JASMINE YOU MEMORIAL CONCERT: VERSAILLES, KAYA, MATENROU OPERA. REVIEWS & PHOTOS OF SHIBUYA VISUAL KEI JROCK CONCERT TO HONOR THE DEPARTED BASSIST.
Long live Jasmine You, ethereal bassist of Visual Kei band Versailles, who flew away from this world far too young. On January 4th, the group held a memorial concert with Kaya and Matenrou Opera. And Yukiro Dravarious was there, squat in the center of the front row. Here is his story.
I got back to Japan just in time to go to my favourite band’s event. I had won the lottery pre-booking (a weird Japanese system). I got ticket number 9, meaning I was the ninth person to enter the arena.
I arrived at the venue Shibuya-O-East at 16:05 (Carmina and I saw Versailles at O-West in 2008) — and there were already over a hundred people queuing. I was very surprised and happy at the same time, that so many people came to celebrate one of history’s greatest bassists, Jasmine You. I went to eat some nice kaiten-sushi because I didn’t want to stay outside in the bitter cold for an hour. I was dressed in mournful black colours and wore my new contacts.
When the time finally came, we get to stand in pairs in line, so I got to stand next to the guy with ticket number 10. Then we had to wait a bit longer and finally we got to enter the venue. I didn’t care to look for a coin locker to put my jacket in or check out the merchandise because I was destined to get a good place on the first row. For some reason I got to stand in the middle. I felt sorry for all the short people behind me for a while, but I changed my mind when I got 5000000 arm-knot punches in my back.
It went really crowded and the stage was reasonably big. I did notice that there were a lot of guys here tonight; before, the audience used to be packed mainly with girls. When I looked back a second time the area was over-crowded and people where even standing in the doorway. The music in the background was classical opera: tonight was to be a night at the opera indeed.
After waiting for an hour or longer, they drew back the curtains covering the stage to reveal a BIG portrait of Jasmine You hanging in the center-back, covered by flowers. Then the happy guys from 摩天楼オペラ matenrou opera appeared. (A funny note: Matenrou is the Japanese word for “Skyscraper”.) I have seen the guys before and they haven’t really impressed me. But the singer said some beautiful words to Jasmine, played a ballad AND I caught Anzi’s pick. I like the synthetic sound in their tracks; I have to admit that they are a good band.
After the band finished playing, there was another pause, which never seemed to end. But when it did, KAYA-sama were already standing on the stage with his back facing us. The music started and he began to sing as the lights hit him and he slowly turned around. He was wearing a nice wedding-dress-like dress all in black, except a red rose attached to the center of his chest. In the next song you could spot that he also had a red rose ring. He had piercing blue eyes, a bride-like hair garment and a circlet built of black roses: altogether a very Gothic, stylish appearance. Kaya also danced like a prima-donna! From doing half-turn spins, one after the other, to dropping dramatically dead to the floor, he had by far the best stage moves tonight. Not to mention his very good stage presence: he replied to almost every audience scream and had some amusing small-talks in between the songs. For example, he stared at the portrait of Jasmine You and said the bassist was more 目立つ“medatsu” (eye-catching) than him and that it was a bitムカつく “mukatsuku” (sickening/disgusting). This was of course a joke! His performance was over rather quickly, but I really liked it and want to see him soon again.
Now the time had come for tonight’s main act: Versailles. I was getting more and more excited and the space in which I was standing became smaller and smaller due to all the pressure from my surroundings. I couldn’t even bend down to get my black and purple fan from my bag on the floor.
The music finally started and as always, they entered the stage and bowed in the middle one by one to the Versailles “Introduction” track. They started with their newest single “Ascendead Master”, which made the audience go wild. Versailles played two new songs from their new album “Jubilee” that’ll be released (or “be born” as they put it) on January 20th. Only the track “Serenade” got a proper presentation from Kamijo (the singer). He talked about Jasmine You for a while and said this new song “Serenade” was in his memory. It was a ballad and the lyrics were really beautiful, and he bowed several times at Jasmine’s picture during the song. The other new song started with Kamijo saying stuff in Latin so I’m quite sure that it was the “God Palace” song. (You can preview all their new songs on their official homepage.)
Versailles was dressed similarly to the V-Rock Festival live with small adjustments, like Kamijo had a new necklace with a ruby gem in the middle. (Read Yukiro’s V-Rock report here.) I got to shake his hand and touch him plenty *drools*. Teru (guitarist) never came into my reach and Yuki was locked behind his drums but I got to shake his hand too when the music finished. When Hizaki (the Marie Antoinette-like guitarist) got close by, the atmosphere was filled with his perfume and I did touch him also *indescribable happiness*.
It was a serene and holy experience to be that close to them again; almost supernatural. The empty space left by Jasmine You lasted throughout the concert and they didn’t have a replacement this time. When they all spun simultaneously, you could really notice the emptiness and the “all together spin” didn’t have the same effect as it used to. At some point, when Kamijo got close enough I could see that he had a thin black stream of make-up running down from his eyes to his cheek. I was bowled over by the sight. He said in the beginning of one of his speeches that it was okay to cry tonight but we should give Jasmine You a great live also. My eye was tearing several times during the concert because it was such an emotional performance.
There were a lot of para-para moves, furious head-banging and metal hand gestures, like always. The musicians went away from the stage and the audience started to scream “We are Versailles”. After about 15 minutes, they came out again and played another three songs. They finished the live with their first single, “The Revenant Choir.” (They didn’t announce their upcoming tour, but the info is written on their homepage; only Japanese dates are decided yet, although there are rumors of a world tour.)
When the music finished everyone stayed on stage and the audience screamed their lungs out. They did some thank you gestures one by one and then… the most unexpected thing happened. Hizaki took one step towards the barrier blocking us from storming the stage. Then he stepped back… and ran into a stage-dive!!! YES I’m not lying! He was quickly drowned in the over-excited ocean of crazy fans and some stage person had to save the poor soul. Sadly enough I wasn’t anywhere near his stage-dive but I could see it pretty well. Hizaki seemed to be rather unharmed when he got back on stage and did a final wave to us.
Jasmine You will always be missed as an essential part of Versailles. His gorgeousness and talent was/is as close to divinity. His more then ten years in the Visual Kei scene means a lot to thousands of people and in many ways influenced the new generation of VK artists. Jasmine You’s memory will live on through us and I have no doubt that his spirit was watching over the show that night.
Thank you to Yukiro for the heartfelt report. I invite you to leave your thoughts and reminiscences about Jasmine in the comments.
Song of the Day #276: the Jubilee preview tracks on Versailles’ website
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LA CARMINA
69 Comments
Sounds like one heck of a trip to Japan, must be an amazing vibe at the concert, and a great array of amazing outfits.
@ The GUILTY HYENA †
xx
It must have been a breathtaking scene…
Of all the things I wish I were in Tokyo for, it’s this…. :(
Such a great and touching report ^^
Made me put my Versailles & Jyakura collection again on my mp3-player :’D
Me too — I’m listening to Versailles right now. V__V
how did Jasmine You pass away?
Nobody knows… he was suddenly hospitalized, and then… gone :(
Absolutely amazing! I almost teared up just reading the report! Sounds like everything was very elegant and Kamijo’s words were like a shoulder to cry on T.T Hizaki-sama! I didn’t know he stage dives! I really hope they announce the rest of the dates for the tour soon! Can’t wait to see them live
@}— RIP Jasmine You @}—
your friend did a lovely report on the memorial concert
…I didn’t even know he died… : ( do you know what happened?
Nobody knows… he was suddenly hospitalized, and then… gone :( See this post: http://lacarmina.com/2009/08/jasmine-you-bassist-of-visual-kei-band-versailles-has-died/
dang that’s really sad, man. losing someone so young, so sudden is never easy. My condolences to everyone who knew and loved him.
nice report…
you’d think that there would be more on what happened when he was hospitalized or something!…
Sounds like one heck of a trip to Japan, must be an amazing vibe at the concert, and a great array of amazing outfits.
@ The GUILTY HYENA †
xx
Of all the things I wish I were in Tokyo for, it's this…. :(
Such a great and touching report ^^
Made me put my Versailles & Jyakura collection again on my mp3-player :'D
Me too — I'm listening to Versailles right now. V__V
It must have been a breathtaking scene…
What an amazing line up! I wish I could’ve been there.
The news of his illness and death came as such a shock to me because I saw him in May. He and Yuki were introducing bands at an indies event Versailles put together, and he seemed quite lively – dancing with Matenrou Opera and teasing Yuki. He was such a stunning individual.
You were so lucky to see him in May… :(
how did Jasmine You pass away?
Absolutely amazing! I almost teared up just reading the report! Sounds like everything was very elegant and Kamijo's words were like a shoulder to cry on T.T Hizaki-sama! I didn't know he stage dives! I really hope they announce the rest of the dates for the tour soon! Can't wait to see them live
@}— RIP Jasmine You @}—
That was beautiful. Thank you for sharing this. I hope I can experience Versailles in North America soon.
I’ll be looking out for news about their world tour!
I feel so fortunate to have seen him on stage when Versailles came to New York. He was an amazing musician and truly beautiful.
((Hizaki stage dived at the NYC show as well – he came out mostly unscathed))
He was marvelous when I saw him in Tokyo… such a great performer.
thank you for letting me write for you again!
the person next to me in the picture above is my friend (Jasmine Hal) a famous Jasmine You cosplayer (not the real one if someone believed that ^^’)
Thank you for the in-depth report and photos, and for doing it so fast!! You are a superstar ^^
your friend did a lovely report on the memorial concert
…I didn't even know he died… : ( do you know what happened?
Nobody knows… he was suddenly hospitalized, and then… gone :(
Nobody knows… he was suddenly hospitalized, and then… gone :( See this post: http://lacarmina.com/2009/08/jasmine-y…
nice report…
you'd think that there would be more on what happened when he was hospitalized or something!…
dang that's really sad, man. losing someone so young, so sudden is never easy. My condolences to everyone who knew and loved him.
What an amazing line up! I wish I could've been there.
The news of his illness and death came as such a shock to me because I saw him in May. He and Yuki were introducing bands at an indies event Versailles put together, and he seemed quite lively – dancing with Matenrou Opera and teasing Yuki. He was such a stunning individual.
I remembered the tribute to Jasmine You … Your friend’s narration is excellent. Arigatō Carmina.
That was a wonderful review – heartfelt, sincere and touching – thank you so much. It was great to see one so quickly too.
Jasmine You – you will be missed. xx
V__V
Jasmine was truly a gorgeous person, physically, and from what I gather, also as a person. Definitely a tragedy we’ve lost him.
I’m glad you enjoyed Kaya, he’s my favorite performer to see live these days. Seen him twice and can’t wait to see him again!
I can’t believe Hizaki stage dived!
I haven’t seen Kaya… augh I am missing out~
couldn’t agree more…<3 <3 <3
That was beautiful. Thank you for sharing this. I hope I can experience Versailles in North America soon.
I feel so fortunate to have seen him on stage when Versailles came to New York. He was an amazing musician and truly beautiful.
((Hizaki stage dived at the NYC show as well – he came out mostly unscathed))
He was marvelous when I saw him in Tokyo… such a great performer.
thank you for letting me write for you again!
the person next to me in the picture above is my friend (Jasmine Hal) a famous Jasmine You cosplayer (not the real one if someone believed that ^^')
I remembered the tribute to Jasmine You … Your friend's narration is excellent. Arigatō Carmina.
That was a wonderful review – heartfelt, sincere and touching – thank you so much. It was great to see one so quickly too.
Jasmine You – you will be missed. xx
Jasmine was truly a gorgeous person, physically, and from what I gather, also as a person. Definitely a tragedy we've lost him.
I'm glad you enjoyed Kaya, he's my favorite performer to see live these days. Seen him twice and can't wait to see him again!
I can't believe Hizaki stage dived!
I wish I could have been there, it sounds like it was a beautiful performance. Very nice report!
The concert sounds amazing! Sad about the drummer though. I need to go listen to them. :)
Thank you for the link, it’s still just so sad, he was one of the reasons I got into Visual Kei and Versailles : (
your post almost made me cry
I wish I could have been there, it sounds like it was a beautiful performance. Very nice report!
Thank you for the in-depth report and photos, and for doing it so fast!! You are a superstar ^^
V__V
I haven't seen Kaya… augh I am missing out~
I'll be looking out for news about their world tour!
You were so lucky to see him in May… :(
Happy New Year
The concert sounds amazing! Sad about the drummer though. I need to go listen to them. :)
Thank you for the link, it's still just so sad, he was one of the reasons I got into Visual Kei and Versailles : (
your post almost made me cry
Happy New Year
Your drag friend should definently enter Rupaul’s drag race(I’d love to see him compete).
Oh my gosh, yes…
Your drag friend should definently enter Rupaul's drag race(I'd love to see him compete).
Oh my gosh, yes…
It will be great to watch The Wedding Singer, i have bought tickets from
http://ticketfront.com/event/The_Wedding_Singer… looking forward to it.
That was beautiful. Thank you for sharing this. I hope I can experience Versailles in North America soon.
i read this and almost cried. I was very moved by your experience and the way Versailles played in his honor. They are a very beautiful band both inside and definitely out. And i agree with Vivienne in the hope of Versailles coming to North America soon. it would be a divine sight…R.I.P Jasmine You, you will be forever missed, never forgotten.
Just by read this, I’m started to crying… Jasmine, hiks… We guys will miss you so much..