A Dreamy Time at BLUE NOTE TOKYO - MARI de MODE 8 -

Hello.
It's Yukari.

I went to BLUE NOTE TOKYO for the first time in a while.

My daily rhythm has changed lately, and I've had fewer opportunities to go to live shows, so I was already feeling exhilarated just on the way to Blue Note after all this time.

And this time, it was actually the opening night ofMari Natsuki's"MARI de MODE 8
." Mari Natsuki has been someone I've admired for a long time.

Her style, her way of life, her voice, her expressions.
She is someone I have admired consistently since I was in my 20s.

I've been saying "I love Mari Natsuki" for so long that it might be common knowledge among my friends.

Back in college, I used to listen to Mari Natsuki's works on CD over and over, starting with "Manatsu no Marie," produced by Yasuharu Konishi.
That unique worldview where the vibes of jazz, chanson, Showa-era pop, and club music all blend together.

And her long-running stage performance, "Impressive."
I had always been curious about it, but I never had the chance to see it in person.

That's why I was truly happy to be able to hear her "live voice" for the first time...

In this "MARI de MODE 8," there was also an exhibit of costumes actually worn in past performances, and I was completely captivated the moment I entered the venue.

Suppressing my excitement of "What kind of live show will it be?", I had a drink before the start.
It had been a while since I felt that unique, slightly formal atmosphere of Blue Note.

And then the live show began.

I couldn't take my eyes off her from the moment she appeared.

Her beautifully styled hair.
A dress sparkling with sequins.
A triple-strand pearl necklace adorning her sharp V-neckline.
And on her upper arm, a bold and beautiful piece of body art that looked like an accessory.

An overwhelming presence.

But the voice of Mari-san standing there was the exact same voice I had listened to so many times on CD when I was a student.

Powerful, charming, sexy, and beautiful.

The live show started with "Tokyo Boogie Woogie."
It's a signature song that was also released as "TOKYO JUNK BOOGIE" in 2023.

From there, my favorite songs followed one after another.

And above all, the musicians supporting the stage.

Masayuki Muraishi on drums, Yoshito Tanaka on guitar, Katsuhiro Mafune on bass.
Furthermore, Kaoru Inoue on keyboards, Toshitaka Shibata on piano and keyboards.

And percussion by Nov Saito, who is also Mari-san's partner.
The atmosphere changed the moment the performance started.

Mari-san's voice layered over the rhythm created right there on the spot. It wasn't just the sound; the entire atmosphere and breathing of the stage were truly beautiful...

Just listening to it made tears well up, and my eye makeup was completely ruined by the second song. Lol
I cried way too much...

I was just completely overwhelmed.

To be this cool, beautiful, and wonderful even as you age.

For the encore, she reappeared in a different outfit.

A black masculine set-up with a stand-up collar accented with pearls.
Paired with a bustier that beautifully showed off her décolleté.

It was just so cool.

To think that the day would come when I could see the woman I've admired for so long from this distance.
It was such a blissful time.

Holding onto the dreamy afterglow, I returned to reality after the show ended.

After 9 PM, many places around Aoyama have already finished their last orders, so we ended up rushing into a local Chinese restaurant.

But even that was the perfect conclusion.
It was a happy night.

I am truly grateful to Asa-san from Sutto for inviting me.

I want to age beautifully like this too. I need to take care of both my mind and body.

It was a night that gave me a renewed sense of motivation??

Who is someone you admire?
Please let me know.

Thank you for reading until the end today.

Have a wonderful weekend!