Arashi delivers the ultimate concert experience in "Summer Tour 2007 Final Time-kotoba no chikara-"

After 2 viewings of Arashi's latest concert DVD release I can say without a doubt that this is my favorite concert release by them! Haha okay I know how the impact something new can have on a person and one perfect example would be movies where you see something great that you love and then immediately claim it be "your favorite movie of all time"...a fleeting statement as two weeks later you refer to another film with the same exact reaction! Ah but this is so different I promise!! Their "Time" concert is seemingly on another tier all its own...so inspired, emotional, innovative, and well I have to face it...it is Arashi after all. ^-^

Aiba is so much the "heart" of the group and this may be a naive assumption but he really does have an appeal that seems to be the most approachable in the group. And vocally he's definitely the most unique...to quote my friend zdorama in Japanese who introduced me to Arashi..."wasei Randy Newman!" ^-^ A fan can really connect with their favorite artists when true emotions are expressed on stage or elsewhere and no member in Arashi conveys these feelings as openly and deeply as Aiba. On a side note my mom says that Aiba has "samurai looks"...but I'm not quite sure what to make of that...does he really?! And what does a samurai look like in a broad sense of the word? Matsujun...the far and away most popular member in the group garners this much deserved attention through his cute demeanor, immensely popular dramas, and of course great looks! Those to name just a few as I'm sure every Matsujun fan out there has their own personal reasons for making him #1! When I first created my little favorite member poll here a few weeks ago I was already so sure that he'd take top honors although for awhile there Shokun showed some real signs of catching him...still was there any doubt?! Matsujun is also by far the member which I hear most Arashi fans refer to when describing how them came upon their personal Arashi fandom....and usually through dramas. And haha since I began mentioning my moms comments on them I'll continue with Matsujun whom she says is "the handsome one." LOL! Surely he can't be the only one though right! ^-^ Nino! My long standing favorite member in the group never ceases to impress me! He's so multi talented as a music writer, lyricist, performer, and musician...oh and there's also that other aspect of his career...acting!! And while Aiba wears his emotions openly, Nino expresses them through his heartfelt vocals...always passionate...always confident! Haha my mom refers to Nino as "Mr. Hollywood" and that was before seeing "Letter from Iwojima"! :O I don't think that she means that in the best possible way as she sees him as being a bit too filled with dare I say "ego" :O...however that has never changed my personal thoughts on him as I envision that side of him as pure confidence, which is always an attractive trait to me. She also calls him..."the boy" lol! He is blessed with a youthful appearance but to call him "the boy" is too funny! Hmmm...I know that my mom is endeared to him deep down despite these observations. ^-^ Shokun...the "teddy bear" of the group with the gift of warmth! There's just something truly sincere about his overall demeanor and just the way he comes across in conversation. His vocals add a deepness and edge to the group's sound and I can honestly say that I don't in particular even like rap music but he's made me a fan...well at least of Shokun's brand of rap! I think my mom says it right when she says that he has the "most pleasant looks" in the group so for anyone keeping track we now have a "samurai", "handsome", "Mr. Hollywood", and "pleasant looking" in Arashi so far at least according to my mom. :P Shokun is usually referred to as "Mr. Personality" by M! :) Riida...I think without argument it can be said that Ohno's vocals are superior in the group and I'll take that a step further as I think he has some of the best vocal ability in all of J-Pop land. He truly reminds me of Ishii Tatsuya when I close my eyes and listen to his voice...pure...powerful...unwavering...expressive! The song writers for Arashi have since the beginning it seems, made a conscious effort in selecting his vocal lines and the critical placement of them in the larger scheme of the song's compositions. His vocals add anything from a soothing aura to great climaxes and build up in song strutcture...it must be truly a dream to write with Riida in mind where a composer has a specific feeling for particular transitions as it makes it so much easier I imagine with one in mind who can truly deliver time and time again without question or compromise!

This 3 hour concert event is filled with a very very impressive set list and to go with that some of Arashi's most inspired performances and I especially loved each individual member's solo performances as each showcased so much of what makes them endeared and unique in the group through their choreography, overall approach, and musicianship. Their outfits were also a highlight ranging from cool to outrageous at times and sometimes one does wonder where the seamstress who envisions some of these lives in mind and creativity!! ^-^ The concert flows like a soda fountain of of pure joy as the 3 plus hours pass seamlessly and really so quickly as I've discovered twice already! And Tokyo Dome provides the perfect venue to house an event of such magnitude as the large moving stages and platforms which are featured throughout the concert add an amazing eye opening dimension which also gives a larger than life appeal as well to the entire stage design. Lights, fire, camera,...Arashi!

In the post previous to this one I've included uploads of their emotional performance of "Be with you" and exhilarating performance of "Sakura sake" and to continue here are 9 more performances that I've picked out and uploaded from their Time concert DVD which I hope you will also enjoy!

There's nothing like seeing some of your favorite songs from an album that you've been listening to for a prolonged period of time come to life on stage and somehow I felt that this song could have opened up the concert much like it opens their "Time" album...maybe it's just due the feeling I get every time that I listen to this album as it truly "sounds" like an opening song. This performance of "Oh Yeah!" is so explosive!
   There was simply no doubt that I'd be including Nino's solo performance of "Niji" ("Rainbow") here as it's my favorite solo performance from this concert! I've seen Nino with a guitar...and now as a pianist!!! When he began playing it gave me goosebumps...I just couldn't believe it and his vocals are emotional and heartfelt as always. The piano used is also amazing to look as it's quite an artistic piece in its own right...and the member sitting at it continues to impress and amaze me every time I see him! Nino sugoi!
   Fans deep into the arena are treated to a close up experience with Arashi via separate moving platforms which ingeniously grace the arena floor during their electrifying performance of "Harashi no mirai"!