Arashi - One Love

I saw the Taiwanese version of the popular drama, Hana Yori Dango or more commonly known as Boys over Flowers. It spread to become a high popular romance that talks about a common girl who went to a prestigious escalator school which 4 rich and handsome boys, labelled as the "Flower Four or F4" rule the campus.

The girl, Tsukushi Makino, was treated as a weed but the leader of the Flower Four, Tsukasa Domyouji who took an interest in her for being the only girl who didn't like him. But having a bully for an attitude was a major turn off for Tsukushi who liked another, Rui Hanazawa.

For the anime, i think it has another one of the romance genre cliches of a very popular guy loving the only girl who doesn't like him. It happens to a lot. How the guy can't seem to comprehend how so many girls love him but the female protagonist. Take the TV romance of Jake Ryan and Miley Stewart in the Hannah Montana series. Perfect example.

But nevertheless, i may not be a fan of the series but i am a fan of the music (being Arashi one of my favorites and Aiko).

For the song itself, One Love spoke of how a couple went to a rocky situation together but managed to be alright. It reflected a lot about Domyouji and Tsukushi's relationship, rising from Tsukushi disliking Domyouji completely to seeing in him a different light and finally falling in love.

The video itself had a wonderful opening but it reminded me too much of a bagpipe. The flying doves, the pastel colors really suited the white theme, and for myself, White being a color of Purity and stanza in the song has this sentence:

Hyaku nen saki mo ai wo chikau yo
Kimi wa boku no subete sa
Aishiteiru tada aishiteru onaji asu yakusoku shiyou

Sekai juu ni tada hitori dake
Boku wa kimi wo eranda
Kimi to ireba donna mirai mo
Zutto kagayaiteiru kara

I promise this love even for one hundred years, you are my everything.
I love you, I just love you, I will promise the same tomorrow.
You're the only one in this world and I choose you.
If you are here, the future will be bright no matter what.

どんなときも支えてくれた
笑いないた仲間え
心こめてただひとつだけ
送る言葉はありがとう

百年先も愛を誓うよ
君は僕の凡てさ
愛しているただ愛してる同じアス約束使用
世界中にただ一人だけ
僕は君を選んだ
君と入ればどんな未来も
ずっと輝いているから

I love that stanza alot and the last "Lalalalalalala" was cute as well >w<. One Love is a song dedicated to a couple who managed through it all, just like how Domyouji and Tsukushi did.

Yum!Yum!ORANGE - Precious Days

I was trying to find "Precious Days" by Junko Minagawa since my Oneechan gave me a song file of it. But since i wasn't able to get it properly, i decided to find it on Youtube where most of her songs are found there except for a few special others. Until i found Yum!Yum!Orange instead.

I decided to take a listen and found it to be very cute and vibrant, as to the lyrics. Having such a catchy beat, plus the trumpets sounded awesome! The lyrics is mostly of a person moving on when the person he/she likes is gone. Not exactly sure if by 'gone', meaning "passed away" or "just left". But the guitars with the trumpets complimented each other throughout the entire song and the last instrumental in the end.

What mostly amused me was the cute painted characters on the glass. The fish with hearts on the corners of his eyes, the flying bat pumpkins are just too KAWAII!! I like how some of the band members painted some lyrics of the song in some empty glass window. And the lead singer, Kumi was awesome too. Ichi-Low on the drums was working it! Izumi and Ameal with the trombone and trumpet were the best though. Partnered with Ryu, on the guitar and all.

I saw how they had a member named Fumi who was a saxophone player but then dropped out. Well, still trying to find some more songs from Yum!Yum!ORANGE. They are actually a J-Ska (J-Suka) Band. First time to come up with the genre actually. But as the information is from Wikipedia, J-Suka is traditional jamaican club sound with metal, punk, funk and/or country. It also has a few english words in them.

For the lyrics, i love....the first verse best:

Isogiashi no machi ni se wo mukete
Iku ate mo naku hashiridasu
Haato no piasu kaze ni yureru tabi
Awai omoide yomigaeru
Takaramono wa itsumo mune no oku
Poketto ni iroasenu you

I turn my back to the bustle of the town
And run, with no destination in mind
Every time my heart earring swing in the breeze
They bring back a faint memory
Treasures stay in the heart
So they don’t fade in our pockets

私は、街の喧騒に背を向ける
と実行すると、心には先に
そよ風にスイングするたびに私の心のイヤリング
彼らへのかすかな記憶をもたらす
宝物の中心部に滞在
だから、私たちのポケットにフェードしない

It sounded awesome, but realistic in a way. When someone feels upset or happy, sometimes it's just best to just run without any destination to go. I often do that myself actually, only i walk not run. I get too tired easily. But sometimes when something just happen, you either take a few more minutes to take it all in or whatever. But i do like it a lot.

Vic Mignogna - Byakuya~True Light English Version

Eversince i got this from a friend who found it (thanks Oneechan), i instantly liked it! It's like the original singer, Shunichi Miyamoto. But what was more shocking was, it was none other Vic Mignogna! GASP! In case anyone was wondering....he voiced Edward Elric in the American Dubbed version of Full Metal Alchemist!

He sounded so good! I never knew Mr. Mignogna could sing so well! But it was really surprising as well when i found he was the one who also played the voice of DNAngel's phantom thief, Dark Mousy. Yeah! English Dark can sing! Hope Krad isn't jealous or anything.

Hahaha. He sounds like an American Miyamoto-san! Man, too shocking for words. And he voiced Takenaga Oda from "The Wall Flower" too. I love him really. But i hope my friend will be happy since in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles, he voiced Fay D. Flowright! Yay! Fay is love in our little group. Anyway...back to the comments of the songs...

The lyrics sound weird but it sound really good actually. But of course, English versions of the anime songs always seem to have weird lyrics just to make the words fit the song's original tempo and tune. But of course, for true Anime fans, nothing beats the original song and lyrics.

(of course, copy of the song and link to one amv with the song. Unfortunately, it's only a minute and around 39 seconds of play time because the english dub only made a TV size version Mr. Mignogna's version. Darn it. And it sounded so good.)

Darkness of white

You can through the sadness take your flight

And become the wings

That pierce the veil

Spreading strong and true tonight
Brought into the line at last

By the cold exposing sun

I was granted freedom tamed

To become the chosen one

Through the mirror

Night relfected

Miraculous to see

My soul threw away the mask

That hides the deeper me

Breaking the dark of night

Piercing through the painted white

Cut it all away

From yesterday'til and new era's in sight

Unlock the heart within

Let it spread it's wings and soar

Rising up in flight

Through the night of white

And fly on forever more

http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oOcBI_j4fg

(And of course, a picture of Mr. Mignona. Don't ya love the hair and eyes. Smile those pearly whites, Mr. Mignona!)

- And of course, i like to give an ad his OFFICIAL website: http://www.vicsworld.net/ , which contains all you need to learn more about Mr. Mignogna. He even made an introductional gif of him introducing anyone who views his website! WHICH IS PURE AWESOMENESS!!! OwO

Miyano Mamoru - Prisoner

Right now, i got Miyano Mamoru's Prisoner. It's an OST from the still on-going anime of Skip Beat! I have always loved Miyano Mamoru's voice. As he got the "Best Lead Voice Actor", voicing Light Yagami of the popular anime, "Death Note".

I only managed to listen to it for a while but it was a bit of a rocker kind of song to me. In Skip Beat! he voices Sho Fuwa, an @$$ who i really hate when i first read the manga. But i will just put the description of Wikipedia since i am lazy to type right now. -_-;

Shō Fuwa (不破 尚 ,Fuwa Shō?)
Voiced by: Nobutoshi Kanna (drama CD), Mamoru Miyano (anime)
His real name is Shōtarō (松太郎 ?). He keeps it a secret because he finds it a very old-fashioned and traditional name. He is a typical stuck-up star, and is also very ruthless. Shō had no qualms about tricking Kyoko into going with him to Tokyo so she could be a free servant for him. He also had even less qualms about being extremely cruel to her when she discovered this. Shō eventually figured out that Kyoko was in L.M.E., and was surprised to see her transformation. It is also revealed that he has more feelings for her than he originally thought, such as in Act. 82 when he personally brought some medical cream for the cut in Kyoko's face (caused by him), and apologised sincerely. Most notably during the Dark Moon shoot over a resort, Kyoko's stalker Reino announced in front of Sho, that he plans to steal her away from him. Reino from the band Vie Ghoul had stolen one of Sho's music sheets/songs previously planning to use it for their own success. When Reino chased Kyoko through the forest, Sho followed pursuit and was the one who protected Kyoko even calling Kyoko "his woman". However this moment was not witnessed by Kyoko. Despite his ruthless and cold personality, Sho has a sense of humor that he keeps buried deep down, nearly busting a gut laughing in private to Kyoko's misprouncing Vie Ghoul as Beagle. As Kyoko once commented, Sho has loved comedy shows on TV since they were both kids.
Though most of these lean toward a general possessiveness for Kyoko, who had been his constant companion and servant since childhood. Further on in the series though, Shō begins to show a kinder side to her and hints that he has real feelings as opposed to just possessive feelings. Once he finds out that Ren Tsuruga is in love with Kyoko too, he gets really mad. Shō thinks of Ren as his rival and is extremely petty at times when they meet, even going as far as to pick a fight with him. Shō is also a big flirt and can be very shallow. He tends to like older women, but he is fine with women with big breasts and oozing pheromones. Shō has disliked Ren because he is the coolest guy in Show Biz. Shō says he's going to steal all of Ren's fans and the title of "The Coolest Male Celebrity" from him.

Anyway, that's about it. He's a prick. That's all i can say about him. He seems like those annoying bleached blonde stuck up characters. But he wears mostly black, go figure. In my opinion, Miyano Mamoru is a great voice actor in villain roles. But his role in Soul Eater, as Death the Kid proved me wrong since Kid has a bit of an obessive complusive behavior with Symmetrical objects and breaks down if it isn't Symmetrical.

Well...i can't find a link right now but check out www.gendou.com for a download link. But...on the down side, you gotta have an account.

Aiko - Nageki no Kiss and KissHug

I just listened to Aiko Hikari's "Nageki no Kiss". And it had a nice longing feeling to it. As the lyrics state, it's about a young girl grieving over her lover in the sea. The sunset as Aiko plays on a piano near the shores gave a nice touch. And how at some point, she had a piano solo.

It makes the listener be reminded that everyone will be sad when the one you love the most will be gone. Personally, i am touched by the song. I love it really. Seeing the sunset, the rippling of sea water and when at some moments of the video, the camera will point to Aiko's feet, dancing.

And another song is "KissHug". This was at the Hana Yori Dango Final as an Insert Song, with Arashi's "One Love" as the opening. It shows how a woman or a man's love is strong to still love the one they hold affections for even if they leave. It remind me of Daisy from "The Curious case of Benjamin Button" because Benjamin, after Daisy gave birth to their baby daughter, Caroline, said to her "You can't take care of us both".

So he sold his father's Button company, got a lot of money to save on an account book then gave it to Daisy when Caroline had her 1st birthday. Okay..before i go give out Spoilers or whatever. The line that struck me most in KissHug was this:

3つめ4つめと数えた星の涙に願うあなたの傍にずっと居たい
まだ知らない事だらけの背中と背中を合わせて聞こえてきた音
壊れても仕方ない程に熱い

I make a wish on the 3rd and 4th celestial tear I count in the sky I want to be with you forever
We stand back to back, without knowing so much, and hear a sound
It’s so hot it doesn’t matter if we break apart

I find it beatiful. Longing for the one you love and wishing under the sky to be with them forever. Although i am not exactly a sappy romance addict, i tend to daydream of actually getting to a relationship. >.> Anyway. Aiko's songs are all full of love that are ideal for all girls alike and of course, of the Pop genre.

Junko Minagawa

Junko Minagawa. One of the most talented seiyuus and singers i have ever listened to my entire life. She has one of the most awesome voices i know. And apprently, this is expressed in some of the songs she wrote and sang. My personal favorites would be:

1) Sign - all about Marriage and Promises
2) Ichigan ~Ballad Version~ - Finding the strength from the memories of your closest friends.
3) Heart
4) Darkness of Chaos
5) Thank you for...
6) TIME STOP
7) Daybreak
8) Chikai - Promises to be with a special someone
9) Kaze ni Nokatte
10) White Line

I understood a few of the lyrics in japanese though. But i try to get the translations as soon as i can. Although the lyrics of Daybreak was so hard to find that i had to get an Auditory Translation to a very wonderful source. So right now, let me sing to "Heart" for it's wonderful piano instrumentals.

Arashi - Beautiful Days

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7aqez_arashiy-beautiful-days-pv_music

I love this song. I find the animated lettering in the first few seconds to be very cute. Then the lights above and the group singing after a few seconds of piano. And around 1:54 to 1:58, the lights were just beautiful. But it was kind of iffy when you just get their close-up for the verse then they look like they are just whispering. But i understand from the lyrics. Because this was the translation of the first lyrics.

空に輝くよきらり星がじわり 滲んでくよ悲しいほどきれいだね
- Sora ni kagayaku yo kirari Hoshi ga jiwari nijindeku yo Kanashii hodo kirei da ne
= The stars in the sky shine and flashIn turn and then blur outIt's so pretty it's sad

It's kind of beautiful. It is a song suited for a recently passed love one. Because the lyrics reflected on how beautiful the sky and stars that it is so pretty it's sad. It also says in one part that the singer will go as far as the sky to sing to the point his/her voice will be gone. And also how no matter how hard we wish that loved one was still there, he or she won't come back anymore because she or he is in a better place and even if they are not here with us in body, they will always be here to comfort us through the happy memories.

Here is the lyrics if you wish to see:
http://www.jpopasia.com/lyrics/12186/arashi/beautiful-days.html

Polysics - Catch on Everywhere

Kinda found this when i was cruising esnips trying to find a certain seiyuu's song. And i found a Japanese Alvin the Chipmunk. Weird right? I find the little guy amusing, dancing and shooting his arm in the air. But I find the girl in the keyboards a bit boring. Like she barely even move. Just her fingers to play the keyboard i guess? But in the bridge, her voice sounded like she was singing under water. But the guy on the drums is cute in my opinion. In any other way, i am just looking for new music i guess.

I find their orange jumpsuits a little plain. But the pop up balloons were quirky and amusing to watch. Anyway, it's catchy

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcQRj1iiugA