For four years I've been anticipating the chance to see an X Japan concert. Until two years ago, I never thought it would happen; the band has been retired for more than ten years. When they finally reunited, Yoshiki's (the band leader) health problems forced further postponement and disappointment, and I didn't feel anymore hopeful of ever seeing them in person.
Maybe then you can imagine the level of excitement I felt when I heard they were having a concert in Yokohama, a mere three hours away. I usually try to temper my excitement over most things, to lessen the blow of potential disappointment, but there are a few occasions when that is simply not possible: getting into the JET program was one; Miyavi's fanclub trip was another; and X Japan concert more than qualifies.
So, today the day has finally arrived. There were no postponements or cancellations this time, and I think it is safe to give my excitement free rein. Still, there is only so early I think is even human to get up, so I was only able to arrive at the venue now, at 10 AM, about six hours before the doors are supposed to open. This is fine with me, as 5 1/2 hours
seems like enough time to get through any 'Goods' line, even at an X Japan concert.Nonetheless, standing here on an overlooking ramp-way, staring down at the line that is already 1/2 mile long, I laugh helplessly, "Lindsay, meet the next three hours."
As I had made my way to the back of the line, I peaked at the other concert goers that were waiting. Although admittedly I hadn't been able to look to closely, I didn't see a single other foreigner. Fortunate for me the line went faster than expected; It only took 2 hours. As usual, I bought more goods than I planned on, but my bag was fat, and I was happy in the end. I was sorely tempted to buy (shown here worn by an unwitting model) a Yoshiki t-shirt ("Yoshiki、あいしてる！！"), but my wallet, now lighter by about $200, gave me the strength to resist.
I don't think I've ever been so excited for a concert. Then again, I think I always feel this way moments before the start. The difference is, it's still 2 hours 'till the beginning. Maybe it's because I'm already at the venue... but I've been half a day early to concerts before and not felt like this. Maybe it is witnessing the fellow passion of the concert goers, of which there may be 30,000 today. That just might be it. Seeing Japanese fans out in full force is like nothing I've ever seen before. Cosplayers (people who dress in costume as the band members) are so numerous, I've seen Hide, the dead X Japan member, over a couple dozen times. I was sad to see there were not as many Yishikis about, but he is not as fun to cosplay. I even worked up the courage to ask a couple of them for a photo (and clandestinely took the rest).
There is also the fact that we can hear the rehearsal going on in the stadium. The acoustics are so intense, every sound makes the whole building vibrate- an that's just from outside! From inside, I imagine the experience is like being inside an X Japan roller coaster.
I have a feeling I'm about to find out what a REAL concert is like.
---
As it turned out, my roller coaster got trapped behind a large immovable object, mainly, a giant light pole/flame thrower.
I often have that problem: flame throwers getting in my way.
In addition, my seat was on the "2nd Floor," which, in Nissan Stadium, actually translates to the -7th- floor. On the opposite end from the stage. Behind a flamethrower.
...
[...I don't have a roller coaster analogy for that; I'm pretty sure all the seats on those are good.]
I ended up watching the screen the entire concert. When I was able to see actual people, it was mostly as a vague blotch of color or the glinting of a guitar. Really... it was very disappointing. I was at last glad for the screens, which were huge and provided a clear, though annoyingly rotating, video of the band members as they played. They had also rigged up a very clever camera suspended on a cable crossing diagonally over the stadium. This swiveled back and forth, taking video of the fans and flashing it up on screen occasionally. I got super annoyed because they kept showing this large group of foreigners that was RIGHT IN FRONT of the stage. They looked so happy; it pissed me off. They must have been foreigners that bought tickets from overseas (a very thoughtful options they provided for this concert), and thus were given special seating privileges. Bastards.
I did my best to enjoy the concert anyway, despite my seat in Siberia, which wasn't all too difficult given that was an X Japan ("duh"). Seeing an X concert is like having a religious experience. It was why I got into the band in the first place; just watching a video of their Last Live from over 10 year ago had me nearly in tears. Many of my favorite moments from those videos was watching the fans, tens of thousands of them, singing as one. More than anything I wanted to experience that for myself. In this, I was not disappointed. For nearly then minutes, they payed and replayed the song "X", where, in the second half of the song, every line of lyrics is followed by a shout of "X!" and everyone jumps and makes an X with their arms. It's a fast-paced, powerful, guitar driven song, and 30 thousand people jumping at once is alone a sight to see, but to be part of it was really amazing.
The moment I most enjoyed, most anticipated, was the last song of the night, "Endless Rain." The polar opposite of "X", this sweet, sad, slow ballad is gradually taken over by the fans at the end of the song. Long after the song should have ended and Toshi, the band's vocalist, had stop singing, we continued to sing the chorus over and over, completely unaccompanied. You could see the band members standing on stage, just watching us. Toshi's voice, choked with emotion, would occasionally drift out to join ours before drifting away again. Yoshiki alone continued to play with us, bent over his piano as though in anguish, his expression one of pain or ecstasy, but even that sweet, sad melody would drift away as well until there was only us. In those moments, there is such a feeling of connection between the fans, the band, all of us together, it is almost like, as long as we held onto those lyrics, there was no distance between us; We would have gone on signing forever if they'd let us.
Because I know how hard it is for anyone to imagine this experience with merely words, I recorded a portion of us singing. Most of it is in English, so you should be able to understand, if the feedback isn't too terrible. Enjoy.
...forget, all of the hate, all of the sadness
Endless rain, fall on my heart, kokoro no kizu ni
Let me forget, all of the hate, all of the sadness...
Cheers,
living-the-dream Baer
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