The Return of an Icon: Haroumi Hosono returns to the Greek after 47 years
On one of the final nights of summer in Los Angeles, the Greek Theatre welcomed Haruomi Hosono. As he stepped onto the stage, suavely dressed in a grey blazer, overcast sunglasses and a neatly placed baker boy cap, the entire amphitheater rose to their feet. Cheers beckoned throughout the venue as the musician took his place. Hosono is a true icon of music, and the reverence and esteem in which he is held was evident the instant he stepped onto that stage.
As an artist who has made music in possibly every known genre, Hosono immediately grabbed the audience's attention with some electronic ballads, from his Yellow Magic Orchestra and SKETCH SHOW days, before moving into covers and alternative tracks. His setlist ebbs and flows through genres, as if meticulously curated to demonstrate just how versatile his discography truly is. At a point however, between songs, he stops the show, briefly mentioning his age, before departing the stage briefly.
In the space in between, his band members take center stage and perform in his absence. In a way, it reflects what Hosono has always been about – the music.
In a moment of vulnerability, Hosono returned to the stage, this time accompanied by a translator. As he spoke, the audience listened patiently, hanging onto each word. The Japanese speaking audience members were respectful and pensive, waiting for the translator to finish, before reacting with the rest of the audience.
Hosono opened up about his recent health complications which had threatened his life. He spoke of being fitted with a pacemaker, later admitting how it had made it difficult for him to keep rhythm. He went on to clarify that he felt good on that night, before continuing to play his set – as planned.
At times I noticed he held his guitar without strumming it, as if it were simply a prop. It felt as if the guitar was an extension of himself, something he couldn’t part ways with. And in a way, that sums up who Haroumi Hosono is at heart: a true musician. For him, in his current health, his passion at times outweighs his body’s physical limitations.
On this night Hosono proved yet again why he is so revered. His elegant vocals, command of the stage, and effability is truly captivating. More evident that ever is his unparalleled passion for music transcends age, era, and generation.
On a night overshadowed by discussions of the heart, it was love that eclipsed everything: the love and adoration of an icon and his undying, persistent passion for music. It came as no surprise that Los Angeles, a city accustomed to adoring icons like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, extended its profound love to another Japanese great.
