Monthly Archives: January 2010

18
Jan

NEWS – Koi no ABO

Posted by | Categories Sound | Tagged

HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT *facepalm*

I can only shake my head in amusement. Sure, it’s a catchy song, and prolly a good example of Engrish. To be fair, at the 2009-2010 Johnny’s Countdown, Ryo Nikishido was in Osaka with KANJANI-(insert infinity symbol here), but he sang with NEWS, who were in Tokyo! Talk about being a trouper.

Anyway, here are the romaji and English translation:

Koi no ABO
Youtachi nani gata?

Koi yo! Koi yo! Koi no! ABO!
Koi yo! Koi yo! Koi no! ABO!
Koi yo! Koi yo! Koi no! ABO!

HEY A
Kichoumen Believer
HEY B
My Pace na banchou
Uranai ja aishou wa batsu
Nantoka naru deshou
HEY O
Romanticist Leader
AB
Tsundere Producer
Dare ni demo chousho to tansho
Real de aru desho?

Pop na Hip ga Bump
Odorouze
Hit na Song ga Bump
Mori agare
Such a Cute na Smile
Stage ni agare

Koishite taito
Iin janai
HOT HOT HOT
Unmei ga Fever
Shinjite taito
Iin janai
HOT HOT HOT
Kanjin na Feeling
Subete wo sarake dashite
Koi wo shiyou yo

HEY O
Pride Everest
AB
Marude Jekyll Hyde
Uranai ja aishou wa batsu
Nantoka naru deshou
HEY A
Tere ya na bengoshi
HEY B
Unique na Dreamer
Dare ni demo chousho to tansho
Real de aru desho?

Pop na Touch de Bump
Dakiyosete
Rich na Lip ga Bump
Uraitai
Nicchi mo sacchi mo DANCE
Stage ni agare

Koishite taito
Iin janai
HOT HOT HOT
Unmei wa Funky
Kanjite taito
Iin janai
HOT HOT HOT
Kanzen ni Falling
Subete wo sarake dashite
Koi wo shiyou yo

Yureru kage mitsumeau
Futari dakiaeba kore ga koi no ABO

Koishite taito
Iin janai
HOT HOT HOT
Unmei ga Fever
Shinjite taito
Iin janai
HOT HOT HOT
Kanjin na Feeling
Subete wo sarake dashite

Koishite taito
Iin janai
HOT HOT HOT
Unmei wa Funky
Kanjite taito
Iin janai
HOT HOT HOT
Kanzen ni Falling
Subete wo sarake dashite
Koi wo shiyou yo
Koi wo shiyou yo
Koi no ABO
Koi yo! Koi yo! Koi no! ABO!
Koi yo! Koi yo! Koi no! ABO!
Koi yo! Koi yo! Koi no! ABO!

(English translation follows)

Love’s ABO
You are what blood type?

Come on! It’s love! Love’s ABO!
Come on! It’s love! Love’s ABO!
Come on! It’s love! Love’s ABO!

HEY A
A methodical believer
HEY B
A my pace group boss
Our fortunes say we’re not compatible
Surely we can work it out
HEY O
A romanticist leader
AB
A tsundere producer
Everyone has their strong points and weak points
Is this really real?

Those hips go pop and bump
Let’s dance
Those hit songs go bump
It’s starting to heat up
That’s such a cute smile
Rise up to the stage

Isn’t it okay to
act like I’m in love?
HOT HOT HOT
Fate is a fever
Isn’t it okay to
act like I believe?
HOT HOT HOT
It is an essential feeling
Everything is exposed
Fall in love!

HEY O
Has pride as high as Everest
AB
Seems like Jekyll and Hyde
Our fortunes say we’re not compatible
Surely we can work it out
HEY A
A shy lawyer
HEY B
A unique dreamer
Everyone has their strong points and weak points
Is this really real?

That touch is pop and bump
Let’s embrace
Those rich lips go bump
I want the reverse
No way can I dance
Rise up to the stage

Isn’t it okay to
act like I’m in love?
HOT HOT HOT
Fate is funky
Isn’t it okay to
act like I feel it?
HOT HOT HOT
Everything is falling into place
Everything is exposed
Fall in love!

I gaze at the swaying shadows
If we both embrace, this is love’s ABO

Isn’t it okay to
act like I’m in love?
HOT HOT HOT
Fate is a fever
Isn’t it okay to
act like I believe?
HOT HOT HOT
It is an essential feeling
Everything is exposed

Isn’t it okay to
act like I’m in love?
HOT HOT HOT
Fate is funky
Isn’t it okay to
act like I feel it?
HOT HOT HOT
Everything is falling into place
Everything is exposed
Fall in love!
Fall in love!
Love’s ABO
Come on! It’s love! Love’s ABO!
Come on! It’s love! Love’s ABO!
Come on! It’s love! Love’s ABO!

Lyrics and English translation from here.

Buy Koi no ABO [Regular Edition] by NEWS at CDJapan.

Buy Koi no ABO [Regular Edition] by NEWS at YesAsia.

Buy Koi No ABO [Japan regular edition] by NEWS at Play-Asia.com.

Buy Koi No ABO [Hong Kong regular edition] by NEWS at Play-Asia.com.

12
Jan

Tegomass – Tanabata Matsuri

Posted by | Categories Sound | Tagged

Tegomasu/Tegomass is one of the Johnny’s group with better voices. Too bad Tegomass is just a temporary group. Tanabata Matsuri is a lively song.

Tanabata Matsuri

Tokyo no sora niwa hoshi ga nain datte ne
Kimi kara no tegami ni wa sou kaite atta kedo
Kocchi wa aikawarazu sa nanimo kawarinai
Kono jiki ni naru to matsuri no junbi sa

Eki mae no shoutengai no sasa kazari
Kimi mo shitteru keshiki sa
Kodomo tachi wa hashaide hashiri mawaru
Ano koro to kawaranai yo

Tanabata matsuri ga chikazuku yoru wa
Narande aruita koto omoidasu
Oboete iru kana futari de nagameta
Manten no hoshizora ni ai ni oide yo

Kaeru no naku wadachi wo aruite
Sasa wo tori ni itta ne oboete iru?
Kimi wa itsumo aoiro no tanzaku
Eranda koto oboete iru?

Tanabata matsuri ga chikazuku yoru wa
Narande aruita koto omoidasu
Oboete iru kana futari de nagameta
Manten no hoshizora ni ai ni oide yo

Ganbari sugiru no ga kimi dakedo sa
Tama niwa tachidomatte mitara
Mukashi tanzaku ni kaita “negai” wo
Isshou ni omoidasou yo

Tanabata matsuri ga chikazuku yoru wa
Narande aruita koto omoidasu
Oboete iru kana futari de nagameta
Manten no hoshizora ni ai ni oide yo

Lalala…

Manten no hoshizora ni ai ni oide yo
Manten no hoshizora ni ai ni oide yo

English translation:

“There are no stars in Tokyo’s sky”
That’s what you’d written in your letter
But here it is the same as always, nothing has changed
When it gets to this time of year, we prepare for the festival

The shopping street in front of the station displays bamboo twigs
It’s a scene that you know as well
Kids are running around excitedly
It hasn’t changed from how it used to be

On nights when the Tanabata festival draws near
I remember how we walked along together
I wonder if you remember how we gazed at the sky together
Come and meet me in that sky full of stars

We walked along the path of the croaking frogs
And we went to get some bamboo, right? Do you remember?
You always chose the light blue paper
To write your wish on. Do you remember?

On nights when the Tanabata festival draws near
I remember how we walked along together
I wonder if you remember how we gazed at the sky together
Come and meet me in that sky full of stars

Trying too hard is the way that you are
But sometimes you should try pausing
The “wishes” we wrote long ago on the strips of paper
Let’s remember them together

On nights when the Tanabata festival draws near
I remember how we walked along together
I wonder if you remember how we gazed at the sky together
Come and meet me in that sky full of stars

Lalala…

Come and meet me in the sky full of stars
Come and meet me in the sky full of stars

(Lyrics and translation taken from the Youtube page.)

Tanabata Matsuri [Regular Edition] / Tegomass (Tegomasu) at CDJapan

Tanabata Matsuri [w/ DVD, Limited Edition] / Tegomass (Tegomasu) at CDJapan

Tanabata Matsuri [CD+DVD Limited Edition] / Tegomass (Tegomasu) at Play-Asia.com

Tanabata Matsuri / Tegomass (Tegomasu) at Play-Asia.com

Tanabata Matsuri [Normal Edition] / Tegomass (Tegomasu) at Yes Asia

9
Jan

The Gokusen formula

Posted by | Categories Life | Tagged

I spent the Christmas/New Year holidays watching Japanese dramas, among other things. I completed seasons 1 and 2 of Gokusen, which formed the bulk of what I has watched. Looking back, I had no idea why I chose Gokusen. Maybe I was tired of WWE (haven’t downloaded any WWE PPV since…. heck, I can’t even remember). Maybe it was a random click on a bookmarked page.

Anyway, I do not regret watching Gokusen. Sure, the show was formulaic and corny, but it was a funny corny show. Every episode made me laugh, though there were awkward moments. But I do have some beef with the show.

I know it paid handsomely to stick to the formula, but they could have deviated a bit from it. The formula consists of:
* Yankumi being hired to handle a difficult class. That is a given, and the root of all the plot points. Also, is she handling other classes?
* The students hate her. At first, of course. Would it be wacky if at least one student liked her immediately?
* A student (or group of students) will get into a fight and lose spectacularly. And from time to time, it’s the same set of students who got beaten to a pulp. I wonder if insurance companies would cover the expenses.
* Yankumi runs to the rescue. She was always running. That’s why she was always late: her kawaii students were already pulpy bits when she got to the scene. She should have invested in a motorbike. Poor handsome faces.
* No warm feeling after each rescue. The poor students have to have some shred of dignity left, you know. Besides, she came in late, when they were already vegetables.
* Yankumi gets into trouble at the end of the season. She is always forced to leave the school. Sometimes you have to admire her patience.
* The difficult class manages to graduate. The school closes down soon thereafter.
* She doesn’t get the boy of his fancy. Maybe the fighting’s her outlet for love frustrations.

If you are a nitpicker, there are loads to nitpick at this series, but hey, the series is fun. As a former teacher, the show validates some of my thoughts about teaching. And on watching the show, I was glad I left the academe – if I stayed on, I would have turned into an apathetic teacher.

Acting by Yukie Nakama and Katsuhisa Namase were excellent. Namase was wicked, and Nakama pulled it off playing Yankumi – dreamy and determined at necessary scenes. I don’t dig most of the student characters, like Kazuya Kamenashi. They just frown and shout and lie beaten down. Maybe that’s why out of all those actors playing students, only Tomohiro Waki managed to stay on throughout the series.

I love the music. You should go buy it, seriously.

Gokusen the Movie is available at Yes Asia.

Gokusen the Movie is available on Blu-ray and DVD at CD Japan.

Get the Gokusen 2002 DVD Box at CD Japan.

Get the Gokusen 2005 DVD Box at CD Japan.

Get the Gokusen 2008 DVD Box at CD Japan.

Get the Gokusen 2008 DVD Box at Play-Asia.com.

Get the magnificent Gokusen Original Soundtrack at CD Japan.

Get the magnificent Gokusen Original Soundtrack at Play-Asia.com.

3
Jan

D-51 – No more cry

Posted by | Categories Sound | Tagged

Finished watching Gokusen 2, and this is the ending song. Will be posting something about the show soon. It is too amusing to let it pass like that. Watch out for it!

NO MORE CRY NO MORE CRY
NO MORE CRY NO MORE CRY
Ashita he NO MORE CRY ashita he NO MORE CRY

Konna ni taisetsu na hito ga chikaku ni iru koto sae mo
Kidukazu ni namida nagashitari
Tsukue no rakugaki no naka ni kagayaita yume no kakera
Hitori mune ni kakushitari

Sonna LONELY DAYS kurikaesu no wa mou yame you
Kono sora no iro ni kae you Yeah
Nigedasu koto ni narete itanda
Jibun dake dato susande tanda
Sonna kinou no boku ni wa sayonara

Hashiri dasu yo NO MORE CRY NO MORE CRY
Kimi no te mo hiite yukeru
Ashita he NO MORE CRY NO MORE CRY
Kanashimi janaku yorokobi no namida wo nagashi tai

Ano hi no kimi no yasashi sa ni sunao ni nare nai boku wa
Chiisana te wo furi haratta

Hodoketa mama no kutsu himo ja hashire nai yo
Kono sora wo fukaku suikomou Yeah
Taisetsu na koto wasuretetanda
Mirai kara me wo sorashite tanda
Sonna kinou no boku ni wa sayonara

Hashiri dasu yo NO MORE CRY NO MORE CRY
Kimi ga soba ni ite kureta
Egao de NO MORE CRY NO MORE CRY
Nando demo yari naoseru

Talk to me about you,baby konna ni mo kimi wo motomeru
Itsudemo Stay with me for loving you,baby
Hitori dewa ikite yuke nai kitto dare mo ga
Kogoeta yubisaki wo furete atatame taiyo
Me ni utsuru subete wo ima wa dakishimetai

Hashiri dasu yo NO MORE CRY NO MORE CRY
Kimi no te mo hiite yukeru
Ashita he NO MORE CRY NO MORE CRY
Kanashimi janaku yorokobi no namida wo nagashi tai

NO MORE CRY, NO MORE CRY
Kanashimi janaku yorokobi no namida wo nagashi tai

Buy this single No More Cry (D-51) at Play-Asia.com.

Buy this single – NO MORE CRY by D-51 – at CDJapan.