Accidentally just reblogged a bunch of stuff intended for my main here - fixed now, but, oops. On somewhat of a life break atm, so, still no content here for a while. Maybe next week, though..!
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I very much intended to catch up on my patchy weekday updates this weekend, but Iāve been kind of ill (another cold, I think; not cool, given it feels like I only just got clear of the last one). Between this and really not having a whole lot of time or energy during the week, I think Iām gonna go on pause for a bit... I donāt intend to abandon this, because I like having a daily thing to do and a way to record my music listening, but itās not really happening at the moment. See you again in a week, hopefully!
I realise I totally missed the chance to make a vague AKB48/SOTD #48 joke, as with Fall Out Boyās ā27ā² for SOTD #27, so, hey, a day late, itās an AKB48 song!!
KONJO is a B-side off Mae Shika Mukanee, and I love it a lot because itās incredibly inspirational. The lyrics are all about dragging yourself up and forcing yourself to do better; āif you canāt even move 1mm, even crawling is better than thatā, or something along those lines. Itās really motivational, and granted, my 48-group knowledge is not great, but itās really one of my top favourites by them.
Youtube wonāt load again, so this is a placeholder. - link/more detailed review to come.
Tame Impala are a band Iāve been vaguely aware of for a while, but it took a friend playing some tracks in my vicinity to make me sit up and take notice. This is a really chill track, and I am absolutely going to check them out in a more serious manner soon.
My project roomie was all, āyou must watch this music video!ā, so we watched it and damn. Damn. Itās kind of cheesy as heck, but in such a good way, and the song is super nice and catchy too. Definitely going in the list to get listened to on repeat later.
Roomie adds that itās good that the song acknowledges being obsessive over oneās partner (kiss nobody but me, etc) is kinda odd, and thus āa little bit Ghengis Khanā. Thatās a great insight and honestly they should write this blog. Thanks, roomie.
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No post yesterday; back on project, so updates may be sporadic. Not going to kick myself over missed updates too much, but I'll try to keep SOTD going, if not AOTW. AOTW may get pushed to Saturday; we'll see.
Song of the Day #46 - Letās Daba Daba by Polysics
Rounding off J-Week, itās Letās Daba Daba, a super fun track from Polysics. Fine, so itās just a little repetitive, but itās got so much energy and a lot of just interesting and cool playing around in there, itās hard not to like. Featuring some great guitar and drum solos, a catchy refrain, and just a general happy, feelgood vibe, itās an infectiously joyful track that you may just find yourself humming for days to come.
This has been special feature week number one! In a bit, Iāll probably do a K-week featuring some of my favourite Korean tracks, and then, hey, maybe more regional themes, some āgolden oldiesā type things, maybe others. Weāll see! Back to regularly scheduled programming of, well, whatever I feel like. Peace!
Song of the Day #45 - Smile Ichiban Ii Onna by An Cafe
Now, this one is a bit of a blast from the past - ten years ago, in fact. Cripes. An Cafe, short for Antic Cafe, were one of the very first Japanese bands I vaguely followed, back when I was all, āI wanna get into Visual Kei!!ā. Well, I never really managed to properly get myself acquainted with the genre, but I like An Cafe a fair bit, and still kinda to, to be honest.
Smile Ichiban Ii Onna (roughly, āthe girl with the best smileā) is a happy, peppy love song to the girl with the brightest smile, whoās best when sheās her true self. Itās got a very āsparklyā kind of sound, backed by some solid rock guitars, making this a great sounding track. Singer Mikuās got a very distinctive vocal style that really shines, and itās all together a fun song to dance around to in your room. (Not that... I would do that...)
Song of the Day #44 - Seven Deadly Sins by MAN WITH A MISSION
Back to J-week, itās Japanese rock band, Man with a Misson! A band, you say? But it just appears to be five wolves in leather jackets! Well, yes, thatās kind of their thing - each member has their own unique wolf head mask they wear at all times. Because I really love bands with somewhat ridiculous backstories, hereās theirs, courtesy of Wikipedia:
āBefore becoming popular, the band invented a back-story for why they wear wolf masks, which involves them being created as the "Ultimate Life Form" by Jimi Hendrix, who is described by the band as being the doctor of the guitar and master wolf biologist.[4] They were then frozen in Antarctica for years, before escaping and emerging on the Japanese music scene.ā
I mean, holy fucking shit, how is that not the best thing ever? Anyway, this song is Seven Deadly Sins, a melodic-rock song with a great refrain. Itās got a good sense of build up, good instrumental, and is just generally a really good and well-put together song. It kind of sounds like itād be a good ending song for something, having a very distinct and memorable sound, and being a little slower, more expansive, and tinged with a slight nostalgia, somehow.
So, there was no SOTD post today, for I am interrupting scheduled programming with the very first live review of this blog! Yes, thatās right! I went to a gig and damn if Iām not going to write about it as soon as I get in. Yes, I badly need to sleep, but first - bands!
I was super, super excited for this one; a band I love, a band I like, and a band I really need to get more into. ZIBRA, Sundara Karma and Bring Me The Horizon together in one place was a line-up of dreams, and Iām super glad I spotted the ZIBRA presale in time and picked up tickets. The show was, of course, sold out, and even pitching up an hour before doors saw a sizeable line snaking its way down the side of Electric Brixton, the show venue.
Electric Brixton is a pretty cosy venue, but not cramped; stated capacity is about 1,700, consisting of a floor area in front of the stage flanked by raised standing areas with barriers (one of which was VIP, the other open and next to the bar), with two ranks of seating high above on the first floor. We were standing on the raised area to the left of the stage, leaning on the barriers, which was a great spot; you can see everything really well, and you donāt have to worry about getting squished or dragged into any mosh pits. The downside is of course being further removed from the stage, but to be honest, itās a trade-off Iāll happily make, especially given I have somewhat dodgy knees I donāt want to injure. The decor is nice, along a converted old-style theme, with a chandelier of disco balls nestled in the ceiling. The staff were pleasant and the event seemed pretty well run.
So, onto the acts! Up first were ZIBRA, as signalled by the presence of their light-up logo on stage. As you may know, theyāre a band Iām just a little obsessed with, and this was my first time seeing them live. Man, they did not disappoint! Kicking off with Wasted Days, they proceeded to play Great White Shark, Paris, Chlorine, R.I.P. and a new song I didnāt manage to catch the name of. It sounded great, though - somewhat in a different vein from what theyāve put out so far, but good, very good. Itāll be interesting to see how it differs in the official release, due sometime next week, as thereās a significant gap between their sound live and their sound recorded, mainly due to having more freedom to play around with synths etc while recording. There were a couple of minor hiccups - I think Russ missed a note here or there - but otherwise, it was a really good performance, and they all looked like they were having fun. Seeing Sam (vocals/lead guitar) belt it out for Chlorine was incredible, and Sim (drums) was doing a fantastic job - ZIBRAās songs work so well with a strong drumbeat. To top it off, I got to chat to Ben (bass) for a little bit after the show, which was really nice. Heād ended up standing a bit behind us - I saw him, he spotted my ZIBRA shirt, and we had a chat. Alas that my hearing was a bit fuzzy post-gig, but it was really great to meet him, and Iām even more hyped for their solo gig in April.
Sundara Karma were second, and also played a solid set. They kicked off with recent release Young Understanding, followed by Flame, a new song, a song I canāt place the name of, and a cover of Bring Me The Horizon. You gotta feel a little for them; being a support act means that the crowd isnāt guaranteed to know you or your songs, so getting the crowd on side can be a challenge, and I suppose covering the headliner is a way to get a quick win. I thought it was a little off that a) it was their most energetic performance and b) that they ended on it, when Iād have preferred their last impression to be one of them. Another minor gripe is that they donāt really smile, which, hey, I suppose fits their image, but itās so much nicer when you can tell a band is actually having a good time performing. That being said, I really enjoyed their set and they did a great job. Special mention to the bassist who probably wins ābest outfitā of the night; brown trenchcoat over black turtleneck, gold necklace, and black skinny jeans ripped horizontally at several places down the legs. A strong look!
Last but not least, we come to headline act Bring Me The Horizon, who are obviously much loved if the crowd reaction is anything to go by. Iām not very familiar with their work as of yet, but I enjoyed latest album āThatās the Spirit!ā a lot when I listened to it, and I am definitely going to check out their back catalogue because they put on a great show. Lead singer Oli is incredible to watch; full of vigour, obviously loving every second, and belting out the words at full force from start to finish. I canāt give a decent setlist for this one, given my unfamiliarity, but they opened with Happy Song and also played the three songs I know, namely True Friends, Throne and Drown. The crowd response was incredible; yelling along to all of the words, parting and forming at Oliās command (even, at one point, sitting on the floor, only to explode back up at the command āJUMP!ā), and making several spirited stage diving attempts. Quite honestly, they were almost as fun to watch as the band. It was loud and riotous and joyful, and incredible to be a part of. The only minor niggle Iād have is that they do rather seem to be Oli + backing crew, with minimal interaction between them (which I find a highlight of seeing a band live). The musicians did seem to be having a decent enough time of it though, jumping and head banging along, and they all contributed to a polished performance that was infectiously high energy.
To summarise, I had an incredibly good night. The proceeds also go to help the War Child charity, which is just the cherry on the cake for me. Iām going away eager to see ZIBRA perform again and with a firm intent to listen to more of Bring Me The Horizon, and Iāll continue to support Sundara Karma on their rise to stardom, too. More gigs like this, please!
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Fudanjuku are one of two Japanese idol groups I actually keep up with, the other being their younger sibling band, as it were, The Hoopers. Why do I like them so much? Well, in addition to having some really good songs, I just love their concept. Fudanjuku are ādansouā idols; girls crossdressing and performing as guys. Itās a fresh take on the idol genre, and one I can can really get behind!
(Image source)
Formed as the crossdressing alter ego group of āNakano Fujo Sistersā, Fudanjuku has become the groupās bread and butter, with Fujo operations being basically non-existent these days. Currently, the group has six members:
Akazono Kojiro, Seto Kouki, Aiba Kensui, Seimyouji Uramasa, Kariyase Light and Midorikawa Kyouhei. They normally operate as seven, but with the recent graduation of Yukimura Ryoma, theyāre running short. Kyouhei is also due to graduate soon, but Iām unsure as to whether they plan to pick up one or two new members. My personal favourite is Kensui, with Kyouhei close behind, and Iāve got a growing soft spot for the adorable Light. Iām also very fond of graduated member Bukiya Momotarou, and itās great to see Kyan Chiaki (Momotarouās real identity) keeping up with the group. I love all of the members, though, and theyāre all great performers with a lot of charm.
I first became vaguely aware of Fudanjuku a couple years back, when a friend of a friend or something posted them as āwow, look at how cool this group are!ā I listened to a bit, thought they were neat, and consigned them to the vast pile of āartists I think are cool but donāt really followā. However, I went on a trip to Japan last summer, and after seeing them live at the Tokyo Idol Festival, I became markedly more hardcore in my following of them.
Thereās a pretty early interview with them asking, āwhy crossdress?ā. Their answer was pretty much that nobody else was doing it, so they went for it, plus that as girls they know what girls want guys to do and say, so they have that advantage. I really like them as a group - theyāre cute, theyāre talented, and theyāre fun. I canāt really put my finger on why I like the concept so much; probably because it plays with gender norms, and because I guess they seem more approachable, somehow. I genuinely like their music, too, not just their concept, and all of the members are lovely and unique in their own ways.
My top three tracks:
Chenmen Paradise - somewhat of a crash course in the members are Fudanjuku as a whole, this is a half song, half direct appeal to the listener where each member confesses their love to you in turn. Itās a lot of fun, especially performed live!
Moshimo Koregakoinara - their last major single, this is a slightly more serious pop ballad, showing off each memberās vocal ability very well. Itās a really great jam, and the live choreography (not featured in the MV, alas) is also very good.
BE HERO - a really punchy, uplifting song, with a chorus in English, so itās easy to sing along to the main refrain at least.
(They do have a substantial back catalogue, with some great B-sides in there too - these are easy to find on Youtube, though, so Iāve stuck with singles. Please check them out!)
Ah, cāmon, how could I not feature this song today, a Wednesday? Iām most familiar with PASSPOā for their close relationship with this weekās Artist Of The Week, Fudanjuku, so itās only fitting they get the SOTD feature alongside them, too.
This is a really fun and happy song, perfect for chasing away that midweek slump with some cute J-pop. The choreography is also really fun, so please check it out!
Song of the Day #42 - Shake Shake Shake by Ayumikurikamaki
Oh, man, better late than never! I almost forgot todayās entry (and uh, itās technically tomorrow, uhm, but whatever). Anyway, here, have the super fun and upbeat Shake Shake Shake by Ayumikurikamaki!
This trio always perform in their signature bear costumes, which are adorable, to be quite honest. Their songs are upbeat and catchy (which is true of a lot of idol music, to be fair), but they have a great energy and an infectiously fun stage presence. I was lucky enough to pick up a free CD of this song at one of their Tokyo Idol Festival sets last summer, and, man, Iām really glad I did! Shake Shake Shake has a great guitar riff, plus a good woah-woah-woah part thatās easy to join in with, making it a (jet kuma) star in my books.
Song of the Day #41 - STAY AWAY by LāArc-en-Ciel
Hello, and welcome to J-Week! This week, Iāll be featuring exclusively Japanese artists. So, who better to kick off with than super long-running legendary rock band LāArc-en-Ciel?
Now, Iām not super familiar with all of LāArc-en-Cielās back catalogue (which, to be fair, is really extensive!), but what I do know, I like. STAY AWAY is one of the first proper Japanese rock songs I ever heard, away from an anime, and it remains one of my favourites. Itās got a great bassline, dreamy guitar melody and gritty vocals. I like it a lot, and I hope you will, too!
Song of the Day #40 - Swings and Waterslides by Viola Beach
Todayās SOTD comes with a tragic spin, Iām afraid - yesterday, a car carrying all four members of Viola Beach and their manager plunged off a bridge in Sweden, killing all five. I cannot say how much it sucks that so many people are going to hear of them for the first time (me included) because of their deaths. So, anyway, the least I can do is feature them on this blog.
Swings and Waterslides seems weirdly apt - āwonāt you come home?ā. The instrumental is great - I love the melodic parts in the chorus, and it mixes melancholy with an upbeat rhythm thatās hard not to like.
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Song of the Day #39 - How Far Weāve Come by Matchbox Twenty
This sounds a lot like a really great feelgood track, despite kind of being about the apocalypse. Yāknow, upbeat melody, inspirational chorus, and... You know... Probable imminent death. Anyway, itās a great track, uplifting despite the oncoming rapture, and if you manage not to listen too closely, itās a song about joy and progress! Yeah!
Song of the Day #38 - The Love Within by Bloc Party
Iām pretty tired, so Iām gonna keep this short. This is a pretty interesting track; Iām not sure itās really one of my favourites in any capacity, but itās nice to listen to, and kinda weird, which I like. I was just looking up Bloc Party as someone Iād vaguely heard of a long time in the past because their name popped up related to something else.
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