Review from Nagoya live. Asca is the guest for Day 1, and Kokia for Day 2.
Overture〜Black Rose: The overture is very electro-popish, remind me of Boogie pop era. At first, I saw a foreigner on stage and wondered who’s that guy…, and it turned out that Jr. had his hair blond!?! LoL.
Black Rose is crazily amazing, but I couldn’t concentrate at the vocalists at all as I was drawn by Konno’s enchanting violin part. It’s the 2nd time that I started crying since the first song after my first live in LA…;w;. I love his violin playing that much.
Emiko appeared on the upper stage. Her voice was powerful and filled with fierce emotion. Yuriko and Lino being together during the bridge was so great. Lino’s voice is sweet and smooth, a very nice complement to Yuriko’s. Emiko’s legato around the start of the bridge (before she went down to the front stage) and her part in the bridge were really powerful. She was really great, but unlike Eri, she couldn’t take my ears or eyes from Konno…lol. I’ll pay more attention on the singers tomorrow.
(Day 2) I paid more attention this time…lol. Emiko’s adlib-like part at the end was super good. A kind of power house that some fans seek for. Konno’s violin solo during the bridge was crazy! I just want to hear it more and more >..<.
Eternal Blue: Lino was not there. Kaori was the lead, singing in a very sweet way. She sounds so different in this song in both day. I love Emiko bridge. Yuriko and Konno were so great in their own parts. Kaori and chorus from Emiko blended together so well.
(MC)
Destination: With Yuriko, Emiko, and Kaori, from left to right. Emiko took the song in a very different way from Yuuka. She’s much more mature&wild, like a girl vs a woman. Emiko and Konno were really awesome in this song. The adlib-like she added at the end of the song was so great. I really love Konno dark violin sound in the song.
Hashigatsu no Organ: Lino was on the upper stage before the bridge. No Emiko. Sometimes, Yuriko’s chorus overpowered Lino, but I think that overall, Lino delivered the song well with a proper amount of strength and sweetness. Yuriko and Joelle on the bridge were really great.
Honou no Tobira: Joelle was the main singer, and she used vibrato a lot. Really love Konno’s solo in this song. Basically, it’s Joelle<-Yuuka and Kaori<-Hikaru. Joelle version was beautiful, sounds brighter, more mature and feminine, but the heroic atmosphere and shred of sorrow were kinda missing from her version. It shifts from the song for a re-rise of a young heroine to a grown-up woman opening a new door of hope. The feeling isn’t that off considering from the lyrics, but I don’t think it’s still matched the scene this song was tailored for.
Kotonohokayawarakai: Kaori was back to a fierce girl again. Always love Yuriko’s and Konno’s parts in this song. No Lino on stage.
(MC)
Nocturne: From left to right, it’s Yuriko, Joelle, Kaori, and Lino. Joelle really owned the song! It’s as if the song is hers from the start. Her lalala part was very nice. Yuriko&Lino combo during the bridge was awesome again. Love this combination so much!
Delete: Yuriko was on the left and Kaori was on the right of Emiko. It’s the darkest and most powerful Delete for you! Near the end, Kaori took Emiko’s part for a while, not sure it’s a mistake or planned cuz Emiko sounded fine after that, but the way they changed the leading voice was very abnormal. It didn’t happen in Day 2 though.
(Day 1) Kioku no Mori: Asca leaded the song on the upper stage first, and came down during the bridge. Lino, Kaori, and Joelle accompanied her. I guess that Joelle took kajiurago part from Yuriko? She sounds super awesome! Asca did well, though not that outstanding. It sounds more boyish compared to Yuuka’s version.
(Day 1) (MC: Rie came to the stage.)
(Day 1) Kimi ga Mita Yume Monogatari: Everyone except Emiko was on stage. Asca was great on her own song, putting right power and emotion to her singing. She did so good that no matter how much I love Konno and Rie in the original instrumental version as well as in this song, Asca wasn’t outshined by them. My beloved violin&flute combination is nothing less than the greatest though!
(Day 1) Yakou Toryo: Kaori and Joelle left and Emiko came in. I love Yuriko and Lino combo, it’s fresh for me, and they sound so good together! Asca did so well for her bubbly song, and I get a feeling that it must be her for this song.
(Day 2) Rainbow〜Main Theme〜: Kokia sang alone. She delivered the great vibrato in the song. I really love her voice.
(Day 2) Nostalgia: While Yuuka’s rain in Nostalgia is like a windy squall with trembling emotion, Kokia’s version is sweeter and calmer, like drizzling rain. It’s kinda nostalgic feeling of sth. happier and less sorrowful. She sang with Lino as a chorus. Konno’s violin and Eri’s flute were really fabulous during the bridge. Kokia’s ending legato was amazing!
(Day 2) (MC: Kokia said Happy Birthday to Kajiura~ sweet!)
(Day 2) Kaze yo, fuke: Kokia sang with Kaori and Yuriko for backing. Such an angelic voice! Her singing is so beautiful, sweet, and sacred. I can’t get enough from Kokia TT.
(MC)
Lighthouse: All except Joelle were on stage. Lino did much better than the recording version, which surprised me a lot. When I listened to Lighthouse, she sounds really strained, remind me of how Wakana was in some songs, and Wakana was even worse when she sang those songs live. However, it’s the opposite for Lino, as she can nail the song in live, not like what I was afraid of when I listened to the recording. (I don’t mean that she’s better than Wakana or sth. like that. The songs that are problematic for Wakana tend to be harder, and Lino can’t handle them as well. (Ring your bell, for example.)) Yuriko chorus and Kaori bridge were really good.
From the Edge: All singers were present. Kaori leaded the song, with 2nd verse by Emiko. (She sounds so good that I wanna hear more of Lisa’s cover from her.) Konno delivered the main theme melody in his solo. I love the ahhh parts from Joelle and Yuriko. It gave a mysterious and creepy atmosphere, and Emiko’s yehehe-ending was really nice.
Stone Cold: Very energetic! I love the moment when Emiko went to the upper stage, and she acted like a prince inviting princess Joelle for the dance, so cute! Emiko’s endless energy made this live a very energetic one!
On Day 2, almost everyone on the first floor stood up during this song. On this day, it’s Joelle and Lino going on the upper stage together.
(Day 1) Nowhere: Asca did well though her voice made the song lukewarm…;w;. It didn’t happen with her other songs, so I guess that it’s because the key in this song is lower in average, and it doesn’t match her range well. But the crowd still enjoyed it.
(Day 2) Zodiacal Sign: Almost every one on the first floor stood and moved along. Only 5 main vocalists on stage. No dance in the row during instrument solo. (For the sake of Rie?) Someone on the first row in front of Yuriko must sing along quite loud and good that Yuriko offered they her mic and made the hand gesture like she tried to listened to their singing. So cute!
(MC)
Hikidashi de Hikaru Shiteru: Kaori new song. It’s really her song! It’s bright and beautiful, showcasing what she does well. From low to high, from soft to strong, from legato to vibrato, it brings all charms from Kaori’s voice to live. Already love it from the first listening.
(Encore)
Overture〜Toki no Mukou Maboroshi Sora: Only Yuriko, Joelle, and Kaori in this aong, but they did nail it perfectly! And please don’t stop me from praising Konno’s violin ;w;.
Parade: Joelle was the great lead as always. She carried the song. All except Lino were present.
(MC)
(Day 1) Soukyuu jo Fanfare: It’s good that we have an original singer with us. Nothing outstanding but everyone blended together nicely. A wonderful ending!
(Day 2) Mune no Yukue: Emiko was in the middle with all other vocalists, and she leaded the whole song. Her singing was strong and full of emotion. The high-note&ad-lib twist at the ending was really amazing!