Shimatani Hitomi - LIVE 2007 - PRIMA ROSA - 2007.6.22 Tokyo Livehall Stellarball (a J!-ENT Music DVD Review)

ARTIST: Shimatani Hitomi

DVD TITLE: Shimatani Hitomi LIVE 2007 - PRIMA ROSA

LABEL: avex trax

CATALOG #: AVBD-91489

RELEASED ON September 12, 2007

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Energetic. Vibrant. Beautiful.

Among the words I can describe Shimatani Hitomi in her latest concert DVD titled “LIVE 2007 - PRIMA ROSA”.

Shimatani Hitomi’s latest concert was filmed at the “Tokyo Livehall Stellarball” back in June and features a live band and a supportive crowd.

Previous concerts that I have watched Shimatani, typically the songs featured were ballads or faster dance tracks, so I was a bit curious to see how a full Shimatani Hitomi concert would be.

What you get is a very energetic concert with Shimatani really getting into the groove, dancing during the faster songs and looking elegant during the ballads.

In this concert, Shimatani performs many of the songs from her latest album “PRIMA ROSA” album which include CD singles such as “PASIO”, “Dragonfly”and “Neva Eva”. As well as beautiful ballads such as “Koimizu ~tears of love~” and classics such as “Garnet Moon”, “Falco” and “ANGELUS” ala medley.

In the early performance of the concert, Shimatani comes out with a black leather jacket, a dress that is not as ballerina-froofy-esque ala Jodie Watley and black boots. Her performance of “Dragonfly” was pretty much spot on and with the band performing and rocking out with her on stage, early on I was wondering how songs such as those that utilized an orchestra or symphony would be performed and I realized that a lot of my favorites were not being performed possibly because the stage was smaller to accommodate live rock band, background singers, dancers and Hitomi herself.

So, the live band worked well with songs such as “Dragonfly”, “Ramblin’”, “Bye-Bye” and “C’est la vie!”.

When it got to the medley featuring her classics such as “ANGELUS”, “Garnet Moon” and “Falco”, Shimatani came out with two background dancers and that is when her fans became more vocal and shouting as if you were watching an idol singer perform. During this performance, Shimatani was energetic and vibrant as halfway through the concert, we get a glimpse of classic Shimatani as she dances and definitely feeding off the energy from the audience.

Songs that utilized the Latin or Spanish style definitely worked well in this concert as Shimatani wagged her hips and got into motion with songs such as “PASIO” and “El Dorado”.

As for crowd participation, the crowd was definitely supportive especially during the medley of “ANGELUS” and “Garnet Moon” as the diehard fans started to scream during segments of a song.

Probably the most interaction was during the performance of “Camelia” as Shimatani, the band and the audience started twirling and waving their towels. I don’t think I’ve seen this much towel waving in an event that’s not sports related, so that was interesting to see. Especially as the camera starts to focus on the audience as they spin their towels over their head.

Camera angles used in the filming of the concert were well done as we get an angle of Shimatani closeup, faraway, sideways and angles behind the audience and looking towards the front of the audience. Also, various cameras on various band members and her background singers.

As for the editing of the camera angles, I noticed a five second setting per angle before a switch. Edited well and not dizzying.

As for the stage, the stage setup is elegant with the live band behind her, the background singers on the viewer’s left side and mobility for Shimatani and her dancers to dance. Background setup was a blue drape and lighting was very well done.

The concert does not include hardly any talk segments with Shimatani and her audience. Just a straight play through of her performing her songs and her band playing during intermission. I think the only time I see them include it in the editing is during the performance of “Perseus” where Shimatani asks the crowd “Are you ready”? and the majority of the interaction with the audience with Hitomi talking taking place after each song during the encore.

As for the encore songs, for “Neva Eva”, Shimatani and her background dancers came out with their eyeglasses and business outfit (while Shimatani donned a white and black checkerboard outfit) and performed the final four songs.

As for the special feature, the 15-minute document of “Hitomi Shimatani Live 2007 - Prima Rosa-” feature Shimatani and her background dancers learning the choreography for her songs, Shimatani and the band gettings things prepared for the concert and many scenes of Shimatani singing in front of her band with no music and overall rehearsals in the studio and then at the Stellarball.

Also included are footage before the concert, during the concert, what went on behind-the-scenes before the encore and also to see the fans waiting in line and coming into the concert area.

The document ends with a personal message from Shimatani talking about the behind-the-scenes footage and more.

As for the DVD insert, the booklet contains photos from the concert, concert credits and tracklisting.

DVD INFORMATION: Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 112 minutes, two audio: 1. LPCM/Stereo 2. Dolby Digital 5.1

BONUS CONTENTS:

Document of Hitomi Shimatani Live 2007 - PRIMA ROSA-

Before I go on, the version that I watched is an Avex Taiwan release and there is no difference from the Japanese release aside from the back cover.

All in all, I enjoyed this concert DVD. Because of the concert arena, audience participation and the fact that it was more of a live house feeling, you feel the energy of the concert and you see Shimatani really feed off that energy.

It may not have the orchestral/symphonic songs that I enjoy but I happen to enjoy her recent CD singles and to see them performed with this band but Shimatani was indeed vibrant, energetic and sexy.

Because to be truthful, I have seen previous concert performances and frankly, they missed that vibrant energetic feeling that this concert had and the rest were ok, some boring… and not as vibrant as this performance.

The overall DVD was fun to watch and I really like the addition of the bonus content showing Shimatani and band and dancers, behind-the-scenes. Definitely a different perspective compared to someone like Hamasaki Ayumi and what you would see on her DVD.

So, overall, compared to previous DVD’s that I have watched and concert performances from various other events from her CD+DVD, “LIVE 2007-PRIMA ROSA” was enjoyable.

Check it out!