Well, I suppose many of you were wandering why I had not yet written a single word about the European Tour KOKIA has held in Paris and Brussels.

 
    I had my reasons. in this really personal review I will clarify them.

 
    I wanted to let rest my feelings, so I could offer you a clear review. The fact is that the more time passes, the more vexed I feel.

 
    I attended the VIP concert. By now, most of you will now the track list of the concert. You can read it in mimu-net, and they have a complete review and pics too. Just seeing set list you can appreciate tat it is not exactly a VIP setlist. This concert was announced as something very special, for her core fans, wonderful experience. And, as the show went on, I had the feeling that it was not going to be so. Not only because of the songs, which I didn’t find of any particular, expect for Usahgi and DESPERADO, both song I knew already. usaghi was new, but not 100% new, because there are people like me that visit her Official Web regularly and know that there is a video of that song there. I mean, we are not blind. Internet exists and there is an inevitable stream of information. The fact that KOKIA’s web is basically in Japanese does not mean people abroad cannot visit all the little corners it has inside it. (And I have to admit that these songs were the climax pf the event, especially usahgi, when we could see KOKIA free from whatever the matter was that afternoon – another point to mention, such a strange time for a concert of these characteristics, 4 p.m.!!!)  There was not a single unknown song that day. I expected experiments, strange things, not a usual concert. What’s more, as I have read in other sites, there was a barrier between the artist and the audience. I do not know what the reason was, and I am not here to wonder about it. KOKIA had a wonderful voice, as always. I do not have any complaint about it. But it is supposed there were her true fans, those who listen to every single song of hers, and I thought it was going to be a meeting wit the artist… I thought there was going to be a communication between both parts… But she didn’t almost talk to us.  And it was short. Why? I had regretted so many times not attending the Best of concert.

 
    On the other hand, where was The VOICE song in that concert? Come on, she had just released the album in that particular country and we didn’t hear ANY song from this wonderful album. It’s just inexplicable.

    You know, I was going to cancel my second concert, the one in Brussels. I was so stressed that week. I was tired. I just wanted that everything passed and come back home (even if I had not departed yet). I’m glad I did not cancel it. The Intime concert was amazing, spectacular, that day KOKIA was with us. She was really there, talking with us, her voice reached out our hearts. Ave Maria was HEAVEN made music. Tenshi, mou ai senai (And her explanation, so touching… mixed feelings when you want to forgive someone but you cannot do it). Even the costume was perfect. In contrast, the outfit for the VIP concert was a little strange, it was black. I didn’t like it, to be honest. But I loved the Intime outifit. So pure White and sparkling… amazing.

 
    I did not like Brussels, sorry for that, but it welcomed me with Snow, and I didn’t like that. And you know, after the concert, after meeting KOKIA (a tiny group of people waited for her after the concert, some of them core fans, some other just newbies)… I was of course happii, but it was not the same as last year, when I gave her the pink elephant. It was much more special last year, even if I did not have enough time to talk with her, as I did this year (we even talked about “business” hahaha). I am happii I met the director of KOKIA’s DVD’s and Grandfather’s tulip (Which, indeed, is not KOKIA, as I have stated in the Grandfather’s entry). 

 
    She was nice with us, of course. She, and her mananger, Miki… She is such a nice person! *Claps* Ganbarimasu!!!!

 
    But, now, I think about it… when I came back to the hostel … it was snowing, it was terrible cold… and I got lost. I had to ask in a kebap for the f*** Rue de L’Elephant (yes, indeed, there was a Pink Elephant piggy bank in the reception! I did not take photos, I didn’t feel like…) Those days in Brussels I was helped by people which were not Europeans in Origin, but they helped me and I am grateful for that. Coming back to the snow… I think about it, and I think I was soooo lonely. Deserted. Alone in the dark, in the snow,… I do not know if you get my point, but the thing is that I do not want to feel like that again. Not anymore. But I grew those days.

 
    And yet I have to thank Frederique, she was soooo terribly nice. I stayed at her home one night in Paris. We laughed a lot. And I had one of the most interesting conversations I have had in months. Can you imagine that? Going from Spain to Paris to have a decent conversation? But that’s another story…

 
    Going back to the KOKIA topic… I do not know how to hedge this, but I have to say it. I have the feeling that Europeans fans are second rate fans. I have some reasons to think this. Why on earth there was not a single promo merchandising for The VOICE, not even the album to sell it there, in the concert? The European tour book is full of images from past promotional shots (and let me say it looks quite a fan made piece of paper, in spite its price of 20 euros), which has nothing to do with the actual feeling that KOKIA want to transmit. The VOICE, water, flowing, calm, peaceful... Then, the setlist...

 
    I know for sure much of the blame is to put on PARIS VISUAL PROD, but we cannot do anything, because they are the source by which KOKIA comes to us.

 
I always have the feeling that Japanese people get much more strange and unknown songs than us, and that’s a fact. Of course it is difficult to know all the songs from KOKIA that she sings exclusively in Japan, but, why there is such a GAP between them and us?   I cannot forget aigakikoeru was first released in France, that’s a fact. But then, she released two tracks for the Japanese version… Of course, in the Anniversary concerts there are plenty of nice merchandising, including a DVD with ultra-rare footage. I can’t stand that GAP… It discourages me so much.

    Next year I won’t go abroad to see KOKIA. I have taken that decision and I think I will keep it. When I say “NO”, I mean it 99,9% , so I do not usually change my mind. I feel my time has passed. I feel lost taking those planes to attend a concert. Of course, if she comes to SPAIN, which I hope she does (I think it’s time already!!) I WILL GO TO SE HER. That’s OBVIOUS. I think this year (well, this academic year) has meant many changes for me. I do not feel I am the same person I was on the 31^st of December. So I cannot see things as I saw them six months ago. This does not mean I do not like KOKIA anymore. Of course I like her, and I still think her VOICE makes the world better. But once you see the other side, you cannot forget about it. And I have seen the other side in regard my personal affairs and other things.

    Well, only one thing to say… let’s hope they release the DVD’s because I want to see the Best of concert!!!!!!!!!!!!! And see again the Intime concert, as well… I doubt the VIP concert is going to be sold, but, at the moment, you can see a clip from it . the performance of Time to say Goodbye. Enjoy it!