![KODA KUMI "ETERNITY ～Love & Songs～"at Billboard Live [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51o-050owKL.__AC_SX300_SY300_QL70_ML2_.jpg)
![KODA KUMI LIVE TOUR 2023 ～angeL&monsteR～(Blu-ray Disc2枚組) [Blu-ray]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71Llly03uWL._AC_UL200_SR200,200_.jpg)
![KODA KUMI LIVE TOUR 2006-2007 ~SECOND SESSION~ [Blu-ray]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZhZHz+GAL._AC_UL200_SR200,200_.jpg)
![KODA KUMI LIVE TOUR 2010～UNIVERSE～ [Blu-ray]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/617QiohuZJL._AC_UL200_SR200,200_.jpg)
![KODA KUMI LIVE TOUR 2016 ~ Best Single Collection ~ [Blu-ray]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51LLSH5VM-L._AC_UL200_SR200,200_.jpg)
![Koda Kumi Live Tour 2009 ~TRICK~ [DVD]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51pusMGMs1L._AC_UL200_SR200,200_.jpg)
"A DAZZLING, ELEGANT, & EMOTIONALLY POIGNANT performance" would be the four simple words used to sum up Miss Koda Kumi's somewhat recent LIVE performance at the Tokyo Billboard venue on October 23, 2010.
I am a very recent fan of her live concerts. Many of my favorite and respected singers cannot perform live well enough to sustain my interest for 90+ minutes or to keep me from cringing for them when they're gasping for oxygen and sweating like a basketball player after four songs. (Side note: Koda Kumi does not sweat does she? ‾haha‾)
So just imagine my fascination when I discovered that such an amazing and talented artist exists in Japan...that is KODA KUMI. Then it didn't take much after I watched her "Dream Music Park" performance on DVD (included in the
【特典あり】Dejavu【ジャケットA】
album release). Wow‾ That's another ten page review - (haha).
I cannot discuss this concert without referencing her
ETERNITY 〜Love & Songs 〜
because the live set list resembles the track list of the album. (Note about ETERNITY album: This is one of the Best Cover Albums ever put together by an Artist, IMO. All of the songs had really high expectations because of the stature of the original artists as well as the song's success in its time period. Koda Kumi surely has grown as a singer/artist, entertainer, and lyricist herself. This album simply confirmed that no content is too out of her league.) In addition to that, of course, we cannot do without the Koda classics such as Ai no Uta, You're So Beautiful, Ai no Kotoba, etc.
This is one of those rare intimate concerts that you can just let play again & again on any good or bad days in your living room. It feels like going on a date with Miss Koda Kumi...there's the dinner & champagne pooring, the mood lighting, and a very romantic/sad/bittersweet feeling when watching Miss Koda perform. You don't have to be "in love" to find your heart suddenly subsiding to serenity. However, she won't just let you settle on this calm mood. As expected of her energetic personality...she will bring down the house and get you on your feet with Megumi no Hito and Be My Baby!
I already own all of her live concerts on DVD, including the special performances packaged in her album releases. Now, I think the Blu-ray editions are worth collecting simply because it's Koda Kumi.
About the BD disc:
a. 14 songs (as listed on Amazon description)
b. Documentary Movie (as seen in the original DVD limited edition)
c. Audio upgraded to Stereo PCM & DTS-HD Master Audio (5.1) << Good job!! >>
d. HD video is very well presented even though the venue was very dimly lit, typical of live house or music lounge atmospheres
e. No subtitles - No need for them because the meanings are embedded in her voice and body language
My only two critique would be the poor live direction of the camera shots (inconsistent and choppy) as well as the poor lighting coverage of Koda Kumi's stage movements. For example, Koda broke into a sexy dance number in Break It Down but she virtually performed in the dark... (sigh) The band member and backup singers melted with the b.g. when a simple ascent backlight would have saved them from becoming one with the wall (sigh again).
I don't speak or understand Japanese, but Love and Music are universal languages. I'm glad Koda Kumi speaks this language because she truly is underrated in many aspects.
BTW, I'm glad they chose this performance for the release because this dress is‾ (OMG, nearly fainting). Seeing this dress again on BD was like, WoW again...buy it, watch it, then you will know what I mean. :P
