Sunday Night Report: Entertainment News Weekly, In Time

You guys know how much effort I put in just to remember to come here in time to type this and Klasic Note Spirit? (Audience: A reminder from your phone?) Oi! You’re not supposed to tell them!

ANIME
Coppelion: It seems that the Ozu sisters have no intention to be good schoolgirls, so we get to watch more action next episode, perhaps? Even the robot’s determined to get into the action… whatever that would be. I don’t read the Manga, you know…
Samurai Flamenco (changing sequence of viewing liao): Looks like King Torture is a maniac that sends out monsters (anybody think this is weird already?) that like to commit suicide on the sight of their weakness. Quite typical I suppose, and I think it’s getting more exciting.
Nagi no Asukara: Well… now they don’t let the kids leave the sea already? How? What would happen? What is the impact on the surface that the Sea God may intend to bring upon the people? Since this is Original Animation, waiting is the only way to find out… Interesting though, as how things develop. Still got time to talk about their love pentagon…
Golden Time: Seems like Banri talking about his past with Linda… and guess what? The old soul triumphs over the new? Now that’s a good time. I guess that’s what the title means. But doesn’t that mean Kouko’s going to be the victim? Well feeling sorry for her already… the character, that is. Haha. (Audience: You're interested in Hocchan already? You remembered what you mentioned on that other post?) MOVING ON!

MANGA
BLEACH: Komamura’s done, and Kyoraku can still chat with the other Sternritter while protected by Nanao-chan’s Kido (it seems). And seems like killing the stronger enemy is going to take some time to postpone, as Rukia  and Renji are here to clear up the mess. The others, I mean. *silence* I didn’t know I could write THIS much. So much for story development…

MUSIC
Looks like I’ve only Aqua Timez this week, along with sphere’s new single. Checked and confirmed packages from Animate Online Shop (Mina-chan’s single and Yocchan’s, with SPECIAL PRESENTS…) and they’re most likely coming my way by my end-of-year leave period. Great. Also would be ordering SPECIAL OTHER’s live CD (worried their best album wouldn’t appear), sphere’s single (because missed the specials already) and SPYAIR’s single, which would be their first on my shelf. Yesh, the Samurai Flamenco opening song.

Next week’s on two more singles - Ayachi and MiraMuse (Samurai Flamenco Ending Song) - and two more albums (Kawano Marina, ChouCho) and one more single (Kana-chan) would conclude this year. Wow. I didn’t notice it’s all females…

GAMES?
Well I thought I should share. Recently been VERY hooked into rail transport games, from the new ones like Rail Nation (click here), Pocket Trains (@ Google Play Store) to oldies like LEGO LOCO (if you guys played this it’s my ideal game on lower specs) and Sid Meier’s Railroads (fun, but tiring, and rather complicated). No, not playing NFS Rivals…

Cya guys then. Next up: Klassic Note Spirit excerpt (actually haven’t finished up the real script yet hehe) Part 4 – Where Things Get Interesting…

[P.S.: Oops forgot to add the links xD]

Sunday Night Report: The Klassic Note Spirit Part III – The Year 2009

2009 was a crucial year for me, as another stage of my life is going to determine my life yet again – exams. But it does not stop me from listening to Japanese songs, no. Moreover, there’s more the reason for me to immerse myself in them so to get over the exam stress.

ANIME INFLUENCE CONTINUES
If not for Anime, it’s losing half the reason to be here listening to J-Pop already. Thus, I continued to watch more Anime. From K-ON! to Kara no Kyoukai to Hatsukoi Limited to Shakugan no Shana… a whole variety of genres (somewhat not leaving female leads LOL) that got me to knowing a whole variety of artists, not forgetting BLEACH which is ongoing that time. Especially K-ON! is the first show to have me go in SOOOO much into Anime songs, compared to Toradora! the previous year. As time goes many anime songs came into my list, and quite a few have potential to compete with the mainstream songs.

Also at that year, many voice actors were introduced into the music industry, going solo and releasing singles and albums for our fandom. More complemented by Anime appearance and popularity than their singing, managed to catch my attention. Notables include Tomacchan (who started the previous year) and Aki-chan (really because of her role in K-ON!) and many other music companies start to follow. Voice actor groups also start to appear, with the first one being Sphere, consisting two I mentioned above and Mina-chan (which started her solo debut the following year) and Ayahi-chan, which… I end up not listening.

NEW ARTISTS APPEAR
Besides the above, many new mainstream artists also start to appear, like STEREOPONY and SCANDAL, which bring out the rock in Japanese music. YUI, Lil’B, Porno Graffitti, SID, Kalafina and more continue to complement the music industry, bringing in more great songs that I could ever imagine.

JROCK EMPHASIS
Since NANO-MUGEN COMPILATION has been releasing in a yearly basis, I’ve been starting to listen to many artists from it, like OGRE YOU ASSHOLE is a good example of the exotic, Alternative Rock that is in Japan. SPECIAL OTHERS also has made impact with their album “PB”, making it the best I’ve heard from them so far that time.

Quirky video and voice isn’t it? Unique, I would say…

OTHER LANGUAGES IMPOSSIBLE?
But of course, that does not mean Japanese songs are everything. English songs are present in the NANO-MUGEN COMPIALTION, and at that time I’m still transitioning from watching drama to Anime, so Korean and Hong Kong dramas are still in my watch list, so keeping a song or two is somewhat necessary.

METHODS OF SOURCING BECOMING DIFFICULT
With the revamping of SonyMusic Online (around that time I think) and many location copyrights of various sources, it becomes increasingly difficult to get previews from sources which are not popular. Back then J-Pop is still not widely promoted (compared to now) and I had to dig through so much just to get a listen to songs that are latest in trend in Japan. But I’ve always been able to get my way, so that is good news.

THE ARRIVAL OF HIGH DEFINITION MUSIC VIDEOS
With the implementation and conversion of HDTV channels in Japan, so is the few music video channels, which end up letting people publish and promote high definition videos of various songs over the Internet. Of course I’m happy with the arrival of such things, making things looks more awesome than before. One of the first I’ve seen is from RSP, and their songs are great. Pity has been dormant since the following year. (I uploaded this PV just for you guys!)

THE IDEA OF KLASSIC NOTE
And obviously this much is not going to stop me listening to more, right? With song counts a record high every year, it’s no wonder I decide on carrying on this spirit! It’s also around this time I started to think of awarding those who have made my day, thus Klassic Note. Back then it’s still in a abbreviation of my name (ie. KN Song Awards), but I’ve been making those wonderful rankings and tabulating results every year then.

That’s pretty much it. It’s a summary, right?

Next on The Klassic Note Spirit: It’s meeting its downfall already? Don’t think so…

Sunday Night Report: Entertainment News Weekly

Hi guys, it’s that time of the week again. Well if I weren’t locked up somewhere until the weekend then I wouldn’t say that. Wouldn’t I? (Audience: I guess it’s imperative, according to your activities in the weekend…) I guess so…

ANIME
Coppelion: Well we finally see some rebellion against the current rule. The Oka Ozu sisters (LOL got confused with other Anime) obviously are enjoying their field trip of freedom and are, not surprisingly, on the enemy’s side. But most likely is why Haruto should have a way with them, but then next episode is all about luck… and weather, like the wind. Never expect natural aspects playing a part in Anime, and am looking forward to it already. Oh yesh, and just in case I felt weird and went to check, the sisters are voiced by Hocchan (seriously, the one with the electricity) and Sakamoto Maaya-san, both VERY experienced in this field of acting…
Samurai Flamenco: No, not a villain. Just when things are getting easy, they like to make a villain in a hero show, what’s more so weird that one turns into a gorilla, and such a lousy name (King Torture) it sounds bad in Japanese already. Cross fingers what would happen, but I’m already in this much so not much of turning back. We shall see what happens anyway. Besides there are four, oh no, five heroes in this show so I guess- (Audience: Five?) Of course. The main character, the police, and the three girls… Haha joking…
Nagi no Asukara: The kids go to the city to buy a gift for Miuna’s stepmother. Haha. Well it’s true anyway. And they end up making it themselves, right? Should’ve done so already. Oh yeah and the end of the episode is already getting my attention. “Saltflake snow? On the (land) surface?” Something tells me it’s going to go wrong, and what I would expect (I say it here first, besides there are no spoilers for this original animation anyway) is that everyone get back to what happened in the past, like everybody living in the sea once again, then the differences would surely be removed…
Golden Time: Well the best part surely must be the casual talk of Banri with his “Linda-senpai”, huh. Personally liked that part, but to say that the soul of the previous Banri does not leave him alone is not good news. Wonder what SHOULD really happen after that… Don’t mail me the spoilers, thanks.

Oh something I watched on Wednesday and I forgot to add it in.
Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun OVA: Came along with the (sadly) last volume of the Manga, and it’s… what they did not promise in episode… five; “Tonari no Gekidou-kun” is its name. Well pretty lame and somewhat does not add up to the original plot. Surely they should do up a second season, but looks like this is it, huh. Been watching the Anime recently so knew what happened.

MUSIC
Well just this weekend I heard through the first of two songs I’d like to review later next week (until I get it’s contender), so I’ll keep it a mystery. But I’ve mentioned it before, so you guys could guess. (Audience: Did you?) (Eh…) And I’ve not been seeing Mina-chan’s single since Wednesday… the single really is bad? In my previous post, I gave links and commented it to be “regretted pre-ordering it” or something like that, but you know? Brainwashing IS important. And where’s my two singles I pre-ordered from Animate Online Shop? Bastards, dragging for some ‘Labour Thanksgiving’ Holiday…

On a side note, I watched Tomacchan’s 2nd album live (but quality sucks so…) and thought it was pretty good. In the Making I saw this:
That kinda freaked me out. But of course: whatever comes off the shelves has to be the artist/idol’s preference somehow or another. But seriously saying: Would you prefer a bolster case against the real McCoy? (Audience: I choose…) There is no competition, isn’t it?

On another side note, I would most likely be spending the whole of next week watching Anime “Kokoro Connect” (should re-watch to understand the show again), SPECIAL OTHERS and miwa’s lives. Hopefully I have time. And this time round I took a lot time to make sure the audio sync does not screw up my mood.

Heard Ayachi’s new song preview, and… they didn’t invite Ore Ska Band to back her up? What a pity…

Cya guys then. Next up: The Klassic Note Spirit Part 3! And I still have time for it!

Saturday Night Report: What I’ve Truly Forgotten

What… hmm that’s the question. What have I truly forgotten? My taste in music? My impartiality in judgement of songs? Why has it become like that? Why the expectations? Isn’t it great that I went back to those times I enjoyed music easily?

This is a good example of this year. Not here to summarise anything, but then recently been listening to Sphere’s new song “Sticking Places” and Mina-chan’s single this weekend and reminded myself of this. That is, I’ve been listening to not weird, but melody-unique songs till date. That’s why I’ve been living in the Japanese music industry listening all these years. And here I’m thinking the new songs are weird…

STICKING PLACES
I thought this song was weird, given its credit to the Anime it’s associated to. But then recently at their 5th anniversary meeting with the reveal of the full song, I finally understood something. I liked this kind of songs, ever since the group started in 2009. There was this time (if you guys knew) in 2010 after their first album where I started hearing… unique songs, like “REALOVE:REALIFE” and “MOON SIGNAL”, and I thought: What kind of nonsense song titles are these? But then end up I listened and liked those songs, even humming them nowadays. Then I tell myself, “Why would I hate the song? It doesn’t sound weird; It’s been as great as is it!” And along with the understanding of lyrics, I actually should be liking the song so much I should be doing the usual brainwashing again. Why? Why the persistence?

If you guys need a listen to how good/bad this song is, here it is, from their meeting:

It’s actually a lively and touching song, with the usual style for the group…

But with that of course there is effort seen to not destroy the second half of the song, because the front already sounds weird. That’s my stand for now. Haha, really.

PRETTY FEVER REVIEW
I may be doing more of this soon from next year onwards, with the opening of the new site which I will cover it here soon. You want to ask me why Mina-chan and why I think it’s bad? June this year they started her second album set with “Prism” and in the description talked about transition from “MINAKO-Rock” to “MINAKO-Dance-Rock”, which kinda freaked me out. The song back then was okay, I was liking it… but not this time round. This month someone wrote the whole single so different, that I kinda regretted pre-ordering it (which is still not in sight yet, duno what happened) which is not good news. But then again I ask myself why I would think like that. It’s not that I’ve not heard worse songs before, and mind you, it’s kinda driving me to start spamming negative comments on the Anime songs I’ve been listening recently (my way of doing that is drop the songs to 3-stars, off the 4-star average) to vent my anger. I know songs are not produced by me, but times are different, I swear…

If you want a listen, there’s this… not so awesome site (I thought it was great but…) to listen to FULL SONG previews of the single mentioned.

Nevertheless, I somewhat feel that the PV of the single somewhat consoled me and convinced me to like the song, as plenty of surprises come from the lively side of Mina-chan. Oh yeah, you know what I saw in this part of the Sphere PV? (from above)

Haha yesh Aki-chan. 可愛いんじゃない？(Trans: Cute isn’t she?) (Audience: Eh aren’t you talking about…) Oh you thought what?

…

That’s all for today. Don’t think I forgot about the Klassic Note Spirit (I forgot that last week) and Entertainment News this week (I almost forgot last week xD), really. I won’t. Promise. Cya guys tomorrow, until then… if you need a song, come find me. I’ve got plenty of introduce, but it depends whether you can absorb them or not…

Wednesday Night Report: The Klassic Note Spirit Part II – The Year 2008

I suppose here’s where everything really started rolling: The introduction of Anime theme songs and its unique style drew me into this world I know of as “J-Pop”. And yesh, I at that time am enjoying it.
“It should be the time that I felt the most of J-Pop…” –Kaineng
THE DEDICATION TO SEARCHING
Many thanks should be given to the artists I dedicate many hours to find out their songs from their debut, which include solo artists like YUI and many bands like Aqua Timez and Ikimono-gakari. Many songs at that time came in to make me touched, in a different way I felt from Chinese songs. And I guess that’s how it attracted me to listen to them. For example, Aqua Timez. The unique long string of lyrics I don’t hear anywhere (normally it’s too long that it became rap) became meaningful words with the aid of several fansub groups to let me understand the lyrics. Back then I may not have understood the songs, but no matter. The melody is already what attracts me.

This is probably why YUI is so cool…

“They (My parents) ask why I like to listen to songs ‘that no one understands’, but I tell them I’m ‘searching for the melody’ instead.” –Kaineng
THE INFLUENCE OF ANIME
Additionally, the influence of Anime has not stopped in providing me with fresh new melodies from artists that I don’t know, that maybe in debut or just a long-run group. So much so that I actually watch the show just to listen the song, or even just take the song to listen and dumping the show entirely. Bands like THYME and VELTPUNCH are great examples.

Cool girl isn’t it? Is she even Japanese??

The Anime it starred in. Looks nice, but gave up on the first episode.


The best song of the year. And of course an awesome song is in an Anime…

Anime “Nabari no Ou” Opening Song. With subtitles!~

INTRODUCTION OF J-ROCK

Just like above, when I was just enjoying the songs of J-Pop, I was actually more influenced by the songs that rock! One of the artists responsible is above: VELTPUNCH. That Alternative Rock style is so appealing it lets me want more. Along with bands like ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION and Chatmonchy, they bring the best and special that is J-Rock. Along with Ajikan (ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION) and their own compilation, NANO-MUGEN COMPILATION, with their live tours featuring Japanese and also non-Japanese artists, bring along the special styles of Rock I’ve heard so far. And it’s still running, till date.
“Amongst all the stress, J-Rock truly made me ‘high’ and forget about all the stress in school that time.” –Kaineng
And it’s not only songs that made me interested, even then there’s this special group, thus their name “SPECIAL OTHERS”, starts me in listening to instrumental from Japan, before that I was just listening to piano instrumentals or even classical music. And if you don’t believe how good they are, join the fans in listening to their live: Looking at them already makes you feel the beat and want me to go to their live.

Laurentech. Don’t know what it means, not even what language they’re singing. They’re SPECIAL; they’re AWE-SOME.

That’s all I guess. There’s definitely more, like other artists from various other Anime I watched, from Nagasarete Airantou featuring Horie Yui (you guys should know her as she voices for many years already) to Shakugan no Shana featuring Kawada Mami in the theme songs. These artists go a long way to sing the unique songs that is J-Pop. And J-Rock. And much, much more…
Next up: The Klassic Note Spirit Part III – The Anime watching and artist searching continues to make impact…