The mega-popular BL train that is “Given” shows no signs of stopping yet; following the manga’s conclusion, a sequel series has just started running in Cheri+ magazine, and fans of the anime adaptation are raving about the latest theatrical release and already looking forward to the next one.
In my 2024 BL anime rundown, I wrote about how excited I was for the latest “Given” movie, “Hiiragi Mix,” which premiered on January 27th. I went to go see it opening weekend, and was blown away by the animation, the feels, and of course, the MUSIC.
More info about the next installment of the two-part movie series, which will presumably cover what’s left of the manga material, has also just been announced, with the title revealed to be “Umi e” (“To the Sea”)(@manga readers: If you know, you know 
), and scheduled to hit theaters in fall of this year. Two “Given” movies in one year?? We are truly blessed.
But the “Given” magic doesn’t stop there. Now, one of my biggest passions in life (besides BL, of course) is music, and I’m thrilled when it intertwines with my other interests, such as anime. Plus, I’m a rocker at heart 
and love to enjoy music live whenever I get the chance (fun fact: Alice and I attended the same punk rock festival last spring to see MCR, having no idea the other was present until after the fact 
). So, when I caught wind of an IRL concert of the tunes of “Given” — more specifically, highlighting the music of the in-universe band headed by Hiiragi called “Syh” — being held, it’s only natural that my interest was piqued.
Music is the heart and soul of “Given” (honestly, I can wholeheartedly recommend the soundtrack even if you’ve never read or watched the series because it just GOES so HARD), so seeing the in-universe music live felt like the next big step in my interaction with the franchise.
Read on for my experience as a BL fan getting to hear the music of one of my favorite series brought to life!
Continue reading Rockin’ Out at a Given Concert IRL [BL Fan Diaries: Syh Concert]
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