monster
EDIT: this had a frightening number of typos/mistakes even by my standards so I went back and fixed the mistakes.
EDIT 2: i went back and watched the clip and youtube and read the comments (99% in Japanese since it's a Japanese uploader). And people are waxing poetic about how amazing Arashi are as singers and dancers. It was SOOOOOOOOOO tempting to be like "gar har har you fools what the fucking hell are you talking about?" (dunno why I am in such a mean mood right now). I like Arashi but to say they are good singers/dancers is an insult to those who really are good... Ohchan is good. But the rest... have these guys never seen K-pop or American pop? Like are they serious? They don't say "for a JE group they are good" or anything like that. Just flat out, unconditioned praise. Oooooooh boy.
Okay, thanks for letting me get that out of my system. If I were to write that in a youtube comment, no matter how much I preceded it with "i really, honestly love Arashi and have loved them for a long time", I would still get death threats XD
arashi hype is still going stroooooong. Can't wait to see yet another show where people kiss their ass in hopes that their popularity wears off on them!!! *maniacal grin* *coughShimadacoughShinsukecough*
just watched the HD version of their performance and felt compelled to write! (*Gasp*)
Check out the video:
now, onto my commentary.
First off, I like the lyrics. They are straightforward. They make sense. They are in proper grammar. Hey it's a good situation all over. Because it is written from the pov of a supernatural person, they can pull off fantastical and poetic terms without it sounding odd. Like "koyoi no yami e kimi wo izanau" (I lead you into this night's darkness" and "mangetsu no yoru kimi wo mitsuketa" (I found you on a night of the full-moon"). And because it's a story about the monster's humanity, it has some really touching lines.
The chorus line "boku no kioku ga subete kietemo/ umarekawattara mata kimi wo sagasu"
This line really touched me. It means "even if all my memory disappears, if/when I am reborn I will look for you."
I like how it uses the term "kioku" (memory). It's a really simple word, a simple concept: even if I forget EVERYTHING, I will still look for you. It's more poignant than a line like "even if my memories of you fade" or something. And I like that it's not "I will find you" but "I will look for you". It's an unassuming and undemanding kind of love. It's doesn't purport to be able to be with you - all he wants is to be near you again. I think it's very touching.
"kimi no sakebi de boku wa mezameru" : This was another one of those supernatural lines that actually work here. It means "I am awaken by your scream". Something about your existence being so dependent on another is touching to me. And again, it's so unassuming. He knows he's this disgusting monster, so it's her scream, not her kiss or smile or voice or anything like that that awakens him.
"yo ga akeru made chikaku ni iyou" This is also so sad. It means "I will be near you until dawn". It's only during the night that he can with be with the person he loves. Very sad.
Now, I don't know the plot of the drama or the characters from the original anime, so I might be misreading some things. And there are some pretty aggressive lines in there too, but I think those show the dual nature of a monster: frightening and powerful yet lonely and vulnerable at the same time.
Onto the dance analysis. Okay, I have to admit, I was kind of snickering the whole time. But it doesn't mean I didn't like it. It's very interesting choreography, and I might not like some moments of it, but I like how it's DIFFERENT. It's not your usual, unconvincingly executed lock dance (no one in Arashi, including Ohno, can lock well. He's a good popper though) I was able to count ballet, tango, jazz, modern ballet, break dance, popping and locking in there. WOW kitchen sink anyone? lol. But hey, it's different, and in Johnny's, uniqueness counts for far more than it should.
In terms of execution... I mean it's Arashi. We can't expect too much of them. BUT i have to yell at two individuals: Nino and Aiba. At 2:30, they sing the chorus at a slowed down tempo. They stand in a circle and (I assume) improvise. Now, Ohno and Jun and Sho get it. It's supposed to be this surreal, liquidy, quiet atmosphere. The background drops to a minimum and there is even some vocal "woo" ing going on. So their moves are slow and lazy (right answer). Aiba on the other hand is flailing those long arms of him around the whole time. He can flail, but just flail SLOWLY. And Nino does well until the "koyoi no YAMI de" part. That is the high note in the line and he has a habit of quickly contracting his upper body when he has to hit a high note. It's fine in more upbeat songs, but here, it's kind of alarming.
Personally, I laughed my ass off when Sho and Jun did the tango slide at 2'07 because it's a GIRL MOVE. ( I think - tango dancers, correct me if I am wrong.) Of course Sho's is jerky and not that good and Jun's is as smooth as butter. Oh that mollusk.
Anyway, to sum up: yay for different choreo and cookies to Arashi for memorizing such an out there routine. My personal highlight was Ohno's solo at 0:36. That quick duck to his left on "IZAnau." My most WTF moment was Jun's scissor kicks at 0:51. Is that even necessary? What does it add other than discomfort for MJ?
Singing-wise, it was typical Arashi fare. No uncomfortable MJ solos this time, though, yay! And Aiba's low voice at 1:01 was pretty sexy.
oh! time for grocery shopping. see y'alls later!
EDIT 2: i went back and watched the clip and youtube and read the comments (99% in Japanese since it's a Japanese uploader). And people are waxing poetic about how amazing Arashi are as singers and dancers. It was SOOOOOOOOOO tempting to be like "gar har har you fools what the fucking hell are you talking about?" (dunno why I am in such a mean mood right now). I like Arashi but to say they are good singers/dancers is an insult to those who really are good... Ohchan is good. But the rest... have these guys never seen K-pop or American pop? Like are they serious? They don't say "for a JE group they are good" or anything like that. Just flat out, unconditioned praise. Oooooooh boy.
Okay, thanks for letting me get that out of my system. If I were to write that in a youtube comment, no matter how much I preceded it with "i really, honestly love Arashi and have loved them for a long time", I would still get death threats XD
arashi hype is still going stroooooong. Can't wait to see yet another show where people kiss their ass in hopes that their popularity wears off on them!!! *maniacal grin* *coughShimadacoughShinsukecough*
just watched the HD version of their performance and felt compelled to write! (*Gasp*)
Check out the video:
Click to viewnow, onto my commentary.
First off, I like the lyrics. They are straightforward. They make sense. They are in proper grammar. Hey it's a good situation all over. Because it is written from the pov of a supernatural person, they can pull off fantastical and poetic terms without it sounding odd. Like "koyoi no yami e kimi wo izanau" (I lead you into this night's darkness" and "mangetsu no yoru kimi wo mitsuketa" (I found you on a night of the full-moon"). And because it's a story about the monster's humanity, it has some really touching lines.
The chorus line "boku no kioku ga subete kietemo/ umarekawattara mata kimi wo sagasu"
This line really touched me. It means "even if all my memory disappears, if/when I am reborn I will look for you."
I like how it uses the term "kioku" (memory). It's a really simple word, a simple concept: even if I forget EVERYTHING, I will still look for you. It's more poignant than a line like "even if my memories of you fade" or something. And I like that it's not "I will find you" but "I will look for you". It's an unassuming and undemanding kind of love. It's doesn't purport to be able to be with you - all he wants is to be near you again. I think it's very touching.
"kimi no sakebi de boku wa mezameru" : This was another one of those supernatural lines that actually work here. It means "I am awaken by your scream". Something about your existence being so dependent on another is touching to me. And again, it's so unassuming. He knows he's this disgusting monster, so it's her scream, not her kiss or smile or voice or anything like that that awakens him.
"yo ga akeru made chikaku ni iyou" This is also so sad. It means "I will be near you until dawn". It's only during the night that he can with be with the person he loves. Very sad.
Now, I don't know the plot of the drama or the characters from the original anime, so I might be misreading some things. And there are some pretty aggressive lines in there too, but I think those show the dual nature of a monster: frightening and powerful yet lonely and vulnerable at the same time.
Onto the dance analysis. Okay, I have to admit, I was kind of snickering the whole time. But it doesn't mean I didn't like it. It's very interesting choreography, and I might not like some moments of it, but I like how it's DIFFERENT. It's not your usual, unconvincingly executed lock dance (no one in Arashi, including Ohno, can lock well. He's a good popper though) I was able to count ballet, tango, jazz, modern ballet, break dance, popping and locking in there. WOW kitchen sink anyone? lol. But hey, it's different, and in Johnny's, uniqueness counts for far more than it should.
In terms of execution... I mean it's Arashi. We can't expect too much of them. BUT i have to yell at two individuals: Nino and Aiba. At 2:30, they sing the chorus at a slowed down tempo. They stand in a circle and (I assume) improvise. Now, Ohno and Jun and Sho get it. It's supposed to be this surreal, liquidy, quiet atmosphere. The background drops to a minimum and there is even some vocal "woo" ing going on. So their moves are slow and lazy (right answer). Aiba on the other hand is flailing those long arms of him around the whole time. He can flail, but just flail SLOWLY. And Nino does well until the "koyoi no YAMI de" part. That is the high note in the line and he has a habit of quickly contracting his upper body when he has to hit a high note. It's fine in more upbeat songs, but here, it's kind of alarming.
Personally, I laughed my ass off when Sho and Jun did the tango slide at 2'07 because it's a GIRL MOVE. ( I think - tango dancers, correct me if I am wrong.) Of course Sho's is jerky and not that good and Jun's is as smooth as butter. Oh that mollusk.
Anyway, to sum up: yay for different choreo and cookies to Arashi for memorizing such an out there routine. My personal highlight was Ohno's solo at 0:36. That quick duck to his left on "IZAnau." My most WTF moment was Jun's scissor kicks at 0:51. Is that even necessary? What does it add other than discomfort for MJ?
Singing-wise, it was typical Arashi fare. No uncomfortable MJ solos this time, though, yay! And Aiba's low voice at 1:01 was pretty sexy.
oh! time for grocery shopping. see y'alls later!