credits: ayuchina.com translations by: taylayu @ ayunite
This was posted by Ayumiko here -
http://asianfanatics.net/forum/Hamas...alk393854.html
Thanks to Ayumiko for editing/sharing the article around the internet, and of course to taylayu for the translations!
ARTICLE 1
Chinese
Spoiler:
滨崎步沪开嗓绝对真唱 时尚教主2首歌换套衣服
文章来源：上海热线 | 时间：2007年04月23日
滨崎步人民网·天津视窗4月23日讯:虽然天公不作美,但昨晚的上海大舞台却是近几年来最火爆的一次,几乎 百分百的上座率也曾出现在蔡琴等演唱会上,但歌迷全场舞动荧光棒、欢呼几小时的那股激情绝对极少出现。备受 全亚洲乐迷关注的日本流行天后滨崎步2007亚洲巡回演唱会上海站演出隆重上演。
昨晚是滨崎步2007年最后一场亚洲巡回演唱会,近百分百的上座率足以证明滨崎步在中国歌迷心 目中的地位, 现场歌迷的集体欢呼也足以让滨崎步感动。演唱会尚未开场,早已到场的歌迷压抑不住自己的兴奋, 全场“AYU ”的呼喊就提早上演,声音整齐划一,动作不约而同。
7点45分,滨崎步演唱会准时开始。帷幕拉开,滨崎步果然从天而降,只见身穿华丽而性感的黑色紧 身礼服的滨 崎步坐在半空的秋千上,配以灯光的投影,顿时惊艳全场。歌迷的热情也就此被全部点燃,开场曲《 进化》几乎是 在歌迷们的持续尖叫声中唱完的。
这位百变天后的造型也绝对是昨晚的一大看点。她几乎平均两首歌换一套服装,观众不禁感叹其“时 尚教主”美名 的名副其实。
在之前香港地区的演唱会上,滨崎步曾被陈奕迅等歌手指出是现场假唱,引起了不小的风波。为此记者昨晚特意注 意观察。正如事先主办方许诺的那样,滨崎步昨晚的演出完全是真唱。开场几首舞曲下来,台上的她 已经汗流满面 ,而在演唱途中,边唱边跳的同时也偶尔会从话筒中出现喘息声,现场专业人士也表示,这是正常现象 ,也是真唱 的表现。
花絮一上海演出首次开包检查
“本次演出禁止携带录音、摄影、摄像设备……”记者刚到上海大舞台,广播里就循环播放着这样的“ 警告语”。 虽然之前国际大牌到沪演出,同样有禁止摄影的先例,但入场需开包检查这样的做好还是首次使用。
据记者了解,滨崎步所到之处的演出,现场禁止摄影摄像是一贯的规矩。当记者手拿门票进场时,的确有位身穿西 装的“特殊”保安要求记者开包检查,但由于人数众多,现场难免有很多“漏网之鱼”。而在演唱会现场,工作人 员一直紧盯观众席,哪里有闪光灯闪烁,工作人员就会现场阻止,如此场景从未在上海大舞台出现过 。
花絮二痴心歌迷连买两回票
从张学友到滨崎步演唱会,上海大舞台和上海体育场外都出现了不少假票。受骗的观众当然会很沮丧 ,而昨晚记者 发现一个歌迷,买到假票丝毫不气馁,为了见偶像继续“大出血。”
“我第一次花了150元买了张400的票,没想到是假的。”一位女歌迷告诉记者,她从高中开始就很喜欢滨崎 步,这次一定要看到她的演唱会。所以她冒着受骗的危险,毅然决定再度买票。第二次她花了400元买了一张原 价600的票,这次对方送她进场,终于如愿以偿。虽然有了不愉快的经历,但这位歌迷还是非常兴 奋: “只要能看到偶像,花再多钱也值”。
Hamasaki Ayumi’s show in Shanghai is 100% live, costumes changes for every 2 songs
A message on Hamasaki Ayumi’s Shanghai forum on 23rd April goes: “Even though the weather was bad, yesterday’s performance at the Shanghai Grand Stage was the most passionate concert in recent years. 100% audience attendance was also seen at Tsai Chin’s (a popular Taiwan singer) concert, but such fans’ excitement and cheers for the few hours of the show is very rare.” Japanese Pop Queen Hamasaki Ayumi, whose 2007 Asia Tour is greatly anticipated by fans from all over Asia, held its grand show in Shanghai yesterday.
Yesterday was the last stop of ayu’s tour in Asia. Nearly all of the seats were filled, proving to ayu the place she had in China fans’ hearts, and the cheers from the fans gathered was enough to touch ayu’s heart. Before the show even started, the gathered fans were unable to suppress their excitement anymore, and screams of “ayu” were heard from all over the place.
Ayu’s concert began punctually at 7.45pm. When the curtains were raised, ayu indeed descended onto the stage from above. The sight of her wearing an elegant but sexy tight black gown, sitting in midair on a swing and illuminated by light, stunned the whole audience. The fans’ passion were thus ignited, and the opening song “evolution” was sung amidst the screams and cheers from fans.
This ever-changing Queen’s costumes were definitely yesterday’s main highlight. For every 2 songs, she will change her costume, and proved her title of “fashion icon” to the audience present.
During her previous concert in HK, ayu was accused of lip-syncing by Eason Chan and other artistes, creating a massive dispute. Hence, reporters took special notice of her singing last night, and true to the claim of the sponsors, ayu’s whole show was sung live. Following the vigorous continuous fast song routine, she was already sweating, and there were even occasional soft pants coming from her as she sang and danced. Professionals at the concert have decided that this is normal and is definitely a real live show.
Interesting fact 1: First ever Shanghai concert to have bag-check
“Any audio and video recording devices are not allowed for this performance…” The warning was the first thing reporters heard last night when they entered the Grand Stage. Even though other international artistes who had concerts in Shanghai also received this treatment, ayu’s concert was the first to have conducted a bag-check as well.
According to the reporters, the barring of recording devices in ayu’s concerts is not an unusual thing. As the reporters entered the arena, there was a special security guard who requested for a bag-check, but due to the vast amounts of people, there were many who managed to get past the guard. During the concert, staff members kept a strict eye on the audience, and anyone caught taking photos were taken care of immediately. This kind of security was the first for the Shanghai Grand Stage.
Interesting fact 2: Desperate fan purchases 2 tickets
From Jacky Cheung to Hamasaki Ayumi, the concerts at the Shanghai Grand Stage and Stadium had a significant number of “fake” audiences. Naturally, the fans who bought these fake tickets were very unhappy, but reporters found out last night that they were willing to take the risk just to see their idol live.
“The first time, I spent 150 yuan on a 400 yuan ticket, and it turned out to be fake.” A female fan told reporters. She had been a fan of ayu since her high-school days, and really wanted to see her concert this time. Therefore, she took the risk and decided to buy a ticket online. The second time, she bought a 600 yuan ticket for only 400 yuan, and the seller even escorted her into the arena personally, finally fulfilling her wish. Even though there were unhappy experiences, this fan was still very excited, “As long as I get to see her, any amount of money will be worth it”.
Article 2
Chinese
Ever-changing Queen Hamasaki Ayumi held a grand show at Shanghai yesterday
This is the most stunning concert in Shanghai in recent years. During “evolution”, the ever-changing ayu descended from the sky, wearing a low-cut black gown. The Grand Stage was filled with screams and shouts from the audience, all till the end. Yesterday, ayu held her concert at the Shanghai Grand Stage. All 7000 seats were sold out, and many fans who could not get tickets hung around outside the venue to listen to her performance. Ayu lived up to her name of “ever-changing Queen”, appearing in many grand costumes of her own design, putting up the best show in Shanghai in recent years.
Fans squeeze into the Grand Stage
Due to the sponsor’s promotion, the concert tickets were sold out within a mere 10 hours, breaking the record for shortest time for ticket sales in Shanghai. Even though the weather was bad yesterday, with freezing temperatures, rain and strong winds, passionate fans came to the Grand Stage early to show support for ayu’s first concert in China. Even before 7pm, the entire area outside the venue was already packed. This concert was similar to her Japan ones, where concert souvenirs were sold outside the venue. Such included a memorial booklet (240 yuan), towel (200 yuan), ayupan (35 and 50 yuan), and CDs. Due to the fact that these Japanese goods were limited, about 1000 people queued up for them, making an impressive sight. However, as many fans wished to buy all these goods, the scene became very chaotic. In the end, security had to be employed and the sale of goods was stopped. Stall holders apologized and said “If we continue this, someone is bound to die”, disappointing fans who had been queuing for hours. Before 7.30pm, the whole arena was packed with ayu fans, many of them wearing some sort of uniform attire. They held placards with supportive messages written in Japanese, “Hamasaki Ayumi, you will forever be the darling in our hearts”.
A sexy performance
When the lights dimmed, the arena immediately erupted into loud cheers of “ayu! ayu!”, which were heard throughout the whole concert whenever ayu was not on stage. At 7.45pm, “evolution” started to play, and a blonde ayu, wearing a low-cut black gown, descended from the sky, immediately igniting the atmosphere. All the fans rose from their seats to cheer for their idol, and the atmosphere was very passionate. For the concert, ayu chose many fast dance songs, and her costumes were on the sexy side, many being tight mini-skirts. One of the costumes, a fresh red kimono, was especially beautiful. Ayu went through a total of 8 costumes altogether, changing once every 2 songs. The speed at which she changed and her beautiful costumes were very stunning.
Ayu had frequently been accused of copying her beloved idol Madonna, but during yesterday’s concert, she still bravely placed her love for her idol on stage. One scene featured her being pinned onto a crucifix, an idea which Madonna used in her concert last year. However, the fans did not care about this. In their eyes, ayu will always be the first in the world. When the light shined on ayu on the crucifix, the fans erupted once again into crazy passionate cheers. Before this scene, a double wearing a mask and dressed exactly like ayu could still be seen dancing on stage, and suddenly the real ayu appeared in midair suspended on a silver cross, making fans scream in surprise at the magic act.
The whole concert could be said to be perfect. Aside from having suitable effects to fit her costumes, ayu also used a microphone studded with jewels. Even her earphones were specially studded with jewels, dazzling everyone. However, being caught up in the heat of the moment, ayu forgot her lyrics again. The sight of her sticking out her tongue and apologizing was very cute.
An hour long encore
At 9pm, ayu bowed and thanked the audience. The fans refused to leave, staying around and shouting her name. After about 5 minutes, ayu appeared wearing casual clothes. In order to show their passion, the fans sang a song together for ayu, causing a happy ayu to shout “Great”.
During this, ayu even specially used Mandarin to greet everyone. She also fulfilled the promise she made at the press conference, using the Shanghai accent to say “Hello everyone, I am Hamasaki Ayumi!”, earning cheers from the fans. Even guitarist Yoshio spoke a little Mandarin with ayu, the latter praising the good food in Shanghai and saying that she wished to dine with everyone, and the former asking if everyone wished to have a concert like this everyday. The atmosphere was very high. Ayu conducted the session sitting on the step in the middle of the stage, often letting off happy laughter. At the end, ayu put down her microphone and shouted “Thank you!” into the audience, and many fans left in tears.
Queen ayu has many food requests
Before ayu came to Shanghai, the Japan side has requested that her room should always have her favourite red globe grapes. The sponsors also had to specially prepare steamed dumplings, curry rice, beef rice and other simple meals for her. Ayu is also allergic to foods like milk, and seafood like crabs and shrimp. She would also not eat onions, oysters and preserved fish.
Ayu specially brought along 10+ humidifiers from Japan for this Shanghai trip, to install in her presidential suite at the Four Seasons Hotel and her rest room at the Grand Stage. Ayu also brought along her own blanket and pillow, as well as toiletries like shampoo and toothpaste.
Saloon car costs 10,000 yuan per day
For this Shanghai trip, sponsors specially arranged for a 1,000,000 yuan Benz saloon car to be her personal vehicle, which costs 10,000 yuan just for daily rent. Her Queen status did not stop there. On the plane, her favourite seat is the first row in the first-class cabin, and the seat opposite her is reserved only for her beloved teddy bear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ayumiko
Here is the newspaper article that talks about it. The red circle area talks about her singing live the whole concert.
credits: aaayu @ ayuchina |
These pics and a small review of the concert are available here -
http://globalflight.us/2007/04/22/ay...nghai-concert/
