Koi No Vacance - W (DoubleU) on classical guitar

Been a refreshing and productive week, with lots of good news and stuff. Which can only mean one thing - bad days are ahead. That's the pessimistic Mick for you. (^_^)

Managed to (finally) record a song that I have transposed a long while ago. Also posted it on my Hello! Project blog. It didn't take me long to transpose the chords, melody and the guitar solo, but since I didn't write down the notations for it (too lazy to do it), it took me quite a number of tries before I get it right. ...... and because I have a short memory and attention span. (^o^)v

Few things I realised after uploading this video, is that I forgot to clean the lens before recording, and forgotten to include the guitar riff intro to the song...

Koi No Vacance - W (DoubleU)


Actually, I have reconsidered on tabbing my guitar works. I haven't surveyed the right software for it. Plus there are a number of things I need to buy - a proper recording microphone, and a digital camera. But once all that is settled, I'm going to film, record and tab my songs, and with publish it for TUTORIAL purposes. I shouldn't get into trouble for this.... I think. Read here, to know what I'm concerned about.

I will try with just ONE song first, to estimate how much work it takes to produce one, and if it is worth continuing. For those who are reading this, all suggestions and comments are welcome. Let me know if you have any good ideas.

By the way...

... it's also Kago Ai's birthday today! So a very Happy 19th Birthday to Aibon! Currently, I'm still hanging out at Hello! Project related websites for news about Aibon's situation. She's still suspended, but most of us fans have the same mindset - either she comes back this month, or she doesn't come back at all.

Sad but true. Oh well...

Koi no Dance Site on Classical Guitar - side tracked

Got another song up. But I was tired from work, so I couldn't get the song right, after so many NGs. So I side tracked and played the song in some other versions, just for fun:



The other versions sound good in their own way, I think. :)

Two More Morning Musume Songs Transposed

Shiroi Iro Wa Koibito no Iro - W (DoubleU)

Video Link

Mushoku Tomei na Mama de - Morning Musume

Video Link

Morning Musume on Classical Guitar

I mentioned that I'd transpose some Morning Musume songs. Yes, I did it. Uploading two of them to Youtube.com. Got to know another guy there who is doing the same, transposing some japanese pop songs. Nice to know I'm not alone in this endeavour.

Koe - Morning Musume

Video Link


Ship! To the Future - Morning Musume

Video Link

Transposing Morning Musume Songs....

I'm a huge fan of Morning Musume. . I ain't gonna blab about them. Click that link and read for yourself, for those who don't know. Come to think of it, I had not started a post about them before. Maybe I will do it in my other blog.

Now there aren't a lot of people who wanna strum the guitar to the tunes of Morning Musume. Their music just aren't that material. I've been watching the Hello! Pro Hour show, and there are lots of 'unplugged' performances. Other than the really rare solo performances, the acoustic versions of the usually loud and colourful songs sounded really cool and mellow. So I thought I'd try to transpose them songs and post them up for all.

It's been a while since I've transposed any song. I picked up my guitar few days ago, and gave it a try. Still haven't lost my touch, that's good, but I side-tracked and played some of my old practice tunes and played freestyle a few times. Had been out of touch from my classical guitar music for a long time already. Feels great to get some of that ol' feeling back. Now what I need is a capo and some score sheets, will buy them when my paycheck comes this week. (Yes, I am that poor now).

OK then, will see if I can kickstart this little personal project successfully...

My Cubicle....

A parody song of James Blunt's "You're Beautiful".... named "My cubicle". My office colleague introduced it to me. Really funny! Love the punchline at the end.

Click here to view

Ai Ra Bu Yuu Kishidan...

My sis has recently asked me to show to Papa and Mama who she is currently interested in.



Unfortunately, she is not romantically involved with them. :)


Kishidan has been around for a decade already, and recently celebrating their 10th year anniversary with some shows and activities. Go here to have a look if you know japanese. They are really one-of-a-kind, with their stage performance, looks, and music. Don't let their looks and goofy antics fool you. If you listen closely, their musical talent is not to be underestimated, and it is waiting to be fully released one day.

This group, consisting by Ayanokouji Sho (Vocals and leader), Saotome Hikaru (Gibberish Vocals and dance), Saionji Hitomi (Guitar), Hoshi Grandmarnier (Guitar), Shiratori Shouchikubai (Bass) and Shiratori Yukinojoe (Drums).

Their Style: Early 50's bosozoku biker gang, sporting exaggerated and permed pompadour hairstyle, black japanese high school uniforms modified to their own style with large kanji. Their rock songs are always accompanied with para-para moves, each song having its own.

Their Music: About high school love, bikers, friends, gangs... anything yankii.

Their Popularity: Already 10 years in the industry and still not phased out. Need to say more? However, they are limited to the Japanese, as their style does not really appeal to the international market. Which is good because I would hate for them to be compared to the Danish techno group Cartoons. Their songs are also a favourite among karaoke goers, whey they can dance along with it.

Their Influence and influence to culture: Obviously, Sho and his buddies took from the bosozoku culture which is common in their hometown, and took it to a national recognition. Despite their outlook, they have never promoted violence and stuff. Instead, their songs are mostly about love, courage, and faith. They are one of the most recognisable rock groups in the country, and have influenced the fashion industry with their style. You will see a lot of mangas and animes emulating their outlook when depicting gangsters and yakuzas.

Trivia:
- Has appeared in Kouhaku shows. It is a national show for New Year's eve.
- Kishidan are friends with Glay, another famous rock group. It was one of Glay's home party, that Sho was introduced to Utada Hikaru, and they became best friends from that day onwards.
- Hikaru has a gimmick where he is the one in the group that speaks in gibberish. Even his self description in the live concert pamphlets/flyers will consist of "!@#$%&*" or something like that.

Lately, Sho has a side project with an alternate persona, DJ Ozma. His bandmates from Kishidan are involved in this, but they never admit that they are the same people. In live interviews, DJ Ozma will never admit that he actually Ayanokouji Sho, instead he will say that they are distant relatives. Of course, this is just a jest, everyone knows that already. But according to my sis, some people actually believed that! :)

So for those who are interested, don't be shy and give them a try. Start with their great hit single "One Night Carnival", and the recent "Ai Ra Bu Yu (I love you)"

Family Karaoke

I've always wanted to do many things with my family. You know, have a family activity or something. My parents came over to visit last Saturday, (after a long persuasion), and I've managed to go for a karaoke session together! It was a lotta fun.... I wish Cindy (my baby sister) was here.

It was something we have been talking about for years but we never got around making it happen, yet here we are last rainy Saturday afternoon, and we sang "Song Sung Blue" together.....woohoo~~~! :D

Our family was a oldie-junkie. We'd listen anything from Frank Sinatra, Marie-Ann & Tom Jones ....all the way to Carpenters, Bee Gees & Olivia Newton John. My favourite has been the 70's music. The funny thing? After years of assuming that Papa has a great hidden singing talent..... I finally get to hear him sing a full song..... and he sucks :). Hey, I've heard him singing hymms in church, and I thought he's got a Engelbert Humperdink type of low-key voice. But, come to think of it, it's been years since I've heard him sing at all.

It's one of those times, that I come to realise something...... Papa's getting old. Mama, on the other hand, took singing lessons before.... so no problem for her. Even though her age now adds a little coarseness to her voice. But it's absolutely great, to be able to do something together at least. Now I'm not gonna go about talking about how off-key and off-timing the singing was, the important thing about enjoying karaoke is --> Enjoy yourselves! And that's what we've been doing. Karaoke is about building a castle of happiness.... on top of someone else' moat of suffering. (The chinese would know what I meant there.) We've been singing and singing for 4 hours, all oldies..... well, added two modern songs to stay level headed, and I get to sing "Leader of the Band" by Dan Fogelbert to Papa. Man, it was great.

I would love to do it all again.... maybe the next time when I get back to hometown, I will..... yes that would indeed be nice. Let's not make last Saturday a "once in a lifetime" moment.

Heart of the Matter

Have you chosen any theme song that you'd listen to when you broke up with your man/woman? Everyone has. Somehow most people would have a song or two that they can relate to.... that tells of the story of their love relationship. A song that acts as a reminder, or a nostalgic attachment. I chose Heart of the Matter by Don Henley. I've always loved this song for a long time, and it came to my head the moment she said those words.

Before i met her, it's bad enough that this song would bring tears in my eyes everytime I listen to it.... now it gets worse. The intro and the outro guitar riffs put a *thump* straight into my chest and my eyes will well up with tears........

Heart of the Matter - Don Henley, Eagles

I got the call today, I didn't wanna hear
But I know that it would come
An old true friends of ours was talkin on the phone
she said you've found someone
And I thought of all the bad luck
and the struggles we went through
how I lost me, and you lost you
What are all these voices outside love's open door
make us throw out our contentment
and beg for something more?

I'm learning to live without you now
but I miss you sometimes
The more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I knew
I'm learning again
I've tryin to get down
to the heart of the matter
but my will gets weak
and my thoughts seems to scatter
But I think it's about forgiveness
forgiveness
even if, even if you don't love me anymore...

Ahh, these times are so uncertain
there's a yearning undefined
...people filled with rage
We all need a little tenderness
How can love survive in such a graceless age
The trust and self-assurance that can lead to happiness
They're the very thing we kill, I guess
Pride and competition cannot fill these empty arms
And the work I put between us
it doesn't keep me warm...

I'm learning to live without you now
but I miss you baby
The more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I figured out
I have to learn again
I've been tryin to get down
to the heart of the matter
but everything changes
and my friends seems to scatter
But I think it's about forgiveness
forgiveness
even if, even if you don't love me anymore...

There are people in your life, who've come and gone
They let you down , you know they hurt your pride
you better put it all behind you, babe
cos' life goes on
you keep carrying that anger, it'll eat you up inside, baby...

I've been tryin to get down
to the heart of the matter
but my will gets weak
and my thoughts seems to scatter
But I think it's about forgiveness
forgiveness
even if, even if you don't love me ...

I've been tryin to get down
to the heart of the matter
but the flesh gets weak
and the ashes will scatter
But I think it's about forgiveness
forgiveness
even if, even if you don't love me ...
anymore...