Well i saw this file floating around in Veoh so i DL it, just so i have something else to watch, you know when i get bored or something.


She opened the concert with PASSION, a pretty upbeat song of hers. It's a good head start to get the crowd hyped. At least for me who's not a fan, and doesn't really know her songs well, i too am looking forward to the rest of her show after this.Basically, she just stands in front there, with her mike, wearing that dress, occasionally walk around the stage, to reach crowd from different sides and angles.And the brilliant lights from the screens splash brightly behind her.


Then, after a few other fast upbeat disco like tracks--->This is Love,traveling,Movin' on without you

She finally sang a song that sounds familiar to me: SAKURA Drops (this is a good one). Then, she moved on to a great ballad, FINAL DISTANCE. Amazing song. One of her best ever, at least to me since i havent heard much of her songs. I can't believe i didn't have this one. I went on a search for this track. Found it, grabbed it. xD


First Love, came afterwards. These three tracks are like, some of my favs from her, so it's like a continuous of good tunes.



To buy her some time to change her outfit, she recited a poem, in Japanese. It's recorded though. After that, came Devil Inside (taken from Exodus album)...see the devil playing cello? nice stuffs really...Well, i never really heard her Exodus album before, but i remembered her first single from there wasn't that good, for me so i abandoned the whole thing. Well, at least this track actually sounds pretty good, live. Again, her vocals are awesome here.

Kremlin Dusk follows after that...and the thing is, although i don't listen to her much, some of these foreign tracks (for me) actually sounds good live. I think it always happen where you discover new good songs from artists' live concerts.

Be My Last is accompanied with a solo cello.

She's friggin sweating during this song. her face...T.T

Then, she sang one of my favs too: Dareka no Negai Ga Kanau Koro. There were flashes of pictures/videos of various sufferings from across the world, like poverty, starvation, war,atomic bombs and the likes. Fits the song well. She sang this with the cello and piano. I still remember the time when i was addicted to this track, and listened to it till i can't stand it anymore xD And now listening to it, feels a bit nostalgic.



Ooh, and COLORS came after. Another one of her classics. But she presented the song in a ballad version rather than the original track.

Then, she talks a bit with the crowd.
Seriously, from the back, her red dress really looks like it just came out of a WAR ZONE, torn like that...@_@

She ended the concert with Hikari. lazy to elaborate more.

I'm pretty amazed by her lives, her vocals are really outstanding in the first half probably, but then afterwards, she sorta strained her vocals too much, and sounded tired. But towards the end, she's better...well, i suppose the concert's a success either way.

First of all, i just wanna say that i like the album cover, the lightings, the whites that blend well with her facial tone...ok, i'm not a fan of Hikki, but as a normal listener, this is a personal opinion. And also, her hair...it's looking good ^^

Hikki's 5th studio album, having 5 singles : Boku wa Kuma, Flavor of Life, Beautiful World/Kiss & Cry, Heart Station/Stay Gold and lastly Prisoner of Life.

Well, i don't listen much to Hikki really, one of the only songs i really loved was First Love, which was used as Majo no Jouken's theme song long ago. And it was a huge hit, even until now, it's still people's favorite.

So, honestly when i listened to the album for the first time, one spin through---> i find that her style isn't exactly what i'd go for. To put it simpler, her style of music isn't my type ^^ however, i do like several tracks.


HEART STATION

Seriously, i have no idea why the sudden Onigiri on her shoulder? Any meaning to it? It's a weird cover, at least to me.
It almost doesn't fit the song even...since the song's a good one. Flavor of Life is also used as the insert song of drama Hana Yori Dango 2.

Flavor of Life ~Ballad version

Beautiful World

Prisoner of Love

Of course, this is my fav track in the entire album, with Flavor of Life trailing behind it. Serving as Last Friend's theme song, i love the lyrics. It's really nice.


Boku wa Kuma (I'm a bear)

Cute huh? when i first listened to this song, i thought that it was cute and sounded almost kiddish. Well, back then i didn't know that it is supposed to be a children song. so that's why, the tone. And the lyrics basically explains stuffs like what the bear can do, can't do, including his enemy the fried shrimp. Ok, that had sounded weird i know. xD

And it's a cute song really. I can even imagine dear Nodame-chan singing this with the kids...alongside her trademark song, Onara Taisou...ok, a little bit out of topic here but this song is cute. that's all i wanna say bout it.

finally, Niji-iro BASU (Rainbow colored Bus)
I like the simple piano here, and the way she sings carefreely. It reminds me of another song, ah...i hate it when this happens. forget it.

Well, actually this album's not bad. depends on one's tastes.

oh well, ENJOY!!!

Utada's 21st single: Prisoner of Love is used as the theme song for recent series Last Friends, which i have been boasting about lately, if you've missed it, then i don't know what's the problem, either your eyes needing a checkup or something...*joking*

The single consists of 4 tracks:

Prisoner of Love (Original Version)
Prisoner of Love (Quiet Version)
Prisoner of Love (Original Version-Karaoke)
Prisoner of Love (Quiet Version-Karaoke)

Basically, they're the same song, really xD

The original version offers a more upbeat track, together with the intense violins, and also her backup vocals really work well here indeed.

Whereas the Quiet Version only features her piano, vocals and violins. It's well, the quieter version, make it simpler, and it exudes more expression for some reason. A more mellow version of the original piece.