LIVE CONTACT 2001 Bitter 4 Sweet / MAX

11 February 2007

MAX
LIVE CONTACT 2001 Bitter 4 Sweet

24.10.01
6th video
AVVD-90118 & AVBD-91063

tracklisting
1 OPENING
2 Just wanna lovin' you
3 Lovin' All Night
4 バラ色の日々
5 whispers
6 Never gonna stop it
7 Love is Dreaming ~ Shinin'on-Shinin'love
8 Wired
9 Bible××
10 Give me a Shake
11 Ride on time
12 always love
13 Crazy in my love
14 Perfect Love
15 So tight ~ 一緒に… ~ So tight
16 mum
17 moonlight
18 But My Love / M&I
19 SO REAL
20 夏よ咲いて

purchase date 2.2.07

review
I have been hunting for this video since my "Go Discover Tour" to much disappointment. But surprisingly, Vivocity music junction (mj) is selling "LIVE CONTACT 2001 Bitter 4 Sweet" at a ridiculously low discount price of $5... "LIVE CONTACT 2000 ~No boundly~" is also sold at $5, which I paid $25 for it last year...

This live video begin with a short behind-the-scene footage showing MAX and their staff right before the show starts. It quickly switched over to the front stage, in which a pre-recorded acappella of MAX singing the opening theme of "Bitter 4 Sweet ", accompanied by special lights and laser effects. Shortly after the acappella opening ended, the music of "Just wanna lovin' you" is been played, featuring green laser beams dancing in sync with the rhythm, making it a simple, but yet captivating opening. MAX first appears in a sexy black bra-top, before changing into a more conservative outfit in the middle of the song. "Just wanna lovin' you" is the excellent b-side from the "always love" single and MAX gave a supreme performance for this techno song.

This is followed by the up-tempo "Lovin' All Night". "Lovin' All Night" set the mood for the live, which is evident by the audience putting their hands up in the air. Next is MAX's all-time worst single "バラ色の日々". The original bridge was replaced by a new percussion rhythm and MAX dance in sync to the beat. This is very similar to what Namie did for "toi et moi", therefore nothing original. After adding a white tuxedo to their black outfit, MAX performed "whispers", showcasing chair dancing, which is very common in Namie and TRF concerts. Although MAX did a decent performance for both "バラ色の日々" and "whispers", both songs just reminds viewers of Namie's live performance that is atypical of MAX's concert.

But luckily, the usual MAX returned to stage with a high quality performance of "Never gonna stop it". The climax of this song would be the individual rap by each member and Nana did a very good job for her verse. While Mina and Reina retreat to the backstage for a costume change, Nana and Lina performed a rap exclusive for this live that quickly transited into a hip hop medley of "Love is Dreaming ~ Shinin'on-Shinin'love". The hip hop version is a great departure from the original, making these older songs fits in nicely with the style of their new album "EMOTIONAL HISTORY".

MAX then gave an emotional rendition for "Wired", before gaining back energy for "Bible××". While the girls are having their 5th costume change, the dancers takes the centre stage delivering a dance presentation that transits into a bossa nova version of "Give me a Shake" and a latin enhanced version of "Ride on time". Like the earlier "Love is Dreaming ~ Shinin'on-Shinin'love" medley, the new version for both classic are very different from the original. Nana and Lina received more singing lines in these new versions and the newer songs.

The dancers were introduced during the bridge of "always love". After the lively dance performance for "always love" and "Crazy in my love", MAX had another quick costume change to suit the mood of "Perfect Love". The band were introduced at the bridge of "So tight" and right after the band introduction, the melody changed into that of "一緒に…". After a short performance of "一緒に…", the melody changed back into "So tight". As the beat of "一緒に…" is more up tempo than the original version, the x'mas feel was removed, so it doesn't sound that odd to mix a ballad into a fast number. The medley "So tight ~ 一緒に… ~ So tight" is the final performance for the main segment.

After a short break, the encore segment starts with ballad "mum", followed by the premium maiden performance of their then-upcoming single "moonlight". ISSA from DA PUMP made a guest appearance for the performance of "But My Love / M&I". The live was supposed to end with "SO REAL", but MAX decided to perform another song "夏よ咲いて" at this final stop of their tour.

It's good that the repertoire for this tour focused on their newer works, particularly songs from their latest album "EMOTIONAL HISTORY" and numerous b-sides. Furthermore, the older classic featured were given a new lease of life with remix that are so different from the original. MAX delivered great vocal and dance performance, making "LIVE CONTACT 2001 Bitter 4 Sweet" a very good live video.

recommending #2 Just wanna lovin' you, #3 Lovin' All Night, #7 Love is Dreaming ~ Shinin'on-Shinin'love
rating 8/10 good

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MAX LIVE CONTACT 2001 Bitter 4 Sweet / MAX

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