There’s something so magical about behind-the-scenes documentaries about your favourite artists. Sometimes it can give you a new perspective on their music, sometimes it can make you see the world in a different way. The best ones can do both. For the record, this documentary is the latter. I have loved the music of LiSA for over eight years, I discovered her through her song “Crossing Field” which was the theme song to the first season arch of the anime, Sword Art Online. However, after hearing that song I just started listening to her music purely for the joy of it. I’m sure her other songs have been theme songs to other anime films and shows, but I couldn’t tell you, I just love her music. In fact, her music was the impetus for me to start learning Japanese. Just so I could understand the lyrics. Her music just fills me with so much joy and anytime I have her music on I just start smiling.
When it was announced that, to coincide with her new live show featurette, there would be a full documentary about the J-Pop icon, I was absolutely over the moon. However, I did not think I would enjoy it this much, nor did I think it would change my perception of how to live life. The story of Risa Oribeis such a fascinating journey that this documentary captures so perfectly. Director, Taketoshi Sado managed to capture the joy, pain, passion, despair, light and dark of the singer’s career. Using a mixture of talking head sections, old concert footage and exclusive behind-the-scenes moments, Sado shows you the real difference between the person Risa Oribe and the stage personality LiSA. I think some of the most powerful moments of the documentary are Risa talking with her sister, mother and grandmother about her childhood and growing up in a single-parent household, following her father leaving the family. It was really nice seeing how the family came together and how Risa grew to love music, acting and performing in that upbringing.
This documentary has so many highs and lows that truly gripped me. From the stress and pressure of booking and planning shows to the detail of creating music videos to the stress that the COVID-19 pandemic put on her career. It just seems like so much happens and it really sheds light on how much work goes into being a superstar of this magnitude. One story told in the documentary is the heartbreaking moments following her show in Budokan in 2014 where Risa came off stage in tears and apologised to her crew. Her crew was baffled as to why. She admits it was due to the performance not living up to her own standards of quality. Which she, in retrospect, states was a hurdle she had to overcome. Learning to grow as an artist and learn there is always more work to be done. Which I found inspiring. As someone who looks up to her as an idol, now know that she has had so much self-doubt and struggles to overcome and see that even after all her success she is still learning and improving her craft. I have to say I’m looked at my own failures and successes as a part of my own journey of self-improvement.
The documentary is an enjoyable film and stands as a testament to what has made the singer who she is and what makes her such an icon of the industry. Her dedication to her craft, her passion for music and her mission to spread as much joy in the world as possible should be something that any artist should aspire to. I think the final words of the documentary are quite poignant "I will walk my own path. So, all of you, go walk your own path! Up ahead, in the future, when the seasons change, let's meet again. This is a song for all you doing your best to live your life.” As the new single NEW ME closes out the documentary. There is so much to this documentary and I don’t think I could ever do it justice, but hopefully, this review might go some way toward convincing you to give it a watch and maybe even listen to her music. This was such an emotional experience and one I was happy to go on. LiSA continues to be one of my favourite singers and I hope one day I get the opportunity to see her live in concert. Even if I don’t I will always respect her dedication to her craft and will embrace the joy her music brings to my life.
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