SID, continuing their blitz of activity for their ”SID 10th Anniversary Projects 2013” campaign, held the final show of their “SID 10th Anniversary TOUR 2013” at Fujikyu Highland on Aug. 25. Read on to find out all the latest about this tour, full of new and exciting experiences for the band!
“Even if we do what we do, why does it turn out like this?”
Speaking for the four members returning on stage in response to the “10th Anniversary Call” following the encore, mao said these words. It was the second day of a two-day set of concerts at Fujikyu Highland, the final day of their tenth anniversary tour. With different set lists for every show, that was the subtitle for the unprecedented five-venue tour that resulted in the live performance of 100 songs in all.
“I can't take this bomb cyclone anymore!”
Their tenth anniversary show previously held on April 6 at Yokohama Stadium took place under literal buckets of pouring rain. Even in these horrible conditions, everyone went out of their way to show their true rock spirit; whether it be mao, Shinji and aki making countless turns on the runway, getting soaking wet right along with the audience and staff, or yuya, cheering everyone on with his drumming even when everyone looked like the open-air venue was going to break them. It proved that no matter how big the band's ambitions may be, their hearts had been unchanged for the last ten years.
Nevertheless, even though the subtitle should have been “Of course, we'll let you all celebrate with us this tour with the best feelings!”, for it to be rainy again despite it being the tour final...
It started out well. 30 minutes before the show, the rain started to fall on the opening act, a DJ brimming with energy as he played nonstop SID remixes. Thanks to a local dance troupe, everyone was hanging in there as the first number, “Soumatou” allowed the fans to imagine Mt. Fuji, even if they were unable to actually see it that day. The audience then followed with a repeat of hand motions and jumping underneath muted lighting through “Ringoame” and “Room”.
“You're energetic, aren't you, Fujikyu! I have an important announcement. I'm drinking water. (Laughs.)”
Even mao's MC was to be lighthearted joking, it seemed. During “Rakuen”, a number mentioning the rain, Shinji, aki and yuya accordingly poked through the worries about their surroundings, mao's vocals ringing out so strongly that it seemed his voice had almost turned inside out. The four members made use of the weather in their psychadelic number “Noiro wo Zepaati”, showcasing the deep, sentimental sounds of SID in their next three numbers “Nakidashita Onna to Kyomukan”, “Aikagi” and “sleep” in the middle of a mysterious atmosphere created by the stage lights reflecting off the fog.
Even during the individual Mcs, they kept a fun atmosphere. “It's such nice weather. When I see all of your smiles, I can see today as a clear day. No waaaay!” quipped aki, laughing. “Our set lists have been different for every show, so every one feels like a final...but I want to make today's a good final as well,” continued yuya, showing his fighting spirit. Shinji changed the tone with some dirty talk: “I never buy dirty magazines when I'm in Tokyo. But, when I go to the country...” Everyone seemed to be completely enjoying themselves.
With that spirit, they continued into the second half of the show with “Sweet?” and “Wana”. Even as the rain began again during “and boyfriend”, mao, Shinji and aki kept coming out on the catwalk, yuya smiled into the cameras, and the tenth anniversary celebrations continued with everyone joined together. The decent of the B melody in “Drama” and the fans' spinning of their towels during the last song “Samaraba” was so forceful it seemed as if they could blow the rain clouds away.
Though it had been a constant thread of conversation thanks to mao's MCs, even as the nightmares of Yokohama Stadium began to come to mind with the ever-increasing violence of the rain, the four members didn't back down. “I feel like this is a premonition of love between all of you and I,” mao began as he introduced “ Café de Bossa”, making the audience's hearts leap as if they were each on a rainy day date, sharing umbrellas. For “Milk”, mao gave a lighthearted performance reminiscent of Gene Kelly in “Singin' in the Rain”. Then, in a complete change, the stage was bathed in red lighting as a battle broke out between the stage and the audience beginning with “Otegami”, the force continuing through the first-ever live performance of “Zetsubou no Hata” to “Rinjin”, “S”, and “Yell”. The rain kept coming down harder and harder as the show went on, but before one knew it it changed from a bother to a welcome rain, cooling down the crowd after the burning intensity of the performance.
“Today really has been the best tour final ever! After all, even though it's raining, I don't want to go home yet. There are a lot of times where we send you off with ballads together, but today I think I want to send you back as excited as ever! Won't you have a passionate affair with SID?!”
Then, during the final song “Natsukoi”, as the lighting glimmered above them, yuya, smiling brightly through the danceable beat, and aki, who tossed his bass high into the air after he could no longer coax sound out of its sodden strings, and Shinji, who was actually playing in bare feet running about the stage because his sandal straps had broken; and mao, who looking up at the fireworks that would end the performance that night, asked, “Isn't it so romantic to be able to look up at the fireworks with someone you like and who likes you back?!” of course made the most of this last summer gathering between them and the audience.
“Thank you. I'll never forget any of you!”
Just as mao had said, this night was truly a one that left its mark on each of the hearts of the people who appeared there that day.
Reporting & Composition◎Yusuke Kato
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