Aural Candy

Artist Sample: Favorite D Songs

As requested by hana in the shoutbox:

i was wondering if you can recommend some good songs by D? coz i've heard them being mentioned a few times by Versailles fans. thank you ^_^

D

Ahh, D, they're one of the few bands out there that have always consistently released high quality works. While what is considered a "good" song is subjective, I'll do my best to recommend my favorite songs by them instead. My appreciation of music is driven, for the most part, by melody and then, by the vocals. So, you'll probably see some pattern emerge from my recommendations.

真昼の声 [listen]
Mahiru no Koe
- Track 1 from "真昼の声～Synchronicity～" [2005.04.06]

闇より暗い慟哭のアカペラと薔薇より赤い情熱のアリア [listen]
Yami Yori Kurai Doukoku no A Capella to Bara Yori Akai Jounetsu no Aria
- Track 1 from "闇より暗い慟哭のアカペラと薔薇より赤い情熱のアリア" [2005.06.22]
- Track 3 from "The name of the ROSE" [2006.02.08]

Sleeper [listen]
- Track 10 from "The name of the ROSE" [2006.02.08]

Leukocyte [listen]
- Track 4 from "Tafel Anatomie" [2006.10.18]

Ultimate Lover [listen]
- Track 1 from "Ultimate Lover" [2006.12.06]

桜花咲きそめにけり [listen]
Ouka Saki Some ni Keri
- Track 1 from "桜花咲きそめにけり" [2007.07.18]
- Track 3 from "Neo culture~Beyond the world~" [2007.11.07]

Follow [listen]
- Track 1 from "Neo culture~Beyond the world~" [2007.11.07]

Normally, I'd write a long-ass post talking in depth about each song. But these past few months, I've been in an odd mood and have been staying away from reviewing anything. Hopefully, the sample songs I uploaded can make up for it a little.

the GazettE 2007 Europe Tour Roundup

I was going to write this entry earlier, but somehow when browsing the GazettE's homepage, I got distracted by the band's new image and started making icons out of the new photoshoots. Ruki possesses the most enchanting lips and I'm only human.

Let's try this again....

Our Gazemen have returned to Japan after what looked like a kick-ass Europe tour. The fan reports have quite a number of interesting observations.

Berlin: 01 | 02
Cologne: 01 | 02 | 03
Munich: 01 | 02
Paris: 01 | 02A | 02B
London: 01 | 02 | 03 | 04
Helsinki: 01 | 02 | 03

Aoi's lip ring

Lip ring-less Aoi

Quick, what are the first things that pop up in your mind when you think of the GazettE members? More likely than not, they're Ruki's neck marks, Uruha's thighs, Reita's noseband, Kai's smile, and Aoi's lip ring! I'm dismayed he decided to get rid of his trademark. Aoi just isn't quite Aoi anymore without his lip ring. Why did he all of a sudden want to change his image? This is going to take a while to get used to, alas. May his lip ring rest in peace.

Fanservice
Ah yes, the ever controversial fanservice. I confess, I've always wondered what... activities... the final edits of Gazette live DVDs cut out. Whenever songs like SILLY GOD DISCO were performed, the camera always swerved away from Ruki and all you could hear were high-pitched mass screaming from the audience. Goodness, what in the world got the fangirls so excited? My inquiring mind was dying to know. Thank you European fans for satisfying my curiosity. I don't know whether to laugh or bang my head on the desk when reading about the exact activities Ruki engaged in to get the ladies riled up at lives.

Ruki fanservice

Fan behavior
Well, I'm proud of the GazettE fandom! I understand that at the band's first stop in Berlin, quite a number of fans got overexcited and screamed inappropriately during Taion. The news quickly spread on the net and, as if wanting to prove to Gazette that European fans know how to behave, everyone actually stayed quiet and listened respectfully during Taion at the band's subsequent stops. Great job, fandom~ you're wonderful!

Tour bus

the GazettE tour bus (photo by evespikey)

Holy mother, Gazette actually had a branded tour bus/truck! The band really pulled all stops and I'm flattened that that huge, conspicuous thing actually paraded all around Europe. I once again bow down to PS Company's marketing talents. PSC isn't my favorite J-Rock artist management agency for nothing. Highest regard from me, PSC. I tip my hat to you.

And finally, here's a fan-shot video highlighting the London live. Listen to Kai's "thank you so much" at the end.

the GazettE live at London Islington UK

Now, please pleeeeeease come to the United States, Gazette.

Playboy Descends Upon alice nine.

What in nine levels of Hell is this?!

The Playboy Bunny

Bunny ears, boobage, thighs, and the PINK! My eyes!

He's totally not looking at the chess board

*twitches*

Captive audience

Oh my god! That's it, I've had enough! *leaps through the screen and commits murder*

I normally have no problem with the random!girl phenomenon in J-Rock PV's. But this! THIS is an abomination. Why the hell is she so obnoxious?! Her every strut, every flirtatious glance, every sway of hips, not to mention her PINKness offends me. While watching this, I feel a vein throb and fear I'm going to break my jaw gritting my teeth so hard.

Who slipped vitriol in my breakfast this morning? I keep on entertaining thoughts of inflicting torture and pain and I itch to break that girl's neck.

I'm a horrible person, I know. What is it about this PV that triggers such violence in me?

アリス九號. / ブループラネット

Director Kaneko Shusuke's OHP Updated

Remember my report of the New York City premiere of the movies DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE II a few months ago?

It looks like director Kaneko Shusuke's homepage has been updated with his visits to NYC and Montreal for the movie screenings/premieres. And hey, one of my photos was actually used on the page! The photo they picked got cropped and I almost didn't recognize it though I was puzzling to myself about how familiar it looked.

Kaneko Shusuke Homepage

(I just noticed: you can see my workplace in the page header. One of those buildings contains my firm's Americas headquarter. *is amused*)

I knew the homepage was going to be updated a few months ago, but totally forgot about it until I saw an old e-mail in my inbox and decided to check the site out.

Anyway, cool! I feel as if I contributed to Japanese film-making history somehow by helping to document events such as this. XP

News: R:ID Mega Event feat. PSC

PS Company

This is still not confirmed by official sources yet. I'll update this when more information become available.

According to a concert-goer to the GazettE's live in Berlin today, in one of the flyers handed out after the concert, PS Company bands alice nine., Kagrra,, Kra, SuG, and SCREW will be performing at R:ID Mega Event in Cologne, Germany on December 29, 2007.

Ticket sales begin on November 1.

My favorite record label/artist management company! Ahh, how I want to live in Germany!

Update: Confirmed by Kagrra,'s official homepage. Merry Christmas, Germans.

Another D-lemma!

Okay guys, how the heck do you decide which version of D's upcoming album, 「Neo culture」～Beyond the world～, to order? The album comes with 2 limited editions, each with a different PV (types A and B), and 1 normal edition without PV (type C). Assuming you can only buy one version ('cause who the hell has the money to throw around anyway?), how do you arrive at your final choice?

If you're not attracted to limited editions like me, I suppose it's easy enough to just get the normal edition. But the rest of you guys, like-minded compatriots you are, do you have any special method or reasoning to get either type A or type B?

Right now, I'm leaning toward type A because the PV included is titled 薔薇色の日々. With a title like "Rose-colored Days", how can I resist? This might turn out to be a pretty, melodic song like "Ultimate Lover".

The other PV that comes with type B is titled 久遠, or "Eternity". This one is more unpredictable as you can't tell much from the title. It can be aggressive, D-style speed metal, or a soothing ballad, or even something along the Neo Japaneseque vein of the the recent 桜花咲きそめにけり single.

Judging from discussions in the D fandom, it seems more people are preordering type B. Hmm... what do people see in type B that I'm not getting?

Off-topic:

Rentrer en Soi's live in Texas had just taken place. I'm now watching the ReS fandom closely for live reports.

the GazettE's European tour is due to officially begin. Looks like about 1000 people (or was it more than 1000) attended the autograph event in Berlin. Reports, I want reports dearies! Blow-by-blow accounts, band sightings, I want to know all about them!

Lucky Europeans. Hopefully, by the time I'm in London next July, there would be some J-Rock event taking place there.

Lyrics: D / Ultimate Lover

As requested by Kazze in the shout box, the lyrics to D's live-only release, "Ultimate Lover". Original Japanese lyrics courtesy of ASAGI's diary.

I had to do the romaji myself since I love D so much and there are no other romanization of this song available. I didn't triple-check the romaji 100 times like I used to do for fansubbing (yes, I was an anal subtitler), but hopefully, there aren't too many mistakes.

Ultimate Lover

君の見る未来でもし僕が消えたとしても　今だけは
Kimi no miru mirai demoshi boku ga kieta toshitemo, imadake wa
ため息忘れて　二度と見れない瞬間とこの景色をずっと忘れないで
Tameiki wasurete, midoto mirenai shankanto kono keshiki wo zutto wasurenaide

君がこの世界で生まれて　僕の世界は生まれた
Kimi ga kono sekai de umarete, boku no sekai wa umarete
変わりゆく時代の中君は　見えない永遠を否む
Kawariyuku  jidai no naka kimi wa, mienai eien wo inamu

街の声が溢れ振り返る
Machi no koe ga afure furi kaeru
過去は遠く霞む明けの月の様
Kako wa osoku kasumu ake no tsuki no you

僕らが過ごす時間の軸では　留まることは許されない
Bokura ga sugosu jikan no jiku dewa, tomaru koto wa yurusarenai
思いきり泣いて　自分を愛してあげたなら　前を向いて君は生きていける　　　
Omoi kiri naite, jibun wo aishite agetanara, mae wo muite kimi wa ikiteikeru　　　　　
不変を求めることに　疑問を持ちはじめたのは
Fuhen wo matomeru koto ni, gimon wo mochiha jimetano wa
何度目かの別れの後　去り際の優しさが滲む
Nanidomekano wakare no ato, zarikiwa no yasashisa ga nijimu

窓の向う何が見えるの？
Mado no mukau nani ga mieruno?
いつも見てた白い記憶　断ち切れない願い　過ぎ去りし日の
Itsumo miteta shiroi kioku, tachimarinai negai, sugizarishi hi no

僕が君に伝えたい意味を 今はわからなくてもいい
Boku ga kimi no tsutaeitai imi wo, ima wa wakaranakutemo ii
「永遠」がいつか果たされる時には君の想い出の中　生きていたい
"Eien" ga itsuka katasareru toki ni wa kimi no omoide no naka, ikiteitai

Remember...　さよならは言わないから
Remember... sayonara wa iwanai kara
Moment... 思いが続く限り
Moment ... omoiga tsutsuku kagiri
Remember... どれだけ救われただろう　
Remember... dore dake sukuwareta darou
Moment... 君がいてくれたから
Moment... kimi ga itekureta kara
Remember... 僕に残されたものは　
Remember... boku ni nokosareta mono wa
Moment.... 愛を歌うことだけ　
Moment.... ai wo utau koto dake
Remember... 君が思うよりずっと
Remember... kimi ga omou yori zutto
Moment... 僕は君を思っている　
Moment... boku wa kimi wo omotteiru

Remember... (3x)
風が止んだら　側にいるから
Kaze ga yandara, soba ni iru kara
耳を澄ませば　また会えるから
Mimi wo sumaseba, mata aeru kara

Remember...

Hope this helps. Feel free to re-distribute with proper credit.

JRockRevolution.com

JRockRevolution.com is now one of the indispensable J-Rock news resource sites that I check regularly. If this site still isn't under your radar, I recommend keeping an eye on it for the latest news on developments in the scene.

If you have a Livejournal, you can friend jrockrev so you'll be alerted every time the site updates the news section.

Incidentally, there are 3 latest updates from JRockRevolution worth noting:

1.
X Japan will be releasing a new song called "I.V." as the ending theme song to the upcoming movie "SAW IV". This song features all 5 members of the band for it contains unreleased material by hide. See the FAQ for the release for more details.

2.
Part 1 of the interview with Kai of the GazettE is now up. It's actually quite well done, informative and humorous.

Now that you mention him, why does REITA wear the handkerchief on his nose?
KAI: Oh… that’s like his trademark now, it’s like a part of his body. That is REITA.

Does he wear that normally?
KAI: *Laugh* No, but as the bassist of the GazettE, that is the way REITA is.

Isn’t it hard to breathe like that?
KAI: Well… I guess since he’s still alive it mustn’t be too bad.
*Everyone laughs*
If we think about it, we do start wondering, but since he hasn’t complained about it I guess it’s alright.

3.
Last but not least, there's also an interview with SUGIZO of SKIN and ex-LUNA SEA. Definitely detected a bit of ego there, but at least it didn't incense me like Gackt's interview on his concert in Korea. These are great musicians, but sometimes, things just come out sounding arrogant. >_>

Announcement: New Message Box Up

Dear readers, if I may bring your attention to the bottom of the left panel of this blog, I now have a message box up. So, if you don't feel like registering with Vox, you can still leave your comments and other related/unrelated messages on Cbox. Feel free to use it to yell at me for slacking off updating this blog. I don't do it on purpose, seriously.

Hopefully, this Cbox can make the blog more interactive. I'd love to get inputs from you all.

I wish I can move the entire panel up so you guys don't have to scroll down. But Vox doesn't have this functionality right now. >_>

And on an unrelated note, the domain auralcandy.com now points to this blog. If you're too lazy to type the "vox" part of auralcandy.vox.com, feel free to use the domain instead.

Real Life Distraction Once Again!

But actually, this particular distraction is no excuse for once again not updating this blog in a while. I recently acquired a new laptop and now, I finally have a computer powerful enough to play The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. When the game first came out in mid-2006-ish, I had wanted to give it a try due to a friend's recommendation. The incredible game immersion, the open-ended game play, and the vastness of the game world appealed to me. But Oblivion is a resource monster and my then 2-year-old laptop just couldn't handle it.

Oblivion / Glinde and Ruined-Tail

When it comes to RPG's, the thing that annoys me the most about the genre is the monotonous hack-and-slash game playing. Sadly, too many RPG's fall under this category. Perhaps this is why I enjoy MMORPG's due to the premise of interaction with real people. I tend to spend most of my time socializing with other players instead of wandering in the wilderness stabbing monsters.

But in Oblivion, it's not all about hack-and-slash. I decided that I don't give a damn about the main storyline or joining the Fighters Guild (who cares that the world's ending because of invasion from godly creatures from another dimension?). I wanted a different variety of game playing so I decided to become an assassin and a thief. Instead of charging into the heat of the battle, I get to kill people by dropping the mounted head of a minotaur on them and planting poison in their medicine. Oooh, I also get to murder everyone at a manor gathering but not before toying with them and lowering their guards with my charm and wile first. Lovely, isn't it?

Now I'm embarking on a quest with a loyal companion named Ruined-Tail. Yep, it's that Lizard-looking chap you see in the screenshot. I travel with him, fight with him, and engage in moral and philosophical discussions with him. He has a most engrossing backstory and I totally cheated and found out what's going to happen to the two of us in the future by reading the walkthrough. Ah, it's not pretty, but I'll enjoy his company while I can since I've grown fond of him.

And because I'm feeling vain, I'm going everywhere in that gown because I want to look pretty even when killing and looting. Wearing a lovely gown while setting vampires on fire in a tomb? Sure, why not? I have crap defense since I'm not wearing any armor. But that's why you have a companion with you, right? So he can fight for you?

Whooo, this post has had nothing to do with J-Rock. Haha! Hopefully, my engrossment with Oblivion will end in 2-4 weeks. That's usually how long I'm usually obsessed with a game. Then, I'd not touch any video game for half a year before finding another new shiny game to dote on.