Thoughts on ASIA TOUR 2007 ~Tour of Secret~ DVD

[andre2907]

Another thing that bothered me: beside the usual configuration (her last three tours were very alike), most of the performances/special effects were done before. I mean, it does make sense since it was her first Asian tour and most fans have never seen her live concert before so she had to sing the classics, etc. but still... it could be a little more creative.

The concert is really good but I've seen better... I hope AT 08 surprises us all.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by andre2907

Another thing that bothered me: beside the usual configuration (her last three tours were very alike), most of the performances/special effects were done before. I mean, it does make sense since it was her first Asian tour and most fans have never seen her live concert before so she had to sing the classics, etc. but still... it could be a little more creative.

The concert is really good but I've seen better... I hope AT 08 surprises us all.

Yeah, I know. They tried.

The dancers attempted to do a fabric dance where you dance on two to four giant strands of ribbon... but they ended up having to redo the hoops from AT02.

The dancers were extremely upset ;_;~

I hope they can get it together for AT08~!

[I don't see the resemblance between AT05 and AT06... while it's glaringly obvious that some elements from AT05 are in AT07.. as well previous ATs]~

[milky_way]

I hope this year's tour will be extra extravagant and we get a first press bonus for ordering the DVD.

[namiie]

I thought the opening with "evolution" is the BEST performance of "evolution" Ayu's done in the past, oh...5 years. The piano accompaniment kicking into the pumped-up second verse/chorus was amazing!

I also cannot praise the "part of Me" performance enough. The costumes for this sequence are the loveliest Ayu's had in years--both her own and the dancers. The story behind the performance was touching yet doesn't border cheesy. The vocals were not top notch but decent.

I thought the performance of "M" did not live up to the grandeur of the song. The costumes/dance sequence aren't bad...just a little mediocre. The matador costumes (male dancers) were interesting though, as the way the "appears" performance was carried out.

Oh yeah, "until that Day..." was AMAZING. I laughed myself into a coma at the male dancers' costumes though. I mean really. The dominatrix spider look? Not flattering on anyone....Ayu's looked fine though, and her vocals were off the hook for this one. The energy was awesome. I was kinda taken aback at the touchy-feeliness of the some parts though, but it wasn't that bad.

The only costume that made me CRINGE was the "kiss o kill" costume. I mean, WTF. It just screams Xena, Warrior Princess in Space to me. And the black caped creepers with the masks? Yeah, not artistic or cool, just all over the place. And the vocalization at the beginning was not impressive...just annoying. The cross is old and annoying too. I'm not religious or anything but I just don't like it when religious symbols are used for fun like that. =T This set did not do "kiss o kill" justice. I was expecting more.

My favorite performance would have to be BOYS & GIRLS. Just like with "evolution", this performance was her best in a number of years. From the fabulous Brazilian feather costumes to the strength of Ayu's voice to the energy pouring forth from every note, this number totally blew me away!

The encore was ok. Vocals sucked toward the end, but that's ok. She was tired. Overall, I think AT07 is definitely worth buying (well, too late for me anyway haha) but I think as a whole I prefer AT06 better, just because the vocals were more consistent and the costumes were a little better designed. Individual performances from this AT are better than AT06, but AS A WHOLE, AT06 wins.

[truehappiness]

The only costume that made me CRINGE was the "kiss o kill" costume. I mean, WTF. It just screams Xena, Warrior Princess in Space to me. And the black caped creepers with the masks? Yeah, not artistic or cool, just all over the place. And the vocalization at the beginning was not impressive...just annoying. The cross is old and annoying too. I'm not religious or anything but I just don't like it when religious symbols are used for fun like that. =T This set did not do "kiss o kill" justice. I was expecting more.

I thought that Ayu was some sort of warrior during this section, like a Joan of Arc, and was taken into this group of people or something, converted to their kind, and killed. Which is why we end up seeing her on the cross at the end. I don't really think it's a pointless religious symbol as much as it is a symbol for her eventual death in the set, you know?

OMG NAMI, I wanted to cry for Ayu when her feather thing started to drag down to her knees. On the taping of the final show... of all things to go wrong, the very end! [The feathers began to fall during the first song of the set, and by the third song, it was still hanging on the ground ;_;~]

[milky_way]

^ You find meaning behind everything don't you?

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by milky_way

^ You find meaning behind everything don't you?

No no no, the meaning is already there. I was just like: "Hm, what does this outfit have to do with the song?" so I thought that it went through Ayu's head like that. XD

She arises and is some sort of warrior clad in her armor from the year 2050 or w/e and there is a syndicate of evil Tuxedo-Mask clones from the future, and they are trying to convert Ayu into a Tuxedo-Clone... and so, they are successful and the power ends up killing her because duh, you can't mix a male power with female ones, so like, she dies and ends up on a cross for the final lines of kiss o' kill.

I can find meaning in relation to the lyrics, but that'll take a day. D:

[namiie]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I thought that Ayu was some sort of warrior during this section, like a Joan of Arc, and was taken into this group of people or something, converted to their kind, and killed. Which is why we end up seeing her on the cross at the end. I don't really think it's a pointless religious symbol as much as it is a symbol for her eventual death in the set, you know?

OMG NAMI, I wanted to cry for Ayu when her feather thing started to drag down to her knees. On the taping of the final show... of all things to go wrong, the very end! [The feathers began to fall during the first song of the set, and by the third song, it was still hanging on the ground ;_;~]

That's actually a very good point. O_O Hmm, now I need to rewatch that entire sequence....that's nice insight there.

Ahhhhh I didn't even notice!! There, there....she still pulled off a great show! ^_^

[majrakun]

I love love love Appears <3 It's such a touching performance, and she danced~ Though a bit unnerving about the fact that she had to look way up high during the dance XD

And um...did her male dancers lost their muscles and 6-packs or something? Most of them seem kinda flat during Until that Day...XD


(and omgomg dancers molesting eachother again~)

[Melrose]

^

Lol, tuxedo men from the future? I thought a bit like this:

The tuxedo men represent inner-struggle. And to let their feelings out, they hurt others. In this case they all hurt Ayu, and she ends up dead. Then she speaks to them from the dead, telling them that she still believes in them and that they should change. Then they throw off their capes, because they've seen the light, and throw their hats to Ayu to thank her and she can disappear back to the dead, for her good deed has been done!

Omg~ I watched truehappiness' Memorial address rip (thank you! <3) and it's beautiful! It's too bad they lost JEWEL's footage. And I still don't know if momentum's footage is in there because no one replies (lol), but I'm soooo happy Memorial address is in there! *gonna get the DVD* XD!

[DA1SUK1DAY01691]

I got mine!

It was AMAZING. I have to say. Even if it was a little CDL 06-07 reminicent, they pulled it off to make it an AMAZING Arena Tour. I thought the costumes, dancing, everything pretty much overtook AT2006. I only miss the huge moving screens. Those were pretty amazing...

Anyway, it says that "Memorial Address", "JEWEL", "Momentum", and "flower garden" are included. Where?? >.<

Oh, and there's no way to watch it through without watching the documentary, yeah?

[truehappiness]

Oh, and there's no way to watch it through without watching the documentary, yeah?

The only way is to press next before the documentary starts or during the documentary. :<~

[Ayumiko]

I watched mine today. I'm very pleased with the packaging...very nice!

The preview in the beginning was awesome! got me hyped up for the concert. LABYRINTH and evolution was awesome...its like a goddess came down to earth from heaven.

Unite! was nothing special...like the same as usual.

Taskinst video was awesome! very cool! I wanna know who shuya shot...lol...

1 love...I like the part where they showed the rotating dancers on the screen and the dancers themselves were in the same pose. The performance itself in the cage was like AT02..not much happens...till the bars disappeared...I was a little disappointed how the explosion wasn't as loud as it should be. (from watching the secretly filmed clips) The pole dancing was ok...it was more like going around the pole, up the chair and repeat...but I give her credit for trying something different.

Until that day...didn't expect the guys to pole dance...they did a better job than the ladies...which is kinda weird. XD... I like the part when ayu and the male dancers were at the round stage, there was a spark explosion, and the male dancers sorta jumped off the rotating part of the stage.

M...it wasn't very impressive for such a great song. A museum, dome tour had such a impact, this one didn't do anything for me...even though the performance wasn't bad.

appears is definitely my fav performance! Ayu dancing was soooo elegant!! I love it! She improved so much! remembering in the past how she doesn't really dance and when she did, it was very stiff and now it's so natural and smooth!

part of me...I love the intro video! the kimono was very beautiful...I love her wig too. The performance was too much like moments from AT05...but I do like the end part where ayu and shuya was trying to reach each other...ayu's platform was lowering at the same time...just when they were about to touch each other's hand, shuya disappeared...fell in the hole...XD

Secret...I like the red ribbons that comes down and the way ayu lifts up part of her kimono to walk...that was very elegant.

kiss o' kill...the beginning was awesome. The instrumental part and ayu yelling part was awesome. My mom saw the intro part and she said it was very cool how ayu jumped up to the stage. I liked that part too! I don't know if its because I already know it wasn't ayu wearing the mask or what but the first time I saw 'her' she doesn't look like ayu...looks like her double.

Not yet...OMG...the video is sooo cool!!! XD...I love everything about it. Her hair looks like they were in braids...looks good!

SURREAL...nothing special...but I have to point out that I was distracted by her legs when she was walking towards the round stage...XD

Audience...nothing special...actually I don't like the song itself...the only performance I ever liked for this song was AT06

Boys & Girls...too bad there wasn't water fountain...it would of been so cool with all those lights. The only thing I like about this performance is the light up stage, the costumes, and the end when the curtain goes down and you think its over but then it goes up again.

encore...I was a bit disappointed how there wasn't much mc...in the past there used to be questions and stuff that yochan would read off for ayu to answer and stuff...but this time there was none shown.

documentary...I enjoyed it...the only down part is having to watch it inbetween the concerts. (I'm gonna have to rewatch it seperately) too bad they didn't show how they put the part of me wig on ayu...I wanna see! and where's the shanghai press conference with ayu wearing the red qi pao? its in the booklet but not in the documentary...

anyways....I'm gonna rewatch everything seperately...the concert overall was very good...its just that she have some performances too similar to her previous ones...but I kinda expected that already. She did kinda mentioned in a magazine interview how the asia tour was to show the overseas fans her japan concert performances...I guess that could also explain why there's many of her usual concert songs. I am really hoping AT08 will be better. The cdl was very good already so hopfully it will be better.

[SunshineSlayer]

I really hate how they put the documentary in with the tour footage. It's kind of annoying. You should at least have the option to play only the concert parts.

[KLJames]

Originally Posted by majrakun

I love love love Appears <3 It's such a touching performance, and she danced~ Though a bit unnerving about the fact that she had to look way up high during the dance XD

And um...did her male dancers lost their muscles and 6-packs or something? Most of them seem kinda flat during Until that Day...XD


(and omgomg dancers molesting eachother again~)

haha, yes yes, i noticed the male dancer n i was surprised when saw gomi's big belly

[Ayu_no_tenshi]

loved it...as usual ^^

[se7entheaven]

namiie...LOL
I think this tour is where ayu's costumes are ALL GREAT !!! I mean it ! no bad ones

[bulmasman]

I have a feeling i'm going to be ordering this next week in place of another MM PB i had my eyes on lol. Seriously wanna see this tour, and i like the look of the tracklist. Gonna avoid any previews until i get it tho ^^

[majrakun]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Yeah, I know. They tried.

The dancers attempted to do a fabric dance where you dance on two to four giant strands of ribbon... but they ended up having to redo the hoops from AT02.

The dancers were extremely upset ;_;~

I hope they can get it together for AT08~!

[I don't see the resemblance between AT05 and AT06... while it's glaringly obvious that some elements from AT05 are in AT07.. as well previous ATs]~

The hoops? As in the one for M? Wow, that's such a pity...

Originally Posted by Ayumiko

Until that day...didn't expect the guys to pole dance...they did a better job than the ladies...which is kinda weird. XD... I like the part when ayu and the male dancers were at the round stage, there was a spark explosion, and the male dancers sorta jumped off the rotating part of the stage.

Oh yeah, I know! The pole dancing was pretty hot, man! XD

LOL, Ayu touched Shuya's butt during Until Thay Day...he responded by touching hers during Appears. FTW. And he molested Subaru...why does the cameraman like to focus so much on these scenes? Sheesh.

[truehappiness]

The hoops? As in the one for M? Wow, that's such a pity...

No.. the hoops that were suspended in the air after Secret.