Tuesday, November 20, 2001

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOSHIKI!! Okay. That was it. *L* - MS - Hyde yodeled at 11:58 p.m.

Tuesday, November 20, 2001

I... don't know whether to laugh or cry. Got this from Kemuri at the Gackt ML who got it from someone in Japan recently. OI JIRO! If you have anything to do with this I swear... XD XD The new single is called juuni-gatsu no Love Song (December Love Song) and it's due in stores 12/16. Have a fun and safe Thanksgiving to those celebrating! - MS - Hyde yodeled at 11:42 a.m.

Wednesday, November 14, 2001

HOWEVER I've been meaning to do a review of this video, but I never got around to it. Besides, I figured people would want reviews of newer things, and Glay's However has been around for a while. But I recently rediscovered the video again and felt that I should share my findings with the rest of the world. Whether you like it or not. XD First of all, the video is unlike any music video, jrock or otherwise, that I've ever seen. For one, it contains minimal scenes of artificial scenes of the musicians. Yes, there are shots of the band, but it's not what the video focuses on. Secondly, the quality of the video is of a more amateur level than most videos for a music group of Glay's caliber. So what's the deal? The video opens with a shot of the ocean at either sunset or sunrise, blue and purple and pink waves, while the word "GLAY" slowly appears and disappears over the water. Then it suddenly shifts to a view of what appears to be a park and...two teenagers who appear to be fighting. The title "HOWEVER" appears, and the video begins. That rather shocking opening sets the tone for the rest of the video. Quickly, you realize that Glay is trying to do something different here. Instead of a bunch of shots of the band playing or crafted scenery, the cameramen took the camera out on the streets. They recorded birds in the trees, bikes on the road. Kids chasing after a dog. Shop owners selling their wares, boys lounging on a fence after school, people playing soccer. As the video first draws towards the chorus, I didn't know what to expect. I'd guessed that the shots of the "common people" of Japan were supposed to fit in somehow with the song, but I had no idea how it worked. Even when I was lost With an untouchable dream in an unfamiliar city You were the one who gave me the courage To run through the darkness As the chorus begins, the scene changes to a crowded street in a big city. Tokyo? I don't know. The giant surge of people as the music swells just hits you and you realize that this video is magnificent in its own way. With "Anata o shiawase ni shitai" the scene shifts to Teru and the rest of the band. They're shown in black and white, a stark contrast to the vivid color images of Japan. As the second verse begins, the members of the band are seen walking along the shore of the ocean. It's definitely Japan, with green everywhere, and the music is very peaceful. They're smiling as they walk. I still feel you no matter how far apart we are When I return let's live together After all, it's best to be together all the time As the music transitions into "kodoku o seou hitobito no mure ni tatazunde ita" ("I staggered in a sea of people burdened by loneliness") more nature is shown, soothing in contrast to the rather depressing words of the song. The melody builds with us as viewers shuffled back and forth between the black and white visuals of the band and the startling greenery. The climax finally arrives at "dare yori mo aishiteru to" ("I love you more than anyone") and then the chorus begins again and we are transported back into the sea of people. However is a song about wandering, about searching, and realizing that what you're searching for was lying underneath your nose the whole time. Based on the words and the images from the video, I believe that Glay is singing about Japan. The references to being "lost in an unfamiliar city" and "sins of the days of youth" might refer to when Glay was a young band trying to make their way in a world of struggling bands. And now, at the pinnacle of their success, they're known the world over. And yet Takuro wants to remind us, and them, that Japan is where it all started. And, really, the members of Glay, no matter how famous they are, are just people like any of the people walking the streets in the video. The fact that Glay is shown in black and white puts them back in the corner, giving the spotlight to the beauty of their native land, culture, and people, saying "Look, this is why we're here. This is what we're singing about." It's a clumsy video, with amateur cuts, shaky transitions, shots that linger too long in places and some that are too short. And yet because of that, it's a very beautiful and very powerful piece of work which is downright haunting at times. It's the emotion and the belief behind the video that presents itself to the audience, and it's something only Glay can do. I admire their courage to throw away the old stereotypes and pay attention to the things that really matter. Bravo. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Yawaraka na kaze ga fuku kono basho de Ima futari yukkuri to aruki dasu Here, where the soft breeze blows We slowly begin to walk together Ikusen no deai wakare subete Kono hoshi de umarete Surechigau dake no hito mo ita ne Wakari-aenai mama ni Narenai machi no todokanu yume ni Mayoisou na toki ni mo Kurayami wo kakenukeru yuuki wo Kureta no wa anata deshita Thousands of meetings and partings Are born on this planet There were people passing by Not understanding each other Even when I was lost with An untouchable dream in an unfamiliar city You were the one who gave me the courage To run through the darkness Taema naku sosogu ai no na wo Eien to yobu koto ga dekita nara Kotoba de wa tsutaeru Koto ga doshitemo dekinakatta Itoshisa no imi wo shiru If the endless flow of love Can be called eternity I couldn't express it with words I learned the meaning of love Anata wo shiawase ni shitai Mune ni yadoru mirai zu wo Kanashimi no namida ni nurasanu you Tsumugi ai ikiteru I want to make you happy With the blueprint of tomorrow within me Not letting tears of sorrow cloud it We live and weave it together Ai no hajimari ni kiokoro tomadoi Se wo muketa natsu no gogo Ima omoeba tayori naku yureteta Wakasugita hibi no tsumi Sore demo donna ni hanareteitemo Anata wo kanjite iru yo Kondo modottara issho ni kuraso Yappari futari ga ii ne itsumo The summer afternoon I turned my back On the confusion of budding love I think of sins of the days of youth I shivered in uncertainty But even so I still feel you No matter how far apart we are When I return, let's live together Afterall, it's best to be together Kodoku wo seou hitobito no Mure ni tatazunde ita Kokoro yasuragu Basho wo sagashiteta Deau no ga ososugita ne to Nakidashita yoru mo aru Futari no tomawari sae Hito hida no jinsei Kizutsuketa anata ni ima tsugeyou Dare yori mo aishiteru to I staggered in the sea of people Burdened with loneliness I searched a place To ease my soul There were nights we cried Saying we met too late Even our long path is only A fragment of life I say this to the one I hurt the most I love you more than anyone Koi shita hi no muna-sawagi wo Nanigenai shuumatsu wo Osanasa no nokoru sono koe wo Ki no tsuyoi manazashi wo Anata wo irodoru subete wo dakishimete Yukkuri to aruki dasu The heartbeat the day I loved Those casual weekends That voice on which innocence still lingers Those strong eyes I cling to everything that paints who you are And begin walking Yawaraka na kaze ga fuku kono basho de From here, where the soft breeze blows - Gerald - Hyde yodeled at 09:20 p.m.

Wednesday, November 7, 2001

JUST A NOTE FROM ME I just archived, so if you're looking for any New Sodmy stuff, check the archive links at the bottom of the page. I've finally got my jrock downloads page up at http://www.asrundream.net/downloads. Among the tracks that I have posted right now are New Sodmy's Actor and Hyde's Evergreen, which I know are hot commodity right now. I also have the Blurry Eyes PV uploaded. Anyway, I know you're interested so go take a look. ^_~ - Gerald - Hyde yodeled at 11:39 a.m.