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<\/a>“The night offered something for everyone in Yoshiki\u2019s ability to merge and bring together different genres and listeners and touch the collective beating heart therein.” (Shirong Gao)<\/p><\/div>\n
By Shirong Gao<\/a> (Shiga-ken<\/a>, 2005-07) for <\/i><\/b>JQ magazine<\/i><\/a>. A member of JETAA Northern California<\/a>, Shirong is a graphic designer, Illustrator, and breakfast food lover who worked in a Japanese countryside as seen only in Studio Ghibli movies. For more, visit gaoshirong.com<\/a>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Every night, as a child drifting off to sleep, I looped a rock ballad. My personal lullaby. A song by multi-million-selling heavy metal band <\/span>X Japan<\/a>, the Rising Sun\u2019s answer to KISS. Yet not even in dreams did I see myself growing up to one day meet its leader, Yoshiki, and witness how far he\u2019s come in his career.<\/span><\/p>\n A classically trained musician turned rock legend, Yoshiki has now returned to his more refined roots, embarking on a world tour of Yoshiki Classical concerts featuring music from the eponymous <\/span>solo album<\/a> released last year in collaboration with talents the likes of Beatles producer Sir George Martin and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.<\/span><\/p>\n Shirong Gao<\/p><\/div>\n On April 28, Davies Hall, home to the San Francisco Symphony, was packed on a Monday night to host only the second date of Yoshiki\u2019s tour following its debut in Costa Mesa three days prior. \u201cDefinitely a different scene from a typical classical concert,\u201d commented attendee <\/span>Arisa Takahashi<\/a> (Nara-ken<\/a> CIR, 1991-92)<\/b>, who has also performed at the hall as part of the Sing Out, Davies! choral workshop. \u201cThere were people with blue hair, dressed in their frilly Lolita finery, sitting alongside classical music attendees.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The show began with a video introduction on a giant panoramic backdrop as Yoshiki explained how he first got into music as a boy after his father died, followed by a quick cut to him at an X Japan concert, violently beating drums to vent his frustrations. Typically at these shows, tranced and mesmerized, while headbanging viciously, he\u2019d fall off stage, injuring himself, only to continue performing wearing a neck brace. Juxtaposed over this are images of him playing the piano with finesse and poise.<\/span><\/p>\n Shirong Gao<\/p><\/div>\n In a gentle, almost shy voice he joked with the audience as he introduced the songs. Visual effects on the big screen colored the ambiance of the entire performance. The night offered something for everyone in Yoshiki\u2019s ability to merge and bring together different genres and listeners and touch the collective beating heart therein.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEven though I’m not familiar with Yoshiki’s earlier work, I like his newer classical works,\u201d Takahashi said. \u201cI’d be happy to go see him again.\u201d For classical music connoisseurs, Yoshiki\u2019s selections that night included the 2012 Golden Globe Awards theme, a concerto for the Emperor of Japan\u2019s 10th anniversary, and the Aichi World Expo theme, \u201cI\u2019ll Be Your Love.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Shirong Gao<\/p><\/div>\n Meanwhile, longtime X Japan fans cheered the renditions of beloved rock hits which translated seamlessly into classical pieces. Katie Fitzgerald lent her dramatic soprano voice to the evening\u2019s vocal parts, including \u201cHero,\u201d Yoshiki\u2019s theme song of the upcoming <\/span>Saint Seiya<\/i> animated movie. However, during \u201cTears,\u201d Yoshiki called his surprise guest, X Japan\u2019s lead singer, Toshi, to take the stage. Together the two revealed news of an <\/span>upcoming X Japan concert<\/a> scheduled at Madison Square Garden on October 11. Fans sang along to the chorus of \u201cEndless Rain,\u201d the final number with Toshi before the audience rose to a standing ovation while admirers rushed the stage, screaming, and snapping photos. Yoshiki and Toshi stood in the limelight, raising the American flag signed by their San Franciscan adorers, and shouted, \u201dWe are!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cX!,\u201d the fans answered back, crossing their forearms to form the letter. \u201cWe are!\u201d \u201cX!\u201d \u201cWe are!\u201d \u201cX!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Yoshiki\u2019s true accomplishment lies visible in baring the soul and taking us on his life\u2019s journey. Despite the rock star persona, at Davies Hall he was still the little boy wearing pull-up knee socks at his piano recital when he plunked out \u201cHappy Birthday\u201d for the mother of a dear friend, Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff, before walking to the edge of the stage to embrace her. Dedicated to the loss of his father and fellow X Japan bandmates Hide and Taiji, the song \u201cWithout You\u201d segued into \u201cKurenai,\u201d before finally giving way to the epic \u201cArt of Life\u201d to close out the show.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>