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Captain’s log, stardate 202008.5... 48/365, Part Two: While the song was initially written as ‘This Guy's In Love With You’, performed by Herb Alpert, I prefer #DionneWarwick's version. It has always been a part of my soundtrack ever since hearing it for the first time on My Lovely Samsoon on AZN TV a long time ago. It has become one of my favorite Burt Bacharach and Hal David tunes ever along with ‘A House Is Not A Home’ and ‘One Less Bell To Answer’. Ever since finding out a certain information on July 14th through a mutual friend, this song now has a whole new meaning to me. 

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Captain’s log, stardate 202008.05... 47/ 365, Part One: I ran into an old Tumblr text post written by somebody and the first song that came to mind from the contents I read was Heather Headley’s ‘I Wish I Wasn’t’. Love hurts when the person you loved most treats you in ways you don’t deserve-- Whatever the case may be.

Written by Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and the late Big Jim Wright with production by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, this version was originally longer, which ran over 6:15 with differences in the mix, vocal recording (especially at after the bridge), and the overall meaning of the song. The decision to truncate it to 4:15 was a good one, because the storyline didn’t flip flop between decisions.

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Captain’s log, stardate 202007.3... 46/ 365 ‘Too Shy To Say,’ written by Stevie Wonder with production by Wonder, Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil, from Fulfillingness’ First Finale, was one of the albums I grew up listening during the mid 1990s. It was one of my go-to Stevie Wonder albums as it also contained ‘It’s Ain’t No Use’, ‘Smile Please’ & ‘Creepin’’. I’ve always been a shy person when it comes to love, mainly because of receiving rejections a gazillion times (I think it’s more, but I digress lol)... This song is my life story, because I’m always at this place in life. If it’s not one heart, then it’s another heart, but with each heartbreak of the many nos I receive. Maybe one day, I will go on to another song?

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Captain’s log, supplemental... 45/ 365 Part Four: The melancholic ballad, ‘이별 못한 이별’ (Farewell Without Farewell) by 지선 (Jisun), formerly of Loveholics, was one of the contribution to My Lovely Sam-Soon Korean drama soundtrack. It is by far the best song in the soundtrack and is one of my favorite Korean songs of all-time. The entire production right down to the vocals is one point. Plus, Jisun’s vocals is like butter!

[masakiaraya]

Captain’s log, supplemental... 45/ 365 Part Three: No, this Korean drama has no relation to the American television of the same name, yet, like the American series, I tuned into it until the end. I don’t know what the singer was singing in the intro, but whatever it translates to, it fits perfectly to the music. I wish some of the intros has an extended version like some of the others in America has, but I digress.

Also, actress, Song Hye-Kyo, is gorgeous!

[masakiaraya]

Captain’s log, supplemental... 44/ 365 Part Two: Like the soothing intro to the Korean drama, Someday, its outro, 떠나 by Eco Bridge, is just as nice.

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Captain’s log, stardate 202006.23... 43/ 365 Part One: There was a time in my life when I watched a (insert expletive here) ton of Korean dramas on an multi-Asian television station (forgot what it was called), because from what I gather, it was all that offered at the time (?). Also, because my mom watched it-- And she’s not Korean! While a lot of Asian dramas have outlandish plot points and didn’t make much sense, some of the songs on their respective soundtracks wasn’t bad at all. The intro to the drama, Someday, is quite soothing, even though I don’t know what the singer, Yoong-Jin, is saying. lol

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Captain’s log, supplemental... 42/ 365 Part Two: ‘Things I Collected’, originally sung in Japanese by Amuro Namie, written by Dallas Austin & Debra Killings with Japanese translation by Junko Kudo, appeared on Amuro’s Genius 2000, released in 2000.

The song reappeared, in 2005, in the Diary of a Mad Black Woman soundtrack, covered by R&B singer, Tamia, with English lyrics, quite possibly written back in the day, but didn’t the see the light of day until Tamia’s version. While the English verses are subpar, and the retaining the same English chorus that from the original version and new arrangements, Tamia gives a stunning vocal performance.

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Captain’s log, stardate 202006.21... 41/ 365 Part One: ‘Sukiyaki’, composed by Hachidai Nakamura and lyrics by Rokusuke Ei, was originally performed in Japanese by Kyu Sakamoto. At some certain points in my life, I recall listening to the English lyrics sung by various Japanese singers, including tonight on NHK’s Pop Music Club, but I never knew its history and its English lyrics version until today.

A Taste of Honey’s Janice-Marie Johnson first heard Sakamoto’s version as a kid on the radio, and wanted her mom to buy the single, even though she didn’t understand the language. Decades later during her singing career, Johnson, who wanted to be sung as a ballad and not as a disco version, wrote a new set of lyrics in English with production by the late George Duke. The single reached #3 on Billboard Hot 100, and would be their final hit on the chart.

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Captain’s log, 202006.12... 40/ 365: We all have a song we think of that speaks to your soul at the exact moment in your life. ‘Missing You’, sung by Mary J. Blige, written and produced by Babyface with backing vocals by Shanice, is that song for me lyrically tonight. You end up thinking of someone in your life right now despite trying not to fall in love.

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Captain’s log, supplemental... 39/ 365 Part Two: Back when the song was released in 1990, the song asked, “People of the world today/ Are we looking for a better way of life?” We are still asking the same question today. It has been long overdue, and people want changes. Like myself, we are tired of looking at the same injustice over and over again. Janet Jackson, and legendary songwriting and producing duo, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, concocted 

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Captain’s log, stardate 202006.8... 38/ 365 Part One: Systemic racism is a timeless topic that will never go away and, like other songs during his classic period, Stevie Wonder has captured the essence of the topic in 'Living For The City’ with his lyrical, melodic, rhythmic and harmonic creative approach. 

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Captain’s log, supplemental... 37/ 365 Part Three: Lynching of a totally different kind, but still familiarly similar, has been rampant today involving police killing black men and women for no reason. Jewish-American songwriter, Abel Meeropol, initially wrote ‘Strange Fruit’ as a poem, but set it to music to become a song to be sung by the great Billie Holiday. It’s unfortunate that American society hasn’t changed after so many decades, even in a new millennium.

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Captain’s log, supplemental..... 36/ 365 Part Two: The message in 'Takin’ It To The Streets’ still resonates today, especially these past couple of weeks! Quincy Jones, featuring the late singers, Luther Vandross & Gwen Guthrie, took the Doobie Brothers song, written by Michael McDonald, to another level and to ‘chuch’!

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Captain’s log, stardate 202006.7... 35/ 365 Part One: The relevancy of “Visions”, sung and written by Stevie Wonder, still echoes today's racist society. The best way I could explain it that has been going on for 400 years is Langston Hughes’ ‘Dream Deferred’: What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?

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Captain’s log, supplemental... 34/ 365 Part Four: Message driven songs regarding black lives like ‘Does Anybody Out There Even Care’, written and performed by Lenny Kravitz, has forever stood the test of time. While we are facing riots and looting (along with peaceful protests), the men dressed in white sheets has mostly been replaced with men in badges and it’s unfortunate that in 2020, we are still living in the same society that our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and beyond has lived. I, myself, am tired of seeing the same pattern of black lives unnecessarily taken away from the hands of the police for no reason for many decades.

[masakiaraya]

Captain’s log, supplemental... 33/ 365 Part Three: ‘Never say die’ is uttered at the beginning of this 1991 song, ‘Optimistic’, by Sounds of Blackness, written and produced by legendary songwriting and production duo, JImmy Jam and Terry Lewis with contribution from Gary Hines. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd from the hands (and knee) of four police officers brought protests, riots, and looting in the days ahead. There has been enough video evidence for decades that showed mistreatment of blacks from police officers, and those outside looking in, like myself, get it. It’s tiring, it hurts, and enough is enough. Change is necessary for sure ‘as long as you keep your head to the sky.’