Boa the Live ~ Ura BoA Kikase Kei (a J!-ENT Music DVD Review)

ARTIST: BoA

TITLE: Boa the Live ~ Ura BoA Kikase Kei

DURATION: 103 minutes

DVD INFORMATION: Region 2, 16:9 LB

Released on March 7, 2007

COMPANY: avex trax

TRACK LIST:

1. LISTEN TO MY HEART
2. VALENTI
3. DO THE MOTION
4. Soundscape
5. Your Color
6. Ain’t No Sunshine
7. make a secret
8. Moon & Sunrise
9. Kimi No Tonari De
10. Nanairo No Ashita ~Brand New Beat~
11. KEY OF HEART
12. La La La Love Song
13. QUINCY
14. EVERLASTING
15. Kono yo no Shirushi
16. Winter Love
17. Merikuri

Bonus Track
18. The Love Bug With M-Flo

Creative Coordination: Terue Saito

DVD Authoring: Yuka Matsuki

Starring:

BoA

Band Master & Manipulator: Taashi Morio

Drums: Shinny T

Bass: Mario Horikawa

Guitar: Jun Yamazaki

Keyboard & Chorus: Motoyoshi Matsuura

Percussion: Yuri Nakayama

Chorus: Naomi Matsuoka, Mieko Sudo

Dancers: Yuka, Lina, Sonny, YWKI

m-flo

Originally featured on a PDF review on J!-ENT back in 2007. Reposted for the blog:

BoA has accomplished  a lot in Japan since debuting back in 2001 at the age of 14.

Having a successful career in Korea, her record label SM Entertainment ha decided to focus her career in Japan with their continued collaboration for Avex Entertainment, Inc. and from that point,  she has become one of the most successful non-Japanese performers in Japan.

Having CD singles and albums sell over a million copies, the singer is known for her ability to sing and dance and has made her a unique compared to many other performers at the same age.

In 2006, she had somewhat of a change in direction with her latest album release “made in twenty (20)” in which the music became a bit more mature, which is no surprise as many performers tend to stray away from a certain music style from their teens to adult-hood.

When I heard that Avex would be releasing a new live DVD for BoA in 2007, I was looking forward to see BoA shake her thing and show off cool dance choreography.

But “Boa the LIVE ~ Ura BoA Kikase Kei” is not exactly what I was expecting but the fact what I did watch was surprisingly different and fresh, I was enjoying every moment of it.

The reason for that is this concert is not about BoA, that we have seen for many years with her dancers,  who can jam on the dance floor.

This concert was all about BoA, the vocalist.

Now, I know some of you reading this scoff at the idea of a performer known for her singing and dancing being taken seriously as a vocalist but I think it’s a really gutsy move to make for this artist as many fans wonder what is coming next for the talent.

This DVD features BoA in her first live house tour, complete with a talented band and a few background dancers.

Now granted many R&B divas have performed with a live band but in this case, it’s a different story.

Whereas other performers utilized the band, to show off their choreography (example: Amuro Namie’s latest concert DVD “LIVE STYLE 2006”), this DVD does the opposite as it wants to portray BoA as a vocalist and less on the choreography.

I have to admit that watching BoA perform with a live band change my impression of the singer.

By watching this DVD, you can tell that BoA wants to show the audience that she’s not just another female vocalist on the Avex record label that can sing and dance but that she has more to give.

The concert starts off with the live band jamming and then BoA donning a black outfit and a hat performing songs such as “LISTEN TO MY HEART” and “VALENTI”.

And it’s evident that there is no lip-syncing, this song is truly live, as starting out she was a bit shaky but after that first song, she did a great job.

Now, one thing about concerts especially for R&B artists is that Japanese audiences can be a bit quiet and not so active in a concert.

Sure, we Americans can be loud and supportive but for Japanese, in many concerts, sometimes when the audience doesn’t look like they are into it, the concert can be a drag.

On this DVD, It was nice to see the audience supporting her (you can see people in the audience singing along with her) and you can tell she feeds off their energy.

Although BoA is not showing off her dancing moves as in previous performances, there are background dancers but its within the theme of the live house music and thus, the dancers have a ballroom style of dance choreography to it.

During her first outfit change, BoA returned with a sexy but yet elegant short cut dress, showing a lot of leg.

I don’t think I have ever seen BoA sporting any such outfit before, so I think BoA fanboys will definitely enjoy that.

But after the outfit change, BoA puts on a stunning performance with her and the pianist with her song “Moon & Sunrise”.

Whether you enjoy her vocals or not,       In my opinion, this is the defining song that shows off her vocal talent in this concert.

From singing high notes to transitional improvisation with certain parts of that song, it was definitely an eye-opener and she did a great job.

As for the DVD, this is an import (region 2), so you will need an all-region DVD player or on your computer, software like the free VLC to view it.

The DVD is set at 16:9 LB format and there are so many good angles on this concert DVD that it is awesome.

The menu is a straightforward menu system and on the concert is a special feature or bonus track featuring BoA performing with m-flo for their m-flo loves BoA song “The Love Bug”.

Of course, it’s not included with the concert because it is out of the pacing of the whole live  house theme but it’s great that it is included on the DVD.

After watching so many upcoming live concert videos that were released in the past few weeks and some that will be released in the upcoming weeks, “BoA the LIVE” is one of the most unique out of each of them because BoA is taken out of her familiar element and she shines.

BUY THIS DVD:

BoA the Live – Ura BoA Kikase Kei

BoA