hide Birthday Party 2011 Celebrating a Subculture Legend
hide FILM ALIVE!!
The live show was over but not the main event! The feature, hide FILM ALIVE started at 9:00 p.m. on the dot. The film ran not only on the lateral screens but also above the main stage, completely encompassing the audience in hide’s performance. The birthday boy appeared as the lights went down and mixed footage of hide’s first solo tour in ’94 greeted the eager fans. Video or not, there was no doubt that it was a true concert in their hearts and they screamed and danced, cheering louder than ever for their rock idol during “DOUBT” and “SCANNER.”
In “D.O.D,” clips of hide drinking and pouring beer on the crowd earned a great reaction. The crowd sang louder than ever while jumping and dancing but it was the last song, “TELL ME” when pink and silver tape was launched from above that the party came to a head. The crowd sang along, “Singing a song for me! Singing a song for you!” with streamers shining in their hands. The star made one last appearance after the number, flanked by a group of stripper girls as he tumbled to the ground with them in a playful heap before they all disappeared behind a red curtain which hide pulled closed with a suggestive grin.
Set List
- DOUBT
- SCANNER
- D.O.D.
- DICE
- TELL ME
Among the announcements made onscreen following the event was a collaboration with h.NAOTO on the fashion frontier as well as the traditional FILM ALIVE!! and Birthday Party!! to be held once more in 2012. However, it was also announced that 2014 would see hide welcome his 50th birthday with hide Renaissance, details coming in 2012. Another treat to look forward to was the footage of a dark, Gotham-style comic entitled “hide × comic YOKOSUKA DOC” which instantly fascinated the crowd.
The final touching moment of the show came after the crowd yelled and yelled for Hiroshi who gave them one last speech, sending them all home with smiles. With an exciting future ahead for hide fans, the rock star’s birthday brought a fitting close to 2011, following up the 13th anniversary events of the year such as Rock Musical Pink Spider and the many CLUB PSYENCE DJ events that gave the fans plenty to be thankful for. However, die-hard fans still had one event on the list for 2011 with the CLUB PSYENCE end of year party held the very next day, and with that in mind, everyone wished hide a very happy birthday and said “See you next time,” to fellow fans young and old.
Leela McMullen is a strong believer in the philosophy "no music, no life." Having traversed the range of Japanese fandoms, she found her home at last in visual kei and has made it her mission to share what she loves most with the world. Leela completed her B.A. in Japanese language from Griffith University in Gold Coast Australia. She now lives and works in Japan, striving to bring you the goods, hot from the scene. Follow her on twitter for juicy hints of upcoming articles if you've got a bit of Japanese language under your belt! http://twitter.com/#!/LeelaInTokyo
Jenny Micalizzi started studying piano when she was seven years old and has since never betrayed her passion. Music has always been a constant in her life; there have always been guitars and keyboards strewn around her house. But it wasn't until she came across Japanese music that her life changed and she became interested in Japanese language. Now Jenny lives and works in Japan, reporting on visual kei.
thank you again, Rokkyuu!! hahaha yes, you are!
i wanted to see when MASATO refused as DIE-san dragged him to the stage during Kimura Seizi & Yana’s session. 笑
about the overall writing, i’d like to thank Rokkyuu who has successfully made me feel like i was there attending hide birthday party eventhough in fact i’m living far from japan. but if i may put another comment about defspiral, i would love to read more about RYO and MASAKI on stage. i’m really happy when i read about TAKA and MASATO but i think the 2 other members also have very good skills to review.
thank you Leela-san and Jenny-san,
and keep on the good work, Rokkyuu!
i think my comment is too long so that there are some parts missing. DX
love this article. CUTT and Kimura Seizi are also ones of my fave musicians, besides defspiral. i haven’t listened much to their new songs though (i’ll buy their CDs if i’ll be able to visit japan soon), but i’ve listened CUTT’s through ustream and his youtube channel, and Kimu-san.. gosh.. ZEPPET STORE’s ロウソクの炎と青い空 and cover of hide’s FLAME are my fave! Kimu-san’s voice is as awesome as TAKA’s, in my opinion.
part of the writing i love the most is the review about CUTT, especially his statement about his new album and when Rokkyuu interviewing him, it’s so touching.. :’)
defspiral.. i’ve commented too much about this my most fave band. (i hope it doesn’t annoy anyone who read my comment) one thing i would like to say about them is (i hope defu-san will read this) : Reply -tribute to hide- is totally great and DOUBT is undoubtedly AWESOME! many thanks to defspiral for making good cover, especially RYO-san (who looks so happy when Yamahana Asaki-san commented “tensai” about DOUBT)!
MASATO said “by appearing at his events every year, and by appearing in his musical, it feels as though he’s always by our side.” and i think i almost always heard a piece of hide’s music in every release stuff of defspiral.
and also his comment “I want to say “We’re awesome, aren’t we?”” –> hahaha yes, you are!
i wanted to see when MASATO refused as DIE-san dragged him to the stage during Kimura Seizi & Yana’s session. 笑
(sorry if i look like spamming m(_ _)m)