Magi-Kat’s Neighbors

嵐 "A.RA.SHI"

nobody@vox.com(MorningBerryz) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:52:51 -0400

I got into Arashi so late but I still love to collect their older releases whenever I can find them at an affordable prices. First place to check of course would be Yahoo! Japan Auctions, however I couldn't believe it when I saw Arashi's debut single "A.RA.SHI" on eBay for only $8! And it's in really great shape considering it's been around since November of '99! I was so surprised when I first learned that Arashi actually announced their debut here right in Hawaii and it's really added a special kind of connection to them in a sense. And I wonder what Arashi will have in store for us late next year as their 10th anniversary approaches...I'm sure there'll be something special planned! I get a kick out of seeing how little they are here on this cover and I wonder if Riida will ever grow his hair out that long again. :) In happiness of this recent find I've uploaded their debut promotional video clip for this single...wow the resolution got really fuzzy there didn't it! :O...

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Arashi "A.RA.SHI" pv

...what's amazing is how athletic Johnny's artists are and even at this initial stage of their debut as a group all five members are so nimble and acrobatic as this debut clip shows. JE seems to have a regimen for developing their members this way. Awhile back zdorama whom I'm thankful for introducing me to Arashi, sent me a clip of various Johnny's members performing acrobatic stunts on a t.v. show and Nino along with Tackey stood out as the better athletes back then while Matsujun....um needed a bit more practice as he fell on his butt a couple of times. :P He's great now of course! Also Arashi vocally was always great and Riida's vocals were just as pure, mesmerizing and powerful back then as they are today!

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I've scanned the front and back covers here....

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And here my Arashi obsession...I mean collection continues ^-^:

My Arashi collection

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Arashi's "truth" & "Kaze no mukou e."

nobody@vox.com(MorningBerryz) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:38:00 -0400

Arashi double A side "truth/ Kaze no mukou e" LE jacket A/ B & Regular edition releases.

The art of the triple release, perfected by Johnny's Entertainment. While collecting 3 versions of a "single" release may seem like overkill the effort and manner in which Arashi's latest double A side single release is presented makes for a very worthwhile purchase. Their two limited edition offerings give fans an all too rare musical experience as entirely independent full pv productions are featured on their accompanying bonus DVDs! And while we can never be sure when we'll be in store for their next pv collection as "5X5"'s first press pv DVD collection was released quite awhile ago, it's wonderful to have these latest pvs on special edition DVD.

Arashi "truth/ Kaze no mukou" RE (cover scan)

Arashi's regular edition is no slouch either as in addition to the two title tracks it includes an exclusive third track titled "Smile" as well as karaoke versions of all three songs. And while the RE's cover doesn't feature our favorite Johnny's group.....

Arashi "truth/ Kaze no mukou" RE (inner jacket scan)

...there's a great photo of them on the inside sleeve!

03 スマイル（ハウス食品「とんがりコーン」ＣＭソング）

Arashi

"Smile" somewhat reminds me of older Smap songs with its infectiously upbeat dreamy chorus and for the most part this track is performed as an ensemble vocal piece which is also reminiscent of Smap compositions of yesteryear. The harmonious chorus again shows off the great vocal chemistry Arashi has together and in particular I love the middle break where Riida's incomparable voice leads us into a slightly jazzy riff as the bassline seamlessly moves into a "walking" style for a brief but brilliant nuance here in the song. Arashi composers always seem to have the perfect balance within the group of dividing up vocal lines and the unmistakable presence of Riida's vocals are always given their due in feature lines at just the right moment for "dramatic" appeal.

Arashi LE Jacket A "truth/ Kaze no mukou e" (cover scan)

Jacket A's DVD features the pv for "truth" and the cover which is a deep contrast to Jacket B's cover artwork is a perfect reflection of the moodiness and deep felt conviction that "truth" entails.

Arashi "truth" pv

"truth" is one of Arashi's most intricate releases to date with it's layered vocals choreographed in striking unison laying perfectly behind the leads throughout the song. Yet again the vocal distribution is perfection as the uniqueness of each member's voice is heard in definining fashion and while "truth" does seem to feature Riida up front you never get the feeling that it's at any point not a total group "effort." The rhythm is relentless in its conviction coupling with the vocal arrangement seamlessly in an aura of a "concerto" like act...here the haunting presence of the violins providing the perfect dramatic appeal and background along with an edge provided by thick yet subtle distorted guitar riffs which appear in a timely manner. And acoustic piano alike adds a fine touch giving "truth" a deeply sophisticated sound...love the bridge which contrasts a tip toeing piano riff against the driving urgency of a wall of violins.

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"truth" is also one of Arashi's most dazzling and visually stunning pvs to date and its direction really captures the dynamic feel of the song. An undeniable truth that all Arashi fans can agree on is that all five members are incredibly accomplished dancers each in their own right! The dance choreography here doesn't disappoint either as the track's moodyness and drive are expressed with pin point effectiveness! So much to be taken with here whether it be the haunting arrangement, well orchestrated vocals, or the sheer dark elegance of the pv itself.

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Arashi "Kaze no mukou e/ truth" LE (Jacket scan)

Jacket B's limited edition DVD features the pv for "Kaze no mukou e" and my first reaction to seeing both LE covers was glee as the cover artwork unlike some of Arashi's previous multiple single releases, features a very different look here and very fittingly so as "Kaze no mukou e" is somewhat of a polar opposite of it's coupled with A side sister. I've always loved the soft pastel like colors which Arashi often sports and here it's a simple mix of stylish and cool!

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Arashi "Kaze no mukou e" pv

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Double A sides truly should stand out from one another and "Kaze no mukou e" is such a contrast to "truth" that I imagine that if someone not familiar with Arashi heard both songs back to back they may possibly think them to be from two entirely different groups. I always love seeing Ninokun on guitar or piano and here he struts his stuff in kakkoii goodness! And whether or not he's actually on the studio recording doesn't really matter as I'd just love to see Nino appear on stage with guitar in hand...leading off this vibrant tune as we all know he's very capable! "Kaze no mukou e" has somewhat of a "campfire" song feeling to it and the vibe here is one of euphoric emotions. I guess I'd describe this track as a jazzed up folk song and don't let the description "folk" fool you, this is definitely not a ballad by any means. Versus the serious tone of its predecessor "truth", "Kaze no mukou e" is the very embodiment of fun with a composition which is light hearted and gleeful. I'm not in particular a fan of rap music but I've come to love Shokun's raps so much and in a large way he's helped me to further enjoy and appreciate this art form. At first this particular rap in "Kaze no mukou" seemed a bit out of place but as usual Shokun wins me over as he does time and time again! ^-^

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The pv presents a much simpler visual but is nonetheless effective in bringing to life the visuals well imagined for a song of this nature. The fun emotions and "lightness" of the song are captured beautifully here and the improvised feeling of the choreography throughout is also a deep contrast to "truth" which featured precise movements. A mixture of rotating camera scenes along with close ups carry the pv against a serene white atmosphere which gives the entire pv an uplifting appearance matching "Kaze no mukou e"'s vibe perfectly. I can't wait to see this song performed live in concert as I imagine a song of this nature will have the entire arena rocking in unison! ^-^

I love these images with the clouds flowing through the screen and in some way I think these would make great looking posters if only they could be blown up to that proportion.

Both LE versions are out of print but the regular edition is still available and can be ordered here from Cdjapan.

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Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance... :)

nobody@vox.com(MorningBerryz) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:27:22 -0400

Ever wonder what effects work can have on a person? Well after extensive research the following findings have been observed in the workplace. Here are the six phases one goes through.....and in the case that you're not yet working, here's what you have to look forward to...

Phase 1

Phase 1

You are listening to Stevie Wonder.
(Your first day at work and all is fine and great)

Phase 2

Phase 2

You are listening to House Music.
(After awhile you're so busy that you're not sure if you're coming or going anymore)

Phase 3

Phase 3

You are listening to Metal.
(This is what you feel like at month's end)

Phase 4

Phase 4

You are listening to Hip Hop.
(You become bloated due to stress, feel sluggish and suffer from constipation)

Phase 5

Phase 5

You are listening to Gangsta Rap.
(After more time passes your eyes start to twitch, you forget what a 'good hair day' feels like as you just fall out of bed and load up on caffeine!!)

And finally
Phase 6 kicks in...

Phase 6

You are listening to Techno (on Ecstasy)
The truth- (How all employees end up eventually... :P)
Ahhhh it's Monday, I hope you had a better day than me!

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Moved

nobody@vox.com(Solitudity) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:43:59 -0400

Here's my new blog: http://hellosoli.blogspot.com/

I hope to post more then I did here! Please visit. =)

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So you think you know J-Pop?...J-Pop in the jazz lounge would like to test your knowledge.

nobody@vox.com(MorningBerryz) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:22:23 -0400

003

A few weeks ago I posted here my mom's trip to Hokkaido and one of the items she brought back for me was Tackey & Tsubasa's most recent single release "Koi uta", however she wasn't aware that I had already received all 3 versions of this single so there's just one thing to do.........give it away. ^-^ The details of this "Jacket A" version or "Koi Ban" version can be found in this post as this is the edition which includes a bonus DVD containing the 21 minute "drama" version of the music clip.

Anyone who's been reading here for awhile knows that I'm a long time fan of jazz music and it represents close to about 30% of my non Japanese music collection, most of it which was collected during my days of working at a music store here in Hawaii. Anything from be-bop, big band, fusion, acoustic to contemporary fits my jazz fancy as jazz is such a wonderfully diverse music language to delve into and enjoy. So here I present to you 6 jazz trio renditions of both the J-Pop and J-Rock genres which are being performed by a very talented trio of Japanese musicians. The songs here are being translated by piano, acoustic bass, and drums and what you may immediately notice is how much "sound" such a small collection of instruments can create and the lively ambiance they resonate presents the listener with a most relaxing atmosphere to fall in love with.

So whether you're just enjoying J-Music gone jazz or think you recognize what song(s) are being improvised on here I hope you enjoy the music. And if anyone can meet the challenge I'll send Tackey & Tsubasa's "Koi uta" Koi Ban version release to whomever can name the most of these J-Pop/J-Rock songs first. First and foremost each of these six J-Music tunes were huge hits so nothing here is obscure by any means so it's just a matter of if you are able to pick the tune out from the jazz arrangement. I may be able to give you additional little hints if you request them here. :)

Song A was released as a single by this five member male group which was originally comprised of six members and reached sales exceeding 700,000 copies reaching the #2 spot on the Oricon chart.

Song C was a smash hit single for this 2 member male/female group. This song was also used as a "secondary" theme song for a very popular Japanese drama where it acted as one of the main character's themes.

E: "Garasu no shounen"

Kinki Kids

Sankaku_Girl has identified song E!! \(^o^)/ (8/25/08)

Song E enjoyed sales exceeding 1.7 million and is performed by a Johnny's Entertainment group. Both group members share the same last name but aren't related.

Song F sold more than 1.1 million copies peaking at #2 on the Oricon chart and was released by this 3 member group featuring a female vocalist however just two years later one of the group's primary songwriters would leave.

H: "Can You Celebrate?"

Amuro Namie

Sankaku_Girl has identified song H!! \(^o^)/ (8/25/08)

Song H is the best selling single for this Okinawan female artist reaching #1 on the charts and selling over 2.2 million copies.

Song I boasted sales exceeding 600,000 copies and is this groups' 5th single. The female lead singer once won a karaoke singing contest which led to an independent single release which then led to her becoming this group's vocalist.

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Discover the Best of the Blogosphere

nobody@vox.com(Team Vox) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:29:12 -0400

Blogsdotcom

One of my favorite things about working at Six Apart is that it's a company founded by bloggers, for bloggers. As a result, not only do we want to provide bloggers with the best tools (like Vox, TypePad and Movable Type), we're also committed to helping bloggers find a broader audience, and helping readers find the blogs that matter to them. And with over 175,000 new blogs created every single day, this is no easy feat.

Luckily, with the launch of Blogs.com, Six Apart is making it easy for you to find the best blogs on the web. Hand-picked by a team of passionate editors, and organized by the topics that interest you, Blogs.com will help you find blogs on a variety of topics from Life, to Entertainment, to seasonal topics like Student Life. You can also catch up on the latest buzz on the web by reading featured editorials or checking out the top ten lists.

Wondering how you can submit your blog to the Blogs.com editors for consideration? It's easy -- Just fill out this quick form. In the meantime, check out Blogs.com and let us know what you think in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

-daisy

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What a difference a day can make.....(changes in the J-Pop landscape regarding SPEED & HM@).

nobody@vox.com(MorningBerryz) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:59:40 -0400

SPEED...the reunion is set! :D

..."Through the groups disbandments and encores which fill their history if there's one thing that I'm certain of...it is that if a day in the future arrives in which SPEED decides to grace the J-Pop landscape once again with their unique brand of pop...surely they'll be capable and the sea of fans will be waiting"...I posted those words here on August 3rd just a little over two weeks ago and today I awoke to a link from Saburo reporting some incredible news for the J-Pop landscape. SPEED reportedly is set to re-group once again beginning with a performance at Tokyo's Nippon Budoukan on August 30th & 31st which is set for a broadcast on Nippon Television's 24 Hour TV program!!!! \(^o^)/!!!! It sounds to be a bit of a testing of the waters type of approach as their fan's reactions will most likely determine whether this becomes a "permanent" reunion or just reunion performances. I for one couldn't be any happier with this quite stunning development as SPEED for me personally is one of the greatest groups in all of J-Pop for all time.

IW did not cover the aforementioned SPEED post and I thought I'd link it here in light of this amazing news on their re-grouping. This post was written as a first hand account of my personal musical journey with SPEED from their very first single "Body & Soul" which I experienced in real time in 1996 till their initial disbandment leading to solo ventures for all four members...then returning for their reshaping/ re-grouping and further on. You'll find photos of their complete discography (minus just their "Memorial Live One More Dream + Remix" CD and "Save the Children Live 2003" CD & DVD releases although the former CD is on its way in the post from Japan as I type this), release artwork scans, special limited releases, uploaded mp3s/pvs chronologically taking you through their entire history, as well as solo works and in essence just what made them the most popular female J-Pop group in Japan's history in an amazingly short period of time. Welcome back!!...Shimabukuro Hiroko, Imai Eriko, Uehara Takako, and Arakaki Hitoe!! :D

On the backburner of other substantial news is the discontinuation of Momusu's variety show "HM@." The final episode is set to air on September 28th and this for a show which has seen it's fair share of makeovers during the many years it's been on the air starting with an increased time slot, too many changes in format to even try to mention, along with its final reduction of duration and sagging t.v. ratings. The orignal incarnation of H!M from 2000-2007 which enjoyed better ratings and increased airtime will always remain a special show for me. For through this varitey show fans were able to get a better grasp on individual member personalities first and foremost but those numerous endearing "Academy" episodes, news segments, batsu games, "trial" episodes, Christmas specials, matsuri specials, drawing games, sumo body suit musical chairs/ obstacle courses, original skits, and it goes on and on....really made for good t.v. back then! Lately it's been a love/hate relationship with the latest format of HM@...sometimes good, sometimes :/ ...but nonetheless it'll definitely be missed whether you consider its promotional efforts for H!P new releases or for those special episodes which will stick with us forever. And now one of the more profound insightful visions into the varying personalities and dynamics of their interaction on screen offerings will be no more. Even though you may have disliked the newer format at the very least it did allow fans to keep up with Momusu on a weekly basis as they allowed into their world allowing us to watch them grow and develop over time. For me what will I most remember from this latter stage of the time reduced HM@ series?...it'll have to be "The one with Junjun's move, the banana & Kamei's magical umeboshi pan."

But I wonder though, could this have saved Haromoni? :P

Sayonara HM@, may you one day be reincarnated into your former self....H!M. :) Just be sure to have lots of aojiru and noni on hand just in case...

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