Review: Ayumi Hamasaki, Asia Tour 2007 A ~Tour of Secret~

In the spring of 2007, J-Pop superstar Ayumi Hamasaki embarked on a groundbreaking tour that would see her performing outside of her native country for the first time for an arena tour. With stops in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, she made waves for delighting audiences in Asia with her elaborate costumes and charismatic stage persona.

From her first note to her final thank you, Asia Tour 2007 A ~Tour of Secret~ chronicles her journey and the entirety of her Fukuoka show.

Descending from a glittering swing, Ayumi Hamasaki appears dressed in a gothic burlesque showgirl ensemble while singing her hit song "evolution" during the show's opening. This brief 18th century-inspired segment features the dancers in stylized period costumes and includes a rendition of her I am… era single "UNITE!" Though not nearly as spectacular as previous arena tour entrances, the choreography and staging is impeccable, while her vocals are completely on-point.

After a brisk video interlude, Hamasaki rises onto the stage in a giant metal cage alongside her female dancers to perform "1 LOVE." As one of the standout songs from Secret, this rock-laced track is rendered with high energy and maximum sex appeal. From her golden bodice to her convincing sensuality, Hamasaki makes this performance one of the most memorable from the show. She follows this with another highlight from Secret, "until that Day…" 

Unfortunately, this section borrows heavily from her previous concerts. "1 LOVE" recycles the staging from the caged segment from her 2002 arena tour, while "until that Day…" feels vaguely reminiscent of the choreography for "my name's WOMEN" from her 2005 arena tour.

Switching from the previous segment's rock vibe, Hamasaki continues the show with a string of ballads. While wearing a mint green dress with floral embellishments, she sings "M" and the LOVEppears single "appears." Sadly, this section is fairly forgettable. The fashion isn't overly impressive and the choice of older songs was a bit of a misstep.

Thankfully, her follow-up "part of Me" and "Secret" offer fans some much-needed new material. Hamasaki is draped in gorgeous silken fabrics and belts out the most affecting songs of the show, while her dancers help to tell a story of yearning through their choreography. This segment is quite possibly the most memorable of the concert.

As the show draws to a close, Hamasaki returns to her more high octane catalogue and stuns with a brilliant performance of "kiss o' kill." This gothic rock song sees the pint-sized singer belting it out in a silver outfit, while her Phantom of the Opera-esque background dancers chase after her. After the song's bridge, she appears floating on a metal cross. Once more, she's seen recycling from previous shows. For fans of Hamasaki's concerts, they'll remember her singing on a cross for her 2005-2006 Countdown Live performance.

She concludes the main show with a trio of older hits while dressed in a glittering showgirl ensemble. This section is glitzy and fun, borrowing a little inspiration from the seminal movie musical Moulin Rouge!. The closing number "Boys & Girls" brings down the house and is a definite highlight. It's easy to see why it's one of her most performed tracks, as she gives it her all and gets the audience singing from the top of their lungs.

Despite sharing the title of her eighth studio album, Tour of Secret comes across more like a greatest hits show than a concert promoting any one album. It eschews material from her two previous albums (MY STORY and (miss)understood), in favour of relying mostly on songs from LOVEppears, Duty and I am…. In total, only four of Secret's full length songs made it onto the setlist. It's a disappointment that nearly sinks this tour. Fans have seen her perform much of this concert's setlist many times over and, to this day, Secret remains one of the most underrepresented albums on tour. 

This isn't the only problem that plagues the setlist, seeing as it's almost overwhelmingly rock-inspired. The vast majority of the songs sung are her rock tracks, which makes Tour of Secret one of her only tours that lacks a definitive "cute" segment displaying her infectious pop music.

With its recycling of previous staging and lacklustre setlist, Tour of Secret is one of Ayumi Hamasaki's least memorable arena tours. In fact, it feels more like one of her smaller scale Countdown shows given the simpler sets and choreography. Even still, it's hard to fault Hamasaki given how incredible she is as a performer, especially when she's wearing such gorgeous costuming.

RATING: B-

Review: Demi Lovato, The Neon Lights Tour

In support of her fourth studio album, Demi Lovato embarked on her third headlining concert tour in February, 2014. Dubbed “The Neon Lights Tour,” this show emphasized Demi’s rock star stage presence and killer vocals, as well as her down to earth persona that has engaged fans since her debut.

Opening with her hit single “Heart Attack,” Demi rose from beneath the stage and belted it out like no one else can. Decked out in torn leggings and a spiked leather jacket, she came out in full rock star regalia. Her charisma was undeniable. She segued into a remixed Here We Go Again era single “Remember December.” Stripped of its more rock-tinged elements, it was performed in an electronic style that suited Demi’s new sound perfectly. This was followed by a track from her most recent album (“Fire Starter”) and a non-single song from Don’t Forget  (“The Middle”). Things picked up when she brought down the show with “Really Don’t Care.” Fans belted out the words and lost their minds as supporting act Cher Lloyd joined Demi for her rap verse.

While the night was full of uptempo anthems and dance tracks, some of the more poignant moments in “The Neon Lights Tour” came from the ballads she performed. “Catch Me,” another track from Here We Go Again, was sung as she played the acoustic guitar before transitioning into a downtempo version of “Here We Go Again.” Similarly, “Nightingale” and “Warrior” received much love from the audience. These ballads proved to be crowd-pleasers and showcased her vocals flawlessly. However, it was the Frozen ballad “Let It Go” that truly made the audience go wild. There wasn’t a single person who didn’t sing along.

Other highlights from the night included performances of “Made in the USA” and “Neon Lights.” The former received thunderous applause when she sang the final words as “Made in Canada,” while the latter had the entire stadium jumping in tune to the club beat. The encore was equally as satisfying. She concluded the show with the Unbroken era hit “Give Your Heart a Break” and her signature song “Skyscraper.” Both were engaging and compelling, giving fans a chance to see Demi’s authenticity and talent without the bravado put on by flashy videos or pyrotechnics.

Overall, “The Neon Lights Tour” was a wonderful display of everything that Demi Lovato represents. It had a dash of rock star swagger, a pinch of sass, and a whole lot of heart. From confetti to elaborate light displays, the staging was impeccable. Her vocals were spot-on and she didn’t miss a note. While she could have included more songs from her fourth album DEMI on the setlist, it was nonetheless satisfying to see her reference her entire discography in one night. However, if there was one thing to take away from her performance it is that she is an inspiring young woman who believes in female empowerment and self-improvement. In times like these, this type of selflessness and genuine care for others is rare. Demi Lovato is more than just a pop singer, she’s an inspiration.

Review: Girls Aloud, Out of Control Live

In 2008, British supergroup Girls Aloud released their smash single “The Promise” to rave reviews. Their fifth studio album Out of Control followed a month later. The record went to number one on the UK Albums Chart, becoming a first for the Girls. In the spring of the following year, Girls Aloud embarked on a tour that the Daily Mirror would call “their raunchiest ever.”

There’s no denying that the Out of Control Tour had its share of sexual overtones. The costuming is racy and the dance moves are seductive. The show begins with the Girls draped in fringe, as they shimmy their way through “The Promise” high atop the stage on freestanding platforms. It’s a striking image and goes down as one of their more interesting entrances. The opening segment also features album cuts “Love Is the Key” and “Miss You Bow Wow,” as well as the band’s hit 2005 song “Biology.” The latter is particularly memorable due to its familiarity and choreography. Another standout moment is when the Girls perform “Love Machine” during the second section. It is high energy and features a jazz-inspired dance breakdown. Not unlike on their Tangled Up Tour, the Girls utilize a small B-stage in the middle of the crowd to perform in a more intimate format. This third segment includes “Untouchable” and “Call the Shots” (both sung on a floating platform), as well as a cover to the James Morrison song “Broken Strings.” This ballad is a rare moment in the show as it strips the Girls bare of production and choreography, bringing them as close as possible to their fans. In between this, they perform an unforgettable rendition of “Sexy! No No No…,” borrowing elements from Rihanna’s hit song “Disturbia.” The last section of the show is a sexual free-for-all as the girls perform album tracks like “Revolution in the Head” and “Fix Me Up” alongside their debut single “Sound of the Underground.” The most remarkable moment, however, is when the Girls deliver their own version of Britney Spears’ “Womanizer.” The cover is flawless and is perhaps even better than the original, due to the Girls’ unfiltered voices (read: no autotune). The Out of Control Tour is concluded with a megamix of Girls Aloud hits whilst the fabulous five are decked out in gorgeous black bodysuits, bedazzled with crystal butterflies. It’s a moment that truly illustrates how well they’ve done in the world of music.

The Out of Control Tour was yet another admirable display of Girls Aloud’s prowess as pop stars. They command the stage with remarkable ease and have shown that they have one of the greatest musical catalogues of any girl group (past or present). The show is not free of faults, however. Their costumes lack colour, with each being black, white or a combination thereof. They also repeat staging from previous performances and didn’t rework past hits as well as they could have. Nevertheless, the Out of Control Tour is an energetic and sexy concert that is sure to please any fan of Girls Aloud.

Rating: B+

Review: Girls Aloud, Tangled Up Live

As one of the highest selling girl groups of all-time, Girls Aloud dominated the charts in the UK for a decade. Known for their infectious pop hits and flashy live shows, they embarked on a twenty-four show tour in 2008 in support of their fourth album Tangled Up. These performances were nothing short of spectacular, showcasing the Girls' unique ability to dazzle audiences with their flawless harmonies and slick dance moves.

Opening with the Girls flying high on wires, the fierce five descend onto the stage wearing flowing black cloaks like a glitzy group of superheroes. The first section of the show features a ferocious rendition of "Sexy! No No No..." and a memorable performance of their iconic tune "Sound of the Underground." During the latter number, they cleverly use their male dancers as furniture. A sexy cabaret-style segment follows. While wearing form-fitting lace costumes, the Girls perform alongside their dancers while singing "Can't Speak French." From there, Girls Aloud bust out some old hits -- "Love Machine" and "Biology." These crowd-pleasers feel right at home in this section due to their retro vibe and campy sexuality. They cool things down with a series of ballads. The staging of "Whole Lotta History" is unforgettable. The Girls are hoisted above the audience on a floating catwalk and are taken to their B-stage. It is a standout moment during the show and features some of their strongest vocals. A cover of Swedish pop star Robyn's "With Every Heartbeat" follows before they bring the house down with their iconic rendition of "I'll Stand By You." During the final segment of the show, the Girls appear dressed in gorgeous sparkling gold dresses. While all the costuming for the Tangled Up Tour were glamorous, none were more beautiful than these dresses. Standout songs during this section include a cover of Salt-N-Pepa's "Push It" and the simmering "Call the Shots." Finally, the Girls close the concert with a show-stopping performance of "Jump." An encore follows with Girls Aloud dressed in neon bodysuits, singing "Something Kinda Ooooh." It's a brilliant conclusion to a near-flawless show.

If there's one thing to be learned about Girls Aloud, it's that they knew how to put on one hell of a show. Tangled Up Live spotlights their unique style. The costuming is phenomenal and the choreography is top-notch. For any fan of pop music, this is one concert that must be seen.

Rating: A