The official report of ReoNa’s performance on the final day has arrived.
ReoNa, who has given brilliant performances at the world’s largest anime song festival “Animelo Summer Live” (Anisama) four times in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023, will appear on DAY 3 of “Animelo Summer Live 2024 -Stargazer-” on September 1, 2024, her first live performance in her sixth year since debut. Taking over from a string of renowned artists, she delivered four superb songs as the headliner of DAY 3 and the final artist to conclude the three days of excitement.
With the heat of Chihara Minori’s powerful performance still lingering, ReoNa appears from a pop-up in the middle of the darkened main stage, holding an acoustic guitar, and stands tall surrounded by white spotlights. A thunderous cheer erupts, followed by silence. The voices calling out to ReoNa come again. ReoNa remains silent, motionless in the pouring light, quietly accepting the voices and patiently waiting for the time to be up. About one minute and ten seconds after she appears, ReoNa strokes her guitar and begins to sing “Goodbye, let’s go on a trip,” and as if a spell that had stopped time had suddenly been broken, red penlights begin to sway wildly in the audience.
The first number was “Pilgrim,” the insert song for the TV anime “Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online,” which was ReoNa’s first song to be released as Kanzaki Elsa starring ReoNa. The band led by Arahata Ryohei (Key), Yamaguchi Takashi (Gt), Ommy (Gt), Futamura Manabu (B), Imamura Mai (Dr), and Shinozaki Kyoichi (Mani) joined in to quietly play the guitar, adding vibrant colors to the song. This “song” tells us to set out on a journey without deciding on a destination, even if it’s into the darkness beyond, until the day we are reborn, and it is also the song that marks the beginning of her story as an artist. With a soft smile and her unique, moist, smoky voice, the audience was instantly transformed into the ReoNa world.
ReoNa’s stage began as if watering the earth. “Good evening, I’m ReoNa. This is a one-on-one song. I hope you enjoy it until the end,” she said, exchanging greetings just like in her usual solo concerts, which elicited cheers again. “Isn’t there someone you know you’ll never see again, but still want to meet?” she asked, and announced the title of the second ending theme of the TV anime “Shangri-La Frontier,” “Gajumaru – Heaven in the Rain?”. As the beautiful piano sounds of Arahata Ryohei (key) rang out, the venue went dark. A special collaboration movie with “Shangri-La Frontier,” which depicted famous scenes from the anime, began to play on the screen. ReoNa sang heartfelt songs about regrets of not being able to tell important words to loved ones, accompanying the gently flowing strings and the organic, majestic band sound. She appeared in the light, and was given a huge round of applause as she lowered her eyes.
ReoNa then spoke of her gratitude for being able to stand here today. She said that it was thanks to the staff who have protected and continued to weave the history of Anisama, the artists who have continued to add color to it, and “you” who love anime and anime songs that we were able to gather here today.
“To all of you, I would like to express my deepest gratitude. I will deliver this song with all my heart…with all my soul. So please, burn with all your soul.”
With that announcement, she began with an a cappella version of “What color is your soul?”, which seemed to squeeze out the rising emotions, and the second opening theme “ANIMA” for the TV anime “Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld”. A noisy guitar is played as if cutting a taut thread, and the heavy, thrilling sound of the band overlaps and swirls violently. Red and blue lights intertwine and lasers are emitted. ReoNa sings while sometimes bending her body, sometimes distorting her face, and sometimes with a mysterious smile on her mouth, and continues to ask “What color is your soul?” as if piercing the hearts of each person. The audience roars their souls into the microphone she points at. The vortex of heat that erupts melts brilliantly into the blue light that pours down on multiple layers.
“When I first heard about Anisama, I was still a student and didn’t have any money to buy tickets, so I could only watch the stage on video. Today, I’m standing in that same place. This year, as a ‘desperate anime song singer’… as an anime song singer, I have one more song that I would like to share with you at the end.”
Then, listening to the sound of the piano, he continues speaking.
「私の大好きな作品が10周年を迎えた時、この物語がどうか終わらずに続いて欲しい。この物語に寄り添い続けたい。そう願って作ったお歌。そんな願いを今日、みんなが大好きなアニサマに乗せて。Stargazer……星に願いを。終わりまで、果てまで、いつまでもこのアニサマが続いていきますように……〈Till the End〉」
「Till the End」は、『ソードアート・オンライン』原作小説刊行10周年テーマソング。客席から喜びの声が挙がり、深い青のライトの中から、歌い始めるReoNaの姿が浮き上がる。バンドの音が重なった瞬間、ステージが明るく照らし出され、ReoNaの背後に総勢51名におよぶゴスペル合唱隊「コーシーズ・マスクワイヤ」が姿を現し、壮大なコーラスを朗々と響かせる。2023年3月、ReoNa初の日本武道館公演「ReoNa ONE-MAN Concert 2023 “ピルグリム” at 日本武道館 ～3.6day 逃げて逢おうね～」で体験した、圧巻の光景が蘇る。静と動、光と闇が入り乱れ、圧倒的な熱量が襲い来る「Till the End」。ReoNaの歌声は魂を揺さぶり、揺らす身体からは静かな熱がほとばしる。歌い終えたReoNaは、晴れやかな表情でマイクを持った手を高々と挙げ、客席を大きく頷きながら見渡した。
バンドと共にステージ前面に歩を進め、改めてメンバーを紹介して「ありがとうございました！」と深々と一礼。ReoNaを呼ぶ声、拍手を浴びて、DAY3の出演者をステージに呼び込む。「それでは最後に、みんなで一緒にこの歌をお届けしたいと思います」というReoNaのリードでスタートしたのは、アニサマ2024のテーマソング「Stargazer」だ。アーティスト全員と声を合わせて、ReoNaはにこやかに歌い、ペンライトを振った。
ReoNaがまだ何者でもなかった頃から、憧れとして心にあり続けたアニサマのステージ。この日、ラストアーティストとして紡いだReoNaの物語、アニソンを愛するみんなの一人一人とReoNaが重なり合ったかけがえのない時間は、彼女が常にライブで語り続けてきた“一期一会”の瞬間に他ならなかった。だからこそ、その出会いは静かに雄々しく心に残り続けることだろう。
［文・阿部美香］
公演日：2024年10月19日（土）
開場 17:00／開演 18:00
会場：東京ガーデンシアター
全席指定 8,800円（税込）
お問合せ ホットスタッフ・プロモーション 050-5211-6077 （平日12:00～18:00）
チケットSOLD OUT
公演日：2024年10月20日（日）
開場 17:00／開演 18:00
会場：東京ガーデンシアター
全席指定 8,800円（税込）
問い合わせ：ホットスタッフ・プロモーション 050-5211-6077 （平日12:00～18:00）
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