ayumi hamasaki 『Just the beginning -20- TOUR 2017』~II~

[EndOfTheWorld]

I don't know what to think of this.
The setlist seems unusual to me. The songs don't feel like they go together. Pieces of SEVEN seems like a random choice to me as well. But I am happy about Walk, was not expecting that.
Vocals sound nice except for that Fly high video. But Ayu seemed so happy singing it.
Some of the aesthetic of this tour felt like 50 Shades of Grey or something. I don't know what to make of it visually. I also agree that some outfits don't seem flattering to her figure but it's not a big deal for me.
It does seem shorter than usual but it isn't like it's too short. Tons of normal concerts have similar lengths. It's the quality of the performance that matters. But I don't think this tour before a tour is very effective. It just feels strange so far. We will have to keep watching and see what unfolds.

[se7entheaven]

Originally Posted by Deep snow

Thank you for everyone who had posted pictures, links to videos/audios, and reviews of the concert!

While I'm not particularly happy about the setlist, I'm grateful than I'm not upset about it. Nonetheless, I do think she needs to sing other songs for multiple reasons, with the main contender being:

01 WARNING (three consecutive years already!)
02 NEVER EVER (I haven't heard about the arrangement this year, but if it's anything like PREMIUM SHOWCASE, then it's dull)
03 Virgin Road (while I love the song, I'd much prefer something else, like maybe Return Fucking Road? You know, to make up for 2012?)
04 my name's WOMEN (I like this one, but I'm bored with it--always the same performance anyway)
05 Voyage (I don't know, she? sounds like she's struggling?? a lot???? singing this)
06 Movin' on without you (See above)
07 SURREAL~evolution~SURREAL (Jesus Take The Wheel And Let SURREAL Have Her Day) (or not, she sounds terrible singing it anyway)

Thank you!
I can't with her keep recycling shit these days. Even costumes, like seriously. Her day offs are spent shopping for the latest fashion and she can't even be bothered to change her stage outfits. And all the same songs, same performance.

[se7entheaven]

Originally Posted by //ABEST

does she sell out venues nowadays?

i'm bored with this tour already but i knew this was coming so i didn't expect anything from her anymore. it feels like she gave up

TBH sometimes I feel it, like she's just doing it for the sake of doing it. Like, ok let's pick this song, this same performance, same outfit. Easy breezy.

[RealLight]

Originally Posted by !Lawi!

^S~e~S wasn't shortened, I couldn't say for the arrangements though but it didn't feel different (I was too excited, I probably wouldn't have noticed if she did a bossa nova version Ahaha)

Thanks, I'm praying she kept the original arrangements because that shit she did at CdM and MIJ was disappointing.

[AyuWorld]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

The costumes though; why? Why over the last few years does she keep wearing things that are not very flattering on her body. She isn't chunky, but she wears things that make her look that way.

Thats my problem, with her bigger boobs that belt especially made her torso looked short ( if that how people describe it) and it is so unflattering. For me she looks better in her usual size. Meh

With this first performance yesterday, it didnt feel like good for a show opener. Nothing "wow" in it

[YUKARI]

modelpress about new tour https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/1686644

Originally Posted by se7entheaven

TBH sometimes I feel it, like she's just doing it for the sake of doing it. Like, ok let's pick this song, this same performance, same outfit. Easy breezy.

yeah, now when she's grown up woman there's no more surprises and interesting ideas that's sad

I'm not sure if I can even differ all these past tours while I totally remember how it used to be diverse back in 00s.

[DonkeyKongRemix]

That setlist sounds perfect. Sounds like it could've been pretty intense.

Also...this seems pretty different from the countdown live so that's cool.

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by nalini-dahlia

Also...this seems pretty different from the countdown live so that's cool.

How do you figure? It's a lot of the same outfits and songs.

[AyuWorld]

I just realize her encore t-shirt, whats with the ripped, sloppy, t-shirt again? Oh Ayu I wish you would wear something nice for encore like during Arena Tour 2006 or Asia Tour 2007 again >_<

[hud]

pictures from the modelpress article:

Spoiler:

[Chris85]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

How do you figure? It's a lot of the same outfits and songs.

Yeah, 11 songs from CDL and only 6 different ones.

[melissalove]

Originally Posted by se7entheaven

Thank you!
I can't with her keep recycling shit these days. Even costumes, like seriously. Her day offs are spent shopping for the latest fashion and she can't even be bothered to change her stage outfits. And all the same songs, same performance.

this. I'm very sad about this.

[truehappiness]

また、今回のツアーは第一章・第二章・第三章の三部構成に分かれており、各章によって、ステージ演出・内容 ・セットリストなどガラリと変わる模様。

I'd guess the later chapters will be more interesting as far as costumes/staging/songs go? Also different setlists per chapter should be neat... hopefully.

[BabyJane]

I like the setlist so far, but I am sure that it will change throughout the tour (hopefully Walk will stay). The only thing that really bothers me are some of the costumes. Especially the silver one and the gold one. The body proportions look so out of place. If she had something done (and I am not judging her, would love to have the money to do it myself), but then she should quit using pads in her costumes or those big bras.

[MissElin_]

Yes: Opening, Ourselves with a very interesting and innovative performance, Walk

Nope: Costumes (why does she have the same unflattering things the last couple of years?, it's not like the good old times for example AT05, AT06, AT09, AT10. Very little recycling there and even though the years followed each other they completely changed.) Performances (the impression I got so far it that she only does the pretty same routines for the performances, except from Ourselves.) Setlist

[~angel*ayumi~]

Does anyone know if you can register for other ppl on TA booth? or at least just do a random registration only for the goods. I NEED that special TA card in my life >< (I collect different TA cards)

[Chris85]

Originally Posted by ~angel*ayumi~

Does anyone know if you can register for other ppl on TA booth? or at least just do a random registration only for the goods. I NEED that special TA card in my life >< (I collect different TA cards)

It's possible to have several membership accounts for yourself, but I don't know the details.

[Andrenekoi]

If someone can sincerely mistake MIJ for CdM and PSC this person needs to have their eyes checked, the 3 tours look nothing alike, nor do their stages or outfits or performances...

About this one... Seens like her simplest tour since the early 00's, but I guess this is natural if she is going to tour mainly halls this time. I guess having less sections this time also makes everything fell shorter considering usually she would have an interlude and an outfit change every two songs with a setlist this short, and this time we get 4 outfits and interludes for the whole main show.

I was never a fan of her tours focused on celebrating her career over promoting new stuff, so, not amused this time either... Also bored with mnW, BoY, Never Ever and Voyage but they are fan favorites, so... It does feel like a CDL though.

Now... About recycling CDL stuff to the main tour: not everyone is following every single step she takes or date she performs, her dvds aren't selling that much either. I bet for most of the tour audience everything will be new, besides some outfit photos seen on the internet. Hardcore fans may get annoyed, but they aren't the only ones buying tickets to her tours (as she is touring for what? 200k+ people every year? I doubt most of them even know the new songs before the tour) and I don't think it's very logical to axe a good performance, that took lots of effort and money (as outfits and props aren't for free) to put together and very few people actually had the chance to watch (as cdl has only 3 dates and dvds arent being sold).

I wish she would change arrangments more frequently or the way she perform the same songs (I love BoY and mnW, but the performances are pretty much the same in over a decade).

[~angel*ayumi~]

Originally Posted by Chris85

It's possible to have several membership accounts for yourself, but I don't know the details.

mhhh maybe I find someone who will register himself again and sell me the goods xD nothing up on yahoo yet <.<

[douggn]

Also what her japanese fans want is usally different to what her world fans want, and those are the ones who she mainly caters for, since its where she is from and where she preforms like with her 15th anniversary vote poll thing, basically all her asian fans want the songs her western fans are sick off but we have to think this tour is about her 20 years, so her old classics will be brought into it, we cant be too surprised there.
Also music isnt as big a money maker know with pirating and itunes, think instead of getting a cut of +$30 per single and up for her other stuff, to getting a cut of $1.99 per single. Not saying shes poor or running out of money, just that the return isn't as big for what is spent