I wonder if it has to do with the band members each being busy with their own stuff since hasn’t used them in a while and found it easier to do with the audio tracks instead. That and possibly rehearsal time around her schedule with the baby and pre baby say if she wanted to rehearse at 2am and trying to round up all the bandmates.

I did come across this on Instagram, what is this?
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6zFN5JH...=1r0je4p3a5mur
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6zIiDip...d=787lseoi8f61

It may be easier for her to sing over backing tracks, but then why have the live strings and brass? In-ear monitors are supposed to block out the sound from the stage so it wouldn’t change anything if the band was there or not. She shouldn’t be hearing them except in her monitors, and you’re supposed to do a sound check to balance the levels of all the instruments, so there really shouldn’t be any difference between having everything live and having only some stuff live or everything pre recorded. Maybe the band members were not available/wanted a break. Maybe it’s easier for her to practice to in terms of consistency, but the band members are pros and can play it the same way every time. I think the budget did have something to do with it, the strings, choir and I think horn players too are already on Avex regular payroll (they’re called A Strings/A Choir/A horns). I don’t think her band is employed by avex, I think they’re hired on contract for Ayu’s tours new every time. I’ve seen some of them (Yusuke and Enrique specifically) tour with other bands/artists before who I don’t believe are on Avex label. I’m just speculating here and could be entirely wrong though..

^ Yoshio has been with her since the very first tour. He’s most likely an employee of avex

^ certainly is possible. Maybe the other members weren’t available and she didn’t want to have just Yoshio by himself and the rest backing tracks. I know Yusuke was touring with another artist earlier this year. Unless it gets addressed by someone directly involved, we’ll never know.

I’m really curious as to whether SAKURA was always going to be in the setlist or if it was a last minute addition after that staff member of hers passed away a couple weeks ago.

^ oh I didn't hear about that...who was the staff member?

I’m certain it was an addition! They had a dedication to him on the screens, also showed footage of him backstage with ayu when she was younger.

I’m so sorry I don’t remember his name. I feel terrible.

Yeah you could see a little bit of the footage they were showing on the live broadcast, stuff with the two of them backstage—really glad they were able to add that in as tribute for him :heart

ETA. so just went back and read her insta post and he passed away at the beginning of November so perhaps it was always meant to be in there...he was with her for all 21 years of her career and basically made her ear monitors. Christmas Eve was the first time she had to be up on stage without him working his magic behind the scenes. :(

She definitely had a backtrack on some songs. I heard it i think in everywhere nowhere as well. But she still put on one heck of a show and for the most part, her real voice was on point. and on hindsight, this CDL must have meant a lot to her!

Yes, She was 100% lip syncing in everywhere nowhere.

I don't remember his name, and they really only showed him clearly on the broadcast for like half a second. But I do remember him from the past documentaries. I can't remember if it was the CDL 2006-2007 documentary, the Rock n Roll Circus Documentary, the Cirque de Minuit Documentary... he could've been in all 3 or one or two of them. But I do remember him adjusting/trying to fix ayu's monitors in the video

I kinda remember the letters y and m.... Matsumoto? tbh I don’t trust my memory.

She does seem to struggle less vocally when she sings over a track... But I may be wrong too. Her vocals were really great last night compared to her previous lives.

From the meet and greet post concert. So nice to see Ayu so natural and fresh face. Her makeup for the last year has been on point.

Ayu falling:
https://www.facebook.com/AyuTrollada...1148673301984/

^ damn, that looks painful.

I really love the concert. What an incredible countdown!
Sending mail is one of my favorite songs, and now she has finally performed it!

What a show!
Great she performed some songs for the first time.
Glad to hear her voice is improving. May be due to the long rest but it still sounds tired at times. But she managed to retain control over it until the end. No more screaming. Her off-key moments are less painful to hear. And her voice is clear again!
Happy she kept the choir and the brass/strings (even if sometimes I really wonder if they are playing, particularly the strings which sound processed). Less happy to see her band is still not there.

i hope she okay now, that fall take her nearly a minute to stand up again...

What songs did she perform for the first time? Correct me if I'm wrong, but she has performed all of them before.

She’s actually performed this for CDL before 😉

^Yep, during CDL11-12.

She has but this is the first time that a SAKURA performance got recorded (not counting that short acapella in 2015).
Pretty sure everything else had been performed (and recorded) before but a lot of these haven't been done for quite some time.