[Billboard Japan] Mark Ronson Joins Gen Hoshino for 'Pop Virus World Tour' in Yokohama

[davidguy]

Gen Hoshino's POP VIRUS World Tour returned to his home country Monday and Tuesday (Dec. 9 and 10) after sold-out shows in China and the U.S., for the only Japan engagement of the trek at the Yokohama Arena.

The J-pop hitmaker shared the stage with Grammy-winning DJ and music producer Mark Ronson for a double-headlining gig, following last December's special one-night-only collaboration at Chiba's Makuhari Messe.

Taking things a few steps further from last year's DJ-only set, Ronson brought along a string section and played numbers on the guitar and keyboards as well as DJing for the packed crowd. The Late Night Feelings artist also invited Australian singer Daniel Merriweather onstage for a live performance of their collaborative hit "Stop Me" from 2007.

Hoshino then joined Ronson to accompany him on acoustic guitar for a beautiful rendition of "Shallow," the Oscar-winning A Star is Born hit that the latter co-wrote. The British-American artist then switched to DJing for the rest of his set, performing hits including Billboard's No. 1 song of the decade, "Uptown Funk," and "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" featuring Miley Cyrus.

As he did in Shanghai, Hoshino opened his segment with the tour's title track, "POP VIRUS." Referring to his recent jaunt to Shanghai and New York, he called out "I'm home!" to the cheering crowd of 13,000 that had flocked to see him perform for his first concert in Japan since his Dome trek earlier this year.

The 38-year-old star satisfied fans with a hit-packed main set including "SUN," "Koi" and "Idea," while also premiering the live performances of the tracks off his latest EP, Same Thing, such as "Ain't Nobody Know" and the title song featuring Superorganism that triggered a massive singalong from the audience.



Returning for the encore, Hoshino invited Ronson back onstage, who appeared with his guitar in hand. The two shook hands and launched together into Hoshino's upbeat disco-funk pop tune "Week End," turning the arena into a huge dance floor.

"You know, music is so fun," Hoshino happily noted, promising the applauding crowd that they would "meet again with smiles." He closed the special Yokohama concert with his hope-filled pop number "Hello Song."

Hoshino will travel to Taiwan on Saturday (Dec. 14) for his POP VIRUS World Tour stop at the Legacy MAX in Taipei.

Mark Ronson Joins Gen Hoshino for 'Pop Virus World Tour' in Yokohama

Gen Hoshino was joined by Mark Ronson when his "POP VIRUS World Tour" returned home to Japan on Monday and Tuesday (Dec. 9 and 10) at the Yokohama Arena.

www.billboard.com

 

[BlueNose]

cool~ i bet they have great energy together

 

[fullofjoy]

Nice!!!