VIVA LA ROCK 2022

VIVA LA ROCK 2022

VIVA LA ROCK 2022 was a music festival attended by SKY-HI and BE:FIRST on April 30, 2022. This was SKY-HI's fourth appearance and BE:FIRST's first making this their first outing at a rock festival and the first time a boy group would appear at the event.

## Background

VIVA LA ROCK is an indoor rock festival held annually over four days during Golden Week at the Saitama Super Area since 2014 and is produced by music journalist Shikano Atsushi.

On March 15, 2022 it was announced SKY-HI and BE:FIRST had been added to the April 30 lineup.

At the same time an accompanying program, BE:FIRST Road to VIVA LA ROCK 2022, debuted on streaming network GYAO!, which documented the group's journey to the event - from SKY-HI's request to producer Shikano to allow a boy group to perform, to their preparation, and finally their performance.

BE:FIRST were given a mid-day timeslot on the PEACE STAGE while SKY-HI took the WORLD STAGE as the "Tori" - the very last performer of the day.

During Road to VIVA LA ROCK, when SKY-HI asked them how they felt about participating in a rock festival, where a dance/vocal group would be completely away from "home," MANATO said, "I hope we can be the pioneers (of dance & vocal groups participating in rock festivals)" and SOTA commented, "I hope we can express ourselves without any hesitation so as not to rewrite the history that has been cherished by the public.'"

"After confirming BE:FIRST's strong will, SKY-HI gave them a hard task and advised them of the 'painful experiences' they might have at the festival." He laid out a specific plan for how the boys could show their best selves and capture the audience regardless of what kind of music fans they were.

As part of the plan, a new song was created to open the group's performance with a strong sound that would immediately grab the audience. Next, it would be up to BE:FIRST to "win the hearts and minds of the audience through their MC." After the first three songs SOTA gave a passionate speech to the crowd:

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> "Before my debut, I was a music fan who went to festivals to learn about music and eagerly awaited new songs by artists, and I felt the same way as everyone else. That's why I know now that in the moment of enjoying and sharing music like this, it doesn't matter whether you are on or off the stage, big or small. Don't you think so?
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> I am happy to be in front of such a large group of people. And in this wide world of music, for the next 30 minutes I would like to deliver music that only these seven of us can deliver. Can you catch it, VIVA LA ROCK!"
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>

During their second MC, LEO made an appeal to the audience as well:

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> Some of you may like us, some of you may be new to us, and some of you may say "I'm not interested" or "I hate it," but since we have joined together as music lovers today, please let us, BE:FIRST, support you!
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>
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>

After their set each member was greeted with a hug from producer Shikano who said, "I could only see their potential."

The festival was livestreamed and also broadcast later, on July 25, 2022, on FujiTV NEXT Live Premium.

## Setlist

### BE:FIRST - PEACE STAGE

1. BF is...
2. Brave Generation
3. Betrayal Game
4. To The First
5. Move On
6. Be Free
7. Shining One
8. Bye-Good-Bye
9. Gifted.

### SKY-HI - WORLD STAGE

1. Freesia
2. Nani-sama THE FIRST TAKE ver.
3. Walking on Water
4. Seaside Bound
5. JUST BREATHE
6. Bare-Bare
7. Soko ni Ita
8. Over the Moon
9. Dive To World
10. Double Down
11. Snatchaway
12. Kamitsure Velvet 2020
13. To The First

## External Links

* GYAO! - BE:FIRST Road to VIVA LA ROCK 2022
* SKYHICHANNEL - VIVA LA ROCK 2022 Behind the scenes

## References

1. ↑ VIVA LA ROCK
2. ↑ *Real Sound - 『VIVA LA ROCK 2022』最終出演アーティスト発表　BE:FIRST出演までの道のり追ったドキュメンタリー配信も, 2022/3/15*
3. ↑ *Real Sound - BE:FIRST、『BE:FIRST TV』『Da-iCE Music Lab』などテレビパフォーマンスで残す爪痕　ロックフェス挑戦にも期待, 2022/4/23*
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 *Trend News - BE:FIRST「僕たちが先駆者になる」...ビバラ出演の"覚悟"に胸が熱くなる『BE:FIRST Road to VIVA LA ROCK 2022』EPISODE 2, 2022/4/13*
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 *Nikkei X-Trend - SKY-HI　重要なライブMC、「新人」BE:FIRSTに求めることは, 2022/5/26*
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 *Trend News - BE:FIRSTの"ビバラ伝説"を見届けよ！　魂揺さぶるライブ映像だらけな『BE:FIRST Road to VIVA LA ROCK 2022』FINAL EPISODE, 2022/5/31*
7. ↑  Broadcast announcement