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Monday 31 October 2022

LIVE REVIEW: BRUNO MARS @ TOKYO DOME, Tokyo, Japan (30/10/22)


4/5

Mars Attacks.

Life on Mars ain't just a song, like Lana Del Rey once sang. Although, it certainly felt like we were living on the red planet, apart from the third rock from the sun during lockdown. Like being 'Locked Out Of Heaven', but we don't talk about that, Bruno. Now we're out of quarantine and the world has opened its borders back up, our social distance is reaching out to get close to each other again. Even though everyone in attendance is still masked up to stay and keep each other safe. Japan recently extended its hand to the outside world, and thanks to that we have seen many a live show in concert. From the race to see Lady Gaga in Saitama in September, to Norah Jones hitting gold in the old Tokyo, 1964 Olympic Games venue of Nippon Budokan. And now it was time for some 'Uptown Funk' to give it to ya in Tokyo Dome, where as Springsteen sang on his 'Wrecking Ball' (not Miley's), "the arena's filled and Giants play the game". But this weekend, it was the 'Unorthodox Jukebox' dynamo who knocked it out the park (even though the roofed Dome doesn't really allow that, unless you're Shohei Ohtani). Don't believe us? Just watch! 

5 Domes Sold Out, between here and Osaka. This trip to Mars was red-hot as Bruno brought the Dome down for a monster show this Halloween weekend. Toniiiiiiight the stage was set like XXIV for '24K Magic' for the first time since that tour sold out (many wearing creative baseball clothing from that time in number) the Saitama Super Arena like Steph Curry's champion Golden State Warriors and hometown hero Rui Hachimura's Washington Wizards last month for the NBA Japan double-header. But before that, Bruno pedalled 'Moonshine', saying "hello" for an illuminating opening that sent neon across the arena, before there was 'Versace On The Floor' and so much more. All to the tune of some stunning set designs that neon shone like Shibuya crossing at night. As creative as the costumes we saw later that evening. Gleaming in bright lights in this big city, like the Atlas stops Queen made in Rami Malek's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' movie. Galileo! 

Those blinding lights reached the furthest bleacher. Meaning even if you were a home runs worth away from the plate of his stage, you could still feel close to one of the biggest stars of the world and his gang of Hooligans. All of the lights with them dripping in all their 'Finesse'. A 'Treasure' for those who are 'Chunky'. You know, those "girls with the big ol' hoops". 'That's What I Like'. That's what I like. But before everyone said "I do" when he asked to 'Marry You', the man bathed in a purple reign like Prince with his own guitar performed a medley of numbers, because after all one half of Silk Sonic has too many hits. 'F### You!' by Cee-Lo. 'Wake Up In The Sky'. And an inspired version of wanting to be a 'Billionaire' like Gym Class Hero, Travie McCoy. But it was 'Nothing On You' by B.O.B. I wanted, "so f###ing bad". Please me. C'mon and just please me, like Cardi B. 

But 'Runaway Baby' and you could see that nothing kept the crowd moving like his showstoppers, as fireworks popped eardrums while he continuously cut a rug. Even the hardest song ever wrote by a man who once described the art of songwriting perfectly, ten years ago ("you've got three minutes to try and capture an emotion"). 'When I Was Your Man' being the closest thing we have these days in moves and grooves to Michael Jackson's own 'She's Out Of My Life'. Catching 'Grenades' before the 'Just The Way You Are' post-encore finale, gave it up for the band. The best moment for a man who even counted on us like ichi, ni, san, was when Mars holding up two peace signs to his cheeks came out in a number one Tokyo Giants jersey with "Kawaii" on the back (cute). The rest of his team decked out in uniform unison. Under the dome, no longer 'Locked Out Of Heaven', me and the one I held close jumped in perfect time to the signature "whoa, whoa, whoa, yeah, yeah, yeah's", pointing to the skies to acknowledge another legendary Tokyo Giants fan. If only we could stay here. Spend the rest of our days here. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Set-list Picks: 'Moonshine', 'Locked Out Of Heaven', 'Uptown Funk'. 

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