Known for his unique slapping guitar style, MIYAVI sure knows how to push his fans further and further with every song. Accompanied by drummer Anthony Lopez and DJ Jonny Litten, who have joined prior tours, he allows the rhythm to explode and rapture through the audience. The atmosphere is superb, with the audience gladly following the request to jump during SURVIVE and when they sing along for Ahead of the Light. It only accelerates with the danceable songs So On It and In Crowd.
»We all survived the fucking covid,« MIYAVI addresses his audience while preparing for the next song, talking about the power of music: »I realized how strong music is. The virus is invisible. Our future is invisible. But music is invisible, too. Let’s celebrate the music tonight!« Nobody holds back anymore—and, oh, do the fans understand the assignment when the lyrics of Secrets say: »This is the time to scream!« The song seems to unlock something. For some, it might be pure adoration, yet in the large crowd, the sexual words become the intense joy of sharing the concert vibe with the musicians on stage and hundreds of fans.
Yet, in all the bliss, MIYAVI also manages to shift the conversation towards a difficult subject by talking about the experience of refugees. As a goodwill ambassador to the UNHCR, MIYAVI has visited several refugee camps in different parts of the world during the past several years. Now, in Berlin, he mentions those fleeing the war in Ukraine and acknowledges the support they receive in neighboring countries. »Thank you so much,« he adds, »for your generosity. What Germany is doing is amazing.«
He elaborates that he feels he can’t do much or change the world by visiting refugee camps. »But with your help, I can amplify the message.« And personally, I can’t say what has changed—whether it’s the more profound understanding for people fleeing war and atrocities after Russia attacked Ukraine or MIYAVI’s tireless efforts to bring attention to people on the move or simply all of us getting older,—but I’ve never experienced so many people in an MIYAVI audience understanding and supporting what he is talking about. It warms my heart and makes listening to Long Nights, a song written based on the experiences of refugees being displaced from their homes, even more special this night.
01. Selfish Love
02. WHAT’S MY NAME?
03. SURVIVE
04. Ahead of the Light
05. So On It
06. In Crowd
07. Secret
08. Cry Like This
09. Tears on Fire
10. Long Nights
11. Under the Same Sky
12. Kimi ni Negai wo [君に願いを]
13. Girls, be ambitious.
14. Hi no Hikari Sae Todokanai Kono Basho de [陽の光さえ届かないこの場所で]
15. Sakihokoru Hana no YouNi -Neo Visualizm- [咲き誇る華の様に -NEO VISUALIZM-]
16. Fire Bird
17. New Gravity
18. No Sleep Till Tokyo
19. Horizon
ENCORE
E1. Subarashikikana, Kono Sekai -WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD- [素晴らしきかな、この世界 -WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD-]E2. Under the Same Sky
E3. The Others
E4. Day 1
The people who have gathered here tonight are more than a coincidental union of individual fans and small groups sharing the admiration for a musician, actor, and humanitarian who has undoubtedly helped them get through tough times. They are a community invoking the impression of a celebratory class reunion, gathering in kindness and mutual respect.
We have all matured, haven’t we? A scene that, in my personal experience, is all too often driven by superficial and selfish needs has now come together in empathy, shared values, and joy. This goes beyond the power of music. It’s the will of a creative teaching self-love as much as the compassion for others and people willing to listen and amplify the message.
