[Namie Amuro] The 99th Thread for Our Queen

[Marcelo]

My interest towards her sparked during Best Fiction era. I was...15 at the time, wow haha. I connect her to many important points in my early adulthood years. Baby Don't Cry always cheered me up during sad times, and when I had my first crush I used to listen to MY LOVE a lot. When I wanted to feel fierce, I listened to WHAT A FEELING, and it still works today haha. And the list goes on..

But what I wanted to write about is a little something about the two first Finally shows at Tokyo Dome I went to.

I feel regret of never seeing her live in a smaller venue before. Even though I can't complain my seats at the dome, first night I had almost arena seat on the lower level, and on the second I was in the arena not so far from her on the left side.

Why I think that I would have liked to see her on a smaller venue though? I remember KarenPang wrote that there isn't any good seat at the Tokyo Dome, because you're anyways far from the artist. That might be the case, but as it comes to an artist, I feel it might be related to that as well..

How should I explain..when watching Namie, it almost felt like watching a fish in a fishbowl. Or an athlete performing on the field. Like, you're witnessing it, watching, in the situation..but you're still quite not. Almost like there is this something between.

And in my head, that has possibly more to do with Amuro than the Dome.

Don't get me wrong, I loooooved the show. The lights, song selection, her, my luck with the seating, it was all perfect. This is just an interesting feeling I got.

What also felt funny when watching her, was to see how "calcultive" she was. With every move, every giggle, cute pose. IT WAS ALL SO PERFECTLY PLACED IT FELT SO FAKE. BUT YOU GO ALONG WITH IT. When she performed Baby Don't Cry in front of my section, did all the cute things, waved and such, even though you kinda see how everything is put in their place in such calculative way, it's too perfect not to fall in love with hahah. She is too perfect, too pretty, too cute not to fall in love with when you see her. Even though you're really not getting her fully as a person cos of the veil she has between her and the audience, do you understand what I'm saying?

That being said, the perfectly placed cuteness can at times be even too much for her to handle hahah. I don't remember at which song it was, but you could feel okay, now is the time of the mandatory waving + cute smile. And she usually was able to execute it so that it felt natural. Well, at that point, she wasn't. It wasn't shown on the big screen, but she had this moment for a couple of seconds after waving and smiling and audience going nuts, when she had this cross eyed moment where she had this "oh for fucks sake I guess I need to fake smile and you silly people go so nuts about it it's almost funny" kind of a face. It was priceless, I bursted into laughing. I think everyone can relate to that moment, at least people who have worked in customer service,pretty pony~ when you're not really feeling like smiling, but you force that clown smile on while your eyes go almost backwards hahhah.

But then again, since I went to see two shows, I could also see more spontanous things. For example, there was some point at the end of a song that normally doesn't get applause I guess, at least not on the first night. So she wasn't prepared for them, and had a genuine suprised face of "Oh, well thank you haha" and an extra bow down + wave.

Other random things:

The audience: quite dry, what I've noticed between Jpop divas is that Koda Kumi audiemce gets the most pumped up during the show. Second comes Ayu, then Namie. But this could also be about the venue. I also feel many Namie songs, for example In Two, isn't really suitable for "Japanese audience" to enjoy. Their reaction to songs like that isn't that enthusiastic, while I imagine foreign audience (me included) finds those type of songs really enjoyable. Though I had some cute Japanese people next to me copying the moves I made during those songs, since other Japanese around me were just standing still.

She cried a lot more on the second Tokyo Dome night compared to the first, and the last date that was shown in the news. She turned around couple of times and had pauses cos of crying. Which I'm sure were real emotions of the whole thing kinda getting to her head.

She had some sound issues on both nights, second night it got worse and she had a small break while singing, I guess she couldn't hear the backtrack properly. Plus there was a reeeeally weird echo during some parts of the concert. Like the backtrack went all over the place and echoed before her singing, and at one point dragged her a bit. Didn't bother me or Japanese people I feel, though it was noticable. Just interesting to see first hand the possible sound issued Dome as a venue could have.

All and all, I truly enjoyed seeing her live, the luck I had winning the tickets and the awesome seats I got. Experience like no other, and a dream of mine to see her and a show in Tokyo Dome

[voltron]

Outside of anime music, Ayu was the first JPOP singer I got into and an online friend has suggested downloading her new video for Kanariya. I did, and immediately fell in love. Shortly after I discovered Hikki, and in the beginning it was neck-and-neck of who I liked more (Ayu wins). I purchased some VCD from eBay with Ayu videos on it, and it also had a bunch of Namie videos on it for songs like Chase the Chance, You're My Sunshine, Love 2000, and Respect the Power of Love. I liked them all, but especially loved the last two. A friend of mine was also a big fan of hers since A Walk in the Park days. My first Namie album that I bought was Love Enhanced, since she was sort of in that weird post-baby phase of her career when I learned about her. I really enjoyed her Suite Chic project, Style, Queen of Hip-pop, etc. I lost track of her sometime leading up to Uncontrolled, where I just wasn't liking her singles anymore (Ningyo and White Light time). But then FEEL came out and I was back!

[melissalove]

I discovered namie way before ayu and fell in love with her around style. Her music has taken me through all my life’s cycles after that. It’s gonna be hard not having namie around as a guide. Such an amazing artist with such amazing talent. Thank you namie for these amazing 15 years.

[Xianghua]

I was a Winamp user too

The first sone I heard by Namie was a walk in the park on an old Jpop site, but I didn't get into her until a good friend of mine sent me her stuff. Namie is her favorite singer. I believe the first release while I was a fan was the single Girl Talk/the SPEED STAR. I distinctly remember coming home from school and watching the speed star pv the day it came out.

[cosmicfirefly]

I discovered Namie around 2008 or 2009 because I ran into a youtube makeup tutorial for her Do Me More look and when I saw a clip of the song I liked it so much I looked her up. I immediately found the Best Fiction tour and saw that before even listening to any music. She pretty much brought me into J-pop in general. Not long after I found out about Ayu by reading some comments on one of Namie's videos, and then eventually Koda Kumi after that! I'm going to miss looking forward to music from her so much!

[AJFmzk]

I discovered Namie around 2007/2008. I believe the first song I heard from her was Girl Talk on DJ KAORI's JMIX cd. I looked up Namie online and remember seeing the PLAY tour Digest video and I was so blown away by how skilled she was at both singing and dancing. That was also around the same time I started getting more into Ayu (originally discovered Ayu in the Early 2000's with the M above & Beyond Remix and the remix of SEASONS from Initial D). Since then I had a few songs from Namie and Ayu on my iPod but around 2011/2012 is when I really started getting more into Namie, buying her cds and dvd and stuff. Same thing happened when I "re-discovered" Ayu in 2014, now I'm a big fan of both and consider both of them major inspirations for my own music. And I totally remember Winamp, I remember being frustrated that I could never get the custom skins to apply correctly haha.

[Xianghua]

Seems the calendar that comes with the Tour DVD from Amazon marks the days of past album releases. The sample image shows GENIUS 2000 and 181920

Spoiler:

https://www.amazon.co.jp/b/357-63230...ode=5364431051

Pretty cool. It's too bad I'm buying the fanspace version instead, because I really want the calendar.

[Meat Pao]

Originally Posted by Marcelo

That being said, the perfectly placed cuteness can at times be even too much for her to handle hahah. I don't remember at which song it was, but you could feel okay, now is the time of the mandatory waving + cute smile. And she usually was able to execute it so that it felt natural. Well, at that point, she wasn't. It wasn't shown on the big screen, but she had this moment for a couple of seconds after waving and smiling and audience going nuts, when she had this cross eyed moment where she had this "oh for fucks sake I guess I need to fake smile and you silly people go so nuts about it it's almost funny" kind of a face. It was priceless, I bursted into laughing. I think everyone can relate to that moment, at least people who have worked in customer service,pretty pony~ when you're not really feeling like smiling, but you force that clown smile on while your eyes go almost backwards hahhah.

I was at the same 2 shows as you, and I totally remember this moment, and that it only happened on the first show! It just seemed like one of those shy awkward waving moments to me HAHA

I feel like her being "calculative" is probably attributed to her generally being a seasoned performer, and possibly from her upbringing / training as an idol singer where they are generally stricter with choreography and stage blocking, etc. But that's just what I think.

[yabieru]

I discovered Namie around 2006 but I never paid so much attention on her. But when she released 60s70s80s it caught my attention, especially the WHAT A FEELING cover. So I started to listen her old stuff and discovered some gems. It's something I usually do when someone release a song I like it. If I like one song, probably like others lol

And a silly question. I went to one of the Osaka shows but I couldn't catch one of the tapes they shot. I only could catch one ballon (actually two but I gave one to another fan) and I really really want one. Was someone able to get some tapes and could send me one? I have some from this year's Power of Music and Just the beginning Chapter 1 so if someone wanna trade... :p

[Andrenekoi]

I don't post on this thread often, but as a figure that big in Jpop, I felt like taking part on this moment you guys are having

My first contact with Namie was during 2002 or 2003 when a friend of mine who is a jpop fan burned some CDs with songs from several artists at the time. The only one that really grabbed my attention then was Hikki. I don't remember much of what she recorded (including Ayu), but Namie's Something 'bout the kiss came into my mind from times to times.

During 2003/2004 I started to look out for more jpop music, and even if Namie wasn't a favorite of mine, songs like Shine More, The Speed Star and So Crazy were always on repeat.

When I starter posting on a brazillian jpop forum, and Namie was considered a has been and people really bashed her when her releases started getting more sexual. Want me want me and Wo Wa were on repeat at home.

I wasn't immune to her new rising to the top and I consumed everything related to her releases from Play to Past>Future, that remains one of my favorite jpop albums ever. I was really delighted when Ayu, Hikki and Namie all had albums among the top10 selling releases of 2008.

Her direction after P>F wasn't for me and after that I consumed some specific songs here and there like Baillerina and Mint.

It's hard to see someone of Namie's caliber and career lenght having the influence she does, and I find it sad thar she is leaving the spotlight even if I believe I do get where this comes from. I do admire her resilience, most people won't have the strenght to stay around after everything that happned to her in the end of the 90's and begining of the 00's.

Wish she gets even richer and more powerful behind curtains. Japan needs a bigger share of powerful women.

[Xianghua]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

When I starter posting on a brazillian jpop forum, and Namie was considered a has been and people really bashed her when her releases started getting more sexual. Want me want me and Wo Wa were on repeat at home.

ah yes. I remember the "has been" phase, the slow releases, ect...and look at Namie now, her face is on a damn plane lol.

[haraiso]

https://countdown.abema.tv/

AbemaTV created a special countdown website for Namie's retirement.

They're also asking fans to submit ideas/memories/whatever to them. Everything they receive will be used to help create one big final gift to Namie.

Submissions can be sent to: for_namie_amuro@abema.tv

[Kid_Dream]

I first listen to JPOP in 1999 and it was because of SPEED. Then I discovered Ayu from her 2nd album "Appears". The first Namie song I fell in love with was "Something About The Kiss". I was a fan when she released "Never End" so this song is definitely special to me. I followed her from then on. I like how Namie explored different genre and always brings something new and fresh in her music. This is also why I'm now a bigger fan of Namie than Ayu. I had the chance to see her upclose at the press conference when she came to Singapore in 2012 to promote "Uncontrolled". That was the closest I got to see the Queen! And I'm glad I managed to catch her "Finally" tour in HK if not it will be a regret to not ever see her perform LIVE. It's definitely sad that we won't be hearing any more new music from her but I sincerely wish her all the best. Thank you for the 25 years of music and it will accompany us in our future days.

[cosmicfirefly]

I hope they release a complete bluray/dvd of all her music videos at some point. I'm not sure what the level of interest in that would be, but I've been wanting something like that from her for the longest time!

[Baco__]

My dream is that one unreleased fanspace tour. I need that.

[KarenPang]

2 more namie amuro Final Tour 2018 ~Finally` promo clips WOWOW Prime uploaded on their website ; http://www.wowow.co.jp/music/amuro/

1:30 minute Live Digest - http://www.wowow.co.jp/music/amuro/movie.html?id=586965

30 seconds 2nd promo video - http://www.wowow.co.jp/music/amuro/movie.html?id=586961

Download links for both

http://www.mexashare.com/otg0dqnl9cc..._Trailer_2.mp4

http://www.mexashare.com/mgh0t9horyb..._Trailer_3.mp4

WOWOW Prime's Twitter



https://twitter.com/WOWOW_hogaku/sta...73690720186368

[ShiniTakashi]

Originally Posted by Baco__

My dream is that one unreleased fanspace tour. I need that.

Same. I pray that they actually recorded it. I want to see the likes of "Namie's Style" and "As Good As" (basically all of "STYLE") live. Considering how she was considered a "has-been" back then, though, it probably wasn't even recorded.

[KarenPang]

Fanmade Namie calendar page for this month



https://twitter.com/amuronamie_life/...88175550455808

The Twitter user used this website to create it - https://www.wabiapp.com/WebTools/CalendarMaker/

Physical copy of the fanmade Namie calendar page A4 sized

[KarenPang]

Uploaded yesterday , namie amuro Final Tour 2018 ~Finally~ DVD/Blu-ray -TRAILER MOVIE-



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdoltWqZR_I

[EndOfTheWorld]

All versions of the tour blu-rays and dvds are 10% off on cdjapan.