Music review: X-Japan - Tears

Artist: X Japan Members: Deyama "Toshi" Toshimitsu (vocals), Hayashi Yoshiki (drums and piano), Matsumoto "Hide" Hideto (lead guitar), Morie "Heath" Hiroshi (bass), Ishizuka "Pata" Tomoaki (rhythm guitar) Album: Dahlia Release date: 11/4/96 Video link: Via YouTube

English translation: "Wherever we go is okay," You said Now what may have been Has been stopped by time

On that night that was too long I had a dream where you left me Staring at a foreign sky I hugged my loneliness

My fallen tears Are piling up on the winds of time At the end I feel your breath

DRY YOUR TEARS WITH LOVE DRY YOUR TEARS WITH LOVE

LONELINESS... YOUR SILENT WHISPER FILLS A RIVER OF TEARS THROUGH THE NIGHT MEMORY... YOU NEVER LET ME CRY AND YOU, YOU NEVER SAID GOODBYE SOMETIMES OUR TEARS BLINDED THE LOVE WE LOST OUR DREAMS ALONG THE WAY BUT I NEVER THOUGHT YOU'D TRADE YOUR SOUL TO THE FATES NEVER THOUGHT YOU'D LEAVE ME ALONE

TIME THROUGH THE RAIN HAS SET ME FREE SANDS OF TIME WILL KEEP YOUR MEMORY LOVE EVERLASTING FADES AWAY ALIVE WITHIN YOUR BEATLESS HEART

DRY YOUR TEARS WITH LOVE DRY YOUR TEARS WITH LOVE

My fallen tears Are piling up on the winds of time This feeling at the end Makes my blue rose change DRY YOUR TEARS WITH LOVE DRY YOUR TEARS WITH LOVE

My fallen tears are piled on the winds of time again At the end I can feel your breath DRY YOUR TEARS WITH LOVE DRY YOUR TEARS WITH LOVE DRY YOUR TEARS WITH LOVE DRY YOUR TEARS WITH LOVE

(talking) If you could have taught me anything You would have found what love is If you could have taught me what was on your mind I could have shown you the way Someday... I will be before you Have you ever thought about that time? I never imagined the pictures of that night For now I will try to live for you And for... I will try to live Try to live the love, the dreams, And finally, the tears. About the song: Tears is an amazing power ballad. Toshi's voice is powerful enough to rock yet still give the song the raw emotion it needs. A good portion of the song is the vocal, a piano and a small orchestra. When the guitar, bass and drum kicks in, everything pulls together wonderfully. I'm not the type of person who cries at songs but this song makes me weepy.

Music review: Do As Infinity - Wings

Artist: Do As Infinity Members: Tomiko Van, Ryo Owatari, Dai Nagao Album: Tangerine Dream Release date: 9/29/99

English translation: What's been the matter recently? You've been looking down Even your harsh language, which you were proud of, has disappeared Even if this world is just unfair, As for the weak, even the answers won't be found

On the nights the storm goes away, the sky is clearer than usual & the twinkling stars are blowing kisses to us

* Tomorrow is shining & the beat will stir up a miracle there We're together & time stops immediately We go beyond the horizon where the evening sun begins to melt

Let's throw away the excess baggage Let's just take the Gibson (guitar) If we can go willingly without choosing a goal, even the rusty fate will begin to pass

Even on the days of the preestablished harmony, it's better to throw everything to the shore, even if it's just the freedom in appearance

Even if the sparkling season passes by, let's hold onto the memories that don't change The fragments of the wish are in a dream You can grab them with a little courage

When you are tired of flying, it's better to rest your wings We know that you did your best

* repeat About the song: Wings was on DAI's debut single. It was rerecorded as Wings 510 for the New World album. This version of the song has a relaxed feeling to it while the rerecording sounds a lot more....well...studio, I guess is the best way to put it. The original recording has very simple instrument lines. The rerecording brings in more...stuff in the background. Both versions are very good songs. However, I like the simpler version better.

Music review: W - Koi no Vacance

Artist: W Members: Ai Kago, Nozomi Tsuji Album: Duo U&U Release date: 6/6/04 Video link: On Veoh (Original song sung by The Peanuts)

English translation: Your kiss, Enough to make me sigh A maiden's heart seeing a sweet dream of love

Shining in a gold color Above the hot sand Let's love in bare flesh like mermaids

Gathering your sunburned smiles The promise we whispered It's a secret between the two of us A sigh escapes my lips

Ah, love's joy in the rose-colored days The first time I saw you... A vacance of love

Gathering your sunburned smiles The promise we whispered It's a secret between the two of us A sigh escapes my lips

Ah, love's joy in the rose-colored days The first time I saw you... A vacance of love About the song: W's first album consisted entirely of cover songs from the late Showa period (1924-1989). Despite the songs not being originally written for the duo, they bring a completely new sound to them. The original version of Koi no Vacance had a very 'Japanese' sound with a bit of big band tossed in. Aibon and Nono not only gave it an updated pop sound but they were also able to hold onto the original feeling of the song. While this isn't my favorite W song, it does make the top 10.

Music review: Kawabe Chieco - Be Your Girl

Artist: Kawabe Chieco Album: Brilliance Release date: 3/15/05 Video link: on Veoh

English translation: Baby, I wanna be your girl Baby, all I need is you

Even though you're with me so much now Even though you love me this much now

Time isn't on my side I can't be your girlfriend

Again and again I thought I was okay with that I'm sharing you with somebody else, but Again and again I cry knowing I don't want that, "(I wanna) be your girl..." Even if it's a lie, even if it's just for my peace of mind, tell me I'm the only one

It hurts when the anesthesia of your kiss wears off Are you leaving already?

Telling myself it would be cowardly to cry here I'm gritting my teeth and holding myself back

Again and again I thought I was okay with that I'm sharing you with somebody else, but Again and again I cry knowing I don't want that, "(I wanna) be your girl..." Even if it's a lie, even if it's just for my peace of mind

Come on, please You're the only one inside me Tell me I'm the only one you love There's just one thing I want, I simply want all of you

I won't run away from the world waiting ahead on this path I want to see for myself where it leads Even if I get hurt even more than I have already, "I'm gonna be your girl!" There's no way you can stop me, because this is the way I feel

Again and again I thought I was okay with that I'm sharing you with somebody else, but Again and again I cry knowing I don't want that, "(I wanna) be your girl..." Even if it's a lie, even if it's just for my peace of mind, tell me I'm the only one

Baby, I wanna be your girl Baby, all I need is you About the song: Chieco is very good at singing bubblegum pop songs. After spending two years starring as Sailor Mercury in the Sailor Moon musicals, she released her first single, Be Your Girl. The song became the ending theme to the anime "Elfen Lied" and shot her into stardom. I can definitely say that this is a song I can listen to over and over and still not get tired of it. Even though it's very bubblegum pop, the music is interesting enough to capture your attention. Chieco has a strong voice that helps make the song sound a bit more 'rock' than it really is. Sadly, she hasn't released a song since early 2006. I hope that she will return with a stronger sound. Bubblegum pop is good but that can't last forever.

Music review: BoA - Searching For Truth

Artist: BoAAlbum: Shine We Are! Release date: 12/4/03

Lyrics: * Show me angel, Where are you? (Right) Show me angel, Where are you? (Here) Show me angel, Where are you callin' from? (Waiting for you)

* repeat

Sarang hahn da neun ma leun Noo goo la do sohk sak ee gaet ji mahn Mal ha neun guht mahn eu rohn ma eum ee juhn hae jyuh o ji ah nah Bah la mahn bo ki bo dan nuh ei moh deen gul neu kki go shi puh Nae ga bah lan ee saeng gak dee leun nae yohk shim in ga yo

So eul nae mil uh bwah do da ji ah nah yo Geu juh geu gae kkum il ji la do Na ei sahng eun dan hahn buhn ppoon il tahn ni Na reul ki da ri neun gun Ah peum ee duh la do doo ryuh wuh mal go Ji geum ei neu kkim eul ah nah bo go shi puh yo

** Searching for truth Geu dae neun ji geum uh de ae ees na yo nal bo na yo Searching for truth Geu dae reul whi hae sae sahng ae tae uh na jyo

* repeat

Mahn nam gwah ee byul deel ee Nae gae o buhn ee na ji na ga ya Na reul whi hahn oon myung ei geu dae reul Mahn nal soo ees neun gun ji Cho buhn ei mi soh deel gwah Ddo neun geu ee sahng ei noon moor deel ee Bi rohk nae gae neun ah peum ee la do ki da ril soo ees jyo

Ji geum geu dae reul hyang hae dahl ri go ees jyo Sul reh ee myuh buhk chah o reu neun Na ei ma eum eul neu kkil soo ees na yo Bi rohk kkum eul kkoo deus ee Hwan sahng il ji la do mid go shi puh yo Na ae gae geu dae ga da ga o go ees da go

Searching for truth soom gyuh jin bi mil Juh hyuh jin nal gae neun nae mahm sohk ae Geu dae ga ees jyo bah ro nae kyu tae Ji geum nan ahl soo ees jyo

** repeat

Searching for truth Shin bi hahn bi mil Juh hyuh jin nal gae neun nae mahm sohk ae Searching for truth Geu dae neun ji geum nae nal gae ga dwi uht jyo

Livin\' inside of my heart

* repeat * repeat About the song: This is one of BoA's Korean songs. (She sings in Japanese, Korean and English.) To me, a lot of her songs sound the same. This isn't any different. Don't get me wrong, it's a decent enough song. BoA's voice is strong, as always, and the music rocks. It just sounds like the rest of her songs. I usually end up picking a couple of BoA songs to listen to and this one doesn't make that list.

Music review: Ken Hirai - Miracles

Artist: Ken Hirai Album: gaining through losing Release date: 7/4/01

English translation: Ah I love the whispered voice right by my ear mmmmh... You cast a spell on the overlapping lips

It always starts in a dream and the fear of the light coming in It's as though you'd disappear when I open my eyes

If I hold you, the more I do so this heart is about to tear apart I want to hold you Hold me longer until this pain subsides

I feel miracle when I see you when I kiss you (feel miracle) My spirit will go when I touch you when I hold you (when I kiss you baby) There's no miracle when I miss you when I lose you You're my miracle

If I hold you, the more I do so this heart is about to tear apart I want to hold you Hold me stronger so that this miracle can last longer

If I hold you, the more I do so this heart... I want to hold you Hold me longer until this pain...

You're my miracle About the song: When I first started listening to Ken Hirai, I didn't like anything other than POP STAR. However, his songs have grown on me. Miracles is the type of song that you would make love to. Ken's voice is silky and smooth while the music wraps you up in loving feelings. He may be a little odd in concert but his music definitely makes up for it.

Music review: Barenaked Ladies - Alternative Girlfriend

Artist: Barenaked Ladies Members: Steven Page, Ed Robertson, Jim Creegan, Tyler Stewart, Andy Creegan Album: Maybe You Should Drive Release date: 8/16/94 Video link: Via YouTube

Lyrics: You're in an all-girl band Your futon's second hand Your parents understand but you don't care

I have a job in a shop I'm an undercover cop I make sure the customers aren't thieves

Old at being young Young at being old Everything's on hold within our evolution

Chorus:

You're my alternative girlfriend I love you, and now you cannot pretend There's nothing left that won't cross over

Last night we slept on the lawn you woke up and I was gone Back to the dream I dream to leave My life with her is a bore

A worn-out metaphor No more surprises up its sleeve We're old at being young Young at being old Everything's been sold to other's revolutions

Chorus

You live above your dad's four-car garage With your vinyl and imaginary entourage if I pull up in a U-Haul, pack up quick So we can get out of this town 'cause it makes me sick

Chorus About the song: I fully admit that I am pretty biased toward Barenaked Ladies songs. They have so many great songs. This is another one. Alternative Girlfriend is fairly straight-forward lyrically. It's a song about a young couple who have grown bored of each other. I think it's the background music that really makes this song. There isn't anything 'new' or 'fresh' about it but that's the point. It sounds like a whole lot of other 'alternative' songs from that time period which points out the fact that while you may think you are different, you're pretty much the same as everyone else.

Music review: Five for Fighting - 100 Years

Artist: Five For Fighting Album: Battle For Everything Release date: 2/3/04 Video link: Via YouTube

Lyrics: I'm 15 for a moment Caught in between 10 and 20 And I'm just dreaming Counting the ways to where you are I'm 22 for a moment She feels better than ever And we're on fire Making our way back from Mars 15 there's still time for you Time to buy and time to lose 15, there's never a wish better than this When you only got 100 years to live I'm 33 for a moment Still the man, but you see I'm a they A kid on the way A family on my mind I'm 45 for a moment The sea is high And I'm heading into a crisis Chasing the years of my life 15 there's still time for you Time to buy, Time to lose yourself Within a morning star 15 I'm all right with you 15, there's never a wish better than this When you only got 100 years to live Half time goes by Suddenly you’re wise Another blink of an eye 67 is gone The sun is getting high We're moving on... I'm 99 for a moment Dying for just another moment And I'm just dreaming Counting the ways to where you are 15 there's still time for you 22 I feel her too 33 you’re on your way Every day's a new day... 15 there's still time for you Time to buy and time to choose Hey 15, there's never a wish better than this When you only got 100 years to live About the song: Such a sweet song. It's a story about a couple of kids that fall in love and spend their entire lives together. Yet that time goes back so quickly. This is one of those songs that I liked the melody but never listened to the words because it was always in the background of some commercial or TV show I was watching. That's probably a good thing since the lyrics bring a tear to my eye.

Music review: Green Day - St. Jimmy

Artist: Green Day Members: Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals, guitar), Mike Dirnt (bass, vocals), Tre Cool (drums) Album: American Idiot Release date: 9/21/04 Video link: Via YouTube

Lyrics: St. Jimmy's comin' down across the alleyway Up on the boulevard like a zip gun on parade Light of a silhouette He's insubordinate Coming at you on the count of 1,2,1,2,3,4!

My name is Jimmy and you better not wear it out Suicide commando that your momma talked about King of the forty thieves And I'm here to represent That needle in the vein of the establishment

I'm the patron saint of the denial With an angel face and a taste for suicidal

Cigarettes and ramen and a little bag of dope I am the son of a bitch and Edgar Allen Poe Raised in the city under a halo of lights The product of war and fear that we've been victimized

I'm the patron saint of the denial With an angel face and a taste for suicidal

ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?

I'll give you something to cry about.

ST. JIMMY!

My name is St. Jimmy I'm a son of a gun I'm the one that's from the way outside I'm a teenage assassin executing some fun In the cult of the life of crime.

I really hate to say it but I told you so So shut your mouth before I shoot you down old boy Welcome to the club and give me some blood And the resident leader at the lost and found

It's comedy and tragedy It's St. Jimmy And that's my nameeeeeee...and don't wear it out! About the song: St. Jimmy is from Green Day's rock opera album American Idiot. All of the songs from the album go together to form a larger story so it's a little bit difficult to talk about some of the songs individually.

St. Jimmy is one of the characters in the rock opera. While the band will not talk about their interpretations of the lyrics, a lot of fans think St. Jimmy is an alter-ego of the Jesus of Suburbia character. The Jimmy personality is filled with violence and drugs where the JoS personality is merely a bored suburban kid.

I'd definitely recommend that everyone listens to the entire American Idiot at least once. It's an awesome album.

Music review: Asian Kung-Fu Generation - Kimi to iu Hana

Artist: Asian Kung-Fu Generation Members: Kensuke Kita, Masafumi Goto, Takahiro Yamada, Kiyoshi Ijichi Album: Kimi Tsunagi Five M Release date: 11/19/03 Video link: Via YouTube

English translation: In the despair of a transparent foam My spinning heart looped Moving forward somehow, unconcerned A hesitant story Always losing something Then we’ll know today Moving forward somehow, meaninglessly A hesitant story In short, everything was smashed up

In our transparent desires My heart that is dying out, looped Moving forward somehow, unconcerned A hesitant story For how long will we lose things? You know the real me, that I was hiding Moving forward somehow, meaninglessly A hesitant story

In short, everything was smashed up In short, it was dancing in the wind A drop shining in your eyes Ah, thunder in the blue sky If there is only pain, then it’s divided between us, that’s right The color of the two of us Until our white breath runs out That road that we flew over From atop a hill, I can see a flower called "you" That has bloomed in the city, and will bloom again

In short, everything was smashed up In short, it was dancing in the wind A drop shining in your eyes Ah, thunder in the blue sky If there is only pain, then it’s divided between us, that’s right The color of the two of us Until our white breath runs out That road that we flew over From atop a hill, I can see a flower called "you" That has bloomed in the city, and will bloom again

In a color like yours... About the song: AKFG always reminds me of Weezer. They come across as these geeks that know how to rock. That's not bad, it's just unusual for a popular band. This song mostly leaves me speechless. The guitar line is so rocking that most of the time, I'm not even listening to the lyrics. I just let the feeling of the song and the sound of the music wash over me. It's definitely a song that will leave you feeling good after you listen to it.