tisdag 4 Dec 2007, 11:48

28th, November.
I came back to Ebisu, Tokyo.
It was the most important day in the week.
When I arrived at the venue, dozens of anticipating audience were in front of closed door.
I was sharing their feeling.
After an hour, Raul Midon was going to play his music at the venue!!!

I once went to his live show when he released State of Mind.
He radically impressed me with all of music thing at that time.
So I was heartily looking forward to his next world tour!

At the starting time, a singer KAT appeared as curtain raiser on the stage.
She sang some songs in Japanese and English. (Her father is New Zealander.)
Her performance was not very striking for me, but enough to relax the atmosphere on the floor.
We applauded and thanked for her good work.

About ten minutes after that.
From the wing of the stage, Raul appeared quietly with a caregiver.
All audience welcomed him with loud applause.
He stood to the center of the stage.
And then, he began to play "Pick Somebody Up".
Raul said nothing at the start of performance, but soon I realized the idea was plainly effective in his performance.
Though some audience had memories of his performance, some audience never experienced his performance or only know him by new album A World Within A World till that time.
How wonderful the first taste of the live performance by Raul Midon!
After applause, he sang straight next song "All Because of You".
He went on some songs with talk.
I was impressed in depth by the tunes arranged for live performance from A World Within A World.
And we shared musical fun in a call and response when he was playing "Tembererana".

At this part, Raul set up the first climax after the enjoyable "Tembererana".
The song he started was "Sunshine"…
I felt like rising to the sun by riding on the top of blue high wave.
In the time I was too happy for words with wonderful grooves and his irreplaceable singing voice…
What a exquisite presentation!
When I looked around, people around me were all smiling at the truly good music…!!!

After that happiness, he took a rest on a white sofa and sang some chillout songs.
Suddenly he said "I wanna do in jazz style, I love jazz." and began to play the guitar with mouth trumpet.
That tune was "Seven Steps to Heaven" originated by Miles Davis.
I felt it so nice and surely instrumental!
Later on that he came back to the center of the stage.
The other climax in private came soon after "Love Is Gonna Save My Life".
Raul said that he was doing music to make people smile, and began to sing "The More That I Know".
It was one of my favorite songs.
I thought vaguely "I could not experience the performance by middle aged Stevie and Donny, but now Raul Midon is standing here…"

Finally,
Raul started to sing the dramatic "State of Mind".
At the climax of the lyrics, he pointed up a phrase.
"I wanna be rrrrrich!!!!!"
Yes! You should be rich! You should be happy!
Because I have no doubt that your happiness by your art will make a lot of people happier!

We gave him unstinted praise and he left the stage.
But the thunderous applause lasted long.
After a while, he took a curtain call and came back to the stage, with a bottle of beer.
Uh..I had taken no beer to listen his songs in good condition, but Raul!!

Meanwhile the song he chose for the first in the encores was "Peace on Earth".
That was the best timing if he considers this song is momentous.
And really at last, Raul sang his heart out on "Sittin In the Middle".
The wonderful show came to an end.

He chose "Sittin In the Middle" for the end, and sang the phrase "revolution is no solution" on "Pick Somebody Up" at the beginning.
I was sincerely glad to share some feelings with him…

And totally I couldn't believe that also tunes from State of Mind had become more better than when I ever experienced!
If you get a chance to his live show in future, need no hesitation to go.
I know you love music.
I know he also plays good music.

In closing, I will place the setlist of the day,
with a lot of thanks for reading.

11/28/07-Tokyo-Ebisu Garden Hall

Pick Somebody Up
All Because of You
All the Answers
Ain't Happened Yet
Waited All My life
Tembererana
Sunshine
Song for Sandra
Caminando
Seven Steps to Heaven
If You're Gonna Leave
Love Is Gonna Save My Life
The More that I Know
State of Mind
enc.)
Peace on Earth
Sittin In the Middle