Perfume’s last couple of televised performances of 2023. Includes ugly outfits, a nice outfit and a throwback outfit.

One thing about Perfume which is as certain as them pulling up to perform in something ugly, they are going to be booked. Every other week throughout this entire year, Perfume were performing on or at something on the days they weren’t holding their own shows. They stay on that grind. Crystal Kay needs to be asking her team some questions. Because, Oricon chart? WHERE IS SHE!?

I may not always agree with Perfume’s setlist choices. But one thing I will give them, is that when it comes to their end of the year run of televised performances and they have recently released a single, they will never just perform that song. “Sumikko Disco” got that one performance, and then Nocchi and Kashiyuka hung up those berets and it was a wrap on that song. Perfume opted to perform “Moon”, “Love Cloud” and “Fake It”.

I feel like the “Moon” performances were targeted at me. Perfume said ‘Oh, you think we’re done with this song? Oh, you wanna talk shit about our dresses?’. So they performed “Moon” twice in some ugly dresses.

Perfume performing “Moon” on Music Station Super Live | Video courtesy of prfm-multiverse (taopriest)

Perfume performing “Moon” on CDTV Live! Live! | Video courtesy of prfm-multiverse (taopriest)

It’s a shame that the energy Perfume gave for their first televised performance of “Moon” waned to quickly. Their first performance on FNS Kayousai Natsu the did wonders for the song. But as solid as every performance of “Moon” has been, Perfume’s energy has never matched that first performance. Perfume were BUSY in November and December performing left, right and centre, so this could be why. But they’re also probably over “Moon”.

It’s a shame what happened to “Moon” generally. The song structure not having enough of an anchor to it, which makes it come off far worse when it’s edited down for TV. The music video being so whack. And the performances being so ‘Meh’ the more they perform it. Because it has the makings of being a great song which could have stuck and felt like a fixture in Perfume song roster for live performances. The same way that “If You Wanna” had the potential to.

Perfume & Daichi Miura on Music Station Super Live | TV Ashahi

Perfume and Daichi Miura teamed up once again with the Rhizomatiks, ELEVENPLAY and SP Dancers, after their cool performance for Music Station in 2021, which what a tease at the Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony that we missed out. So it’s nice to see them the band back together again. I’m always down to see Perfume dance a little different to how they do normally.

Daichi Miura x Perfume | Video courtesy of prfm-multiverse (taopriest)

Daichi singing and dancing live is crazy. Props to him for that. Because I could never. He doesn’t have the most…stable of voices even when he’s in a studio booth. So to add movement to the mix!? Chile, that’s some bravery. Meanwhile, Perfume are like ‘Good for you sweetie’ and kept those microphones on mute.

This performance was really cool. Although it felt very divided. Once “Love Cloud” hit, the energy shifted completely to a point that Perfume and Daichi’s performances may as well had been two completely separate performances. And Daichi Miura and the dancers didn’t feel as considered in Perfume’s performance, as Perfume and the dancers felt in Daichi’s. Either Diachi should have chosen songs which sat better alongside “Love Cloud”, or Perfume should have picked a song which sat better alongside “Yuugatou” and “La Pensuer”. I do get Daichi’s song choices though, because they’re very much of the tone we usually get with Perfume’s tour intros and ELEVENPLAY performances, which are in tone with the styles of visuals that the Rhizomatiks and Perfume’s creative team usually pull together. Perfume performing something like “Edge” or “Story” would have fit in terms of tone, but I guess there are the logistics of the screens to worry about, and working dancers into those routines wouldn’t have been easy.

But tt was cool to finally see Perfume give a televised performance of “Love Cloud” and in some nice looking outfits. As much as I wasn’t a fan of how the final mix of the song turned out, I still think it would have made a great single and that “Moon” and “Love Cloud” should have been a double A-side release.

Perfume at the 74th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen | NHK

Perfume also performed “Fake It”, giving fans a full throwback moment, by having a stage which strongly resembled that of the music video and wearing an updated version of the outfits the wore in the very same music video.

This is one of the best televised performances Perfume have given all year. And it might actually be one of my favourite performances of “Fake It”. The lighting was great. The set looked great. The whole throwback to the music video was great. It was shot great.

The crowd were super into it and looked great with their white light sticks. Perfume were locked in. Everything just came together brilliantly. Tens across the board.

And if you listen carefully, there is a moment where the live feed from one Perfume’s microphones can be heard.

Perfume performing “Fake It” on 74th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen | Video courtesy of prfm-multiverse (taopriest)

As much as I go on about wishing Perfume would switch up their older songs and perform songs don’t get spotlit much, “Fake It” will always be the exception for me. It’s just a guaranteed crowd pleaser. And credit to Perfume and their team, they always manage to pull it out at just the right times.

It really is amazing how Perfume have continued to be a constant presence on these music shows for years, with no sign of them slowing down whatsoever. They’re at a point where they could do a whole lot less appearances and televised performances, or even not do them at all, and still sell out their tours. Of course it’s great that they still bother. But they really do not need to.