召し上がれ。
Can you hear me?

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gakupo
Feat. Gakupo from Vocaloid.










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☆ a reflection once in a while

Saturday, May 31, 2008, 10:33 PM.

this is a post to kill time -.-~

gahh, i am too bored -.-, yeah TOO bored. but i dont want this to be an empty+rubbish post... so, i'm thinking hard on what too write (>_<).

oh yeah, i havent post about my results yet huh?
....i,
got two A1, two A2, three B3, one C5 and one D7.
yeah, MATHS.

who wouldnt be worrying about year-end results after the drastic mid year examinations? i couldnt help but tremble when i recalled how hard i studied, and what i got is these results... although it was a last minuted study. it's like, every minute from now on, your reason to live is to study, study and STUDY, and get good, good, GOOD results. and whatever more, it's our streaming year. only the best top 40 will get to 3A... 3A, 3A, and whatever. so why is everyone aiming for 3A? if i said this, someone would probably say 'if you dont want, let me have your place then'. hah, so it's the problem with the A, cos everyone who heard it would say 'gosh, you're smart'. but everyone knows, not the whole A class students are smart ass, and i am the example. so stop, STOP, telling me to go JC or even the university in the far far future... okay, i better stop talking about A class, or the A students are gonna kill me, while others think that i'm just bitching or boosting.

hah, but what can i do. feeling seriously lost about what's going on in life(after last year was over), erm, hey, why last year got so much impact on me ==? ahem, back to topic, or maybe i'm just doing things thoughtlessly... cos, it's the everyday-basis. like, waking up in the morning, getting on the regular bus 28, hiding away from the morning assembly, attending classes with half-asleep face, rushing to the side gate to avoid somebody and the finally able to get back to home with bus 28 again, under the hot sun.

okay, i'm getting tired.

but i wont let the emotions to get over me, and nothing's gonna repeat again.
although others didnt notice, i can tell that, i had grown up.

yawns, yeah, gonna sleep now.
and i hope, it's a sweet dream (>_<)~ when was the last time i had one...

and throat, dear throat,
dont hurt again (T_T).

☆ new skin

, 6:26 PM.

after 15 mins of searching, i decided to settle with the old blogskin that i found.
ahh, *waves bye to hiroto-kun*, sniff sniff.

okay, cos there isnt any nice hiroto/alice nine./miyavi skin -_-.
shut up, i know i cant do blogskins -.-.

thinking of a new url...

feeling... better.
hair... grow faster.
....

-__-, just being random... and true enough,
it's taking a long time to grow...

hope that it can catch up before sister's wedding.
(OAO)!
so that i can get the makeup-artist to do perms♪~
lala~

------------------------------------------
(6.59PM)

FUCK,
MY MUM BOUGHT TREAT'S ICE CREAM.
it's like, damn it can?
damn, i should have check the brand before letting her buy.

DONT GET FOOLED BY THE KIDS APPEARANCE.
it's not good to be a kind soul at this kind of time.

gosh, I HATE TREATS!!!
(bad, torturing memories running in mind.)

☆ -____-

, 1:15 PM.

okay...

i nearly get knocked down by a car.
(laughs).


nah, not a joke -.- .

Labels:

☆ (T_T)

, 8:55 AM.

(T_T)...

for some reason, basically i dont know why, my throat was hurting in the middle of the night.
something like it's sore, or whatever...
thanks to it, i nearly had a sleepless night, and i only managed to sleep peacefully sometime near the morning...
*goars*

and!
mum forbid me to eat anymore sweet/cold things until it recovers...
*CRIES.
then, please keep that box of chocolate ice cream away from my sight!
(it's the only thing in the freezer of the bigger fridge...)


no replies, so it seens that it's an empty promise~
sulking at the moment with throat hurting.

Labels:

☆ happy birthday reita~

Tuesday, May 27, 2008, 5:27 PM.


happy birthday reita~


why not, take off your bandage for the whole day, since it's your bday :D.
seriously, i still didnt have the chance to find any pictures with a good view of reita's whole face...
so, any surrprises by gazette? (thinks hard)


obemteto~~ \(>_<)/ (okay, ignore the words... i didnt write it, but it's very amusing and CUTE to see reita and hello kitty hand in hand...

*SCREAMS*. *envy*, *begun to hate hello kitty which i(use to) love it*)...

unless it's really ruki inside the hello kitty....(that would be great).


Labels: ,

☆ NEWS(1)

Monday, May 26, 2008, 11:15 AM.

NEWS:

- re-updated -Ayabie- post. click here to view!
- downloads of Vidoll, Dolly, and many other visual band songs!!!(wekkek kakkaka~)
- currently looking for GP5 or Guitar Pro 5 programme. i'm not sure how to use it, and if it's on sales in singpore, please inform!
- ho.li.day. sucked.

☆ Zy 37: ayabie

Sunday, May 25, 2008, 12:00 PM.

-Ayabie-

Zy 37: ayabie

Abiding memory and future

It has been one year since Yumehito officially joined ayabie on November 16, 2006. They had their national and world tour and released a CD. Their power never seems to decrease. Throughout their activities ayabie have managed to put each members' personalities, as well as their musical direction, into their work more and more, gradually creating a well-balanced beautiful pentagon.

They will release a new mini album in November, and will do their national tour from December 2007 to January 2008, so we asked them about how they changed and developed throughout this one year.


It's just one year after Yumehito officially joined on November 16, 2006. How was this one year for you, Yumehito?

Yumehito: It's been so fast, it went by just like that.

After you joined the band the mood changed a lot.

Aoi: Not only has the mood changed, but also the band itself, I think.

Takehito: Yes, he influences even the band's color.

Aoi: The original members of our band are these three members (Aoi, Takehito, and Intetsu), and Kenzo joined a little after. I think a member change influences the band a lot. We did that twice, and we were able to grow, which means we, the original members, were right in who we chose to join, I think. When Kenzo joined, I think a lot of people had something to say about that, and our schedule was really hard for him right from the beginning. He worked really hard to make it work. Now he is a lead person in the band in various ways. Yumehito is a guitarist and composer, but he is replacing our former member who had these positions, so I think he also had a similar experience to Kenzo.

He must have felt a lot of pressure too.

Yumehito: Yes. I felt frustrated so many times like "I can't put up with this anymore! I want to give up!" but the other members encouraged me by saying "Don't worry. You'll see next year, around this time, that we are absolutely right." Even they themselves felt uneasy at times. I'm the type that reacts well to compliments (laugh). It think that they did well keeping me here through thick and thin.

Aoi: He pushed away various criticisms and became the main composer, so I think he works very hard.

Intetsu: Yes. When the former guitarist left our band, we were asked "Can you really continue?" by so many people. Then Yumehito joined and he was looked at by others as replacing the former guitarist. He was compared to him, but what changed his reputation were "his songs", I think. The world he expressed really touched our fans. Well we four members chose Yumehito thinking that "We can make a new ayabie with him", from the beginning. It's great that we can show that to our fans and staff through our songs.

As Intetsu said, did you want to appeal to fans through your songs and your world view?

Yumehito: Yes, because I only have my songs. So I wanted to be heard through my songs, then perhaps people could appreciate me. And I really wanted to help them. The other four members, except me, had their certain roles in the band already. I, who joined later, thought about that a lot. "What can I do for the band?" I think I wanted to be recognized by the band members first.

For the rest of the interview, please refer to Zy 37.
arhh, that;s sad D: . too bad, Zy's copy right. but there are som articles that they posted the whole thing, just too bad that this one dont (>_<).

Labels:

☆ ayabie 100 question interview

Saturday, May 24, 2008, 11:48 PM.

-Ayabie-

ayabie 100 question interview


Aoi

1. Birth date: April Fool's(1st april)
2. Blood type: A type
3. Birthplace: Gunma
4. Height&Weight: 167cm (5'6”) & 52kg (115)
5. Shoe Size: 25.5 cm
6. ring-size: doesn't know
7. smokes: Bevel furea 1mm
8. favorite perfume:parabole?, sui dream, lolita lempicka
9. what type of mobile are you using: vodafone no wansegu taiou no yatsu 905SH
10. what's your phone's song: none
11. what's one cell's memory?: around 200 items?
12. favorite brand: JUSTIN DAVIS, ROYALFRASH, DORUGABA wo....
13. favorite color(s): black, white, silver, gold
14. favorite word(s): yoyuu (as in slack or room for composure)
15. favorite food(s): pizza, sushi, ramen
16. least favorite food: celery
17. do you cook?: YES. buta no shouga yaki ...
18. hobby: driving, something about buying a bike for a little
19. special skill: smiling
20. strong point :yume mi gachi
21. weak point: yume mi gachi
22. habit(bad): honorifics
23. daily routine: cleaning
24. what was put on your report card: they weren't : has no composure
25. best interest: DOLCE&GABBANA
26. charm point: dimple
27. weak point: rain
28. what do you collect: JUSTIN accessories
29. now, what kind of domocile do you live in: red and white (o_0)
30. favorite place: my place, the park
31. where would you like to go?: nagasaki ??????hausutenbosu??????
32. what do you do on off days: ride around on my bike
33. best thing you ever bought:big scooter
34. best movie: give me heaven;
35. recent frustration: over shopping
36. how do you relieve stress: shopping
37. most important thing: time;
38. most respected people: parents
39. first romance: 2 year elementary school
40. did it work out: yes
41. favorite female type: gentle type that ??does the howahowa??(I don't want to know)
42. disliked female type: kinds with a strong spirit
43. Thing you wish for a girl: meekness
44. what is your fetish? big boobs/thighs
45. favorite fashion for a girl: cute type. skirt style would be nice
46. girl action that make you throb: fixing slippery clothing
47. did you ever confess to someone you like: YES
48. idea date course: designing is good
49. the color of romance is: light pink
50. present that you are glad to receive: Justin Accessories
51. Do you wish to get married:YES
52. what would you name your child:adzu (adu, azu)
53. ideal male image:MANDOM, SMASH & MACHO
54. what makes you happy that you were born male: nothing in particular....
55. if you choose being born male or female: female
56. for what reason: There are various things about womanhood I'd like to experience
57. where do your eyes go when you first meet someone: pupils
58. childhood dream: salary man
59. older age's enjoyment: I'd like to spend my time with a wife, in some rural area
60. what do you think is wrong with the world:umm, taxes
61. what do you think your mental age is: 46
62. how much money is in your wallet: 15000 yen
63. are you good at waking up: No-
64. do you believe in fate: YES
65. something you are worried about: The world cup
66. biggest prank you've ever pulled on one of the members:fall down shaking at a birthday party.
67. biggest thing until now:I found a wallet. I turned it to the police
68. the most expensive thing you've boughten at this point: a car.
69. Even if it's been concealed until now, the truth is...!: ”ni no ude fechi” “two arm fetish”??????????????? (@_@)
70. best first experience:big scooter
71. greatest enemy in life: myself
72. if you hadn't become a musician:cook
73. if you had to rate your self:72 points
74. what do you think about during a live:the expression of every song's world view
75. what do you drink on stage: soy milk
76. something you must do before a live: voice practice
77. something you must do after a live:warm my throat so that it is not cold??????
78. what a live means to you: self expression
79. what instrument do you use: voice
80. make a public commitment, this year I....: will move into a new place
81. A musician with whom you have a good relationship: I don't think there is any
82. something you're not conveying here: poetry (song)
83. Favorite song made by the band:Atama ga okashii
84. fundemental rule in you: never be late for appointments
85. something you think you lack: desire/appitite/lust ?ambition?
86. if you were another member, who'd you like to be: I think I'm good
87. if one of your wishes could come true, what would you wish for: build a castle in hokkaidou
88. something you want to eat right now:ramen
89. some one you want to meet now:Grandpa
90. song you would suggest now: I like “nanamujika”. the song “himawari”
91. favorite artist(s): nanamujikam, onsoku line
92. favorite entertainer:Misaki Aoi, ??shiyama?? sayaka
93. Entertainmet person you are told you are like: moomin
94. Something you plan to do in Shoxx in the future: do an overseas photoshoot
95. what does music mean to you: something to live for
96. what does Ayabie mean to you: my only whereabouts
97. your ambition from here on: Taku-san's world nation advance!
98. A word for yourself in 10 years: are you still alive? Are you still eating meals? have you made a nice household yet? Are the children nice and cute?
99. message for the other members:
ryohei-kun:forever be cute
takehito-kun:forever be affectionate
intetsu-kun:forever be a prince-sama
kenzo-kun:forever be good-looking
100. message to fans: as always, thank you. because all of you have a brilliance and warmth like the sun, you will not see me lower my head in shame. We will never stop now. and since we shall not lose, we will continue to progress together.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ryouhei

1. birthday: 3/27/1983
2. bloodtype: B type
3. birthplace: Kanagawaken
4. Height & Weight: 164cm (5'5”) & 47 kg(103 lbs) (Maybe his fat is fluffy and soft like teddy bear stuffing)
5. Shoe size: 24.5-25 cm
6. Ring size: 13
7. What do you smoke: no
8. Favorite Perfume: Escarda???? esukaada
9. What Model is your cell phone: N700i
10. What kind of ring tone is on your cell: Ayabie
11. How many items on on your cell's memory: about 100?
12. Favorite brand: rad musician, his, And A, #9
13. Favorite Color: Red
14. Favorite Word/phrase: know one's merit (
15. Favorite Food(s): Cheesine (I think he's refering to those cheese weiners), soy milk
16. Least favorite food: anything baked??
17. Do you cook? you best dish?: Yes, Carbonara (spaghetti alla)
18. Hobbies: DS, PSP, Cosplay
19. Special Skill: Guitar Hero?
20. Strength: Talking Fast
21. Weakness: Unexpected weakness
22. Habit: Playing Guitar Hero
23. Daily Routine: swimming
24. Something that was often written on your report cards : Is not Calm (Hyperactive)
25. Current “My Boom”: DS Metroid (w00t, and to think I was so unsettled by him at once)
26. Charm Point: Eyes
27. Weak Point: Stomach
28. Something You Collect: PRS (huh?)
29. What kind of apartment are you living in right now: 1DK
30. Favorite Place: My Home
31. What place would you like to go: Parents Home...Is there any better place
32. What do you do on your off day?: Write music, buy stuff
33. Last thing you bought: #9 Brand Denim (Pants I'm assuming)
34. Latest you've seen: SAW2
35. Recent Frustration: Sudden urges of Anxiety (hear ya there pal)
36. Way to solve stress: writing music! ability to concentrate
37. Most precious thing now: Friends. Espescially Lately I think.
38. Respected Person(s): Father
39. When was your first romance: when I was about 3 years old?
40. Did it work out?: Yes
41. Favorite type of Female: Small and white, plumpy
42. Disliked type of Female: nothing in particular
43. Thing you wish for in a girl: Not having sudden Maternal instincts
44. What is your Fechi? : The Iris of the eyes
45. What is your favorite fashion for a girl : Daikan Yama(chou) Style
46. What girl action makes you Throb : Not really an action, but the exposition of lots of clothing makes me throb
47. Have you ever confessed to someone you liked?: YES!
48. Preferred Dating course.: Take a trip through Daikanyama(chou) Preferably
49. Color of Romance: Water colored
50. Present you are glad to receive: JUSTIN Bug Eyed Glasses pendant top
51. Do you wish to get Married: Yes
52. The name you wish to Give your Child: Kaori (I'm assuming, there are like a million names for that combo)
53. Ideal male image: Dad
54. Something that makes you happy you were born a guy: Everything
55. Which would you rather be born as, Male or Female : Male
56. For what reason : There is a better chance of making one's own (or winning a girls heart)
57. Where do your eyes go when you meet someone for the first time: Eyes
58. Childhood dream : Doctor
59. Older age enjoyment: Igo
60. Something you think is wrong with the world: Nothing
61. What do you think your mental age is at: about 20?
62. How much money is in your wallet: 45000 Yen (>, A ,<) 63. Are you good at waking up: No
64. Do you believe in fate: No
65. Something you are worried about right now : My limits
66. Biggest prank you've ever pulled on any of the members: (I don't think I understand too well (laughs))
67. Best thing until now: (I don't understand)
68. Most Expensive thing you have ever bought : PRS!
69. Even though it has been secret until now, the truth is.... : I'm a Sadist (n Ó д Ò n)
70. Recent First Experience: Male Kyara Cosplay
71. Your greatest enemy: my Delicate heart (0~0;;)
72. If you hadn't become a musician: corporate manager
73. how would you rate your current self: 75 points
74. What is on your mind at during a live: well I am, is everybody else having fun?
75. Stage Drink: Water
76. Something you must do before a live: Stretch (fingers)
77. Something you must do after a live: Well, generally I sit. I'm lazy
78. What does Lives mean to you?: Place of expression
79. What instrument do you use?: ESP Ryohei Model “da-gi-e” type
80. Please make a public commitment: this year...! I will become more famous!
81. I musician you have a good relationship with: S-E-C-R-E-T?
82. Something you are not conveying here: My idiosyncracies
83. Favorite song(s) the band has produced: Romancer, Sukima no Hoshi
84. A fundemental rule you live by: Always use my abilities to their fullest extent (no kidding, it's killing you)
85. Something you think you are lacking: Taku-san's presence...more big people **obscured by scanner cutoff**
86. If you were any other member, who would it be and why?: Aoi-kun!, I want to sing! (but I don't want land fatha)
87. If one of your wishes could come true, what would you wish for: To have Intetsu's body, I want his model
88. What do you want to eat right now: Cheesine
89. Person you want to meet right now: Ishihara Yoshimizu
90. Song to suggest right now: Topaz
91. Favorite Artist: Ayabie
92. Favorite entertainment person: I don't know much...Ishihara Yoshimizu-san
93. Entertainment Person you are told that you are like: Ishida Issei
94. Something you plan on doing with shoxx in the future: Spa Tour! PLEASE!
95. What does music mean to you?: My everything
96. What does Ayabie mean to you: a place for self expression
97. Your ambition from here on: To become famous
98. Word for yourself in 10 years: Can the people around you be important? (I mangled that so bad)
99. Message for each member stuff: (no really the entry is clipped by the scanner)
100. Message for fans: We love you all very much

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Takehito

1. birthday: 8/24
2. bloodtype: A type
3. birthplace: Tokyo
4. Height & Weight: 172cm (5'8”) & 59 kg(130 lbs)
5. Shoe size: 26.5cm
6. Ring size: 13
7. What do you smoke: I smoke. Marumen light
8. Favorite Perfume: Samurai
9. What Model is your cell phone: P901is
10. What kind of ring tone is on your cell: X Japan
11. How many items on on your cell's memory: 30 items
12. Favorite brand: MK, Custom Culture, PPFM
13. Favorite Color: Black
14. Favorite Word/phrase: I become what I perform (I think)
15. Favorite Food(s): Baked Taco's
16. Least favorite food: nothing special
17. Do you cook? you best dish?: Chaahan
18. Hobbies: Guitar, Driving
19. Special Skill: Impulse Buying
20. Strength: Gentleness
21. Weakness: Easily Hurt, and quick tempered
22. Habit: Spending too much time on the computer
23. Daily Routine: Checking fan mail
24. Something that was often written on your report cards: there is consideration
25. Current “My Boom”: Gaming
26. Charm Point: Front Teeth
27. Weak Point: Low Blood Pressure
28. Something You Collect : nothing
29. What kind of apartment are you living in right now: roomy with two windows (I'm guessing)
30. Favorite Place: local
31. What place would you like to go: temple in Kyoto
32. What do you do on your off day?: Drink with friends
33. Last thing you bought: PC
34. Latest you've seen: Davinci Code
35. Recent Frustration: Sleep
36. Way to solve stress: Drink
37. Most precious thing now: Guitar
38. Respected Person(s): Grandfather, YOSHIKI-san
39. When was your first romance: 1st grade
40. Did it work out?: no
41. Favorite type of Female: Cute person
42. Disliked type of Female: Selfish person
43. Thing you wish for in a girl : nothing particular
44. What is your Fechi?: smiling face
45. What is your favorite fashion for a girl : cute feeling
46. What girl action makes you Throb: a smiling face
47. Have you ever confessed to someone you liked?: yes
48. Preferred Dating course.: Taking a trip
49. Color of Romance: Rainbow colored
50. Present you are glad to receive: letter
51. Do you wish to get Married: not really
52. The name you wish to Give your Child: Don't understand
53. Ideal male image: The one I have
54. Something that makes you happy you were born a guy: Don't understand
55. Which would you rather be born as, Male or Female: do I really have to choose?
56. For what reason: Because I think both would be fun
57. Where do your eyes go when you meet someone for the first time: eyes
58. Childhood dream: scientist
59. Older age enjoyment: Guitar player
60. Something you think is wrong with the world: various things
61. What do you think your mental age is at: 19
62. How much money is in your wallet: 1500 Yen
63. Are you good at waking up: bad
64. Do you believe in fate: yes
65. Something you are worried about right now: World Cup
66. Biggest prank you've ever pulled on any of the members: Soy sauce in Wine (ewwwww)
67. Best thing until now: Don't understand
68. Most Expensive thing you have ever bought: Guitar
69. Even though it has been secret until now, the truth is....: but I've aleady said it (laugh)
70. Recent First Experience: TSUTAYA rental
71. Your greatest enemy: myself
72. If you hadn't become a musician: Artist
73. how would you rate your current self: 24 points
74. What is on your mind at during a live: innocent
75. Stage Drink: Water
76. Something you must do before a live: strech
77. Something you must do after a live: smoke
78. What does Lives mean to you?: Dream space
79. What instrument do you use?: Guitar
80. Please make a public commitment. this year...!: I will write a release
81. I musician you have a good relationship with: Fatima's Towa-san
82. Something you are not conveying here: Black hair (I suppose)
83. Favorite song(s) the band has produced: right now “Akagi” I think
84. A fundemental rule you live by: Sanctity of Music
85. Something you think you are lacking : effort
86. If you were any other member, who would it be and why?: Kenzo, he has more fans out of all the members
87. If one of your wishes could come true, what would you wish for: Please, no more earthquakes
88. What do you want to eat right now: Suta Bowl (no idea)
89. Person you want to meet right now: Taku-san
90. Song to suggest right now: THE LAST SONG
91. Favorite Artist: X JAPAN
92. Favorite entertainment person: Oota-san (???)
93. Entertainment Person you are told that you are like: Miyamoto Shinshu
94. Something you plan on doing with shoxx in the future: Front Cover
95. What does music mean to you?: persistant hobby (eh?)
96. What does Ayabie mean to you: dream
97. Your ambition from here on: To make Ayabie Big
98. Word for yourself in 10 years: So how's your health?
99. Message for each member
aoi: Akagi is a good song!
ryo: PLEASE give me your PRS1!
in: be careful with Maron
ken: don't over drink!
100. Message for fans : from here, because of various things, please continue to look out for us.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Intetsu

1. birthday: February 1st
2. bloodtype: B type
3. birthplace: Tokyo
4. Height & Weight: 177cm (5'10”) & 50kg (110 lbs)
5. Shoe size: 26.5 cm
6. Ring size:Secret
7. What do you smoke: I don't smoke
8. Favorite Perfume: Dior “pure poison”
9. What Model is your cell phone: Vodafone 804SH howaito (faux white??)
10. What kind of ring tone is on your cell: Phone sound
11. How many items on on your cell's memory: 50
12. Favorite brand: Tiffany, Anies b
13. Favorite Color: white, black
14. Favorite Word/phrase: carefree
15. Favorite Food(s): Milk tea
16. Least favorite food: Chicken skin
17. Do you cook? you best dish?: Hot Cake
18. Hobbies: Black Tea, Reading
19. Special Skill: I make a delicious milk tea
20. Strength: being carefree
21. Weakness: I'm very slow
22. Habit: Talking slowly
23. Daily Routine: Taking care of my bunny
24. Something that was often written on your report cards: Not calm (none of these boys were)
25. Current “My Boom”: Collecting Post cards
26. Charm Point: Fingers
27. Weak Point: Stomach kocho kocho ????? I think it may have to do with either how well he eats or how well he does sit ups....or how well he can do sit ups and eating at the same time!
28. Something You Collect : Perfume minibottles
29. What kind of apartment are you living in right now: A house
30. Favorite Place: Cafe
31. What place would you like to go: The Moon
32. What do you do on your off day?: Read a book at a Cafe
33. Last thing you bought: folding umbrella
34. Latest you've seen : V for Vendetta
35. Recent Frustration : Acne
36. Way to solve stress: Walk alone
37. Most precious thing now: The other members
38. Respected Person(s): Yoshi
39. When was your first romance: Secret
40. Did it work out?: no
41. Favorite type of Female: Child like girl
42. Disliked type of Female: I woman without Dignity
43. Thing you wish for in a girl: to be secure when to the side
44. What is your Fechi?: Glasses
45. What is your favorite fashion for a girl : Conservative, lolita
46. What girl action makes you Throb: Facial expression of long talked about willfulness (just a guess really)
47. Have you ever confessed to someone you liked?: himitsu
48. Preferred Dating course.: Cafe, Go for a walk, Dinner
49. Color of Romance: Pastel (lit. light, faint pale colored)
50. Present you are glad to receive: Ring
51. Do you wish to get Married: When I want to
52. The name you wish to Give your Child : Still haven't decided
53. Ideal male image: Prince
54. Something that makes you happy you were born a guy: That I could become a prince
55. Which would you rather be born as, Male or Female: Woman
56. For what reason: That I could become a Princess
57. Where do your eyes go when you meet someone for the first time: Eyes, Though I've noticed that I look at hands some of the time
58. Childhood dream: Icecream Man
59. Older age enjoyment: Gambling
60. Something you think is wrong with the world: I can't say too much
61. What do you think your mental age is at: 18
62. How much money is in your wallet: secret
63. Are you good at waking up: betting keeps me. (Just another guess)
64. Do you believe in fate: Yes
65. Something you are worried about right now: Takehito's writing
66. Biggest prank you've ever pulled on any of the members: Sent Aoi a prank email
67. Best thing until now: turning over the chair to Grandma
68. Most Expensive thing you have ever bought: Bass
69. Even though it has been secret until now, the truth is....: The Truth is I hate Earl Grey
70. Recent First Experience: Oxygen Bar! (wooooooooo)
71. Your greatest enemy: good-for-nothing idler
72. If you hadn't become a musician: Law house (huh?)
73. how would you rate your current self: 72 points
74. What is on your mind at during a live: Maron's feelings
75. Stage Drink: Water
76. Something you must do before a live: Prepare my image, lower tension
77. Something you must do after a live: Fall asleep to not forget (just a guess)
78. What does Lives mean to you?: A time to touch everybody
79. What instrument do you use?: Atrie 2 Beta 6. white suits it well
80. Please make a public commitment. this year...! : Write (a) song(s)
81. I musician you have a good relationship with: Lolita's ryoo??-kun
82. Something you are not conveying here: Time for sleep
83. Favorite song(s) the band has produced: Akagi
84. A fundemental rule you live by: Manner
85. Something you think you are lacking: Various virtues
86. If you were any other member, who would it be and why?: Aoi. I want to see him fall down and roll over
87. If one of your wishes could come true, what would you wish for: Happiness
88. What do you want to eat right now: Doneru Kebab
89. Person you want to meet right now: Members
90. Song to suggest right now: Aoi's song
91. Favorite Artist: envy
92. Favorite entertainment person: none
93. Entertainment Person you are told that you are like: none
94. Something you plan on doing with shoxx in the future: Overseas Trip. Candy Classroom, Aquarium, Barbaque, Space Trip
95. What does music mean to you?: Something I cannot do without
96. What does Ayabie mean to you: to meet with everyone
97. Your ambition from here on: To go to Britain!
98. Word for yourself in 10 years: Still happy?
99. Message for each member
a: it's not not round (Inside joke or I'm wrong)
ri: more than ever, it is useless to eat
ta: as always I'm sorry
ke: PEPSI ☆
100. Message for fans: Always, as I've layed aside, thank you. Nice to meet you all!

Credits
http://ayabiefansite.wetpaint.com/page/Random+Facts

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☆ quiz

, 9:30 AM.

A) people who have been tagged must write their answers on their blogs & replace any question that they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves.

B) Tag 10 people to do this quiz & those who are tagged cannot refuse. these people must state who they were tagged by & cannot tag the person whom they were tagged by. continue this game by sending it to other people.

#1 If your lover betrayed you, what will your reaction be?
depends on what kind of betray.

#2 If you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?
that, that, and THAT.

#3 What will your dream wedding be like?
sometimes, i think not marrying is a better choice.

#4 Are you confused as to what lies ahead of you?
yes. definately.

#5 What's your ideal lover like?
appearance? slim, tall, and vk-type... character, a bit childish, but is serious too.

#6 Which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?
stupid question. seriously, i'm not very interested in lovey-dovey stuff.

#7 If the person you like does not accept you, would you continue to wait for him/her to change his/her feeling?
nah. i feel dumb. take it and leave it.

#8 If the person you secretly like is already attached, what would you do? Wait for him/her to break up?
hey, it's difficult to answer you know. right now, i says "NO".

#9 Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?
duh. results, and guitar tabs research -_-.

#10 What do you want most in life?
that that THAT.

#11 Is being tagged fun?
i had nothing to do either..

#12 How do you see yourself in the future as well as career?
something... like that. that's the first target for now though. i cant predict life.

#13 Who is currently the most important person to you?
my mum.

#14 What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?
hurt, but still smile. recovering from the hurt?

#15 Would you rather be single & rich or married but poor?
single and rich. i need money now... for lots of things. being married is not important at yet.

#16 What's the first thing you do every morning?
on my phone and saw miyavi's face *SCREAMS*

#17 Would you give all in a relationship?
depends on the guy i'm dating.

#18 If you fall in love with two people simultaneously, who would you pick?
follow the heart.

#19 What type of friends do you like?
someone who is understanding, NOT understands me like shit. a good listener, and has the same hobbies and likes as me.

#20 If you played a prank on someone, & he/she fell for the trick, what would you do?
boardcast, saw that person and *runs*. yeah, depends on what kind of prank it is.

(sorry, but i dont tag people~)

Labels:

☆ skin?

Thursday, May 22, 2008, 11:04 AM.

i'm having trouble about the new blogskin...

maybe,
i'll be taking miyavi's kabuki danshi.

☆ self revolution

Wednesday, May 21, 2008, 5:36 PM.

i was randomly checking out some sites when i come upon a quiz site~
so i went to try out some random quiz (^_^).

well, i tried out one which says "Which of Miyavi's songs are you".
and was startled by the result.

Jibun Kakumei
"Evening mirror, night mirror
Teach a difficult lesson"

- You are a song of self revolution. You are struggling within yourself to understand your purpose but you are confident that you will reach your goal.

i went to http://www.masakarasu.net, a Miyavi english fansite to check out the translation of the song.
there was an explaination about the song...

i'd see myself at the reflection of the mirror.

but i dont like my image,
what others say about me.
it's disappointment, desparation,
and,
i want to be better.

now,
take a deep breath and let go of those frustrations,
stop trying to be something that i'm not and will not be,
It might be hard,
but in the end i'll find that i knew all along who i was.

my likes and dislikes, what feels good and what doesn't,
my self image, my goals and dreams,
experiences, the things learned...
everything.

all of them are inside me, and no one else.

the other is outside, the inner in inside.
just exactly as the words are.

"I want to beat you, to be free as me".

mirror, please disappear already.
i am myself, and you are just you.

(well, this explanation is taken from http://www.masakarasu.net/lyrics/jk/jk-01-e.php and i had also done some edition so that it would be more "me".)

well, exactly...
i dont like what i am now.
of cos i wanna change.

but,
am i changing to something i want?
or,
is it alright for this change?

the me in the mirror, isnt me.

often i felt lost,
being tangled by those frustrations, disappointment and desperation.
i'm struggling in the side for the purpose of life,
but i'd always believe that
one day, i will get what i want,
be what i want,
and live the way i want.

the outside may not be me,
but inside it remains the same;

till ever.

.....

okay,
this is a little hard to digest...

but maybe, i'm just talking to myself,
pushing myself,
waking myself.

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☆ sun moon(>_<)

Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 11:22 PM.

today's moon,
was as bright as a sun☆!

laugh, i'm not joking (>_<).
but the picture that i snap wasnt clear...

it's bright yellow lighting was... bright.


(well, this picture is really... BAD. -_-)

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☆ bleeding

, 8:33 PM.

i was trying to change my ear stud just now...

then,,

i saw blood covering my index finger!!

gosh (T_T),
so i used a tissue to clean it...
and there was a lot of blood (>_<).

i wonder what caused the bleeding (o_o)??

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☆ sky

, 7:42 PM.























想通了许多。

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☆ 4th anniversary

Monday, May 19, 2008, 11:02 PM.


happy 4th anniversary! to alice nine.

well... i dont know what to say,

but,
continue to work hard! your fans are always behind you.



and...

what about what's in the future...

let's hope that...

it's something promising.

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☆ 《局外人》后感

Sunday, May 18, 2008, 9:19 PM.

总终于把《局外人》给读完了。
两本有300页的长篇爱情小说仅仅花了一个下午的时间。炎热的天气使得我汗流浃背，密密麻麻的字也使得我头昏脑胀。
尽管如此，我关心的只有故事接下来的进展。

今晚的这个时候，我终于读完了《局外人3》的最后以行字。
关上了书，心情这是复杂的。

出乎意料之外，原来主人公中死的韩雪。面对深爱的恋人因失去记忆而忘了自己，面对依然爱着自己的恋人的弟弟而是自己把他那想尽方法要害死两个儿子的亲母亲送进了监狱里，面对看着那面无血色，疲惫不堪的收养她的爷爷，面对没有亲人，面对没有办法再咬紧牙关，硬撑着脖子逞强到最后，那脆柔的自己——所以选择了结束自己的生命。
还未完成的词，由还在世的那男人完成……

他们三人所经历的痛苦，是我无法形容的。
可这三人的痛苦，却被世人疫情开的口吻轻描淡写地带过。
可爱淘的作品，总在悲伤中参杂了一点快乐，让幸福的开始有了悲剧的结尾。

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☆ NEW SINGLE

, 7:06 PM.

ALICE NINE. NEW SINGLE "RAINBOWS" IS OUT

OHMYGOD.

i wouldnt know if shou-kun didnt post on his diary (>_<).
i was only aware that alice nine. is working on a new single...
and i went to alice nine's official website to check it out,
they had posted the ablum details,
but the image is still printing.

goshhhhhhhhhhhhh,

i cant wait for the download ~~
and Rainbows seen to be like Fantasy or Eraser kind(laugh)~

looking forward!


but...

i really wan "alice in pictures" too (T.T)....

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☆ painiting!

Saturday, May 17, 2008, 7:43 PM.

i helped with painting of the house today☆.

with a cap on my head, i paint and moved upon listining to miyavi's music~

it was funny on how i moved and paint with miyavi's music at ear(laugh).


but it was fun☆

☆ happy proposal~

Friday, May 16, 2008, 6:25 PM.

morning~

was boring -.-.

the day started with drawing on jaslyn's table~
it was fun☆.

then mr mah went through history paper,
and it was free period for an hour.
chan qy, jiaxi and i had a talking seession☆~
女人八卦区*_* !!

we talked about several stuff,
from anime to horoscope to drama to talking bad bout some people...

it was fun☆~
and it continued for 2 hour(laugh).

after going through of science paper was d&t.
although i didnt get the person i wanted,
the current choice seens to be not so bad larh...
so... let's get on with it☆.

and back at home,

i finally manage to watch Proposal Daisakusen♪ ~
episode 7 to 11~

the story was tight...
and i cried hard at episode 11 when ken-kun was making the speech (T_T)...
and damn the director,
he even made them missed each other at the last episode again -_-.
good thing that rei-san finally understand ken-kun's feeling.
but the ending part was not really satisfying... i wished it was more detailed.
it would be GREAT.

but after all, it was a happy ending ＼(^o^)／♪~~
*clap clap*

and oh yeah,
i was surprised to see a tag from http://jrockvisual.com/ O.O.
i mean... how did they find me?

(laugh out loud).

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☆ tight proposal (>_<)

Thursday, May 15, 2008, 6:52 PM.

today was a terrible day (>_<).
a lot of things happened -_-.

i watched Proposal Daisakusen episode 4-6 ♪~
it's a really sugoi show (#>_<#).
everytime i watched it, my heart was beating really fast.
i felt like slapping ken-kun -_-. why do ken-kun and rei-san have to miss each other for so many times???!!

it's heartbreaking to see yamashita tomohisa-kun's(ken-kun) near-to-tears face (T_T).


gosh, it's gonna be great~

you guys should watch it ヾ(≧Д≦)ノ ~

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☆ -ayabie- 彩冷える, アヤビエ

, 12:25 AM.

-Ayabie-




Introduction
Ayabie (彩冷える, アヤビエ, Ayabie), is a Japanese visual kei independent band currently signed under the label Speed Disk. Their music consists of a wide variety of sounds and moods, ranging from catchy and upbeat to heavy and hard-edged punk songs. Many of the band's costumes were designed by ID Japan, but their current costumes were designed by H. Naoto.


Biography
Ayabie was formed in the early spring of 2004 by ex-Hinawana members Ryōhei, Takehito, and Intetsu with Aoi (ex-MASK, ex-Cynical Biscuit). On May 8th, 2004, Ayabie held their first solo concert at the Takadanobaba AREA. Their first single, Heien No Ato, Ame, was distributed at this live. Following this release was their next single, Romancer, which was limited to 1000 copies.

Ayabie's debut album was released on March 21, 2005, entitled Ayabie Sokukan Ongenshū. It includes a bonus DVD which contains their previously recorded PVs. The group, which started with only support drummers, finally had a permanent drummer when Kenzo joined later that year.

In June of 2006, Ayabie toured Europe for the first time. In August, Ryōhei left the band permanently, due to his disagreement of the band's future. After his departure, he started his own new band, "Megamasso". Yumehito became the newest member of Ayabie 3 months later. The band adjusted to the change by splitting song writing duties among the band members, with Yumehito writing many of the band's lyrics.

In 2007, Ayabie returned to Europe again and released the mini-album Ecumenical along with many singles.


Members
(Current Members)


Name: Aoi (葵)
Part: Vocalist, also, he designs most of the band's dances
Date of birth: 1st April
Blood Type: A
Birth Date: April 1
Height: 167cm
Weight: 52kg
Dislikes: Liars and hot weather on a night that doesn't go below 25 degrees Celsius,celery
Favorite Place: Toilet (a clean Western style room),red room
Favorite Brands: Number Nine, Under Cover, PPFM, Royal Order, Vivian Westwood, Justin Davies
Favorite Music: Kou Shibasaki, Earth, Britney (only when I look at her I don't understand the music)
One Word: ...(Big smile)
Previous band: MASK and Cynical Biscuit.
Diary(jp): http://www.21styles.jp/diary/ayabie_a/











Name: Takehito (タケヒト)
Part: Guitar
Date of birth: 24th August
Blood Type: A
Constellation: Virgo
Height: 172cm
Weight: 59kg
Tobacco: Marumen (cigarette brand - Marlboro Menthol)
Disliked Food: Carrot
Favorite Place: The car
Favorite Brands: Gibson
Favorite Music: X
One Word: Beer is the best!
Previous band: Hinawana
Diary(jp): http://www.21styles.jp/diary/ayabie_t/
















Name: Intetsu (インテツ)
Part: Bass
Date of birth: 1st February
Constellation: Aquarius
Height: 178cm
Weight: 50kg
Disliked Food: Food, pasta, almond pudding, cocoa, milk tea (always warm)
Dislikes: I almost cannot stand scary things.
Favorite Place: the bath
Favorite Brands: Tiffany, BPN
Favorite Music: Slayer, Cannibal Corpse, Mayhem
One Word: Maron is fine (Maron is his pet bunny)
Previous band: Hinawana
Diary(jp): http://www.21styles.jp/diary/ayabie_i/
















Name: Kenzo (ケンゾ)
Part: Leader, Drums
Date of birth: 9th December 1982, Tokyo
Blood Type: A
Constellation: Sagittarius
Height: Shorter than 2 meters
Weight: Less than a ton
Favorites: Sun glasses, Movies, Cream Soda, Lucky Strike
Dislikes: insect, ghost,instruction
Favorite Place: Bed
Favorite Brands: Roen, D&G
Favorite Music: KISS,Dreamtheater,LINKIN PARK,Helloween,NIN,Illnino,etc
One Word: No Fate
Previous band: ?
Diary(jp): http://www.21styles.jp/diary/ayabie_k/












Name: Yumehito (夢人)
Part: newest member, Guitar
Date of birth: 22nd September, 1985
Blood Type: AB -
Constellation: Virgo
Place of Birth: Yokkaichi, Mie prefecture
Height: 170 cm
Weight: 45kg
Family: Parents, younger sister, cat
Tobacco: Does not smoke
Favorite Food: Curry, pizza, ramen
Disliked Food: Seafood
Favorite Brands: TOYOTA, Jusco, Vivian Westwood, Royal flash
Favorite Music: Jpop
Hobby: Special effects
Collection: Figurines
One Word: Nice to meet you
Previous band: Soroban
Diary(jp): http://www.21styles.jp/diary/ayabie_y/







(Former Members)


Name: Ryōhei (涼平)
Part: Ex-leader, Guitar. he wrote most of the songs while he was in the band
Date of birth: 27th March,1983
Bloodtype: B
Hobby: Piano
Information: Now produces the band Watashime Slug (ワタシメスラッグ).
Previous Bands:
Hinawana (雛罠; 2002-2003, Ryouhei spelt 猟兵)
Ecchi (エッチ)
Ayabie (アヤビエ/彩冷える; 2004-2006)
Current band: Megamasso
Diary(jp): http://yaplog.jp/peko-mm/












Manabu (drums) EX. VISAGE
TOWA (drums) EX. FATIMA
Tomoya (drums) EX. 839 (hasaku)


Discography
Albums
- Ayabie Sokukan Ongenshū (アヤビエ 即完音源集) (March 21st, 2005)
- Virgin Snow Color (バージン スノー カラー) (November 15th, 2006)
- Euro Best (August 9, 2006)

EPs
- Tetsu no Shima (鉄の島) (January 1st, 2005)
- Equal Prayer 2 All（限定盤) (October 26th, 2005)
- Ecumenical (エキュメニカル) (March 7th, 2007)
- Rikkaboshi (November 28th, 2007)

Singles
- Heien No Ato, Ame (閉園の後、雨) (May 8th, 2004)
- Romancer/Metamorph Last Page (ロマンサー／変態最終頁) (May 8th, 2004)
- Metamorph Last Page/Romancer/Kagen Sakura (変態最終頁／ロマンサー／下弦櫻) (July 17th, 2004)
- Ayabie no Orugōru Ongen Vol.1 (アヤビエのオルゴール音源vol.1) (July 30th, 2004)
- Chōsui Sō Yori, San Rin (貯水槽より、三人) (September 15th, 2004)
- Gothic Party (ゴシックパーティー) (October 15th, 2004)
- Lovers Name (ラバーズネーム) (December 29th, 2004)
- M (エム) (February 10th, 2005)
- Melting Cinnamon (メルトインシナモン) (March 1st, 2005)
- Kuroi Tsukasasa Guito Shinegai -Second Press- (クロイツカササグイトシネガイ -セカンドプレス-) (April 25th, 2005)
- Taikanshiki Zenya (戴冠式前夜) (June 15th, 2005)
- Tsuki Koi (月請い) (July 13th, 2005)
- Kiss Me Snow (キスミイスノウ) (August 10th, 2005)
- Lempicka (December 7th, 2005)
- Mafuyu, Yonrenyasō (真冬、四連夜奏) (January 18th, 2006)
- Japanese Low-Res Caramel Town (ジャパニーズ ロウレゾ キャラメルタウン) (February 15th, 2006)
- Chō (蝶) (March 31st, 2006)
- Faint/Topaz (Faint／トパーズ) (June 28th, 2006)
- N.M. Gentei Ongen Shū (エヌエムゲンテイオンゲンシュウ) (August, 2006)
- Kimi no Koe to Yakusoku (君の声と約束) Type A and B (November 1st, 2006)
- Garasuzaiku no Ohanashi (硝子細工のお話) (January 7th, 2007)
- Browny (ブラウニー) (March 14, 2007)
- -Ecumenicalimage- (April 8th, 2007)
- Sakura Mau Kisetsu ni (桜舞う季節に) Type A and B (April 25th, 2007)
- Cubic "L/R" ock (June 27, 2007)
- Extreme Machine (エクストリーム・マシーン) (September 14th, 2007)
- Yubisaki (September 26, 2007)
- Day Dream (October 6th, 2007)
- MELT AWAY (March 19th, 2008)

DVDs
- Daikei/Misery in the Dusk (台形／ミザリィインザダスク) (December 21st, 2004)
- 1 Dan Tobi -2005.4.1 Shibuya O-East- (1段飛び ～2005.4.1 SHIBUYA O-EAST～) (August 20th, 2005)
- Tokyo-Prayer (February 1st, 2006)
- Tokyo-Rock Show (May 24th, 2006)
- Ayabie Sokukan Eizoushū (アヤビエ即完映像集) (July 19th, 2006)
- Film Spiral (フィルムスパイラル) (February 13th, 2008)

PVs


Daikei



first ayabie pv that i watched. well i really like this, compared to ayabie usual oshare(like) vk style. somehow, aoi looked like reita from gazette... but i like his style in this pv(smiles). it's very visual, and i think ayabie shld go this kind of rock-goth vk sometimes (>_<). and, i love aoi's left eye(>_<)!!! i wonder how would reita look like if he had that same make up (O_O)~

Yubisaki



.... mirror ball?(links up to alice nine's mirror ball...) sorry fans!!!! *CRIES* arggg dont bash me up!!! *CRIEESSS*

Cubic[L/R]ock



ahhhh! sg alert (>_<)! kenzo and ryohei~ kenzo~kenzo~KENZO~~ aoi on drums, and there goes the drum sticks... it's good to stick to vocal(laugh).

Gothic Party


gosh, i love the bass and guitar playing! and i think ayabie shld go this style(smiles). well, it's just my comment though.

Kimi no koe to yakusoku



GOSH, this is my favourite song+pv of ayabie. the whole feather and background and overall dressing style matches... PERFECTLY. it's beautiful. aoi had a special, and soft voice in this song. it's gentle and comfortable.

Making of Kimi no Koe to Yakusoku



mischievous side of ayabie... and KENZOOOOOO~~

Japanese Low-res Carmel Town



wow, aoi's hat(laughs)! aoi got a special voice.

Virgin Snow Color Tour Brand x Privilege DVD



intetsu going hyper (>_<)~ Kenzo looks bored and he started playing with Yumehito's hair at 5:54(laughs).

Links
Official website(jp)
http://www.ayabie-web.com/

Ayabie at CLJ Records
http://cljrecords.com/cms/content/view/23/45/

english fan web
http://www.freewebs.com/secret_track441/ayabie.htm
http://aliav.webs.com

diary translations
http://ayabie-log.livejournal.com/


Comments
i like ayabie's overall image, and they're also very flexible with goth-visual style or oshare-kei, although i prefer their goth. i had problems downloading ayabie's songs cos i dont have the programme for limewire -.-, so i'm still very unfamiliar with ayabie... when i randomly clicked on a song to listen(actually i didnt know that it will play... so it blust out loudly), i was a little startled with Aoi's voice, which is different from what i expected, and i like their songs. but to say the truth, they'd remind me of An Cafe... sorry to ayabie's fan, 'cause An Cafe is the first ever Oshare-kei band that i came in contact with *m(_ _)m respectfully to ayabie*.

i love ayabie's vk image, but from most of the pictures that i saw was oshare-like... damn it -_-. they looked really good when they dressed up in gothic lolita~

Credits
informations taken from http://www.wikipedia.org/
ayabie profile and image from http://wiki.theppn.org/ayabie
group image from www.photobucket.com

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☆ Visual Kei

Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 1:09 PM.

-Visual Kei-

hello viewers.
below is an article that i found from http://jrockvisual.com/about/

basically, this is a post/an article for viewers to have not only the basic understanding of visual kei, but also the start, styles and revolution of VK. i posted this article since there are several friends asking me what is visual kei, and they're not willing to figure them out themselves too -.-. although the below article is heavy, i had paragraphed it myself for you viewers to digest them much easier.

please dont feel sick when you scroll down and find out that huge pile of text. this article provides a very useful and detailed information on visual kei. just read with a keen and calm heart(smiles)

lastly, i hope that everyone would respect Visual Kei.
get on with the article and enjoy.

Introduction


There are many differences between American music and Japanese music, Visual Kei (or Visual style), is but one of the many sub-cultures in the Japanese music scene and is just as rich in history as the rest of Japanese culture.

What started as a movement by one band has since evolved into the main stream stage act it is today, and has branched off into many sub cultures and sub-sects of Kei, including the Gothic Lolita look. The performers get much more attention from their fans then do American acts, and as such there is a greater sense of unease among the fans when a band evolves or disbands, and the uproar when a favorite artist dies can reach over the ocean and effect even the public not interested in the music.

Language is certainly no deterrent, and die-hard non-Japanese fans study the lyrics like one might study for a test, learning all the lyrics and pronunciations with a speed any native Japanese speaker would be proud of. The increase of attention to the Japanese music scene has made it even easier for the average non-Japanese speaker to learn the lyrics, as online sites are more frequently finding or translating them.

Though some lyrics are straight forward and easy to translate, the poetry that most lyrics use is not lost in these translations, though sometimes the footnotes required to make them make sense are longer then the lyrics themselves.

Genre-hopping and side projects are not uncommon in Japanese music, and often times pop-like songs can be heard along side harder metal tunes on the same album, and artists that might play pop tunes with their bands, could scream and growl on their solo albums. Visual Kei is very different from mainstream American music, though it has many similarities as well.

History of Visual Music

Origins in the Late 80’s X-Japan.
In 1980 two childhood friends, Yoshiki and Toshi, started a band called Noise. Soon they changed their name to X and began playing in clubs with support musicians, gathering a small fan base. In 1987 they added three new band members: Pata, Hide, and Taiji.

With a more permanent roster, the band began trying to make their presence know throughout Japan, but the band couldn’t find a label willing to sign a band with their sound. Such sound and such androgynous looks weren’t acceptable in Japan’s society in 1987, and the band found it tough to get record executives to even look at them twice.

Knowing that her son would be successful, Yoshiki’s mother sold the family’s business and gave him the money to start his own label, Extasy Records, and soon they had released their first album, Vanishing Vision. This album was a hit with Japan’s very small metal scene, but didn’t go bigger as “violent” music wasn’t the main stream at the time.

Eventually they had achieved such a cult following that they couldn’t be ignored, and Sony Records Japan gave them record deal. Their next albums were instant hits, and soon the band was playing to sold out crowds in every part of the country.

X became a household name, and their outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles could be seen in countless interviews and TV ads. In 1992 Taiji left the band and was replaced with Heath, who would remain with X till it’s disbandment, during this same time, X changed record labels, hoping to gain fans overseas.

Finding an American band by the name of X, they changed their name to X-Japan to avoid confusion and copy-right infringement. In 1994 the band released its first single under the new name, Art of Life, famous for being one of the longest songs in Japanese music history, at 29 minutes.

In 1996, X-Japan released it’s final album, Dahlia, though most of this album had been available as singles, it still sold well.

In 1997 Toshi, co-creator and vocalist announced that he was leaving the band, and even today the reason is still speculated. Everything from creative differences, to cult brainwashing has been cited as a possible reason for his departure, though Toshi has never confirmed any rumor. Soon afterwards X-Japan announced its disbandment, performing its last live on December 31, 1997 at Japan’s Tokyo Dome.

The Bands that Followed
In the nearly 10 years of X-Japan’s reign as one of the top bands in Japanese music, scores of other bands appeared. Following the trends set by their idols, these bands dressed in drag costumes and wore over-the-top hair and makeup styles.

The music itself was a mix of heavy metal, melodic metal, and pop metal with the most emphasis on the outward visuals. When X-Japan cut their trademark hair and began going for a more masculine visual look in the 1990’s many fans openly wept, and many bands followed that trend as well.

What had started as a movement by one band, had expanded and encompassed an entire generation of musicians, and what had started as bright colored hair and makeup had split into several different visual styles, including brighter more fashion conscious styles and almost frighteningly dark and usually blood drenched theatrical styles.

Evolution of the 1990’s and 2000’s
The visual style of music evolved greatly in the 90’s, from big hair and garish makeup to almost stylish hair, though still strangely colored; and more tame, though still feminine makeup. Many bands were created in this decade, and many more still broke apart.

It was during this decade that Japan’s music scene first became noticed in America, and many Japanese artists began laying plans to come overseas and gain even more popularity. Though much of the Japanese music scene has only achieved a cult following in America, a few bands are beginning to find more mains stream success.

Visual Kei Today
Today’s Visual scene in Japan is much different then it was back in the early 80’s when X first exploded onto it. The differences between many of the styles of visual music have become even more pronounced, with Oshare Kei and the Gothic Lolita subcultures being in the forefront of the movement.

Visual bands today dress in suits and ties, blurring the line between Oshare and Visual Kei, with many bands keeping the overly androgynous look to a bare minimum. Though there are bands, such as Phantasmagoria, that continue the traditions of their visual forefathers and clothe themselves in leather and androgyny, these bands are rare, and most are mixed, somewhat, with the darker Eroguro (Erotic-Grotesque) genre.

A band’s visuals change with each single they release, going from tame, almost masculine styles, to almost traditional kimono depending on the mood of the band, it’s stylist, and it’s kei genre.

Types of Kei (Style)

Visual Kei Androgyny
Early Visual Kei was characterized by intensely feminine fashions, including big brightly colored hair, and extreme makeup styles. Men wearing women’s dresses and skirts were not an uncommon practice, and usually nail polish and jewelry were added to complete the look. The trend of almost homosexual stage interaction, called fan service became a trend as well, and this became an almost expected and anticipated practice among the many visual bands, and many still fan service today.

Visual Kei’s Evolution
Visual Kei artists of today wear suits and ties, or other stylish men’s fashion. Makeup is still worn, though more to accentuate already present features then to create new ones, and nails are still painted. Today’s visual band is still seen as somewhat feminine, even with the addition of more masculine clothing.

Oshare Kei
Oshare is a sub-set of Visual that began appearing in 2001. Oshare means “fashionable”, and that’s exactly what those who are considered among this set are. Oshare is bright and colorful, and uses more “street fashion” then typical Visual Kei, and its music is usually pop-punk with themes of love and other happy things. The line between Visual and Oshare is constantly being blurred, as more and more Visual bands loose the outrageous feminine clothing in favor of more masculine attire.

Gothic Lolita Subculture
Gothic Lolita (or GothLolly, pronounced Gosurori in Japan) is a culture marked by Victorian era children’s dresses either in soft, pastel colors or dark gothic colors. People of all ages and both sexes seem to be drawn to this subculture, made popular by Japanese guitar idol, Mana, who later founded his own clothing line that caters specifically to the culture.
The magazine The Gothic & Lolita Bible has become a very popular resource both in and outside of Japan to keep the public up to date on the current fashions of the trend. Containing interviews with Gothic Lolita icons, pictures of the fashion worn by models, and store ads, The Gothic & Lolita Bible has become a staple of the sub culture.

Treatment of the Artists

Performers Treated as Idols. Showered with Gifts
It isn’t uncommon at concerts in Japan (and Japanese concerts outside Japan) to find gift boxes placed for the artists prominently inside the venue’s door. These boxes are for items that the fans bring, usually for their favorite performers. Items such as jewelry, clothing, and an artist’s favorite collectables are common gifts, but sometimes stranger more expensive items are purchased.

Several artists have confessed to never having to buy clothing or underwear, that their fans keep them well supplied with such things. Many Japanese performers are very forward about their likes and dislikes, and it isn’t uncommon to find such things as ring size, shoe size, and waist size listed in their profiles right beside their height, weight, and birthday.

Fans annoyance when bands evolve
Perhaps due to the amount of time, energy and money that the average Japanese (and non Japanese) fan puts into their favorite band, there is a certain amount of anger and discord when a band evolves, or changes. Such simple thing as a change in haircut or hair color can cause an uproar among fans, and this uproar can reach a deafening cacophony when a band has member changes or music style changes.
Most fans treat their favorite bands almost as an obsession, and it isn't unusual for fans to have their favorite member’s profiles memorized. When a change in a band occurs, the fans will treat it as a major change in their family, and there can be many tearful moments involved when this happens.

Appearance as drawing point
For many Visual Kei fans it’s a band’s appearance that draws them in. Once past that, most fans are able to find a happy medium between a band’s appearance and their sound. For some fans, it never gets that far, and they remained fixated on appearance.

For many Visual bands, especially those who straddle the line between Visual and Oshare, this can spell disaster when they drastically change looks, and many bands have lost much of their fan base with such changes. The popular Japanese band Dir en Grey is one such.

Dir en Grey or Diru to their fan base, started as a Visual band in the late 90’s and gained popularity throughout Japan. In the last five years their popularity has exploded world wide, and they participated in their first American tour in the summer of 2006. Just after that tour, they announced that they were no longer a visual band, and their musical style changed dramatically, becoming more Western in sound.

The fans revolted, many of them lamenting the end of an era. Diru lost many fans to that change, and though they gained many more with their subsequent headlining tour, many of their old fans miss the old days of heavy makeup and lighter, more melodic music.

What happens when good artists die?
Hide Matsumoto.

Starting his career as the guitarist of X, hide (his name is never capitalized, and pronounced hee-day) was a brilliant musician. His career with X was only the beginning; as he went on to have quite a successful solo career, even performing with the American band Zilch as vocalist and guitarist. On May 2, 1998 hide was found dead in his apartment, of apparent suicide. His friends, former band mates, and family were shocked. Over 50,000 fans mobbed the streets of Japan the day of his funeral, there were countless injuries and several attempted suicides in the days following his death.

The surviving members of X urged his fans not to follow him, to send him off warmly. During his wake and funeral fans could be heard in the streets screaming like banshees, and the crushing mobs were too much for many of the young fans, who had to be carried away to get medical treatment.

His death caused his music to sky rocket on the charts, and suddenly his songs could be heard even in America. His fan base here mourned just as his fans in Japan did, though for many the news didn’t arrive until days after his death.
Hide has gained many fans post-mortem, and many of those who are just finding his music are surprised to learn that it was created almost 10 years ago. The things he wrote about were timeless, as were his melodies, and seem to fans as if they were written just yesterday.

The effect of hide’s death on the music scene
Many artists were inspired by hide’s death, and several bands dissolved and formed in the wake of his tragedy. The ripples of his death were felt all over Japan, and the members of X-Japan were probably the most effected. Yoshiki, creator of X-Japan and one of hide’s closest friends openly mourned his friend’s death, and even today he is known to write on his web-site of his emotions concerning hide.

Much of Yoshiki’s current work is inspired by hide’s death, and a reuniting of members of X-Japan, namely Yoshiki and vocalist Toshi, is being discussed, much to the fans rejoicing. Several new bands popped up in the months following his death, many listing hide among their inspiration, some band members even naming themselves after him.

Musical Languages

Japanese
The Japanese language is differs vastly from the English language, especially sentence structure. The English sentence structure commonly uses Subject/Verb/Object, while the Japanese structure is more flexible. The only particular about Japanese sentence order is that the verb be at the end of the sentence.

The Japanese language is more flexible with descriptions, as one Kanji (the letters of the Japanese alphabet), has both a sound, or many sounds, and a meaning of its own. Lyricists commonly use this duplicity to their advantage when writing and many lyricists will write a word with kanji meaning one thing, and sing another pronunciation of the same kanji meaning something completely different.

Use of other Languages for Emphasis in Lyrics
The Visual Artists of Japan commonly use other languages such as English, German, and Russian in their lyrics to add emphasis to their songs, though not always well. It is common for the English in Japanese songs to be grammatically wrong, as Japan doesn’t have the same method of making words plural or the same sentence structure.

Lyrics such as: “I will walk together, the future not promised It keeps walking together, to future in which you are” are the usual mistakes made, though hardly noticeable when sang due to the Japanese accent on certain letters. The use of guttural languages such as German are commonly used to emphasize anger or annoyance, and the French language is used quite often for song titles.

English speakers understanding of the lyrics inspires fans to learn the language
Many fans use the Japanese music they listen to as an impetus to learn the language and increase their understanding of the lyrics. More and more Japanese music and anime fans are using the language in their everyday speech. Words such as “Kawaii” and “Sugoi”, cute and awesome respectively, are finding their way into the English language as more and more fans discover the media exports of Japan.

This trend works both ways, as several of our words are used by the Japanese, some with such frequency that they are abbreviated for ease of speech.

Fans learn to sing along in Japanese
For many fans the fact that their favorite music is in Japanese isn’t a deterrent. They just learn to sing along in Japanese, learning every nuance of the language through the music with a speed and accuracy to be proud of. Kaoru, guitarist of the popular Dir en grey said in one interview, “It’s very amusing that fans in America will sing along with our songs, even though the lyrics are in Japanese, Japanese is a very difficult language.”

Sound of the music

Differences in the writing style - The lyrics are more poetic
The Japanese language allows for greater poetics with fewer words, and nearly untranslatable puns. Emphasis isn’t on the rhyming scheme of the song verse but on the meaning behind the words themselves. Many Japanese music verses don’t even stick to the conventional verse/chorus/verse layout of most American songs.

While Japanese songs almost always have a definable chorus, it isn’t uncommon to find them at the end of a song, or as part of each verse. The song titles aren’t conventional either; titles aren’t commonly pulled from a line in the song, but encompass the feeling or meaning of the entire song as a whole.

Concept Bands
Some bands choose to create music based on a concept to which all their music will relate. Once such band is 12012, a band formed in 2003. Their concept is “The Madness inside a human”. All of their albums and singles are written as chapters in a book which is based off an insane young man. The music follows him through his early childhood, through his insanity, and then out again, as he beings to regain himself. The story takes a twist as the band introduces a new character, Six, into the plot. The plot will continue soon, with their newest release, eagerly awaited by fans.

Individual bands not bound by genre
It isn’t uncommon for music from one band to range through all the genres, from pop to punk, rock to pseudo-rap. The Visual style is a magnet for all types of bands, and though it’s only recently achieved mainstream overseas success, with bands such as Dir en grey and the Gazette, it’s sound continues to grow and expand.
It isn’t uncommon to hear screams and growls on one track ascend into beautiful, almost operatic lyrics on the next.

Driving guitars accompanied by electronic piano tracks are another mainstay of the visual style, and it isn’t uncommon for driving drum rhythms to accompany acoustic guitar riffs. Not being bound to any specific genre allows bands to experiment and find a sound all their own.

Solo projects more common
Another thing common to Japan are solo projects. Many artists at some point in their career want to experiment in ways that their band does not. When this happens it’s common in Japan for the artist to create his own sound, with his own look. This may take the form of a few songs on a single, or many songs on a full length album. The solo career might last one release, or several, depending on the success of the solo music, and the drive of the artist. Sometimes these solo careers do lead to the artist leaving his band mates and continuing on his own, but more often then not, the solo career acts as a separate creative outlet that the solo artist has more control over.

Conclusion

Visual Kei’s Continued Rise in Popularity Dir en Grey
The most popular Japanese act in America is the Visual-turned-Heavy Metal band Dir en Grey. With a spot on 2006’s Family Values Tour, and a headlining spot on their own tour in early 2007, they continue to gain popularity. Since leaving their Visual roots behind them, they have lost many Japanese fans, but gained American (and other international) fans that know very little of their visual past, and the band seems to like it that way.

Dir en grey is currently touring Europe, before coming back to America to open for the Def Tones this summer. They have begun paving a road that will make it possible for other acts to achieve mainstream popularity in the states.

The J-Rock Revolution
The brain child of Yoshiki, former X-Japan drummer, J-Rock Revolution is a two night showcase of Japanese Visual Kei. With some of the most popular acts in Japan heading the bill, this two night festival promises to be a major stepping stone in getting other act overseas for the American fans to see. Although the two night show is being held in Los Angeles only, the fans hope to see it elsewhere either this summer, or perhaps next year.

Growth and expansion of Visual Kei
As Visual Kei becomes more popular outside of Japan there is sure to be more and more influence from American music evident in the music styles of Japan. Such growth is to be expected, and has already been shown in such acts as Dir en grey, who’s style has evolved to sound close to American heavy metal, but with their own unique twist. Other bands are sure to begin traveling the road paved by acts such as X-Japan and Diru, as everyday seems to see them closer and closer to playing to major audiences in America.

Credits
http://jrockvisual.com/about/

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