ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2015 A Cirque de Minuit ～真夜中のサーカス～INFO II

[Deibel]

I love that outfit! Ayu and jeans forever ♥

The elephant is static, or it moves during the song? I'm really curious xD
Btw, I can see ayu discussing the idea with her staff

Staff 1: Since it's a circus themed tour, we should do something circus related, right? Something new.
Staff 2: Yes, and we already used casino stuff.
Staff 3: 'Cause everybody knows that circus = casino.
Staff 1: Yeah, obviously. What do you think, ayu?
Ayu: ....
Everybody: ¿?
Ayu: ....
Everybody: Ayu?
Ayu: A GIANT ELEPHANT MADE OF REFLECTIVE POLYGONAL CRYSTALS.
....
Everybody: BRILLIANT!
Ayu: Yes, brilliant too.

Spoiler:

(For the record, I really love the idea xD)

[Linza-mo]

^ THIS ! hahaha !

３時間にわたって３２曲を次々と披露。ツアー中の公演としては、１９９８年のデビュー以来、最長、最多曲数 のライブだった。

in the article they speak about 32 songs ? I miss something or in the setlist we have there are 27 songs? '__'

[truehappiness]

Maybe counting interludes?

Also some fans pointed out it was probably inspired by Katy Perry's crystal bear but Katy's looks a loooooot less polished IMO.

[terra]

^Katy's looked like a carving and Ayu's so smooth and shiny
I really love the idea instead of forcing more Casino things into this Circus show

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

So, I went to today's concert without having looked at the setlist. My impression isn't really a positive one, so just a warning lol.

Spoiler:

I was honestly extremely, extremely bored. It was literally like, "rock rock ballad ballad ballad rock ballad ballad rock ballad rock rock rock -encore-".

The song choices were great, but all at once was a huge mistake imo. It was extremely drawn out. Very little variety, and I appreciated each song less and less as time went on because it was just "another" rock song or "another" ballad song with heavy organs and violin. I was waiting and waiting for some up tempo songs.

By the time Immature came on I was super excited, but then the entire arrangement of the song was changed. It went from being a really light, electronic song with synth, to another circusy organ utilizing song. forgiveness too. The ethereal feeling of the original song is gone. It starts out with super heavy organs.

All the songs were really, really heavy.

But honestly this is probably my least favorite tour she's put out based on song selection.

I felt more and more...uninterested? as time went on. And I feel like the general energy of the audience was different than usual. I think they took the concept of a circus, which is joyous, and just went the complete opposite direction. This was probably the intent, but it just felt like a rehash of Party queen's concept, imo. And honestly very little correlation to a circus. It felt similar to Hotel Love songs.

Just...there was truly no uptempo section until the encore! Like...come on now. You don't pump up the audience only to send them home...

Not to mention only 3 new album songs were performed. JUST 3!

And all the songs that she'd performed in the past were generally the same choreography or performance style. This only added to the drawn out feeling.

Like... I don't want to sound ungrateful, because her vocals were AMAZING. Probably the best overall vocals I've heard from her. Truly. Her high "ii" notes were on point.

But just...wasted potential I guess. I could see that she worked hard, but for song selection alone I can't really say I enjoyed it that much. Because they were so similar to each other. By performing so many similar styles songs, they lost their magic for me, I guess. There were no breaks to bring the tension up, so it just stayed really flat for me.

I feel like I'm just complaining. But that's really how I felt.

Also, the screen malfunctioned. The left side stopped working between Anything for you and forgiveness and wasn't fixed until Movin' on without you. Therefore it was black for awhile haha. But, that's unpredictable so I'm not basing my judgment on that haha.

Costumes were good too.

I probably won't go to the final date unless my feelings change (or the setlist).

So...you can take all that as you want haha.


p.s. I saw her husband. haha he was walking around the arena area before chatting to some staff and then ducking backstage, haha.

[freedreamer]

^funny how we're all raving here that its like a rock concert but it turned out to be quite heavy. but i think what you said is valid too..

If she threw in songs like SLT, Merry-go-round, BRILLANTE, alterna, Marionette (idk),Like a doll, it would fit the theme so well. i guess HHAH.

[mizuki-7]

^^
It is unfortunate you felt that way :/ I saw some japaneses telling it was her best concert since years !! So yeah like everything is subjective but I like what you pointed about her voice it's the priority for me x)

[Delicious n Bold]

Maybe she wanted to make her fans comatose with good vocals
A true reverse warholian experience

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

Yeah, definitely subjective. My roommate loved it.

This might be a really strange parallel but...

It's like having a huge, delicious, rich, decadent four layer chocolate cake with chocolate chips and chocolate frosting and oreos on top all to yourself and then being told to eat it all in one sitting without having any drinks or breaks in between. On paper it sounds good and the first few bites will be amazing, but unless you REALLY love chocolate, many people are bound to get tired of it.

Or at least I know I would, haha. Too much in one sitting.

But I do want to make the point that her vocals were super good. And she looked amazing, and I could see the effort she put in.

[Delicious n Bold]

^ I LOVE chocolate but even I couldn't do that. Not even if it was made of 100% Kinder Surprise.
Nice to hear that her vocals are good though.

[Tom Punks]

Originally Posted by tokyoxjapanxfan

So, I went to today's concert without having looked at the setlist. My impression isn't really a positive one, so just a warning lol.

Spoiler:

I was honestly extremely, extremely bored. It was literally like, "rock rock ballad ballad ballad rock ballad ballad rock ballad rock rock rock -encore-".

The song choices were great, but all at once was a huge mistake imo. It was extremely drawn out. Very little variety, and I appreciated each song less and less as time went on because it was just "another" rock song or "another" ballad song with heavy organs and violin. I was waiting and waiting for some up tempo songs.

By the time Immature came on I was super excited, but then the entire arrangement of the song was changed. It went from being a really light, electronic song with synth, to another circusy organ utilizing song. forgiveness too. The ethereal feeling of the original song is gone. It starts out with super heavy organs.

All the songs were really, really heavy.

But honestly this is probably my least favorite tour she's put out based on song selection.

I felt more and more...uninterested? as time went on. And I feel like the general energy of the audience was different than usual. I think they took the concept of a circus, which is joyous, and just went the complete opposite direction. This was probably the intent, but it just felt like a rehash of Party queen's concept, imo. And honestly very little correlation to a circus. It felt similar to Hotel Love songs.

Just...there was truly no uptempo section until the encore! Like...come on now. You don't pump up the audience only to send them home...

Not to mention only 3 new album songs were performed. JUST 3!

And all the songs that she'd performed in the past were generally the same choreography or performance style. This only added to the drawn out feeling.

Like... I don't want to sound ungrateful, because her vocals were AMAZING. Probably the best overall vocals I've heard from her. Truly. Her high "ii" notes were on point.

But just...wasted potential I guess. I could see that she worked hard, but for song selection alone I can't really say I enjoyed it that much. Because they were so similar to each other. By performing so many similar styles songs, they lost their magic for me, I guess. There were no breaks to bring the tension up, so it just stayed really flat for me.

I feel like I'm just complaining. But that's really how I felt.

Also, the screen malfunctioned. The left side stopped working between Anything for you and forgiveness and wasn't fixed until Movin' on without you. Therefore it was black for awhile haha. But, that's unpredictable so I'm not basing my judgment on that haha.

Costumes were good too.

I probably won't go to the final date unless my feelings change (or the setlist).

So...you can take all that as you want haha.


p.s. I saw her husband. haha he was walking around the arena area before chatting to some staff and then ducking backstage, haha.

This was my worry for the setlist tbh. Filling it with nothing but rock, moody pop, and ballads probably wasn't the best idea at all lol. CDL had the same problem. It starts out awesome, but by the second half all it does is DRAAAG for an hour. :\

[AyuGAME]

i thought that Rule and Mirrorcle world is kinda pumping the audience, i have attended her concert twice, and one she sings Mirrorcle world and the song is amazing and very pumping.

but yes it's true...no cutesy section that she usually have...all of her cutesy song all gone...

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

Yeah that is a bit disappointing. I wish she'd take out secret, m(u), and a song for and have a cutesy section :/

[mizuki-7]

XD when she had cutesy portion, people was mad because it was always the same and now you want it back ?

[pimenta]

Originally Posted by Deibel

Staff 1: Since it's a circus themed tour, we should do something circus related, right? Something new.
Staff 2: Yes, and we already used casino stuff.
Staff 3: 'Cause everybody knows that circus = casino.
Staff 1: Yeah, obviously. What do you think, ayu?
Ayu: ....
Everybody: ¿?
Ayu: ....
Everybody: Ayu?
Ayu: A GIANT ELEPHANT MADE OF REFLECTIVE POLYGONAL CRYSTALS.
....
Everybody: BRILLIANT!
Ayu: Yes, brilliant too.

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

Originally Posted by mizuki-7

XD when she had cutesy portion, people was mad because it was always the same and now you want it back ?

Exactly. I was never one of those. Lol

[YukiUsagi]

Originally Posted by Deibel

Staff 1: Since it's a circus themed tour, we should do something circus related, right? Something new.
Staff 2: Yes, and we already used casino stuff.
Staff 3: 'Cause everybody knows that circus = casino.
Staff 1: Yeah, obviously. What do you think, ayu?
Ayu: ....
Everybody: ¿?
Ayu: ....
Everybody: Ayu?
Ayu: A GIANT ELEPHANT MADE OF REFLECTIVE POLYGONAL CRYSTALS.
....
Everybody: BRILLIANT!
Ayu: Yes, brilliant too.

haha funny

[hidekirby]

Originally Posted by mizuki-7

XD when she had cutesy portion, people was mad because it was always the same and now you want it back ?

OMG NOOOOOO!!!
And I don't want another ayu+dancer suffering-from-pain-making-embarrassing-choreography-around too.

Let it die.

I'm SO happy for Secret (soooo underrated... Her voice on the album version is everything. I love that sort of layer they put on it). The song is simple and beautiful too. I wish they could use those kind of non-dramatic/non-kitsch arrangements nowadays... Her ballads would be so much better.
I'm also happy for HAPPY ENDING and Pride!

Her new bassist looks great!

[Chris85]

Better vocals today. I got arena B seat 2 meters away from the circle of catwalk if I can call it this:-D Her vocals slowed down towards the end of happy ending, so she stayed out of rhythm for a couple of next songs (she was slightly not keeping up with the music). Same set-list, MC with Zin again. She told again that she hasn't written any new songs for mini-album yet, asked public if they were tired because of the length of the show. We practiced singing wow wow yeah for TSMGO with Ayu and Zin again. I think a lot of fans will hate interlude when Timmy and Princess are laughing at dancers and singing annoying creepy "song". BTW I appreciate Princess' legs now after seeing them so close. LOL

[terra]

Originally Posted by Tom Punks

This was my worry for the setlist tbh. Filling it with nothing but rock, moody pop, and ballads probably wasn't the best idea at all lol. CDL had the same problem. It starts out awesome, but by the second half all it does is DRAAAG for an hour. :\

Exactly, I mean when we see the setlist it's all exciting because of the rare songs but creating a show it's not just simply putting cool songs in list and rearrange it, we also need flowing of emotions and variety. This one is themed after circus and circus needs to be colorful, cheery, mysterious, magical at the same time.

I really hope that she'll twist the setlist in the future with the release of the new album maybe or some sort, because as tokyoxjapanxfan said, I can only imagine the concert to be so heavy in both music and emotion. Nonetheless I'll be happy attending if I could lol