In this world, there’s only one person with whom you’re meant to connect.
This is a God-woven thread. You cannot change it; you cannot fight it.
The person is not necessarily your wife or your husband, your long term lover.
It may not even be a good friend.
In many cases, it is not someone with whom you spend the rest of your life.
I would hazard a guess that ninety percent of all people never find the other person.
But those lucky few, those very lucky few,
are given the chance to grab the brass ring.
And for one or two of the Chosen, there is a happy ending.
-”Songs of the Humpback Whale”- Jodi Picoult
There has been a flood of new releases since the beginning of 2009. And also singers that I have just been introduced to, and singles which will be released soon! I am not really familiar with lots of singers both Western and Asian, since I haven’t been listening to a lot of albums lately. But now, I’m catching up! This just my take on the albums. I’m not claiming that I know enough about music or these artists (since most of them I’ve only heard for the first time) and I don’t think that I’ve got the best taste in music but yeah, this is my recommendation please take with a grain of salt!
恋のABO (NEWS)
This group doesn’t need introduction, because they’ve completely dominated my j-pop list. A single about blood types? Apparently blood types are like horoscopes but who knew you could make a song out of it? Anyway, this song kinda grew on me, at first I was like “whut?!” but then it had its happy effect on me, and I am now terrorizing my sister by singing “Koi no, Koi no ABO!” Also liked OPEN YOUR EYES and Share (because it’s full of love!).
Because of Ryo Nishikido, I got into Kanjani8, and no I haven’t gotten around to matching the foreign names with their gorgeous faces (haha, fangirl talking). This is the first time I listened to their songs and of course I came with no expectations.
This album had a wide range of style from serious heartwarming ballads (like the title track – Puzzle) and fun songs like ワンシャンロンピン (Wanshan Ronpin) which sounded like it was from a jungle scene and ワッハッハー (Wahaha) which I’m guessing is all about laughing? I also liked 渇いた花 (Kawaita Hana), My Last Train – which reminded me of a really old OPM jukebox song! ローリング・コースター(Rolling Coaster) is the type of song that I’d sing aloud to,and dance along . Of course I liked Half Down which was written by Ryo. I love Glorious too, because the PV was awesome. The verdict? Definitely ear candy for me!
Honestly, I didn’t like Rescue probably because I saw the PV first and I was used to NEWS songs that made me happy when I heard them (without even knowing what the singers looked like). So realizing that KAT-TUN wasn’t happy pop, I had to attempt to listen to their songs for any redemptive factor to blow me over. I tried to listen three times, writing an album post forced me to sit down on the bus and pay attention to their songs (it was one long bus ride).
But I liked Don’t U Ever Stop, though. Now on to the solos, as much
as I’m not a fan of Akanishi Jin – care sounded awesome! Like my heart breaking. 1582 by Kame is a fun track for me, it’s so cool? I don’t know how else to say it. Pierrot by my fave member Koki, was screamy for my taste but I after hearing it for like nine times, it grew on me. I was totally disappointed with Junno’s though, ’cause he’s like the Shige to my NEWS. Neiro is one of my faves too.Even if I’m not completely won over by this album. It’s not so bad.
This is the second single of Arashi this year, this single comprises of two a-sides Ashita no Kioku and Crazy Moon – Kimi wa Muteki. I liked Ashita no Kioku, because I fall in love with ballads so easily. Crazy Moon didn’t make it for me, but I have to agree with the rest about the choreography in their PV, the dance is so awesome. Right now, for me, Arashi can do no wrong!
This is a Japanese album and like the previous boy groups I haven’t heard any of their songs except for those featured in Boys Over Flowers. I didn’t really like this album so much, I didn’t really feel that they had a style of their own. Unlike Big Bang, Super Junior or DBSK who I love by the way, their songs are lacklustre and didn’t have the “hook”. If you asked me which songs I liked that will be メッセージ (Message), Promise to Promise, I Want You (it’s a bit fun) amd the a capella All My Love (I’m a sucker for a capella songs).
This isn’t a 2009 release I think, but it’s my first time listening to her. I seem to like female singers who are songwriters (Ani DiFranco, Kendall Payne, Regina Spektor, yes even Taylor Swift). Rosi Golan isn’t an exception she has this folksy feel to her songs. I particularly like C’est L’amour about a chance meeting with a man in Paris. Think of Me is a type of song for a friend. I was in an emotional slump when I heard I Don’t Wanna Wait a much needed boost to my dwindling motivation. Hazy is a nice duet, her songs have simple lyrics but like poetry it connects with the listener. Other favourites are Slide, Shine, Lullaby and Been A Long Day.
I loved her cover of Hallelujah (although my sister thinks otherwise), and loved her previous album especially the song I Won’t Disagree. This time her songs have improved lyrically. I think her vocal range has also matured. Like other of my fave singers, her songs are confessional. Her songs are catchy along with its titles like 99 Times, Who You Are Without Me, Angel or Manhattan from the Sky. Tracks I liked most were Lift Me Up and Sweet Silver Lining – very inspiring! This album is worth the listen
This album calms me so much! I liked French Navy – meeting someone at a dusty library, and James. James should be heartbreaking, but I found it funny…that’s just me. Swans has a catchy tune and I seem to tap my foot subconsciously every time. There’s nothing much to pimp about this album at all. I like the arrangement and the lyrics so much!
Another dose of confessional songs, and I can’t believe that she’s just 21! Her songs are like reading journal entries, and her voice, reminds me of Colbie Caillat. I like All Lost at C, Not Even Human, Like You Do and Make Me Believe. If you like A Fine Frenzy, Colbie Caillat or Natasha Bedingfield, you’d like her too!
I grew up listening to Jewel, I think she started my like for confessional writing! This album really speaks for itself with the title lullaby. The songs are so soothing and will lull you to a state of relaxation if not slumber. Her cover of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Brahm’s Lullaby and Somewhere Over the Rainbow are not childish but so sweet and simple. Other favourites are Dreamer, Forever and A Day (Always) and Sweet Dreams. Somehow for me it feels like the songs are not really her “kind” of songs. But love it anyway!
The only thing I understand in French aside from I love you, and hello is voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir? which my friend’s Mum told us girls to make sure we pick the right person to say it too, preferably someone with a nice looking car! Haha…she was so funny. Anyway, Coralie Clément some people described her as the Amelie of french music. And I can’t really say that because I don’t understand the lyrics at all. But what I like about her songs is the breathy vocals and the way her songs bring you to a nice, warm, summery place OK I sounded like I was on crack. In this album I liked Je Ne Sens Plus Ton Amour (a duet), On Était Bien, Paris, Dix Heures Du Soir, So Long Babylone (I thought the intro sounded like a ukelele was playing) and the English track Share the Day.
A Japanese duo singing all their songs in French. Perfectly dreamy, like talking walks. I like the songs Sommeil Des Villes, very sweet and inspiring and can be slow-danced to! L’ennui sans Fin (Endless boredom) is another favourite and also Tous Le Jours (loved the intro).
Aishiteru (Monkey Majik)
Composed of two Canadians and two Japanese members they sing in English and Japanese too. I like the style of their songs. In fact I’m learning how to play Together a song from their2008 Together / Akari / Fall Back single. I am anticipating their new single Aishiteru, so far it looks good!
These are just some which I just listened to, expect more posts like this!
Who doesn’t want to live like that? Having no regrets. I used to think that having no regrets meant that you had to ALWAYS make the right decision, at the right time, in the right place to get to the right direction. Everything had to be right. Imagine the pressure I put myself through.
Fear took over and basically I didn’t enjoy life, my definition of fun was sleeping in on Saturdays…although I had to stop that too because I felt I would regret wasting my time sleeping instead of doing something productive. I had goals to cover but that still didn’t change me from being a boring person.
So bring on the thrills, take out the crayons and color outside the lines, be silly and make mistakes! As long as I don’t get jail time or cause disgrace to my progeny!
Somewhere someone is thinking of you. Someone is calling you an angel. This person is using celestial colors to paint your image. Someone is making you into a vision so beautiful that it can only live in the mind. Someone is thinking of the way your breath escapes your lips when you are touched. How your eyes close and your jaw tightens with concentration as you give pleasure a home. These thoughts are saving a life somewhere right now. In some airless apartment on a dark, urine stained, whore lined street, someone is calling out to you silently and you are answering without even being there. So crystalline. So pure. Such life saving power when you smile. You will never know how you have cauterized my wounds. So sad that we will never touch. How it hurts me to know that I will never be able to give you everything I have.
Something happened recently that made me realise that I’ve become an expert at masking my emotions. More on negative emotions like feeling disappointed, being sad, and even being angry. Unlike before where my tear ducts would be hyperactive in the cathartic process, now I’ve developed a stoic approach.
If I were in the said person’s shoes, I would have kept everything to myself and try to deal with it alone. I’m not as transparent as before. My countenance would really reflect what I was going through and I would contaminate any place I was. Earlier this year, I went through a what I called as “the world as I know it is crashing down” because it really was, and I couldn’t even cry because I was too numb. People who were around me couldn’t tell the difference at all. And that didn’t made me neither happy nor sad. I was numb and neutral.
I chose to remain either happy or neutral, but the negativity was threateningly close. I tried never to reveal it, and I don’t know whether it’s because of pride – I want to give people the appearance that I have life figured out, or it’s because of denial – I didn’t want to face the fact that I was going through the end of my world.
I am amazed at how others can be so honest about how they’re feeling. I can’t do that anymore, I want to try to find that honesty again. To acknowledge when I feel hurt, bitter or disappointed. Because only when I recognize that I’m in pain will I be healed.
But so many people are looking to me
To be strong and to fight
But I’m just surviving
And I maybe weak but I’m never defeated
And I’ll keep believing in clouds with that sweet silver lining
And no, I am not fangirling, that place is reserved for like-minded people. Anyway, before anything else I am super excited because one of my favourite stories – Norwegian Wood written by current favourite author – Haruki Murakami is going to be a movie with one of my favourite actors – Kenichi Matsuyama!
Tran Anh Hung’s screen adaptation of the Haruki Murakami bestseller “Norwegian Wood” now has a cast. Kenichi Matsuyama (24) has been chosen to play the lead as the college student Toru Watanabe, while Rinko Kikuchi (28) plays his emotionally troubled lover Naoko.
The story’s heroine, a lively young woman named Midori, will be played by ViVi fashion model Kiko Mizuhara (18) in her very first acting role. “Norwegian Wood” follows Toru’s relationships with these two very different women, as well as his dealing with the death of a friend.
The movie starts shooting next month, though the scheduled release isn’t until autumn 2010.
I agree with the person who said that reading Haruki Murakami’s books is like watching a movie, the descriptive devices he used, the setting, his words are really so poetic sometimes I tear when I read, which is not really my thing.
Although it’ll be coming out next year, I am soooooo excited! I just realised that Rinko Kikuchi was the one who portrayed a mute highschooler in Babel. I loved that movie!
OK, sorry but if you could see me now, I’m hyperventilating and my sister is oblivious to my joy . Kenichi Matsuyama really scores the best roles, for someone as young as him it’s really admirable. Which reminds me, I have yet to post my reviews for Detroit Metal City and Okuribito!
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. Of course I liked Half Down which was written by Ryo. I love Glorious too, because the PV was awesome. The verdict? Definitely ear candy for me!
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