Grown Up Boy Band

KinKi Kids - Harmony of December


The name was popular enough to reach my radar years ago when I started getting into J-pop, but the "boy band" label wasn't quite encouraging for me to find out more. I knew about one song from them I think, and when "KinKi Kids Forever" came out, I totally thought they were just another cheesy group. I didn't even know the group consists of not more than two members, until recently.

By now they've been active for more than ten years, and with a pretty impressive record. Sampling their songs over this period, I realized their singing had been decent from the start, although it's certainly better now. I wasn't following close enough to be able to say that their music matured over the years -- I found at random points songs that fit my fancy and some that don't. But for sure up to now they have produced a number of good songs, learned to play instruments, and composed some music of their own.

Given the dangerously image-oriented multi-purpose Asian idol culture (which I'm sure they are still conforming to, at many levels, to some extent) I'm glad to see such a growth in this aspect.

Epic

Just thought this is cute. For the full effect you need to listen to the bouncy song. It was featured in Grey's Anatomy, so I suppose most people already know?

On the radio
You hear November Rain
That solo's awful long
But it's a good refrain
You listen to it twice
'cause the DJ is asleep...

Regina Spektor, "On the Radio"
Uploaded by reginaspektor



And of course, the referenced "awful long" classic.

Guns 'n Roses, "November Rain"
Uploaded by shermanshecapio



Of this type of rousing, haunting music, "Bohemian Rhapsody" came to mind -- the combination of epic melody and powerful accompaniment.

There are several other great songs which are probably close... say, "Total Eclipse of the Heart" -- feels like the level of power is not quite the same, though. "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" and "Tak Bisa Ke Lain Hati" (that I advertised some time back) are quite majestic too, but not as haunting.

In contrast, the famous "Hotel California" is definitely haunting but in a quiet, undercurrent way; and in The Fifth Element's "Diva Opera", well, the power and the haunting quality all come from Sarah Brightman's impressive voice. I'm not so much into operatic stuff (where I suppose there are more of such things?) so I don't really notice the music aside from the strategic 'bam!'-s.

Speaking of epic there is of course Meat Loaf who has been "breaking several records for chart duration", but (aside of the length factor) I think it has a lot to do with his vocal presentation and less about the full accompaniment.

Hmm... any other recommendation?

Charlie and the Teenage Angst

Not sure what to call this -- reflection? fanfiction? Anyway, this short piece of prose was inspired by a line of dialogue in the movie Charlie Bartlett, which both Eka and I have high opinions of after watching.

Yet untitled, and probably a little mushy. =P Fanfiction-ish in the sense that references are made without explanation, so it may be difficult to understand if you haven't watched the movie (well, if you haven't but can still understand, I'd be delighted to know). It also means spoilers.

---

The boy is everything he is not, even back in those years -- sweet talk and refined manners and prim looks that scream at school bullies to get him.

He sees no malice, though, and that is why he hasn't been quite as stern as someone in his position should be. He knows this species: teenagers vying to be recognized as adults, taking charge of things in all the wrong ways, while in truth their stubbornness and cynical perspectives speak louder of how immature their minds still are.

This kid would've been no different if not for his actual capacity to stir troubles at such a scale.

That may have been his mistake, to leave alone a misguided aspiration that ends up robbing him of his job and family and the life he's been trying to piece back together.

Yes, he is game enough to admit his part in this wreck, and that, strangely, is one point where he can connect perfectly with the kid -- they make mistakes; but all their mistakes, they make in earnest.

Yet, seated in the makeshift theatre, he has to admit that the kid fixes his mistakes a little better than he does. It may be an advantage of youth to be so fixated on a dream -- when one road crumbles, he grabs his dream and moves on.

Roads are for destinations, not the other way round. For him who has spent years following a road to a dream that lands him somewhere he no longer wants to be, it might as well be that all this mess has gotten him out of it.

The curtain closes on the smiling face of his daughter, looking straight at him. He assumes it means the worst part is over.

Their relationship might have been fine before this boy came along, and a total disaster after; but without that episode, it might never be as good as it will be from now on.

That may have been his saving grace, to not kill a clumsy flame that later goes on to rekindle the meaning of all that's important in his life.

---

Classic

桑田佳祐「明日晴れるかな」
Kuwata Keisuke "Ashita Hareru ka na"



I am partial to deep voice. ^_^ The rockish quality caught my attention immediately upon hearing it on someone's blog, and the fact that his English pronunciation actually sounded fine in my ears. To top it off, this is one really nice song.

During the hunt, found out that it is also the theme song of PROPOSE Daisakusen, apparently quite a popular drama (seen it on display in TS), no doubt because it stars Yamashita Tomohisa. I'm not enticed to watch it yet since the theme looks set towards a very slow pace... but if it is as emotional as people said, then this theme song is definitely appropriate.

The hunt also led to the band of which Kuwata-san is vocalist, and uncovered another great song below.


Southern All Stars 「TSUNAMI」



Finally, while wading through older Japanese songs, I was surprised to find that some Chinese songs that I liked were actually ripped from them. Gah! Well, to be fair, I don't know for sure if for all cases it is not the other way round; I only deduced from the fact that most of them do cite the Japanese composers.

I'm quite accepting of the ones by Joi Cai since I knew that beforehand, and I'm actually glad she did 依恋 because I have no way of finding the French(?) original. The 后来 -- 未来へ (Mirai e) connection was quite well known too; but these pretty classic ones left me feeling a bit... cheated. ^^0

Anyway, here's a list of those I found recently. I'm quite prepared to find more match in the future. At least they did bring the nice tunes to a wider world, in some cases also giving them a more mainstream feel... so I won't complain.


My Love ( 许志安 )
-- 白い恋人達 / Shiroi Koibito-tachi ( 桑田佳祐 / Kuwata Keisuke)

每天爱你多一些 ( 张学友 )
-- 真夏の果実 / Manatsu no Kajitsu (Southern All Stars)

今生註定 ( 高明骏 & 王馨平 ) ( 石欣卉 & ? )
-- 世界中の誰よりきっと / Sekaijuu no Dare Yori Kitto (WANDS)

风中的承诺 ( 李翊君 )
-- 夕焼けの歌 / Yuuyake no Uta ( 近藤真彥 / Kondou Masahiko)

Life in the Art Lane

I'm going to watch The Pillowman tonight. First real live event that I decided to buy a ticket for all by myself, so somehow I feel like it's something I need to be prepared for, XD which I'm not. Hmmm. Maybe I should've been more persuasive in asking my friends to watch with me, but I was in the never-mind, chop-chop-settle kinda mood. =P

Got myself a Kobukuro last weekend. Somebody should be proud of me for supporting the music industry for once. XD I knew they wouldn't disappoint (furthermore it's their All Singles Best), but part of the reason for that impulsive purchase was my excitement at knowing that their fame had apparently reached Singapore too -- wouldn't be surprised if it were in Kinokuniya, but I've found the CD in the Popular bookshop, see.

If anything, my one tiny purchase should encourage Warner Music Singapore to import more of their stuff, no? (On second thought, maybe it just helps that Kobukuro is currently signed under Warner Music Japan?) Their edition comes with Chinese translation of the song lyrics and footnotes in the album, too, so that in addition to 20 songs (16 of which I didn't have at time of purchase) in two discs at 19 dollars minus 5 cents are quite worth it, at least when balanced against my growing obsession, heh.

Two of the songs in the album I've posted some time back, so I won't post more here. Instead, here is a song "Kobukuro's smaller one" wrote for Natsukawa Rimi, another great singer whose CDs I've been buying (that's saying a lot if you know me). Please bear with the precluding talks -- there are cleaner videos out there, but I like this version because the songwriter performed with her and sang the harmony here.


夏川りみ & 小渕健太郎 「 さようなら ありがとう ～天の風 （アマノカゼ） ～ 」
Natsukawa Rimi & Kobuchi Kentarou "Sayounara Arigatou ~Ama no Kaze~" (Live Duet)