Joe Hisaishi in Budokan - Studio Ghibli 25 Years Concert

For my first entry in English I finally decided to write about..jeng jeng jeng.. This wonderful earcandy, especially for you guys who adore Studio Ghibli’s works.  I literally burst in happiness when I found the treasure on Youtube (God bless you Savior Uploader!).  Can’t believe I haven’t watched it while the concert was held in 2008 (not my fault, I didn’t know Ghibli back then hehe)

                            

  

Actually it’s inaccurate to call it “25 Years of Studio Ghibli Concert” since all pieces that are played in this concert are soundtracks Joe Hisaishi made for movies directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Well, Ghibli is not only Miyazaki-san . Probably “Joe Hisaishi : Tribute to Miyazaki” or whatever will suit it better..Anyway, for almost two hours all your memories about Miyazaki-san’s movies are about to be awaken. Big screen with movie clips is on to make the atmosphere even more vivid. This is the list of songs played in the concert.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

01. Opening [Legend of the Wind]

02. Requiem

03. A Battle Between Mehve and Corvette

04. Tooi hibi (Days Long Gone)

05. Tori no Hito (Bird Person)

Mononoke Hime

06. Ashitaka Sekki (Tale of Ashitaka)

07. Tatari gami (The Curse God)

08. Mononoke Hime (Princess Mononoke), Vocal: Masako Hayashi

Kiki’s Delivery Service

09. Umi no Mieru Machi (A Town with an Ocean View)

10. Shoushin no Kiki (Heartbroken Kiki)

11. Kaasan no Houki (Mom’s Broom)

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea

12. Shinkai Bokujyou (Deep Sea Ranch)

13. Umi no Okasan (Mother of the Sea), Vocal: Masako Hayashi

14. Nami no Sakana no Ponyo (Ponyo of the Fish of the Wave)

15. Fujimoto no Tema (Fujimoto’s Theme), Vocals: Fujioka Fujimaki

16. Himawari no Ie no Rondo (Rondo of the Sunflower House), Vocals: Mai

17. Haha no Ai (Mother’s Love)

18. Imouto-tachi no Katsuyaku (Little Sisters' Activities)

19. Haha to Umi no Sanka (Song of Praise for Mother and the Sea)

20. Gake no ue no Ponyo (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea), Vocals: Fujioka Fujimaki and Nozomi Ohashi

Laputa: Castle in the Sky

21. Hato to Shounen (Pigeons and a Boy) with Marching band

22. Kimi o Nosete (Carrying you) with Choir

23. Taiju (The Huge Tree)

Porco Rosso

24. Kaerazaru Hibi (The Bygone Days)

Howl’s Moving Castle

25. Symphonic Variation "Merry-go-round"

26. Cave of Mind

27. Jinsei no Merry-go-round (Merry-Go-Round of Life)

Spirited Away

28. Inochi no Namae (The Name of Life), Vocals: Ayaka Hirahara

29. Futatabi (Reprise), Vocals: Ayaka Hirahara

Tonari no Totoro

30. Kaze no toori michi (The Path of the Wind)

31. Sanpo (Stroll), Vocals: Chorus + All guest singers

32. Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbour Totoro), Vocals: Chorus

Encore

Porco Rosso

33. Madness

Princess Mononoke

34. Ashitaka and San

My favorite is the Princess Mononoke, Laputa, and Howl’s Moving Castle soundtracks although I love all the track. Orchestra always has its own charm and I totally enchanted. Another big surprise is when Hirahara Ayaka shows up and sings two songs from Spirited Away. I really like her husky-yet-sweet voice which is quite rare in Japanese musical industry. The rest of the singers are amazing too. Ohashi Nozomi, the little girl who sings Ponyo soundtrack is so cute I unconsciously want to kidnap her through the monitor >_< Hisaishi-san, the maestro, is also fun to watch. You can tell how much he loves music by seeing him smiling in entire concert and totally enjoy switching between become a conductor and pianist. Oh yeah and don't forget the choirs and marching bands!  

Hisaishi Joe and Hirahara Ayaka 

Do I tease you guys enough? Now get on your computer and watch it (you should buy the original one if you could, of course). The only negative after-effect after I finished the concert is all of a sudden I want to do a “Miyazaki Marathon” haha and well..a huge urge to see the concert in flesh. Hope you love it! (no,you absolutely will LOVE it!)