【Collab】to commemorate being part of the live chorus! [sono×KAMIJO] Vocalis chitchat!!【talk】

Sono: Hello to everyone watching Sono Channel. I’m Sono from Matenrou Opera. Today is part 2 of our talk video with KAMIJO from Versailles as our guest! Thank you very much!

 

KAMIJO: Bonjour! I’m KAMIJO! Nice to see you.

 

S: At my first talk video previously, I had HIZAKI over.

 

K: Yes, yes, I’ve seen it, it was really fun!

 

S: This time I wanted Kamijo over because I will be guest-starring at his concert, so I asked him for this video.

 

K: Yes, thank you very much.

 

S: We’ve been associated for a considerably long time now, over 10 years I think.

 

K: Amazing, right?

 

S: We haven’t really talked much about how we met, right? And other related topics.

 

K: That’s right.

 

S: So I’ve been meaning to talk about that kind of stuff today, so, what was your first impression of me? From your point of view.

 

K: My first impression? I... the first time we met..? (Song lyrics)It was a town glittering in white (...)

 

S: *laughs*

 

K: Where is that from?

 

S: When we met was around the release of Metamorphose, right?

 

K: That’s it.

 

S: It’s a Lareine song. Those are the lyrics. But the way we actually met at the HOLIDAY in Shinjuku.

 

K: A concert venue?

 

S: Correct. When we were having a concert. It was a concert sponsored by Sherow, by KAMIJO, and we were performing there. You came to visit and in front of the dressing rooms or at the floor after the concert had ended, I’m not sure.. yes it was the floor after the live ended. At the floor you were in a suit with your laptop open typing away intensely like this.

 

K: Was I really?

 

S: Yes, just at the floor

 

K: In a suit with my laptop? Like some kind of salaryman? *laughs*

 

S: *laughs* Actually, it felt like you created this ‘company president’ *laughs* world, right there on the venue floor.

 

K: Seriously? Are you kidding me?

 

S: Thinking it was you, I got closer and I told you ‘’thank for today’’ about letting is perform. And when I told you that you replied with ‘’So when are you joining Sherow?” *laughs*

 

K: *laughs* You’re not exaggerating any of this?

 

S: I’m not *laughs* I’m not exaggaring anything *laughs*

 

K: This salaryman KAMIJO really caught your eye, huh!?

 

S: Actually, that’s the thing, it was not just like a salaryman, but it really gave me this ‘company president’ kind of feeling.

 

K: Eh, for real? “So when are you joining Sherow?”

 

S: Yes, you really said like just this one phrase.

 

K: That’s just amazing *laughs*

 

S: It was! So I just thought to myself “woah!!” and I replied ‘’right now!”

 

K: Is that really how it went? What I remember was at the Saitama...Saitama Assembly Hall when we performed at Shikkoku no Symphony.

 

S: That’s right, we performed at that event together. Right, I remember.

 

K: There, outside the dressing rooms in this super strong sunlight together with Sono and Yu at the time I was chatting away about all kinds of things regarding our futures, that’s my recollection.

 

S: That’s right, I remember this too.

 

K: Was this already after I invited you to the label?

 

S: You see I don’t usually go into sudden chats with other band people about the future.

 

K: Oh. *laughs* I actually usually do talk about the future with other band people.

 

S: Really? *laughs* So behind Saitama Assembly Hall was random?

 

K: Possibly, yes. It’s because I don’t keep any distance from people, at least not back then. I do really keep my distance nowadays. Social distance.

 

S: Right *does the social distance motion*. So, at the time we were already with Sherow so with that prospect we were discussing “what kind of band do you want to play in? A band like Matenrou (Opera)” and so on.

 

K: Right. So I invited you guys from  different level (of conversation) too then.

 

S: Right.

 

K: I see. It was really fun talking with your about all kinds of things like that.

 

S: I think so too.

 

K: Everyone came to my house.

 

S: Yes.

 

K: And you said ‘’let’s make a plan for Anomie!” we were all brainstorming, right?

 

S: We did that.

 

K: We gave it a pitch black jacket.

 

S: Yes.

 

K: Those kinds of things, we had a lot of fun thinking about that together, didn’t we?

 

S: It was super fun. Back then really felt like you were our sixth band member.

 

K: No no, don’t give me that kind of credit.

 

S: The image for Anomie was created by everyone with your input put into it as well, so.

 

K: But the person in charge of Matenrou Opera was Yuki.

 

S: That’s right, he was the one in charge. He was in charge of the “drinking”.

 

K: When I was watching your video with Hizaki channel too, I was thinking ‘’wait is that so?”. Yuki was definitely also always there for everything but uhm, because we were all there as Versailles members greatly supporting Matenrou Opera so, really, Matenrou Opera was encouraged greatly by everyone and Versailles was able to persevere too. I really think our success was thanks to you.

 

S: Thank you so much. During the moments we were planning Anomie I felt really excited about and I think that’s maybe when we decided “let’s make it a one-man at Akasaka BLITZ”, right?

 

K: That’s right! Heading towards the Akazaka BLITZ live we were asking what kind of road you wanted to take with it. With your band your whole band concept, it wouldn’t be entertaining if your strategy didn’t involve a link with music. Matenrou Opera is the kind of band where if they throw one ball, a hundred more come flying back, so, this is not really a good way of putting it, but what I mean is that you’re a fantastic chess piece. If I really try to explain it through shogi*, you’re like the rook and the bishop pieces and within Sherow Artist Society, as Versailles we always had this sense of impeding danger because you guys were always working hard so it felt like you were great rivals.

 

S: It makes me really happy to hear you say that about us. Because we’ve been chasing after the success of bands like Versailles for so long by now.

 

K: No need to thank me.

 

S: On that note, I just remembered this but when we just joined Sherow, you told me ‘’when you join my company, let’s make good music..”, no that’s wrong, ‘’come join my company and let’s make good music together.’’

 

K: Ah, yes I believe so.

 

S: I’ve always remembered that. So by that time Sherow was already our one choice.

 

K: Really? Thank you so much. I wanted to make good music with you. Anyhow I was quite charmed by Matenrou Opera’s music, and I wanted to express that music in its ultimate form. Naturally the members were there, and your first work was of course “alkaloid showcase”. But then quickly one after the other my favourite songs increased. You’d finish recording and let me hear it and I’d always be slightly afraid.

 

S: Why though?

 

K: Eh? Because you were writing good stuff and then I’d get worried for Versailles.

 

S: *laughs* Company president!! *laughs*

 

K: No no. *laughs* I think it’s good to have this kind of relationship to each other. But of course, how should I put this, because of this video I’m able to talk in front of everyone.

 

S: Yes.

 

K: Just at the moment when Versailles went major.

 

S: Yes.

 

K: Eh... Matenrou Opera had their BLITZ concert.

 

S: Ah that’s right!

 

K: Right?

 

S: Our first one-man.

 

K: Indeed. After that you had COCOON and one year or so later you had your major debut. Because you went major, how do I say this, supporting you... what I mean to say is I wasn’t sure how to accomplish that. Yes, I didn’t want to stand in the way of your perfect timing to go major as Matenrou Opera. To me, this was what I understood. So... how should I say this, I didn’t know how to increase your sales beyond how I was able to sell you at that point.

 

S: Ah, you told me this, right.

 

K: And that I is why I wanted you to go major at a faster rate than most bands go.

 

S: Yes.

 

K: Because I was really thinking about this a lot, I’m truly happy from the bottom of my heart that you were able to do such large scale activities since then.

 

S: Thank you so much. But in the few years we spent in joining Sherow until our major debut , I think it’s those few years we spent at Sherow that allowed us to go major in the first place. I think all the members agree.

 

K: That makes me happy to hear. 

 

S: I think when it comes to a band, leaving all the decision making to one person or letting someone else write your stuff is a bad idea, right?

 

K: Absolutely *laughs*

 

S: So for us to not stop thinking for ourselves was a lesson we were taught by you and Sherow.

 

K: The importance of writing your own stuff. *laugh*

 

S: *laughs* That *laughs* I was able to do that but, the other members *laughs* there were some for whom it was the first time doing visual kei, right, so it was a little *laughs* rough.

 

K: The Europe tour we did together, we did that by ourselves.

 

S: Right?

 

K: Yeah. *laughs* It was fun.

 

S: It was. On that note. You let us walk side by side with you for about ten years now and you’re having me perform with you for the first time in a while again.

 

K: Yes, on the 26th of March at [KAMIJO ONLINE WORLD TOUR] [QUEEN OF VERSAILLES -LAREINE-] It’s a solo live where I’ll be singing the music from my time in Lareine.

 

S: It’s your 25 year career anniversary live, right?

 

K: Yes, more or less. My actual 25 year career anniversary was last year but of course because of the corona pandemic I couldn’t do any activities, but now finally my studio is able to do some work. It’s like taking back some lost time.

 

S: *laughs* Just now *laughs* I felt some chills. No it’s fine *sweats* It’s just this story *sweats*

 

K: For the sake of the fans too I wanted to do this 25 year anniversary kind of thing, and as a part 1 of that to start of with is this [QUEEN OF VERSAILLES -LAREINE-].

 

S: Thank you so much, asking me to do this.

 

K: No need to thank me. I thought it would be amazing if I could get Sono who already knows the Lareine songs to do the chorus for me.

 

S: *laughs*Right. When you called I wondered what song you were gonna tell me to do but I already had all of those songs.

 

*Both laugh*

 

K: That was a quick conversation huh.

 

S: Because I already had all of those songs on CD. So it was just like “ah, yes, thank you!”

 

K: I’m so glad.

 

S: It went easily, right?

 

K: I’ve heard you sing these songs so often by now but it remains fantastic.

 

S: Thank you so much.

 

K: Just a couple days ago Matenrou Opera had their first concert with an audience again in a long time, right?

 

S: That’s correct.

 

K: Because it just ended, how did it go?

 

S: Well, I was incredibly moved. When I went up on stage, I first noticed the fans being there.

 

K: Right?

 

S: I already knew they’d be there, and yet, I was still moved. We were able to meet again, and them having come here to hear me sing.

 

K: I feel like crying just hearing this story.

 

S: I was incredibly moved by it. I was already so energetic one song in that around the third song I quickly grew tired.

 

K: *laughs*

 

S: It was dreadful.

 

K: Because it was so long ago? *laughs*

 

S: Midway during the live I’d completely forgotten how to carry a concert. If I keep thinking about them my performance will go downhill. The thrill you feel at the beginning goes downhill!

 

K: I see what you mean.

 

S: And then toward the end my energy suddenly went up again. We were able to end this concert too in a way where we all become one with the fans. I think it was a good live.

 

K: That’s amazing!

 

S: Thank you. During the lives I said that because Matenrou Opera is supposed to have a choir** I promised that we will have a choir concert again, and ended it at that.

 

K: I see, yeah. Naturally when you think of Matenrou Opera, you think choir, right!

 

S: Exactly.

 

K: Actually didn’t I also join one of your choruses before?

 

S: Yes! Ah “Hadou no hi yo”.

 

K: Yes, yes. I want to be in the guest seat singing one of your choruses again some time!

 

S: *laughs*

 

K: Like singing passionately from my “related staff” seat.

 

S: Please get on the stage!

 

K: No. When it comes to a choir, you can’t do it if there aren’t enough people singing.

 

S: No, well, well, well, well ,well, I guess so.

 

K: Those are my thoughts as just one of your fans.

 

S: Thank you!

 

K: I’m looking forward to it!

 

S: Well then, uhm~ Kamijo’s concert [KAMIJO ONLINE TOUR] QUEEN OF VERSAILLES -LAREINE- that I will also be participating will be held on the 26th of March.

 

K: That’s right.

 

S: Please check it out on KAMIJO’s homepage!

 

K: Yes.

 

S: KAMIJO! Thank you for being on here today!

 

K: The please was all mine! Thank you so much!

 

 

*Translator’s note: Japanese chess. The rook and the bishop are very important pieces.

**He is referring to the fans acting as a choir. Matenrou Opera concerts naturally have a lot of parts where the audience sings along. During the concert itself he talked about Kassai to Gekijou no Gloria.

 

 

14-03-2020