I knew there was a forecast of rain for the next day, so I took a small rolling suitcase and packed it with our umbrella and rain coats. KAMIJO is known to bring rain so I took the forecast quite seriously. I knew we would be there in line all day so I collected food for lunch, our fan project for KAMIJO’s birthday, and of course, my long stem red rose.
(Offical event advertisement)
(photo taken outside the venue on 07/03/2014- credits KAMIJO North America)
I joined the queue with other fans and we made a line outside the door along the wall. This is from the previous day, you can see the sign for the venue Le Divan du Monde in red with white letters http://www.divandumonde.com/
(photo taken outside the venue on 07/05/2014- credits KAMIJO North America. )
I took the time to organize the last entries of our project for KAMIJO’s birthday. In collaboration with KAMISpanish, we had organized a project to collect hand written postcards to be presented to KAMIJO for his birthday . This was the best moment for us, as none of us was able to be in Japan for his actual birthday concert and event. PROYECTO PARA EL CUMPLEAÑOS DE KAMIJO 2014 http://kamispanish.livejournal.com/20137.html
Fans sent hand written post cards from Mexico, Australia, South America and Europe. We also had fans email us entries if they were unable to make the deadline to mail physical postcards. I placed these in the photo binder above. I had extra post cards with me for fans in the line and several fans added greetings for KAMIJO to our project. It did rain and I continued to work on this underneath an umbrella.
(photo taken outside the venue on 07/04/2014- credits KAMIJO North America)
My friend from the USA brought a sketch pad and drew artwork of fans waiting in line and the scenes outside the venue. He later added these to our fan project for KAMIJO’s birthday so KAMIJO could also see these images. There were also several other fan projects being completed. A French flag that was being passed around and I signed that. We were also handed red rose petals to throw in the air during “Louis” when he sings “La Vie en Rose”.
(photo taken outside the venue on 07/05/2014- credits KAMIJO North America)
After hours of waiting, finally KAMIJO arrived at the venue. He emerged from a van wearing all black as usual with the huge sunglasses. He paused briefly to look at us, wave and then hurried into the building. It was fast.
And some hours later we are finally allowed inside. Upon entering the venue , the staff told me to go up the stairs. It’s dark and when I reach the balcony all I can see in front of me is the stage below with a red curtain that has KAMIJO’s cross emblem projected onto it. I hurry to the rail trying to figure how to get down to the stage area. It’s very dark and I still can’t see clearly because my eyes have not adjusted. Someone is walking up to me and I turning hearing their footsteps. They gestured further into the darkness in front of me and I see a dark figure in a large fancy chair. KAMIJO is there- what a surprise!
My eyes are attracted to the shining vampire silver nails on his fingertips. I greet KAMIJO with a slight bow and hand him the project, “We collected cards from fans all over the world for your birthday. Since we cannot be with you in Japan we would like to give them to you now. He said, “Oh thank you very much.” Then he extended his hand to take mine. I was worried his vampire nails would stab my hand but he was careful. He moves very naturally with them.
I made my way down a spiral staircase and found a place at the front. Music began to play while we waited . This was the first song , Preliator by Globus. Aha! One of my favorite dance songs! I was thrilled KAMIJO also likes this song and selected it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q6skxRLnsI
Various music continued to be played for an hour while the venue filled with fans, much of it was classical music. This music from The Piano played several times, “The Heart Asks Pleasure First” . KAMIJO has said The Piano is his favorite movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u83xIXliIXY
A venue staff member appeared and announced that photos and video were forbidden and that if we took them we would be asked to leave the venue. Then someone tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I understood English. They then said KAMIJO wanted us to shout “Vive le Roi” for him and to pass the message.
I was right near the stage door on the right so I saw one of his staff members trying to attach a curtain that went over the door with a hook or some kind of fastener to hold it open but it kept falling. They went to find someone who could fix this. We are all waiting on the curtain!
We began chanting “Vive le Roi”. Then the intro music began….I had never heard this before and I don’t know the name of it. It is new music he is using to enter the stage. The support members came out one by one. Meku came onstage and was right in front of me. He really worked up the crowd! He got everyone excited , showed self-confidence and was charismatic. He gave us the sign of devil horns and we were all loudly chanting and waving roses.
(photo credit to Excite Music http://www.excite.co.jp/music/news/detail/E1404713045072.html)
KAMIJO then came onstage and we were all shouting “Vive le Roi” with all our voices ! He began with “Yamiyo no Lion”. I was so happy this time to see him clearly from my place. I was very impressed he moved so well in those platform shoes! I was often so blinded by looking at him and then the costume I would forget what he was signing. At one point he took a real rose, held it for some time then tore it to pieces in the air.
He was happy and smiling a lot. At one point he sat down on a speaker on the left side. It looked odd and cute to be sitting so low to the ground with that elegant costume. Fuyu Tokyo was huge surprise and I was very pleased so many fans knew this and sang along with him. I had dreamed of being able to attend a LAREINE concert and wave a long stem rose. As fans we waved our arms in unison holding the roses. I still feel privileged to have shared this moment.
A fan called to him “Bonjour!” (Good Morning) and he said back “Non, non, non….Bonsoir” (No, no, no…Good Night) . In the past, fans have “teased” him about saying Bonjour during the night time.
Then finally he moved over to our side!! Meku moved to let him pass. I was looking up at him smiling then he came right in front on me and stepped on my folding fan which was lying partially unfolded on the edge of stage. I was horrified- not because I cared that he would damage it but because I didn’t want him to step on the wooden parts (which are quite thick) and trip and fall into the audience! I had not thought he would be so close to the edge of the stage. His foot was about 3 inches from the edge! He was reaching out to touch hands of fans and everyone was pushing me toward him. He was shifting the position of his foot so I grabbed the fan when he did. RELIEF!! Then he is not done touching fans and taps me really hard on my head- ouch! It’s was playful, not mean, but he’s really strong. I felt the touch still the next day.
During one song a fan handed him a plushie, which I thought was a sheep (like the one he calls his “pet”) but when he held it up, it was an elephant. He looked at it like with surprise and smiled big! Then he set it down on stage.
During “Bastille” we were supposed to do a call and response with him from lyrics he had posted to his facebook page. But we had never heard this song before since it had not yet been released on CD. We had no idea what it was going to sound like. I was surprised, by the industrial sound which is new for him. We did the best we could and it got better as the song went along.
Toward the end, the French flag we had signed was passed up to him and he held it up for us to see. During the final song “Louis” we finally got to throw those red rose petals and the effect was incredibly beautiful! I wish there was some video recording of it because it was so beautiful and I am sure he was enjoying the flying rose petals.
(Bouquet of red roses delivered to KAMIJO the day of the event- sponsored by KAMIJO North America, KAMISpanish, KAMIJO Translation, and We Support Masashi)
Overall, amazing concert by very talented artists! I knew Shinya was terrific because I saw him in concert with Dir en Grey over a year ago. His other support artists, IKUO and Meku are extremely talented musicians and also really work the crowd well. They were very friendly to his fans , connected well with us, and contributed to the excitement and energy of the concert. It would have been nice to have had the opportunity to meet them also during the meet and greet. KAMIJO was truly magnificent. He seems to have looked into my soul, read my thoughts, and composed music just for me. I am sure it is that way for many of his fans! He will always have my support and loyalty as a fan. His solo music is amazing and he has a phenomenal stage presence and projection. Please do take any opportunity you have to see him live and support him as an artist.
Set list
Yamiyo no Lion
Moulin Rouge
Fuyu Tokyo,
Tsuioku no Mon Amour
Gensou Ttrianon
Presto
Sacrifice of Allegro
Royal Tercet
Tresor
Grazioso
Bastille Dying Table
Sonata
Mangetsu no adagio
Throne
Encore: Unmei and , Louis- Enketsu no La Vie en Rose
We were disappointed there was no second encore but when it became clear he was not coming back on stage, I wanted to be out of the crowd and the hot venue. The staff had announced we needed to all leave and then be let back in the door for the afterparty anyway. I chose to find a space at the bar directly across the street and away from the crowd which was waiting to get back inside the venue. We got a table right by the window where we had a good view of the van waiting to take KAMIJO away. I knew he would not be out immediately so we ordered drinks and watched from the window. Sometime later, when we saw movement in the crowd, we were able to leave the table quickly and rush out to see him off. We were able to get quite close and wave to him. He was waving back us and smiling.
This is not really part of the concert review, but I did attend the famous Moulin Rouge show, after which his song is named, which is just walking distance down the street. Photography is not allowed inside but I took this photo from across the street.
© 2014 KAMIJO North America. All rights reserved.
No hay comentarios.:
Publicar un comentario