How I Became A 'Multi-fan'

I bet there are a few of you wondering how I got into Asian music in the first place (and why I love it so much)?  Well, I suppose I'll tell you!  Hey...it's not another rant post.  XD  So let's begin! 

Thinking about it, my lovbe for Asian music started when I was a younger child.  I'd have to say my first contact was with a Japanese group called DREAMS COME TRUE when they sang 'Eternity' for the animated movie, 'The Swan Princess'.  The song was in English, but I count it.  ^^  There is a Japanese version called 'The Signs of Love' as well which sounds just a good.  It still didn't quite get us into Japanese music though.  Then, we moved to Japan and there was an anime series we would watch called 'Akazukin Cha-Cha'.  The opening was catchy, so my sister and I would attempt to sing to it.  This song is called 'Kimi Iro Omoi' and we later found out that it was a cover done by SMAP.  It was about 1996 when we did this.  So, now we were attempting to sing in Japanese.  Over the course of time we watched a few anime that came to the U.S., so we did hear a few other anime songs--VERY few.  But with the help of a website (that no longer works) we were able to open ourselves to other singers.  'Yubiwa' would have to be my very first Maaya Sakamoto song...and now she's my ultimate favorite Japanese songstress.  'First Love' and 'Hikari' helped to learn about Utada Hikaru.  Actually, it was 'Simple & Clean' that got us into Utada because Kingdom Hearts was coming out.  We thought it was just a regular American singing it at first, but we came to find out she is Japanese-American.  This was around 2002.  At the same time, we heard about GACKT with his song 'Seki Ray'.  It was also on the website that is no longer around.  Over time, we had started hearing more and more Jpop through anime and whatnot.  Recently, I came back into Jpop (more like fangirling a group) with the aid of my Jpop bias group, KAT-TUN--first with 'Rescue' and then with 'Run for You'. 

Maaya's Getting Married and Another Changmin/Junnosuke Post

Omo~!  I"m so happy!  My favorite Japanese songstress/voice actress is getting married...or is she already?  Anyway, I am very glad for her.  And I read that it is to a fellow voice actor who played is some of the same anime as her.  For example, in 'Ouran High School Host Club' Maaya Sakamoto played the main character Haruhi while her husband played as the twin named Hikaru.  They also played in 'Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children' as Aerith and Zack (which were dating one time during the video game, Final Fantasy VII).  So it's like Aerith and Zack came together in reality~!  Well, I am glad she is married.  It's not often I hear about her, so this was quite a suprise, but in a good way.  ^_^

Like I said before, I now have two people that clog up my fantasy thoughts.  Its really difficult to have these romantic fantasies because it involves two now (it's okay, and not okay I suppose).  My worries happen to be because I don't want to have Changmin be knocked off as my #1 heartthrob or forgotten in any way.  Basically, I want him to be the one I dream about.  But I still want Junnosuke~!  -_-  It's like if I choose one, I'll have to abandon my love for the other...and I don't want to do that.  But that's how it goes in real life, huh?  A woman can have many guys she likes, but in the end she can only have one.  I suppose I am making a big thing over something so small and trivial.  Darn these fangirl matters...  XD  So, in the mean time I suppose I shall just continue to have this small struggle of loving/yearning for/fangirling over two people (it wasn't this hard when it was Changmin vs. Kyuhyun).  But still...Changmin and Junnosuke are making it VERY difficult:

Credit: insanelolipanda

Credit: Ai_Ryotz

Forever drooling~!  8Q__  Sorry.  >_<  Well, that is all for now.  Peace out~!

Here

I just thought I'd share this song that is from one of my favorite singers, Maaya Sakamoto.  This is one of the songs that kind of makes me think of the whole JYJ, HoMin, SM, JYJ stans, HoMin stans, OT5 situation.  I also have lyrics that I found on Anime Lyrics dot Com.  Enjoy~!

Video credit: tarentis1

Here, people look for heaven
Livin' in a fear of God
Losing themselves, hiding forever
Afraid of what they're not
She spent her whole life
Chasing stardust
And then when she could taste it
A million dollars of pride
And still unhappy

So sad, she couldn't feel, she couldn't feel
I know the story
So sad, she couldn't feel, she couldn't feel
I know the score

Here I am, I've walked a promise
But it can take so long
Here I am, I've walked the shadows
It's time that I move on
With myself, I share the silence
I jus' walk along
Walk along

Here, people hide in darkness
Watchin' their shadows grow
Tears of gold or nothing matters
Selling themselves out short
Take diamonds for hope and fame for caring
The things she couldn't give up
She blows out the candle of love
And loses her way out

So mad, she couldn't see, she couldn't see
I know the story
So mad, she couldn't see, she couldn't see
I know the score

Here I am, I've walked a promise
But it can take so long
Here I am, I've walked the shadows
It's time that I move on
With myself, I share the silence
I jus' walk along
I walk along

People here choose not to listen
Afraid of what they might hear
Believing in lies and contradiction
Can be so safe and warm
And so many people tried to tell her
You know she wouldn't listen
A million voices called out
She jus' walked away

So loud, she couldn't hear, she couldn't hear
I know the story
So loud, she couldn't hear, she wouldn't hear
I know the score

Here I am, I've walked a promise
But it can take so long
Here I am, I've walked the shadows
It's time that I move on
With myself, I share the silence
I jus' walk along
I walk along

Words by Tim Jensen
Composed and arranged by Kanno Yoko

Transliterated by Orihara Kaoru

Such A Sweet Video...

While searching for a good Maaya Sakamoto song to let some people of Facebook listen to, I instantly thought of the song, "No Fear~Aisuru Koto" (I suggest you all listen to this one).  So while typing it in, this is the first video I clicked because this person took the time to put the song with the ideas of helping Japan.  It is such a sweet video, and I think you all should take a look at it.  Please enjoy~!

Credit: SugarEatBreadxD

Happy Belated Birthday, Maaya Sakamoto!

I am a day late on this (two days if you go by Japan time), but I'd like to wish my favorite Japanese songstress a Happy Birthday!  On March 31st, Maaya-san turned 31.  I was thinking about spamming my Facebook and my Twitter with everything Maaya related, but I didn't.  Then I was going to make a post for her, but I didn't either; hence, my post today. 

Maaya Needs Love Too...!

Since I've been talking about Kpop ever since I started this blog (with TVXQ being the dominate subject matter) I decided to talk about something from the Jpop scene.  Yes, before I got into Kpop I was all about Japanese pop culture.  You could say that it spawned from me acutally living in Japan when I was younger.  But when I was living there, I didn't care for it much.  It wasn't until I moved back to the U.S. that I became engrossed in it's music and more notably the anime.  I've been a fan of anime for about 10 years, and slowly it seems to be fading.  I still watch it and read manga from time to time.  But it doesn't compare to how crazy I was for it back in the day.  But just because I don't do it often doesn't mean I've totally lost interest.  ^^; 

Today I shall talk about one of my favorite singers of all time...in the female category.  Actually I have many so there are times when it gets difficult to choose.  It is mainly between Maaya Sakamoto and Utada Hikaru.  And since my sister is a major fan of Utada (she owns the cds), I have deemed Maaya as my favorite.  Her voice is so beautiful!  And yet...not many people seem to know about her.  :o  If you've see 'Wolf's Rain', 'RahXephon', or 'Vision of Escaflowne' you have most likely heard her voice.  Heck, if you've played the Japanese version of FFXIII then you have heard her because she voices for Lightning, the main character.