遠く離れても決して消えない
Aug. 29th, 2007 11:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
redmisoplzWell, it's Jun's birthday, and exactly one month since I went to the Yokohama concert. Seems like now is as good a time as any to reflect on that. Shall we?
Thanks to the lovely![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
aeslis, I was able to sit in the center for my last Arashi concert of my JET career. (But hopefully not my last Arashi concert! Eep!) Instead of doing an actual con report, I'd just like to talk about some things I noticed while I was sitting down front.
The view from our seats. The man standing up is the cameraman at the middle stage.
First of all, let me give you an idea of my position so you can understand. I think we were about 5 rows back from the center stage. (The one in the middle that the moving stages go out to.) When we were walking to our seats, as we got closer and closer to that middle stage, I kept thinking Aes,elfiepike, and tashychan would turn and go down one of the aisles. But when they finally turned at that 5th row from the front, I was like, "No effin' way we're this close!" And since Aes doesn't get visibly excited about anything, she was just like, "Ah, this is cool."
Mine and Elfie's feet on the track for the moving stages.
They started with "Everybody Zenshin," and I now have nothing but fond memories of that song. About one-fourth of the way into the song, the moving stages lifted and they started getting closer and closer and closer... and I said to Aes, "Is that stage coming towards us?" The ever-calm Aes just said, "Uh huh" with a big smile. I just have to potentially warn any of you: Should you find yourself underneath Arashi's feet, try not to get dizzy from it all and fall back into your seat. This almost happened to me.
When they came out to do their MC, they were on that middle stage right in front of us. We sat down and listened to them talk about Sho hosting the elections and how the guards didn't believe Ohno was a member of the group. It was the strangest feeling though because it felt like I was watching them on TV or my computer again despite the fact they were RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I even turned to Aes and said, "It's like we're watching them on TV" and she agreed. Unless she was just being polite and was actually thinking, "No, ya crazy ho. They're right there!"
A proud "gaijin moment" came thanks to Tash's uchiwa. We were the first four people along the side railing, so when Nino came riding by on a tiny cart, we threw ourselves against the railing and Tash waved her uchiwa for him. He saw it, did this adorable peace sign at her, and I'm pretty sure he winked, but I'm sure Tash remembers if he did or not. The proud moment came when I turned around and saw that all the Japanese fans behind us were whispering, smiling, and pointing at Tash.
Aiba-chan worries me at concerts. He always seems to have the worst luck. I didn't see it, butinuhariko said that in Osaka he couldn't get his tiny cart to work. Then at Yokohama, while they were singing "Pika*nchi Double," I think he was having trouble getting out to the middle stage on time to do his solo part after Sho's rap, because when he finally did get to that stage, he was visibly out of breath. Now we all know Aiba doesn't have the best health, so when he's winded, his chest really heaves, and it really did frighten me. Everybody else was like, "WOOO!!" and waving their penlights, but I actually stopped because I was suddenly very concerned for him. I just wanted him to sit down before anything bad happened. Like a true pro, he recovered quickly though. Ah, that reminds me about something I noticed in regards to Aiba at the K8 concert. He may be our lovable baka, but I truly believe he's not that dumb. And he has moments of true professionalism. I noticed it as he was preparing to leave the stage at K8. He shook hands with the members and said some private things to them (you could see on the monitors) and it just hit me that Aiba has a professional side and probably knows how to be a representative of Arashi and Johnny's Entertainment. I think Aiba has a side we don't often get to see.
Speaking of sides not often seen, let's talk about our birthday boy. The one thing I can say about Jun when he's in concert is that he is a man who truly loves his job. I know you're thinking, "Well, duh! Of course the princess would love having zillions of fans scream his name." No, what I mean is that you can see the absolute pleasure on his face when he performs. Imagine doing something that makes you feel like the happiest, luckiest person on earth. Maybe it's riding a fast roller-coaster or laughing with your friends till your sides hurt. That's the same sort of euphoria Jun exudes when he's shaking it on the catwalk. I'm sure he's enjoying the attention, but I think a lot of it is just Jun having fun at what he does. It was refreshing to see someone really truly enjoy performing. It's the kind of thing that rubs off on the audience and lifts your spirits too.
But I think the one thing that struck me the most about sitting in the center was that when you get that close, you can see all the little movements like fiddling with the ear pieces and microphones and the little cues they give each other. That's when I realized, "Oh, they're at WORK. This is what they do. It's their JOB." I think we get caught up in the CDs, the TV shows, the dramas, the specials, the butais, and we build an image of them in that framework and maybe forget that this is their work. This is what they get paid for. Just like the rest of us get up and go to school or our place of employment, Arashi wake up and say, "Time to get to work. Where are my sequin pants?" I felt a little silly to forget that key fact, but seeing all the little things that they do to pull off a concert really reminded me that this is their profession.
Jun-kun, happy birthday, and thank you for bringing me this far. ^_~
Thanks to the lovely
aeslis, I was able to sit in the center for my last Arashi concert of my JET career. (But hopefully not my last Arashi concert! Eep!) Instead of doing an actual con report, I'd just like to talk about some things I noticed while I was sitting down front. The view from our seats. The man standing up is the cameraman at the middle stage.
First of all, let me give you an idea of my position so you can understand. I think we were about 5 rows back from the center stage. (The one in the middle that the moving stages go out to.) When we were walking to our seats, as we got closer and closer to that middle stage, I kept thinking Aes,
elfiepike, and tashychan would turn and go down one of the aisles. But when they finally turned at that 5th row from the front, I was like, "No effin' way we're this close!" And since Aes doesn't get visibly excited about anything, she was just like, "Ah, this is cool." Mine and Elfie's feet on the track for the moving stages.
They started with "Everybody Zenshin," and I now have nothing but fond memories of that song. About one-fourth of the way into the song, the moving stages lifted and they started getting closer and closer and closer... and I said to Aes, "Is that stage coming towards us?" The ever-calm Aes just said, "Uh huh" with a big smile. I just have to potentially warn any of you: Should you find yourself underneath Arashi's feet, try not to get dizzy from it all and fall back into your seat. This almost happened to me.
When they came out to do their MC, they were on that middle stage right in front of us. We sat down and listened to them talk about Sho hosting the elections and how the guards didn't believe Ohno was a member of the group. It was the strangest feeling though because it felt like I was watching them on TV or my computer again despite the fact they were RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I even turned to Aes and said, "It's like we're watching them on TV" and she agreed. Unless she was just being polite and was actually thinking, "No, ya crazy ho. They're right there!"
A proud "gaijin moment" came thanks to Tash's uchiwa. We were the first four people along the side railing, so when Nino came riding by on a tiny cart, we threw ourselves against the railing and Tash waved her uchiwa for him. He saw it, did this adorable peace sign at her, and I'm pretty sure he winked, but I'm sure Tash remembers if he did or not. The proud moment came when I turned around and saw that all the Japanese fans behind us were whispering, smiling, and pointing at Tash.
Aiba-chan worries me at concerts. He always seems to have the worst luck. I didn't see it, but
inuhariko said that in Osaka he couldn't get his tiny cart to work. Then at Yokohama, while they were singing "Pika*nchi Double," I think he was having trouble getting out to the middle stage on time to do his solo part after Sho's rap, because when he finally did get to that stage, he was visibly out of breath. Now we all know Aiba doesn't have the best health, so when he's winded, his chest really heaves, and it really did frighten me. Everybody else was like, "WOOO!!" and waving their penlights, but I actually stopped because I was suddenly very concerned for him. I just wanted him to sit down before anything bad happened. Like a true pro, he recovered quickly though. Ah, that reminds me about something I noticed in regards to Aiba at the K8 concert. He may be our lovable baka, but I truly believe he's not that dumb. And he has moments of true professionalism. I noticed it as he was preparing to leave the stage at K8. He shook hands with the members and said some private things to them (you could see on the monitors) and it just hit me that Aiba has a professional side and probably knows how to be a representative of Arashi and Johnny's Entertainment. I think Aiba has a side we don't often get to see. Speaking of sides not often seen, let's talk about our birthday boy. The one thing I can say about Jun when he's in concert is that he is a man who truly loves his job. I know you're thinking, "Well, duh! Of course the princess would love having zillions of fans scream his name." No, what I mean is that you can see the absolute pleasure on his face when he performs. Imagine doing something that makes you feel like the happiest, luckiest person on earth. Maybe it's riding a fast roller-coaster or laughing with your friends till your sides hurt. That's the same sort of euphoria Jun exudes when he's shaking it on the catwalk. I'm sure he's enjoying the attention, but I think a lot of it is just Jun having fun at what he does. It was refreshing to see someone really truly enjoy performing. It's the kind of thing that rubs off on the audience and lifts your spirits too.
But I think the one thing that struck me the most about sitting in the center was that when you get that close, you can see all the little movements like fiddling with the ear pieces and microphones and the little cues they give each other. That's when I realized, "Oh, they're at WORK. This is what they do. It's their JOB." I think we get caught up in the CDs, the TV shows, the dramas, the specials, the butais, and we build an image of them in that framework and maybe forget that this is their work. This is what they get paid for. Just like the rest of us get up and go to school or our place of employment, Arashi wake up and say, "Time to get to work. Where are my sequin pants?" I felt a little silly to forget that key fact, but seeing all the little things that they do to pull off a concert really reminded me that this is their profession.
Jun-kun, happy birthday, and thank you for bringing me this far. ^_~
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-08-30 06:37 am (UTC)Ahhh I don't know.
Anyway, talk about your fantastic concerts. *_* I was really impressed by everything they did, honestly. I've been to a few concerts by different artists but I'm no connoisseur, not by a long shot. Still, the amount of energy they put out, the way they keep everything moving from start to finish, and their absolute professionalism is really a sight to see.
Speaking of them being 'at work' though, I always kinda hate thinking about that. I really dislike it when Mago Mago catches the camera or staff in the shots because it sort of kills the fantasy for me--I feel much more like an eavesdropper or a stalker, instead of a fan. I dunno.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-30 06:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-31 04:09 am (UTC)Ah, the Tori Amos "lotion" incident. XD Aes, you're so cute!
no subject
Date: 2007-08-31 02:12 pm (UTC)And yes, it was my first Arashi concert. Heart! I was pretty stunned, but I tend to have good luck with tickets. Now that I've said that the luck won't hold, though!
no subject
Date: 2007-08-30 11:22 am (UTC)Your paragraph about Aiba really got me worried too. He's always worried about being a trouble to the members, and that is what is so lovely about him. He plays his representation well, but of course, I'm sure he's not just the Aibaka we know and love.
Jun shines the most during concerts, and it's just so amazing how it's so clear to us that this is what he does; Arashi, and this is what he does best. ♥
no subject
Date: 2007-08-31 04:11 am (UTC)And Aiba is the most precious thing since God invented bunnies.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-30 01:26 pm (UTC)We often forget that entertainment and performance are these boys' work, that they're working hard to bring happiness to their fans. It's great that you got to see them give each other cues and such, it's a level of professionalism that we don't really get to see from them, except maybe Sho or Jun.
And oh, poor Aiba! >< I was terrified for him, just reading what you wrote about his chest heaving. He really tries his hardest for the group and for himself, so as (Ai)baka as he shows himself to be on TV, he deserves so much respect.
Happy birthday to Jun too, for all his hard work, and the joy he brings in his pleasure to perform. ^^
no subject
Date: 2007-08-31 04:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-31 03:32 pm (UTC)It just makes me respect them so much more. *__*
no subject
Date: 2007-08-30 02:47 pm (UTC)Aibachan being professional~ ♥ I always believed that he has a serious side, too! I hope the best for his health though :< Ahh~ And Junkun is always the concert king! ;3; It's like, he was born to perform! I love it how you described how he looks so happy during the concert.
And I'm so sure Nino winked at Tashy, she's very pretty~~ ♥ >33
no subject
Date: 2007-08-31 04:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-31 07:46 am (UTC)Secondly, that must've been why Ohno kind of looked over and was like ???? at me (and possible elfie). T___T Woe.
P.S. This report-ish thing was very, very awesome and well-written. Yay! ♥
no subject
Date: 2007-08-30 02:49 pm (UTC)I love your last paragraph. It is one of the things that amaze me about Arashi (and Johnny's all over). It's their work and they work so hard, we hardly notice it. And it's just this really impossible dream of mine, to see the side of them that's not at work. I know no matter how genki and seemingly naturally happy they seem, there's a side to them that's really just normal. Like Aiba's professionalism. Eheh it's a dream of mine to see it/be part of it :P
no subject
Date: 2007-08-31 04:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-02 01:31 am (UTC)Yes, Aiba couldn't get his cart to work and then later he was sporting bandages, the poor klutz. I agree with you though. I think Aiba is quite intelligent. I've read some interviews and was very impressed by some of the more introspective moments that just sort of popped up out of nowhere. But I think he's aware of and tries to live up to this "genki" image he's become known for.
And I totally agree about Jun! Jun was just born to be a diva. If somebody ever asked him what he would be doing had he not joined JE, he probably would answer "I don't understand the question." XDDD While I can picture all the others having different careers (Sho: Politician/CEO/wealthy playboy. Nino: Attorney/used car salesman/supervillain/uh, game designer. Ohno: Artist/food critic/hand model/lab rat. Aiba: Model. Yeah, model.) Jun Superidol. That's it. There is no other choice. XD
no subject
Date: 2007-09-10 04:19 am (UTC)XDDD
It's funny you mentioned Aiba being introspective. There was a part during the MC I saw where Aiba said something really great and there was this pregnant pause and then Sho yells, "Ya know, sometimes you say some really profound stuff!" XD I have the whole MC and I should find that part and translate it. That's if I ever get time to do the things I want to do. -_-*
no subject
Date: 2007-10-21 11:57 pm (UTC)I couldn't help but notice that you wrote "JET career". ^^; If you don't mind, could you tell me a bit of how your JET career went? Where your placement location was and how was the work and the apartment you lived in? When you started working and when you stopped? Sorry for the many questions, but I'm considering JET for next year 2008-2009, and I really want some info from someone who's been on JET and can tell me a bit more about it. ^^ Especially an Arashi fan seeing that I'd want to have time to go to their concerts too. xDDD
Thanks!!
no subject
Date: 2007-10-25 02:19 am (UTC)Thanks for reading my con report!