[Arashi] Time concert booklet - Aiba Masaki
Arashi Alphabetical Talk about Concert - Aiba Masaki
A - ARASHI
Arashi for Aiba Masaki is, "Everything in the present (now)" right. I can't express this in any other way. Is... what I think but. What do you think (laughs)? But it really is that way. If the thing called "Aiba Masaki," was split between work and private life, all of work is supported by "Arashi". It's not like I'm doing different work either... (laughs). Clearly, it's "everything" I guess.
B - BACKSTAGE
It's a battlefield. It's really quite a rowdy place (laughs). But, over there, there are areas that the guests can't see, that's why it's called the backstage. But you know, it really is a battlefield. It has really turned into an amazing place. We do fast changes there, and with that we dance naked too, in the backstage (laughs). We're almost always naked you know. We're all "naked"! "Naked"!
D - DELIGHT
The joy at lives. That is clearly the best at the actual performances but, it's there during the preparation period before that as well, and I guess it's also there when those things end as well. Something like, there is a now, because we have those moments. That's why, my tension is pretty high right before the actual performance. I've done everything I can do. Well, it's time! That's a moment when I feel happiness, and I feel it when a live ends without any problems too. There is sadness when it ends too but, I do feel the joy of having accomplished something.
F - Aiba SOLO "FRIENDSHIP"
This time, in order to convey my hopes of "feeling something like this" on my own, I had it written for me. And by my classmate too. Both lyrics and melody. That's right, it's a song that Suther Rand's Abe Yuuya-kun wrote for me. Regarding Arashi, regarding my work... because I've spoken alot about that to Abe, I think that he wrote it with full understanding of me. As you can tell from the title, the lyrics hold my feelings for Arashi and my friendship with them. Once it's done, I'll say, "I want it more like this" countless of times, get it fixed, and this is the song that's finally completed. For the briefing that time too, even though Abe caught the flu, he came for me anyway... somehow, it's a song that's filled with that kind of friendship.
H - HAPPENING
Well, I think I don't have any happenings. Rather, I want some. Every time (laughs). Of course, it's not that I don't have any at all you know? I wonder what it is but, when I have those, my tension really rises (laughs). But... small happenings are good right. Like the sound stopping, or the stage collapsing... that's what we want to avoid huh (laughs).
J - JOHNNY'S Jr.
Since last year's summer, they've really worked hard for the Asia, triumphant return, and Dome concerts. I go out with them for meals quite a bit you know. Clearly, because I'm pretty worried about them, although they're all kids who are over 20-years-old, we go out for meals together quite a bit, and bowling too. We've also had meals with my friends as well (laughs). Clearly, because they're troubled by the future as well, we talk about that sort of work too, and we also talk about other silly stuff (laughs). We talk about various things. As I thought, juniors are great huh. They're cute right.
M - MC
MC is "rest". But... while I call it a rest, when it turns out to be an incredible MC, the later half becomes tough (laughs). Well... my trend is that, I usually tend to play alot for MCs (laughs). I wonder what it is? You could say that I get happy... without thinking, I start to enjoy it you know, talking. There are moments when I talk too much and get yelled at for it (laughs).
N - NEW ALBUM
It's an album that we haven't released for a year huh. Somehow... maybe it's because we've been doing lives all the while, and continuously releasing singles? I get the strange feeling that, "Huh? A year has already passed?" (laughs). This time, each and every song, the album has pretty good ones. It has all five members' solos, and I think our different colours are expressed. The topic of how those will be displayed in the concert is what we'll show you next huh.
R - ROLE
I guess you can't really pay too much attention to roles right. That's what I think anyway. Members do whatever they want on their own, and everyone gives back-up there... that's how it is so, there isn't any real pattern to it. Someone goes all out, and someone follows up on that? For that, clearly, if we don't try it we won't know how it works right. We ourselves understand the positions that we have to take for the big parts. I think that's good. For example, if it's about the boke (fool) and tsukkomi (sarcastic one)? Me, you ask? I'm not a boke or a tsukkomi! Because I'm an idol (laughs)! There's no need for me to seek that. There's no need but, clearly, we have to enjoy the moment! right? For each individual, there clearly is such a thing. This... can't be helped huh (laughs). My answer may have turned out to be kind of conflicting but, that's the truth.
V - VARIETY
We're rich in variety. This time's album. Of course, that's something that happens every time. Clearly, that's Arashi's... rather, Johnny's good aspect right. There's one song right? A song that you like, that's what I think. We bring that out properly every time. Because we're broad in terms of genres. The album this time is great too. I like it.
Y - YEAR
Year. 1 year. This 1 year... we've done alot of lives huh. It's already the summer concert you know? We're doing lives all year round (laughs). Having finished the Asia, triumphant return, Dome concerts, it's already summer in the blink of an eye. A year has already passed since last year's tour huh. 1 year feels fast doesn't it? H-mm... when it's put that way it does feel fast but... how shall I put this? It's a pile up from everyday right. Is it fast? But clearly, it's fast right. 2006's summer was over in a flash. When I look back. That time is clearly... the moment when I was always desperate. I don't really get it. But it's great to perform a summer concert every year huh. We're doing it, because there are people who come to watch. I'm very happy.
ARASHI SUMMER TOUR 2007 TIME ~Strength of words~
After the Asia tour, after the Dome concert, it's time for the summer tour that we haven't done in a year. This time we have the intention to use the theme of "words" and "play of words"... that's what it is. Because the briefings have only just begun, I can only say it that way. But with that, this is how we wish to let our guests enjoy the live... we don't have that sort of thing. We leave that to the guests (laughs). It depends on what kind of emotions the guests come to watch our concerts with, so I think we'll have them enjoy the lives by following those emotions. That's why, I'd like to do a live that can let the guests enjoy themselves in every way.
Having gone to Asia and returned, it's the first time we're doing a content that's different from that one. That's why... right, it makes you think in the opposite way right. Because in one year, we've been doing the same set list. In yet a new way, a live that we build up from scratch with the album as its starting point, that's the first step we'll take. I think that the things we've gained from the Asia, triumphant return and Dome concerts are huge but, when we speak of how that will surface... clearly, I think that it's not something you can understand by just looking (laughs). With full honesty, right? It's not that, after going to Asia, we became like this!, and I think that we still can't see the changes within ourselves with just our eyes. With new feelings, we'll start here!, that feeling is the largest. I think it'd be great if this is a live that can allow people to feel that.