L'7 in Paris
Ohisashiburi desu ne. Here our incoherent recollections from our 13th L'Arc live:
Lil sis and me just came back from Paris yesterday, where we spent a lovely weekend in every respect. The weather was fine, food was delicious, wine and champagne have been flowing and best of all L'Arc was marvellous again. First time we saw the boys performing outside Japan.
We have been queueing since midday - it was pretty hot and catering was restricted to chicken baguette and ice cream. But in the end time passed. Met some girls who knew us from our trips to the lives in Japan. It is always so nice to see those people again and to make new acquaintances, like the spanish girl with the two Angel Heart rings.
The organisation was not that great: no signs or billboards where to queue, etc. But never mind: we made it until a few rows away from the stage in the centre.
One of the most annoying things were all the mobiles and cameras taping the show. They not only obstructed the view, most of all it is disrespective of the artists - never seen a thing like this before. And some of the fans have been rather rude and started pushing on purpose (and we are not talking of rabid japanese fangirls!!!).
And the boys: lovely as ever. Although we have never seen them sweating like this before - the hall was incredibly hot and stuffy. hyde is just so pretty and charming. Since we ended up more or less in front of him, it was a bit difficult to cover the other members. But from our point of view the beginning of Forbidden Lover was great: hyde in front and behind him yuki drumming this tremendours intro on the snare drum like a clockwork (we actually don't understand how people could clap along to this; never thought of Forbidden Lover as a happy-go-lucky-clap-along-song).
Just loved to hear NEO UNIVERSE live again: this is a very significant song in our L'Arc history and sis is reconciled with the world now that she paid particular attention to that splendid 6-string bass tetsu is playing....completely missed it out at L'Anniversary - focused on hyde as usual and only noticed it on the DVD later. But now everything is good.
ken-chan's intro to Maidori was great as always - sugoi gitaristo... And the long hair suits him very well, makes him look so artistic. Have to congratulate yuki on his MC - great French and great smile. Same for his rendition of Stay away. Fully understand that he did not deliver a drum solo in that heat. A note on the leader: don't worry too much tetchan! He was a bit pale, but it is understandable after a 12hrs flight and afterall this was no fun trip for the fab four but hard work.
We have also been very touched by My Dear with ken playing the keyboard and hyde holding a note very long almost at the end of the song - so beautiful.....like floating over our heads.
Other highlights: kasou, Seventh Heaven, Caress of Venus, Pretty girl, it would be easiest to simply paste the whole setlist here (hehehe).
And the ending with anata could have gone on forever, but alas they vanished like a dream and only the feathers remained and that Enya song was transmitted and you know it is over...
Little note on the side: it was almost on the day four years ago that we went to our first L'Arc live in Yokohama Arena for SMILE Tour 2004 - after that we have been convinced that we will never see them again. And so we are extremely grateful that we are having quite a history now. It is such a privilege to see them live - no matter from which seat or position. We would have never thought to see them in Europe, which is indeed very nice and a great chance for so many people here to see them. But on the other hand we prefer to see them in Japan - a L'Arc live is the best excuse for going to Japan a few times a year (although the wallet is stretched beyond what is bearable..but since it is for the boys - sigh). We are anything else than kanemochi, just a bit crazy.
One of the cutest moments in Paris was hyde hugging tetsu and petting his head - sooooo sweet. And we can never marvel enough how small he actually is - if one sees him together with the technicians he almost looks like a child. His voice was impressive and he is singing on a constantly high level nowadays. Not to mention the fun he seems to have moving his hips...
They are just so powerful and energetic on stage - a thing one only can truely experience live. No DVD can convey all the energy, presence, emotions and charisma. The DVD is for the details, for the heat, the noise, the closeness of people one has to go and see them for real.
All in all we had a gorgeous time in Paris. On Saturday we visited Notre Dame, climbed the towers and had a rendezvous with "gagoru-chan" - the gargoyles (have a look at your REAL album). Hopefully hyde had time to see them; he would have loved it.
We truly hope everyone had a good time in Paris; even if there have been things you did not like, or were unpleasant or whatsoever - keep the good memories of meeting L'Arc~en~Ciel in your heart - that's where they belong to and not on digicams and mobile phones.
Merci beaucoup L'Arc~en~Ciel
mata Tokyo Dome...