The set list for the 10th anniversary live concert held in July of the same year was centered around the title songs of the singles, but this live concert is packed with new songs and a first performance with live piano accompaniment. The DVD is packed with content that includes songs that were only performed in the afternoon session, as well as backstage footage from rehearsals and the day of the concert.
Starting on October 14th, they will be holding their first tour since 2019! On August 15th, they will also be holding a birthday event, so we asked Yui Ogura, who is very busy, to look back on the live performance and talk about the highlights of this work and her enthusiasm for the tour.
–Please tell us your thoughts looking back on “Ogura Yui Memorial LIVE 2023 ~To the 11’Eleven~” held last year.
Ogura Yui (hereinafter, Ogura): First of all, I’m relieved that we were able to deliver to everyone a live performance that marked our first step into our 11th year. We were also able to see performances and discoveries that were fitting for this new step, so I think it was a satisfying stage.
The venue, Pacifico Yokohama, is a place that holds a lot of sentimental value for me, as it was where I performed my debut live show, so I was happy to be able to return after two and a half years, and to have so many people come both day and night. I was also happy to be able to perform in such a comfortable and homely environment.
–Please tell us the origin of the title and concept of the live show.
Ogura: The 10th anniversary memorial live in July was titled “Ogura Yui Memorial LIVE 2023”, just like this one, but the themes of the live celebrating the 10th anniversary and the live entering the 11th year were different, so the subtitles were “10th Anniversary Assemble!!” for the July one, and “To the 11’Eleven” for this one, which coincidentally is the live entering the 11th year and is being held in November. The theme was that I wanted to be able to show people a new side of me and my potential.
–Was the set list put together with new aspects and possibilities in mind?
Ogura: I was more conscious of the story. The lineup shows a new side of me, with new songs as the main focus, but also a lot of coupling songs selected, which is in contrast to the July concert, which was mainly composed of title songs.
–Since this is a live performance that shows a new side of you, is there anything you have tried before?
Ogura: Singing with a live piano accompaniment. I was really nervous when I performed “Shiroku Saku Hana”. But after the concert, I received a lot of feedback saying, “The scene where I sang with a live piano was really moving,” so I’m glad I was able to take on this new challenge.
–So, I’d like you to look back on the concert from the beginning. The first song, “Love∞Vision,” had a sacred atmosphere as Ogura-san appeared wearing a white cape, and then the intro reminded me of the clear winter air, and the A-melody sung in a slightly subdued crystal voice turned into an intense B-melody, giving me a really mysterious feeling.
Ogura: There was also an underlying theme of “I want to show you how cool I am” for this live. By having this song as the first song, I wanted everyone to have a premonition that “Huh? Today is a little different.” It was more like a prologue than the first song, and the atmosphere suddenly picked up from the next song, “FUN FUN MERRY JAM,” which transformed into a live-like atmosphere, so the contrast in that part may have become a scene that symbolizes this live.
–I was surprised by the difference between the first and second songs, but I was also surprised by the huge difference in your costumes, as you quickly changed from a snow princess-like outfit to a colorful one.
Ogura: I’m glad you thought so. I was hoping to create a production that would surprise everyone in a good way.
–After “FUN FUN MERRY JAM” and the MC, “Baby, Baby, Baby” was played as four consecutive upper songs, and the short movie “Doctor XI” was played in between. It was a challenge project in which you dressed up as a doctor named “Komon Yuiko”. “XI” was also turned up to 11.
Ogura: That’s right (laughs). The idea came to me because I love the TV drama “Doctor X.” We did 11 challenges titled “Operation.”
–In addition to Kendama and hula hoop, there were two cooking challenges, and it was from that video that I first learned that you hated the ingredients shiitake mushrooms and raw fish.
Ogura: That’s true… (laughs). I especially don’t like raw fish…
–After the comical footage, the intro to “White Blooming Flower” started playing on live piano, and when Ogura-san appeared again, I felt a sense of tension.
小倉：ステージから客席を見た時も、皆さんが私の歌を真剣に聞こうとしてくださっているのが伝わってきたので、その気持ちに応えたいという想いもありましたし、演奏がピアノしかない分、すごく集中して歌いました。
――見ているこちらも胸にぐっとくるものがありましたし、「ショコラ」では甘く温かい気持ちになりました。ピアノの演奏は一転アッパーになる「Tomorrow」や「Future Strike」でも続きましたが、オケに生ピアノが加わるとこんなにも生感があって、気持ちを高ぶらせるんだと思いました。
小倉：いつもは1人で歌って踊ることが多いんですが、今回ピアノが加わったことで、「より素敵なパフォーマンスを届けよう」という意識も強くなったし、高揚する気持ちもあって。私自身もお客さんの反応もすごく熱量を感じました。
――その後は恒例となっているダンスゾーンですが、今回は「Precious.」の1曲のみでしたね。
小倉：今回は前後のつながりからもここしかないなと思って。これまでダンスを入れるパートでは2～3曲続けて披露することが多かったんですけど、今回はピアノの生演奏のブロックが5～6曲と厚みがあったので、ダンスナンバーはコンパクトに、あえてステージでは初披露となる「Precious.」に絞って、ダンスを披露する構成にしました。
――すごい躍動感のあるパフォーマンスでした。ところで「Precious.」で着ていた衣装のお腹のあたりにラメで「EYE CONTACT」と入っていましたが、何か理由はあるんですか？
小倉：それはまったくなくて（笑）。「Precious.」のMVで着用していた衣装なんです。ダンスブロックが1曲しかない分、せっかくなら「あっ!? あの時の衣装だ！」みたいな、ちょっとしたサプライズで喜んでもらえたらと思い、着用しました。
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