Return x ASL x Island

Eyyyy 1.5 year since the last post, i think its a new record since the blog's revival! It's still a place only I read to put my ideas into words- though thus far all longer projects have failed miserably.

I have a trip recap I've yet to finish since what? 2 years ago? Goodness gracious, since then I've been back to Japan once more for a 9 day long adventure in Nov 2016 and I'm only done on day 1 of the April 2016 trip. Ok i'll wrap it up now so I can move to my main topic.

IM GOING BACK TO JAPAN IN AUG 2018!

After 2 years, I'll be back to tick something off my bucket list, namely Animelo Summer Live! Though it looks like there will be no Nana this year, the sheer list of acts appearing each year at Anisama makes it worth the effort. This time I'm fortunate enough to secure tickets for all three days! Banzai! They aren't amazing seats by any stretch of the imagination, level 200 for day 1 and 2, and level 400 for day 3 but just being there is a feat in itself.

Other things on the (rather spontaneous but only otaku related items) bucket list are:

Nana live AFA 2013 Valvrave night
Nana solo live Live Flight+ 2014
See Nana fly Live Galaxy 2016
Nana Acoustic live
Nana Orchestral live
Maaya Uchida live AFA 2015 P"s Live
Maaya Uchida solo live
Maaya Party (Birthday live)
Poppin Party live << TWO MONTHS TIME, WITH HASSHI
Poppin Party solo live
Animax Musix
Anisama << TWO MONTHS TIME
Anime Japan
Comiket Summer
Comiket Winter

Other not really bucket list but i realized would be amazing to have/were pretty awesome

Eir Aoi live (she sounds better live, no question)
LiSA live << ONE MONTH TIME, WELCOME BACK TO SG
Megumi Nakajima live << TWO MONTHS TIME
Afterglow live (probably never but with THE THIRD?)

So out of the three day lineup of Anisama I probably have a passing familiarity with half the line up and a slightly deeper knowledge of say 30%? That's what makes it so exciting though, getting to expand my pool is so infinitely rewarding.

Part of the trip is meeting a bunch of international peeps from the Seiyuu discord server, hope they are a friendly bunch. I'm not the most interesting person in real life so here's really hoping this pans out. Especially since we are kind of planning to stay together for bulk of the trip.

Above I mentioned there is likely no Nana in the Animelo lineup simply because she is in the middle of LIVE ISLAND tour and has no time to rehearse. So we have to remedy that, after all, whats a trip to Japan for lives if you aren't going for your oshi right?

DA KA RA

I'll be stopping over in OSAKA before heading down to Tokyo for Anisama with a stop at Nara for Wave 11 of LIVE ISLAND! BANZAI!

The small venue presents an issue with acquiring tickets since they are so limited and therefore pricey, however with a bit of investment that can be fixed. So Wave 11 is at Nara Centennial Hall, looks like there isn't a lot of wriggle room so I expect no moving vehicle passing through the crowds but just on stage- if there is even an elaborate stage set up. Sure it takes a bit away from the experience (definitely no flying either) but I get a see a live again, after almost 2.5 years (since Galaxy was in early April and this is late August) and grab some fancy live goods <3 assemble="" can="" for="" good="" hoping="" i="" im="" luck="" nanaca="" of="" one="" p="" round.="" set="" so="" this="" time="" to="" try="">
So Wave 1 just ended last week and it gave us a sneak peek at the set list for this tour and I'm pretty stoked. Being a summer live (only the third I think?) there are some songs which are on theme like 夏恋模様 and Rensou Hanabi for sure and some interesting additions - Invisible Heat for one, as well as not just her new digital single Blue Rose but a brand new song debut live! With the venue being so small and so close to the final stop I wonder what service we will get there.

So i'll have a couple of days in Osaka once again. Two years ago I went to Osaka for bulk of a trip and then down to Tokyo for the last few days, this time it will be the opposite with bulk of my trip in Tokyo after a few days in Osaka. Crossing regions presents its own set of tricky problems, namely transport and finding more places to stay. It also means I get to visit more places- some of my favorites from the previous trip (nothing to far of course, since I don't have the JR Rail pass on my side this time)

Next time I'll see if I can firm up more of what I'm doing there- till then!

[Drive-in Theater] First Impressions

So Maayan released her second album, well first Mini-album, on 11th Jan. "Drive-in Theater"

Massive props to Maayayan and Pony Canyon for their hard work, I'm glad to see her invest more in her non voicing roles, and hopefully sometime in the future a bit of live action again.

My copy is with my friend who is in Japan on holiday so I wont get it till much later but I've acquired a preview to develop my first impressions. That being said, all the songs in their shortened versions were uploaded on Youtube so those probably were my real first FIRST impressions.

収録曲 Shiny drive, Moony dive

作詞・作曲：田淵智也（UNISON SQUARE GARDEN）　編曲：やしきん モラトリアムダンスフロア

作詞・作曲・編曲：大石昌良 Moment

作詞・作曲・編曲：丸山真由子 5:00AM

作詞：内田真礼、akane　作曲：mochilon　編曲：mochilon、y0c1e クロスファイア

作詞：山本メーコ　作曲・編曲：黒須克彦 Smiling Spiral

作詞・作曲：田淵智也（UNISON SQUARE GARDEN）　編曲：eba

1. Shiny ドライブ Moony ダイブ (Shiny Drive Moony Dive)

Even though I consider myself a relatively stoic person (right.) I can't help but break into a smile when hearing this song. Its one of those songs I will not even begin to care to attempt to sing cos its just so chirpy and sunny. I love the PV and the retro diner setting (reminiscent of Lovely Fruit) so much- apparently the song is (surprise) about a Road trip, and all the food, places and experiences she takes in on the way. With lyrics and composition by Unison Square Garden I pretty much knew it wouldn't be too odd

What really shocked me was the bridge, its a range of locations from all over the world.,, and the Merlion is mentioned! Not very surprising in hindsight since she did come to Singapore in 2015 for AFA. Nice tidbit- please come back to Singapore again (and probably not Solo since it wouldn't sell out UwU)

2. モラトリアムダンスフロア (Moratorium Dance Floor)

First up, a moratorium is a temporary prohibition of an activity, I guess the title tries to mean a temporary ban on using the dance floor. So with that in mind I delved in- its relatively upbeat and yet isn't catchy in the least bit, not yet at least, the chorus bits are at least mildly impressionable.

3. Moment

Its the slower song of the album! I really liked the preview when it came out on Youtube. It felt like an ED of some anime that I would have watched in my childhood. A tad soft and floaty at times but direct at others (im terrible as describing how I feel something sounds, if you understand it you just do) and that bit of electronics it just enough to accent it. This composer does not seem to have done much but she is definitely one to look out for.

4. 5.00 am
Immediately, I felt this seemed very Korean for some reason, like a Korean drama scene. Yet at others it was like some kind of lounge music, crooning that would fit softly... in the middle of the night. Yep 5 am. Totally works.

5. クロスファイア (Crossfire)

This feels very Maaya - its her Chuuni side! The beats are clear and I can easily envision the swings for this when live (which it eventually will, with only 6 songs on this mini album I fully expect every single one to make an appearance in her Second live in about a month). Feels like a song that would sit perfectly on Taiko lol

6. Smiling Spiral

Lastly, the title of her second Live - Smiling Spiral. Such uplifting beats and rapid fire jabs punctuated by gambattes and You can do it! The clapping bridge is really cute (well in my head at least)

So that kind of wraps the mini album up, it is REALLY short, and costs as much as a full album (sheesh) but I think it is full of hits, plenty of experimental sounds (for her) and healthy shavings of much English (that was quite well pronounced and used fittingly). I like it! Can't wait to see how her second live stacks up to her first (which was really good, for a first time solo).

You can do it！ ガ・ン・バ・レ！

Neogene Creation - First Impressions

Before I start, I wonder which is the song that she said will sing till perspire. I'll try to guess at the end haha.

1 めぐり逢うすべてに

Very ending theme-esqe. I can see it with images of the characters lying down in a grassy plain or snowy field panning in circles as snow falls softly around them. Thumbs up, first one is a keeper.

2 Stand Up!

Not my first time hearing it thanks to FNS music festival. This Baseball reference laden anthem is such an upbeat jump from the first track it was a bit jarring but the sheer cheeriness and energy that shines through makes it un-hateable. La lalal la lalalalalalalala- another sing along-er at lives cant go wrong.

3 Please Download

Gratuitous english in a Japanese song? Unheard of! I jest, this auto-tune-ish sounding song didnt appear to be too appealing when I first heard the small preview but the full song has salvaged some of its listen-ability. I just wonder how this will sound live- I still think this does not do Nana's vocals justice, but only time will tell. Maybe I'll grow to like it Love and hate~

Please download my secret love song.

4 Alone Arrows
I didn't know what to expect from a title like this but the opening refrain got me pumped ... like a Dog days track! Maybe not quite as grand, but the pacing and progression led me to an opening theme-esque track that is entirely underlaid with a velvety soft layer. Its not that rockish. Sadly forgettable when it ended (maybe lyrics will help with that)

5 Twist & Tiger

Trumpets! Not Maria &a Joker level but this seems like a good live song. I can picture all that time to run left and right, point at the crowd and pose when the instrumentals are picking up. Short, effective, I like. I like the energy that leaks through the song.

6 Rock Ride Riot
This will take a few more listens to sink in (I was still distracted by the previous song)

Didn't end the way I felt it would based on the starting. I have no observations this song, it didn't feel memorable, it was dwarfed by its neighbour.

I know I know I know x Yea yea yea yea yea

7 はつ恋
I like this! This seems more Nana's territory, I can't explain but it sounds right. I can picture the lightstick movement as it goes and that pattern would be right at home in many of Nana's songs. Thats the best way I can describe this. On hindsight the title DID NOT make me expect something of this nature.

8 Jewel

The softest track in the album since the first track! This is the only line I managed to type out as I lost focus and before I knew it the song was over, shall warrant many re-listens (pardon).

9 Unlimited Beat
This didn't start the way I'd thought it would but it quickly became the Symphogear style song I was expecting. The starting caught me off guard, I thought my song order was mixed up. Cant wait to hear this live at Symphogear Live 2017 (well not "live" live). Seems more muted and not as "fierce" compared to the main series songs (it is for a game after all, I do hope the game actually does well, will play for sure). That the "unlimited beat" was part of the "background" rather than part of a lyric (maybe it was but I didnt hear it) was a bit disappointing.

10 Wake Up the Souls

Sure makes one want to get up and move vitality~ give me give [something]

More english but this one actually works towards giving it the push for a song that is designed to be peak and then drop to peak again (not sure if this makes sense).

Live is Beautiful. Sei sei dou dou. 

11 Starting Now!
Ah it's nice hearing something so familiar! The single from KonoBi has a home now. I really love this song! I still can see the trampoline and speaker setup from the PV when I close my eyes. No first impressions here, feels like the album pivot from here into a different direction. The power level is going to go up here on.

12 Gloria
The grand sounding title did not disappoint- super insert song vibes. For a new song it sure strung me along all the way. The tone and feel reminded of something else but I was enjoying the ride all the way so that feeling didnt bug me, instead it accentuated that this was more familiar ground (which isnt necessarily bad). I want this Live too!

13 Rodeo Cowgirl
This album is full of mismatched titles to song "contents", but this also took me on a pleasurable ride, like a rather safe thing that goes on music shows full of smiles and cute poses while giving her the opportunity to exercise her vocal acrobatics. It gets my seal of approval, I wouldn't skip over this song if it comes up on shuffle.

Dont be afraid~ Dont give up~

14 君よ叫べ

This sound reminds me a lot of some other song. It isn't quite coming to me now but there is the strong nagging to run the tune in my head a bit and it runs off into a different song altogether. One that will probably grow on me and into its own.

15 絶対的幸福論

We've had the benefit of watching this MV before the album released, and it was a very healing clip. The full song itself carries the same healing properties, no shocking changes here, just straight up good feels and spine chilling vibes. I was happy being carried on each wave of the song's build up. Love the little stop and hum near the end.

That wraps up my first impressions of Neogene Creation! I'll be waiting for my copy to arrive, its almost 2am, and I'm dead tired. I shall take a listen with a fresh ear again when I wake up.

Day 7

I don't know if we are considered the "bumper crop" or first fruit of the harvest- are the Christians of this era really the best examples of His gifts to humanity? The writer brings up the City Harvest trials and asks that we consider all the "low profile" ways we may embarrass God through our lives under the banner of Christianity.

I frequently have to face my anti-Christian friend, who was once a Christian (due to family upbringing) but when he had a choice chose to walk away. As a bystander and someone who has been inside the community, he sees more than most and is thus more disillusioned about the reality of God's goodness. Something like what Ghandi (?) mentioned- that he likes our God, but not his people. Sometimes we may not just be bad testimonies, but actively push people away from God.

Christianity ought not be an elite club, though it has a tendency to gravitate somewhat to that extent due to the relative affluence and social strata of believers. I feel that is a terrible pity- since the gift of God's love is most effective and most needed by those who feel they have nothing. Alienating those who need the good news the most is hardly the best way to go about reaching them.

Day 6 - I did it

After a 2 day break (Happy National Day Singapore!) I'm back. Clearly it isnt a habit yet, im still in the process of cultivating it. Today's topic seems appropriate, that satan does not, and cannot MAKE us do anything, it is our desires that lead us to choose to sin. The writer (and James) urges us to "take responsibility. Stand our ground, resist and renounce sinful passions."

One angle of attack here is to memorize and pray the Word. The author zeroes in on lusts and passions, about the hidden sins of pornography and promiscuity. As temptations rise, the only effective measure is to flee, but when one is assailed all around - the only way to deny and beat it is to expose, confront and renounce it with the power of Christ.

I know full well the futility of fighting such a struggle on my own strength. It isnt even a battle, its a one sided slaughter. Human's weak wills will crumble, its our weak point, as the desires stem from within ourselves. Trying to appear strong can only last so long and it feel terrible when you finally do fail.

The author gives 3 verses to memorize and pray:

2 Corinthians 7:1New International Version (NIV)

7 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

1 Corinthians 6:18-19New International Version (NIV)

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5New International Version (NIV)

³ It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should learn to control your own body^[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;

There was a book or series titled "every man's struggle" and it truly is. A neverending battle that requires God's leadership over the weak flesh.