Here is my review of the two Tokyo concerts (I won’t be going to the Osaka one). I was so happy to be there and especially to be able to see two concerts in a row. I could be more relaxed because I knew I would see it again tomorrow or, on the second day, because I already knew what was coming.
I don’t want to speak too much about individuals in this review because I think all the boys were brilliant and I don’t want anyone to feel less so because of what I say or don’t say about them.
The two concerts were quite the same, in content of songs/speeches and in how good they were (though for some points I think the second was even better then the first). So I’ll mostly write it out like one concert below. Also, there’s already a good overview of who sang what so I won’t always mention it.
Sorry for any mistakes and the long read, but I tried to not think about it/edit it down too much.
Twilight
Dark stage, the instruments started, Morgan walked on the stage alone, stopped in the middle, a spotlight came on, he started singing. During his singing the rest of the choir came on, and formed different groups.
I loved the atmosphere of this song for the start of the concert. It felt calm and intense at the same time.
In the second verse, Pietro provided the second notes, I think he had to go quite low at some point.
Sanctus
It went by in a flash for me. It was good though. I couldn’t see who did the long high notes. It sounded for me as if it came from the (audience) left of the stage, but I could see the high firsts Joseph and Ben singing words and not Ahs, so it must have been a different group.
Far away
The speech before this song said that this song was special for them because they were so far from home. And that many Libera members play instruments. Nathan was introduced for playing the piano. He played the grand piano, and I saw Josh in the back playing the keyboard. I especially loved the high notes during the chorus.
Stay with me
It’s really hard picking favourite Libera songs but Stay with me is definitely one of them. What I noticed more now that I heard it live are the very strong and lively instruments. It feels like being wrapped in the music. I made some notes during the break of the concert and for the first one I wrote solos by (in order) Pietro, Thomas M and Edward. Second day I wrote Thomas M, Morgan, Edward. This is different from what Patrick wrote, so I’m probably wrong
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Salva me
A bit in the same style of Stay with me. Also definitely a favourite of mine. Live the salvas in the chorus are magnificent: the clear high notes, raising of the arms, bright white light: goose bumps every time.
Seabird
My favourite of the new songs! I love the gentleness of the song and the images portrayed by the lyrics. The dynamics of the choir really stood out for me here, delicate ahs, brilliantly clear ahs, just at the right time. Joseph also conveyed the lyrics of the song well I thought. He sang the first two verses solo, plus the last line and had a descant through one of the other verses. To top it all, the movement of the boys like wings worked really well with the song.
The lark’s last song
Probably one of my least favourite songs. Not because of how it was performed or anything else, but just personal preference. For me the melody drags a little bit and there was a modulation that I thought felt sudden, even the second time. Maybe this is a song that needs more time before I like/understand it.
Always there
The structure of this song did not stick with me. I have no idea how many verses, choruses and in between parts they did. I am probably quite biased because of some opinions on this forum on these types of songs, but the song was pleasant, and apparently for me not that clear cut as expected.
Ave Maria
I love Robert’s version of the Ave Maria. The choir has to be really together for the song to shine though and I thought it was just that tiny bit better the second night. Lewis Q stood in the middle of two arcs (in the picture by Libera he is kneeling but I remember him standing both times). His microphone was set a bit louder, but I saw the whole first arc singing along. I’m not sure why, especially after the reviews in which people liked the song because of his good singing. Really happy to hear this song.
Voca me
Shall I repeat myself? I would even have been a bit disappointed if they hadn’t included this one (though of course I can’t ask for anything but still, again really happy to hear this one). It was the Latin version which caught me by surprise a few times because in my head the English lyrics started playing. Also, I miss from the original version the way in which they first build up, quiet down, and only then the have the great ending. But the ending, and the whole song, is still amazing. I think I could even hear some high notes coming to me without microphone. The last voca me was with almost all boys singing.
Music was born
I didn’t know what to expect for this one. The sound sample sounded a bit chaotic, but actually I could follow the song quite well and enjoyed it. The speech before this song talked about how the low voices are just as important as the high ones and this song showed it well. There were several parts only for lower voices (2nds and below?) or where I heard very distinctive lower harmonies. The end of the song was very touching, especially because some of the boys looked really happy while singing it: “I love music… and I know… music loves me”.
Veni sancte
People were bumping in to each other but it was fun! The first time, so much was happening on stage that I almost forgot to listen to the music. But the music is definitely fun too, very happy. I remember different snippets: all in two long rows, bright lights and especially bright veni sanctes; the first row switching with the second row so that the people in the back could shine at the front of the stage for a moment; suddenly standing still for certain parts and moving again mid-sentence; lots of mixing English and Latin. I’m looking forward to this one on the album, though I’m a bit afraid it might not have the same intensity and clarity.
One small voice
This one is a real earworm for me. I know and loved the piano version for a long time, and I’m happy that it turns out I don’t mind lyrics being added to this one. It was sung just as in the video (except that Ben did Oskar’s part) and sounded like it too (well done).
Sacris solemnis
There was a speech between these songs, I thought it was good to have a clear break there. Frederick H sang the first four lines, then the choir joined for the second four lines (depends on what you count as lines but I hope you understand). What surprised me was that at the end, the chorus part is higher than the descant part. I saw Joseph and Ben mouthing the descant part, and I couldn’t see who did the high chorus part, maybe the mysterious people on the left again (like in Sanctus).
Love shine a light
I’m sorry, the song was well sung, but for me it is a bit boring. However that is definitely influenced by the fact that I was spoiled by so many amazing other songs. On itself the song is quite nice to listen to.
Once
I’m not sure about this song yet. For some reason it made more sense to me the first evening than the second one. Thomas M started confidentially both times, and the choir also did really well on the high note starts of the verses. I’ll need to listen to this one more.
For the future
Hoped for this song and received it! There are so many different parts that it keeps you at the edge of your seat. I enjoyed the new languages in the bridge part, though I couldn’t hear the lyrics very well in the middle of the Ahs of the choir.
Angel
I have mixed feelings about this song. Sometimes I really like it, especially the Latin parts, sometimes it falls more in the Love shine a light category for me. I enjoyed that Morgan and Pietro switched who did the first and second voice.
Happy Christmas
The boys really sang out here and seemed to enjoy it. I probably would have liked the arrangement to be a bit more classical, but that’s my “mistake” because Libera’s strength is that they can do both (and do it well). I like how for the last word “now” it takes a while for the chord to “resolve”. The high parts are already at their last tone, but the lower parts change later than expected to their last tone.
I am the day
Another all time favourite of mine. Same as with Salva me, the big chorus with the bright lights and high (+low) notes was fantastic to hear and see live. Second time round I saw (more than heard) Joseph and Frederick do the whispers. They were also the first to join Morgan in singing after his verse. I saw Thomas M singing the high call on the second night, but I think I saw Frederick H was NOT singing the low call (couldn’t see who did).
Sing
I played this one a lot when the If album came out. It is so joyful and “catchy”. Some boys actually have to work quite hard in this song I think, with their li-li-li-li-libertatums and dum-da-dums. And even the high sing for the worlds might feel long. Not that the boys showed it, they make it look effortless
. For me it felt like going all out before the end of the concert, which I think is a good feeling for the end. (A bit relieved they didn’t end with Smile, I’m sure it would have sounded well, but the lyrics would leave me rather sad.)
That’s it for the songs. I will later try to write a separate part about the speeches, signing and perhaps some fun facts about Libera souvenir shopping. Thank you for reading so far
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Overall I’m so grateful that I could be there for these concerts and enjoyed them enormously.
P.S. A quick note about the language speech. This is what I remember, maybe other people can correct/fill in the blanks.
- Federico, Italian: he, Pietro and Gabriele have roots in Italy (not sure what he said).
- Leon, Polish: Leon’s mother is from Poland.
- Oscar, Polish: not sure what he said
- Lewis P,
Slovenian: I only got the country EDIT: most likely Slovenská (Slovakia)
- Julian and Lewis Q, German: both have family from Germany.
- Tadhg, Gaelic: I assume he said something about Irish roots but there is nothing recognisable in Gaelic for me
- Max, Spanish: his mother is from Colombia?
- Thomas SH, Spanish: too fast for me to understand
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