6 posts tagged “park”

• Rob Bourdon was born in the same year as Miyoshi, Maeda, and Michiyo but his birthday was in earlier (January 20), making him older than all three.

• Brad “Big Bad Brad” Delson was born in 1977, along with Azusa and Miwa. He is younger than them since his birthday is December 1.

• Dave “Phoenix” Farrell was also born in 1977 but with a birthday of February 8, he is younger than Azusa while older than Miwa.

• Joe Hahn is another ‘77 baby. He is younger than all of the mentioned members with a birthday of March 15 (three days before Cake Day).

• Mike Shinoda was (of course) born in the same year that popped up, his birthday being February 11. He is younger than Azusa while older than Brad, Dave, Joe, and Miwa.

Special thanks to Radicalipton in advance for the inspiration of this entry’s topic:

Speaking of Linkin Park, you might want to check out Chinamist's fine remixes on YouTube (formerly of the extinct but excellent Stage6 site), in which he interfaces Linkin Park songs (3 to be exact) with Berryz Kobo PV footage. Crazy? Yes, but it really works!

I decided to check out the videos (turns out there’s actually five Hello! Park videos instead of three but how was Big Bad Rad supposed to know? Only the Berryz had straightforward names and you’d have to be a LP fan to know that the two C-ute videos were of the same caliber as well).

First vid
Video Name: C-ute A Peace of My Head
Hello Kiddie Group: C-ute
Linkin Park Song: “A Place for My Head” from Hybrid Theory (2000)
My Two Cents: Putting aside obvious errors in the name, this is an example of the footage blends about almost exactly to the song. For example, the first few seconds blend almost as though they were made to “A Place for My Head” (considering it wasn’t released as a single). While the “You tried to take the best me. Go away” part was a little questionable (the first few seconds was rather energetic, unless you consider the rhythm of Chester’s vocals. When he starts screaming and the music goes on again, the dancing becomes slow but again, it’s okay if you consider the constant flow of the music). I also likes the small breaks near the end. The choreography provides a nice fusion of rock and little idol kids.

It was also interesting to see Cuties “rapping” and “singing”/“screaming” Mike and Chester’s respective parts (I think it was Saki was appeared to be doing Mike’s lines for the most part, though she also “does” Chester’s lines at some parts. Maimi also joins in some parts).

One additional little highlight from me is Maimi in the beginning. There are no words spoken in the beginning so the vid (the footage provided for said part) gives the impression that she is imitating the bass.

One last thing from me is that the lyrics, when put into the perspective of the Hello! Project, could be descriptive of the feelings of the harshness of the idol industry and the fans/wotas involved from the idol’s point of view (i.e. Maki Goto).

Second vid
Video Name: C-ute What I've Done
Hello Kiddie Group: C-ute
Linkin Park Song: “What I’ve Done” from Minutes to Midnight (2007)
My Two Cents:  This little vid incorporates not only concert footage but also behind the scenes footage and clips from the “Tokaikko Junjou” PV as well, making it a well-rounded piece.

The black-and-white outtakes show their funny side, adding some sentimentality to the work. It was like watching an episode of LPTV (think the backstage footage you see on Single Vs), only with C-ute.

Now comes my little critique of the PV footage used. Chinamist was right to use “Tokaikko Junjou” for the mood and the setting blends well with the LP, almost like watching a C-ute cover of “What I’ve Done” (you’d have to often remind yourself that it’s not -it would be considered an OPV-). For example, when Chisato bounces the baseball, showing her hand at “…with the hands of uncertainty” and when Maimi takes the baseball and chucks it towards a river, almost symbolic of the song’s “moving on from the past” message. The choreography also fit with the song (I’ve overused this phrase. I apologize).

I also admire the ending, also using the “Tokaikko Junjou” PV, with a closeup of the face and then fading into a background.
When put into Hello! Perpsective: The song itself is about accepting your faults and moving on with the past (duh. I said that before). We can interpret this as C-ute moving on from their past as background dancers and “indies” singers into a future as full-fledged idols, competing against “oneesan” Berryz and “oneesama” Morning Musume. Then again, this “accept what’s yesterday, move on with tomorrow” attitude can be applied to any Haropro group or any music act in the world (like the Mikan Controversy and the present issue with “LALALA”).

First vid for the Berryz.
Video Name: Linkin Berryz Part1
Hello Kiddie Group: Berryz Koubou
Linkin Park Song: “Numb” from Meteora (2003)
My Two Cents: Using slowed-down footage from a Haromoni@ (that is where it’s from, right?) performance of the Berryz Single Everyone Hates Nowadays (aka “Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi”), this Meteora gem of a closer (it’s the last song on the album) is Berryfied in the best way possible. Choreography and timing praise is abound.
When put into Hello! Perpsective: The song talks about the strain coming from the pressure to live up to someone’s standards. We’ve seen it all before in our lives as wota - idols “letting us down” when they “do something wrong” or out of what we’d expect them to be. Some wota even believe that an idol should stay within what we think of them forever. It could be a message from the idol to the wota (and idol management because they play a role too) about this issue.

Second for the Berryz.
Video Name: [Linkin Berryz] Part2
Hello Kiddie Group: Berryz Koubou
Linkin Park Song: “Breaking the Habit” from Meteora (2003)
My Two Cents: The Dance Shot version of the “Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi” PV is the primary source of footage for this OPV. However, unlike the slowed-down live performance, this is sped-up.

The blending of Hello! Choreography and Linkin Lyrics are practically spot on (much like “Cutie Park”’s “A Place for My Head”). In fact, this is probably the video that has the most precise timing of the Berryz with the Linkin (except with the ending; I think it should have been slower. Although, that’s going with the music. If you go with the sound effects and whatnot, you can say they’re on-key. Plus, the ending effect certainly makes up for it.

(BTW this was my first Linkin Park song).
When put into Hello! Perpsective: The name of the song says it all - breaking a bad habit that tears you life apart from limb to limb. When Mike Shinoda wrote this song, it was dedicated to a friend of his who was terribly addicted to drugs yet was unable to quit. While the Hello! Project at large aren’t for the most part drug junkies (then again, we have smokers and leg-spreaders within H!P, along with blogger-made accusations of Kusumi Koharu -and even Tsunku- being on drugs), the “break a bad habit” theme can be seen within idol culture. One example is the scandals (Aibon anyone?). In fact… we all have bad habits that we wish to break, don’t we? I’m sure that our idols have some too under those smiles and smirks.

Third for the Berryz.
Video Name: Linkin Berryz Part3
Hello Kiddie Group: Berryz Koubou
Linkin Park Song: “Faint” from Meteora (2003)
My Two Cents: Like Part 2, the Dance Shot version of the “Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi” PV is the primary source of footage for this OPV. However, unlike its predecessor, it’s at normal speed.

It’s like the Berryz are getting accurately timed videos (not that C-ute has off videos - they’re pretty good) because it’s almost like the dance was designed for this song! (Okay, there’s an obvious effect near the end but still). I don’t really have anything to highlight other than it being 100% “Linkin Berryz.” (If Chinamist was practicing his transitions and his timing in the other vids, I’d say he has gotten it down pact with this one. Five stars! Two thumbs up! Two “rock on” horns up as well!).
When put into Hello! Perpsective: The lyrics suggest a want (or need) to be noticed after circumstances and that attention will be given, “like or not.” Another expression of the idol and their life, their circumstances, their “need for attention” to not only the wota and the idol management but also the world at large. The song also expresses a need for whoever they’re talking to “don’t turn their back on them” for “they won’t be ignored.”

This makes a nice finale to the series (along it being one of my favorite Linkin Park songs).

Now, the videos overall were pretty well-done imho. While in some videos, things were a little off, Chinamist provided a fascinating bridge between the alternativeness that is Linkin Park and the idolicious goodness that is the Hello! Project (using the Kiddies as examples). Also in Chinamist’s channel are videos featuring Buono! and Lucky Star (along with more Berryz and C-ute videos) combined with a variety of artists like TM Revolution, Judy & Mary, and even those guys who did “YATTA!” so feel free to check it out.

    On March 3, 2008, the music video for Linkin Park’s newest single, “Given Up,” premiered exclusively at the Linkin Park Network (LPN) widget at their website at 4PM Pacific Standard Time (7pm where I am, midnight GMT). One day later, on March 4, the new video was added to the band’s YouTube channel (linkinparktv) for all Internet viewers to see. (The “Given Up” single was released in January 2008 in Malaysia, digitally in the United Kingdom on February 17, and worldwide on March 3. It is the second track and fourth single from the album “Minutes to Midnight,” the eighteenth single overall for the band). The music video was a live video (somewhat like Melon Kinenbi’s “Charisma Kirei” PV), created using footage from concerts held at the MEN Arena and the O2 Arena in the United Kingdom. The video also features some stock footage (somewhat like the album’s first single, “What I’ve Done,” famous for its use in the Transformers movie),  most to all of which has been accused by fans of having subliminal messages if one reads between the lines. (Among the extra clips were pieces of previous Linkin Park videos like “Breaking the Habit.”

    Now for my two cents: “Given Up” is one of my favorite songs from the new LP album so it was natural for me to be happy when it was announced as a single (even if it was erroneously announced after “What I’ve Done”). This is pure LP rock and a good bridge between the “old” Linkin Park and the “new” Linkin Park (and another reason to praise Chester and his vocal control skills - he held a screaming for seventeen seconds. Beat that, Koharu! Beat that, Sayumi! Heck, beat that, Reina!). As shown on LPTV, the distinctive sound effect in the song was produced by jingling Brad Delson’s (“Big Bad Brad” among us LP fans) car keys while Mike Shinoda claps his hands (distinctive, indeed). This song also breaks a certain convention with Linkin Park (the utterance of a profane word, the “F” word in this case), which’ll make it interesting for radio airplay (xD).
    The video was pretty good. I was sorta bummed when I found out it was a live video but I mellowed down to it. After using my imagination to  think up a possible video scenario (I planned to draw a storyboard of it but I didn’t get to). Now that the video is out, I can see how close I came (I barely came close). According to Mike, the song is “pretty punk rock” and the video should reflect a “do-it-yourself” sort of feel. Well, it certainly does look homemade (and it wasn’t me when I had a “Cloverfield” vibe while watching the first time. You’ll see what I mean). I basically enjoyed the video for the most part and I hope you will too. (BTW, if you still want to see the movie I had referenced, click that link at your own risk. Don't say I didn't warn you! =/).

I started writing this post in November 2007 and I have finished it tonight after some checking. Hasty, fast, not doing much for this blog, but I believe I have done my best. I do warn you though that this is one of those big, long posts so... you know the deal.

As long as I’ve been in school this year, one of the most commonly said things, whether online or off, is and I quote:

“Linkin Park sucks.”

Thinking about the fame of the Grammy Award-winning band from “Cali-zona” (Mike, Brad, Phoenix, Mr. Hahn, and “that other guy whose name I keep forgetting” (Rob!) are from California. Chestan is from Arizona) and comments like the above after hearing so much praise from the Net made me think about my status as a fan of the group (especially since I name MTM as my favorite album by them), along with the status quo of the fan base. Sorry to divert focus from the “Morning” but it’s time to divulge into the “Meteora,” my friends. This post is about the popularity of, well, Linkin Park!

Over the course of  3-4 days, I’ve asked my fellow Seniors who listen to rock music about their opinions on LP and whether they “rock” or “suck.” However, due to stresses from having to write two research papers and the fact we were finishing those in the computer lab, I left my notepad there. Fortunately, I remember the various data I recorded (I cannot wait to start Journalism this spring - it would do this blog a lot of good):

• 12 people say they “rock.”
• 7 people say they “suck.”
• One person is left in-between. (Ironically, that’s the name of a track on “Minutes to Midnight.” Of course, no pun was intended).
• A few comments on the “Linkin Park Rocks” side: “They rock nice!” “They just do what they do.”
• A few comments on the “Linkin Park Sucks” side: “They used to rock; they don’t now.” “Their old stuff: great. Their new album: atrocious!” “They ripped off U2 with the cover of their new album.” “Linkin Park sucks because they suck.”
• Other comments can be found in the AIM forums, along with an essay on “What’s Wrong with the American Music Industry.” There is also an Encyclopedia Dramatica article on them but I didn’t read it because I knew what was going to be on it. Some reporter I am XD.
  

I have also done a poll on my deviantART account, asking my public (thusly, fellow fans among said public) about their opinion on Linkin Park:

• 10 deviants (67%) said they “rock my socks!”
• 2 deviants (13%) said they “suck @$#!”
• 3 deviants (20%) said “Meh…” (This option was added later so it might hurt the authenticity and accuracy of this data).

Comments included the likes of “Yay, Linkin Park!” juxtaposed with those of “Guess I'm of two who thinks they're crap. Pretty goes for many of the 'nu-metal' generation of bands.” One person, however, felt that “there needed to be a better word for ‘meh.’” Therefore, counting the opinions of the comments on the poll, 3 were among those 10 who feel their music saved their mortal souls while two are saying that they shame the rock genre itself with their presence and are awaiting the day their music died.

To get an idea of the reasons people had the opinions they had, I conducted another polling.

• As for “Why Do You Like Linkin Park?”: no deviants (0%) said I like the band members (surprisingly), 2 deviants (33%) said They sound good, 1 deviant (17%) said I can relate to the music, 2 deviants (33%) said All of the above, and 1 deviant (17%) said Other.
• As for “Why Do You Hate Linkin Park?”: 1 deviant said "If I had a nickel for every band that used Anthrax's 'I'm The Man' as a blueprint for their careers ..." (they're unoriginal). Nobody answered, contrary to the evidence in the preceding paragraph (maybe I just caught a bad break or something).
• As for “Why are you ‘meh’ for Linkin Park”?: 2 deviants (40%) said Other while 1 deviant (20%) said I don't really have an opinion. Two people voted for blank choices.
  

How perplexing this data is with how it seem to contradict each other. The irony of the “meh” poll is that it was the one with the most comments but it was the “like” with the most votes. Does that mean Linkin Park is still on the rise, if not on top? Yet, of any selection, that one person chose unoriginality as a reason to dislike the band (which I‘ll get to in a second).

Therefore, according to the opinions above, while I am among the legions of fans who continue to enjoy the “Hybrid Theory,” there are those who feel that Linkin Park has “sold out” with MTM, along with having become “uncool” (then again, I like a girl group that isn’t taken as seriously as other girl groups, with their “Kids” counterparts possibly taking their place at the #1 spot, if not already have. In addition, my favorite member of said group is one of the weakest vocally, making her a polar opposite to Chester Bennington). Back on topic, the current popularity of LP is sustaining yet hard to say. Take a look at one fan’s recent concert-going experience.

Now, fans complain that the latest album of Linkin Park makes them sound “like any other band now” (going back to the “unoriginal” argument). However, Mike said in an interview that they would be going away from their signature “nu-metal” sound. Isn’t that a form of warning? Meanwhile, their “Reanimation” album was trashed by an interviewee, saying they’d hit rock bottom with it. However, it’s one of the challenges of the music industry - maintaining artistic integrity while “pleasing the fans.” I think LP did the former and the fan reaction is as askew as the “blog opinions/Oricon sales” ratio of the “Mikan” single. One fan commented on the album, saying (and I quote):

Therefore, Minutes to Midnight gets a thumbs up. Cheerio, LP! Like all fans, we have various tastes in music. How does Linkin Park comes into the mix? Take a look at this MSN conversation between a fellow Linkin Park fan and me as he shares his opinions:

Anyway, the entire point of this article is this question: “Does Linkin Park rock or suck?” If you like full-blast nu-metal, you would prefer the old. If you are into somewhat softer while some integrity of their old sound, you may like “Minutes to Midnight.” If you like either genre, more power to you since you may like either. However, it all comes down to the taste of the listener.

In fact, why am I answering such an open-ended question? It’s like asking whether Morning Musume is “saikou” or “saiaku.” It’s like trying to analyze my love for Koharu and Chester and why I put those two completely different singers at the same level. I don’t think there’s a definite answer, depending only on the “fan.” (Great… this entry just went the road of that ill-fated post I mentioned). Besides, according to sources, “Minutes to Midnight” polarized fans and critics alike. Plus, at the end of the first day of surveying my Senior fans, I had more “Linkin Park Sucks” than “Linkin Park Rocks” and all of that changed after the following days where the “Rocks” slowly overpowered the “Sucks.”

As for me, yeah, Linkin Park still rocks. May have yet to see a Projekt Revolution show and I haven’t seen all of the videos but I consider myself a fan and that’s enough for a group like LP, or any group for that matter. Even if Ishikawa Rika was being, as Seether bluntly put it, “a @#$%ing hypocrite” when she says she appreciates her fans, fan appreciation is a factor into the connectivity of a band. (Fun fact: due to the backlash and lackluster performance (not to mention bad timing and bad promotion) from “beautifulgarbage,” international band Garbage nearly disbanded. Instead, they took a hiatus and came back with “Bleed Like Me.” Not one of my favorite albums by them but I admire Garbage for not giving up. Back when MTM came out, I often compared the situation to “beautifulgarbage”). So, while Linkin Park still has time to rock, they will always rock on in my heart and while the naysayers will “erase the world in gray,” the sun shall set as a new dawn approaches (either for them or for me or “for you“).

“Shadow of the Day” references aside, I’m Magi-Kat and I’m signing off, reminding you to remember that “life is one time” and “you‘ll get a chance“!

Dearly beloved, today/night we pay tribute to one of the Hello! Projects most loveliest idols to have ever graced the stage: Kago Ai.

Yes, today is Aibon’s 20th birthday and now she’s an adult in the eyes of the Japanese society at large (and that newsperson was unfortunately wrong in saying she’d make a comeback then. Then again, we’ve pretty much given up on that long ago).

Kago-chan has brought a degree of cuteness that is only something she’d bring to the table (along with her beacon of hope Nozomi Tsuji-Sugiura). After joining Morning Musume in 2000, this young 12-year-old from Nara-ken brought joy to our hearts. Her babylike face, her sweet vocals, everything! (Magi-Kat, you need organize this entry better, dudette).

When I came into liking Morning Musume in November 2003, Kago and her chum were still Musume. However… I don’t even know how I’ve gotten into this girl. Was it Mini Moni? (It’d had to be it!) Was it… I don’t know (Magi-Kat, you muddler!).

When W came around, of course, I looked into the unit. In fact, it became my favorite H!P act after Morning Musume and the one to replace the disbanded Mini Moni. Although I haven’t seen their PVs until late last year, I was delirious and deranged for W! Then… came the  train wreck to crash my H!P happiness for the time being….

That train wreck was Kago Ai’s smoking scandal. I was saddened by the news and was even more shocked at how Aibon broke the law! For the time being, I had to concentrate my energies on Morning Musume and my growing interest in Koharu’s career later on. Now that Aibon’s been expelled for being a return visitor to Scandal Land, I had to find an alternative to Aibon. Nono gave me hope with her “Athena” song (even if it’s a remake of a Morning Musume song) and Gyaruru but I quickly lost it after she left the limelight with a bun in her oven.

Fast forward to now: Kago Ai is 20 and doing who knows what. Nozomi’s resting from the birth, even cooking up a “Sugiura Special” for her hubby and Koharu’s releasing more anime-related stuff (I’ve finally downloaded her album… unfortunately, at this time, I’ve somewhat gotten out of Koha-chan). At this time, I’ve gotten over W’s demise and moved on with myself. However, no matter what happens, Kago-chan (and Nono) will remain my #1 favorite H!P member, even as an ex.

So, happy birthday, Kago Ai.

In other, more heartwarming news:

• 

  604px-Lalala_Shiawase_no_Uta_limited
  C-ute’s new song is super special awesome! For some reason, the song reminds me of Aqua and other bubblegum dance acts *is hit in the face with a pie*. I never really could hear the song in the Kouhaku performance and at this point separated the song from its origins. *Is pied even more for her liking the song*. I actually like this song more than “Tokaikko Junjou” *booed and pied especially for that*. I know C-ute has to move on as a group to dethrone Morning Musume as the flagship group, along with their comrades in Berryz, </sarcasm> but I’m a sucker for songs like this so forgive me. I might watch the PV later… *is pied until she is unrecognizable*.

• Morning Musume’s new single = “Resonant Blue.” Alright, home girls, don’t disappoint, Magi-Kat! With a new single comes a new chance to shine (especially for the 8th Gen) so ganbare!

• Same goes for you, Berryz, and that new PV. In fact, that goes for Tsunku and everyone else in UFA! If you ripe little Berryz and your C-ute comrades steal my heart like you’re beginning to, I might be able to get back into you guys again. Buono’s definitely helping you on your trek. Just for that, here’s a little treat for you H!P Kiddies fans!
  Miku, Rin, and Len doing Buono!

  1 comment

Getting back to the subject of Kago Ai’s birthday, joyeux anniversaire! Here’s a little birthday greeting from Chester and Friends (although it may be insulting to some people):

Magi-Kat out (and be thankful I made an appropriate "pyon!" reference than a stupid "Bon kyu! Bon kyu! Bomb" pun the title)!

Before I fell in love with the cuteness that is Shugo Chara! (not only because Buono! did the theme), I often contemplated that entry I had promised myself I would do. That entry would analyze a very important aspect of my identity as a Hello! Project/Linkin Park fan, a common topic on IM conversations I had with my online friends, the one I mentioned on my thank you post. Ah yes, it's the one you have been dreading - the one where I analyze my apparent obsession with Koharu Kusumi and Chester Bennington, who are like apples and oranges.

The Why of Kusumi Koharu's "Kawaii"

Now, we are all familiar with the "Miracle Girl," right Won the second set of 7th Generation auditions, voices an anime character who wanted to become an idol to be with the boy she loves, formed a unit with Hagiwara Mai of °C-ute (according to (Japanese/English) Wikipedia, Kira*Pika supposedly disbanded in Episode 77 but I've seen Hikaru in previews of later episodes), and is living Tsukishima Kirari's dreams somewhat. Kusumin was the best selling soloist in 2006 and is really beginning to "sparkle" like an idol.

Now, here's the big question: why do I like her, especially since I found her ugly in her first few pictures (I even said that she looked drunk in one of her audition photos)? What made me like her so much? I heard she sounded horrible in a comment on YesAsia on "Iroppoit Jirettai" and I even...

Wait, wait a minute. I have noticed a correlation between my love for Kusumi and her "Kirarin" stage. Yeah, her little verse in  "Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari 3" gave me a better idea of her voice but as she released her solo work, I became a bigger fan of Kusumi, all the way to the level of now! Koharu is just so kawaii and her miracle is a beam of hope and energy into Morning Musume and beyond. As we can see from sales, she is a miracle in that she's putting more money in the pockets of the UFA guys but while I wasn't exactly expecting a "second Gocchin" (not that I cared much about her. Sad she left H!P but it was probably for her own good) but Kusumi-chan is a miracle all by herself in her little Koharuppoi way. Her very name means "little spring" or "Indian summer" so it may just be another indication (or a product of a fan's vivid imagination. Then again, it's vivid imaginations that created outfits like the shown "Happy" outfit and songs like the extremely catchy yet fiercely hated "Hana wo Puun").

Now is the part you'd want to know my favorite songs by Kusumi. That's a somewhat hard question to answer since there are so many favorites from the Kusumi collection but this is about the charm and cuteness of Koha-chan. She holds that possibility for H!P it's not funny. Plus, she has this ability to send me into a smile almost whenever I see her (unless she's smiling. If she's doing that, I return the favor almost instinctively). I noticed this essay goes on and on and on without exactly eplaining the cuteness of Kusumi Koharu and her appeal, even fi she seemed to have filled the void left by Mini Moni and later W! Then again... it's for the most part unexplainable why I like Kusumi just as much as I like... a certain guy from Phoenix.

The Why of Chester Bennington's "Moe"

Anyone who had to deal with teenagers and modern rock had to have heard his name or the name "Linkin Park" somewhere. Either as a positive mention in a fan's journal or in a scathing criticism of the American music industry, you might've heard of these guys from California (or, in Chester's case, Arizona). Heck, even Kd admitted to being a Linkin Park fan in IroIro Aru Sa! vers. 1.0! (Sorry, O Mighty Princess of Snark, of whom I consider one of my blogging inspirations and idols. Forgive me! As soon as I find that post, I'll link it!).

I became acquainted with Chester's "unique" vocals (I put it in quotes because my LP obsession caused me to learn that a few other male singers I listen to have similar voices to him, albeit with subtle differences) when a friend of mine sent me "Breaking the Habit" through AIM. I don't know why I consider him "moe." Yeah, he is handsome, has a slight "Valley Boy"-ish accent (which apparently died down by the time they filmed the "Shadow of the Day" video, though he wasn't speaking with the same tone as the previous episodes of "d'Fused" (a making-of show on FuseTV) that featured their videos). Maybe, like Kusumi, Chester possessed this strange yet delightful little charm, this charisma.

In fact, due to the fact I used to (and still do, to a somewhat small extent) listen to Shibuya-kei, where soft, child-sounding females were a bit of a norm, I grew a thing for soft-voiced male singers and Chester, despite his screams, growls, and hollering (as much as it's damaging to your voice), fits the bill perfectly. Being able to use this wide-ranged voice to suit the song is a sign of talent (which beats out Kusumi in this department. Even if they sing in different genres, Chester's vocals are undoubtedly stronger than Koharu's). We've heard his harshness in the likes of "One Step Closer," "Numb," and "Bleed It Out" but the softness of Sir Bennington's voice comes in with "Breaking the Habit" and "Shadow of the Day." In fact, imo, he sometimes(?!) sounds younger than he is (unlike 15-year-old Kussun, Chester's 31!).

Aisde from his talented voice, Chester possesses this... now, I'm rambling again. He's handsome, talented, and someone I respect and admire, not only as some rock star, but mostly as a person. After all, what kinda pulled me into LP was how "real" the lyrics were. Of course, since I wasn't much of an angsty teen to begin with (when I was introduced to the band the first time, I was a generally happy person), it took a while. It took Minutes to Midnight (and a New Year's resolution) to make me a (hardcore) fan again. I would go on to explain more but I'd end up repeating myself. Plus, it's a slight mystery as to why I like Chester and had gotten the sick mind to call him "moe" (which, as anime fans know, is a special form of "cuteness" and calling a 31-year-old rock star "cute" would get you some evil eyes. Then again, Sir Bennington's in a class of his own), and put him on the same level as a "weak-sounding J-idol" (despite her weakness, Koharu has potential and, like Chester, I admire her moreso as a person. There is a chance she would have the same attitude about her fans as Ishikawa Rika-san but that's another post).

 

Phew... what have I rambled about again? Ya know, this post wasn't exactly what I wanted to express. Then again, as I've said many times, my fandom for Koharu Kusumi and Chester Bennington is a labyrinth of reasons that would lead into a neverending series of mystery and wondering. Bright side: it's part of who I am! Magi-Kat, the blogger bold enough to juxtapose J-idol pop with American metal like a Fauvist, the one who puts "Nobody's Listening" after "Ramutara" (of which she listens to as much as Kirari "Ramutaa rattattaa ratta..."'s through the song) on her playlist, the one who adores listening to "Sexy 8 Beat" on her computer and "Hybrid Theory" on the stereo. She even considered making a comic of Koharu snubbing Chester's nose while singing that "horrid" song! (That's a death wish!). Now that you've had a glimpse of another one of Magi-Kat's sides, I humbly encourage you to enjoy the fireworks show because "Morning Meteora" is on the air!