~What A Beautiful Moment~ 2005 DVD vs 2020 Blu-ray
This is a special Christmas-edition of the weekly review, and it's the one and only ~What a beautiful moment~ Tour in 2004.
Background story: There are 11 shows in total, from March to July, touring all around some of the best venues in Japan. Originally, Being planned to only do 3 shows to mainly promote the new album for ZARD, ending on March 9th, 2004 in Tokyo, but it went so well that it ended up being 11 shows, at 9 different venues.
DVD releases: The DVD was released on June 8th, 2005, mainly consisting on the show performed on the live performance on March 9th, 2004 in Tokyo. The Blu-ray remastered version was released on October 7th, 2020 in full HD format.
Without further ado, let's dive right into the review. And also, we have a new grading format: Additional gradings separated to the band, production, special guests (if any) and the crowd (only graded when they react, and graded by descriptive words rather than stars).
TLDR version: Expect most of them to be very highly-rated. To me, although done in 2004 when sick, this is the BEST that I have ever seen from Sakai, live. That includes Cruising & Live. The vocal might not be as good as C&L, but her heart was all into 2004.
2005年 ~What a beautiful moment~:
- Special Intro: Banger. A video tribute to ZARD's discography in chronological order, her accomplishments throughout the years, and the production team, with Eien/永遠 in the background.
=> Ratings: Production team: 5*. Crowd: Great.
- Yureru Omoi (揺れる想い): Iconic performance, couldn't think of any better song to start off the show. Crowd was electric for Izumi when she walks out. The band was tremendous too, the guitar riff at 06:48 was great.
=> Ratings: Voice: 5*, Band: 4.5*. Crowd: Electric.
After this, is the legendary intro that we will hear at every memorial show after her passing in 2007. Ratings: Voice: 5*, Crowd: Electric.
- Kono Ai ni Oyogi Tsukarete mo (この愛に泳ぎ疲れても): Always a great song to listen to, even better in live. Another guitar riff banger at 10:52. Crowd went nuts at the end of the song.
=> Ratings: Voice: 4.75*, Band: 4.5*, Crowd: Great.
- Mō Sukoshi, Ato Sukoshi... (もう少し あと少し…): If you read my reviews, you would know how much I love this song. Simply the best. Band's amazing, I like the piano, and the fans clapping along was a nice touch. Another amazing guitar riff at 15:43.
=> Ratings: Voice: 5*, Band: 4.75*, Crowd: Great.
- Ano Hohoemi wo Wasurenaide (あの微笑みを忘れないで): Special performance at the beginning with a choir? Did expect them to stay for the whole duration, but only the 1st verse. I also counted, it's the shortest song from the entire show, at a 01:39 minute length.
=> Ratings: Voice: 4.75*, Band: 4.5*, Choir: 4*, Crowd: Great.
- Sekai wa Kitto Mirai no Naka (世界はきっと未来の中): Love it, and this one is always better live. Started off with a great guitar riff, and my man Shinichiro Ohta is great as usual, as his high-pitched voice is heard throughout the stadium here. Beautiful day. Crowd went crazy at the end.
=> Ratings: Voice: 4.75*, Band: 4.75*, Crowd: Great.
Rehearsal (January 2004 — February 2004): A very short video detailed the preparation for the live show, from Jan to Feb.
=> Ratings: Production team: 5*.
- You and Me (and...): Amazing, if you tell me the person singing is extremely sick, I would never believe it. And also, as mentioned, the intro to one of my favourite medleys...
=> Ratings: Voice: 5*, Band: 5*. Crowd: Good.
Acoustic Trilogy:
Motto Chikaku de Kimi no Yokogao Mitetai (もっと近くで君の横顔見ていたい): The first of the trilogy.
Ashita wo Yume Mite (明日を夢見て): The second of the trilogy.
Hitomi Tojite (瞳閉じて): The third and last of the trilogy.
These 3 songs sealed her place for me as my JP goat. I know I'm supposed to rate them separately but they are too good on their own way, so I'll just break the system and give it my first 6-star.
=> Ratings: Voice: 6*, Band: 5*. Crowd: Great.
Rehearsal (First Show — March 02, 2004 in Osaka): A very short video detailed the preparation for the first show, in Osaka Hall.
=> Ratings: Production team: 5*.
- Kokoro wo Hiraite (心を開いて): A classic song. Piano to start it off already warrant it a 5-star on my book for the band. The song feels a bit slower than usual, her voice is much softer than usual and I think they had to lower the pitch to half or a full semitone. Crowd is still clapping along to every beat. Also another shout out for Shinichiro Ohta and the amazing piano rendition, as expected from this beloved song.
=> Ratings: Voice: 4.5*, Band: 4.75*. Crowd: Great.
- Anata wo Kanjiteitai (あなたを感じていたい): Today is Christmas, the crowd probably knows it too somehow, because they went crazy. Might not warrant a 5-star, but again today is Christmas so it's a 5. On a regular day, it should be 4.75. Fans clapping along for the song is another great touch!
I love this shot:
=> Ratings: Voice: 4.75* (5* on Christmas), Band: 4.75* (5* on Christmas). Crowd: Great.
- Ai ga Mienai (愛が見えない): Incredible reception from the fans. I always say this song is underrated, well Japanese folks love it, they went crazy. Izumi did very well with the fast lyrics from this song. Check 43:44, great solo from her. Amazing performance overall, one of the best from the tour. Only you forever.
=> Ratings: Voice: 5*, Band: 5*. Crowd: Electric.
Rehearsal (March — April): A very short video detailed the preparation for the shows from Mar to Apr.
=> Ratings: Production team: 5*.
- Today is Another Day: The best, everyone here seems to have so much fun together.
=> Ratings: Voice: 4.75*, Band: 5.25*. Crowd: Great.
After this is the funniest tidbit that I have ever seen from her. A random banter that is too GOLD.
- Rainen no Matsu mo (来年の夏も): Always a good song from Oh My Love, but this is too funny, and the performance itself was great. Acoustic trilogy is great and all, but if I have to pick a single thing from the tour, this is what I would pick. The music (piano, saxophone, etc.) is extra good here too. Perfect song.
=> Ratings: Voice: 5.25*, Band: 5.25*. Crowd: Electric. Goofiness: 11.
Rehearsal (May — June): A very short video detailed the preparation for the shows from May to Jun.
=> Ratings: Production team: 5*.
- My Baby Grand: Great song throughout, however there were multiple points where she completely forgot the lyrics?, and I feel like she's struggling to find her voice here. Some of the notes were not on point, as seen around and after 1:00:00. Perhaps they should have lowered the tone down?
=> Ratings: Voice: 4* for effort, Band: 4.25*. Crowd: Good.
- Kimi ga Inai (君がいない): Izumi bounced back to her best again, but still, something is off. Even the band. The band was worse than My Baby Grand, at least in My Baby Grand they helped to cover it up; here the mistake is easily spot-able.
=> Ratings: Voice: 4.25*, Band: 4*. Crowd: Great.
Ex: Today is Another Day (April 08, 2004 in Yokohama): Better than the Tokyo version for me, so I'm breaking the system for the band, well-deserved. Voice is great too, a different day, a much more revitalised Izumi.
=> Ratings: Voice: 5*, Band: 5.5*. Crowd: Great.
- My Friend (マイ フレンド): Start off with another banger piano intro, voice is okay, not fully back to 100%, but her energy is unmatched, and she saved it at the end. Additionally, this is such a cool shot with the lighting:
=> Ratings: Voice: 4.5*, Band: 4.75*, Crowd: Great.
- Makenaide (負けないで): Surprising to know that this doesn't end the show. The man Ohta is back in the lyrics, which is great. Didn't really expect anything less from this masterpiece; it's always bound to be great.
=> Ratings: Voice: 4.75*, Band: 5*, Crowd: Electric.
Rehearsal (July): A very short video detailed the preparation for the shows for July, focusing on the one on July 23, 2004 in Budokan.
=> Ratings: Production team: 5*.
Member Introduction (July 23): Goodbye My Loneliness, Kimi ni Aitaku Nattara... (君に逢いたくなったら…), Kitto Wasurenai (きっと忘れない):
A perfect way to say thank you to everyone involved in the live tour. The band is great, and with Izumi nowhere to be seen, the man Ohta is in the forefront. Special props to drummer David C. Brown too for his great work during the tour.
=> Ratings: Production team: 5*, Band: 6* (Special thank you). Crowd: Electric.
- Pray (Jul 23, 2004 in Nippon Budokan): This is a very surprise, not just because it's a new song, but because the performance is...amazing. Her voice is at full strength, and more. I don't know where she got this energy from, but this is way too good. Not as good as the trilogy, but more than enough to break the system again. 止まっていた時計が今動き出した is somewhat of an underwhelming album, but all of the songs sang from the album here are absolutely bangers after bangers, including the next one.
=> Ratings: Voice: 5.5*, Band: 4.75*, Crowd: Great.
- Tomatteita Tokei ga Ima Ugokidashita (止まっていた時計が今動き出した): Great, surprised that Yuri Nakamura wasn't there (same with Aika Ohno, I remember in '04 she was touring with Rina Aiuchi, but I don't think she was that busy, though). Overall a great live performance.
=> Ratings: Voice: 4.5*, Band: 5*, Crowd: Electric.
- Don't You See!: Look into her eyes, what do you see? I see the world. I was about to give it 5.5 for the voice and then she went on to forget the lyrics twice, so it's back to 5.25, same with the band. GREAT way to end the show.
=> Ratings: Voice: 5.25*, Band: 5.25*, Crowd: Electric.
- Special Ending: Kakegae no Nai Mono (かけがえのないもの) & Kyō wa Yukkuri Hanasō (今日はゆっくり話そう). Perfect songs to roll out the credits.
=> Ratings: Production team: 5* for the song selections.
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2020年 ~What a beautiful moment~:
Note: No ratings, just a comparison to see there's anything new added into this new version.
Special Intro: The exact same, a banger.
Yureru Omoi (揺れる想い): Different camera angles. The band's voice is picked up more in this version too. And the camera focus is not always at Sakai, which is great, we get to see the band too.
Kono Ai ni Oyogi Tsukarete mo (この愛に泳ぎ疲れても): Different camera angles, with a focus on a standing Sakai.
Mō Sukoshi, Ato Sukoshi... (もう少し あと少し…): Different camera angles, most focus is on Sakai, but the band is featured on screen too.
Ano Hohoemi wo Wasurenaide (あの微笑みを忘れないで): The exact same in terms of camera. But, the choir's vocal range is picked up better throughout the song, with is a very nice touch. Still the shortest performance.
Sekai wa Kitto Mirai no Naka (世界はきっと未来の中): Different camera angles, and Ohta's voice is heard around the stadium, more so than the original version. And we can also see him with his guitar too.
You and Me (and...): Slightly different camera angles.
Acoustic Trilogy:
Motto Chikaku de Kimi no Yokogao Mitetai (もっと近くで君の横顔見ていたい)
Ashita wo Yume Mite (明日を夢見て)
Hitomi Tojite (瞳閉じて)
Nothing is changed, and I don't want anything to be changed. It's already perfect.
Kokoro wo Hiraite (心を開いて): Different camera angle, similar to Yureru Omoi (start from the side instead of front). Most of the focus is actually in the band, nice touch, specially during the solo piano portion.
Anata wo Kanjiteitai (あなたを感じていたい): Completely different camera angle, kind of sad since I no longer see cool shot from the PV. The full camera focus is mostly on Sakai, so I can't complain.
Ai ga Mienai (愛が見えない): Different camera angles. Again, the focus is on the Sakai, and check out the cool shot in 41:50. Crowd went even more nuts for this song. Are they me? Also, the band's voice is clearly picked up here (you know who).
Today is Another Day: Different camera angles. When I say "everyone seems to have fun", now I can actually see them having fun.
Rainen no Matsu mo (来年の夏も): Made me laugh, again. I love it even more.
My Baby Grand: A bit better. And I expect good camera cuts from the production team too; she still misses the chorus though (it's a remastered version, not magic, so the problem will still be there).
Kimi ga Inai (君がいない): Different camera angles. Again, I think they patched up her mistake here, so well done production team.
My Friend (マイ フレンド): Brand new angle, and her voice is somehow much better.
Makenaide (負けないで): Here we get to see more from the band and everyone involved, great work from the production team.
Member Introduction (July 23): Goodbye My Loneliness, Kimi ni Aitaku Nattara... (君に逢いたくなったら…), Kitto Wasurenai (きっと忘れない): Nothing new, just another special thanks to everyone involved.
Pray (Jul 23): Still amazing to listen to like the first time. New angles, and Ohta's voice is picked up more too.
Tomatteita Tokei ga Ima Ugokidashita (止まっていた時計が今動き出した): Different camera angles, but the red light, although cool, makes it harder for me to see.
Don't You See!: Look into her eyes, what do you see? I see the world. Cool camera trick to hide her blunder.
Special Ending: Only Kakegae no Nai Mono (かけがえのないもの). Perfect songs to roll out the credits.
Live Making of the Tour: 14 minutes long, with My Baby Grand and Ai ga Mienai (愛が見えない) as the background music. I love it so so much. This is brand new from the original CD, so I will rate it.
=> Ratings: Production team: 6*.
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Extra Shots: Funny tidbits during the rest of the tour. What should be focus is the last 8 minutes of the video. Masterpiece of a song, and a bit of a something that I would like to share. In 2020 during the dark days of Covid, I bought both the 2004 and 2020 version of the photobook, to see the difference. There isn't any (so you could say that I wasted my money buying 2 things are the same lol).
If this counts as a book, then I now have about 8-10 different books related to ZARD.
This is cool, her thanking everyone coming to the show and enjoying her music.
