violetchain

THREE LIGHTS DOWN KINGS' "Future Maker". I haven't listened to the whole "Rock to the Future" album, but if this is the best track they could come up with from it, I don't know if I want to. God, it's so embarrassingly bland. It literally sounds like they just sucked all the fun and personality out of the band. I'm not surprised Ko-ichi ditched them if this was the direction they wanted to go in.

They're back though? They just had a really successful reunion this year.

Yeah, I got fed up with them as well a few years ago because of all the drama and line-up changes, but if Tracii and Phil are back on the same side I think something might actually get done. Phil does not seem like the type to make a decision like that unless he's really expecting it to be worth his while. I'm hoping the fact that they already have a record deal and tour dates booked for 2017 will force them to keep it together for at least a year, but you never know with them...

http://sleazeroxx.com/singer-phil-lewis-quits-l-a-guns/ http://sleazeroxx.com/tracii-guns-confirms-phil-lewis-only-out-of-l-a-guns-version-with-steve-riley/ ^It's kind of amazing that L.A. Guns are still bringing the drama so hard after over a decade of this nonsense. Still love them though. <3 Really hoping the new album with Phil and Tracii actually happens in 2017. Waking the Dead is one of my favourite releases basically ever and I would love to hear what they can come up with now. There's something so magical about the way that Phil's more traditional, consistent style and Tracii's ambition and eagerness to keep things fresh complement each other. This line-up sounds so sexy. It'll be a shame if they manage to shoot themselves in the foot again.

I'm not caught up on her recent releases, but I love Hitomi Yaida. Also Tomoko Ikeda from Shiggy Jr.:

Does the full version of this exist somewhere on the internet? The preview is pretty sexy.

Variety shows can be good for that because they use massive, easy to read subtitles to emphasize the important parts of what people are saying. Ex.

This movie had its flaws, but I don't know if this series is going to improve on it. Mainly, I don't know if Neil Patrick Harris can compete with Jim Carrey's Count Olaf. I loved how over the top he played it, since I always imagined him as someone who makes a big production out of every single thing he does, and the Netflix Count Olaf just seems so low-energy in this trailer by comparison.

Had mixed feelings about some of the other songs I heard from them, but I'm really liking the new track.

I'm half Chinese, so I already look fairly Asian (to Canadian people, at least), and there are actually a shocking amount of Japanese culture nerds in Toronto, so I can't say I've ever really felt alone in this hobby/obsession or like life would be better if I was Japanese. I really like where I live. It's probably mostly because I just moved out of the suburbs, but I just feel like there's so much potential here right now.

Ishizaka Yuu from NOA/Danablu has fabulous fangs. I was watching one of his random Twitcasts earlier today and wow, his teeth are just adorable.

Is it weird that I think DADAROMA is kind of a cool name? I always read it as "Dadaism + aroma" - like "with the scent/flavor/spirit of Dadaism", which is kind of fitting for a VK band. I mean, you can't tell me that a VK band wouldn't use something like this as their cover artwork: After some quick Googling, it seems like that wasn't what they were going for, but I still think it has a nice look and sound to it compared to a lot of the VK names out there.

^Plot twist: they're all feminists protesting the patriarchy by showing that female rock bands can make more money and get away with more nonsense if they pretend to be men pretending to be women instead of actual women. It's all coming together!

"Hated" is probably a little strong in this case, but the telephones. It's funny, because they have so many things I love going for them (energetic performances, engrish lyrics, super high-pitched male vocals, a silly sense of humour, cheesy 80s influences...etc.), but I really didn't like I Hate Disco or Monkey Disco at first, and those were always the first songs that came up when I looked into them, so for years I couldn't understand the appeal. Then I watched the videos for Keep Your Disco and Don't Stop the Move, Keep On Dancing and some live stuff and all of a sudden the other tracks started sounding good. Well, I still think Monkey Disco is right on the edge of being too ridiculous, but yeah...

Updated my list a bit. I'm trying to get through a bunch of stuff before the end of year lists start, but I'm kind of overwhelmed by just how much there is to choose from. I'm always at least a few months behind the times, and it feels like most of the artists I've been following have been crazy productive this year.

Finally some SKY-HI x SALU live footage

I don't really follow Avanchick or any of these bands, but was that name actually a secret? It seems like it could also be a stage name. It's listed on vkdb, and it looks like there is a blog he made under the name Takashi from a previous project where he mentions that he has started a new blog for Avanchick. He even links to his new Noah accounts: http://ameblo.jp/kurogoma1225/entry-11877448595.html

Lol I completely missed that Pot of Greed joke the first time I watched this

Was so scared to listen to Frederic's full album since my expectations are so high after their last two minis, but it's actually really good. Could do without two of the tracks, but the whole thing is totally ridiculous and totally them. Lol these song titles. I just imagine Koji sitting in a room with a rhyming dictionary and slapping his knee when he reads them out every time I see things like "Replica Paprika" and "Service Nervous". Thought Night Step was a little boring at first, but it's grown on me after a few listens.

I've never been in a relationship either. I like having a lot of alone time, and I have some very good friends who are also eternally single, so I'm not depressed about it or anything, but I do wonder what I've been missing out on sometimes. It's tough to even imagine dating though, since I'm super shy, oblivious, and I work 99% from home, so I basically never meet anyone new. Even when I go out to events or take classes, almost all of the people I feel comfortable talking to are either female, double my age or in a relationship, so I doubt I'm going to have much luck unless I get a more social job or take up some less stereotypically feminine hobbies. (I took classes on sewing and botanical watercolour painting, so in hindsight, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that the students were almost all middle-aged women. ) Oh well, I think I'm probably still too spoiled to date someone right now anyway. I feel like I've grown up a bit since moving to the city, so maybe next year I'll feel a bit more confident.

After the random concept change when Yutori left, I'm not really surprised they didn't make it. Seemed like they didn't really have much of an identity as a band and they were just trying to follow whatever was trendy.

I feel like someone has probably already translated this, but I wanted to try. There are a lot of lines I'm not sure about, but I think the general idea is pretty clear. In My Life Lyrics: SALU Music: BACHLOGIC I don’t know the future I can’t even tell you what will happen two seconds from now That’s why we can’t be stopped* No one can confine us Yeah, money, I got it Let’s shout “kanpai!” out loud Baby we can do it all Hey, we can do anything The power of false assumptions is amazing* Before, if I wanted something, I used to just make a silent wish to Santa Being a spectator at a game as well, Well, it’s fun for what it is** But “I’m a player” The moment I started feeling that way, there was no stopping me There are no second chances at life What’s behind you won’t change, so look forward There are no second chances at life This is my life, you know Even if we have regrets, we can’t be stopped There are no second chances at life This is my life, you know I wonder how it will turn out I don’t know what our future will be like…I don’t know When you’re filled with regrets, It’s like your heart is stuck I drink the last of my coffee at the park There’s only five minutes left…okay “I may not have found a job in a first class business, but I’m okay I’m living on my own, without any trouble” “Sending…” Somehow, when I look up at the sky, I think of common phrases and ads Things like “I want to see you” and rules to be cool*** I want to change this planet into my ideal world, But, well, the truth is, you can’t change the true nature of human beings Violence and capital rule over us And the people who want to give us some leeway can’t get results**** Mammonism and materialism Dealing with material bitches, from this point on it’s impossible***** When they looked at me, I used to be able to flip them off****** But I throw the peace sign back at them too Every now and then I feel like my heart is breaking, But I’m going to make the world I’ve been dreaming of If I keep trying over and over again, The future will change a little bit Without letting it go out, I’ll turn that tiny flame into my strength and go! There are no second chances at life This is my life, you know Even if we have regrets, we can’t be stopped There are no second chances at life This is my life, you know I wonder how it will turn out I don’t know what our future will be like…I don’t know How much time is left? And how much money do we really need? I ask myself that, but of course, all I know is what’s going on right now We’ll be thinking about those things all our lives But it’s heaven on earth, this air I’m sharing with you We keep fighting against gravity You work with your time and pay with your time******* We are earthlings There are no second chances at life This is my life, you know Even if we have regrets, we can’t be stopped There are no second chances at life This is my life, you know I wonder how it will turn out I don’t know what our future will be like…I don’t know That’s right, nobody knows what the future will hold You don’t know So let’s savor the present This is my life There’s no second chance You drive me crazy And so, maybe It won’t end Notes: *, **, ***, ****, *****, ****** I’m really not sure about these lines ******* I think the idea here is that if you work all your life you won’t have any time to do anything else and you’ll regret it, but I’m not sure In My Life Boku wa mirai no koto na do shiranai Ni-byou saki no koto datte wakaranai Dakara mou daremo tomerarenai Daremo bokura o ashidome wa dekinai YEAH.. MONEY I GOT IT Kanpai sakebou kowadaka-raka ni BABY WE CAN DO IT ALL Hora nandemo dekiru Omoikomi ga naseru chikara wa zetsudai Katsute boku wa hoshii mono ga attemo Damatte SANTA ni negau dake datta Kankyakuseki de nagamete iru GEEMU mo Sore wa sore de maa maa tanoshikatta Demo jibun ga PUREIYAA Sou kanji-hajimetara tomaranaku-natta Nidome wa nai LIFE Ushiro wa kawaranai Mae o mina Nido wa nai jinsei THIS IS MY LIFE YOU KNOW Koukai shitemo bokura wa tomarenai OH Nido wa nai jinsei THIS IS MY LIFE YOU KNOW Dounaru ka na Bokura no mirai wa I DON’T KNOW… Koukai shite iru koto ga Kokoro ni hikkakatta mama KOOHII o nomihosu kouen Nokosareta jikan wa go-fun…OK “Ichiryuu kigyou ni shuushoku dekita wake ja nai kedo Daijoubu meiwaku kakezu ni hitori de ikiteru” Soushin… nantoka miageta sora ni wa Arifureteru serifu ya koukoku Aitai to ka iketeru housoku Risou no sekai ni kaetai kedo Maa jitsu wa kawaranai ningen no honshou Bouryoku to shihon no shihai ja Yutori de tsukurareta yatsura wa kikanai Haikinshugi busshitsushugi MATERIARU BICCHI ja kono saki muri Boku o miru nari nakayubi tateta Kare ni mo PIISU o kaeshita kedo Tama ni kokoro ga ore-sou ni naru Demo yume miru sekai o tsukuri ni iku yo Kurikaeshite ita tte sukoshi wa Kawatte kite iru mirai tte yatsu wa Sono chiisa na honoo kesazu ni chikara ni kaete GO Nido wa nai jinsei THIS IS MY LIFE YOU KNOW Koukai shitemo bokura wa tomarenai Nido wa nai jinsei THIS IS MY LIFE YOU KNOW Dounaru ka na Bokura no mirai wa I DON’T KNOW… Nokori no jikan wa dono kurai de Hitsuyou na kane wa dore kurai? Demo kekkyoku ima shika shiranai Bokura wa isshou kangaeru hito Chijou no rakuen kimi to wakeru kuuki Sakarai-tsuzukeru no sa juuryoku ni Jikan de hataraite jikan ni PAY suru Bokura chikyuujin Nido wa nai jinsei THIS IS MY LIFE YOU KNOW Koukai shitemo bokura wa tomarenai Nido wa nai jinsei THIS IS MY LIFE YOU KNOW Dounaru ka na Bokura no mirai wa I DON’T KNOW… I DON’T KNOW Sou mirai wa minna shiranai U DON’T KNOW Dakara koso ima o ajiwaou THIS IS MY LIFE Nido wa nai YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY Dakara MAYBE Owaranai Kanji: http://j-lyric.net/artist/a057a43/l02d213.html

Rewatching Ultimate Muscle today while I work. Lol Dik-Dik Van-Dik is still my favourite. "A dik-dik dictator?"

I basically stopped caring about KAT-TUN after they lost Koki, but I've always had a weak spot for Taguchi as well, so it's nice to see him again. The song isn't really anything to write home about, but his singing is less awkward than I was expecting and he looks great, so I'm curious to see what he can do.

Yura-sama and Lida (Psycho le Cemu) with Ricky (ex-THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S) dressed up as Kyary Pamyu Pamyu