sentiment: contemplating (again)
harmony: "It's my life" by Sachi Tainaka
I'm not pertaining to all the Filipino people here because if I do, I could've labeled myself as an idiot as well. xP well sure, I act like a big dork/idiot at times but I only did it when it's joke time. I'm just saying that somewhere around me, some idiots are around. Why label them idiots? Because simple words they cannot pronounce very well. And after hearing "those words", I was lol'd after talking to them. They can be anywhere around the Philippine Archipelago, I tell you. xD These are some of the common idiocy that I encountered:
Fried Shickken - some konyos (for others who don't know this term, konyo or konyotics are people who mixed English and Tagalog in one sentence in a way, you'll laugh and at the same time annoyed if you know what I mean. It's like when you heard a statement from them, you'll raise one eyebrow and asked "WHAT!?"
pronounced Fried Chicken in a very well-composed manner and at the same time, in a very sosy manner that they'll mispronounce a word. For example, those konyos will eat in the street and still goes on with their idiotic expressions and says while getting his/her piece of fishball (through a stick), "I will tusok-tusok the fishball..." a big LOL! xD Who wouldn't raise their eyebrow if you heard it while your on your way somewhere? Will you laugh or will you get annoyed? And of course, Shokkolate will always be there. xP
And another person I know, pronounced Pentel Pen, as Pental Pen in which I really lol'd whenever I remember or cherish it. =3
Another is Liblary (instead of Library). That person usually invites me to go to this place when we were still a bit young. One day, she'll say, "Tara, punta tayong Liblary." (in English, "Hey, let's go the Liblary." Funny, isn't it? xD At school, there is this person who keeps speaking like this:
Fred: Oh, what's that?
XXX: Oh, this? This is a pre-advising form.
Fred: For what? And where did you get it?
XXX: Oh, I got it from the Departamental Office (instead of Departmental Office).
See how others didn't notice such small mistakes didn't matter to them and they kept on saying the same word until now. Oh, what big idiots - not using their common sense. But, it's okay. Whatever small mistake they commit, it's still funny in the eyes of the kids and of course, to the jokers like moi. xP *eebiilll mode*
sentiment: happy
harmony: "Lipstick" by Sachi Tainaka
Now what do we have here? It'll be the first time I'll be making a review for Sachi Tainaka's single... haha! Well, I wasn't able to do some reviewing with her Itoshii Hito e single because I don't know what to say about the single. It was extremely good even if it didn't do a good job in the Oricon. If you must know, it only reached #67 with only approximately 2,000 copies sold. Oh such a letdown but I still like the single. The cover was hot and superb and I don't know why it didn't touched the hearts of the listeners. Or maybe because it was a very sad song... but it's B-side Begin was pretty good! A sort of rock and roll with the combination of her oh-so-powerful vocals.
And now moving into the review proper, Lipstick/Ichiban Boshi is Sachi Tainaka's 6th maxi single under Sistus Records (a subsidiary of Geneon Entertainment). Songs and lyrics are all produced by Sachi Tainaka herself (which is a great thing because she really never fails to amaze with her music writing and composing skills). Ichiban Boshi was used as the theme song for the J-movie entitled Persona. Here's the tracklisting for the single:
Lipstick (4:45)
Ichiban Boshi (4:50)
Lipstick -instrumental- (4:43)
Ichiban Boshi -instrumental- (4:48)
Lipstick is I think one of Sachi Tainaka's upbeat songs that has a really nice tune. And another point, I think this is one of her singles in which the A-side song is not a ballad compared to her last singles Saikou no Kataomoi, Aitai yo./Kimi to no Ashita, and Itoshii Hito e which are all ballad but the corresponding B-side songs are upbeat (except for Aitai yo./Kimi to no Ashita since this is a double-A single) and most likely perky. This song has the mixture of ska (because of the trumpets) and rock which is a good combination, IMO. It's kind of similar to Hitomi Shimatani's summer-ish single Neva Eva and it's a little perky as well. The song starts with a very dramatic matter but after a couple of seconds, it changes your mood into a very different and complex way. Then the next few lines, it will be slow and a bit dull but before the chorus starts, it will give you a thrill because Sachi's voice will be powerful again and will give a supreme feeling overall.
Ichiban Boshi, on the other hand, is actually what I have been expecting -- B-A-L-L-A-D. Of course, it'll have a ballad song because IMO, this is where Sachi is good at. And with her high-pitched and powerful voice, it blends well with any ballad but I still prefer Lipstick over this. With the usual blend of power ballad, it has a natural sad tone and an "almost-crying" voice of Sachi similar to her Aitai yo. song but I like the latter more. Not that very special, I should say but still a good performance, I should say. Tis just making my day, a little dull and emo so I'd still go for Lipstick!
Overall, I can rate this single a 4/5 score because I really like Lipstick very much and a bit let down with Ichiban Boshi.
sentiment: raging with happiness
harmony: "Naraku no Hana" by Eiko Shimamiya
Ah-hahaha! I must say I'm a night early again from the original release of this single. I just love the cover of this single... don't you think it's attractive? I don't have much taste for aesthetical objects/pictures but it's really artistic. Simple yet it covers all. I don't have my copy of my single yet but I already have the long version of Naraku no Hana and the B-side FLOW.
I don't get why most of the people translate the song as Hell's Flower or the Flower of Hell. I'd say it should be the Flower of Hades or Hades's Flower. Why? I based it on the kanji. Take a look here:
地獄 - "jigoku" which means hell
奈落 - "naraku" which means underworld
(Note: Hell and Underworld may have the same usage but they are completely different term)
I'd consider it if they will use Pluto since Hades & Pluto are the same person, right? And take another look, according to Wiki, here's the definition for both:
Hell - is an afterlife of suffering where the wicked or unrighteous dead are punished.
Underworld - underworld is a generic term approximately equivalent to the lay term afterlife, referring to any place to which newly dead souls go.
So why Hades? Well simply because he is the king of underworld right? Nuff said.
Alright let's go to the critic proper... Naraku no Hana is probably one of the darkest song that Eiko Shimamiya performed. It has one weird and eery start and end. Although it's dark, it's still upbeat that's why I like the song. Upbeat that I can say it is really an appropriate opening theme for the rated-M visual novel game & anime Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai. And with the usage of electric guitars, it'll give you a crack for 5:01. I give it a 5/5 even if the finishing touch was kind of unsatisfying like in the case of Mami Kawada's Beehive.
The B-side FLOW has a fairly upbeat tune featuring a different tune of Eiko Shimamiya. It's much lighter than Naraku no Hana but I like the first song better. I can't say much on this song as it didn't really caught much of my attention.
Overall, the single's not half bad and I think I will like FLOW when I listen to it more. I hope this will help her to be more famous because her voice is not that bad. I like most of her songs and I'd say it's not really bad. And after a year, at last, she will have her 2nd maxi single.
If you want to listen to these two songs, click here or here.
sentiment: mellow
harmony: "Ai no Uta" by Hitomi Shimatani
I made it a habit that upbeat songs (including rock) will be during weekdays and saturdays then I'll left Sunday for ballad day. But ever since the rainy days have come, this SOP hasn't been followed recently. And look what I am listening to right now? Ai no Uta? Of course, just by looking at it's title, you can depict that it's a ballad since it means either "Song of Love" or "Poem of Love" depending on what kanji was used but either way, it's still ballad.
I dunno myself why am I listening to this song but I really like piano-only ballads or any ballad that really touches me because they are soft and soothing to the ear. I also don't know the reason why I most of the time prefer ballad more than rock since most of the people I knew, they really prefer rock rather than ballad as it is more lively and upbeat. Quite right but maybe the reason why I like ballad more than rock because I can reflect myself with the song and it's like I was baptized or showered from a grave sin whenever I listen to these songs. Quite exaggerated but it's really what I feel.
Ballads doesn't only give you motivation and feelings but it's also a medicine for the insomniac as it softens your emotion. And it can also serve as your current emotion/feeling just like the other genres. Oh what am I saying now? I'm really sorry if I am posting nonsense again. But I really appreciate it if you'll bear with what I posted. Later (it's already 1:24 AM here), will be another upbeat day for school and I hope my SOP will get back to normal again.
Last comment from what I am listening to right now.... I am already listening to Ai no Uta for a quite time already... And I can't stop listening to it... I just love how the piano was played together with Hitomi's powerful yet soothing voice. I'm really loving it.
