Morning☆Kuri

Lately, I’ve been listening to a wide variety of music, my way of escaping while I go inbetween reviewing the Jacksonian Revolution and the four rhetorical modes of discourse in preparation for both my SATs and AP testing in the beginning of May (unfortunately, my U.S. History AP test is the same day as my junior prom–can you say “burnt out, much?”)  So, as a basic stress reliever, I’ve been playing Princess Maker 2 (by the way: the Ai Takahashi file is doing relatively better than the Ai Kago file–Aibon keeps drinking with the devil, literally o_O) and hunting out my future husband by scouring the Canadian Junior Hockey Leagues (John Tavares, if you’re out there, I only younger than you by a year, and I am a very nice person.  I’m totally rooting for you and your hockey playing future, because you’re better than Sidney Crosby, for reals)….  And, of course, I’ve been listening to some standard Jpop.

The first of my “must-listen” tracks is, naturally, Amuro Namie’s “WHAT A FEELING.”  Since it was released, it has topped my most-played songs listed on iTunes.  There’s something intensely… urgent about the song when I listen to it.  Maybe urgent isn’t the right word; perhaps, it’s more as though it’s a very commanding song–especially the first lines, “I love to dance, yeah; everybody call me dancing queen.”  Sure, it’s just bad english one interpretation, but the way I imagine Amuro saying it is as though she’s regally commanding everyone to call her the Dancing Queen.  Besides this, the song itself makes me feel as though I’m dancing–the same rush of energy performing gives me.  You don’t have to look at the feeling of the song as for dancing or performing like I do–maybe the feeling you feel is something different.  Onanie, for all I know.  All I know is that is a real great feeling.  Every lyric seems sort of encouraging, confident–”forth forth and forth!” is what Amuro sings, but I always hear “force” instead, and sometimes, I think that fits better.  The entire single is an A+ track; this song is simply my favorite off of it.

Moving on from there, I have to not that I love the direction Hikki’s been taking–it’s very “her,” and it is nearly perfect study music (maybe not for Van Buren and his damned Trail of Tears, but definately for re-memorizing those blasted types of allusions).  My favorite track off the album is the ethereal, melodically sweet “Stay Gold.”  Granted, I am utterly biased; The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton has been my favorite book since my 7th grade Reading teacher said we had to read it.  If you’ve never read this great work, I advise you do; it’s written simply for a reason.  Anyway, one of the main tenants of the story is to “stay gold,” a reference to a poem by Robert Frost, “Nothing Gold Can Stay.”  Besides this, the song itself reminds me of someone very close to me…  So, it’s very personal to me.  Much of the time, I imagine Hikki herself was writing for me, myself.  Still, it’s not a track I think anyone should pass up, especially if they’re down.  “Stay gold” is a beautiful sentiment, reminding you to stay young and innocent as long as possible.

We’re going to move out of Jpop very briefly into the land of REM, which I frequently occupy when I need to escape.  I grew up on a musical diet of REM, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Neil Young from my dad, and TLC and broadway showtunes from my mom.  REM’s latest album was recently released, and may I say, it is EXCELLENT.  Interestingly, one of their best tracks is at the very end.  “I’m Gonna DJ” closes the album out, and it is such a strong ending that it makes me crack up.  After all, the lyrics do that pretty well–it’s as though those REM-boys were channeling The Ramones, almost, with a kicking guitar riff and lyrics like: “Death is pretty final, I’m collectin’ vinyl, I’m gonna DJ at the end of the world/’cause if heaven does exist with a kickin’ playlist, I don’t wanna miss it at the end of the world!”  These are the same guys who sang “It’s the end of the world as we know…”  They felt fine about it then, and it would seem they feel even better about it now.  This is a song you put on to make yourself feel good and laugh hysterically.  You cannot resist this.  I’m serious.

However, this wouldn’t be a Kuri-type of playlist without mentioning some H!P.  So, for our first of the H!P Tour de Force, I’m going back to the era of Shuffle Units.  “Aoi Sports Car no Otoko” by Aoiro7 is one of those rare songs that makes you remember the old members of H!P and go “Shit, where did they fuck up?”  There’s some great blending here–and Kominato Miwa’s vocals seriously won me over.  This is such a carefree, silly song you can’t help but listen and laugh along–if you’re not trying to sing along, that is~!

Now, I never thought I’d ever be saying this, but “Mikan” is most certainly making an appearance on this list.  This might not be MoMusu’s best selling single, but the 9nin-lineup has its very own Inspiration Song, and “Mikan” is it.  And I’m not complaining–the song opens with the lines, “You’ve got a chance” for God’s sake!  It’s an intensely compelling song–if only because it’s so bright and cheery.  I can’t see anyone being upset after listening to this song.  It’s actually among my prescribed Break Up medicine for my friends.  It’s not like it’s hard to imagine why–I send them the mp3, the lyrics, and my own words of advice.  Anyway, when it comes to my grades, I always think of this song, to be honest.  It reminds me that I need to live my life to the fullest, for sure.

We’re going to take a step backwards into the land of Just Plain Pretty and visit Nakazawa Yuko’s fanclub single, “Yu.u.wa.ku.”  My GOD.  Say what you will about Nakazawa Yuko–she has the prettiest, most mature voice in the world and no one will convince me otherwise.  This song is absolutely heartwrenching, hearing her sing it.  It could be in a musical, the way she sings it.  For all the lovelorn girls out there, who think their attempts at winning over your chosen boy are futile… This song is for you.  It’s real, and it’s dramatic, but not over the top.  It’s moody, but it feels real, and immienent.  It’s an example of what Yuko could DO, given the chance.  I wish she could’ve done this kind of music more; she’d certainly get noticed more.  Everything about this song is absolutely, positively PERFECT.  If you can get yours hand on this track, I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.  It’s probably the BEST of the fanclub solos.

My favorite Buono! track is STILL “Honto no Jibun” which might seem weird, but this is a song that I think anyone can like.  I have a gay friend who I have been quickly getting into H!P, because he saw Shugo Chara and heard Buono! and loved them.  Besides that, the song SO resonates with people in general.  We all tend to hide our true selves–and this song is like that true self calling out.  So…  Really, don’t pass it up.  Your true self wouldn’t want you to (however: do not explain to your boyfriend why you think of the song and him together.  He won’t really like the idea of the line “Even if you’re a loser, I’ll love you”).

Before we close out our H!P list, we’ll take a visit to our favorite 4nin group… Melon Kinenbi!  They get so shafted, you know?  Well, fear no more, ladies and gentlemen!  Their songs often get sort of remade into songs for the Wonderful Hearts!  The opening of the song “MI DA RA Matenrou” might sound familar–it’s nearly identical to the opening for C-ute’s “Namida no Iro!”  It’s kind of a tragedy that it worked out like that; “MI DA RA” is superior as a track.  Honestly, I have no idea what the song is about.  BUT I know that it’s a damn good dance track, and that everytime I hear it, I feel compelled to marry my brother off to Saitou Hitomi’s voice.  I don’t think she’d appreciate him, he’s a beast, but it’s just the feeling I get.

We’re going to jump over to another idol company–those cuties over at AKB48!  I have a real weakness for the song “Romance, Irane!” for some inexplicable reason.  The vocals are too cutesy–even more idols–and the song is very showy, flashy… gaudy.  But maybe that’s exactly why I love it.  It’s extravagant in its melodramatics.  Also, it has a pretty sweet beat, which makes it another great dance song.  Even better, it’s a song about trying to NOT fall in love, but sorta-kinda failing anyway.  You can’t stop that damned power of love, I guess!  Anyway…  No one needs romance anyway.  You won’t know if it’s true love if it’s just romance, or something.

And now, we’re going to skip over to everyone’s favorite little otaku, Shoko-tan!  Now, I recently acquired (read: downloaded) Shoko-tan’s first single, first album, and both mini-albums.  I am absolutely LOVING her voice.  It’s so cute!  But amazingly, my favorite track is “Rinbu -REVOLUTION,” a cover of the theme from Utena.  My. God.  MY GOD!  Shoko-tan has a surprisingly versatile voice, and it truly shines here.  It’s hard to cover this song.  I’ve tried.  It’s HARD.  But she doesn’t disappoint.  Every note seems right.  Her lower range is just perfect for this.  It doesn’t feel like an idol doing karaoke, it feels like a real song.  That’s literally amazing.  I’ve been falling in love with Shoko-tan’s vocals since.  Don’t pass this up, seriously.

And, finally.  After a long, female-filled list…  Something classic!  Some with pretty boys!  Something… Korean!  To be honest, Super Junior’s song “Don’t Don!” is probably the only song of theirs I care about.  In fact, the only SuJu member I really care about is ShiWon (Henry doesn’t count as “SuJu” technically).  Still.  I love this song.  I just remember Heechul with red hair, think “Final Fantasy” and then think of that great parody Tsukiki of Shanimuni Paradise posted….  Ah, good times, good times.  If anything, that’s the main reason that’s on here.  Find that parody.  You’ll have nosetea.  I swear.

And so, that closes out our list!  If you’ll excuse me, I have a timed essay to bullshit! ^o^  Yay AP History Crunchtime!!