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 ayumi’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 ayumi’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.
Ayumi’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, ayumi 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, ayumi’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, ayumi’s concert was the first to have conducted a bag-check as well.
According to the reporters, the barring of recording devices in ayumi’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 ayumi 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”.
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, ayumi 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. Ayumi 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 ayumi’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 ayumi 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 ayumi, 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, ayumi 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. Ayumi 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.
Ayumi had 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, ayumi will always be the first in the world. When the light shined on ayumi on the crucifix, the fans erupted once again into crazy passionate cheers. Before this scene, a double wearing a mask and dressed exactly like ayumi could still be seen dancing on stage, and suddenly the real ayumi appeared in midair suspended on a silver cross, making fans scream in surprise at the magic act.
*actually ayumi did do the crucifix before Madonna in her countdown live 05-06 during the performance of 'endless sorrow'. Madonna did it later in her confessions tour in 06.*
The whole concert could be said to be perfect. Aside from having suitable effects to fit her costumes, ayumi 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, ayumi forgot her lyrics again. The sight of her sticking out her tongue and apologizing was very cute.
An hour long encore
At 9pm, ayumi bowed and thanked the audience. The fans refused to leave, staying around and shouting her name. After about 5 minutes, ayumi appeared wearing casual clothes. In order to show their passion, the fans sang a song together for ayumi, causing a happy ayumi to shout “Great”.
During this, ayumi 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. Ayumi conducted the session sitting on the step in the middle of the stage, often letting off happy laughter. At the end, ayumi put down her microphone and shouted “Thank you!” into the audience, and many fans left in tears.
Queen ayumi has many food requests
Before ayumi 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. Ayumi is also allergic to foods like milk, and seafood like crabs and shrimp. She would also not eat onions, oysters and preserved fish.
Ayumi 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. Ayumi 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.
credits: ayuchina.com
translations by: taylayu @ ayunite