Yui Makino in Rome

The first stop of Yui Makino's European tour 2010 was held in Rome with the help of the Japanese Culture Institute and Romics on Tour. Before the live, various cosplayers hung around the club, waiting for the show to start. On the stage was a black piano, and on the big screens above it the music video of Fuwa Fuwa was being shown.

At 10 p.m. the forthcoming entrance of the vocalist was announced, and as soon as she arrived, cheers rose from the audience. Yui wore a nice red dress and timidly took her place at the piano where she performed the first song of the evening, You are my love, which set the right mood for the night with its delicacy. The second piece, Modokashii sekai no ue de, saw the entrance of a guitarist and a violinist who accompanied Yui during various occasions throughout the show. The stage was drowned in red lights and the singer smiled and swayed while jauntily playing the piano. At the end of the song, the audience burst into applause and Yui stood up and bowed to them.

The artist then picked up a piece of paper from the ground and started speaking in Italian, much to the surprise of her fans. “Good evening to all of you. My name is Yui Makino. Nice to meet you. I am happy to be here tonight. Thank you all.” Cheers from the enthusiastic audience followed, then Yui resumed the show with Nidome no hatsukoi. Smoke invaded the venue while blue lights illuminated Yui as she roamed the stage, smiling as the audience followed her every move. At the end of the song, the audience clapped loudly and cheered.

The guitarist took his place at the piano ad played along with the singer during Euphoria, a slower song that calmed everyone down. It was only a prelude to the next piece, Undine, which saw the stage lit by blue and purple lights. Yui’s voice was high-pitched but still sweet and delicate, and it fit perfectly with the play of lights behind her. The song ended and soon red lights announced the following piece: Ao no kaori. She thanked the audience and picked up the piece of paper once more. “Do you know me?” she asked in Italian; the crowd answered, “Yes!” She repeated the question twice and thanked everyone once more. “My nickname is Yucchi. Call me Yucchi!” Her fans immediately shouted her nickname and she thanked them, raising an arm in the air and introducing the next song.

Fuwa Fuwa, her latest single, was welcomed with applause and cries. Yui smiled while urging the audience to wave their arms, and everybody started clapping their hands to the rhythm of the music. The vocalist walked from one side of the stage to the other while waving her arm. The guitarist and the violinist behind her smiled and copied her moves, and the fans followed along faithfully. Yui shouted “Thank you!” and everyone cheered. Then the singer returned to her piano. As she was sitting down, a fan yelled her name; she laughed and asked him to do it again before starting Haru machi kaze.

The audience cheered and Yui replied with a huge smile. Then, Yokogao started with a slow intro on the piano. This song had the crowd complete attention as Yui’s voice wrapped everyone in a soft and calm atmosphere. After a small break, Cluster began and Yui stood up and went to the front of the stage, getting her fans to clap their hands. The singer seemed to be more self confident than at the beginning of the show: she sang at the edge of the stage, smiled and interacted with the crowd. Then her interpreter entered and translated a short message from Yui.

Yui announced her plans to release a new album before the end of the year and that some of the new tracks were being played that night. Moreover, she promised her Italian fans that she would do her best to come back to Italy. After this short MC she introduced the next song, Caro mio ben, a song in Neapolitan tradition - a style that the singer studied during her time at university. Yui took her place at the piano and performed the piece alone, singing in perfect Italian.

A small break followed, allowing the guitarist and the violinist to return to the stage, then the last song of the night started. The much anticipated Amrita was welcomed with warm applause and cheers. Before the last chorus, Yui introduced the artists behind her and then ended the song, thanking everyone as she left the stage. The audience, however, kept on calling her for an encore. A few minutes passed and the singer came back to the stage, taking her seat at the piano and introducing Yume no tsubasa, the very last song of the night. In Japanese, she asked the crowd to sing along with her, but they only clapped their hands to the rhythm of the piece. At the end, a representative of Romics On Tour gave her a bouquet and Yui timidly accepted it, waving to everyone before leaving the stage for good.

Without a doubt, this unexpected show by Yui Makino, was met with deserved success, thanks to the ability of the singer. Fans were enchanted by her voice, and even those who were there out of curiosity left the club pleasantly surprised and with budding devotion.

Set list:

01. You are my love
02. Modokashii sekai no ue de
03. Nidome no hatsukoi
MC
04. Euphoria
05. Undine
06. Ao no kaori
07. Fuwa Fuwa
08. Haru machi kaze
09. Yokogao
10. Cluster
MC
11. Caro mio ben
12. Amrita

EN01. Yume no tsubasa