ARENA TOUR 2009 A ~NEXT LEVEL~ setlist and pictures [I]

[Ayu_Ready]

I love the costumes so beautiful and fresh ! The tracklist is very exciting i want to know how Ayu is going to sing NEXT LEVEL's songs >< A little classical but so good =D

[waterballoon]

Oh Megshere please do tell us more!

[MissElin_]

^I seccond that! Tell more! (And maybe share?) ^^

[shineestar]

i wonder how the music was performed and all :p , thanks for posting, she looks great on those pics.

[polka-dot-jewel]

Originally Posted by noidea

You did a mistake, polka-dot-jewel

CDL 0607 was a BEST of her previous concerts, thats why its called BEST of COUNTDOWN LIVE 0607 A, it's meant to copy some of her performances(and make them better like most were...) and theres another difference: this is a TOUR, sure, she copied for tours already, too, but never in this amount + she calls it NEXT LEVEL, whats NEXT LEVEL about copying most of the costumes and at least one of the performances

Well, true, that's why most of those are the same, but at the same time, look at "my name's WOMEN" performances from AT05 and AT08 - the outfit's are the same, just different colors.

And I think people are misinterpreting the "NEXT LEVEL" part of the tour title - it's called "ARENA TOUR 2009 ~NEXT LEVEL~" because 1) it's her 2009 tour, and 2) the tour is promoting her "NEXT LEVEL" album. Just because it's called NEXT LEVEL doesn't necessarily mean she's going to pull out some new tricks on us. Besides some of the songs being different and this being the entrance to her second decade as a singer, I doubt there's much new to her, the tour, etc etc.

[ayulove_18]

I don't mean to seem like I am whining about the tour. I guess a lot of us where just expecting something a lot different. With every tour/concert There are new songs, just the themes,concepts,outfits and how she transitions from one set to another just seems to not change and just get repeated over again. You could love someone to death but eventually see something multiple time gets disappointing I guess. Like the smashing the cage with a chair thing. I think she did that 4 times. I loved seeing it for the first time then it lost it's cool factor.

Again sorry if it seems like i am whining. I am just hoping to go see this and a small part of me might always be a little disappointed that I had already in a way seem some of the visual parts of the show already.

[noidea]

Originally Posted by polka-dot-jewel

Well, true, that's why most of those are the same, but at the same time, look at "my name's WOMEN" performances from AT05 and AT08 - the outfit's are the same, just different colors.

And I think people are misinterpreting the "NEXT LEVEL" part of the tour title - it's called "ARENA TOUR 2009 ~NEXT LEVEL~" because 1) it's her 2009 tour, and 2) the tour is promoting her "NEXT LEVEL" album. Just because it's called NEXT LEVEL doesn't necessarily mean she's going to pull out some new tricks on us. Besides some of the songs being different and this being the entrance to her second decade as a singer, I doubt there's much new to her, the tour, etc etc.

Yeah sure, I know she did it often, really often, theres like at least one song every tour, but this seems like a completely new amount and didnt she write in one of her TA massages that she wants to bring everything to the next level? thats what i was talking about, not the album title but ayus comment about this tweltht year(her second decade actually began on the 8.4.2008)

[SunshineSlayer]

Teth was supposed to be going but over at JPM but said he couldn't for various reasons. His Japanese friend went though and described the concert as only "so-so." Honestly of the Japanese opinions that I've been reading, most have said the same thing "average", "not her best" etc. etc.

Overall, it seems her voice was at the very least ok. Ranging from ok to pretty good and then the person here plus one other Japanese comment saying it was great. One person said that they aren't sure if she was using playback or not sometimes though.

[waterballoon]

Well, I don't wish to take any stands or be a stan, but I just gotta say this.

In any live performance/concert, the only reason why you're up on stage singing is because you want to SHOW OFF something to the audience. Your hard work, your efforts, what have you.

Ever since AT 05, Ayu has opted for a more aesthetic concert... sacrificing vocal quality for dance, visuals, etc. Honestly, her recent concerts were eye-candy; she looked great, everything was like "wow!".

But I can feel that with AT 09, she looks like she's going back to the simple style of Concert Tour 2000. Maybe I'm wrong, but it's really simple now. In return, we actually get comments that her vocals were "okay" (not bad for me considering all the factors).

So I mean, the rehashed costumes, while disappointing to me, don't bother me that much, because it appears that she's concentrating on something different this time. Something she did in the past; her voice and her audience.

[Coelacanth]

Originally Posted by kyuutii_hanii

I just pray that her vocals are great and she's having a great time with the audience without much pressure over dance routines or some unnecessary "wow" factors. (even though I do love the big highlights like alterna at (mu) tour and the ship last year, but sometimes the simplest is the best :b)

I agree with you. It'd be great if there were more audience interaction and actual live singing because a lot of that was missing in AT08, believe it or not.

Originally Posted by noidea

I mean seriously, in the imagine a setlist threads theres always so great ideas, not just setlistwise, but also for the performances, stages, props and so on...some people here really have talent imagining a good concert

No.. I think this is the reason why people get so worked up and disappointed about her outfits/setlist all the time. They pretty much have no life, so they decide to make up their own concert and then they get mad when the real concert doesn't turn out the way they imagined. The truth is, y'all don't know squat about how to throw together a concert.. because well, y'all are not the ones performing the concert. Ayu and her team might come up with all the same stuff you guys do, it doesn't mean it can reasonably be done. Do you think Ayu would have went out in that skintight jumpsuit she wore in the Sparkle PV? And then make her dancers wear those same suits with the asphyxiation masks? And then expect them to sing and dance (well) to it with a bunch of lights shining in their faces? It could be done sure, but it'd be a lot to prepare for in 2 months.

About the recycled setlist. Makes perfect sense to me.. We all know how hard Ayu worked on that show only to play two dates. Don't you think it's more efficient if the band doesn't have to memorize yet a new set of obscure songs on top of all the new tracks for NEXT LEVEL? The band and dancers would already be comfortable with these performances and would also be bringing them to a wider audience.

And I don't care what anyone says- Madonna, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Kylie Minogue, David Bowie, Britney Spears. These artists have already done it all in regards to concert theatrics. Whether Ayu recycles from herself or other artists, people are going to complain either way. Unless you want her to be completely original and come out with a 10 piece clown suit, but that's just ****ing bizarre.

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by waterballoon

Well, I don't wish to take any stands or be a stan, but I just gotta say this.

In any live performance/concert, the only reason why you're up on stage singing is because you want to SHOW OFF something to the audience. Your hard work, your efforts, what have you.

Actually for many artists, it is because they want to make a ton of money. That is certainly the record companies reason for doing tours otherwise there would be no point for them to exist for the companies. I'm not saying Ayu feels that way, but there are indeed several artists that do it for the money and not for the audience.

Originally Posted by waterballoon

But I can feel that with AT 09, she looks like she's going back to the simple style of Concert Tour 2000. Maybe I'm wrong, but it's really simple now. In return, we actually get comments that her vocals were "okay" (not bad for me considering all the factors).

I'm all for that. One of my favorite concerts is actually the TA 03 tour. I really don't care much about a lot of flash and what not. But it seems that this tour is primarily the dancers tour and that I don't really like. Also, at least from what I have read so far, the more simple style this time around didn't actually translate into something that was better/high quality.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Coelacanth

I agree with you. It'd be great if there were more audience interaction and actual live singing because a lot of that was missing in AT08, believe it or not.



No.. I think this is the reason why people get so worked up and disappointed about her outfits/setlist all the time. They pretty much have no life, so they decide to make up their own concert and then they get mad when the real concert doesn't turn out the way they imagined. The truth is, y'all don't know squat about how to throw together a concert.. because well, y'all are not the ones performing the concert. Ayu and her team might come up with all the same stuff you guys do, it doesn't mean it can reasonably be done. Do you think Ayu would have went out in that skintight jumpsuit she wore in the Sparkle PV? And then make her dancers wear those same suits with the asphyxiation masks? And then expect them to sing and dance (well) to it with a bunch of lights shining in their faces? It could be done sure, but it'd be a lot to prepare for in 2 months.

About the recycled setlist. Makes perfect sense to me.. We all know how hard Ayu worked on that show only to play two dates. Don't you think it's more efficient if the band doesn't have to memorize yet a new set of obscure songs on top of all the new tracks for NEXT LEVEL? The band and dancers would already be comfortable with these performances and would also be bringing them to a wider audience.

And I don't care what anyone says- Madonna, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Kylie Minogue, David Bowie, Britney Spears. These artists have already done it all in regards to concert theatrics. Whether Ayu recycles from herself or other artists, people are going to complain either way. Unless you want her to be completely original and come out with a 10 piece clown suit, but that's just ****ing bizarre.

I agree...
every pop performer recycle tons of stuff, by the way.... I'm a pop diva concert lover, and I can say that Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Namie Amuro, Gwen Stefani, Beyonce, Ivete Sangalo, etc...
They all repeat themselves a lot... outfits... stages... choreography... concepts... performaces... Most of the time, some songs (3, 4) that are going to be the top performaces of the concert have brand new impressive performaces and the other ones are more common...

[waterballoon]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

Actually for many artists, it is because they want to make a ton of money. That is certainly the record companies reason for doing tours otherwise there would be no point for them to exist for the companies. I'm not saying Ayu feels that way, but there are indeed several artists that do it for the money and not for the audience.

Well, yeah, unfortunately, in the realistic sense, it's to make money. But well, at least for me, before I go to perform in a symphonic band concert, my conductor would tell us that. And he would say that while performing is the only time you can afford to be haughty and proud, and yeah... something like that. So, honestly, to me, to be able to perform is an honor. I don't know about Ayu, but it APPEARS as if she's someone like that too.

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

I'm all for that. One of my favorite concerts is actually the TA 03 tour. I really don't care much about a lot of flash and what not. But it seems that this tour is primarily the dancers tour and that I don't really like. Also, at least from what I have read so far, the more simple style this time around didn't actually translate into something that was better/high quality.

Haha, dancers tour. Okay yes I get what you mean when she was whoring it out with the guys in the gray tank-top/shorts. But well, there were a lot of discussion about her lip-syncing for the past few concerts, and at least for now, I've not heard anything like that.

And oh, ever since PCDL, I kind of expected her vocals to be even better, and it seems like she has not disappointed me in that aspect, based on other people's comments.

I would like to add that, for the rehash of the costumes... I mean, I don't know. I don't really expect her to have some 'WHOA!' costumes actually, after all, she doesn't have LV, Prada, Gucci and Chanel backing her tours!

At least she has bothered to go edit them while in America, instead of re-using everything. There's a difference between reusing and recycling.

[ayulove_18]

Originally Posted by Coelacanth

No.. I think this is the reason why people get so worked up and disappointed about her outfits/setlist all the time. They pretty much have no life, so they decide to make up their own concert and then they get mad when the real concert doesn't turn out the way they imagined. The truth is, y'all don't know squat about how to throw together a concert.. because well, y'all are not the ones performing the concert. Ayu and her team might come up with all the same stuff you guys do, it doesn't mean it can reasonably be done. Do you think Ayu would have went out in that skintight jumpsuit she wore in the Sparkle PV? And then make her dancers wear those same suits with the asphyxiation masks? And then expect them to sing and dance (well) to it with a bunch of lights shining in their faces? It could be done sure, but it'd be a lot to prepare for in 2 months.

About the recycled setlist. Makes perfect sense to me.. We all know how hard Ayu worked on that show only to play two dates. Don't you think it's more efficient if the band doesn't have to memorize yet a new set of obscure songs on top of all the new tracks for NEXT LEVEL? The band and dancers would already be comfortable with these performances and would also be bringing them to a wider audience.

And I don't care what anyone says- Madonna, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Kylie Minogue, David Bowie, Britney Spears. These artists have already done it all in regards to concert theatrics. Whether Ayu recycles from herself or other artists, people are going to complain either way. Unless you want her to be completely original and come out with a 10 piece clown suit, but that's just ****ing bizarre.

Well to me I thought your comment was pretty rude. It is mean to tell people they have no life. They where just giving there opinion. I didn't see anything yet about people getting mad at her for the decision she made. They just didn't like it and wanted/thought it was going to be something different thats all. No big deal.

[MissElin_]

Everything I think of is Ayu writing that she will do things her way and in her pace. And the outfits for PCDL was ten times better then the AT08 costumes and I remember that I thougt to myself "these are to good to just be seen in just two shows". Sure, Im a bit disapointed that she did recycle so much, but they are so good that its all fine by me.

And yeah, fans can "have no life" to think about their own setlist but I wouldnt really call it having no life. It really isnt a bad thing to make up your own setlist in your mind just for fun. Its the same thing as making a list of your top 20 favourites songs kind of. But the bad thing is to get so happy about the imaginary list that the real setlist feels like a disapointment. Its not a big thing at all, but ppl should be careful with word though the internet cuz it can sound very wrong too. But for myself, Im pleased with the setlist. Offcourse (with my standards the setlist could be better a la Arena Elin Tour 2009, haha, but everyone feels diffrent for diffrent songs. I think its awesome that Ayu does so many songs for a change and also ALL the songs from NEXT LEVEL.

[Coelacanth]

Originally Posted by ayulove_18

Well to me I thought your comment was pretty rude. It is mean to tell people they have no life. They where just giving there opinion. I didn't see anything yet about people getting mad at her for the decision she made. They just didn't like it and wanted/thought it was going to be something different thats all. No big deal.

Fair enough. I guess I have no life either for reading the 22 pages of this thread, lol. But still, I made sure I gave my opinion after wasting time out of my life to read a thread full of overdramatic opinions that njanjayrp already pointed out.

Originally Posted by polka-dot-jewel

And I think people are misinterpreting the "NEXT LEVEL" part of the tour title - it's called "ARENA TOUR 2009 ~NEXT LEVEL~" because 1) it's her 2009 tour, and 2) the tour is promoting her "NEXT LEVEL" album. Just because it's called NEXT LEVEL doesn't necessarily mean she's going to pull out some new tricks on us. Besides some of the songs being different and this being the entrance to her second decade as a singer, I doubt there's much new to her, the tour, etc etc.

Thank you for bringing this up. People have been misinterpreting the title 'NEXT LEVEL' since day one. I swear if someone makes another lame "LOL THIS IS REALLY NEXT LEVEL!" or "EW THIS ISN'T NEXT LEVEL!" pun one more time...

The title NEXT LEVEL has nothing to do with quality like people seem to think. If Ayu was going to make a statement about quality she would have named the album "HIGH LEVEL" or "LEVEL UP!", lol. It's just a step in a different direction. Musically, yes it was different, and was received with mixed results. It was never Ayu's intention to make some kind of pretentious statement about how awesome the album is, so it's entirely your own fault if you have higher expectations than you usually would just because everything has the name 'NEXT LEVEL' attached to it.

[wannajoin_Team Ayu]

I want to raise another issue

did ayu's right hand fully recovered? I saw some pics that she didn't wear gloves

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by wannajoin_Team Ayu

I want to raise another issue

did ayu's right hand fully recovered? I saw some pics that she didn't wear gloves

I seens so =)

[noidea]

Originally Posted by wannajoin_Team Ayu

I want to raise another issue

did ayu's right hand fully recovered? I saw some pics that she didn't wear gloves

I thought the same when I saw the pics^^ Its great that she seems to be recovered^^

[wannajoin_Team Ayu]

Originally Posted by Emperatriz Ayumi

Yes!!! I totally agree with you!!

Remember people that in AT 06 at first she wore during AUDIENCE performance a horrible yellow dress (it seemed that was made of flowers...) and then in the last tour presentations she wore that golden corset with that feathered white dress and the white boots...

I hope that her costumes will change a bit. I think that they are simple ones because of the new stage where she doesn´t have enough space to run, for example, as the previous stages from the other tours.

This is my point of view...

ah, I didn't seen the yellow outfit of AUDIENCE in AT06 before... can someone send me the link? thx so much~