'd probably created a weak spot and eventually wear and tear broke it down further until it finally ruptured today. I'm fortunate that it wasn't a dramatic blowout on the highway with tyre shards spewing everywhere while sparks fly as rim grinds against asphalt.

Didn't realize it, but M2 doesn't come with a spare tyre. I have the tools for changing tyres neatly stowed in the spare well, but no spare. So I call AA for assistance. Within an hour, a tow truck arrives for a free tow -- a privilege for people with more than three years of membership.

I complete my journey to Knight Auto via tow truck. Unlike the last time, Knight Auto didn't try to sell me new rims along with new tyres, but I wouldn't have bought them anyway. I like my stock rims too much. I have two new rear tyres now. Toyo, I believe, is the tyre brand that Mazda usually use for their factory rollouts, so I guess I've come full circle, pun intended. LOL. Cost for a pair of new tyres: SGD$260.

iPie by Apple

Behold the most expensive McDonald's Apple Pie ever purchased via Grab Food app. It cost a grand total of SGD$16.10, including a $1 tip for the delivery person. What? It wasn't their fault, and they did make the trip down on time.

I ordered an Extra Value Meal and added the apple pie for dessert. The app processed the dessert order, but somehow the EVM order never made it. So: $1.90 (pie) + $10.10 (small order fee) + $3.10 (service fees) + $1 (tip) = $16.10.

Not complaining about McD's or Grab. I'm recording my own dumbness for not checking the order before confirming it. And hopefully, I won't do it again.

I hereby dub this dessert the McDonald's iPie by Apple just to make myself feel better about the needless expense.