Why Musics and Lyrics Matter

The past few weeks I've been listening to some corny Indonesian songs for the sake of a bizzare karaoke event preparation. The stock market may plunge, the executives' pay may dip, and the consumers' trust may decline, BUT my spirit for karaoke session won't; hence, 'Makhluk Tuhan Paling Seksi' or 'Buaya Darat' have been in my top list recently. I want to break the record and be a legend ^o^!

bimbotic reminder TT 3 TT

However, mission failed since those corny songs were not even in the list during Karaoke session. Well, perhaps that was a blessing in disguise (since I have no inclination to humiliate myself even more TT 3 TT).

Now I am 'back' to normal mode, listening to more modest J-Songs like Bump of Chicken's and not to mention L'Arc-en-Ciel's. An old song from Laruku called 'Yokan' suddenly grabs my attention, and without further ado, I asked Police Grammar to help me translate the lyrics. Here is what we found :

Yokan (Premonition)

I know how it feels to be melting in the tight embrace of the vast sky
little by little, the wind has began blowing, to where I am

In that spring day you let yourself be carried away by the wind
dancing round and round, softly you disappeared to this same sky

yes, you might have been able to see me
inside the heat haze
now, if only the apparition of your eyes would reflect myself for me

TT__TT

I was speechless.

The song is supremely beautiful and leaves the traces of mystery for the listener. It keeps us think of and visualize the premonition repeated within the songs. I really love this song as the lyrics is damn gorgeous, as if possessing handful of interpretation!

And then, with all the mixed feeling of anxiety and curiousity, with all the humbleness, without all pre-judgement and hard-feeling toward Indonesian music, I tried to translate that Indonesian song that I was fond of recently :

God's Sexiest Being

Your brain sexy
Proven by the way you think of me

Your eyes sexy
Proven by the way you look at me

You are God's being;
the creation
that is the most sexiest

Only you are able to
make me
screaming and screaming

O__o

I jawdropped!!!!!

The second one sounds like a cheap soundtrack of a blue movie (or a horror movie about Sadako-look-alike) -pardon my appraisal. If I were the singer, I will be so embarassed until I commit suicide -I am glad that I didnt sing it during karaoke session. How come I didnt realize the song's meaning while it is actually in the perfect Bahasa Indonesia? Oh ah I think I have lost my tastebud O__o. I am fully conscious of my zero talent in linguistic -so pardon me if I have silly judgement; but I think this is very common sense!

I bear no grudge toward anyone and anything. This is just a random review by a random self-proclaimed music observer. So, yes, thank you for reading *runs*.

Hyde's New Solo Project : VAMPS

Ohhh.... i smell intense yaoiness *ogles at my accumulated VAMPS pics*

Gundam 00, L'Arc-en-Ciel and Loveless...

I am currently head over heels over DAYBREAK’s BELL, L’Arc-en-Ciel’s newest singles that’s being used as an Opening Song of Gundam 00. It sounds merely like Larc in the old days, but Hyde’s vocal becomes better for certain. And, did I mention the lyrics? It was so painful, miserable, and morbid (and thanks to Otaku sama for the translation). The PV is super cool as well, how come Hyde still looks that hot in his 38 O_o ?

I think Gundam 00 resembles Loveless a lot (lookie, Setsuna is definitely Ritsuka without cat’s ears *lol*). Still the storyline will create much controversy as Gundam 00 brought over issue of ‘war of God’ and ‘war to stop war’ after Gundam SeeD erects issue about racism as portrayed in the conflicts between Natural and Coordinator (Am I right to put them into this?).

Nevertheless, my impression toward the first episode of Gundam 00 isn’t as moved as when I was first time seeing Gundam SeeD 1^st episode, when Kira met Athrun in a very heartbreaking way. According to Mr Kiasu’s prediction, ‘Celestial Being’ will suffer conflict of interest from inside, when some youths insist to stop the war and join the bigger entity, while the others decide to go ahead with the status quo. In the end they will kill each other for sure to defend their idealistic views *laugh frantically*. Oh, how I love bishounen in despair! Though to be honest, I hate to wait for 50 episodes to complete T_T.

DAYBREAK'S BELL

hey, is this the only way we can meet? isn't it sad
even at my death, I'd never even wish to end your life ...please

even fate is engulfed into the sunken ocean

wishes, ride on the wind and sound the daybreak's bell!
like a bird, my wishes over their airspace
may they protect you, you who cross beyond the endless wave to face tomorrow
My life I trade in for your pain
O Conflict, cease!

hey, why do people repeat and pile their mistakes?
they don't progress and anyone can spill blood, it's spiteful

with flames they punish each other, on earth that belongs to none

Should a crystal clear future come, even weapons would be adorned with flowers
My wishes over their airspace
someone shake me awake from a nightmare
if only it would come true My life I trade in for your pain
how much must I pray to reach the heaven?

now, morning glow reflects me and the ocean

don't look back, take flight! carry this thought, soar in that sky
no one can shoot down wishes

*

Everyday I listened to this song in the office. Now feels like vomitting to listen to it again *bleh* >.<

ALAS, CONSISTENCY!!!

After sweat so much in constructing English-written journal so far, I feel like writing in Bahasa Indonesia. I think it will create more intimacy towards readers and I.

My very first reason erecting this blog is primarily because my English is damn-atrocious during my first year of University life! To tell you the truth, I failed my ‘Qualifying English Test’, and consecutively failed my ‘English Proficiency’ subject. The disaster kept on happening when my ‘Business and Managerial Communication’ tutor felt deeply worried of my English. Alas, he encouraged me to write in English as much as possible.

As if being that pathetic was not enough, I received plentiful scoldings from different Tutor(s) of my English Literature subjects despite my gory effort to perform well. However, taking Lit modules was my choice since I heart Literature so much, so I’m not regretting them stained my transcript. If only learning English is as easy as adding up my body-weighs, I won’t be intimidated by couple of Grammar-police(s). (I know they might be reading this, so I guess –Hello grammar-police?-).

But the thing is, if I suddenly change everything to Bahasa, the inconsistency does occur greatly since I have been using English from the very beginning. And I hate inconsistency (even though I always commit that countless of time XD).

Anyway, I admit that I’ve never been to interview for permanent jobs. Some people said that failing ‘English Proficiency’ in our transcript is a devastating issue for the interviewee, because it proves to the interviewer that we are not proficient in English =S! (Is this the reason why I never secure any interview for permanent jobs? Well, devil may care!) But since my ‘English Proficiency’ subject has 0 Academic Unit, and my damned Literature Subjects are NOT counted towards Honour, so I just let it flow and prepare a logical blunders if someone asks XD.

P.S.
I’m proud of failing my EP two times =p.

Found this suuuuper cute video from Youtube. I’ve been wondering about this Live Performance since I first time listened to this song. It really fits my mood right now. Forget the bloody theme; abandon the anguish words, welcome to the chaste and pure lyrics!

I Wish

Lyrics : Hyde
Music : Tetsu
Translation : Police-grammar=p (Sankyou!)

Don't cry, why are you hugging your knees in a night like this?
Wait, I'm running there
I'll be with you before the midnight bell rings

Open the window and see
the city is filled with miracles
you can even hear a nostalgic song
the wonderful organ is singing

If you'd look at me one more time

look!
Many many pure white angels are descending upon you
If you'd laugh,
Let's celebrate this night which was set aside
For I share much love with you,
I'd swim in the sky if you wish

look!
For you are more important than anybody else
No matter how time flies,
I want you to keep smiling
I pray that however I'd become,
you'd always be in happiness,
forever, forever

The Arc in the Sky

I recently opened some L’Arc-en-Ciel (Laruku) forums and was quite shocked to certain extent. How come people out there who declared themselves as Le Cielers can heartlessly bitch about the existence of Laruku. I really question their sanity, as in, how come they waste their time browsing through specific forums and spread the breathtakingly terrible news about Laruku, yet they still call themselves a loyal fan.

Some of them claimed that Laruku is rather overrated. Their key success factor is merely because of the god-looking Hyde playing as Casanova attracts numbers of girls being their fans. And these fans, they said, don’t really care about their music, instead are unpretentiously fascinated because it’s Hyde who sings! Meanwhile the rest of the members got no talent at all, compare to another legendary J-Rock band such as X-Japan or Siam Shade.

One person bravely stated that his friend can play bass even better than Tetsu, whilst said that Yuki has monotonous beats on his drum (and later added that Ken’s composed songs are barely called a piece of work), as again compare to the so-called super famous band which inspire Junichiro Koizumi, X-Japan.

Some others left Laruku because they said it is no longer J-Rock band (and turned out to be J-Pop), since their music is rarely stick to one type. Laruku can turn rock into swing, pop into jazz, beat into ballad, and even combine those all into fabulous medley composition, and they said that it is inconsistent, and cannot be indigenously acclaimed as J-Rock band.

And some others keep criticizing about the way they present themselves. Before succeed as a major band, Laruku went indie and wore bizarre costumes of girls in Mediterranean era, this is known as ‘visual key’. They stopped wearing those after they gained a huge number of fans within Japan. Again, our so-called loyal fans protested that they are becoming lack of originality by leaving ‘visual key’ and such, since they go mostly by casual clothes in their performance.

*

It's fine if you don't come, it's fine if you won't watch
Just don't bitch about it because this is what we've decided on

Don't say "Things used to be better"
Just what do you claim to know about those gleaming times anyway?
Don't just say malicious things
If there's a fault in our chosen path... we're not there yet
you have no bravery to know the truth

(Bravery by L’Arc-en-Ciel)

Tetsu, the bassist and the leader wrote song titled ‘Bravery’ in the mid 1997 –I guess, just after they fired Sakura (the old drummer) because of drugs. This song is dedicated to their ‘fans’. The theme of betrayal and treachery is fully reflected within the lyrics. At the first time I heard this song, it feels so agonizing as Hyde sang it in an utter ballad style with his falsetto voice. This song depicts their disappointment towards the fans, that explains why they insist not to play this song in their Live performance. Reading the lyrics, I can understand their pain considering how pathetic some of their fans are.

Honestly speaking, I knew L’Arc-en-Ciel by accident. I was wandering around the store and found their cassette called “13 clicked singles best”, which I bought with no expectation. I have no idea about how hot Hyde and Tetsu are. Until I fell in love once I finished the whole tracks, as their music is so different from others, they got special characteristic in their music. Hyde’s vocal is unique, as well as Tetsu’s hardly imitated melodic bass and Ken’s exceptional guitar skill.

Then I ordered their live performance DVDs, and was surprise to find that those concerts are damn-energetic and vivacious. Even though they play the same songs for some live shows, they never failed to satisfy myself. In ‘AWAKE 2005’ concert, Hyde wears Nazi’s Uniform and sings song about war and peace, in ‘Light My Fire 1998’, he turns out to be a bloody hot vampire with tuxedo, blondie and red-eyed, in ‘Grand Cross Conclusion 2000’ he has a devil wing on his back and goes crazy when singing ‘Shout at the Devil’. They are not only selling music, but also fantasies and theatrical sophistication *grins*. How can I not love them?

Okay, I admit that I’m drooling over Hyde’s ageless beauty. A Hyde makes L’Arc-en-Ciel, L’Arc-en-Ciel. So what ? He’s not selling face over everything. He writes a gorgeous and poetic lyrics, he sings with damn-good falsetto voice, he has splendid and lively performance when it comes to Live shows.

I don’t care if L’Arc-en-Ciel is claimed to be overrated, and even always failed to grab an award from MTV Asia (even they’re not listed as nominators). So what? I admire Laruku, and not superficial and commercialized MTV Asia who promote R&B and western music (well, it is called ‘MTV Asia’, but those getting awards are always western artists, strange huh?).

Perhaps X-Japan and Lunasea are better than L’Arc-en-Ciel when it comes to J-Rock. So what? I listen to a bit Dir en Grey, Malice Mizer, Janne Da Arc, and even X-Japan, Siam Shade and Lunasea. They have their own characteristic as well, please don’t bother about comparing who wins over another, afterall they are all carrying the same genre of music, but I have to confess that Laruku represents my taste best.

Then if you are the real fans, please stop complaining. It’s okay if you don’t come, it’s okay if you don’t watch^^.

Ok, readers are vomiting already; I have to cut down my speech. At least I feel a bit relieved after expressing my anger into this. Finally, let me show you one of their shows, this song is super tranquil and calming. The titled is ‘My Dear’, this song depicts the condition during war (that’s why Hyde wears Nazi uniform *grin*), as I almost shed a tear when first time watching it. The lyric is very depressing, but still this is a very sweet ballad song.

My Dear

Now go out and look for love?
In the depth of the woods
That’s something I couldn’t find
Though I searched hard

Listen~~
Even though this world is tarnished by mistakes
I will never let your hand let go of mine
At least you can believe in that

Finally I reached out my hand and grasped it
And held it tight, overjoyed
So ephemeral it was that it died and decayed so soon

Someday when the whole world encounters joy
If I were to first meet you then
I would have never shown you
My endless sorrow

Where can it be?
Where can it be?
In my heart….

Listen~~
Even though this world is tarnished by mistakes
I will never let your hand let go of mine

Even if this feeling seems fake to you
It showers you with dazzling light, forever
At least you can believe that

Roman Picisan (Indonesian Version)

By : Dewa

tatap matamu bagai busur panah
yang kau lepaskan ke jantung hatiku
meski kau simpan cintamu masih
tetap nafasmu wangi hiasi suasana
saat kukecup manis bibirmu

cintaku tak harus miliki dirimu
meski perih mengiris iris segala janji

aku berdansa di ujung gelisah
diiringi lagu syahdu lembut lakumu
kau sebar benih anggun jiwamu
namun kau tiada menuai buah cintaku
yang ada hanya sekuntum rindu

cintaku tak harus miliki dirimu
meski perih mengiris iris segala janji

malam-malamku bagai malam seribu bintang
yang terbentang di angkasa
bila kau di sini
'tuk sekedar menemani 'tuk melintasi wangi
yang s'lalu tersaji di satu sisi hati

. . .

cintaku tak harus miliki dirimu
meski perih mengiris iris segala janji

. . .

syalalala lala syalalala lala

Cheap Roman (English Version)

By : Dewa
Translation by : Otaku-Sama

your look is a dart of arrow
that you released straight to my heart
though still you keep your love,
the fragrance of your breath grace the air nonetheless,
when I kissed your sweet lips

my love seeks not possession,
yet pain cuts me, cuts all promises

in the edge of anxiety I dance
to the solemn song of your conducts
you sowed the seed of your soul elegant
yet never did you reap the fruit of my love
what remains is a bud of yearning

my love seeks not possession,
yet pain cuts me, cuts all promises

my nights are nights of thousand stars,
spread in the heavens,
when you are here
just to be, just to pass the scent
which is there on one side of my heart, always

. . .

my love seeks not possession,
yet pain cuts me, cuts all promises

. . .

syalalala lala syalalala lala

. . .

OMG, it is so damn-poetic and gorgeous! I could portray thousands of heartbreaking inspiration beyond the lyrics, just by looking at the Reff part!

Special thanks to Otaku-sama for translating=p.