Tomo yo + Why I listen to J-Pop

I’ve recently discovered this wonderful AKB48 song: Tomo yo (Friends). I love it right from the first listen, especially because the intro got me all nostalgic. While listening to it today and reading the translation, I realized why I listen to these songs. I’m mostly talking about why I listen to the J-Pop I listen to rather than the stuff people around me like. I guess my reason is that I like songs about meaningful things in life like hope and friendship more than cliche messages about love. Don’t get me wrong — I’m a romantic person, and I adore love songs, but just in my own way. I’m just more touched by songs that I can relate to. Rather than giving cliche and broad messages about love, I prefer sincere feelings from the heart, like in MM’s KoiING. I can feel that, and I love how that happens. I’m also into songs about friendship and graduation because those things are important to me. I listen to music because I can feel them. Sometimes I listen to enjoy, but I love the feeling more.

Thank You My Teens

I’m not a big fan of YUI, but this song is really good. You can check out the lyrics and translation here. I like the concept of thanking your teenage years, the experience of growing up and everyone/everything that made a positive impact on your life. I can definitely relate to various lines in this song, even if I’m not yet 20 (but will be in a little over 2 years =P). I’m truly thankful for my teenage years, despite the hardship I’ve encountered. The ride is almost over, and that makes me sad, but looking back at my life I’d definitely “thank” it. =)

Yuuhi wo Miteiru ka?

Translation

I’m very impressed with this song, particular because of its lyrics (translation available in the link above). To be honest, the melody is nothing special, though enjoyable enough, but it’s the lyrics that caught my attention. Songs with optimistic lyrics like this are my favorites because they share the same messages I’d want to share with the world, had I been an artist. The message in this song is simple: Love yourself, relax a bit, and enjoy the little things in life. This is exactly what I’m feeling nowadays. One reason why I love songs sung by girls around my age is that I can relate to the songs.

Yuujou ~Kokoro no Busu ni Naranee!~

I feel like writing about my favorite MM/H!P songs in some detail so from now on you’ll probably see lots of entries dedicated to a specific song, starting with this one: “Yuujou ~Kokoro no Busu ni Naranee!~” by Morning Musume Otomegumi.

Yuujou ~Kokoro no Busu ni Naranee!~ means “friendship ~I won’t become ugly on the inside.” The lyrics and translation can be found at projecthello — only the best site for H!P lyrics.

I love the positive feeling I get from this song. It’s totally a “don’t give up; go for it!” song. I can truly feel that message in the song. It’s even better that it’s a fast pop-rock song that makes you want to jump up to the beat.

There are so many great lines that I’d like to extract and post here:

- Hitori no hi mo iin da yo (Days by yourself are okay too)

- Makenee zettee makenee (I won’t lose, I definitely won’t lose)

- Kokoro no BUSU nya nara nee (I won’t become ugly on the inside)

- Bukiyou dakara iin da yo (It’s okay if you’re clumsy)

You might think H!P lyrics are cheesy but I find songs like these inspiring. Not a lot, just a little, but a little inspiration can make me smile.

Lastly, just a small trivia: Makoto is holding a book that says “Phuket” on the cover, on the cover of the “Yuujou ~Kokoro no Busu Ni Naranee!~” single. As a Thai(-American) person, I think it’s pretty neat.

Thoughts on “Mikan” + a little more

As many of you Hello!Project fans know, Morning Musume is releasing a new single called “Mikan” on 11/21. We’ve heard some previews from concert rips, but now we finally have a good radio rip from GAKI-KAME radio show. The quality is not bad at all. I’ve been listening to it plenty of time, so now I’d like to give my thoughts on it:

This is another one of Morning Musume’s happy, positive songs. It gives a strong and encouraging vibe that leaves me very impressed. The melody is catchy — easily one of the best MM songs ever. The girls are definitely giving it their best; I’m definitely giving them points for this. The accompaniment is simply amazing from start to end. It’s a flawless song, period.

Because of my limited knowledge of Japanese, I hardly know what the lyrics are saying, but I know this is another inspiring song. I was touched the first time I heard the line “life is one time.” As flawed as Engrish gets, the simple yet meaningful message is there — you only have one life; live it, live it to your best.

It’s songs like these that make me realize how much I love Morning Musume and how meaningful the group is as a part of my life. I wonder how many days I’ve gone by without listening to or thinking of a MM song, ever since I became a fan; how many times a MM song has cheered me up so I can gain the courage to face another day, during hard times; how many MM songs hold my memories. Many fans like MM for anything but the music, but for me it’s definitely the music and the lyrics, and the girls’ cheerful voices.

I’m looking forward to watching the PV and performances of “Mikan.” I’m sure they’ll be amazing.