B=PASS 2008.02.08 (Budokan report)

From herself to everyone in Budokan

Translated by depyon

YUI, one hand holding her guitar, and singing on the streets of Fukuoka. She used to sit in her room, cross-legged, and sing. And that was how it all began. But now, she’s standing in the middle of the gigantic Budokan, surrounded by many people. 19 November 2007, YUI Budokan live 2007 – this is a concert created by YUI, and the people around her.

2 years ago, YUI was on the stage in a small live house in Shibuya. Seated in the audience seats were judges, and under such tense atmosphere, YUI sang, while looking to the front. This scene created an impact. After the performance, the interviewers told her about it. And she replied lightheartedly, “It’s because I love singing live.” However, when we were preparing to go back, she came to me and whispered into my ears, “Actually I was terribly nervous!” YUI is really an innocent girl who hates losing (being looked down upon).

2 years later, YUI is standing on the stage of Budokan. The tickets were sold out on the day itself. On a cold winter night in Tokyo, the warmth and enthusiasm of the audience, who were eagerly awaiting YUI’s performance, rose the temperature in the concert hall. Hanging from the ceiling, the Japan National Flag (Rising Sun) looked tiny in the huge concert hall. 10 minutes have passed, and as the lighting flashed, thunderous waves of cheers echoed through the hall. As the cheers died down, sounds of cars and bikes driving past, sounds of people walking past, were heard. It was exactly an image of how a street live would have sounded like.

Then, the blasting background music overwhelmed all the sounds. The next moment, everything quietened down to a pin-drop silence. The spotlight shone from above, and a shadow appeared. YUI stood there, holding her guitar case. She then walked out, embracing the thunderous applause that engulfed her. From the centre of the stage, step by step, she walked on the middle path to the substage. She then sat down cross-legged on the floor, drew her guitar out of the case, and placed her water bottle by the side. She then lighted a matchstick and lit up an aroma candle. It failed the first time, so she did it again. She then started strumming her guitar.

She looked forward intently, as she started singing her first song “It’s happy line”.

“	For whom, do you live for?	”
—From lyrics of it’s happy line

The question, that YUI asked herself when she performed street live then, struck the chords of ten thousand hearts of the people seated in the hall.

She was extremely nervous. But just today, she did not attempt to hide her trembling voices. It’s not because it’s her first concert at Budokan; neither is it because she’s still 20 years old. It’s because she knows that she has to display the truest side of herself to others. And because she knows that she has to trust the audience, who are listening to her. Therefore, this time round, she introduced new faces to her concert- casual talks, mimicking, guitar accompanied with drumming etc. After the concert, we asked the audience for their comments. The most common reply was, “We felt really close to her today.” Her trick succeeded.

“Everyone, thanks for coming today. Next up will be the last song…. NOT!” The MC cracked a joke, as YUI stated her second song “Goodbye Days”. After the A melody part, she stopped and said, “Hmm, one more time”, as the hall broke into laughter. As she sang again, the voice was delicate, full of emotions, yet strong. It was truly beautiful.

Halfway through, the key changed, as she plunged into the next song “Merry Go Round”. As she returned to the main stage where the band was waiting, she grabbed her guitar, and spun around, as she shouted “Budokan!” That was a total contrast from the street live image before, and it showed her progress since the street live in the past. She met many important people who changed her in their own ways. And these bits of experience each played a part in turning on the switch, which created her live concert at Budokan.

As she sang “Life”, she admitted she was nervous too, but she was glad everyone was smiling as she sang. Her “CHE.R.RY” was welcomed by glaring smiles in the audience; “Happy Birthday to you you” was accompanied by special guest “Yu Yu-kun”’s special dance. All these created a different impact, and all these made the live so real.

She wants to do many many more things. And amongst the songs in the never-ending list, she chose “Winter Hot Music”. It was the first time we saw YUI put down her guitar, and sang with the microphone in her hands. The song that describes the short, but happy, one hour in the morning, was sung with much emotions. Then she sang “Love & Truth”. From behind the stage came a strings band consisting 22 people. This intensity of this dramatic song was brought out by the intricacy of the strings. The simple sounds of the strings came together, creating an immensely complicated amalgan of emotions. And amongst these emotions, was YUI’s singing.

The accompanying scenes were then shown on the screen. Next up, was an acoustic version of “It’s all right”, which left a deep impression in the audience.

As YUI stepped down from the stage to change her clothes, the band began a string of rock performances. As YUI reappeared in her black leather overalls, she started strumming on her guitar, as she brought to the audience the exciting song “RUIDO”. As the song screeched to the end, fireworks were released from the stage. Then it was the punkish song “Jam”. And riding on the adrenaline of everyone, came “Rolling Star”. When it reached the climax, it wasn’t a single hit, but a song in her 2nd album “Highway Chance”. This song describes the current state of YUI perfectly. In fact, compared to the time when this song was released, it suits YUI more as she sang now. As the four people on stage rocked on the song, they upped the pace, and floored everyone in the hall.

The last official song was “My Generation”, which describes her dream when she was 16, and how she persevered and never gave up in the pursuit of her dream.

As a reply to the encore, YUI reappeared on the stage, in her Budokan Live T-shirt. And the relaxed expression on her face was most distinct. On the screen flashed pictures of her family, and YUI when she was a child.

“	The long shadow in the dim dusk changed into the shape of happiness. I started walking. It’s all right.	”
—From lyrics of Understand

As she sang “Understand”, it felt like one-to-one talk with her. Then came the introduction of the band members, as each of them presented a solo performance of their instruments. And standing at the sides looking, YUI seemed like she was beaming with happiness.

Even though it was her 21st song on that day, it didn’t seem like it, as she sang her debut single “Feel My Soul”- a true classic that hasn’t lost its attraction.

“I’m really glad to see all of you here today. Thank you very much.” And that thought translated into her next song. She stood alone with her guitar, and sang “Thank you my teens”. And showing on the screen behind her was the video footages of the making of the Budokan concert. It showed all the staff, members, guests and even normal people who helped up in the concert. It’s due to every single person, that the concert was made a success. It’s not just being sentimental, it is the connection that brings us to the next step.

And as always, accompanied by the melody of “It’s happy line”, YUI bid farewell. And as she seemed to disappear from the stage, she suddenly appeared again! (lol)

“There’s this one last song I would like all of you to hear.” “It’s Tokyo.” The main character of this song left her house, and at that moment, she was at a loss of words. And she is none other than YUI herself. As YUI fought with the overflowing emotions from within, she just carried on strumming the guitar. Looking at the YUI who was trying her best to calm herself down to start singing, the audience gave several words of encouragement. And as she gained strength from these words, she finally started singing.

“	In the bus heading toward the station, I mailed my friend. At the platform in the station, I tried to call my friend. But it all did not seem right.	”
—From lyrics of Tokyo

Even thought she has come to like Tokyo, meeting many people here, she knows that this is not the end destination. Therefore she cannot just stop here.

“	I can’t always choose the right thing. I know just that.	”
—From lyrics of Tokyo

YUI knows her own weaknesses, but she decides to walk on with it.

Fans Comments

“	This is my 2nd time. The previous one that I went was at a much smaller venue- Shibuya AX. But the size did not make a difference. If it had been other artistes, I might not have been able to see them. But I could really see her here, it was a typical YUI concert. Her cross-legged performance, acoustic guitar performances really made it feel like a truly live performance. I could feel the essence of a live performance, I was truly touched. And her voice is good; and she’s cute! I think I’ve just liked her even more. I like the song “Winter Hot Music”, but she seldom sings it in concerts. That made it a really good and precious experience to hear her sing here today. I’m very happy and glad to have come today.	”
—Shii-chan/ 17, Year 2 High School/Female

“	This is my 1st time to her concert. I think her last performance ‘Tokyo’ was the best. And I like her innocence and straightforwardness. Her mimicking were great too. And she has perfect skin! It seemed really smooth! Please continue to work hard!	”
—Sacchan/ 17, Year 2 High School/ Female

“	This is my 2nd time. And I came all the way from Akita! It was excellent. I’m glad I came. I personally like “Highway Chance”, and listening it live was really good, and touching. And of course, her reappearance to sing “Tokyo” was great. I’ll come again.	”
—Akita-ken/ Superman Rega/ 24/ Female

“	This is my first time. When everyone sang together, it was really good. I cried a lot. And the one that left the deepest impression was ‘Tokyo’. It’s excellent. Please continue to work hard!	”
—15, Year 1 High School/ Female

“	My first YUI concert was excellent. I love her singing while strumming the guitar. I enjoyed it thoroughly from the start to the end. I will continue to support her! Please tell her that!	”
—16, Year 1 High School/ Female

“	I saw her first at Summer Festival. But this is the first YUI concert. She’s really stylish, cute and beautiful; and her voice is great. She’s perfect. I didn’t expect her to sing her first song that way. She brought her guitar case along, and took the guitar out. The whole scene was very touching. I became her fan after ‘Life’, so I like her rock songs. I liked the way the rock songs started.	”
—Chiba-ken/ Yuuka-san/ 20/ Female

“	I happened to be invited, so I came. The last song ‘Tokyo’ was great. I imagined how YUI came all the way to Tokyo this way with a guitar. It’s wonderful. I didn’t expect her to sing this as the last song.	”
—Chiba-ken/ Mikasa-san/ 20/ Female

“	This is the first time to her concert. The previous event that I went to only had rock songs like “Rolling Star”. This time, I get to hear her acoustic songs. This was how she started, so I guess it’s great to hear her sing acoustic.	”
—Chiba-ken/ 20/ Female

“	The song that left the deepest impression was the last song. I almost cried out. I could feel her trying her best to contain her emotions. We could all feel it with her.	”
—Chiba-ken/ Ai-san/ 20/ Female

“	This is my first time. Her first song “Goodbye Days” and last song “Tokyo” were very touching. My hair stood up. At the part when YUI couldn’t carry on singing ‘Tokyo’, it was really impactful.	”
—Kanagawa-ken/ Yuuji-san/ 17/ Male

“	My first time. When everyone sang ‘Goodbye days’ together, it was great. And she sang as well as the recorded ones in the CD, I was pretty surprised.	”
—Kanagawa-ken/ Toshiyuki-san/ 17/ Male

“	My first time to YUI’s live. How should I describe… I was touched on my first time here… The first song where she sang while strumming the guitar, sank my heart. I thought to myself, ‘Wow, the first song is already so impactful!	”
—Saitama-ken/ Akari-san/ 18, Year 3 High School/ Female

“	This is my 2nd time. Previously I went to the one at Shibuya. From then on I got addicted to her! (lol) When her concert at Budokan was confirmed, I was determined to get the tickets. I even signed up in her official fan club, and got the tickets. My seat was on the second floor, but it was totally professional. The beginning, where she brought her guitar case out, I was already touched and almost teared. And the last song ‘Tokyo’ made me cry. It was great! I felt that live performances are really important. I will continue to give her my support!	”
—Kanagawa-ken/ Azusa-san/18, Year 3 High School/ Female