ExTime Tour 2012 DVD/Bluray personal review
My ExTime Tour 2012 DVD arrived at my home on January 14th, 2013, 2 days before the official release date. Even my friends in Japan haven’t received it at that time. But I was not home on that day, so the DVD was on my hand on Wednesday, January 16th, on the release date. So I don’t have to feel guilty because I watched it before the release date.
This ExTime Tour 2012 DVD impresses me so much, and it drives me to write my first review on his releases ever. For all fans who are expecting this DVD/Bluray, I don’t recommend you to read this review, it could ruin your experience while watching the DVD/Bluray. For everyone who is thinking of buying it or not.. this review could give you some useful information about how awesome this DVD/Bluray could be.
After I watched the DVD for about 5 times, I feel that it’s divided into 4 sections, but it’s not because he wore 4 outfits (2 outfits actually, but he put off his jacket for respective outfit, so it’s 4 outfits for me). Thus, I will not describe the performance one by one, but I will tell you about impression that I get in every sections.
However, your experience while watching the DVD or Bluray could be different.. well it’s subjective.. no one makes mistake. It is surely based on our preference in music and dance. Here we go..
Section 1: Introduction, songs that have special choreography
Black hole - Turn off the light - Drama
The first 3 songs in “ExTime Tour 2012” were songs that are well-known for the choreography in the MVs which were worked by Daichi himself. Many fans were attracted to Daichi because of the choreography in the MVs of these songs. I’ve watched the other Daichi’s DVD i.e. Gravity, Synesthesia and D.M in Budokan. This section gives me impression that Daichi was trying to grab the attention of his new fans and rise up the tension in this show through the well known choreography.
Section 2: Singing and musical showcase
Love is Like a Bass Line - Gotta Make You Mine - Magic - Magic Word - 4 am - Nettaiya - Virtual Insanity
This section is the showcase of his ability in singing. Technically Daichi only danced to 4am in this section, but still it demonstrated his falsetto and singing ability in this song. We can hear how great his pitch and breath control is in this section. The new arrangements of the music are beautiful. I have no idea if he was involved in the arrangement, but for sure, those arrangements should be approved by him. This section is my favorite among all sections of the show, it gives me goosebumps the most, because Daichi sang so good and all the musicians in the live band including DJ Daishizen worked so well.
Section 3: Single medley - the medley of the side A songs
Inside your head - Delete my memories - Flag - The Answer - Your Love - Lullaby
This section is the medley of songs that lead him to his current popularity. All are released as the side A of the singles. All fans know these songs very much. My favorite performances in this section is “Delete My Memories” (DMM) and “Your Love”.
Daichi sang DMM in Gravity on a small stage, and he didn’t look great there. It became worse in Synesthesia because he sang it without any backing dancers and the head-worn microphone even make it sounds worse because it couldn’t anticipate Daichi’s loud voice. DMM in “ExTime Tour 2012” is the best performance so far because he sang it perfectly, some additional sounds from the live band, and all the backing dancers danced on the same floor with him. It reminds me of how awesome he was in the MV with those backing dancers which were HIMSELF!!
He sang “Your Love” beautifully in Gravity, Synesthesia and “ExTime Tour 2012” What makes his performance in “ExTime Tour 2012” more special is because of the additional choreography that give effects to the outfits of him, and the improvisation of the music that should be done by DJ Daishizen
For fans who love seeing him singing while playing piano or keyboard should be really happy with performance of “Lullaby”. Its arrangement was different from what he performed in Budokan, so fans shouldn’t be worry about seeing the similar performance of Lullaby. You’ll be amazed by the version in “ExTime Tour 2012”.
Section 4: easy listen songs
Burning Weakness - No Limit - Touch Me - Elevator - Two Hearts - Shout it
I don’t know how to categorize the songs in this section. I only notice that the songs in this section are songs that really easy to be remembered by all listeners, even by the non-fan ones. I perceive that he wants the audience to remember the awesomeness of the show after they leave the venue. My favorite in this section is No Limit, because it really heat up the hall, and Elevator, because it had better music, sounds and Daichi sang the complete version like the one that released on iTunes. As I prefer to the live version of Elevator, this live version in ExTime Tour 2012 is the perfect one for me.
Opinion on certain aspects:
Singing: VERY SATISFYING
He sings beautifully, his breath control and falsetto were flawless. My favorites are 4am and Nettaiya.
Cover song: SATISFYING
Daichi really needs to improve his pronunciation in singing fast-tempo English songs. He is so good in English slow songs, but in Virtual Insanity, it’s quite difficult to capture the words. I can capture the words after I listen to the version sung by Miho Fukuhara. We all can hear Miho’s pronunciation while singing “Virtual Insanity” is much better than Daichi’s. But in term of voice, Daichi sounds a way better than Miho. Sorry Miho-chan.. you sing so good, but I love Daichi’s voice more.
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Choreography/dance: SATISFYING
Daichi used to expose his ‘random’ moves, which for me is like the “fist of drunken master”. I mean.. it’s a bit weird, but somehow that moves make him well recognized by many fans, including me. His ‘random’ moves in ”ExTime Tour 2012” are flawless. I used to be bugged by some of his random moves in the previous shows. But I have nothing to complain about his moves in ”ExTime Tour 2012”.
The backing dancers, Mr Shota, Mr Puri, Mr Akihiro and Mr Shingo, they danced so well.. and of course.. look so handsome in those white outfits.
Dance Number: NEITHER SATISFYING or NOT SATISFYING
There is nothing special in the Dance Number. For me it’s as bored as the one in Synesthesia. I prefer to the dance number in Encore to Our Love, Gravity and D.M. in Budokan. Sorry I have to be honest this way, I hope it can be a feedback for Daichi and the team for his next show.
Outfits: NEITHER SATISFYING or NOT SATISFYING
My favorite of Daichi’s outfit is simple with well-fitted pants like the 2nd outfit in Gravity, 1st and 3rd outfits in Synesthesia, and outfit when when sang “Touch Me” in D.M. in TOKYO DOME CITY HALL, especially with that heeled-shoes. The outfits in “ExTime Tour 2012” made me difficult to watch his sharp moves while dancing. It looks that the outfit were not well-suited on him. The first outfit in the first section (BH - TOTL - Drama) hidden the special choreography of those songs. He put off the jacket start from singing ‘Gotta Make You Mine” in the second section. Since the second section is more about singing show case, this outfit didn’t bug me, even I could see the soft muscles on his hands when he sang 4am. They are beautiful. The second outfit, the black and shiny one is a bit better, especially without the jacket because fans can see the shape of his body. But the cut of his pants on his calf looks a bit too baggy. It would be nice if it’s a bit tighter to his feet so fans can see the details of special moves of his feet. I heard many fans who came to the show were very attracted on his butt because of the tight black suit.. but I’m more attracted to the opposite side of the butt.. they are flat.. so sexy, especially with the belt..
I guess the shoes doesn’t fit his black suit either. I don’t know why, I’m not an expert of fashion, but I have a feeling that with different cut of his pants and different shoes, the impression of the outfit could be different. Here I give you a picture where you can see that the bottom part of the pants is too baggy.
How ever.. the upper backside of the pants is satisfying.. I guess that’s why fans love it so much
The 1st outfit of the backing dancers made me dizzy because it’s too shiny and doesn’t fit to the body of the dancers who actually are really sexy <3 .. but the 2nd outfit made them all look sooo handsome… I guess it’s even better than Daichi’s outfits…
The outfits of the musicians and DJ Daishizen are good, but I wonder why Mr Daishizen, Mr Gakushi and Mr Kamijo wore caps, while Mr Yoshio and Mr Kenshi didn’t wear caps.. www
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Stage Design and Lighting: VERY SATISFYING.
This is the best stage design and lighting that Daichi ever has for his concerts. It’s even better than D.M. in Budokan. I know the stage in Budokan was big, but we can see that there were some ‘empty spaces’ on the stage. Even though they put a big LED screen as the background of the stage, but it looks like it’s naked. This time, there was no LED as the background, but the disco balls, the moving stage/stairs and the lighting were so perfect.. they gave different impression in every songs.. I love it
Sound system: VERY SATISFYING
The sound in Synesthesia was disappointing because of Daichi’s head worn microphone that bugged me when he sang with loud voice. In Budokan, there were some cracks in the DVD (Like in Crazy and Wakareno Beru), I don’t know why. Budokan even wasn’t designed for a musical performance. But that venue is like a holy place for every singer in Japan, so I guess Daichi held a concert there for a spiritual reason. Tokyo Kokusai Forum must be designed for a music performance, with special design of room acoustic and sound system, that is why everything sounds perfect in the DVD.
Music: VERY VERY SATISFYING
In term of music, Gravity used to be my favorite one. But it’s defeated by ExTime Tour 2012 now because there were more instruments played by the live band than in Gravity, and it’s really beautiful and enjoyable. I love how Mr Yoshio plays his drum, it really gives different sense to the songs. The way Mr Kenshi plays the bass reminds me of Mark King, the bassist of Level 42. I used to think Mark King is the best bassist in the world. I think in short time, he should hand his crown to Mr Kenshi. I always love how Mr Kamijo plays the guitar since Synesthesia. He is the union of all best guitarist in the world. I really love his solo part in “Magic”. Mr Gakushi ‘slice’ my heart with the intro of “Wakareno beru” in DM in Budokan, and he did it again with the intro of 4am in “ExTime Tour 2012”. Every time I listen to those two songs, the intro from Mr Gakushi is what I look forward to. Mr Daishizen is a magician for me. I have no idea what he’s doing behind that table, but all that I know, NO DJ DAISHIZEN MEANS NO MAGICAL SHOW OF DAICHI MIURA.
I am so grateful Daichi releases the live album of this show. So I can listen to it over and over again, in any activities. Otherwise, I should convert them myself from the DVD, as I did with Gravity and D.M. in Budokan.
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Audience: THEY ARE STUNNING..
I love watching the excitement of the audience during the show. I wish I were there with them… !!! I love how fans followed Daichi’s instruction to wave or clap their hands during the 2nd section. You can see the best fans participation during “Magic”. I love them… <3
In general: VERY SATISFYING
In general, “ExTime Tour 2012” is Daichi’s best concert so far. I know he’ll keep improving, so I look forward to his next tour AND DVD, OF COURSE… !!!!
That’s all my review on ExTime Tour 2012 DVD.
I hope it gives you good information.
If you have any question, please contact me on twitter as @MiuraImada_
If you are Daichi Miura..
Daichi… I love you, I love your songs, I love your voice and I love your dance moves
Please keep up the good works and take good care of your health.
To DJ Daishizen, all musicians in the live band and all backing dancers.. you all are awesome.. !!!!
See you later
~ Imada ~
link (to extended teaser)
