With the JLPT over, I no longer have any excuses to slack. Except I have to pay homage to the most fantastic time-waster of all: KARAOKE! If there's one thing I have to thank in all my slacking while studying for the JLPT, it would definitely have to be karaoke for teaching me how to read many rare and scarcely used kanji that came out in the JLPT.=P You have no idea how much I was thanking Gackt for using the weirdest kanji in his lyrics. Haha...
Let's not talk about the other sections however. -_-"
This semester will be ending in about a week thereabouts... The semester just flew by but I guess that's also something to be grateful for ^_^ Although I took 18 credits this semester, it didn't feel like it at all... Possibly because I didn't do that much for the research credits... But next semester although the idea of slacking off and enjoying my last semester sounds awesome, I feel like my restless self won't really allow that to happen all semester long. After all, life is short, time is available, don't waste it right?
What I still need to do for this week and next week: Japanese Presentation (tomorrow ><) Academic Japanese Take Home Exam Complit Research Paper (which is super ultra long omg (T_T) kill me) Chinese Poetry Paper Psychology Negotiation Final Paper (also long weeps) Media Japanese Exam
And then I'll be done! With just the fabulous winter break stretching out ahead of me! And I can bake! Shop! Cook! Eat! Etc! I love breaks.xD
Just received my new Utada Hikaru CD today!~ The kuma charm/くまお守り was a bit of a let down... -_-" I bet it cost like 10cents to make or something. But the CD has all my favorite new Utada Hikaru songs so I'm pleased ^_^
PS: All we've been eating is azuki rice, seaweed soup, seasoned Korean seaweed, and pickles I bought from Mitsuwa in Chicago. It's a bit of a healthy kick I suppose, but it also tells of the sad state that is the contents of the refrigerator...
Turning Japanese: International pop wars Thanks to the tension between the two countries, Japanese and Korean pop has developed in isolation. But all that is changing
J-poppers! Turning Japanese is sorry for having treated you for so long as little more than young, dumb starlets who squeal soppy, high-pitched sentiments over painfully crass Casio demo track ditties, designed solely to suck money from the pockets of teens too young to know any better. Little did we know that you pretty, pretty folks (and you really are all so very, very pretty) are at the frontline of a flourishing cultural exchange with your Korean K-pop counterparts.
Not that it's always been this way. Korean-Japanese relations have remained frayed since the second world war, as Japan has never officially apologised for its colonisation of the Korean peninsula between 1909 and 1945. As a form of cultural revitalisation after its liberation, Korea banned all cultural imports from Japan, and for decades the two countries' pop markets developed largely in isolation from one another, which created the roaring black market pop trade of illegal CD-Rs. (This is not, however, the only instance of people committing crimes for J-pop).
But in October 2004 the Korean government lifted the ban on Japanese cultural imports, and in the five years since, pop exchanges have flourished. When Japanese pop group Arashi turn up in Seoul for a press conference these days, 2,000 screaming fans are waiting for them at the airport. They can easily sell out week-long stints in arena-sized venues in Seoul, despite not speaking a word of Korean.
Even though Japanese labels don't tend to promote their bands as strongly in Korea, artists such as Gackt, Hyde, Namie Amuro, Hikaru Utada and Ayumi Hamasaki have developed considerable Korean followings simply from internet buzz. And the favour has been returned; Korean pop princess BoA took the Japanese pop charts by storm and is always popping up in Tokyo – her most recent appearance being at the MTV awards. The singer has enjoyed a success in Japan she failed to emulate when she had a pop at America. Meanwhile, Korean boyband shapeshifters TVXQ are effectively two bands … going by the moniker TVXQ in Korea and Tohoshinki in Japan, for whom they record special versions of their songs in Japanese.
Of course, back and forth through all of this, it's important to remember that by and large the music in question is absolutely dreadful. But if it's improving cultural relations and making the world a more peaceful, understanding place … who am I to begrudge that?
Well well! I won't comment on the dreadful music part - I think that Asian singers can compete with everyone else but noooo they don't speak English.-_-" [Then again, we are talking about DBSK... Hmm..xP] But anyway, Omg! The UK knows about Gackt! And Hyde! And Utada Hikaru! Their music scene will be saved. I am sure of it!
Then again, most english-singing bands I like are from the UK, like Oasis and Coldplay.
What does that say about everyone else in the world? [Their internet buzz obviously needs more work...]
Now for word about the rest of Asia.^_^ With Japan leading the pack of course.=P
cheers *[-witchstone-]*
[music : CAN YOU CELEBRATE 安室奈美恵 + 真夏の果実 サザンオールスターズ] [mood : it is cold.-_-"] [food : bulgogi!]
The past few days [and the next 2 weeks!] have been [and will be] horrible.=( Study study study, read read read, research research research. xP ARGH. And next week after I THINK everything is over, I'll have to pack and move out!!! Sobs. So much for a restful end to the semester. At least things will be over soon and the summer break will begin!!!
Anyway, all I have left to do is prepare for 2 exams, 1 project presentation, 1 quiz [essentially an exam but my professor obviously has issues with the word..], 3 papers [please. kill. me.], packing, and using up all the ingredients in the house! That last bit sounds like the most fun.^_^ It's not like I don't do that on a regular basis anyway. Haha..
Music!~
YOSHIKI Feat. Nicole Scherzinger - I'll Be Your Love
I'll be your love I'll never make you feel, feel alone If yesterday blindfolds your eyes I'll bring you tomorrow
There's a time You feel like you're lost Feel the night will never end Through the daybreak It's hard to hold on But there is tomorrow Brings you to your senses As the sun will make it's way
You'll make it there To the place where reality and dreams And love will be together I'll keep the light from fading If the clouds blind your way And the wind sways your faith
I'll be your love, I'll be your light I'll never make you feel, feel alone If yesterday blindfolds your eyes I'll bring you tomorrow Let me see you smile
Don't you cry Over the past Some days might be gray And dreary Not easy to leave To leave it behind 'Til the rain stops in silence I'll be there to hold your heart
I'll be with you 'Til you find the reason for love We take it for granted We'll keep the time from fading ''cause the world is here to stay Your hope is deeper than pain
I'll be your love, I'll be your light I'll never make you feel, feel alone If yesterday blindfolds your eyes I'll bring you tomorrow
If you would believe Believe in the world A vision of love And the strength inside your heart You'll find a way
I'll be your love, I'll be your light I'll never make you feel, feel alone If yesterday blindfolds your eyes I'll bring you tomorrow I'll be your love, I'll be your light I'll never make you feel, feel alone
宇多田ヒカル - Flavor of Life
ありがとう、と君に言われると なんだかせつない さようならの後も解けぬ魔法 淡くほろ苦い The flavor of life… The flavor of life…
友達でも恋人でもない中間地点で 収穫の日を夢見てる 青いフルーツ
あと一歩が踏み出せないせいで じれったいのなんのってBaby
ありがとう、と君に言われると なんだかせつない さようならの後も解けぬ魔法 淡くほろ苦い The flavor of life… The flavor of life…
甘いだけの誘い文句 味っけの無いトーク そんなものには興味をそそられない
思い通りにいかない時だって 人生捨てたもんじゃないって
どうしたの？と急に聞かれると ううん、何でもない さようならの後に消える笑顔 私らしくない
信じたいと願えば願うほど なんだかせつない ｢愛してるよ｣よりも｢大好き｣の方が 君らしいんじゃない? The flavor of life
忘れかけていた人の香りを 突然思い出す頃 降りつもる雪の白さをもっと 素直に喜びたいよ
ダイヤモンドよりもやわらかくて あたたかな未来 手にしたいよ 限りある時間を 君と過ごしたい
ありがとう、と君に言われると なんだかせつない さようならの後も解けぬ魔法 淡くほろ苦い The flavor of life… The flavor of life…
許美靜 - 城裡的月光
每颗心上某一个地方 总有个记忆挥不散 每个深夜某一个地方 总有着最深的思量
世间万千的变幻 爱把有情的人分两端 心若知道灵犀的方向 那怕不能够朝夕相伴
城里的月光把梦照亮 请温暖他心房 看透了人间聚散 能不能多点快乐片段
城里的月光把梦照亮 请守护它身旁 若有一天能重逢 让幸福撒满整个夜晚
每颗心上某一个地方 总有个记忆挥不散 每个深夜某一个地方 总有着最深的思量
世间万千的变幻 爱把有情的人分两端 心若知道灵犀的方向 那怕不能够朝夕相伴
城里的月光把梦照亮 请温暖他心房 看透了人间聚散 能不能多点快乐片段
城里的月光把梦照亮 请守护它身旁 若有一天能重逢 让幸福撒满整个夜晚
城里的月光把梦照亮 请温暖他心房 看透了人间聚散 能不能多点快乐片段
城里的月光把梦照亮 请守护它身旁 若有一天能重逢 让幸福撒满整个夜晚
若有一天能重逢 让幸福撒满整个夜晚
Ahh. I love these songs.=D They are very restful too~ And good for studying to! ^_^ And do you realize that they are in 3 different languages that I understand? Wow.
Disturbingly, I have also rediscovered 邓丽君...
cheers *[-witchstone-]*
[music : I'll Be Your Love YOSHIKI Feat. Nicole Scherzinger + Flavor of Life 宇多田ヒカル + 城里的月光 許美靜] [mood : stressed...] [food : 排骨饭!!!]
It's basically some hit songs performed in a medley fashion by Utada Hikaru and our beloved SMAP on the show SMAPXSMAP!
Sit through the first couple of minutes of them chatting, then enjoy a fit of laughter at their boyband antics that tickle me so much because of their.. how should I say it. Seniority.
Plus it reminds us that SMAP's voices aren't the best in the world, no matter how much you want to believe it.=P And their dancing is... *ニコニコ*
My Emotible!
starry-eyed: filled with such youthful hope and optimism that one's eyes twinkle even when it's dark
Wish List
ie: motivation to save money!
- clothes
- shoes [heels! boots!]
- the perfect tote
- coats/outerwear! [Soïa & Kyo, Burberry...]
- Gackt - nine*nine
- Gackt Photobooks:
1 The Gift The Sixth Day & Seventh Night Tour Document (2004)
2 Crescent Photobook (out of print)
- Cookbooks!
1 Thomas Keller The French Laundry Cookbook
2 The Nobu Cookbook
3 Emily Luchetti A Passion for Desserts
4 Alice Medrich Pure Dessert
- Anime/Manga
1 Rurouni Kenshin
2 xxxHOLiC
3 Tsubasa -RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE-
- Proficiency at Japanese!
- Learn French for Food!
