I’ve finished the report for 2 lives in Shibuya during my hectic trip from Shibuya to Osaka. It took me from 9 am to 3 pm for traveling…., but that’s another story ;w;.
Yuki Kajiura Live 18 @ Line Cube Shibuya 15&16 August 2023
Koto no hoka yawarakai: To be honest, while it’s my favourite song in the album, I feel that it’s a bit messy (the same as I feel with Sokyuu no fanfare and From the edge). Their voices did not blend well for almost all parts in the song (except for some. It’s better on Day2 though, especially Kaori.) I really love Yuriko here. The bridge when they sang together was one of a good singing from them and the violin solo was amazing. Yuki also joined in this song. The best things are the violin solo and the singers harmonization towards the end of the song.
Yakou toryou: Keiko and Rito singing and acting on the stage were so cute. Rito was good at live singing. She appeared on the top stage and I really love her interacts with the others. Yuriko place was empty during this song, but not sure whether she left the stage or she went to Kaori’s place and it’s Kaori who left because they did so in another song.
Story telling: Unlike the first song, Kaori did so well and blended well with the others. (She got better faster in Day 2) I got really emotional and cried a lot near the end though I fully know that it’s such a lively and cheerful song. Probably it’s because this is my first concert after 2 years of COVID19 pandemic. Everyone was so good.
MC
Mou kimi no koto wo mitakunai: Violin intro was very nice. Rito was good and so emotional. She was not like Hikaru as many expected, way brighter&softer. She doesn’t show the dark and powerful energy that Hikaru has, so I don’t feel that she’s a replacement or sth. like that. Kaori left in this song.
Gaika: Yuriko was so great, she stole the scene every time she sang! Joelle really owns the song! She gave out the different atmosphere from Wakana in this song though. The way Keiko delivered her line at the end of the bridge was marvelous. What enchanting and mysterious way to sing it! She did it better in Day 1 though.
Cynical world: Joelle was very good unless you have watched Emily at live before. She was less powerful but still so good. Her improvisation was decent as well. The deep drum sounds from Sato and Obawo really added the mystical feeling in this song, nice arrangement. Konno was amazing, but the star of this song was Rie who got flute solo on the top stage. She’s a mysterious witch with a red hat and all-red dress, swinging her flute as a wand! And left quietly in the dark scene like a witch! For this song, I think Joelle sounded much better in Day 2, but that probably because I got a better seat.
Key of the twillght: Joelle was really good. Look like she and Konno really enjoyed their parts. KonnoSan was tooooooo good ToT.
MC
Sore wa chiisana hikari no you na: It’s Keiko for you, really powerful and emotional, awesome! Nothing to complain. No Joelle in this song. Nice support parts from Yuriko. I don’t think I can stop praising Yuriko for these 2 lives.
Hachigatsu no organ: Lino was amazing. When listening at lives, she was not similar to Wakana at all. Her voice is clearer, fuller, sweeter and stable. Still emotional but not always gloomy like Wakana. Among Yuki’s vocalists, I think she sounds like Kanda Sayaka the most. I fully understand why Japanese fans were crazy about her. Love her voice. Yuriko was great for her part near the end. Violin was great too.
*Day 1 Kouya ruten: It was Cazador del amor in the 1st live, so I feel so surprised and so high when I heard the intro…lol. It’s one of my facourite songs form FJ Yuuka. Rito got a solo cover. Sorry… I prefer Yuuka’s version and also my own version….;w;. Since I sang it in a contest by myself as well, my standard for this kind of song is very high. (Basically, no praises if you don’t sing better than me…lol.) She sang in a very different way from Yuuka. Sound like she tried to use a lot of staccato. The ‘Are wa tsuki no yume ga’ part sounded a bit weird…. I know that it’s impossible to sing it live in the same way as the recording (Yuuka’s voice is filtered for the long legato in the recording as well). Both me and Yuuka have our own tricks to alter the earlier part so that we can prolong the legato for live singing, but the way Rito dealing with that just so different from the original. I sang along the whole song. So happy! Yuriko was great for her supporting role. The combo of violin and flute was…. omggg…luv it!
*Day 2 Cazador del amor: Only Leno and Yuriko were on the stage. Leno’s singing was different from Yuuka. No vibrato at all, while it’s Yuuka strong point. Leno’s legato was so powerful, especially at the end of the bridge. Except when she stopped a little bit before her legato at the end. (She still held that long note well though.) The violin was really great. I also love how she used the dress for dance during the instrumental part.
MC
Akatsuki no kuruma: This cover from Lino is a big pass from me! For this song, I’m really picky… lol. (If you’ve seen my comments for those in Deemo audition… you knew that..lol.) The violin was so sweet and emotional. She sang the YK live ver. (less backing vocal parts and slower first half.) here. Even they had a break before, I guess that Lino spent too much energy for Cazador del amor in Day 2 and her singing for this song was much less powerful than Day 1.
Yasashii yoake: There were only Joelle and Yuriko only. Joelle really owned the song like how Yuuka was when she covered this song. Both of them re-create their own Yasashii yoake, and each cover is awesome in its own way. Love violin and flute in this song so much. In Day 2, Lino was less powerful in Akatsuki for a reason, but I don’t get why it happened to Joelle as well..Orz.
Kimi ga ita monogatari: Joelle opening was so great, that powerful ‘calling you in cold and lonely night’, and the way she held the last note! That legato is a big deal! (It’s her solo before all of them chanting together, so this part is not in the recording version.) Kaori was the main vocalist here. She did pretty good. I love the violin in this song so much. This is the third song in this live tour that I have sung in Karaoke contest and I was so happy I can see their live performance…lol. I kept singing along for the whole song. They harmonized for that ‘calling you in cold and lonely night’ at the end. Yuriko was the one who got the higher part, and that sounds so impressive. There was a funny thing in Day 2. Kaori who leaded the song was on the top of the stage and Keiko sang the backing part for her. Near the end of the first chorus, Kaori sang ‘hoshi ni’ and Keiko sang ‘hoshi wa’, and it really stood out that one of them must be wrong. Keiko turned to Kaori on the top stage in the next part like she knew that sth. got wrong, and I thought that it’s Kaori who messed up. But when I checked the lyrics after the concert ended, it’s Keiko who was wrong…. LoL. I’m sorry KaoriChan TAT.
Zodiacal sign: What a fun song for everyone to enjoy together! There are not many songs that YK sings along..lol. The violin and flute solos were fabulous! On Day 2, they sounded less powerful than Day 1, but a cute thing happened on this day. Keiko and Yuriko asked Rie to dance with them during Konno’s solo, and she seemed really enjoy it..lol.
Stone cold: This was not the best but the crowd enjoyed it. Yuriko did really great. She always grabbed my attention whenever she sang. On Day 2, Kaori said ‘issho ni’ (together) during the part ‘stone cold’ near the end. I wonder what she expected us to do together? Sing together? Dance together? Or else? I’m really frustrated with how quiet the Japanese fans were during the concert, as Thai fans always sing along and north American fans are usually more energetic….;w;. I’d be happy if Yuki or other utahime asks us to sing along with them, otherwise, it’s too quiet! LoL
MC
Moonlight melody: I can see that all of them tried to sing in the cute way, but only Joelle and Kaori sounds lovely that way, not Yuriko. It’s just not suit her. We’re in a dreamy&bubbly mood during this song though.
Parade: Joelle was very outstanding here. Her voice set up a specific atmosphere for the song. Her legato at the end was really great. Kaori also did very well in this song.
Encore
Beginning: I love how Keiko, Joelle and Kaori appeared and sang the part that each of them is the leading vocal, one by one. Each of them did really well, so powerful and emotional. Yuriko’s la la la part was so amazing. She’s on the top stage for that part.
*Day 1 Parallel hearts: Joelle instead of Wakana added more energy and power to the song. And she’s more stable. They did well as usual, especially, how I love the violin here!
*Day 2 Toki no mukou maboroshi no sora: They did this song for the first time in this tour! Everyone were so good especially Joelle. Yuriko and Joelle had sth. like a duet part before the bridge. They turned to each other when they sang and Yuriko patted Joelle head lol.
MC
Sokyuu no fanfare: With 6 singers, the live performance was definitely better than the original as expected. You can trust Joelle, Yuriko and Leno for handling the high notes <3. It’s so nice!