Namie Amuro: Space of Hip-Pop -namie amuro tour 2005- (a J!-ENT Music DVD Review)
January 24, 2009 by Dennis Amith
“A concert featuring a good balance of Namie Amuro’s classic and modern hits. Overall, an awesome concert on DVD!”
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ARTIST: Namie Amuro
TITLE: Namie Amuro: Space of Hip-Pop -namie amuro tour 2005-
DURATION: 108 minutes
DVD INFORMATION: 16:9 LB, Linear PCM Stereo (2ch) or Dolby Digital 5.1 ch
Released on April 2006
COMPANY: avex trax
1. Queen of Hip-Pop
2. WANT ME, WANT ME
3. WoWa
4. I Wanna Show You My Love
5. GIRL TALK
6. the SPEED STAR
7. My Darling
8. Ups & Downs
9. Violet Sauce
10. ALL FOR YOU
11. Don’t wanna cry
12. ALARM
13. Body Feels EXIT
14. shine more
15. SO CRAZY
16. LOVE 2000
17. You’re my sunshine
18. Chase the Chance
19. Say the word
20. No
21. Put ‘Em Up
22. CAN YOU CELEBRATE
23. White Light
24. I Love You
Directed by Mayumi Miyasaka (SeP)
Produced by Hayato Murakoshi (SeP)
Production Manager: Keiziro Matsuo and Yuya Hara (SeP)
Director of Photography: Yuzuru Hashimoto
Sound Producer: Kenji Sano
Starring:
Originally featured on a PDF review on J!-ENT back in 2006. Reposted for the blog:
My last Amuro Namie concert DVD that I reviewed was the recent “NAMIE AMURO BEST TOUR “LIVE STYLE 2006” and before that I reviewed her 1996 video “1st 1996 Annual Live at Marine Stadium”.
This time I’m going to review Amuro Namie’s “SPACE OF HIP-POP ~ NAMIE AMURO TOUR 2005” which was released back in March 2006.
The DVD features 24 tracks such as past classics such as “Body Feels EXIT” up to her CD single “White Light/Violet Sauce”.
Similar to “LIVE STYLE 2006”, there is a lot of awesome choreography in her performance but unlike “LIVE STYLE 2006”, she uses a lot of props such as a pink Cadillac, tables, etc.
In the 2006 concert, a large stage was filled with a stairway overtaking the middle section and the band was split up into both to the left and right of the stairs and were pretty distant from Amuro.
In the 2005 concert, the stage is smaller and features a brick-like foundation and wall in the background with a pink cadillac to the right and the band is pretty much up front to the stage on the left.
So, production-wise, the two concerts are very different in comparison as the 2005 concert gave Amuro a chance to interact with ther band and surroundings and the 2006 concert, very little.
As for camera angles, she is actually covered very well in a multiple of camera angles and closeups.
What I enjoyed about “SPACE OF HIP-POP” was the fact that the editors chose very well when to switch to different camera shots and better timing wich allows the viewer a chance to focus a little more on Amuro and her surroundings whereas with “LIVE STYLE 2006”, it was like every four seconds, camera angle change. A little too quickly for my taste.
Aside from the props, the band and her dancers, there is also an appearance by MGM’s Pink Panther.
This DVD was during a time when Amuro Namie was working on a Pink Panther campaign thus the two interacting for a song or two.
As for choreography, “LIVE STYLE 2006” had a heavy emphasis on choreography and “SPACE OF HIP-POP” features a lot of choreography as well buta major difference is because of the smaller stage, less dancers but somehow you get a better view of the dancing because your eyes are typically fixed in one area, whereas “LIVE STYLE 2006”, the stage was bigger and dancers were all over the place.
I felt the choreography for this concert was energetic, lively and it was a very fun concert.
I have had a chance to read other reviewers who were very critical of this DVD due to Amuro and the audience’s lack of “being into it”.
A lot of criticism of Amuro’s lack of emotions and not enough smiling or crying.
Personally, I think she was fine and smiled and waved at her fans and even laughed and continually giggled at the end of singing her classic “CAN YOU CELEBRATE?”
The whole concert was energetic and she did a great job bringing some of that hip-pop style on stage to her fans.
As for the crying, I personally don’t need to see Amuro cry every time she sings a slow song at the end of her concert.
VIDEO & AUDIO:
As for the DVD, Video is 16:9 LB . Audio is presented in Stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Unfortunately, there are no special features on this DVD but then again, rarely do many Japanese concert DVD’s include them.
Upon looking at the DVD booklet, the insert booklet is laid out in tabloid format and with articles written in English (which is interestingly written very well) and was a blast to read.
A different, fresh style of design for an insert. The DVD casing is different from other Avex releases and similar to her 2006 concert in which the slim case is a clear plastic casing (think CD casing but created for a DVD).
All in all, “SPACE OF HIP-POP ~ NAMIE AMURO TOUR 2005” was an entertaining concert DVD that I enjoyed a little more than “LIVE STYLE 2006” because there was a good balance of her classics and newer music (during that time) but the clincher for me was camera angles and editing.
Also, I really enjoyed the stage production because it gave Amuro a chance to interact with her band and the surroundings.
I will say that the “LIVE STYLE 2006” DVD does have more songs and a special feature.
Nevertheless, this 2005 DVD is still enjoyable, fun and showing why Amuro Namie deserves the title of “queen of hip-pop”.
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