Last year Kaya released a PV collection DVD, I'm guessing most Kaya fans remember that. And since it wasn't available on CdJapan, we fans outside of Japan was told to purchase it from Hora's online store. The bonus we would receive was a signed demo CD containing a live accoustic version of Memento Mori.
When we received our DVD however, the demo CD was not signed. Shit happens I thought (especially since Hora didn't seem to remember to sign his bonus cards for COCYTUS either...) BUT, then I and others who bought the DVD receieved a mail saying the CDs accidentely got shipped away before Kaya signed them and as an appology they would send us a signed photo instead.
This was sent in May 2015.
In October I had sort of forgotten about it, almost. I assumed it would never show up but then I saw that mail Kaya's staff had sent about the signed photo and it sort of pissed me off acctually. I'd rather they didn't say anything but to say they'll send something instead and then not do that.
So I sent a reply to that mail asking if they ever sent a photo.
Didn't get a reply, until yesterday (January 2016).
A new years card came, signed by Kaya.
I'm glad they finally did send what they originally said they would, but to take this long! I didn't even mind that much to begin with, that the demo wasn't signed. I understand if stuff like that happens, but don't promise something you end up not doing.
I'm suprised the PV DVD didn't seem to sell that much among international fans acctually, maybe because it wasn't available at the bigger record stores, and that's probably also why no one seemed to know about this demo "issue".
I'm guessing this is a card all the fanclub members get in Japan?
Dalle has got together again after many years of hiatus as many of you Közi fans might have noticed.
Dalle was just a live band to begin with so it suprised me big time when they made their own youtube channel, AND even announced a single! Fences was relased at their gig on the 3rd of december. In the online store Dorothy & Co you can purchase Dalle clothing (T-shirt or a onepiece) and the single. As far as I know they only ship within Japan so you'd need a shopping service for this. When I bought this they offered packages with either a t-shirt and the single or the onepiece and the single. If buying one of those you got the shipping for free. I got the one piece and the single with DVD. (You can get the single only for1000 yen instead of 1500yen) It said in the item description that you'd get a Dalle stickers which I didn't though.
The line up is ryo (HOLLOWGRAM,TAG,KEEL), Közi (ZIZ/XA-VAT/ex.MALICE MIZER),
Yugami (ZIZ), Rieu (4 A.D.), Mizuno Masaaki (MO'SOME TONEBENDER), Atsushi Hatta
(DEADLIES/ex.HATE HONEY/DEEP). Unfortunately Közi is not singing. I saw Hollowgram live last year in Tokyo and I wasn't that impressed with them. Ryo's voice is good, but I prefer Közi :P
Anyway, the single contains 2 songs, Fence and then a remix by Yugami. The remix was soso but the actual song, I'm impressed. I think Dalle has made a really good job with this and I'm really looking forward to future releases. Fences is mainly rock but they have some electronics in it too which makes the music match ZIZ a bit I think. So I doubt anyone who appreciate ZIZ would be disapointed, eventhough this is a bit rougher than their 80's rockpop songs. One complaint I got is the singing. Not Ryo's vocals, but the fact the song is completly in english. I don't want to be a bitch, english is not my native language so who am I to blame others BUT, I don't release cd's singing in my awful english... I listened to Fences while reading the lyrics and I can barely hear the words.
The CD was nothing fancy, just a case with the single and the DVD. The cover is acctually just a piece of paper, and then there was another piece of paper with lyrics on. Eventhough I like a good booklet I wasn't too bothered by this, I rather get a new release with a piece of paper than no release.
The DVD contains the PV for Fences, which is the same video Dalle shared on their youtube channel (except that they cut out like 1 minute out of the video)
Lyrics for Fences:
I'm waiting for
Our hearts make noise in some days, and you fall in to dizzy.
Our hearts make some faulty days, and you fall in to misery.
Rosemary can't save you, lost you in new world.
So sorry for my "bad days"
I have to void you because you round and round in my mind.
The sand castle Disappeared
I Stay dead.
There's no reason.
#You said at that time "But if it's your dreams"
Your future of ideal has gone in truth.
Get one's wish in someday.
So let me meet you with love.
Escape from this sad realities.
from this sad realities.
We got dizzy, and disappear
We started to believe that dreams will come true in misery.
To reach out to over the fence.
But it was arose by misunderstand.
I never stop to pray.. but I can't see it.
Escape from this sad realities Because I'm waiting for you.
There's No reason.
#repeat
I can't have a lot of love,
I choose only you from those who among many.
I still stay dead.
Make your this day. Make your this day. Make your this day.
Dalle announced that a new single called Asphalt will be released on their gig on the25th of february. Background: Dalle was created in 2008 by Közi and Atsushi Hatta but their activities has been irregular until 2015. On the charity event Hope and Live 2015 (for HIV and AIDS) Dalle announced their comeback with additional members. (source:http://www.excite.co.jp/News/music/20151122/E1448119607938.html) Link to the online store: http://dorothy.buyshop.jp/
Happy New Year!
I haven't really felt like making any new year's resolutions, I still don't. Really. I know I would never tell myself to start doing something on the 1st and acctually stick to that. That's why I never made any, but this year I felt like sort of trying.
Acctually I've already started the resolutions in 2015 (see what I mean, you can't just stop and begin, all changes has to come when you feel like it :P).
My first resolution I'm going to try to keep is to do my best at taking care of my hair. Might sound easy, but not with my hair. My scalp gets oily within 1 day and the hair is dry like like a fucking desert. So I used to wash it every day which made the quality really bad and I ended up cutting it.
My hair is still pissing me off but then I look at Atsushi Sakurai from BUCK-TICK and feel; damn, I want that hair! So by the end of this year I want to look like:
Second resolution is to work out! That's a classic. And I have started this one aswell. I began in the begining of December and I'm still going! So what might have triggered this... of course a man did. A very funny story I might tell later made me find the below video and I did not just think the vocalist, Morrie, was one of the hottest Jrocker's I've ever seen but when I googled him and saw that he turns fucking 52 in a couple of months I was so impressed I decided to work out!
This probably sound really shallow, I'm gonna be honest, he wasn't the only triggering factor. There was other things playing their part in me deciding to work out, like the fact I can barely run to the bus or that I'd love to be healthy even when growing old but that's beside my point.
When I feel like falling down dead on the floor at the gym I just imagen shirtless Morrie and I'm up on that fucking bike again.
I've been terrible with updating here, even when I've been to events related to Japan! ごめんね( ﾉД`)
This autumn the composer of Final Fantasy, Nobuo Uematsu, toured together with pianist Hiroyuki Nakayama and fortunatley they made a stop in Stockholm!
This was my first time to see Nobuo acctually, so it felt really special for me since I've admired his work for over 10 years! Just as the title implies the music was just played on piano, so no flashy effect etc. we might be used to in te original scores but I have to say the concert was beyond my expectations! I have a bit of a hard time just listening to piano or only guitar music. I think it's amazing to be able to enjoy a full set of instruments, it creates a completly different dynamic, but they had done an amazing job with re-working the songs, making them into longer scores mixing different songs. While playing the music we, the audience, got to watch various scenes from the games which I think added a good feeling to the experience.
The music which was performed was from Final Fantasy I to IX, I felt a bit sad they didn't include X which is my favorite game but しょうがない...
The most interesting part about this concert was the fact that inbetween the medleys Nobuo came up on stage and talked a bit about the songs and other various stuff. They also asked for special memories connected to Final Fantasy music from fans, and Nobuo picked some of those out and talked about them on stage. The weirdest moment was probably when a guy went down on his knee and proposed to his girlfriend! Afterwards they got to hear Melodies of Life from Final Fantasy IX.
Another fun part was when Hiroyuki got the question how it felt to work with Nobuo and he replied "like meeting God". He told us he'd been a fan of the Final Fantasy games and the music since he was a teenager, and even then he began playing the songs by himself on his piano.
If you bought a more expensive ticket you'd get to stay for a meet and greet with questions to Nobuo. I didn't, I had a Madonna concert 2 nighs afetrwards so I needed to save money. Hopefully I can attend something similaranother time!
Overall it was a very nice evening, I just can't get tired of anything related to Final Fantasy!
