#daiting chart

[sarvodayahospital]

Think before you drink! Soda's side effects can wreak havoc on your health and diet. From sugar crashes to empty calories, it's time to swap the fizz for healthier options. Your body and diet will thank you! 🥤🚫​

[evenstar]

TOKYO BABYLON FST: BOX

what's poppin TyoBabi fandom, I got a present for you

.zip File Download: DISCS 1 & 2 (109MB)

This FST is basically an in-depth run down of the collection of songs that were sung/mentioned/in the "VOL. 7/BOX" chapter of Tokyo Babylon 5, with some info about the artists and songs themselves. This, as far as I know, is the most thorough run-through of the music of "BOX" on the English web! I've divided it into two "discs", the first being the songs mentioned themselves, and the second being a few fun related extras. You can check out the second disc over on Radio Free T.Y.O, if you're interested ♥

Ginza no Koi no Monogatari

銀座の恋の物語 - "Ginza Love Story" 石原裕次郎・牧村旬子 - Ishihara Yuujirou and Makimura Junko mp3 download || youtube

The song that Seishirou and Hokuto are pouring their very souls into to perform in the beginning of the chapter. Released in 1961, this a smoky, jazzy duet typical of its time, telling the story of two star-crossed lovers, one in Tokyo and one in Ginza. It was an immediate hit, even having a movie based upon it made, starring Ishihara-san in the lead role. It's a staple duet in karaoke even to this day.

Nakanaide

泣かないで - "Don't Cry" 舘ひろし - Tachi Hiroshi mp3 download || youtube

The song that the random selector spits up for Subaru to sing, which Sei-chan subsequently picks up after sending him off to buy cigarettes/exorcise the OL. This was released in 1984, by Tachi Hiroshi, a singer and actor who became quite the sensation when he had a starring role in 西部警察 (Seibu Keisatsu; "Western Police") -- incidentally, directed by the abovementioned Ishihara-san, as you'd have it. "Nakanaide" was a hit, coming in 59th on the ORICON's 1984 top singles list. It's from his seventh album In the Mood.

Nanpasen

難破船 - "Shipwreck" 中森明菜 - Nakamori Akina m4a download || youtube

The song that the OL ghost sings. A dark and heartfelt song about a dying love, it was a massive hit when it was released in 1987, shooting straight to the top of the ORICON charts (as Nakamori-san's 17th number one hit), and has been a karaoke regular since then, just as the OL says in the chapter. Originally written and performed by the very respected Kato Tokiko for her 最後のダンスパーティ (Saigo no Dance Party; "Last Dance Party") album of 1984; she personally requested that Nakamori-san perform the song. It's been covered countless times, including by the original singer/songwriter and the cover artist themselves.

Daite...

抱いて… - "Hold Me..." 松田聖子 - Matsuda Seiko mp3 download || youtube

Not actually sung, but the OL ghost suggests she'd like to sing it next. A dramatic and emotional slice of idol pop from the Eternal Idol herself, Matsuda Seiko (who also performs "Who's That Boy", found on Single White). Released in 1987 as a promo-only single from her fifteenth studio album, 1988's Citron. Despite never being released as an official single, it's one of Matsuda's more popular songs, especially karaoke-wise. It's rather interesting that the OL picks a Matsuda song directly after a Nakamori Akina track -- the pair were notorious rivals in the 80s, supposedly even in love.

Benkyo no Uta

勉强の歌 - "Study Song" 森高千里 - Moritaka Chisato mp3 download || youtube

The song Hokuto is singing when Subaru attempts to sneak back into the karaoke box. Released in 1991, it peaked at #4 on the ORICON charts, and was remixed on Moritaka's second remix album as ザ・勉強の歌 (Za・Benkyo no Uta; "The・Study Song"). It was used as the opening theme to the anime TV series "Mischievous Twins: The Tales of St. Clare's". It's a totally gimmicky song (complete with voguing in the very weird video clip), though cheerful and catchy, so its popularity on the karaoke circuit at the time shouldn't surprise anyone. (You just know that Hokuto unironically adored this song, and drove Subaru batty by singing it at every opportunity.)

Wakaretemo Suki na Hito

別れても好きな人 - "Beloved Even if We're Separated" ロス・インディオス＆シルヴィア - Los Indios & Silvia mp3 download || youtube

The song that Hokuto announces Subaru should sing with Seishirou as punishment for being late. Another staple in the duets section of karaoke, still, this 1979 release was actually a cover. The song was released by two Toshiba EMI artists, Matsudaira Kemeko and the Purple Shadows, respectively, in 1969. In October 1975, Los Indios released a single-voice version, and in 1979 it was rearranged as a male and female duet, with some lyrics changed slightly. The song was an instant hit, and by 1980, it had sold a million copies.

[blibrary]

Fansub LRYaoi [Lectura]

Aquí encontrarás los proyectos trabajados por Fansub LRYaoi para su lectura online.

(Se irán actualizando los capítulos a medida que estén disponibles en la web)

─ A ─

•  Aitsu no Seiheki ha Hentai Sugiru [Mot Kuromura] (He loves muscles too much)

ONLINE:  01

•  Afurete Koborete Gaman Dekinai [Yamachi]

ONLINE:  01 - 02 - 03 - 04

•  Anta no Koto Tabesasete? [Taguche] (Can I Taste You? This Young Buff Wants Me)

ONLINE:  01

─ B ─

•  BL Game no Syujinkou ni Nattara Rival ni Dekiai Saretaken [Tomoka Nomiya]

ONLINE:  01

─ C ─

•  Compañeros de Cuarto [Yuka Ohbayashi]

ONLINE:  01

─ D ─

•  Densetsu no Mesuiki Yankee [Oiko Komaru] (The Legendary Mesuiki Yankee) 

ONLINE:  01

•  Do S na Uraaka danshi-kun [Sumeshi] (Doesuna ura aka danshi-kun rensai-ban)

ONLINE:  01

•  Dr. Kei Danshi no Renai Chart [Takahira Rito]

ONLINE:  01 - 02

•  Drastic F Romance [Yamachi]

ONLINE: 01

─ G ─

•  Gaman ga Dekinai Toshishita wanko no Aishikata [Kisara]

ONLINE: 01 

•  Goui You Nonke Ikase Kata [Nabeki]

ONLINE:  01

•  Go to the Wonderful Day's [Toshinari] (Do S na Kareshi ni Mou Muchuu!)

ONLINE:  01 - 02 - 03 - 04

─ H ─

•  H na mousou ga Kanattyaimashita [Rasu] (Un engaño que se hizo realidad)

ONLINE:  01

•  Hatsujou Playroom [Shiramatsu]

ONLINE:  01 - 02 - 03

•  Happeningbar de Aimashou [Nakagawa Riina]

ONLINE: 01

•  Hiasobi Shita Boku ga 30.000.000 Yen Hensai Suru houhou [Hanasawa Namio]

ONLINE:  01

•  Hoezura ni Kamitsuku Kisu [Himoda Q]

ONLINE:  01 - 02 - 03

─ I ─

•  Ikoku Sereb no Goyoutashi Dekai Sore Hontou ni Hairu no [Taguche]

ONLINE:  01

•  Inran Jyoshi no Private Porn [Hachiko Sato]

ONLINE:  01

•  Itte Owari na Wake ga nai! [Sig Komeoka]

ONLINE: 01

─ K ─

•  Kawaii Kouhai dato Shinjita Ore ga Baka Deshita [Haruyama Moto]

ONLINE:  01

•  Keedoro [Shu Shuna] (Kedro: El Ladrón y el Policía)

ONLINE:  01 

•  Kimihabokunomono ~ Konbini Yakin de Mesuiki Chōkyō [Kuroshiro]

ONLINE:  01

•  Koiha Sorakara Futtekuru [Monaka Kuri] (El Amor Cae del Cielo Regalo de Santa)

ONLINE:  01

•  Koisuru Hypnotic Therapy [Masaki Maki] (Hypnotic Therapy of Love)

ONLINE:  01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - Extra.

─ M ─

•  Mesuka Drag, Konzetsu Keikaku [Mocharo]

ONLINE:  01 - 02

•  Motoyan Shojosoushitsu wo Namahaishin [Hoshitani Kyo] (Pérdida de virginidad, entrega dura)

ONLINE:  01 - 02

─ N ─

•  Nakamade Torokeru No.1 [Torimaru Taro]

ONLINE:  01

•  Nante Buzamana Koi-deshou [Nakai]

ONLINE:  01

•  Natsuki-kun wa Boku no Mono [Yoshino Azuma] (Mr.Natsuki is mine)

ONLINE:  01

•  Nekoni Matatabi Oreniha Anata [Zutsuuyaku]

ONLINE:  01 - 02

─ O ─

•  Omae no Yubi de Toroketara [Utsumi Long]

ONLINE:  01 - 02

•  Onijyoushi Gokudera-san wa Abakaretai [Arata Licca]

ONLINE: 01 - 02

•  Osananajimi wo Mesuiki Choukyou [Ikegami Shougo] (Entrenamiento entre dos amigos de infancia)

ONLINE:  01 - 02 - 03 - 04

•  Oshaburi Sensei Wake Ari Yuutousei no Yowami [Shuuki] (El profesor y las debilidades del alumno de honor)

ONLINE: Vol.01: 01 - 02 - 03 - 04  | Vol.02: 01 

•  Oresama to Sugar [Hanamoto Ari]

ONLINE:  01

•  Ore no Souteishite Ita H na Tensei Life wa Kore Janai [Miyako Mimeko]

ONLINE:  01

─ R ─

•  Reizoku Keiyaku [Kuroshiro] (Slave Contract)

ONLINE:  01

•  Retsujyo no Hako [Chino Chi]

ONLINE:  01

•  Ryoujoku! Sennyuu Sousakan [Hiiragi Masaki] (Detective Infiltrado)

ONLINE:  01

─ S ─

•  Sensei, Imakara Tyoukyou wo Hajimemasu [Nachunori] (Teacher, I'm gonna start discipline now)

ONLINE:  01

•  Sex Sales Driver [Sabamiso]

ONLINE:  01 - 02 - 03

•  Shinjuku Bachelor to Yonaki Neko [Sato Yoshino] (Shinjuku Bachelors and the Midnight Kitten)

ONLINE:  01

•  Shikaru Mitai ni Daitekure Pawahara Joushi wa Kakure do M [Ikeda Souko] (Shikaru mitai ni daite kure ~ pawahara jōshi wa kakure doemu)

ONLINE:  01 - 02

•  Suezen ni Kiss [MOO (Mashiro Shiroiro)]

ONLINE:  Oneshot

─ T ─

•  Takuhai Danshi to Soku Ochi Ojisama [Mima]

ONLINE:  01

•  Tonari no Otoko [Hagi]

ONLINE: 01

•  Torotoro Hitou de Koi Hajimaru [Nangoku Banana]

ONLINE:  01 - 02

•  The back account has been known to new employees [Tomomi Sakana]

ONLINE: 01 

─ W ─

•  Wakatte Kudasai [Yoshimoto]

ONLINE: 01

─ Y ─

•  Yakuza-sama Senyou Ikasetara Hensai Ikkai Chara [Yuya Kirimi] (Los yakuzas vinieron a cobrarme y me cogieron de su juguete)

ONLINE:  01

•  Yumemiru Choukyoushi no Risou no Goshujinsama [Yaezaki Rai]

ONLINE: 01 

[koinodancesite]

“Love Machine”

Release date: Sept. 9, 1999

Oricon Weekly placement: 1st

B-side: “21 Seiki”

Members: Aya Ishiguro, Kaori Iida, Kei Yasuda, Maki Goto, Mari Yaguchi, Natsumi Abe, Sayaka Ichii, Yuko Nakazawa

Ask any Gen Xer or millennial in Japan, and chances are, they will know “Love Machine.” The single has left such a huge imprint on Japanese pop culture that it feels unnecessary to explain that it was a massive success. Living without access to TV was not enough to escape Morning Musume in the early 2000s. You’d still probably spot a child with Mini Moni merch. They were no longer just a pop group; they became a wide phenomenon. And this single was what set everything off.

The platinum certification is astonishing to think about. But it’s simply mind-boggling how “Love Machine” actually succeeded considering everything from its sound, its image to its concept upon its face.

From the first few seconds, “Love Machine” sounds ridiculous. The funk riff may feel somewhat familiar if you already heard “Daite Hold on Me,” but that wacky hollering that whizzes by from the distance suggests a whole different song. And that computer chirp of a synth: if that bleeping wasn’t enough of a Y2K feel, the group is aboard a CG-generated spaceship in the music video.

Those are just the opening 30 seconds. The vocal performance sounds like it’s coming from a whole different group, at least not one that did innocent summer songs and serious-faced R&B in their previous singles. That sexy-pop impression of “Summer Night Town” take on a different level with them exaggerating English words and accenting end rhymes into cartoonish results.

But the most audacious moment is the chorus: “Japan’s future/ is the envy of the world/ Let’s just fall in love/ Dance, dancing all the night.” Keep in mind this single came out in Japan at the final year of the 1990s, a post-Bubble recession period referred as the Lost Decade. Unemployment shot up while banks and businesses failed. The economic miracle of the previous decade came to a screeching hault. And here is one of the most popular pop acts declaring the opposite as the country prepared to enter a new decade and a new century.

I wouldn’t blame anyone who turned the other way when they heard such blind utopianism if the single’s nagging ubiquity didn’t make them tap out first. It can understandably feel juvenile when heard through the vehicle of a pop song. It is hollow with its value backed only by their own enthusiasm and conviction.

But my, what conviction. No one knows what the future will bring, and they can lose it all after this, so why not scream the most ridiculous thing they can? “Love Machine” can feel very out of touch with its reality, but the message does come from a real, sincere place. (An intensely sincere philosophy expanded into an out-of-touch scale and steps of logic would be the base approach to the politics of Morning Musume from here on out.) Whether the disco-inspired solution – “love and music is the answer” – bears any practicality is besides the point. The level at which they believe it to be true is more than powerful.

Morning Musume pretty much had to believe in themselves with such an abandon of an industry-approved template. They were done chasing cool as it was established by the charts. They instead set out to define their own cool by appearing not cool at all: that awkward stance in which they stand at the beginning of their choreography is inspired by people trying to hold it in before having to go to the bathroom.

That precise un-cool-ness won them a generation of fans. The distance between the group and audience felt close already. Asayan broadcasted them to millions of homes via TV and allowed an audience to watch the growth of the group and its members in real time. But that feel of Morning Musume as singers you can be felt that much more real when the movements and performances they did felt so easy to replicate. Anyone can do the dances of “Love Machine,” and anyone can sing like them too. In fact, here they encouraged you to do it with them.

Morning Musume would become insular from here for a few years, following mostly their own instincts and set of rules. The music will stay within a specific musical style, and its perspective of the world will follow its own Morning Musume-specific logic. They would be able to afford to do so for millions of fans will gladly meet them halfway – me, you, everybody and your bosses too.

[10]

[sometimesrosy]

Dream of Love ch 3: Silly Lovebird

rosymamacita

Read on AO3: Chapter 3

It's just the girls. Drinking their drinks and gossiping. Harper seems to be a bit obsessed with love, but it's her wedding, so she's allowed. And then she turns her attention to Clarke. And Bellamy. And then all the girls do.

Notes:

girl bonding. we never get girl bonding. there are fancy drinks, pedicures, aioli, and discussions of old sweethearts.

Clarke closed the door to her cabana and fell onto her bed. She put a hand to her chest to try to hold on to her racing heart. “Calm down,” she muttered to herself.

Things like this didn’t happen. This couldn’t possibly be real. The boy she’d fallen for in high school when she was young and naive couldn’t POSSIBLY be this gorgeous and hot and as nice as he seemed.

No. That was not the way life worked. Certainly not the way HER life worked. Not since she was a kid. Not since she’d left Arcadia.

Her mother had called her home to California and she’d struggled to get her feet back under her. She just barely managed to keep her grades high enough and scores impressive enough to get into a decent college. And she struggled with her course work, not that anyone could tell. She always did just enough to get the grades. Until…until…until the thing with her girlfriend went south. Until premed was too much. Until her mom got remarried. Until her apartment got condemned for mudslide damage. Until she couldn’t hold on to it all anymore and she just collapsed.

She spent a year, maybe, never leaving the house. She lost contact with everyone back in Arcadia, even her cousin. Definitely Bellamy, because she couldn’t face what a mess she was. But slowly. Slowly, she got her feet back under her.

Nine years after her life fell apart, here she was. A licensed art therapist, with a newly adopted daughter, back in the town where she had been happiest. She had been willing to start all over again. And she hadn’t even had the chance to catch her breath before Harper had made her come to her wedding to reacquaint herself with her old friends. And THEN she’d enlisted her mom, who had paid for flight and hotel, because she wanted Clarke to be better. To be happy. So Clarke had to come.

But with Harper’s pointed hints and matchmaking she had tried not to get herself excited, because that was not how her life worked out, “Did you know Bellamy is single still?” Harper had told her as soon as she had gotten the truck unloaded at her new apartment. “You used to be such good friends. He’s a teacher and one of my best friends and he’ll be at my wedding solo. So you have to come so he doesn’t feel like a loser, because his ex girlfriend is bringing a date and the party is too small for him to hide out in.”

“Are you trying to set me up with Bellamy Blake?” she’d asked, to embarrass her.

“Yes. Yes I am.” Harper was not embarrassed. “I want you to hook up with Bellamy.”

“Harper! Who do you think I am?”

“I think you’re a woman who needs to have a good time. And Bellamy is a great guy. And you like each other.”

“We haven’t seen each other in ten years. I’m sure that’s not going to happen. I’ll make you a deal, though. I’ll come and I’ll hang out with him, but I make no promises.”

Because. Of course.

And then he was there. Right off the plane squinting up at her. The wind ruffling his black hair. The sun glinting off of his skin with a bronze sheen. And that wide bright smile, and Clarke had lost her breath.

She’d stood at the top of the stairs and the want had washed over her. She wanted him. She wanted everything about him. She wanted those amazing arms around her. She wanted his lips on hers. She wanted him to keep smiling at her. She wanted to tell him all about the ten years he hadn’t been there and she wanted him to tell her it would be okay because now he was here.

And because this was an island in the middle of nowhere and the air smelled like flowers and caressed her skin. Because this boy from her past was standing there staring at her and she wanted to get to do her life all over again. Because this was not real life. Because it was a dream. And if not a dream, then dream like. Because of all of that she came up to him and she threw herself into his arms.

She was home.

****

This was the strangest wedding she’d ever been to.

There was absolutely no fuss. It was almost like it wasn’t a wedding at all. There were no designated colors, or seating charts or rehearsals or favors. Harper had a wedding dress, but it was something she’d gotten off the rack, just a simple white slip dress and she had some silver sandals that she said made her feel like a sea goddess, and a necklace made of semi precious stones. But otherwise, Clarke wasn’t actually sure she’d ever been to an event this easy going and…well… relaxing as this.

Harper was completely the opposite of a bridezilla and she just didn’t care about any of it. She didn’t even care about getting married. It was a vacation with her favorite people as far as she was concerned. She was doing it for Monty, who wanted to make them legal and official and all of that. She just shrugged and threw her feet over the edge of the lounge chair on the patio, so Echo could paint her toenails green.

“Green,” she said. “Get it? Green.” Then she laughed hysterically and drank another of those fruity cocktails she’d been sipping on since Clarke had gotten there.

“Yes, baby,” Echo said, rolling her eyes and smirking slightly. “We know you love The Green.”

She sighed. “I do. I’d do anything for him.”

“Even get married to him when you think marriage is an outdated and parochial institution that is inherently misogynistic and materialist in nature?” Raven handed her an egg roll to soak up some of the alcohol.

“Even get married because marriage is a out-dait-ed and… what was the rest of that?”

They all started laughing.

Clarke leaned over and took the fancy drink out of Harper’s hand. “We’d better get you to slow down so you can last all day. We still have the barbecue later tonight, and you do not want to be passed out for that.”

Harper pouted but let her take it. “Hey,” she said, with a hand on Clarke’s arm. “Hey. Love is beautiful, Clarke.”

Clarke smiled fondly at her. She had missed her. “I know. I’m really happy for you and Monty.”

“No,” Harper shook her head and blinked slowly before letting go and leaning back in the lounge chair. Echo grabbed her foot and resumed painting her toes. Emori gave her a bottle of water. “No. I mean Looo-oove.”

“I know, Harper. I can’t wait to see your wedding. I’m really so glad you’ve found love.”

“No, ugh,” she said and took a swig of water. “Tell her Emori. Tell her about how much you love Murphy.”

“Ha ha, Harper. I think you picked the wrong person to extoll the praises of love,” Raven teased. “She wants to kill Murphy all the time.”

Emori sat straight. “No I don’t. I love him. I wish I didn’t love him so much, sometimes. It’s hard because he’s been through a lot and I am stubborn and…”

“And loving him makes it BETter, right Emori?”

Emori sighed and then slumped back and drank her fancy drink. “I wish it didn’t but it does. Sometimes I just want to BE with him because it makes me feel better, even when I’m angry at him.”

Harper waved her hands in the air. “See? I was right. Raven. Tell Clarke how beautiful love is. Tell her how much you love Shaw and he makes your life bet—ter. TELL HER.”

“Uh….” Raven blushed dark. “We’re not there yet, Harper.”

“Liar. You LOVE him. I know you do. I can see it.”

Raven shrugged and looked away. Clarke gave her Harper’s drink. She needed it more. Raven looked at her thankfully and took a big sip. “Oh wow, this is SO good Harper.”

Harper made a sound like she was gagging. “Raven is pretending she’s not in love with her boyfriend. ECHO. ECHO, baby doll, tell Clarke about how awesome it is to love that big hunk of beefcake you’ve got. Woo! Did you see his abs? Hubba hubba.”

Echo merely laughed. “Oh no, you silly love bird. You’re not going to get me. I am not in love with Roan. And I am not going to be in love with Roan. But I like him a whole helluva a lot and he is GREAT in bed. I’m having fun with a good friend and we enjoy our mutual hotness, abs included.” Echo raised her halter top to point out her own.

“Oooh!” Harper reached out a hand to touch. “Nice! Look at mine.” Harper also raised her top to show a truly enviable set of abs. “Everyone show your abs.”

Raven was still sucking on her drink, her face glowing from the love discussion so she was eager to also raise her shirt and show some amazing abs. Emori pulled up a corner of her shirt to show quite the flat tummy too.

Clarke laughed. “Yeah. Okay. I don’t have abs. I can’t compare to you all.”

“I don’t believe you! Let me see. I’m the bride. You have to show me. Bridezilla. Grr. SHOW ME THE ABS.”

Clarke sighed heavily. “Fine. But if you people think I’m going to join your ‘awesome abs workout club’ just because I’m moving to town, you have another thing coming. I think I’ll stay how I am, pleasantly rounded.” She raised her top and caught the waitresses attention. “One of those fruity things please? With the lantern.”

Emori added to Clarke’s order, “And some appetizers. Uhm. Sweet potato fries? And the garlic bread. Our girl here needs some food with her booze.”

But while they were busy ordering, Harper was busy flopping over in her lounge chair again. “Oooh. Pretty. Oh my god.” Harper ran her hands over Clarke’s less than defined stomach. “She’s so soft!” She turned to look at Echo who was struggling to get the enamel on Harper’s toes. “Oh my god. She’s so sexy, with all those curves. Wow. That’s something to grab onto.” Harper clenched her fingers on Clarkes hips.

“Hot mama,” Emori wiggled her eyebrows at Clarke.

“Not to mention that fantastic rack,” Raven said, quite glad to get the attention on someone else. “Clarke has us all beat in the boob department. I don’t think there’s a man and not a few of the women on this island that wasn’t eyeing her cleavage when she came out in that top.”

“Okay. I’m feeling objectified, here,” Clark pulled her shirt back into place and yeah, it definitely showed off her boobs and yeah, she might have worn it on purpose, thinking momentarily of Bellamy, who had gone off with the boys to do something or other, to her mild disappointment.

“Oh would you sit still!” Echo snapped, grabbing Harper’s ankle. “Hey! Harper. Harper!” She snapped her fingers until Harper swerved back around. “Hey, you know what? Clarke thinks she can’t compare to the rest of the girls, but I have it on good authority that she’s the one that is the first choice for some people.”

“RealLLLly?” Harper singsonged, leaning her elbow on the chaise arm. “Do tell us more.”

“Well,” Echo said, her fingers tight on Harper’s ankle, words slow and hands fast with the brush. “You know how Bellamy and I dated for a year?”

Clarke froze.

“Yes! You were in love too. Tell Clarke how beautiful love is. Bellamy is just the best boyfriend, right? I mean, except for my Monty, but Bellamy is Bellamy, you know?”

“Hmmm,” Echo said, finishing the one foot and grabbing the other. “Well, Bellamy is an amazing boyfriend, but I was in love with him, and he loved me, but he wasn’t IN love with me. He couldn’t be.”

“He couldn’t?” Harper asked, eyes blinking. “Why not?” Clarke blessed her cousin for being drunk and asking prying questions.

“Because he fell in love with someone a long time ago who no one else could ever compare to.”

“He did? Who?”

Echo painted her last toe and then reached for the first foot. Coat number two. “Well who do you think, silly love bird?” Without even looking up, Echo nodded her head toward Clarke. “Her.”

Harper gasped and tried to turn towards Clarke but Echo’s hold was firm. The girl was strong. Harper settled for reaching out with one hand and grabbing her thigh. “Ooh. She’s so juicy. God. Has Bellamy ever grabbed this thigh? That might do it.”

“No!” Clarke said, but Harper was already turning back to Echo.

“Tell us MORE!”

“If you sit still and let me finish both feet.”

Harper nodded eagerly up at Echo. “What happened?”

“Well, I don’t know what happened back then with them, but it took me a while to figure it out. Months really, as I fell for him and he was so kind and sweet and did everything right, and still… there was always something holding him back. I even asked him if there was someone else who he was in love with, and he said no, there was no one else just me. I knew he wasn’t lying, and yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that even when he said he loved me, there was still someone he loved best. And one night, he confessed that he had been in love once before, but she’d left a long long time ago and it was something that could never be. And that’s when I knew. He was still in love with the girl he had lost.”

“Was that what ended things between you two?” Emori asked, as if she’d always wanted to know.

Echo shook her head. “He was committed to me and I was in love with him, and he treated me so well and we had so much fun together, so I stuck it out, thinking he would fall for me, too.”

“He didn’t, did he?” Raven asked, her smile crooked.

“Nope. And I don’t know, stepping back that distance, knowing that he loved someone more, even someone who he’d never see again, it kind of made me fall a little bit OUT of love with him? Like, it wasn’t enough anymore. And then I started wondering if it was just his face and the way he cares for everyone and how smart and passionate… and how much I thought he SHOULD be the man I was in love with and maybe I just really LIKED him? And I really WANTED to be in love.” She sighed and shook her head. “I still love him. He’s the best guy in the world, but he’s not my guy and we don’t actually fit together right. He’s an idealist, and I’m… not. But I didn’t put two and two together until we met Bellamy at the airport and I saw the way he couldn’t stop looking at Clarke, except for when he was trying not to look at her. And how she ran into his arms to hug him and then she wouldn’t let him go.”

Harper gasped. “She did! Oh how romantic.”

Clarke remembered. She had wanted to never let him go.

“She totally did. And he didn’t want to let go, either. After months of trying to find signs of love in Bellamy, I finally found them. Right here. She’s the woman he’s been in love with for ten years. She’s the one he compares all the others to.” She dropped Harper’s ankle. “DONE! Now don’t run around and mess those up!”

“But wait!” Harper said. “Now you don’t have love…” her eyes started to brim with tears. “You don’t love Bellamy and you don’t love Roan…”

“It’s okay silly love bird,” she wrapped an arm around Harper and drew her in. “We’re in the same place and that place is a great place to be. I’m not going to fall in love again unless it’s right. I think with Bellamy I was just in love with the idea of love. It’s not like you and Monty. You two are a natural pair. Soulmates.”

“Soulmates.” Harper nodded, wiping the tears away and smiling again. “Just like Clarke and Bellamy.”

“W-wait,” Clarke stuttered, still reeling. “We’re not soulmates. I haven’t seen him in ten years.”

“When you’re soulmates it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been apart. You will always fall back together. Oooh! Garlic Bread!”

The waitress came and set the appetizers and Clarke’s drink down on the table. Clarke grabbed it and sucked down a good half of it. Everyone ate and checked out Harper’s toes and she thought that was the last of it, thank god, because she could not get her heart to calm down.

“So you’re in love with Bellamy.” Harper pointed a sweet potato fry at Clarke. The aioli dripped off and splatted on the table. Clarke took a napkin and wiped it up, avoiding her eyes.

“I haven’t seen him in ten years.”

“Mm. Yeah. You said that already. But he’s in love with you.” Raven was a lot less drunk than Harper. She was laser focused on Clarke. Shit.

She folded the napkin and wiped the table again, shaking her head. “We were just friends. It was high school. I only knew him for a year before my mom called me home anyway.”

Emori grinned and stuck a sweet potato fry in her mouth. “You didn’t say you didn’t love him.”

Clarke gaped. Then she blinked. Then she sucked on her drink.

“I remember you in high school, Clarke.” Raven was shaking her head, not buying it. “You and Bellamy were friends, but you were never ‘just’ friends. The two of you were something else, always arguing but always the first person to defend the other. You were inseparable. Wait. Did something happen between you?”

Clarke felt the heat rise in her chest, up her neck and into her face. She took a drink.

“Oh my god, you’re blushing. Did something happen?”

Clarke swallowed. “We kissed. Once. When he came to say good bye to me, before I left for the airport. I cried the whole flight. My heart was broken.”

“You KISSED Bellamy? Why didn’t you ever tell me?” Harper asked, clutching her hand to her heart.

“Because it was just once, and I never talked to him again.”

“But WHY, Clarke. Why didn’t you talk to him?”

“Because it hurt too much? Because I was a wreck? Because I figured I was being… I don’t know. Silly.”

Echo shook her head sadly. “I don’t think you were alone in that.”

Clarke opened her mouth but was unable to speak.

“You were in love with him,” Harper said, wide eyed.

“And he was in love with you.” Emori held onto Harper’s hand.

Raven leaned forward and pointed a sharp finger at her. “And you both still are.”

[drkreviews]

Faith or Submission?

Here I am with a new song analysis in “Lyrical Love”! Today’s subject is a song by the visual kei band Angelo, precisely Faith, released as lead-track and second song of the same name album, come out on 27th November 2013. This song is strictly linked to the band’s concept, mixing up an energetic and obscure melody with a deep and provoking subject, which makes reflecting.

THE MUSIC

The fast drumming opens the song, along with a really dynamic guitar, leading up to an energetic and fast theme, empowered by aggressive notes; Kirito’s voice is really chilling and psychedelic, making the song more extreme than expected and despite that, it goes on easily and the structure is really simple and enjoyable, even thanks to a certain technique.

Lyrics (Romaji)

Kawaita hoho o shitataru shizuku kunda tenohira Fukai dōkō no oku ni hikaru asenai kibō. Faisu… todoku no ka sō shite ireba Rerīfu… ugokazu ni machi tsudzuketa Tsukiageru dōkoku no mama ni yagate deaeru to shinjita Hikari kou sono yubisaki ni kuruoshiku motometa kyūsai Hijōna made tsukihanasa re ame ni nureru Kanda kuchibiru soredemo mada inori tomezu. Faisu… mieru no ka hizamazukeba? Divine… shinario wa kawaranai mama Wakiagaru gimon o fūji mukuwa reru koto o shinjita Yurushi kou furueru kata o mitsumeru dakedatta ano toki. Fōru out... ki no sumu made inori o Disobey... ushirosugata kono-me ni yakitsuketa. Kanpekina baransu no moto kurikaesa reru kanashimi Haguruma o hitotsu kowasou modorenai taizai o daite.

Lyrics (Translation)

Drops fall from thirsty cheeks, through the palm Shining deep in the pupils, with the hope of not fading.

Faith... it will come if I engage myself Relief... I continued to wait without moving (I)

I trust that soon we will find ourselves to outburst our wailing I asked for salvation, madly praying with the light between the fingers Cruelly thrown away, wet by the rain With bitten lips, but still without stopping the prayer. (II)

Faith... see or bow? Divine... the scenery is unaltered

I believed that the doubt would raise up sealed and rewarded At that time I asked for forgiveness, looking for a trembling shoulder. (III)

Fall out... a prayer for calming the spirit Disobey... a retreated figure is impressed to the sight

Repeated sadness, origin of a perfect balance Break one of the gears, embracing the returned deadly sin. (IV)

THE WORDS

Written by the singer Kirito, the song takes a theme directly from Angelo’s concept, unveiling it in all the possible aspects, with a quite simple layout, made by piercing and efficient lines. The subject of the song is indeed the faith, explained as an image which drives a thought, a culture or an ideology, a definition used for explaining the album where this song has been released. The text raises up a fundamental question: how it can be used? Faith is, at one hand, a pure and selfless thing, an act of belief despite everything, but at the other side, it can be used as a device of control and oppression, as the past (and current) history has learnt us. The protagonist finds himself to question the meaning of the faith itself, relying on his prayer, waiting for an answer that might come or not. And now... let’s analyze the song!

I) The text starts with the image of tears falling from thirsty cheeks, thirsty because of the many drops fallen, going through the hand’s palm (Kawaita hoho o shitataru shizuku kunda tenohira), shining deeply in the pupils, hoping to not fade away (Fukai dōkō no oku ni hikaru asenai kibō); the protagonist reflects on the faith, which will appear only if he will behave (Faisu… todoku no ka sō shite ireba, note that the word “faith”, like all the English terms seen here, is written in katakana, as for maintaining a sort of proximity with the text), and this brings him relief, so that he will wait its arrival without moving (Rerīfu… ugokazu ni machi tsudzuketa).

II) He trusts that soon everybody can let out their wailing (Tsukiageru dōkoku no mama ni yagate deaeru to shinjita), while he asks for salvation, praying madly with the light in his hands (Hikari kou sono yubisaki ni kuruoshiku motometa kyūsai); he is thrown away with cruelty, gets wet by the rain, bites his own lips, but despite everything, he won’t stop his prayer (Hijōna made tsukihanasa re ame ni nureru/Kanda kuchibiru soredemo mada inori tomezu).

III) He wonders what is the true sense of faith, whether is seeing something concealed by the reason or being submitted to a more powerful authority, the core contrast of the whole text (mieru no ka hizamazukeba?) and seeing the divine, notice that the reality is always the same, pointing the faith towards its darkest side (Divine… shinario wa kawaranai mama); he believed that the doubt would raise up sealed in its darkness and rewarded for being opened to the faith (Wakiagaru gimon o fūji mukuwa reru koto o shinjita), so at that time he asked for forgiveness, because he looked for someone’s else shoulder, instead of looking inside himself (Yurushi kou furueru kata o mitsumeru dakedatta ano toki). 

IV) He feels like he is falling out and thinks that a prayer can calm his own spirit (Fōru out - ki no sumu made inori o) and aware that such in a way he disobeyed, a figure is imprinted in his sight, haunting him (Disobey... ushirosugata kono-me ni yakitsuketa); this unveils the core of the whole text, a sadness which is repeated every day, in order to reach a perfect “balance” (Kanpekina baransu no moto kurikaesa reru kanashimi), and if one of the gears of this system gets broken, the deadly sin, a metaphor for punishment, will return to the offender (Haguruma o hitotsu kowasou modorenai taizai o daite), ending the text in a dark way.

What is faith really? An unconditioned devotion, whose goal is reaching a perfect comprehension of life itself, or a medium which the oppressors use for annihilating any individual thought? Angelo touch their own concept with a deep and contained composition, made of darkness and a bit of light, in contrast like everything in our world.

That’s all folks! See you with the old chart of October and November 2018!

Thanks for the reading!

[sneek-m]

Top 40: April 17, 2017

*Link to the Spotify playlist here

It hasn’t been long since the last playlist update, but the previous number one, K.A.R.D.’s “Don’t Recall,” is off the chart to move to another playlist, so I thought it’d be a good time to list the few new additions I’ve been into lately.

Bold titles are new additions. Asterisk notes it being not available on Spotify.

Red Velvet – “My Dear”

Seohyun – “Bad Love”

**Tomomi Kahara – “I’m Proud”

**TRF – “Boy Meets Girl”

GFriend – “Fingertip”

**Negoto -- “Asymmetry”

**Every Little Thing – “Future World”

Globe – “Departures (Album Mix)”

EXID -- “Night Rather Than Day”

**Aya Matsuura – “Love Namida-Iro”

**Ladies’ Code – “The Rain”

Pristin – “Be the Star”

**Hitomi – “Sexy”

**BoA – “Be the One”

Perfume – “Tokyo Girl”

Lovelyz – “WoW”

AOA – “Excuse Me”

Drexciya – “Unknown Journey IV”

**Suzy – “Les Preferences”

Tofubeats – “Positive” ft. Dream Ami

Bruno Mars – “That’s What I Like”

Ariana Grande – “Side 2 Side” ft. Nicki Minaj

Taeyeon – “I Got Love”

Alex Anwandter – “Rebeldes”

Luna – “Free Somebody”

**Morning Musume – “Daite! Hold on Me”

**Twice – “Knock Knock”

Oh My Girl – “Knock Knock”

J Balvin -- “Sigo Extranandote”

Ai Otsuka -- “QueeN”

**Tommy February6 -- “Everyday at the Bus Stop”

**Charisma.com -- “Not Not Me”

21 Savage & Metro Boomin’ – “Bad Guy”

Heize – “July” ft. DEAN & DJ Friz

**Namie Amuro – “Baby Don’t Cry”

DJ Snake – “Talk” ft. George Maple

Ayumi Hamasaki – “Monochrome”

Fifth Harmony – “That’s My Girl”

Maren Morris – “80s Mercedes”

Lil Uzi Vert -- “XO Tour Llif3″

Chief Keef – “Trying Not to Swear”

[koinodancesite]

“Daite Hold on Me!”

Release date: Sept. 9, 1998

Oricon Weekly placement: 1st

B-side: “Tatoeba”

Members: Asuka Fukuda, Aya Ishiguro, Kaori Iida, Kei Yasuda, Mari Yaguchi, Natsumi Abe, Sayaka Ichii, Yuko Nakazawa

“Daite Hold on Me!” earned Morning Musume a number of successes. The single was their first release to chart number one on Oricon Weekly, and it got the group their first performance at Kouhaku Utagassen – Japan’s biggest televised music program. As put into perspective by Asayan, the members were trying their best to sell 50,000 copies of “Ai No Tane” just a year before.

Their third single also nailed a sweet spot in terms of musical identity. The group’s outfits still have the “night out in the city” idea in mind, just trading in blues for a deep black, and the music continues to soundtrack that downtown fantasy. But the jazz-club sound of “Summer Night Town” gets swapped for funky disco – a genre that has become a rich foundation for later hits down the road.

Disco and funk provides a lot more space for the members to play around with. The sexy-pop impressions of “Summer Town Night” is expanded in “Daite Hold on Me!” with the singers really getting into the ad libs. The increased use of English – from the title to the dance-pop lingo like darling and breakdown – add the adult cool they aim to establish for the song’s personality. The emoting of their desperation in the chorus sounds a touch dramatic, but that slight exaggeration plays exactly to the genre they play with.

In hindsight, Morning Musume seems to tackle these impressions in “Daite” in earnest to establish a sense of fashionable cool in a similar level as, say, the models-turned-singers produced by Tetsuya Komuro. The rest of Second Morning, the group’s sophomore full-length which includes “Daite,” mostly supports this view.

That perspective complicates the second verse, a section that I am compelled to refer here as a rap for the sake of an easier description. The way it deviates a lot from the song as a whole in approach, almost like a break of the fourth wall, feels like the root of the monologues now famous as a Hello! Project signature. More than the dramatic oohs and aahs, it’s the most memorable part of “Daite” through its irresistible playfulness. The girls react as one would singing this in karaoke, shooing away the camera as the “bye, bye” line rolls along.

They all look and sound like they’re having a lot of fun reciting the raps, but is it supposed to be silly? Later Morning Musume would knowingly and shamelessly play up this kind of cheesiness as the song’s main appeal, but this approach to music-making won’t explicitly be a part of the brand until a year later. The group would do more straight-faced pop impressions for few more singles down the road. Still, even if they detoured into a different direction than the one that would prove more successful, I still regard “Daite” as the single that teased Morning Musume’s later, more successful approach.

[8]

[koinodancesite]

“Memory Seishun No Hikari”

Release date: Feb. 10, 1999

Oricon Weekly placement: 2nd

B-side: “Happy Night,” “Never Forget”

Members: Asuka Fukuda, Aya Ishiguro, Kaori Iida, Kei Yasuda, Mari Yaguchi, Natsumi Abe, Sayaka Ichii, Yuko Nakazawa

The reason I question Morning Musume’s intentions in “Daite Hold on Me!” is because they follow that single up with “Memory Seishun No Hikari.” If their previous release had any suggestions of irony or pure silliness, they dispel that outright with a straight-faced take on R&B, a then-emergent genre on the charts.

Hip hop and rap had been a part of Japan’s public consciousness since the earlier parts of the ‘90s, and R&B had been also starting to become a popular style for producers to utilize as a platform to introduce artists by 1999. A big indication of the latter style as a go-to route is the solo debuts for two SPEED members, Hiroko Shimabukuro and Hitoe Arakaki. Not to mention, Utada Hikaru debuted that same year.

So the turntable scratches, that rappity-rap verse, and the post-New Jack Swing production all feels right on time for a 1999 single. Even considering Morning Musume’s own timeline of stylistic shifts, a move to disco to hip-hop doesn’t feel too drastic. The stylistic cues of “Memory” are executed airtight, faithfully following the template to the point it doesn’t allow much room for playing around. The narrative, too, deals with more delicate matters, calling for a precise performance – not too light or too dramatic. The impression-as-performance approach introduced in “Summer Night Town” doesn’t cut it for this song.

Morning Musume do their best to meet the standards of this demanding single. The ad libs that played up “Daite Hold on Me!” fluffs up “Memory” a bit too over the top, but the sighing back vocal provides a nice touch to a group who has yet to explore a side of sophistication. Frankly, the raps and the outdated stylistic tics bog down the quality of this song more than the members themselves.

If you’re familiar with what this original line-up will soon release, the serious, melodramatic tone of “Memory” feels like a failed pursuit in hindsight. They will leave this behind in favor of a blindly optimistic attitude residing at practically the other end of the spectrum. The massive success they’ve achieved with this tonal shift may give an impression that presenting Morning Musume in this form wasn’t an entirely right move.

“Memory” better suits the current line-up. The group make-up during the latter half of its two-decade lifespan has the benefit of its appeal backed by one of skill. A song that demands from its performers like “Memory” feels rather standard as part of their repertoire. It may not quite suit Morning Musume in 1999, but the single has actually aged quite well as it fits in the evolution of the group as a whole.

[6]

[drkreviews]

Best of... July 2018

Here I am with the monthly top 5 in “Best of... July 2018″! With the Summer which is becoming hotter and Mars being closer than us, the strings and the sticks are blazed and produce energetic and powerful notes, making the Japanese rock scene worth to be enjoyed and tasted in all its shades. Among the many contenders, only five of them won the challenge and took their own spot in the chart, each one for a different reason, between “comebacks”, pleasant confirmations and an unexpected goodbye. And now... let’s start the countdown!

5) Pentagon - Mantra (04.07.2018)

The most extravagant band of the current scene goes back with their best, releasing the 7th single, the second work of this year.

Why they are here: After having experienced a soft pop-ish phase up to the previous single Hankou seimei, the band decided to go back to what was their best style and sound, in a balanced release made of energetic notes, piercing vocals and mature vibes, resulting in a really solid product in its own.

TRACKLIST

Mantra

Mellow sunset beach

Monochrome

4) Razor - Akaku chirabaru hana [Red scattered flower] (25.07.2018)

The band continues to go on strong and bold, releasing their second work of this year, precisely the fourth single.

Why they are here: Even if they change outfits and style, Razor maintains their unique and fascinating potency, expressed in three various, compact and different tracks, where the main highlights are the vocal performances and the technical grace in building compelling themes.

TRACKLIST

Akaku chirabaru hana

Sorrow rain

Ajisai (Hydrangea)

3) Dadaroma - Boku wa android [I am android] (18.07.2018)

The freaking band continues this year releasing their tenth single, unfortunately their last official work before the hiatus.

Why they are here: Coming out from the formulaic approach seen in the mini-album This is “Live”, Dadaroma spits out the best of their sound, with dynamic melodies, unpredictable vocal interpretations and technical feats; the best way for greeting the audience before the hiatus, announced after that Yusuke left the band for health issues.

TRACKLIST

Boku wa android

Yogoreru mae ni watashi wo daite (Hold me before it gets dirty)

Fake

2) Lynch. - XIII (11.07.2018)

For celebrating their 13th anniversary, the metal band comes out with a new release, the 11th album, second work after Akinori’s return.

Why they are here: This album shows how Lynch. can give out so much with few elements, building up a more balanced album than expected, where there’s a uniformity between the single tracks, heavy and soft ones, refined in each detail, even the littlest one, in a release of pure music and energy.

TRACKLIST

Introduction

Thirteen

Grotesque

Exist

Jøker

Renatus

Amble

Sense of Emptiness

Five

Interlude

Faith

Obvious

A Fool

1) Mucc - Jigen Bakudan [Clock bomb] (25.07.2018)

And the best release of the month is the latest effort by Mucc, their 34th single, a pure mix of their essence as band.

Why they are here: Mucc never miss an hit, especially in this single, where they confirm their unity and cohesion as band; in fact each track is written by a member and fits perfectly with the release’s structure, with unpredictable and refined melodies, where the band brings out the best of itself.

TRACKLIST

Seitoshi to kimi (Life, death and you)

Timer

Magenta

Requiem

That’s all folks! See you next Wednesday for the first post of August in “Let’s Listen to”!

Thanks for the reading!

*Sorry for the delay*