YFC London - another fan account
My account is not as detailed as most people, but I thought I share my experience. Apologies in advance for my fangirling over Gackt and You-kun and for being quite late in posting.
I arrived there about 4 hours before the show (because I could only take half day off work) and there were people already queuing up. I can now understand why people at the venue do not want people to camp out there because it is basically located within a shopping mall. I saw many people from the public taking pictures or filming us waiting in line, this included the YFC staff too. I think at one point sometime around 3.30pm Gackt came out because people near the entrance were screaming and then a girl ran passed us saying she saw Gackt. The wait seemed like forever, but they opened their doors at 6.30pm . I was lucky not to have my bag checked because I had handbag, but my sister had hers checked but they let her through with no problem.
When we got in they were selling the merchandise and I was sad not to see any of the plushies, but it wasn’t too crowded so I decided to buy the goods because I didn’t know if they would be selling it at the end of the live. I think most people ran in because they wanted to get to the front of the stage. I didn’t get much, just the photo book which I just love, and a small key chain. It was just small momentum for me to remember the concert. I am actually glad that I got it before the live because at the end it was crazy and like most people said in their accounts things were sold out.
Finally when I went in, it was indeed a small arena. I and stood to the left of the stage and I kinda knew that I would have a perfect view of You kun since I could see his mic stand. There were more people standing at the centre of the stage, and from past experience when I went to a standing concert I learned to stayed away from the centre. There were screams now again, but it turned out to be the staff testing out the equipment. Gackt sure likes to keep us waiting, they didn’t come out on stage until 7.45pm . People were chanting YFC and other incoherent things that I couldn’t understand but only when Gackt’s secretary made the announcement that we finally knew it was about to begin. The lights dim and then finally GacktJOB took to the stage one by one. I saw Chirolyn and then You and then the lights came on and the music and bam the one and only, GACKT I see before me. I didn’t see Jun-ji or Chachamaru come on stage because of where I was standing.
People have already given the set list so there is no point in me repeating it. But when he opened with Zan and wielding his sword I was awestruck. I was like, I can’t believe I am seeing Gackt with my own eyes and breathing the same air.
I loved the fact that he made the effort to speak in English and sing Mind Forest in English. At first I was like that is not Japanese and then when I listened harder I realised he was singing in English and that is what I love about this man. He really does love his fans and does whatever he can to please us.
The show started off with a bang but I was happy that he slowed things down with Kimi ga Matteiru Kara. Gackt just has that stage presence that commands you to look at him and only him. However, near the end I was worried because he really did at some point look like he would faint. At some point during the show You kun even was coughing a little.
Gackt and GacktJOB performed as if it is their last ever performance and they really do go all out and it is impressive to see and makes me love them that much more. But at the same time I am worried because I don’t want to see him in hospital with an IV drip, but the way he is going it looks like he is heading that way. It really amazes me how You, Chacha and Chirolyn can head bang and play the guitar with no mistakes.
Gackt loved to tease us with his sexy dancing and that was fun to see with my own two eyes. I didn’t see or know that Gackt tore his shirt apart, only saw the aftermath...meaning him standing there half naked. I could see the sweat dripping off his chest and oh my goodness the 6 pac!!! At his age he looks amazing!! Pictures do not do him justice, he looks so much better in person. I wasn’t that lucky to make eye contact with him but when he looked in my direction, I was close enough to see his blue eyes, which just made me melt, oh and not to forget his perfect white teeth. There were some parts where the spotlight was shining just on him and he was looking up, and he just looked like a Angel or could even be a kami-sama.
I actually saw more of You kun than Gackt if I think back to it. But when You kun was half naked too I was on cloud 9. You kun was really cute and he was so good looking in person. Again he looked soo much better in person. Plus when he smiled, ah it made my day. He was cute when he came to the front and was raising his hands in the air to get the crowd going. I wasn’t so lucky to catch anything from him, but I did get sprayed by his water bottle and he got me good since I looked down at my top and it was wet. The crazy thing was that I was happy about it. Later near the end of the show I also got sprayed by Chirolyn but not as much as I did by You-kun.
Now for the negative aspects of the show, the show was not even starting and this girl was pushing me from behind, and I am like WTF the show has not even begun. Also, as the night progressed the people who were standing around me didn’t seem to be Gackt fans at all. One of them was there because his girlfriend dragged him along, because she said to him ‘this is really not your thing’ and another guy was like ‘man i am so disappointed that there aren’t any good looking asian chicks here’. It really does infuriate me that these people actually went to buy tickets and took it away from other true Gackt fans that couldn’t get tickets. Oh but wait it is not the end, since they were like this I was like I can get revenge and do you know how I did that.....by getting hyper, letting loose and enjoying the show even more. I learnt as the night went on not to shove and push, but when everyone shoved one way I stepped in the opposite direction. The guy who was there to pick up girls shoved in front of me so I let him , so he was in between my sister and me. He was also talking to his friend who was behind me too. Well he eventually gestured to me to go forward and moved away behind me. Why do you ask.....well I was jumping up and down, waving/throwing my hands in the air and screaming at the tops of my lungs. Which I think annoyed him because I must have bumped him or hit in the head a few times.
Plus when Irreplaceable flower came on, no-one from my section seemed to know the song. When I heard the intro I was like wahhhhhhh my favourite song and I was jumping up and down from the excitement. I think from the stage view one can notice the one person jumping up and down when everyone else is still, but I got a reward even if people think I was an idiot. Well You kun looked me right in the eye and smiled at me, I actually caught his eyes 2-3 times that night!!! Ah I just died and went to You kun heaven. I was sooo happy because he is so cute when he smiles because his face just lights up. Plus I could even see the sweat dripping down his face and body too. I am one happy woman!!
It was a shame that not many people seemed to know most of the songs played that night, in my opinion Jesus seemed to be a hit with everyone. Plus, I am so glad I was able to hear ‘Ever’ before I went to the concert, because when they performed the song I was surprised and really happy that he performed it over here. A really nice treat for us all.
I really loved that I got to see Chachamaru and Junji in the end, because I thought I wouldn’t get to see them at all from where I was standing. At one point, Chacha and You swapped places and when I saw Chacha my sister and I was like he is soooo pretty. I understand when people say that pictures do not do them justice, seeing Gackt and GacktJOB in person really does make my heart race.
Gackt was so sweet when he called us family, he said he loved us and yes we do love you too Gackt. He also promised to come back, I hope he does and maybe this time at a bigger venue, like the O2 in Greenwich.
YFC, was a simpler and easier stage to set up, and was right for the size of the arena. Maybe some people would have liked for him to sing some of his old songs, but it would not be YFC concert if he did because he pretty much followed the set list he had for his YFC tour in Japan. I would have loved to see RRII live but that is not possible for a first concert date in Europe. We just have to enjoy the DVD. This European tour is really for the people higher up in management to test the waters overseas and see what kind of reaction it would garner over here and whether they are willing to make future investments. It is horrible to think about but at the end of the day, it is a business. I just hope that Gackt wasn’t too disappointed with the London show and he had a good time.
It seems that everyone had a different experience, I think maybe it was also to do with where they stood because I didn’t even know some of the things that happened, like Gackt ripping his shirt apart or Chirolyn dropping his trousers but it is interesting to read other people’s accounts of the concert. Overall, there was some pushing and shoving but I can say that I didn’t let it get to me and I had a fantastic time and every time I think of it I feel really happy that I went and well worth the long wait and aching feet. I completely lost my voice the next day and I could not hear a thing when the show ended.
I hope that the remainder of the European tour will be a success and that they all come out alive at the end of it. Also, to everyone who will be attending the forthcoming show, I really hope you have a fantastic time.
Since we were not allowed cameras I didn’t bring mine but my sister and I did take some pictures with our phone. As you know, the quality is not that great but if you guys want me to post them here I be happy to.
All that I have left to say is, Thank you very much Gackt and GacktJOB for the wonderful experience and memories.