Cocco Kirakira Live Tour 2007/2008 @ Kobe International House Kokusai Hall

15 years ago, the first time I experienced Cocco live

As I wrote in my self-introduction, I have loved Cocco ever since her debut.

I have been supporting her since her 1997 debut, and it wasn't until 2007 that I was finally able to experience a Cocco concert, which had been a long-held dream of mine.

On Monday, December 3, 2007, the "Cocco Kirakira Live Tour 2007/2008" was held at the Kobe International House Kokusai Hall.

This was a nationwide tour held in support of her 6th original album, "Kirakira", which was released on July 25, 2007. The Kobe show I attended was the 3rd of 16 performances.

"Kirakira" was recorded in Okinawa and London, and it is an album scattered with "sparkles" just as the title suggests, containing 18 songs based on the keywords "Okinawa, daily life, light, sunny spots, living, handmade, world."

Back then, I listened to Cocco every day during my commute.
Walking along Midosuji in the morning while listening to "Kirakira" would blow away my gloomy mood, making me think, "Alright, I'll do my best today!" It brings back memories.

The setlist from that day

The setlist for this tour varied depending on the venue.
Although the tour finale at the Nippon Budokan was released on DVD, it is quite different.

In Kobe, she performed 8 songs from the then-latest album "Kirakira." At that time, she played many popular songs like the singles "Kumoji no Hate" and "Hi no Terinagara Ame no Furu" and "Ai ni Fukashi" and "Kubi.".
I was so moved to be able to hear "Isho." at my first Cocco concert.

On this tour, she sang various songs at each venue under the title "Song of the Day." Cocco mentioned that she had very special feelings for Kobe in particular.

She went to see the earthquake memorial, and a song was born from singing there.
That was "Bye Bye Pumpkin Pie".

I was so lucky to hear the freshly made "Bye Bye Pumpkin Pie" before anywhere else♪

By the way, the song that closes both the album "Kirakira" and this "Kirakira Live Tour," "Never ending journey", is also a song that was born in the earthquake-stricken city of Kobe.

What I was feeling 15 years ago

What I am about to present is the live report of the "Cocco Kirakira Live Tour 2007/2008" that I posted on my blog on December 10, 2007.

Wow, who is this person? They are so cringey!!!

It is super embarrassing, but I have decided to repost it as is without making any changes. It makes me cringe, but I found it somewhat interesting.

It made me nostalgic, remembering the time I went to see Acchan for the first time 15 years ago.
And, my joy at being able to meet Bjork is also exploding (lol).

Oh yeah, it was 15 years ago that I first met Cocco and also first met Bjork. Deeply moving...

I get to see Acchan again tomorrow!

A long-held wish, finally realized!!

How many years has it been since I've been to a concert?
Not just performing, but watching too...

And this is a concert I've been waiting 10 years for!!
I finally went!

Cocco, the female artist I like most in Japan.
Even though I've been supporting her ever since her debut,
I've never been blessed with the opportunity until now.
And then, there was that hiatus, right?

Ah,
Is it finally going to end without me ever seeing her with my own eyes?
Is that just the way fate had it?

...That's what I thought, so it was all the more deeply moving...

But,
I still feel like I shouldn't have watched it.
I had that feeling somewhere inside me.

Because I was afraid of being influenced.
Maybe I was just telling myself that to come to terms with the frustration of not being able to see her.

Ten years ago, when I first heard her songs,
I felt a shock like being hit with a counterpunch.

I've been beaten! How frustrating!!

The music I wanted to make,
The things I wanted to express,
But couldn't give shape to...
It was exactly that.

Of course, I'm interested in her personality and character, but
it's not like I love everything about her.

I have a tendency to be helplessly and strongly attracted to people
who (I think) are similar to me, and I think she and I are similar in many ways.

Our ages are close,
our circumstances are a little similar,
the background of how we started music,
our musical style and vocal style and their transitions,
our feelings about singing,
and the clincher is our abnormal love for our hometown (lol).

Our personalities are also selfish (innocent, if you want to put it nicely?),
and that twisted nature, that inferiority, and that stubbornness,
are exactly the same as mine (lol).

So,
even though there are parts I can't quite understand,
I can't bring myself to hate her.

But still,
the real her was very cute.
That part is just like me too! (Big laugh)

When the live show finally started, around the first or second song,
something granular started to spill out.
For me, of all people. Unforgivably.

I'm not trying to make excuses,
but it wasn't because I was moved to tears.

I tried superimposing the ten years she has walked with my own ten years.

Seeing her singing freely, openly, and comfortably
right in front of me,
I couldn't help but feel frustrated.

I can sing like that too!
What on earth am I doing?

The place I should be is not on 'this side'.
I must hurry and become a person on 'that side'!!

I have to set myself free.
I feel too sorry for myself.

"You've done well to make it this far. You've endured so much."
I wanted to comfort and praise myself.

The people who scream and make noise every time the song changes...
The people who sing along the whole time...
There were plenty of "cringe" fans who didn't care about bothering those around them, but
maybe I was one of them too...??? (bitter laugh)

But seriously, just how much of a die-hard music nerd am I?!

And finally!! This time!
I'm going to be able to see "Bjork," who I love more than anyone in the world!!!
And I even got amazing seats!!!

I've always thought that I absolutely couldn't die until I saw Bjork in the flesh with my own eyes!!!
And besides,
if this one was 10 years in the making, then this other one has been 20 years in the making!!!!!

To have my long-held wishes come true all at once,
maybe I really am lucky after all♪

It feels like the time has finally come, or rather,
it's like I've been given permission, saying "It's okay for you to see them now."

Will next year be bright after all?!

But if I'm like this already,
I wonder what will happen when I'm right in front of her...
My heart is pounding!