JAPANESE COMPOSER & MUSICIANS

During my teens period, I have already fallen in love with Japanese musicians' work. Casiopea, Himiko Kikuchi, & Seiko Town are the first that I know. But it is not easy to find records by them during those days.
Luckily now days with many streaming radio, multiply.com, lime wire etc, people can easily changing their collection. Since several weeks ago, I had a chance to search songs composed by Japanese musicians. What did I find finally?? I got Himiko Kikuchi's songs; Tomosuke Funaki's & Mika Nakashima's.

Never heard about Tomosuke Funaki (see the picture) before and also Mika Nakashima, but definitely I love their works! Then I tried to explore more about this 2 musicians. Unfortunately, I could not find Tomosuke profile except: Tomosuke Funaki (舟木智介), writes music for Konami's "Bemani" series of video games. Aliases/projects include (but are not limited to): Orange Lounge, EeL, ELE BLOCK, Caldeira.
I don't know if I can get his works from the local music stores. Should try this weekend......... (wishing).


Below is about Mika Nakashima that I got from lastfm.com
中島美嘉 (Mika Nakashima), born February 19, 1983, had dreamed of becoming a singer since she was a child. She decided not to attend high school, and pursued her dream in a musical career. The very first demo-tape she sent to a record company had given her the chance. She was chosen out of 3000 girls, as the heroine of the 2001 fall season drama, "Kizudarake no Love Song (Scarred Love Song)" of the Fuji TV station. In November, she made her sensational debut from Sony Music Associated Records, with the song "STARS", which was also the theme song of the drama.

Her second single "CRESCENT MOON", a groovy track with an 80's flavor, was the limited product of 100,000 copies only. Amazingly, it sold out the first day of its release.
In March of 2002 she released her third single "ONE SURVIVE" (which received great feedback) and her first video "FILM LOTUS", in May her 4th single "HELPLESS RAIN", in August her 5th single "WILL" was released, tying-up to the sales of over 200,000 and Top Ten hits.
In December of 2006, Mika released "Hitoiro" for the NANA 2 movie under the name "NANA starring MIKA NAKASHIMA," as well as a NANA album titled "THE END," marking the conclusion of her association with NANA.
Mika's newest single, "Mienai Hoshi," a ballad with a tinge of gospel sound, will be released February 21st, 2007. The b-side to this single will be a cover of the famous Ozaki Yutaka song, "I LOVE YOU." Mika's 4th studio album "YES", to be released March 14th, as been confirmed as well.

Observing Japanese Musicians' work that I like, somehow I can draw the red line of those songs, it always has a kind of 'cheerful' tones! Cute kinda music! I could not find a right words to describe this. But if you listen to it you will understand what I mean.









If you wish to listen to Tomosuke's and Mika Nakashima's click here:
http://bluecarrot.multiply.com/music/item/33/J-Jazz
(I like Nyadafuru 55 best!)

MUSIC & COFFEE

If I am asked what is the relation between music & coffee, I would say I don't know. But I can say that I am very happy listening to my music while sipping a cup of coffee. Watching a live jazz band performance accompanied by a cup of fresh brewed cappucinno.........hmmmm!

Yesterday I found a song titled The Aroma of Black Coffee by Metamorphosis Jazz Band - a group band from Taiwan. I like it very much. If you wish to know more about them you can find it here: http://www.jazzmeta.com/ENG/index.htm

I have uploaded the song on my multiply account, please click here if you wish to listen to it:
http://muziekmuziek.multiply.com/music/item/106/MUSIC_COFFEE

Below is the lyric of Black Coffee, sung by Peggy Lee. You also can find the song from the above link to my multiply account.

Oh one more thing..........., Putu Mayo has albums which titled Music from the Coffee Land.

Is it awkward to try relating music and coffee?? Well......, I don't think that way. Anything can be related to music. As I wrote on my early post, our lives is a music too, isn't it?

Have you brewed your coffee for today?
Happy reading & listening!


I'm feelin' mighty lonesome
Haven't slept a wink
I walk the floor from nine to four
In between I drink
Black coffee
Love's a hand-me-down brew
I'll never know a Sunday
In this weekday room

I'm talkin to the shadow
One o'clock till four
And Lord, how slow the moments go
And all I do is pour
Black coffee
Since the blues caught my eye
I'm hangin' out on Monday
My Sunday dreams to dry

Now man was born to go a lovin'
But was a woman born to weep and fret
And stay at home and tend her oven
And down her past regrets
In coffee and cigarettes

I'm moonin' all the mornin'
Moanin' all the night
And in between it's nicotine
And not much heart to fight
Black coffee
Feelin' low as the ground
It's drivin' me crazy
This thinkin' 'bout my baby
Might maybe come around
Come around

SHARE YOUR LOVE

I left home very early this morning as I have to drop my brother to the airport on the way to my office. Passing the empty city road, I saw a friend of my sister pushing her mom wheel chair for a morning walk. She did not see me, but I can see her face 'smile' brightly as usual. Her mom's expression showed a peaceful mind inside. The mom became disable to a serious heart attacked she got several years ago.

I know my sister friend since my childhood time, she stays single up to now, and always be the 'savior' in her family in terms of giving a hand to other family members. Maybe that is also the reason, she has no time for her own private life.

But seeing her smiling face, I would say that she is happy. She must be a really strong woman.

I wrote about her today, to admire her, admiring her for the real love she shared.

After seeing her this early morning, I asked myself if I have also had share loves.........real loves to others...., have you?

Seeing her today, I also remember my mom. Mother how are you today?

http://muziekmuziek.multiply.com/music/item/103/Mother

(the above picture I took from: http://www.smugmug.com/img/homepages/photo-sharing/photo-sharing.jpg)

MOURNING FOR LUCIANO PAVAROTTI

I was back from my meditation class yesterday, when my love one said that Luciano Pavarotti passed away. I feel sad. He is the greatest tenor I like best.

I don't know what I should write about him, he is just.............. great!

http://www.lucianopavarotti.com

"I think a life in music is a life beautifully spent and this is what I have devoted my life to" Luciano - Pavarotti

SOUND OF SILENCE

I don't know why, but since early morning Simon & Garfunkel's 'Sound of Silence' kept echoing in my mind. So......., by posting the lyric & music score, I want to spread the germ to all of you.

Hello darkness, my old friend,
Ive come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of
A neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one deared
Disturb the sound of silence.

Fools said i,you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you.
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed
In the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon God they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the signs said, the words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls.
And whisperd in the sounds of silence.

MY CHERIE AMOUR

Few weeks ago, on a Saturday Night, I spent time listening to a live music in a small cafe in Ubud. The cafe is belonged to a Japanese musician, and I think it is really intended to accommodate the Jazz fans needs in listening to a live performance. If the cafe is intended for a real business the menu only have limited selections and considered as light meals only.

When I arrived there, the Jazz Band was playing some instrumental jazz selections. It was good, I did enjoy. After about 10 minutes break, a lady singer sung several songs of pop music that was sang in a jazzy way. I lost my appetite to continue watching the show.

Nothing wrong with the lady singer's voice, she sung nicely, but I was expecting to listen of heavier jazz repertoire like what they played before the lady sung.

One of the song she sung that day is My Cherie Amour, actually one of my favorite of Stevie Wonder's works.

Steveland Morris born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1950, Wonder enters his fifth decade as one of the most prolific artists in music history, delivering 35 U.S. albums - 28 major studio releases - with album sales totaling more than 72 million units. The singer/songwriter has scored more than 30 Top Ten Hits, 11 #1 Pop singles, winning 19 Grammys (and a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in '96) and a host of other awards, including, most recently, Billboard's 2004 Century Award. His contribution to worldwide social and political change is just as impressive, with Wonder championing the effort to make Martin Luther King's birthday a national holiday, as well as becoming a driving force behind 1985's USA For Africa campaign.
(copied from Stevie's official website: http://www.steviewonder.net/)

REQUIEM

I was looking of my file of pictures taken in 2007, when I noticed some I took with my Nokia Phone (I did not use it anymore! The function of the phone way behind my needs now, but the resolutions of the pictures taken with it amazingly, away up the quality of my old digital camera).

Those pictures I mentioned above were taken when I attended a funeral in Singaraja early 2007. The Balinese gamelan troops playing requiem songs had attracted my attention.




Seeing those pictures made me realized, it seems like every ethnics has their own requiem repertoire, reminded me of the famous Mozart’s requiem.

Talking about requiem, I still remember, in the first two years after my father passed away, I still could not hold my tears when incidentally listening again to repertoires that played during my father's funeral. Several songs being so touchy and attached to some people, and that was happened to myself.

So, I don't know if it is true that Mozart actually prepared those requiem for himself, how was his feeling upon composing? Only him could answer the question!

http://muziekmuziek.multiply.com/music/item/99/Requiem