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|evelyn|ravenxeve|
16 going on forever || 23/7/91
ravenxeve@gmail.com
~~DLSS~~||~~KSS~~||ajc
this is me forever

GUREN (紅蓮) [ 20:20 ]

This song has been on repeat on my iPod ever since I heard it first. It's like so much better than the previous album, Stacked Rubbish where everything was just... pure noise. In this however, Ruki sort of... reminds me of Diru's Kyo when he's all emotional and anguished from the singing.

gomen ne ato sukoshi anata no namae to nemurasete
yorisotta sugi hinichi ha itami wo yorokobi ai
ryoute ni utsushidasu anata wo omoi naiteiru
soko ni furu kanashimi ha shiranai mama de ii yo
ansoku ni furue wo oboeta taguri yume wa nani wo miru

usure naide anata yo wazuka na toiki wo kikasete hoshii
chiisana kodou de naku anata yo koko made oide
kawaranai yume ni tsuduki ga aru nara douka togireruzuni
koufuku to yobe nakutemo oborete kasanaru hibi wo

usurenaide anata yo wazuka na toiki wo kikasete hoshii
chiisana kodou de naku anata yo koko made oide
sukui no te sae mo aimai de byou kizami no mayu wa
ito wo chigirezuni haru ni naru

usure naide anata yo wazuka na toiki de kiitete hoshii
chiisana kodou no ne ni kasure nu inori yo todoke
yobenu namae wo daite yubiori kazoeru asu wa kienai
mimi wo fusagi kiiteta yurikago yureru oto

torimodose nu haru ni guren no hana ga saku

ごめんね　あと少し貴方の名前と眠らせて

寄り添った過ぎし日は痛みを喜び合い
両手に映し出す貴方を思いないている
底に降る悲しみは知らないままでいいよ
安息に震えを覚えた手繰り夢は何を見る

薄れないで貴方よ　僅かな吐息を聴かせてほしい
小さな鼓動でなく　貴方よここまでおいで
変わらない夢に続きがあるならどうか途切れずに
幸福と呼べなくても溺れて重なる日々を

薄れないで貴方よ僅かな吐息を聴かせてほしい
小さな鼓動でなく貴方よここまでおいで
救いの手さえも曖昧で秒刻みの繭は
糸を千切れずに春になる

薄れないで貴方よ僅かな吐息で聴いててほしい
小さな鼓動の音に擦れぬ祈りよ届け
呼べぬ名前を抱いて指折り数える明日は消えない
耳を塞ぎ聴いてた揺りかご揺れる音

取り戻せぬ春に　紅蓮の華が咲く

The passing days drew us closer
The pain is matched with joy
Both hands reflect that
I cry when I think of you

there is a rain of sadness
it's fine just to remain unknown
I tremble for repose, I remembered
what do you want to see in this reeled in dream?

I don't want you to fade
let me hear, even a sigh
a small heartbeat, that isn't there
I want you come here!

unchanging dreams, if this continues on
please don't pause in your happiness
even if it doesn't need to called out but
the drowning days are piling over me.

I don't want you to fade
let me hear, even a sigh
a small heartbeat, that isn't there
I want you come here!

Even the hands of salvation is also in vagueness
Will there be a cocoon at intervals of the second, without the string tearing off?

I want to hear, even a sigh
little rhythm to the sound of the heartbeat
of touched prayers delivered.

the name which I cannot call out I held closely
counting with my fingers, I don't want tomorrow to disappear
hearing with blocked ears
the sound of a broken cradle

the spring time will never come again
the crimson lotus is in bloom

Labels: j-rock, music/poem

Tribute to Gackt: Your Dear Forever [ 22:03 ]

... A very late Valentines post, thanks to work... Yeah, I know, I quitted and all, but the auntie was on leave for her leg once again.

Since today's Valentines, of course I should dedicate this to the first idol that I really love. Yes, I know, he's like so much older than me, but damn, is he gorgeous. Yes, I'm talking about the Mad Aristocrat, Camui Gackt.

Even to people who know him, Gackt is still quite the enigma. In fact, sometimes, I believe that Gackt prefers it this way. Born on July 4, 1973, we only knew of his actual birth year about 4 years ago, during a concert. Previously, he used to claim that he was born in 1540, making him about 400 plus years old, fitting in with his vampire image.

Gackt is multi-talented, he plays a multitude of instruments, sings, writes both lyrics and scripts, acts ( although not really that good), dances (quite crazily sometimes) and composes. Also he is fluent in several languages, Japanese, English, French, Mandarin and Korean. Insane, right?

His first real band as a vocalist was with Cain's Feel. He was a drummer previously. Then he became the vocalist when You sort of challenged him to it and found that he made a pretty decent singer.

His next band was then Malice Mizer, having met with Mana and Kozi. He was drawn to them and found them to be interesting. Malice Mizer rose greatly with him as their vocalist, lyricist and pianist. However, they didn't work longer with each other for long. By 1999, Gackt had launched his solo career.

I think I was first introduced to Gackt back in my primary school days, just when I was treading into the visual kei scene after being weaned on a diet of X Japan, Luna Sea and Dir en Grey. He was my very own first step into jrock, as I discovered the formers on my brother's computer.

I like his vampire image a lot, especially his infatuation with death. He almost drowned when he was younger, swimming in Okinawa, and from then on, was able to see beyond the living. Because of his near death experience and the memories of it, he used to seek death through reckless activities, like driving carelessly just to feel the brush of death.

Gackt once thought: "What on earth am I?"
He is a profound person, ever changing and complicated.

From his musical style, we can see that he is not limited in any area. He changes, experiments and is never stagnant. From his first solo album, Mizerable, he still sticks to the visual kei style, probably to hook in his old fanbase from Malice Mizer. Mars and Rebirth are more pop/rock, while in Cresent we see him experimenting with different musical instruments, like incorporating strings and woodwind instruments into his rock music. And when we get to Love Letter, we hear him mellowing out slightly, moving to love ballads.

Just like his musical styles, his hair is also always changing. From black to blond to brown ever since he became a soloist, he has shed the wild hairstyles and colors of the visual kei scene.

Gackt is a very competitive person, be it with others or himself. Also quite the perfectionist, it is inevitable that he might work himself to death. Even as a teen, he didn't like to lose. He used to hate piano lessons when he was younger, quitting it when he was 11. However, when he was 14, he had a particular friend who was very good at piano. That fueled his determination to beat his friend and he went back and practised his heart out. Previously, his parents had to yell at him to practise. Yet then, they had to shout at him, "Stop already!"

He works extremely hard too, producing albums and singles nearly every year. There was a point when he worked himself to such exhaustion that he was hospitalized. That was about the time when he first left Malice Mizer to begin a solo career.

To him, he was only 'good' if his music had the approval of his fans, and really, he cares greatly for his fans, calling us his 'Dears'. Hence the title of this piece. And yes, no matter what, I will support him.

Gackt also cares dearly for his close friends. I believe he was devastated when former bandmate Kami died. Reportedly, the song Emu~ For my Dear was specially written for his dear friend. Black Stone was also written for another friend in remembrance, dedicated to Ishiguro and kefca. kefca is a renowed lyricist in Taiwan who was a friend of Gackt. They met in 2003, during Wang Lee Hom's concert and hit off immediately. Gackt, upon knowing kefca's poor health, gave him a black onyx bracelet that he was wearing, saying that it will protect him. Even when kefca died, he was still wearing it and eventually, they buried the bracelet with him too.

Before his death, Gackt dropped his work and made trips to visit his friend, however, it was too late on the last day for he died before Gackt could arrive. I think it's quite sad that he couldn't see him for the last time...

As for Ishiguro, he was the driver for Gackt and GacktJob (Gacchan's band). So why is the song called Black Stone? Because translated, Ishiguro literally means black stone, as well as the black onyx bracelet that kefca had.

Want more? Check out his videos in youtube, from his music videos to various commercials that he stars in as well as several variety shows like the Domoto Kyoudai and Hey!x3 and Utaban. He's seriously way funny in those, especially with his poker face and nonchalant expressions. And that velvet voice. Oh, and the stunning face. Haha.

Want to be converted to Mac? Read this then. It's pretty funny at some parts and it's really nice for the person to translate the whole chunk to english.

images from Love Potion no. 9

Really interested in Gackt? Then read his autobiography over here, nicely translated by someone else.

Labels: j-rock, long post

I.V [ 09:47 ]

Needles are piercing through my skin
I'll tell you the feeling what it's like
Is life just all about deception?

Please don't be a part of a fairy tale,
but you're so young to play with thy own will
Should I trade the breath of my life for freedom?

(In the rain) I'm calling you, dear
(Find the way) Can't you see me standing right here?
(Feel my pain) Life's bleeding from fear
(Find its place) I will give it straight from my vein

Needles are piercing through my skin
I don't fear the fucking life

This never meant I can't sit by
They say as if it takes me somewhere
Just let me swallow the faith by injection
Life better be rushing to my head, my love

I've played with this game before to find a piece of my true self!
I'm lost within!

(In the rain) I'm calling you, dear
(Find the way) Can't you see me standing right here?
(Feel my pain) Life's bleeding from fear
(Find its place) I will give it straight from my vein

I'm feeling my pain
Do you feel where it's been
Can you cope with history of the world, when it's sad part of life?
Can set the shadows fade, forever fade away

I'm calling you, dear.
Can't you see me standing right here?
Life's bleeding from fear.
I'll give it straight from my vein.

(In the rain) I'm calling you, dear
(Find the way) Can't you see me standing right here?
(Feel my pain) Life's bleeding from fear
(Find its place) I will give it straight from my vein

... I miss hide... For some reason, without him, X Japan doesn't feel the same...

Labels: j-rock, music/poem

382 Miyavism [ 08:30 ]

Happy 26th Birthday to 雅-miyavi-

To this very spastic, yet oh-so-gorgeous and talented man, I hope that he will never grow up and continue being all eccentric and produce more great music with SKIN and of course, his own solo acts.

I think this has got to be my favourite MV, it's so sarcastic, and haha, both the bridegroom and the wedding singer are him anyway. I wonder if this is based on a personal experience? MYV doesn't really look good in the suit though... must be the hair.

His songs are never stagnant, the genres are always changing, The album, -Miyavism- was rockish, while MYV Pop and subsequent songs had a softer feel, though still retaining his unique personality. The lyrics he write are quirky and sort of unexpected. Just like him, lol, you should see the youtube videos available, not the MV, but his comments or some backstage stuff. He's weird enough alone, add in the various PSC labelmates, they're just all bad influences on each other. [laughs] Here's a link to download the current song I like off his new release.

PS: the words on the fan is oresama, ore being a very masculine and brash way to address yourself. [polite way to address yourself is watashi, males usually will use boku, females... not too sure, something like atashi?] sama is an honorific you add on, and here it is used to address someone of a higher rank, like master. [usually san is used, being the equivalent of mr/ms/mrs etc. kun is usually used for guys, or classmates, colleges. chan is more for females, pets, or those younger than you in general] So calling yourself oresama is rather... I don't know, confident? [laughs] Anyway, that makes him who he is.

Labels: j-rock, notice, people

sakihokoru hana no you ni -Neo Visualizm- [ 09:36 ]

X, Luna Sea and Kuroyume, the guidepost left by our elders Break it so it doesn't wipe out Irony
The future (dream) that we have to protect
Even here I am doing it earnestly Singing with the readiness to lose everything
Don't hinder, Get out of here Don't judge by our looks (or don't look down at us from your noses)

But well, foundation, mascara on our cheeks "Because no one knows (who we are) if we take off our makeup"
Saying from first glance That our skill is empty Isn't that bad all the more
So that it'll be History That fans can talk proudly Of their favorite Big Artists
Hey ya buddy u got ready? Here we come Main stream We're gonna dash Victory road

Looks and genre don't matter Wouldn't it be nice if you would just take those off
Break it down The seawall of common sense Come on let's light it now, The fuse
Hurry hurry but, Don't worry It's ok even if you fail Like this
The winners are the ones who do stuff Just do it No matter how many times it takes Like weeds

If you're trampled on If you're pulled out You should bloom proudly
You should keep on believing Even if it doesn't rain Even if the sun doesn't shine on you
With a cool face With a confused look If you're lost you should ask someone
If you've lost sight of your dreams you should close your eyes again
And someday again it'll open up for you Spread your arms wide

Rokumeikan, AREA and SAIBA & ON AIR WEST If I look, where have my youth and New Years gone
Advance to the west and the east The Highway where I ride my dreams and desires in the van
I wonder what has changed since then Or what was left unchanged
Since I can't go back to that time I have only to create it once again I suppose?
On the long and winding road There's no time to look back Bro.

We are still on the way in our lives So then it's useless to just create walls
And no point in thinking over this and that Let's go on like where we go is just a game Buddy
Hey hey? Why'd you suddenly start dancing keep on moving.
Open that flower Now in the middle of the night The new century is gonna end bloomin'

I think, this song, for Miyavi, was wonderfully written, as he's now in SKIN, with Yoshiki, Gackt, Sugizo, breaking into new grounds, entering the American markets officially, screaming their names out. The lyrics make a lot of sense, coming from such a spastic person, though it could be an act for all we know. Yes, X, Luna Sea, even Kuroyume, they have become of the past, but they left behind a beginning, a legacy. Which the newer bands are going to go beyond them. Somehow, this has left me with a bitter taste, if hide didn't die...

Labels: j-rock, music/poem

J-Rockers Can't Dance [ 09:47 ]

Saw this on someone's mp3 rotation, and trust me, this is so true; majority of the j-rockers can't dance. >.> unless you consider thrusting your hips against the time dancing, like Gackt does, he looks damn good though, very sultry and all. Laraku's Stay Away dance just made me laugh, while MUCC was really hilarious, kind of like the Mickey Mouse Dance, it was corny. >.< Miyavi is probably the only decent dancer there, but I might be biased, or not... since others also agree with me. There were some j-rockers there that I didn't recognize, but their dancing really made me laugh.

Labels: j-rock

the GazettE [ 00:17 ]

:hearts: I'm in love with the GazettE, which is made up of the following members, Ruki [vocals], Aoi [guitarist], Uruha [guitarist], Reita [Bassist] and Kai [Drummer]. Sure, I have heard their songs before, but never really like their sounds, being too noisy, like 'THE $OCIAL RIOT MACHINE'. However, it all changed when I listened to 'Cassis'. I totally loved it, especially the intro, the sound of Aoi's guitar solemnly playing, a dreamy feeling. Then the drums and bass started to build up the rhythm, and finally, Ruki's voice filters into the song, softly and haunting. His emotions can be felt clearly, even though you might not understand the lyrics.

Another song which changed my mind was 'Silly God Disco'. Granted, Ruki's English can only be described as a cute form of 'Engrish', it's still pretty good, considering that he penned it himself. The PV was good, and the woman was so lucky, being served by the members, haha. Feeling envious of her position, but whatever. Aoi totally reminds me of Miyavi, especially when he's playing the guitar, and wearing a suit. 'Hey God! Are you ready' for the GazettE revolution?

No doubt, they will be making waves in the j-rock community, for their passion for music drives them onwards. I don't like it when bands change their lineups too often, and hopefully, GazettE will not make such changes, as they promised before to stick together.

Labels: j-rock