~ZARD What a beautiful memory 2009

Just released last month on the 13th as one of three memorials I’d intended to save ZARD’s tribute concert performed in her memory~♥ until the anniversary of her all too soon passing and so late into last night I watched what I can describe as being lovingly~captivating, an engaging experience not only of a musical legacy and celebration…but truly one of a lifetime’s work played out over the course of a heartfelt evening~. This concert was performed on the anniversary of Sakai Izumi’s passing on May 27th at the prestigious venue Nippon Budoukan.

ZARD’s “What a beautiful memory” stands as one of the most moving and deeply touching concerts which I’ve ever experienced and throughout each individual performance you can just sense the endearment up on stage and throughout the arena for Sakai Izumi. The concert set~list flows as if she were there performing together with the tribute band which includes guest musicians/artists from Garnet Crow, doa, DEEN and a most wonderful stage chorus from Kuraki Mai and the songs themselves so well chosen with each verse, chorus and solo played out most respectfully and true to their original compositions as any outreach of improvisation here, while being most welcome in other arenas on any other given night may have taken away from this evening when honoring a life ended much too soon. I must make mention of the accompanying visuals throughout “Don’t you see!” as Sakai Izumi, while fans know her to be nearly painfully shy is so modelesque here and it’s definitely a different side and rarity both most beautiful~.

The collaboration between the live itself and the matching images projected upon the stage’s large and central screen create an ambiance of her spirit’s presence and while some are brought to life in pv and candid footage (often playful =) ) an equally moving amount of imagery also has Sakai Izumi singing these very songs in perfect synch with the live band upon the screen. As much for the nostalgic images the night progresses through thoughtful MCs and band gestures with a final encore of “Makenaide” bringing tears to my eyes….. with her photo on stage in memory the night concludes with a final bow in unison by each band member and in that this memory in me now and forever~, the life~lyrics and music of Sakai Izumi & ZARD lovingly embedded in heart and mind~.

~ZARD FOREVER~

ZARD’s “What a beautiful memory 2009” can be ordered here @ Cdjapan.

ZARD’s “What a beautiful memory 2009 can be ordered here @ HMV Japan.

ZARD’s “What a beautiful memory 2009 can be ordered here @ YesAsia.

~ZARD “Kitto wasurenai” What a beautiful memory 2009~

~ZARD ‘Kimi ni aitakunattara…” What a beautiful memory~

~ZARD “Top Secret” What a beautiful memory~

~ZARD “You and me (and…)” What a beautiful memory~

~ZARD “Suki na youni odoritai no” What a beautiful memory~

~ZARD “Kokoro wo hiraite” What a beautiful memory~

~ZARD “My baby grand ~nukumori ga hoshikute~” What a beautiful memory~

~ZARD “My Friend” What a beautiful memory~

~ZARD “Don’t you see!” What a beautiful memory~

~ZARD “Yureru omoi” What a beautiful memory~

~ZARD “Makenaide” What a beautiful memory~