The Wallflowers, a rock band from Los Angeles, led by Jakob Dylan, son of Bob Dylan, one of the influential bands in the rock music industry in the 90′s..
The original members of the Wallflowers started off in 1989 included Jakob Dylan (vocals and guitar), Barrie Maguire (bass guitar and vocals), Peter Yanowitz (drums and percussion), Rami Jaffee (keyboards and vocals), and Tobi Miller (guitar)..
They have won 2 Grammy Awards for the single “One Headlight” in 1998 for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for “One Headlight”, and Jakob Dylan was awarded Best Rock Song..
This song “Beautiful Side of Somewhere” is taken from their 2005 album Rebel, Sweetheart..
IMHO, I think this song is about one has to leave the other due to unforeseen circumstances, such as illness that causes death..Do correct me if I’m wrong because this is just my opinion..
Anyhow, it’s a beautiful song, the “Beautiful Side of Somewhere” with music video and lyrics..
The Wallflowers – Beautiful Side of Somewhere music video
The Wallflowers – Beautiful Side of Somewhere on David Letterman
The Wallflowers – Beautiful Side of Somewhere
Tomorrow is gonna make you cry
It’s gonna to make you kneel
Before it breaks you from inside
Still pressing on
Arm over arm
Still trying to get both feet back onto the ground
They are harvesting these fields in autumn.
We’re different now than when we started
I am ready to wake up
There in the exodus
On the beautiful side of somewhere baby
There on the pavement
Underneath the yellow moon
I think of you
And just how easily we bruise
The folded address in my pocket i have stuffed
Trying to believe for you
That the bottom didn’t drop
I am on the platform
Covered with dust
I pray they take the both of us
I am ready to wake up
There in the exodus
On the beautiful side of somewhere baby
I am ready to come down
To see us both somehow
On the beautiful side of somewhere someday
Foster the People is an fast-rising American indie band formed in 2009..I’ve always thought they were from the UK..
Foster the People‘s members Mark Foster (vocals, keyboards, piano, synthesizers, guitar, programming, percussion), Mark Pontius (drums and extra percussion), and Cubbie Fink (bass and backing vocals) formed the band while in their mid-twenties, in Los Angeles..
I would say the type of music they played are pretty much ‘unique’ in the American market but considered normal in the UK market..
On the first attempt on their first single, ‘Pumped Up Kicks’, one might say they sound like MGMT + early-Blur-era + Peter, Bjorn, John + Goldfrapp-male version, and the likes of Blur in their early years..
Their first studio album, ‘Torches’ is released in May 2011..
All songs are written by Mark Foster except for ‘Call It What You Want’, ‘Life On The Nickel’ (Mark Foster and Paul Epworth), and ‘Miss You’ (Mark Foster and Zach Heiligman)..
I would say if you are a Barsonic-goer, it’s pretty safe to say you would enjoy their album..
Been listening to FTP before it went viral on local airwaves..Their other tracks such as ‘Helena Beat’, ‘Call It What You Want‘, and others are pretty good too, if you are into that kinda music..Like I’ve said, not your common type of music..
Here are the music video and lyrics for ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ by Foster the People..
Foster the People – Pumped Up Kicks
David Choi cover – Pumped Up Kicks
Weezer cover – Pumped Up Kicks (rock version)
Foster the People – Pumped Up Kicks Lyrics
Robert’s got a quick hand.
He’ll look around the room, he won’t tell you his plan.
He’s got a rolled cigarette, hanging out his mouth he’s a cowboy kid.
Yeah he found a six shooter gun.
In his dads closet hidden in a box of fun things, and I don’t even know what.
But he’s coming for you, yeah he’s coming for you.
[Chorus x2:]
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you’d better run, better run, outrun my gun.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you’d better run, better run, faster than my bullet.
Daddy works a long day.
He be coming home late, yeah he’s coming home late.
And he’s bringing me a surprise.
‘Cause dinner’s in the kitchen and it’s packed in ice.
I’ve waited for a long time.
Yeah the slight of my hand is now a quick pull trigger,
I reason with my cigarette,
And say your hair’s on fire, you must have lost your wits, yeah.
[Chorus x2:]
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you’d better run, better run, outrun my gun.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you’d better run, better run, faster than my bullet.
[Whistling]
[Chorus x4:]
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you’d better run, better run, outrun my gun.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you’d better run, better run, faster than my bullet.
Remioromen is a Japanese rock band comprised of Ryota Fujimaki (vocals, guitar), Keisuke Maeda (bass) and Osamu Jinguji (drums) in 2000..
“Konayuki” is taken from Remioromen’s third studio album, Horizon, released in May 2006..
*Taken from Google Images*
In MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2006 (MTV VMAJ 2006) Remioromen Music Video “Konayuki” won The Best Pop Video Award.
If you are an avid fan of Japanese drama (J-dorama) then you would have known the meaning of 1 Litre of Tears..
1 Litre of Tears (Ichi Rittoru no Namida) is a Japanese drama about a girl who was diagnosed with an incurable degenerative disease at 15, but was able to continue her life until her death at the age of 25..
The drama is based on a real story of a girl named Aya who suffered from a disease called spinocerebellar degeneration – a terrible disease where the cerebellum of the brain gradually deteriorates to the point where the victim cannot walk, speak, write, or eat..
Those who have watched this drama would definitely agree with me that you could have cried one litre of tears..It is that saddening..
It’s a very sad drama, yet it’s very inspiring to those who have lost hope in their life..
The drama starring Erika Sawajiri (Aya Ikeuchi), Ryo Nishikido (Haruto Aso), and Kenichi Matsuyama (Yuji Kawamoto of Death Note’s L fame)..
This song, “Konayuki” by Remioromen is an insert song of the drama..It adds up the dramatic effect and it’s a very nice song..
Whenever I go to Red Box I would definitely choose this song to sing, and they provides romanized lyrics..
Here is the romanized lyrics and music video of “Konayuki” by Remioromen..
*A live cover of Konayuki by Gackt and Takanori (of TM Revolution)*
Remioromen – Konayuki
konayuki mau kisetsu wa itsumo surechigai
hitogomi ni magiretemo onaji sora miteru noni
kaze ni fukarete nitayou ni kogoeru noni
boku wa kimi no subete nado shittewa inai darou
soredemo ichiokunin kara kimi wo mitsuketayo
konkyo wa naikedo honki de omotterunda
sasai na iiai mo nakute onaji jikan wo ikitenado ikenai
sunao ni narenai nara yorokobi mo kanashimi mo munashiidake
konayuki nee kokoro made shiroku somerareta nara
futari no kodoku wo wakeau koto ga dekitano kai?
boku wa kimi no kokoro ni mimi wo oshiatete
sono koe no suru hou e sutto fukaku made
orite yukitai soko de mou ichido aou
wakari aitai nante uwabe
wo nadeteita nowa boku no hou
kimi no kajikanda te mo nigiri
shimeru koto dakede tsunagatteitanoni
konayuki nee eien wo mae ni amarini moroku
zaratsuku asufaruto no ue shimi ni natte yukuyo
konayuki nee toki ni tayori naku kokoro wa yureru
soredemo boku wa kimi no koto mamori tsuzuketai
konayuki nee kokoro made shiroku somerareta nara
futari no kodoku wo tsutsunde sora ni kaesu kara
Last Friday on 11th March 2011, Japan suffered their worst earthquake so far, a 8.9 magnitude earthquake..
Japan, being one of the most advanced country in terms of technology and also city development, handled the massive earthquake pretty well, considering one of the popular countries that have earthquakes..
Unfortunately, the 8.9 magnitude earthquake caused a massive tsunami hit on Northeast of Japan, Sendai..
From earthquake leads to tsunami and then radiation due to meltdown of nearby nuclear plants..Tragedy maximum
On 25th June 2011, the 10th MTV Video Music Awards Japan has become MTV Video Music Aid Japan, serves as an awareness and fund-raising campaign of some sort benefiting the Japanese Red Cross..
Here’s a song from Glay called “I’m In Love”, an old song back somewhere in the last 90′s..
Let’s show some love to Japan and I don’t want the anime industry to die!
Here are 2 videos, one from the GLAY Survival Expo 1999 at Makuhari Messe, gathered a large crowd of 200,000 people, making it the largest concert ever held by one single act in Japan..
Another video is at GLAY 15th Anniversary Special 2009, The Great Vacation at the Nissan Stadium, a two-day event which have gathered 150,000 people..
*GLAY 15th Anniversary Special 2009, The great Vacation at the Nissan Stadium*
*GLAY Survival Expo 1999*
Chiisa na pokke ni gyutto tsumateita
Kusa no nioi no takaramomotachi wa kakurembo
Hodoketa kutsuhimo musunde kureta kimi o nose
Manatsu no takasugiru kumo ni mukatte shouryokou
[FROM] LONELY DAYS WE CAN FLY
Mabuta no ura ni wa ano hi no bokura
[FROM] LONELY NIGHTS WE CAN FLY
Itsu demo nani ka ni kizutsuiteta ne
I’m just in love I’m just in love
I’m just in love oh Singin’ my life
Furuita arubamu hiraita boku wa
Wakakatta futari to ima ja toshi mo sou kawaranai
Shouwa to iu no jidai ni bokura o kakaete hashitta
Sonna anata no ikigai ga shimite nakitaku naru
[FROM] LONELY DAYS WE CAN FLY
Yutaka na hibi ni natsukashiku omou
[FROM] LONELY NIGHTS WE CAN FLY
OK! THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE
I’m just in love I’m just in love
I’m just in love oh Singin’ my life
Lee DeWyze was in town on 17th May 2011, a public holiday in Malaysia where we celebrate the Wesak Day, to promote his “Live It Up” album..
The music showcase followed by an autograph session, proudly brought to you by Astro STAR World & Sony Music, was held at Subang Parade..
The American Idol is definitely one good talent and I enjoyed his acoustics..
Lee and his keyboardist showed some pretty good works and it made the crowd asking for more..
The crowd started to build-up even before Lee turned up and more curious on-lookers on top floors got attracted to the screamings and of course, nice voice with nice music..
I bet there were quite a number of new fans of Lee DeWyze on that day..
Other than Lee’s voice, the only other stuff I heard was from the crowd shouting “Lee I love you!” or a long stretch of “Leeeee ~!!!!”, I mean many of them..
The 90-minutes showcase ended with an encore of ‘Sweet Serendipity’ and an autograph session..
The queue was quite long and it’s good to see Lee make the effort to try to talk to each and every one of the people in queue but of course the tight schedule didn’t permit him to do more..
Thanks to SONY Music Malaysia, I was able to meet him in person in the backstage before the showcase with Joshua and Daphne..
Here’s the encore to his pretty awesome showcase, ‘Sweet Serendipity’..
Tiger Beer presented the biggest Asian music festival ever that has happened in Malaysia..
On 30th April 2011, the Asian Music Festival 2011 was held at the Mines International Exhibition Convention Centre (MIECC) and had pulled a strong 20,000 crowd to the event!
Thanks to GAB and G2, I was able to cover and enjoy the 12-hour concert standing right in front of the stage, standing very close to the artistes when they walked upfront the stage..
Long story short, let’s head to the main agenda of the day..
Local English band Rosevelt did the opening for Asian Music Festival 2011..Then Malaysian Will Ng came on stage for the second act..
I was right on time for 24 Herbs (Yah Sei Mei), the high-prolific rap group (after LMF) from Hong Kong was on stage to rock the house down..
*24 Herbs from Hong Kong*
24 Herbs gave a good performance with 6 songs, including Do or Die, Wonderland featuring ManHand, and ended with “Hu Ge”..
*Local Chinese rock band, dayDream*
dayDream was quite okay, performed 6 songs including covering 2 songs, one of MayDay’s and another Linkin Park’s “In The End”..
*Suki Low featuring Shawn Lee and Dennis Lau*
Suki Low made her appearance a moment to be remembered with a cover of Katy Perry’s “Firework”..She has grown so much since the One In A Million and she can definitely go further..
She continued to do an unplugged cover of “Born This Way” (Lady Gaga) on the keyboard featuring beatboxer Shawn Lee and violinist Dennis Lau..
*Namcha from Thailand*
Next up was Namcha from Thailand..Although I hardly understood Thai except for “sawadee kap”, her performance was pretty energetic and the tune and rhythm of the songs were quite easy to blend in, fun-happy-go-lucky type..
I really had fun with her songs and eventually followed her on Twitter (@namcha_tea) right there and then
