GACKT Moon Saga

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