Late December, End of Year 2011

Hohoho good night. Usually I don't pay too much attention at the calendars, the hell I care what date today is. But but but, the end of the year 2011 is approaching, of course, and in less than 48 hours we're going to celebrate the new year of 2012. So, why 2012 seems to be a lil bit special than the previous ones? Well well, if it's not that special, they wouldn't make that box office movie "2012", huh? The rumor of "The End of The World" has caught people's attention for some times.

Certainly I'm not going to talk about that~
I wanna talk about what I'm doing lately. Uuugh... I've been working, helping my dad lately. And I have come to like classic rock! Yeah-hoo. They're not that bad at all, you know. Especially this band called Credence Clearwater Revival (or usually shortened as C.C.R.), they are awesome! Those guys come from 1960's, when my dad was a lil boy. He said that their music is good, so I did some searching for their songs and they fit my ears quite good. Daddy said he used to listen to their songs a lot, looks like we have the same genre hoho. Catchy lyrics, easy listening music, fun beat, and epic endings... all in one package. I don't easily get bored by them! Here are some of my faves:

Molina

Bad Moon Rising

Long As I Can See The Light

Rollin' On A River

Have You Ever Seen The Rain

Looking Out My Back Door

Buddies from C.C.R.

Dad also mentioned other singers like Boney M, they do have unique sense of music, too unique I must say, so I don't favor them so much. My dad likes them so much however, I wonder why? They happened to be a vocal group, which at first I thought was a band like C.C.R. Some of their songs are Ma Baker, Rasputin, Rivers of Babylon, Daddy Cool. 

Hohoho other thing, I finally found the ringtone Dean Winchester used - after reading the novel SUPERNATURAL - Nevermore, the title is 'Smoke On The Water', sung by Deep Purple - quite a famous classic rock band I suppose. I was so curious back then because the opening is quite funny, that I quite often find myself humming the opening, pretending I'm holding an electric guitar. And there's 'Ramble On' from Led Zeppelin, I kinda like it too hihi.

Deep Purple

Led Zeppelin

Well well I think in 2012, I will try to dig in for more classic rock. I've been listening to pop music for the pas 17 years, it's not bad at all to try a whole new genre for a whole new year, right? Anyway as a reference I can always ask dad who once lived in the classic rock area hohoho.

Somewhere Only We Know

I found this song when I watched Winnie The Pooh Movie 2011 trailer on youtube. It's not actually my genre, but the lyrics, oh the lyrics... They're so catchy. Hahaha. Whatever you call it, but I like the lyrics. Anyway I highlighted the most impressive quotes hoho.
(apparently the lyrics are just keep repeated so I deleted the ending a bit)

"Somewhere Only We Know"
~Keane

I walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete
Oh simple thing where have you gone?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

I came across a fallen tree
I felt the branches of it looking at me
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?
Oh simple thing where have you gone?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know?

Oh simple thing where have you gone?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
So why don't we go

It's December 2011, How Am I Doing?

Ouh, pretty great. Except the facts that, I woke up at 4 a.m. for almost two weeks, being depressed bout the final exams, how I thought I had lost my mojo somehow, next week is supposed to be a holiday but lots of works are still piling up til H-3 Christmas... I think I'm doing pretty well.

Welcoming December week with final exam on your schedule has never been easy. I mean, everyone's cheering up as Christmas is approaching, but for a third grader of Senior High like me, I don't think I can even enjoy Christmas this year, although I'm not a Christian. I have lots of things floating in my brain like, how am I going to face national exam next year, what major to take... I feel so unprepared. It's December and I'm still hesitating which path I should take. Before that, I used to think that national exam is not that big deal, but judging from how I'm doing lately, especially in a certain subject which is essential for science students, it's not wrong to be extra-worried. Extra lessons had been given since a month ago but they are not helping much, I must say. In the end, you have to fight with yourself, for yourself.

Anyway, somehow I still try to find a chance to enjoy myself. Like, today, I woke up at 8 a.m. and the first thing to do was finding the DVD player remote. Insert the DVD and voila! I didn't take my eyes off from the screen until 3 p.m., watching the long-awaited TV Show Supernatural - simply my fave of all time. No one disturbed, nothing to think about except the apocalypse, angels, demons, and my favorite boy, Dean Winchester. That's the exact definition of holiday, or perhaps you can call a day off. Gosh, when was the last time I did this kind of thing?

Talking bout something else. I have never been a great fan of the so called Justin Bieber. But, a few days ago I accidentally heard his new song and it's not that bad at all. "Under The Mistletoe" is the only song I like from him after all! And guess why. Personally I only like the wintery tone behind it, as it reminds me of Christmas so much. Maybe his voice has also grown to be more mature that I am attracted to it. But don't worry I still stick to my main interest, J-Pop, hoho.

MUSIC REVIEW

Hi! Today I feel like writing bout the songs in my playlist. Particularly I like J-Pop cause their songs are catchy and they use various instrumentals, that’s great. So here are 7 songs I pick to review.

                       Omoide ni Naru Mae Ni 『想い出になる前に』 

Artist : Jyukai

Album : Jyukai BEST ~Stairway to the future~ 

I have always loved Jyukai! Manami’s pure yet strong voice just fits ballads, accompanied with light orchestra in the background, leaving a deep melodramatic impression. This song is so difficult to find, I must admit – I got it by downloading a whole album. The title in English is ‘Before You Turn into Memories’. The song tells us about farewell and regret, a lonely girl who’s still hoping for her loved one to return, but she realizes that what are left are just memories.

“…Before you turn into memories
I should have told you that I love you more…”

  

      Mienai Hoshi  見えない星

Artist : Nakashima Mika

Album : YES

Nakashima Mika is indeed one of the best Japanese singers ever, for her mild and characterized voice that easily melts everyone’s heart. Although ‘Yuki No Hana’ is considered as her most popular song (and it’s been my favorite for like, a decade), we can hear Mika’s real vocal ability in this song. Mienai Hoshi means “The Star I Can’t See”, reflecting the meaning brought by the lyrics. The song tells us about a lonely girl who prays to the star, longing to meet her love. Somehow every time I hear this song, I could always feel the emptiness expressed, as if I were the one who’s left behind (were I?).

“…I hope my wish reaches the empty sky
And the stars I can’t see, way off in the distance
I softly called your name…”

3.       Shiroi Yuki 白い雪

Artist : Kuraki Mai

Album : One Life

As Christmas is approaching, I tend to hear some wintery song that brings a unique spirit of holiday. I especially like the first thirty seconds of this song because it reminds me a lot how cheerful a winter is. Although, when you’ve learned the real meaning of this song, it tells a sad love story of a girl who can’t forget her love feeling, set in winter time and so much linked with the white snow. However, I enjoy the cheerful tone of the song so much.

“…White snow, I remember that promise
With each breath I think of you…”

Hikari no Naka de  光の中で

      Artist : Hiro

With the light tones and cute voice from Hiro, plus the enchanting melodies, this song never gets me bored for once. Somehow it’s different from others, calming and sweet – no drums, no electric guitars, I’m just glad. So feminine it is, just like an innocent girl singing from her heart. Anyway I haven’t managed to find the translation of the lyrics (and I’m just so poor at Japanese that I can’t get the meaning at all), except that the title means “In the Light”.

5.                       Carols

           Artist : Ayumi Hamasaki

           Album : My Story

Of all Ayumi’s song, I think I like Carols the best. Again, the wintery tones just attract my ears so bad, as I’m touched with the lyrics – they’re all just so sweet. I grow to be fond of snow, and I think love linked to snowy days is just perfectly romantic. From the melodies we can tell that this song brings a very sad story, but it’s worth to be listened even by them who may not feel sad at the moment.

“…When the white snow melts
And the city becomes vivid and colorful
I like to keep you closest
To my heart…”

6.      Truth

Artist : Yuna Ito

Album : Heart

This song is a soundtrack of J-dorama NANA where Yuna Ito played as Reira. We can hear some English lyrics inside, sung with nice pronunciation, probably because she was raised in Hawaii. This song is filled with powerful emotion, talking about the ‘truth’ where a girl is ready to sacrifice everything to get her love.

“…Even if we're separated, in this heart
I will feel you forever, It's my truth…”

7.      Yume no Uta 夢のうた

Artist : Koda Kumi

Album : Black Cherry

Honestly I haven’t listened to Koda Kumi’s so much because some of what I have are just too loud, kinda not fit in my ears, so I can’t help it. But then I found this, ‘Song of the Dream’, and I fall for it. It talks a lot about dream, as a girl is desperate to meet her love in the dream realm.  

“…Tonight, as I fall asleep
Come meet me in my dreams
If I could spend countless nights with you
I wouldn't need anything else...”