For the latest updates, please check local listings for when Kōhaku will air in your timezone.
Queen and Sarah Brightman will perform “Endless Rain” (composed by X Japan’s Yoshiki) on NHK’s 紅白歌合戦–the biggest TV show in Japan on New Year’s Eve! Ever since the impact of COVID-19 in February, this Japanese musician in Los Angeles and will join remotely from L.A.for this year’s performance.
Kohaku Uta Gassen is an annual music program in Japan which continues to be the most popular TV program each year for the past 70 years. With an unprecedented viewership of over 40%, it has long been viewed as the true barometer of status for domestic artists with an unrivalled influence on an artist’s profile, status, and sales in Japan.
Starts streaming on November 13 exclusively on Funimation
Sony Music Labels Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Manabu Tsujino) is excited to announce that video contents owned by Sony Music will be streamed across the world through services from Funimation Global Group, LLC (Funimation), an animation distribution company based in the United States. The first content will be the FLOW’s special concert FLOW Chokaigi 2020 -Anime Shibari Returns-.
The concert will air exclusively beginning at 8 pm CST, November 13, 2020 on Funimation.com in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom; Wakanim.TV by Wakanim in France, Russia, Denmark and Scandinavia; and AnimeLab by Madman in Australia and New Zealand. The concert will also stream on Funimation in Mexico and Brazil when the service launches later this year.
Yoshiki Hayashi’s concert at Carnegie Hall is going nation-wide, and fans of this super-star musician can see at soon, airing across various PBS Stations beginning this month.
This special was filmed in New York and it was sold-out. Not only did he perform to standing ovations but also was taped. Yoshiki Live at Caregie Hall made its broadcast premiere this year in the New York City area on WNET13, the most-watched public television channel in America. Because of the enormous reaction from American viewers, this touching concert created overwhelming demand. All other major PBS-affiliated TV stations received numerous requests to add the special to their schedule.
People cheered and people cried. Freddie Mercury’s spirit will never be forgotten because footage of him will always be used in one form or another in Queen + Adam Lambert’s concerts.
Queen + Adam Lambert Rhapsody Tour Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC July 10th, 2019
The biopic Bohemian Rhapsody did more than reignite interest in the music of Queen. Not only was it a cursory glance at the life and times of Freddie Mercury, the lead singer but also it gave a bit of insight to how a few of their best known tracks were composed. Some fans complained about it not being the story they wanted. This movie took a very long time to get developed and I’m certain many arguments between producers and actors took place over what to focus on; ultimately the story had to end on a high note than be a reminder of a life cut short.
Anyone who has followed this band knows Roger Taylor and Brian May kept busy with many other projects. They weren’t ready to say if their band is fully retired or not. They tried a comeback with Paul Rogers but I felt that team-up did not work. Their collaboration with Adam Lambert was fortuitous; he has the vocal range and the flamboyance to remind us of Freddie but yet be his own unique presence. Lambert put his own stamp to Queen’s tunes and reminds us in every tour that he’s not out to recreate. He is honoured to be part of this lineup and says it every performance, otherwise the detractors will jump on him.
The angels must be singing; When Sarah Brightman‘s HYMN World Tour comes to a close at London’s famed Royal Albert Hall on November 11, 2019, internationally acclaimed composer Yoshiki will be there to perform alongside.
He was a special guest at Radio City Music Hall (New York), The Masonic (San Francisco), Dolby Theatre (Los Angeles), and Yokohama Arena (Japan) and those fortunate to see those shows were not disappointed. For those who did not go, there’s one more chance! Tickets can be bought online or through TicketMaster.
“Miracle (Sarah’s Version)” – composed by Yoshiki and performed by Brightman with Yoshiki on piano – reached the Top 10 on iTunes Classical Charts in 15 countries and it continues to gain accolades. Brightman has called the song “the number 1 masterpiece on the album.”
Yoshiki will return to the UK for the first time since his band headlined Wembley Arena in 2017. The soundtrack to the award-winning X JAPAN documentary We Are X reached the #1 position on the UK Rock Chart.
“MIRACLE (Sarah’s Version)” feat. YOSHIKI
He brought his solo Classical Concert Series to London in 2014 and gave a live performance of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” at the UK’s Classic Rock Awards in 2015.
Yoshiki previously collaborated on the single “Foreign Sand” with Queen drummer Roger Taylor.
Yoshiki – “Bohemian Rhapsody” (Classic Rock Awards)
In March 2019, PBS premiered a one-hour version of “Yoshiki – Live at Carnegie Hall” on WNET Thirteen, the nation’s #1 public television station, with additional U.S. markets to be announced soon.
YOSHIKI – “Live at Carnegie Hall” Trailer
Yoshiki and X JAPAN have headlined internationally famous large venues such as Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, and Wembley Arena, as well as selling out Japan’s Tokyo Dome 18 times. The elegant dinner events are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fans to see the celebrated artist, and visitors from overseas are increasing year by year because of Yoshiki active role on the world stage.
Although direct tickets are now sold out, the secondary market may see a few go for exorbitant prices. If anything can be found, let the buyer beware as this musician have publicly criticized resellers as fully taking advantage of his fans.
“I usually don’t like summer because I’m a nocturnal creature who dislikes the sun and heat,” said Yoshiki. “But ever since I started this show several years ago, I started to look forward to this season. I’m truly grateful to all my fans who support me. I wish I could have adjusted my schedule to make room for more than 12 shows, but this is the best I can do at this time. I’m looking forward to seeing you all.”
When I heard Queen + Adam Lambert are touring again, I knew I have to see them again. The last tour had two yokals next to me chatting it up for a good half of the show and they ruined my concert experience. Thank Freddie Mercury for the fact Vancouver, BC is a regular stop and giving me a chance to see the show proper. His legacy is never forgotten as it’s a reminder during parts of the performance, since without him there’d be none of the fabulous music we’d hear (as covers, tributes or otherwise).
Brian May misses his dear friend and he acknowledged this fact. “Love of My Life” played with a video interlude of Freddie like it was an augmented reality segment. The timing is perfect as we see him on the screens, and May is looking at the space on cue as though his spirit is there. I think he was. Although I’m not as “sensitive” enough to feeling out spiritual energies, the ambiance was right and he must have been smiling from Heaven.
I find it strange to hear from some people say that Adam Lambert is out to imitate the former lead singer. I say, “No. He makes the songs from the band’s catalogue of hits his own, and he acknowledges to audiences he’s not there to outdo.”
He adds his own nuances to the tunes, and he does a spectacular job at it.
Lambert talked about how this year marked the 40th anniversary of Queen’s album, “News of the World” and it was fantastic to see Frank the Robot make a rare stage appearance! A real model of the head and a video animating the hands interacted with performers. I particularly enjoyed how the trick of practical effects and visual made Brian May float in space when he played his extensive guitar solo leading into “Last Horizon.”
To hear the entire album performed instead of the set list would be cool and this show came close. Lambert sang to one of his favourite hits and the light show for “Spread Your Wings” was like experiencing a gospel moment. “Radio Ga Ga” always gets me giddy with delight, intermingling moments from Fritz Lang’s Metropolis on the big 4K video screens and I could hear the entire arena singing along.
An interesting part of the night had May showing to audiences a stereoscopic camera mounted on a selfie stick. He’s no doubt filming bits from all the stops this show is hitting and I’ll be very excited to see where the final product will emerge. I imagine it will become available on VRTGO, Universal Music Group’s proprietary VR platform, so it can be viewed on various platforms.
Much of the night had a mix of what I recall from the last show with a few new tracks intermingled. The opening numbers are different. The show began with “We Will Rock You” and “Hammer to Fall.” I always wanted to hear to the latter live and got my wish! I’m was not disappointed and I could hear Freddie in my head closing off the song with “Give it to me one more time!”
Yes, I’m hooked. Despite never seeing the original lineup perform live because my parents would not take me (or let me go), I’m glad to have the chance now. Queen’s music is timeless, and the enthusiasm of this new lineup shows that neither Freddie’s legacy will be forgotten nor will fans forget. It’s a chance for everyone to rock-and-roll all night, and I wish I could party it up every day!
Brian May | 2017-18 Tour | Rogers Arena | Vancouver, BC
Adam Lambert | 2017-18 Tour | Rogers Arena | Vancouver, BC
Brian May and Adam Lambert | Queen + Adam Lambert 2017-18 Tour | Rogers Arena | Vancouver, BC
Adam Lambert, Brian May, Roger Taylor | 2017-18 Tour | Rogers Arena | Vancouver, BC
Brian May | 2017-18 Tour | Rogers Arena | Vancouver, BC
Queen + Adam Lambert Rhapsody Tour
The angels must be singing; When 
By Ed Sum 
