Music Musings

I been asked, what is my favourite band/singer of all time.

Normally this earns the response "Which country?" or "Which Language?"
Both are still applicable.

To be honest, I adore bands like Linkin Park and Kagrra,. Which were two bands I use and still do listen to a lot.

I think after seeing Dir en Grey live back in February, my answer has somewhat changed.

Dir en Grey is pretty much an instant response but why would a concert by a Japanese band change my heart so easily.

Here is a short story.

I been listening to Dir en Grey since I first heard the song called Filth, back in like 2002, a year after initial release. At first, I listened to it once in a while but never got further until I heard Obscure in 2003, this also occurred when I started using the internet more extensively and is one of my favourite songs, along with Satsuki by Kagrra,, which is what got me more interested in Japanese music and the Japanese culture.

Errr, viewers are advised that this is very graphic and not suitable for all ages but hey, this video won me fully over into the Dir en Grey fandom. Ever since then, I been dying to see them live. For years, I been listening to the music and holding a deep hope to see them live and last year, I heard the announcement from Soundwave saying that Dir en Grey confirmed to perform. I thought it was a joke at first but it was true and I scrambled to buy a ticket.

Normally, I would go to Soundwave if I liked about 5 performers, I only liked 3 at the time but Dir en Grey was why I wanted to go and I regret nothing.
It was a hot day and they were performing in the middle of the day, so I suffered through 3 terrible bands just to make sure I was front row, I also wore one of the two shirts I bought that day, sadly, I need to take a picture of it but after waiting and my friend joining me. They came on stage, I couldn't believe it, they were there, in front of me, performing the songs that brought me into Japanese fandom, the music that kept me sane during high school and home bs. I don't think I felt anything but a normal but intense happiness, to the extent I made that much noise that I lost my voice. They also performed Obscure, I nearly cried in joy xD

See, I was front row and this was perfect for me.

Afterwards, when they were finished, I was pretty much so happy, I felt like a normal person, with no issues, that when I stepped outside, it was so bright, so full of colour.
I questioned myself if this was how the world really looked and I was glad, I was so glad to see a band I always looked up to and worshiped perform live. I think it was my happiest memory of this year.
I hope to see them live again and maybe the GazettE, that would be awesome.

One of my shirts, I shall add the other later~

So, I do reckon, after writing this, that one great live performance can change a lot of things for a person. It did for me and after 10 years of waiting xD