INTERVISTE/ARTICOLI

Entameplex: Why GACKT spent over 10 minutes getting a response from the audience

The reason why GACKT spent over 10 minutes during the tour final getting a response from the audience

The tour final performance for GACKT’s「GACKT WORLD TOUR 2016 LAST VISUALIVE Saigo no Tsuki -LAST MOON- supported by Nestlé」was held on the 3rd at the Saitama Super Arena.

Starting in March, the 2016 tour has had 42 performances. What kind of stage will GACKT show us at the end? As the performance finally starts, it first begins with a video related to GACKT’s all-produce stage play ｢MOON SAGA -Yoshitsune Hiden-｣. GACKT’s beauty in his acting as Minamoto no Yoshitsune is breathtaking to the audience as well.

This performance is based on the story of ｢MOON SAGA -Yoshitsune Hiden-｣, and in between sets it follows the life of Yoshitsune. With the overwhelming visual beauty and the sword fights featuring wire action, it was as if we were watching a movie.

Well then, the first video ended and the curtains raised on the stage, GACKT appeared dressed as the image visual on his album「LAST MOON」, and performed「ARROW」,「Hana mo Chiyu」,「RETURNER ～Yami no Shuuen～」,「RIDE OR DIE」, and「Akatsukizukuyo -DAY BREAKERS-」. The audience were on their feet for the series of songs.

Next, in the 2nd part, GACKT was dressed in court noble garb as he pulled in jet-black Mononoke attendants, with「Utakata no Yume」,「斬 ～ZAN～」,「Kugutsu ga Gotoku」, and「Youranka -LULLING-」, the audience were transfixed on him.

「Destroy me」「Forgive me」. In the moment when GACKT cried out those words, it was as if he overlapped with Yoshitsune.

In the 3rd part, the air changed radically, going from a dark world view to a bright atmosphere. GACKT showed off his stunning six-pack as he dressed like a rockstar with nothing but a red jacket on his bare upper body. While he sang「ONE MORE KISS」and「MIRROR」, from here on, GACKT extensively called out to the audience for responses. He spent more than 10 minutes there! No matter how much the fans screamed at the top of their lungs, GACKT kept saying「I can’t hearー you!」, showing us an unusual side of him as he kept asking for more.

However, this is a manifestation of the day’s challenge that GACKT thought of. GACKT repeatedly shouted「Today’s the final!」「It’s the last one!!」, indicating his intention for both himself and the audience to go to their limits. The attempts seem to have succeeded. The audience became one, and shook the Saitama Super Arena with their cheers. This is not a figurative expression, for it really did shake.

GACKT, who saw the 3rd part to the end, was also breathing weakly, even his voice had dried up. Here, he proceeded into the proper MC, and spilt his inner thoughts.

「This year will be the 17th year since I went solo. There were many other musicians around me but, if I glance beside me now they’re steadily disappearing. I’ve always wondered when it’ll be my turn to disappear as I continued until this point. For an artiste who creates eccentric worlds like myself, I don’t think that there’s a need for me to be doing it in such a place (Saitama Super Arena). I’ve always thought that it’s enough to just perform for around 400 people in a small theatre」

The overcrowded audience remained quiet at the honest confession of GACKT, who has been full of confidence until now.

「But, because all of you are here to support me like this, I’ve been able to bring it this far. Please let me say this from the deepest depths of my heart. Truly, thank you very much for everything thus far」

GACKT would be celebrating his birthday on the next day after this performance. GACKT, wearing his cat ears, said「I’m already 43! If this was (worn by someone else) at Ikebukuro’s west exit, (they’d) be arrested」, evoking laughter. Here, the surprise guest TRF’s DJ KOO appeared on stage with a cake and a bouquet of flowers.

To DJ KOO who completely disregarded the atmosphere and proceeded at his own pace, GACKT was also put into shock from his seriousness. Even better, he took out his phone, saying「Let’s take a photo」and started taking photos on stage. At DJ KOO’s「I’ll (e)mail it to you later」, the audience burst into laughter. GACKT too, gave a wry smile, and finally threw out a tart comment「Please just hurry and go back (laughs)」.

Next was a final sprint of songs with「U＋K」,「舞哈BABY!! -WooHa-」,「Koi no FRIDAY!!!」, and「Kimi Dake no Boku de Iru Kara」. GACKT sang「P.S. I LOVE U」with gentleness, and with the feeling「It’s going to end soon… ...」, everyone held a look of regret and reluctance.

And, finally, the 4th part and the last song「Setsugekka -The end of silence-」started. Here, GACKT appeared as Yoshitune clad in armor. His thoughts and feelings as he lay dying on the battlefield were expressed through the song.

The curtains fell on the final performance which lasted for close to 4 and a half hours. GACKT has done many tours and held many concerts thus far but, this performance definitely held a special meaning to him ――「Truly, thank you very much for everything thus far」.

Source: entameplex.com

Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team

Translation © GACKT ITALIA

by SaiKaiAngel

CD DATA: Where does reality start, where does the dream end...

Where does reality start, where does the dream end... A masterpiece performance by GACKT blending film and music

The 「GACKT WORLD TOUR 2016 LAST VISUALIVE Saigo no Tsuki -LAST MOON- supported by Nestlé」 started on March 19 with a fan-club-only performance. The final of a total of 42 performances, was held on July 3 at Saitama Super Arena. Just like how it is in the 「VISUALIVE」 series, with fine attention paid to music, film and all angles of performance, he unveiled a masterpiece performance which would make the audience devoted to it.

Projected on the huge screen put up on stage, was the image of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, performed by GACKT. It started with a video which brought us into the world of GACKT’s wholly produced stage play 「MOON SAGA -Yoshitsune Hiden-」and 「Chapter 2」. Just as numerous arrows were being aimed at Yoshitsune in battle and were about to be released, 「ARROW」 was played, and GACKT appeared on stage dressed as he was in the video. The songs continued with 「Hana mo Chiyu」and 「RETURNER 〜Yami no Shuuen〜」 following songlist of his new album 『LAST MOON』, which is also the final chapter of the MOON Project. Right in front of the video of Yoshitsune being pierced by arrows, GACKT performed similarly. Just as he was experiencing deja vu, spectators of the story too were made to feel as if they have been incorporated into the story, creating a strange feeling.

Next was the 2nd part. As the video played again, we were brought to a memory which occurred before the story happened. Having been invited into the enchanting and beautiful story, the curtains parted and GACKT appeared on stage strumming the samisen, once again dressed similarly to the video with an eboshi. In the bright red lights which looked like they were ablaze, the performance of 「Utakata no Yume」by the band members reached through the arena in waves. A robot dance was performed for「Kugutsu ga Gotoku」, with song after song that followed being of varying styles shown in precise performances which brought surprises. Without a smile or an MC from GACKT, we were inevitably pulled into the world that was linked with the movies.

As expected, the 3rd part started with a movie, and as we wondered whether it would be a continuation of the profound story from earlier, there was a complete change in the middle, and became a video of the Camui♂Gakuen「Ikemen Research Club」which fans are sure to be familiar with!　Although some might be dumbfounded by the sudden difference between the world views and the events that are unfolding, big laughs came from the audience who were released from the tension that had been built up. Together with the words「IT’S SHOW TIME」,the stage shifted gears to a glittering set. With「ONE MORE KISS」and「MIRROR」a dazzling and colourful performance unfolded, and the fans who teased and were teased responded with passionate calls as they moved on to the next stage. Then, at this point, there was a surprise. As GACKT was to celebrate his birthday the next day, DJ KOO and sound producer TAKUMI brought a cake and a bouquet of flowers onto the stage. Even for him who was bad at dealing with surprises, couldn’t help but show an unguarded smile.

The later half started with「U＋K」. GACKT kept saying during the MC that he’s sung too much and can’t make a sound any more but (actually his speaking voice only turned slightly hoarse), when the song started, he sang with the same impressive strength as the earlier half!　With his charming and unique vibrato resounding, he showed off his power and high level of professionalism to the 12,000 people in the audience.

For「Kimi Dake no Boku de Iru Kara」and「P.S. I LOVE U」which started in acapella, he delivered a quiet emotion and the screen appeared, finally showing the video for the final part. As Yoshitsune thought of his precious friends with whom he had fought together with, he wakes, and we return to the initial scene where he was pierced by arrows… which was the last scene. Then, on the stage, he sang「Setsugekka -The end of silence-」as if dedicating the song to each one of his fallen friends. During this performance which lasted over 4 hours, where does reality start and where does the dream end, with even the passionate exchange of call and response feeling like it was just a dream, it came to a perfect ending. It has also been decided that in 2017 there would be a「VISUALIVE」world tour. It is without a doubt that the fans around the world will be in a frenzy again.

Source: cddata-mag.com

Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team

Translation © GACKT ITALIA

by SaiKaiAngel

EXCITE.CO.JP: GACKT shows his various sides, singing, dancing, performing, playing

GACKT shows his various sides, singing, dancing, performing, playing “LAST VISUALIVE” Final ／ Report

2016.07.03（SUN） at Saitama Super Arena

「I want to deliver this to everyone with my life, I want to find something special with everyone」（GACKT）

On July 3 (Sun), the final performance of 『GACKT WORLD TOUR 2016「LAST VISUALIVE Saigo no Tsuki -LAST MOON- supported by Nestle」』, which toured for over 4 months, was held at Saitama Super Arena. The “VISUALIVE” is GACKT’s original concept tour which is comprehensively expressed through music, film, and performance, and it has been 7 years since the last production. It was a long-awaited performance. With the worldview of “MOON SAGA -Yoshitsune Hiden-”, which encompassed not only music but a stage play production and film elements as well, as the axis, the more than 4 hours long staging was comprehensively built. GACKT showed his various sides, singing, dancing, performing, and playing, as he invited 12,000 spectators into the magnificent story.

At 16:15, the curtains were raised to the first part of the live with a video of GACKT’s stage play production 『MOON SAGA ‐Yoshitsune Hiden‐ Chapter 2』. With words like 「Why do people repeat the same mistakes?」, the narration questions the fundamental foolishness of humanity’s inability to stop killing each other, following which were men trampling on flowers blooming in a field as they went into the battlefield, and eventually, the figure of Minamoto no Yoshitsune (GACKT) groaning from having been pierced by numerous arrows in his body was projected on the screen.

To put an end to his life, his half brother, Minamoto no Yoritomo gave the ruthless command 「Fire!」 and at that signal, countless arrows were released. At that moment, the intro began, and the audience in the venue lit up their lumiton lights (the audience operates it in conjunction with the performance with a switch to change colours). In front of a set made up of an ominous yet beautiful enormous bone structure,「ARROW」was performed. He was dressed in a jet black enamel costume with his hair styled in dreadlocks, and long red nails. It had a strong visual impact but it went above that, as his overwhelming singing prowess pierced through.

Next, in GACKT’s song with irregular beat progression,「Hana mo Chiyu」which incorporates the beautiful Japanese of past eras with music from the Japanese zither and shou, he valiantly headbangs in time with the band members. As the smoke grows dense and rolls in, his delicate falsetto beautifully resounds in「RETURNER ～Yami no Shuuen～」, and in「RIDE OR DIE」,as if moving in contrast with the hurtling rhythm and tempo, he tranquilly and seductively sways his body from side to side. The fires behind him grows and goes up stronger, and at the end was an explosion of the special effects explosives. It was as if GACKT’s power was amplified, making it seem like he dominated the venue.

Then, it was a sudden change into a peaceful world with「Akatsukizukuyo -DAY BREAKERS-」. Wrapped in the ambient sound of rain and illuminated by a single spotlight, he quietly begins to sing in acapella, which eventually leads to a surge of emotion. As the performance was interwoven with a montage of battle scenes, he passionately sings of Yoshitsune’s wish of wanting to hold tight to his friends until the day they can meet again, a wish that cannot be fulfilled in this life.

With Val’s (on drums) intense drumming which elevated the realistic expressionism, the song left a strong impression as the first part came to a close.

The live unfolds by following the song sequence of his 19th album 『LAST MOON』 which was released in April. Above what GACKT himself had told us during the interview that we carried out in February, we came to realise that this “VISUALIVE” is closely linked with the album production.

In the hall which has once again been plunged into darkness, a video dating back to the year 1180, 9 years before the events of the first part’s film, was projected. Yoshitsune, wearing an eboshi and dressed in the robes of a court noble, was about to reunite with his elder brother. To warp such a character from the Heian Era to the stage in present times, is the elegance of GACKT. Together with the dancers, in 「Utakata no Yume」, he strums his samisen with a bloodcurdling intensity. Amidst fireballs which erupted like hellfire, he knelt and sang 「斬～ZAN～」, showing a vivid scuffle. For 「Kugutsu ga Gotoku」, they did a robot dance which incorporated the jerky movements of a puppet, which fascinated the audience with their actions of bending backwards by 90 degrees, and headbanging in beautiful Japanese robes.

During 「Youranka -LULLING-」, he stood on the stage with smoke adrift, and as his deep voice resonated, the image of his body gradually bending and folding like a pantomime dance was burnt into the back of our minds. The mix of Japanese style with progressive rock, aesthetic melodies, classical music, and even street sense into the music and dance, is a balance that can only be achieved by GACKT.

Next, projected onto the screen was Yoshitsune holding onto a dying Taira no Noritsune from behind. Following a tearful kiss, was an emotional scene where Yoshitsune was being pulled away and thrown into a different dimension but, at this point, the video was suddenly cut and transitioned to 『Camui♂Gakuen』 (a popular school concept series led by the Student Council President Kamui Gakuto who looks like GACKT), leaving us speechless. Starting with a spoiler (?) where he said 「That Yoshitsune is CG!」, we proceeded into a period of laughs where they did a review of “Yoshitsune Hiden” and the “VISUALIVE”. It ended with a climax in a rare footage of the Student Council President taking on HIRO(Yasuda Dai Circus) senpai in a Sumo contest.

In the nested structure of a fancy production, the video switches to GACKT watching the footage backstage and then heading to the stage, starting the 3rd part. He appeared on stage in a metallic red quilted jacket covering his bare skin. On a straight 16-beat rock sound, he spread his legs wide and sang 「ONE MORE KISS」 on the steps. The transcendent technique in the shredding for the guitar solo indicated the presence of CHACHAMARU (on guitar). They prompted for huge calls of 「GACKT～!」 from the audience over and over again, and stirred up the audience saying they still can’t hear them, following which the concert went into the pleasant and psychedelically floaty feeling 「MIRROR」. GACKT strummed his glittering gold guitar and occasionally faced YOU (on guitar) and played with him. A long and seemingly endless game call and response, fitting of a final, was then waged between them and the audience.

During the changeover time, dancer Kimisawa Yuuki led a lesson on the dance moves of 「Koi no FRIDAY!!」 for the audience. Then, amidst the rainbow coloured lumiton lights which lit up the audience, GACKT appeared in a black velour-material parka set with a pair of cat ears on his head. As he went back and forth with the fans doing his traditional 「Okaeriー! (Welcome home)」 「Tadaimaー! (I’m home)」 exchange, he praised the magnitude of the audience’s voices, and then said 「GACKT’s voice has already closed (laughs)」 with a laugh.

When he joked, saying that for the rest of the concert from that point Val will be singing while he plays the drums, all at once the audience crossed their lumiton lights to for X’s (to this sight, GACKT said that they looked like a “giant waffle”). After awhile of playing around with the fans and affectionate exchanges, GACKT shared his feelings, saying that he wanted to laugh and scream with everyone till he loses his voice until the end, wanted to deliver this to everyone with his all, and wanted to discover something special with everyone. Then, he added something deeply meaningful, saying that if he could feel something special here, “I’ll think of what’s to come”.

Then, he looked back on his path thus far in the past 17 years since he went solo, and spoke of being aware that there aren’t any other musician who can do eccentric things like he does at such a big venue, at which he expressed his deep gratitude to the fans who have supported him. He then also confessed that he is bad at acting cool, and that he was at best a man who’s both handsome and fun. He then said, he’s popular on variety programs too, and might be people who might think that he’s “the person who goes into room A or B” (on 『Geinoujin Kakudzuke CHECK』). To that, he says with a laugh, he does enter rooms but he does concerts too.

He then moved on to the band member introductions, first introducing CHACHAMARU who might get mistaken as a white haired woman but his guitar prowess puts him among the top 3 in Japan. Then he introduced YOU, who he first met when he was 17, and has always been at his side since GACKT went from being in a band to going solo. Finally, he introduced Sato (on bass) as GACKT Job’s most blackhearted despite looking cute at first glance, and then Val the inspiration, who he initially introduced as LUNA SEA’s Shinya, SIAM SHADE’s Jun-Ji among other names.

Then, DJ KOO put on TRF’s hit song 「EZ DO DANCE」, and entered with TAKUMI (sound director) and a cake in celebration of GACKT’s birthday on July 4 (Mon). GACKT faltered from DJ KOO’s way of doing things in his way but, as the audience sang him 「Happy birthday」 together, his face broke into a cheerful expression, and he declared 「I’ll aim to be the world’s coolest 50 year old」. After the show, following his remark that it would be nice if everyone could think like this, he then shouted the word 「Familyー!」. In the loud applause, the live finally headed towards the final part.

It kicked off with a good start, with the stage becoming intensely dazzling and bright. During 「U+K」, mascot cats appeared, and GACKT sang, danced, and sometimes jumped with 2 child dancers. In 「舞哈BABY!! -WooHa- (WooHa Baby) 」, everyone held sticks like they were beating the Taiko drums, and he performed in sync with the dancers.

In 「Koi no FRIDAY!!!」, for which the audience were taught the dance moves earlier, his zipper had been pulled lower at some point, revealing his chest, and as they called out to everyone and got everyone going, his manly rock vocals were put at the forefront.

Gold tape sprayed out, bringing a growing party mood to the audience seats. After the lights dimmed, a spotlight shone from far back in the arena to where he sat, wearing a simple white shirt, he started singing 「Kimi Dake no Boku de Iru Kara」. Before long, he stood up, and he performed the honest song yet powerful song with the band, delivering music from the soul. Behind him, the silhouette of a lady’s side profile and back image was projected, amplifying the image of the heartrending lyrics.

Next, following the lyrics format, he sang 「P.S.I LOVE U」 with the words from a letter to a lover left behind being projected. At the last word 「sayonara (good bye)」, his hands were thrown towards the heavens in the superb song. We could not look away from GACKT who stood still bathed in the single spotlight.

Finally, we headed into the 4th part, the final part of the live. Once again, we returned into the world of “MOON SAGA -Yoshitsune Hiden-”, 「Why do all of you spend your short lives fighting?」「Why can’t all of you stop hurting each other?」 he said, asking philosophical question after question, they echoed through the venue without an answer. Back to Yoshitsune who watched the moon with a cup in his hand, all his friends who have passed gathered around him one by one, starting with Benkei who appeared first. As they expressed their gratefulness for having met each other, they said together 「Even though we could not be born on the same year, month, or day　We wish to die on the same day」.

Snow fell and danced around Yoshitsune, with eyes downcast and blood trickling out the side of his mouth, 「What a beautiful moon...」 he said as he looked up at the red moon which lay ahead, probably the one that this stage play was drawn from. The sublime figure of Yoshitsune/GACKT, whose body has been pierced by numerous arrows, sat in a chair, and began to sing 「Setsugekka -The end of silence-」.

The sight of the band members in white garb with white hair, and the stage being bathed in a blue light, together with red flower petals dancing as they descended like snow… … the fantastical beauty weaved by colours coupled with the energy of the song created the sensation of having entered another world. Then, behind him, his friend were brought together, and soon disappeared, turning into a ball of light each and ascended. The soul of Yoshitsune who just died, followed after his friends and joined them as they all ascended to heaven at the close. Sobs and sighs could be heard all around as a large applause grew for the magnificent story that reached across time and space.

As a special just for the final day, at the end, a video of a smiling Yoshitsune who held onto beautiful flowers as he walked outwards towards the audience, was projected. Following the words 「The Story does not end」, were joyous announcements of the world tour starting in 2017, the future launch of 「Kimi Dake no Boku de Iru Kara」 as a single, the footage of this live being broadcasted on WOWOW in October, among other things. And, after the sound of a heartbeat rang out across the venue, it was announced that in 2017, a triumphal return performance in Japan will be held.

Of course, loud cheers and applause grew. As the red moon floated on the screen again, the performance ended at 20:30. The curtains closed on the big 4 hours and 15 minutes long show.

The story world that GACKT has expressed himself until now, was reconstructed together with his latest album, and sublimated into a stage of tremendous quality and intensity. It was not only an “easy to understand” stage which told the story with a script, but for audiences who have never been in contact with his expressionism, possibly, there might be parts that aren’t easy to grasp or understand. However, the existence of the nature of humans to hurt each other even while loving each other, something like karma being spun around an episode as a bold axis, with his expressionism which was born of easily crossing the boundaries of everywhere, time, and music genre, and the strong appeal that he has in 2016, I’m sure that once he touches the world, you can’t help but get your heart struck by him. We were prepared to look at this stage as the last but, there’s even more brushing up to do, having decided that we will meet them again in 2017. One must wonder, what kind of evolution will they go through and show us? We await it expectantly.

Source: excite.co.jp

Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team

Translation © GACKT ITALIA

by SaiKaiAngel