Hamasaki Ayumi Arena Tour 2009

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浜崎あゆみ NEXT LEVEL. ARENA TOUR 2009
Osaka Castle Hall
29 July 2009

Not many pictures to boot, so I hope my words can do justice to what I have experienced.
I entered the hall not looking like most of the fanatics around me. Not decked out in any costume, neither did I get any light stick or purchase any of the merchandise aplenty outside the stadium. Probably not any less enthusiastic than the great many though, since it took substantially more effort for me to pull off this stunt to stand on the same ground as the rest.

We arrived early, and sat waiting patiently. Numerous security personnel were stationed around to maintain order, not that you really need it with a Japanese crowd. Their more important duty seemed to be the prohibition of any form of photography. I sat nervously at the edge of the seat, counting down to the start. Every passing minute inched towards the big moment. With that, the level of excitement gradually heightened. When it finally arrived, in unison everyone rose from their seats as the lights dimmed.

Hearts pounding, speakers overhead roaring, screens ablazing. Brilliant streaks of laser pierced the darkness and flooded all corners with fleeting radiance. In the midst of the drowning screams, green laser beams formed in a circle on stage. Slowly, the megastar ascended onto the platform. Caged within the laser poles, she was clad all in black leather. A moment of silence ensued, as she soaked in the ecstasy of the congregation. The speakers roared once again, and the entire stage burst into live. As the platform blared to vivacity with stage floodlights, lasers, background screens and energetic dancers, the magnitude of the ambiance was out of proportion.

I could hardly take it all in at once. For a long while, I grabbed my companion by the arm as I stood in awe. This is finally happening. All that I have looked forward to for the past few months. I think I lost it for a bit as I let out a mental scream. This is freaking unbelievable! All the more so as she was standing barely 20 meters away from us!

She kickstarted with the theme from the Dragonball Evolution movie "Rule", an energetic song with throbbing bass beats. Never really appreciated the song much till I heard it live. Perhaps it was the remarkably stunning visual display of flying dragons on the high definition screens, laser show and the thrill of seeing her performing the first number on stage. Her charisma and stage presence was unmistakable.  The song closed with a burst of pyrotechnics. Thunderous cheer followed, from a crowd totally blown away by the opening act. When I play back the song on my own time, I get goose bums just listening to it. That was how dynamic and lingering the experience was.

A few unfamiliar numbers ensued hereafter, but it hardly dampened my mood. The colorful overhead screens displayed some cutesy caricature of Ayumi and the really gorgeous dance cast before she reappeared on stage as a cheerleader in miniskirt. The crowd went wild. Now the costumes donned by some of the fans made sense.

Moving on to the ballads, it was now turn for her vocals to be the highlight. Together with stunning display of cherry blossom, autumn leaves, snow and stardust on the high definition screens, the slow numbers were no less dazzling. In one instance, she was sitting on a chair which rose midair to reveal a glass chandelier attached beneath. Wow!

In total, she probably had about 10 costume changes. Most of the songs performed were from her latest album. She indulged the crowd in several all time favorite tunes as well, so successful that everyone already knew how to dance to them. If it is a winning formula, why not just perpetuate anyway?

All in all, this experience lasted more than 3 hours. I had never told anyone about this, that one of the little goals in my life was to catch either a Madonna or Hamasaki Ayumi concert. Flying all the way there just to watch a concert might not make sense to many, but it really did feel like a dream come through.

I am grinning to myself now.

Click to view

Music video of "Rule", the opening sequence. Blast the music and feel the bass. Imagine seeing flying dragons on background high definition screens, brilliant aurora of sweeping lasers, energetic dancers, throbbing speakers, screaming fans and the proximity to the superstar. The experience was so surreal that when I play back the song on my own time, I get goose bums just listening to it. That was how dynamic and lingering the real experience was.