Hello Everyone!
And now to continue with my
International Lolita Day adventures in New
York
There were two lines, one
for general admission and one for VIP ticket holders, which were us; we would
get the opportunity to meet Kamijo before the show! The very thought made me a
little sick in my stomach such was my nervousness. This all still seemed like nothing
more than a wonderful dream to me but as the time got closer and closer it was
beginning to hit me harder and harder that THIS WAS NO DREAM AT ALL!! After 7
years from discovering Versailles and 3 years since their announcement of
hiatus, I was going to actually be meeting this incredible, talented, beautiful
man who’s bands’ music had been such a driving inspiration to me for so long,
helping me through very rough times and making me so happy other times. Not to
mention all the wonderful friends and experiences I found through his music. I
never imagined that I would have this opportunity. At that moment, I could no
longer think about the depressing things that had made me stop listening to Versailles
And things REALLY began to
sink in the minute I saw this!
In any case, while in line
there was this very kind girl holding a large US flag with the gold emblem of
Kamijo’s solo project in the center and Amanda and I each signed our names on
it. Before the meet and greet staff members let bunches of fans in at a time to
buy merch which honestly was very slim pickings. None of Kamijo’s music was for
sale which made me rather upset and the only size fan shirt left was way too
large for me; in the end I settled on 2 photo sets, gifts for Kitty back home
and my friend in Georgia who sadly could not make it.
After buying merch Amanda
and I went back to the VIP line to wait a little more for us to be called back
into the venue. As it happens the meet and greet started late and honestly it
happened so quickly! There were a lot of VIP’s, probably more than 100. We were
led to the upper level of the venue where from downstairs we could see the
stage and see people beginning to line up for the show itself, this slightly
worried me because I wanted a good spot and didn’t pay $120 to stand TOO far
from the stage! While waiting Amanda and I looked down below and could see
Kamijo being led upstairs and THAT is when the reality of all of this hit me,
I’m worried I may have crushed Amanda’s hand such was how tightly I was
squeezing it! We continued holding hands until finally it was my turn, again so
quickly! With one last squeeze of her hand the staff member guarding the door
opened it for me went into the room.
My head was down staring at
my shoes and my heart was racing; I heard the word “Bonjour~” and that’s when I
finally looked up at a very gorgeous, warm smiling Kamijo, he reached his hand
out to me and all I could say was “Hello!” in what was probably a very squeaky
voice as I shook his hand. I wanted to look at him but he was wearing his
vampire contact lenses that make his eyes look a piercing almost white blue
that made my heart race again. The staff member took our picture and then
Kamijo turned to me smiling and shook my hand again with both of his hands
saying “Thank you so much, please enjoy!” This time our eyes actually met and I
could fully take in how regally handsome he is! The racing in my heart was
replaced with a warm fluttery feeling and I squeaked “Arigatou!” but by this
point it was all I could do not to break down and cry. Even now it all seemed
like nothing more than a beautiful dream and only when I took my first look at
the cheki of Kamijo and I did I finally realize that this was no dream. I had
just met Kamijo, I had shaken his hand twice and he actually looked at me! I
had expected the whole experience to be A LOT more daunting but it wasn’t.
Despite having a very commanding, slightly intimidating presence (and *cough*
sexy! *cough cough*) on stage he was so kind and gracious and it felt like the
fluttering in my heart would never go away. What a true gentleman! It didn’t
even matter to me that the whole thing only took at most half a minute.
I’m sure regular readers of
my blog already know how rare it is for me to give a full, true smile in any
picture. But in that moment everything just felt so incredible and euphoric
that I could not help but smile. Thank you Kamijo, I will treasure this picture
forever! ^O^
I wandered back down the
stairs in a strange sort of daze, waiting for Amanda. And then I ran into
fellow MD lolita Erica who had also come up to New York
It would still be another
two hours until showtime so we spent most of the time talking about Kamijo, the
songs we hoped he would sing, what we had done in the city that day and lolita
crack dresses! XD (the fancy make to order dresses from BABY that generally
retail for about $1000 USD but sell on auctions for 10X more) By 6:30-7pm our
feet were killing us so we all sat to rest right there by the stage, and from
the looks of it we were not the only ones. Poor Amanda actually fell asleep for
a bit and I didn’t bother to wake her until it was time for the concert to
truly start.
Despite the meet and greet
being late, the concert started promptly at 8. The lights dimmed and we all got
up from the floor and went wild with excitement!! A blood red hue illuminated
the stage and the beginning tunes of “Vive le Roi” began. We all chanted along
with “Vive le Roi” as the support members appeared one by one, oh how my heart
raced when Masashi appeared but not as much as when Kamijo finally strode upon
the stage obviously relishing how wild we all went for him! Together we all
began to chant “Vive le Roi! Vive le Roi! Vive le Roi!” I was getting really
excited and my heart soared when Kamijo spoke out the words “The world is, like
a Masquerade!” and the epic symphonic chords of “Masquerade” began! One of my
all time favorite Versailles
After “Masquerade” we all
cheered and I finally was able to fully look upon Kamijo and admire how
glorious he was. He smiled at us all and said “Bonjour!” to which we replied
back to him with even stronger applause. “Welcome to my palace!” He said in a
very regal, somewhat seductive tone; Kamijo always seemed to me to have a
certain “passion” for other languages and his English seemed to have really
improved since Versailles Versailles Versailles had ended before I could really come to
appreciate him as an equal member of Versailles
Soon Kamijo said to the audience “Rose of
Versailles” and I knew what that meant: “Bara wa
utsukushiku chiru” Lareine’s rock version of the classic shoujo anime opening!
Kamijo always made it clear that he really loved Rose of Versailles and so do
I! Again I sang along all the while images of Lareine and the anime appeared on
the screen behind them, then another Lareine song; “Fuyu Tokyo”. Then Kamijo
left the stage for a moment while the support members wowed us with an
instrumental track I did not recognize but it was amazing. And then the support
members left the stage as well and everything went dark for a moment.
Kamijo returned to the stage and performed a beautiful
Japanese version of the Versailles
There was a little video before the next song. Now I will
admit, with the exception of the very first few songs Kamijo released and the
MOST recent of his solo work, I am not all THAT familiar with his solo work, most
of last year I devoted my attention to Jupiter and did not pay much attention
to what Kamijo was doing. So to that end the next few songs were kind of fuzzy
to me as they all seemed to be mashed together. I only remember Kamijo
performing “Dying Table” and “Throne” but that’s because those tracks I
particularly took a liking to. So again I just focused on the way Kamijo was
moving to and fro in a very flamboyant, elegant way. It was so captivating! He
really does have that noble vampire act down pat! For that night, he truly
owned the stage.
After the last song of the main set we all chanted for an
encore. By that time it was a wonder that I had any voice left after so much
screaming and singing along to nearly every song I knew AND already battling
with a slightly scratchy throat. But the screaming had only just begun.
Another video played that showed all of the best of Kamijo
over the last 20 years, from Lareine, to New Sodmy, to Versailles
“I want to see you dance!” Kamijo said to us as the next
song began “Moulin Rouge”! Another fun party
song that is very jazzy and somewhat sexy. I actually had to remove my shoes in
order to really dance and enjoy this song like I wanted to and Kamijo did not
disappoint! I was very taken back with the sexy way Kamijo danced and moved,
licking his lips afew times and moving his hips in a seductive way. Every time
he said “It’s showtime!” I danced with so much energy, I could not hold back. At
one point we went over to Masashi and danced with him in a teasing way that was
obviously meant to be for the sake of fanservice and was met with an eruption
of rabid screams from the audience!
Kamijo announced the last song and I swear my heart
stopped all together when he said the words: “Aristocrats Symphony”! The first
ever song I ever heard of Versailles Versailles
After the song Kamijo introduced each of his support
members, I cheered for every one. They all had done such a magnificent job.
Then Kamijo asked us teasingly “And I am…?” I don’t think it was possible to
comprehend the audience screaming out Kamijo’s name, such was the passionate
volume of everyone. Then Kamijo was presented with the US
And then sat with the support members close to the stage
for a picture, we all squeezed in as close as we could for the picture, I think
I actually got a very good spot. ^.^ At the very end, Kamijo instructed us to
all jump on his cue and he took the hands of all his support members and
together we all jumped as high as we could, but at this point I merely
pretended because my feet were crying after hours of walking around in EGL
platforms and dancing. Kamijo and the support members waved to the crowd and
thanked us all graciously and wholeheartedly before leaving the stage for the
last time. The concert was over.
Reality returned to me immediately as I realized what a
magical experience I had just been a part of. Amanda and I didn’t leave right
away though, we ran into my VKH colleague and friend Shiro and we decided to
collapse into the middle of the floor, breathless and euphoric and musing about
how amazing the concert had been. We also ran into a bunch of other familiar
faces too. It had occurred to me that I was only able to know most of these
people through Versailles
Amanda and I returned to the bus station, still trying to
take in what a wonderful day and night it had been. Sadly, my bus left at 1am,
before her’s so holding back more tears I bid her farewell and we promised each
other we would see each other later this summer for Otakon and I returned to Baltimore
