Music review: Mika Nakashima - RESISTANCE

Artist: Mika Nakashima Album: Love Release date: 11/6/03 (previously released as a single on 12/7/02) Video link: Via YouTube

English translation: A while angel’s feathers are fluttering down and start to pile up Cry! In a faithless city, life is sacrificed Crushed down Give a KISS of grief...

If you sleep, morning will come the land of freedom is scary It’s just foolish kindness a fleeting road is all that remains

When this girl cannot sing she turns to search for a reason Along in a group, going into the darkness The murmur of voices is interrupted

The snow started to lead me for now, it illuminates a shape But it’s just my own beating heart

Looking through the gaps in my fingers The world is quickly narrowed towards the future Cry! Scorn this foolish love Spread your arms and give a KISS of grief...

My pulse keeps going up as I find the deceitful voice Those without all colors are left with just beauty

But like the snow eventually it’ll get dirty Unless you get away from this city you’ll live in a dream

A while angel’s feathers are fluttering down and start to pile up Cry! In a faithless city, life is sacrificed Crushed down the angel gives a KISS of grief...

Untill you arrive you will call out for the light you lost God’s voice, is just your throbbing heart

Looking through the gaps in my fingers The world is quickly narrowed towards the future Cry! Scorn this foolish love Spread your arms and give a KISS of grief... About the song: This is one of my absolutely favorite songs from Mika Nakashima. Her voice gives the song a sort of ethereal feeling despite the heavy drumline. It's the type of song that can help lift your spirits and just make you feel good about the world.

Music review: REM - Losing My Religion

Artist: R.E.M. Members: Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Bill Berry Album: Out of Time Release date: 3/12/91 Video link: Via YouTube

Lyrics: Life is bigger It's bigger than you And you are not me The lengths that I will go to The distance in your eyes Oh no I've said too much I set it up

That's me in the corner That's me in the spotlight Losing my religion Trying to keep up with you And I don't know if I can do it Oh no I've said too much I haven't said enough I thought that I heard you laughing I thought that I heard you sing I think I thought I saw you try

Every whisper Of every waking hour I'm Choosing my confessions Trying to keep an eye on you Like a hurt lost and blinded fool Oh no I've said too much I set it up

Consider this The hint of the century Consider this The slip that brought me To my knees failed What if all these fantasies Come flailing around Now I've said too much I thought that I heard you laughing I thought that I heard you sing I think I thought I saw you try

But that was just a dream That was just a dream About the song: I'm sure everyone has their opinions about what this song is about. It's not as religious as most people think it is. 'Losing my religion' is a phrase that means something along the lines of 'end of my rope' or 'running out of patience.' In the context of this song, it's basically the singer following/stalking the subject to the point that it drives him a bit crazy. He's looking for a sign that the subject will accept or love him but it just isn't happening.

Musically, it's an interesting song. Instead of a lead guitar, the main instrument here is a mandolin. It gives the song a bit of a 'crazy' feeling to it. As if the strings will suddenly break and drive Michael Stipe insane. It's also interesting that this is considered one of REM's biggest hits. After all, how many pop songs have mandolins?

Music review: Mini Moni - Minimoni. Kazoe Uta ~Date version~

Artist: Mini MoniMembers: Mika Todd (family name last), Kago Ai, Nozomi Tsuji, Takahashi Ai Album: mini-moni. SONGS 2 Release date: 2/11/04 Video link: On YouTube

English translation: "Let's go! One, two, three, go!"

Going out with that special person Hey! Going out with that special person! Lalala How fun! Lalala, how fun! Hey! It's fun going on a date

One, two, three, four Five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten Eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen Twenty

"Did they arrive?" "Not yet!" "All right! Then one more time" "Okay!"

Going out with that special person Hey! Going out with that special person! Lalala How fun! Lalala, how fun! Hey! It's fun going on a date

Coming, not coming, coming Not coming, coming, not coming, coming Not coming, coming, coming, not coming Coming, not coming, not coming, not coming Coming, they're finally here!

"Did they arrive?" "Yup!"

How fun! Lalala, how fun! Hey! Going out with that special person! Lalala How fun! Lalala, how fun! Hey! It's fun going on a date

That person I love is pretty! Hey! That person I love is pretty! Lalala How pretty! Lalala, how pretty! Hey! You're pretty when you're in love!

Love you, love you, love you, really love you Love you, love you, love you Love-love you, love you~ really love you Love you, love you~ really love you, love you I LOVE YOU

"Do we love 'em lots now?" "Not yet!" "All right! Then one more time" "Okay!"

That person I love is pretty! Hey! That person I love is pretty! Lalala How pretty! Lalala, how pretty! Hey! You're pretty when you're in love!

Love you, love you, love you, really love you Love you, love you, love you Love-love you, love you~ really love you Love you, love you~ really love you, love you I LOVE YOU

"Do we love 'em lots now?" "All clean!"

How fun! Lalala, how fun! Hey! Going out with that special person! Lalala How fun! Lalala, how fun! Hey! It's fun going on a date About the song: If you get nothing else out of Mini Moni, you get a little bit of education and a lot of fun. Right there in the beginning of the song are numbers in Japanese! Even you can count to twenty! Unfortunately, like many other Mini Moni songs, it gets old really fast. Most of their songs are aimed at children so there is a lot of repetition involved. The same happens here. I'm ready to turn it off by the third 'suki' if I manage to make it that far. It's cute but a little TOO cute.

Music review: Live - Pillar of Davidson

Artist: Live Members: Ed Kowalczyk (lead vocals and guitar), Chad Taylor (lead guitar), Patrick Dahlheimer (bass guitar) and Chad Gracey (drums) Album: Throwing Copper Release date: 4/26/94 Video link

Lyrics: Warm bodies, I sense Are not machines that can only make money Past, perfect, tense Words for a feeling and all I've discovered I'll be along son With medicine supposed to, designed to Make you high I'll be along son With words for a feeling and all I've discovered

Old, bad eyes Old, bad eyes Old, bad eyes

On loneliness comes Go see the foreman, go see the profiteer On loneliness drives We're takin' our time movin' shit for this holy slime

Old, bad eyes Old, bad eyes Old, bad eyes, almighty fear

The shepherd won't leave me alone He's in my face and I The shepherd of my days And I want you here by my heart And my head, I can't start 'til I'm dead About the song: Live comes from a fairly small town not too far from my house. Like many small towns, York, Pennsylvania is a blue-collar town. This song is about the people working hard in a crappy job to support their family. It's a pretty powerful song with a hard drum beat and a steady bass line that give the song a dark feeling. You're left feeling sorry for the people forced to live these sorts of backbreaking jobs just so they can put food on the table.

Music review: Barenaked Ladies - Adrift

Artist: Barenaked Ladies Members: Steven Page (vocals), Ed Robertson (guitar/vocals), Tyler Stewart (drums), Jim Creegan (bass), Kevin Hearn (keyboards) Album: Barenaked Ladies Are Me Release date: 9/12/06 Video link: Via YouTube

Lyrics: Ever since we said our good-byes The onion rings, the phone makes me cry Something isn't right Like the Deep Blue without the Great White

In the morning open your eyes The waterfalls, the fire flies You're an abacus And my heart was counting on us

Your heart's got a heavy load There's still a long way to go Keep your eyes on the road

Crescent moon sings me to sleep The birches bark, the willows weep But I lie awake; I'm adrift without a snowflake

Your heart's got a heavy load There's still a long way to go Keep your eyes on the road About the song: While Steve has the stronger voice, I think it was a perfect choice to have Ed sing lead on this. His voice is a bit softer which gives this sad ballad so much emotion. It's a wonderful song though I'm not sure I agree with their choice to lead the album with it. It sets the entire album off with a melancholy feeling instead of something a bit happier. But it still a good song on its own.

Music review: Arashi - A*RA*SHI

Artist: Arashi Members: Ninomiya Kazunari (Nino), Ohno Satoshi (Leader), Matsumoto Jun (MatsuJun), Aiba Masaki, Sakurai Sho Album: Arashi No.1 Ichigou Release date: 11/24/01 Video link: Performed on the One Tour (Surprise additional video! A music video directed by Hideaki Takizawa of Tackey and Tsubasa)

English translation: Pop it yeah! Honesty good! The heaviness from that boo! That's all right! Yet we will shape the world yes we are super boy! We are cool Even if something unpleasant happened, we show it off We'll do what we can, can't we? It's all right to have a dream, right?

You are my soul! Soul! You always are here with me I can't give it away. No one can get in our way. Congregate the wind and wind it all over my body storm storm for dream

Today again, they are saying in TV They are saying how miserable the world has become. I am always looking for looking for a gigantic love and ambition Everyday! Everybody! The world hasn't end yet Why don't we start from here? Let's get on! Let's get on yea!

Step by step instead of bursting, go for it naked Day by day I want stimulation rather than boredom Let's open our huge wings up

You are my soul! Soul! You always are here with me I can't give it away. No one can get in our way. Congregate the wind and wind it all over my body storm storm for dream

Catching the harsh storm with your both hands Be brave, let's fly Aim the heaven and unbeatable cloud Fly away

Step by step instead of bursting, go for it naked Day by day I want stimulation rather than boredom Let's open our huge wings up

You are my soul! Soul! You make me strong Tears are tommorrow's energy Aim the future, let's go for it. Storm storm oh yea!

You are my soul! Soul! You always are here with me I can't give it away. No one can get in our way. Congregate the wind and wind it all over my body storm storm for dream

Today again, they are saying in TV They are saying how miserable the world has become. I am always looking for looking for a gigantic love and ambition Everyday! Everybody! The world hasn't end yet Why don't we start from here? Let's get on! Let's get on yea!

You are my soul! Soul! You always are here with me I can't give it away. No one can get in our way. Congregate the wind and wind it all over my body storm storm for dream About the song: As should be fairly obvious, this was the first single released by Arashi. The word 'arashi' means storm, which is why it sounds a bit weird in the translation. I think the lyrics intended to reference the band and not a weather pattern.

This was the perfect song to use for the debut. It not only highlights Ohno's amazing voice but it also has some really good raps for Sho and the boys can show off a bit of their dancing skills too. It's easy to see why it's still one of their most popular songs.

Music review: BoA - Kimi no Tonari de

Artist: BoAAlbum: Outgrow Release date: 2/15/06 Video link: Via YouTube

English translation: Beside you, for you I want to do something for you I don’t care when Just tell me

Why does the mere thought of you Make my heart jump like this? Why does the mere touch of your hand Heal all my pain?

Did you move the wind When you suddenly sneezed? As the sunlight streams through the trees Our two feelings become one

Beside you, for you I want to do something for you I don’t care when When you feel like crying Just tell me

I hope that this time When we can talk about things Like what we were doing this time last year And where to go on the weekend Continues forever, without changing

At the crossing, you put your arm around me To protect me from the stream of people That ordinary kindness …Made me so happy

There’s so much more That I want to tell you We’ll be able to see each other again tomorrow But would it be luxuriant of me To wish I could stay by your side longer?

Beside you, for you I want to do something for you I don’t care when When you feel like crying Just tell me

I want us to share Our happiness and pain Can I say something just a little bit selfish? My heart’s trembling a little So hold me tighter than anyone else About the song: Another sweet ballad comes from the BoA camp. However, since this song is so slow, it seems like it is way too long. It is pretty and the lyrics have some nice feelings but there is nothing spectacular here. I would easily pass up this song for one of her pop songs.

Music review: Peach Hips - Tuxedo Mirage

Artist: Peach Hips Members: Mitsuishi Kotono (Sailor Moon), Tomizawa Michie (Sailor Mars), Hisakawa Aya (Sailor Mercury), Shinohara Emi (Sailor Jupiter), Fukami Rica (Sailor Venus) Album: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S Big Box (the song can be found on other albums as well) Release date: 11/21/94 Video link: Via YouTube

English Translation: In the dish of the moonlight I take off my star earrings What should I do, my heart is, my heart is filled to the top Even if these fireworks turn into stars, even if we lose our love into darkness I beg of you, do not stop your kisses You can steal me away with your scent of velvet This is love my heart found in the galaxy

*The mantle of the evening spreads out in a rainbow More and more, I love you Tuxedo mirage Tuxedo mirage

The canary music box softly fades out What should I do, my heart is, my heart is stuffed up Even if these tears turn into stars, even if we lose our merry-go-round I beg of you, do not stop your kisses I want to be taken in by your gaze of velvet This is love my heart pledged in the galaxy

Gently held close in a storm of flower petals Never, never, disappear Tuxedo mirage

*Repeat About the song: Sailor Moon is my favorite anime series. Tuxedo Mirage is the ending theme song to Sailor Moon S, the third season of the series after Sailor Moon and Sailor Moon R. The song is sung by the voice actresses of the main characters. As love is one of the themes of the show, of course the ending theme embraces that feeling. Though it may not be my favorite song from the show, it is a sweet song with nice voices and soft music.

Music review: L'arc~en~Ciel - Kasou

Artist: L'arc~en~Ciel Members: Hyde (vocals, guitar), Tetsu (background vocals, bass), Ken (guitar), Yukihiro (drums) Album: Ray Release date: 7/1/99 Video link: Via YouTube

English translation: Separately scattered about flower petals, drops of pink around the waning moon reflecting an eternal love.

Eyes...left open a body that's going to rot splendidly lost, only this consciousness left without waiting for the spring.

my beloved one, you just gently turn cold, in these arms as you are broken listen. The abyss of dreams is calling like always.

on the night that blooms out of season the melody of a restless soul the flower floating in the darkness my only parting gift.

(English: Gravity is on the increase as time goes by my body returns to earth there is sky up in the air my body is in your sky and my life is in your cosmos we never come close to each other be here we exist as it is.....) it comes to an end at last the pain of being reborn in the earthen ground I swallow the promise I'm bound to a dead world

separately scattered about flower petals drops of pink around the waning moon reflecting an eternal love

This evening...oh the ecstasy of a dream... At last my eyes closed

On the night that blooms out of season the melody of a restless soul the flower floating in the darkness my only parting gift About the song: This is, by far, my favorite L'arc song. While the lyrics are fairly morbid, the song as a whole is still absolutely beautiful. In my opinion, the best way to listen to it is to watch the music video. The etherealness of the song mixes with the symbolism of the graphics in such an amazing way. I have a difficult time listening to the song without seeing Hyde in his "vampire" costume in my mind.

Music review: Green Day - One For The Razorbacks

Artist: Green Day Members: Billie Joe Armstrong (guitar, vocals), Mike Dirnt (bass), Tre Cool (drums) Album: Kerplunk Release date: 1/17/92 Video link: Via YouTube

Lyrics: Juliet's trying to find out what she wants, but she don't know Experience has got her down Look this direction, I know it's not perfection, it's just me... I want to bring you up again now

I'm losing what's left of my dignity A small price I'll pay to see That you're happy Forget all the disappointments you have faced Open up your worried world and let me in

Juliet's crying cause now she's realizing love can be Filled with pain and distrust I know I am crazy, and a bit lazy But I will try to bring you up again now About the song: I've always loved Green Day's older music more than their current albums. Maybe it was the "emo teenager" in me that felt a connection to songs like this. Songs about how love can suck and life isn't always roses. Now that I'm older, these songs don't cut nearly as close as they used to but they still bring me feelings of nostalgia.