ASKA: SCENE Tour Press Conference

(edited a.k.a otakuized version)

For the vast majority of us Generation Y kids, we most probably haven’t heard of the legendary J-pop duo Chage and Aska, let alone know about one half of the group: ASKA. Though, you might have had Canto and Mando-pop covers of their popular songs such as “Say Yes” and “Otoko to Onna” (literally translated as, “Men and Women”) earworm into your head in the 1990s.

Born Miyazaki Shigeaki, ASKA debuted as part of CHAGE and ASKA in 1979 after winning the Yamaha Popular Song Festival with “Hitori saki”. The duo toured Japan during the 80s performing a good number of songs penned by ASKA. It was only in the late 1980s that ASKA decided to dabble in a solo project.

Hitorizaki

With his powerful and emotive vocals, it was then no surprise that ASKA found success in his solo career, with his single “Hajimari wa Itsumo Ame” selling over 1,160,000 copies on top of reaching second place on Oricon (Japan’s hit music chart).

Hajimari wa Itsumo Ame

ASKA’s capabilities stretch further beyond writing and singing his own songs, of course. We’re talking about one of the best music artistes to ever come out of Japan! As mentioned above, ASKA has written most of the songs for CHAGE and ASKA as well as his own career; and his songs have been extensively covered by Chinese artistes. But did you know that ASKA has collaborated ad produced songs for the other side of the Pacific as well? Notable collaborations include Richard Marx, Chaka Khan and Michael Hutchence – though, you probably don’t recognize their names amidst Morning Musume, Johnny’s Jimusho boys and Nakashima Mika.

From 2005 to 2007, ASKA held a series of concerts in Japan and Shanghai, melding together a unique blend of orchestral music with the modern pop genre with the “ASKA Symphonic Concert 2007”, and “My Game is ASKA”, and an unplugged acoustic-styled concert “alive in live” late last year.

In this same vein, ASKA’s starting his concert tour again in Asia, entitled “SCENE”. Kicking off in sunny Singapore, the tour will make its way to Jakarta, Bangkok and China, with ASKA working with local philharmonic orchestras.

IyB had the chance to attend the SCENE press conference where ASKA, along with his management, introduced the concert tour proper. I’m going to focus more on ASKA, his manager and the music director rather than the rest.^_^()

While Singaporeans might be skeptical of the beauty of the Esplanade, ASKA’s manager Echizen Naoto cited the “beautiful and excellent acoustic design” as one of the key reasons to why Singapore was chosen not only as a concert location but also as the opening venue.

Echizen also recalled the 10,000 strong crowd in the previous Japan-only concerts.

“The limited number of people who were able to come and see ASKA perform made us decide to conduct an Asian leg of the tour,”

he explained, emphasizing how through ASKA’s music, cultural exchanges could be performed at a much more accessible level.

BONUS: We also got to hear a few words from the renowned pianist, and Musical Director and Concert Master for the tour, Fujiwara Ikuro!

The man studied in Japan and Russia, and you can tell how much love he has for music when he describes the first time he heard an orchestra as “something best seen/heard live” - and that it made him decide that it would be his life’s work to make it accessible to the general public.

What does ASKA himself have to say about the tour? Dressed in a smart suit with a very flattering skinny tie, ASKA is evidently at ease with himself and the press. (Sidenote: Seriously, I have to give a thumbs up to the Japanese. They really know how to dress well. Not only were ASKA, Echizen Naoto, and Fujiwara Ikuro really dapper and dashing, the members of the Japanese press - all young ladies LOL - were really chic!)

“It’s a privilege to have a concert with the symphony orchestra”

he tells us. Agreeing with his manager Echizen, ASKA notes that collaborating with a symphonic orchestra is a kind of cultural exchange itself, mixing different genres of music to produce something new.

Fans will be delighted to hear that ASKA will be presenting a different side of himself in the Singapore leg of the tour. In contrast to the performance he did in Shanghai previously, ASKA lets in on how performing with an orchestra changes the feeling of a concert totally.

“In this tour, I’m part of the orchestra – my voice is an instrument. I discovered that in Japan, the lyrics of a song are one of the important factors for a good song, but overseas, it’s the voice that conveys the message of the song, since Japanese isn’t understood.”

ASKA is no stranger to Singapore, having set foot here 12 years ago during a CHAGE and ASKA tour. Describing Singapore as the “center of Asia”, he says that it was only natural that a concert should be held, and one with our philharmonic orchestra no doubt. His sense of humor is evident when he cheekily replies “The press(media) is different” when asked how Singapore changed since he last arrived. He quips in a mock-conspiratorial tone that the other half of his duo, CHAGE, is currently practicing the violin so that he can join ASKA in the tour.

It’s rather surprising to see a man of his success be so down-to-earth and approachable. At times, it’s even unnerving! But nevertheless, you know you’ll have a good time at his concert when he tells you that “being nervous” is his specialty, winking at the same time.

So who should attend this concert? Well, if you’ve been a fan of CHAGE and ASKA, it’s imperative that you show up! Otherwise, ignore the slightly pricey tickets. People who enjoy good music, want to have a good time, and experience something totally new should by all means, not miss this once-in-a-life time opportunity to see the great ASKA in action. Of course, everyone belongs in that category don’t they?

Concert Details: SCENE

Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall

Date: 26^th and 27^th April 2008

Time: 7:30pm – 9:30pm (no intermission)

Ticket Price: $98, $128, $198, and $238

SISTIC Ticket Sales: From 3^rd March 2008

Brought to you by Singapore Entertainment Services PTE LTD

Images from SES Pte Ltd

Press Con photographs by Alvin Zhang Er, decided to use stock photographs instead… I’m afraid of copyright infringement although his photos were for the original post. >__>

 

Kyaaa~ I got his autograph!