I was browsing Youtube looking for Country Road version of the film Whispers of the Heart (Hayao Miyazaki). The song was English subtitled so I cannot sing to it, hehe. Then an entry on the sidebar interested me and I was glad to have clicked it, it was another version of the song played by a Japanese string quartet, Vanilla Mood.
The group, composed of Waka on flute, Yui on violin, Mariko on cello, and Keiko on piano, play mostly classics and Beatles originals. The group started performing in 2006. Here is their version of Imagine and the Sound of Silence. Listening to these reminds me so much of my Dad who loves 'em both.
One of the very few fan videos that I cried to (lol).
I didn't like this song before but when I watched this video with clips from Hana Yori Dango, it melted my heart (aawww).
Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers) is a Japanese Drama about a poor girl, Makino Tsukushi (Inoue Mao), who studies in an elite school. At one point she was bullied by the whole school for getting on the nerves of one of the richest boy in school, Domyouji Tsukasa (Jun Matsumoto). Along the way, Doumyoji fell in love with her but because of their status, the trouble comes. The story is of comedy, drama, romance rolled into one with one heartbreaking episode shot in New York.
If you have watched the anime, I recommend you watch the live action too. The story was also adapted in Taiwan titled 'Meteor Garden,' that one I wasn't able to watch though.
Rarely, the song fit the drama well. The lyrics relate very well to the clips too. (Kudos to ladysaotome on Veoh!)
If you're not the one then why does my soul feel glad today? If you're not the one then why does my hand fit yours this way? If you are not mine then why does your heart return my call If you are not mine would I have the strength to stand at all
I never know what the future brings But I know you are here with me now We'll make it through And I hope you are the one I share my life with
I don't want to run away but I can?t take it, I don?t understand If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am? Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?
If I don't need you then why am I crying on my bed? If I don't need you then why does your name resound in my head? If you're not for me then why does this distance maim my life? If you're not for me then why do I dream of you as my wife?
I don't know why you're so far away But I know that this much is true We'll make it through And I hope you are the one I share my life with And I wish that you could be the one I die with And I pray in you?re the one I build my home with I hope I love you all my life
I don't want to run away but I can?t take it, I don?t understand If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?
'Cause I miss you, body and soul so strong that it takes my breath away And I breathe you into my heart and pray for the strength to stand today 'Cause I love you, whether it?s wrong or right And though I can?t be with you tonight And know my heart is by your side
I don't want to run away but I can?t take it, I don?t understand If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am Is there any way that I
Remember the adorable and funny story of Gyeon-woo and the nameless girl in My Sassy Girl?
I happened to find it again in our movie archives and heard that song which does not only have a very heartwarming feel to it, I like the irony that they use this song for such a funny film (hehe). Here listen:
I believe Sung by Shin Seung Hun
I believe geudae gyeote eob jiman I daero i byeoreun ani gejyo I believe na e ge u neun gireun Jo geum meori dora or bbuni gejyo
Modu ri nagan geu gi eog sogeseo Naega nareur a peuge ha myeo nun mureur mandeurjyo
* Naman keum eurji anh gireur geudae maneun Nunmur eobsi nar pyeonhage bonaeju gireur Eonjenga dasi dora or geudae raneun Georari e nan migo i gi e
Gida reor ggeyonan geudae yeoyaman hajyo
I believe naega apa hargga bwa Geudae neun eurjido mohae gejyo I believe neureu neun naenun meuri Geudaer dasi naege doryeo jugejyo
Jaggo meomju neun nae nungir sogeso geu dae Mo seub deuri ddeo eura nun meureur mandeur jyo
* Naman keum eurji anh gireur geudae maneun Nunmur eobsi nar pyeonhage ddeo na jugireur Eonjenga dasi dora or geudae raneun Georari e nan migo i gi e
Gida reor ggeyonan geudae yeoyaman hajyo
Nan geudae argi jeon i sesangdo I reohge nun bu syeo neunji Geu haneur arae seo ijen nunmuro nam gyeo jyeojiman I jareor nan jikir ggeyo
Geudaeran iyu maneuro na e geneun Gida reom jocha chumbunhi haengbog hagejyo Saranghan iyu maneuro Ddo haruga jinagago o neungir ijeodo
juuroku de kimi to ai hyakunen no koi wo shita ne hirahira to maiochiru sakura no hanabira no shita de
aitakute kakenuketa hi no ataru kyuu na sakamichi ya kouen no sumi futari no kage wa ima mo kawaranu mama
kimi to boku to "sakura biyori" kaze ni yurete maimodoru marude nagai yume kara sameta you ni miageta saki wa momo-iro no sora
suki deshita suki deshita egao sakisometa kimi ga boku dake ga shitte ita migigawa yawarakana ibasho
sakura no shita no yakusoku "rainen mo koko ni koyou" tte nando mo tashikameatta kedo ima mo hatasenu mama
kimi to boku to "sakura biyori" kaze ni sotto yomigaeru kimi mo ima dokoka de miteru no kanaa ano hi to onaji momo-iro no sora
oikaketa hibi no naka ni kizamareta ashiato wa nani yori mo kakegae no nai takaramono
kimi to boku to "sakura biyori" kaze ni yurete maimodoru tomedonai omoi ga afuredashiten amida ga komiageta
kimi to boku to "sakura biyori" kaze ni yurete maimodoru mada minu mirai wo mune ni daite miageta saki wa momo-iro no sora
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English Translation
I met you at sixteen And we shared a love a hundred years old Under the fluttering, dancing downpetals of the sakura tree
I wanted to meet you, so I ran on the steep hill road where sunlight lands and in the corner of the park our two shadows are unchanging even now
You, and me, and the sakura weather I sway in the wind and dance back again As if I had just awoken from a long dream I look up and see a pink sky
I was in love; I was in love with you as your smile began to blossom I alone knew aboutthat soft place on your right side The promise under the sakura tree of "Let's come here again next year" We reaffirmed it to each other so many times but it remains unfulfilled even now
You, and me, and the sakura weather I am gently revived by the wind I wonder if now, you're looking at it too,the same pink sky we saw that day I chased after those days;the footprints engraved in them are the most irreplaceable treasure
You, and me, and the sakura weather I sway in the wind and dance back again My endless emotions overflowed out of meand tears filled my heart You, and me, and the sakura weatherI sway in the wind and dance back again Holding to my chest a future I can't yet seeI look up and see a pink sky
I was browsing through YouTube earlier and saw the performance of Carly Smithson singing Alone for AI (American Idol). I ended up finding the originals behind the song, Ann and Nancy Wilson; Heart. This is the original version:
Then they had a concert in 2003, though their looks had changed, the powerful voice did not.
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Here are the lyrics if you feel like singing =)
I hear the ticking of the clock I’m lying here the room’s pitch dark I wonder where you are tonight No answer on the telephone And the night goes by so very slow Oh I hope that it won’t end though Alone
Till now I always got by on my own I never really cared until I met you And now it chills me to the bone How do I get you alone How do I get you alone
You don’t know how long I have wanted To touch your lips and hold you tight You don’t know how long I have waited And I was going to tell you tonight But the secret is still my own And my love for you is still unknown Alone
Till now I always got by on my own I never really cared until I met you And now it chills me to the bone How do I get you alone How do I get you alone How do I get you alone How do I get you alone Alone, alone.
I just can't get enough of Jap-singers... Here is another feel-good song, this time from Kousuke Atari. The title goes 'Tane Wo Maku Hibi' (種をまく日々) literally, Days When Seeds are Scattered.
This is the 13th ending theme for the anime Bleach.
Atari is just 3 days older than me, but he looks so young! =(
Romaji - Tane Wo Maku Hibi
itsumo no machi no, itsumo no fuukei ni MONOKURO no kaze ga, fuite iru kasuka ni kaoru, tamerai no KAKERA ni kokoro no doko ka, yurete iru
dakedo itsu demo jibun no shinjite kawaru jidai no naka, kawarazu ni iretara
tane wo maku hibi ga atte, mizu wo yaru hibi ga atte itsuka mierunda, kibou to iu me ga tsumazuita hibi ga atte, mae wo maku hibi ga atte itsu ka mierunda, michinaru tsubomi ga ima wa tada, me no mae no michi yukkuri to susunde yuku
tooku, tooku, tsudzuite yuku bokura no ikiru michi kasanari atte, tsunagari atte itsu ka wa ichimen ni, egao no hana ga saku
tane wo maku hibi ga atte, mizu wo yaru hibi ga atte itsuka mierunda, bokura no mirai ga tachidomaru hibi ga atte, kotae sagasu hi ga atte itsuka waraunda, yasashiku waraunda ima wa tada, me no mae no michi bokura wa susunde yuku
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English translation
The same scenery of the same street The monochrome wind is blowing Faintly fragrant, shards of hesitance Is swaying somewhere in my heart
But I will always believe in myself In the changing times, if I can remain unchanged
There are days to sow the seeds, there are days to give them water Someday I’ll see it, the seeds called hope There are days you stumble, there are days to move forward Someday I’ll see it, the flower buds that will become a road Someday I’ll see it, the road in front of my eyes Slowly continues
Far away, far away, continuing Our life’s road There’s something to lie on, there’s something that connected Someday it’ll bloom everywhere, the flower of a smiling face
There are days to sow the seeds, there are days to give them water Someday I’ll see it, our future There are days to stop, there are days to look for answers Someday I’ll smile, smile gently It’s just now, the road in front of my eyes Slowly continues ------
Utada Hikaru is perhaps one of the best singers in Japan,her soothing voice made me listen more to Japanese songs. It even move me to be serious with learning Nihongo, not just romaji but kana as well. This song "Flavor of Life" is one of my most favorite and is the song used for the Live Action Drama Hana Yori Dango, literally Boys over Flowers.
Flavor of Life (Ballad Version) by Utada Hikaru
Arigatou to kimi ni iwareru to nandaka setsunai sayounara no ato no tokenu mahou awaku horonigai The flavor of life
tomodachi demo koibito demo nai chuukan chiten de shuukaku no hi wo yumemiteru aoi furu-tsu ato ippo ga fumidasenai sei de jirettai no wa nande?
arigatou to kimi ni iwareru to nandaka setsunai sayounara no ato no tokenu mahou awaku horonigai The flavor of life
amai dake no sasoi monku ajike no nai doku sonna mono ni wa kyoumi wa sosorarenai omoitoori ni ikanai toki datte jinsei suteta mon janai tte
doushita no? to kyuu ni kikareru to "uun. nandemo nai" sayounara no ato ni kieru egao watashi rashikunai sinjitai to negaeba negau hodo nandaka setsunai "aishiteru yo" yori mo "daisuki" no hou ga kimi rashii janai? The flavor of life
wasurekakete ita hito no omoi wo totsuzen omoidasu koro furitsumoru yuki no shirosa wo omou to sunao ni yorokobitai yo
daiyamondo yorimo yawarakakute atatakana mirai teni shitai yo kagiri aru jikan wo kimi to sugoshitai "arigatou" to kimi ni iwareru to nandaka setsunai sayounara no ato no tokeru mahou awaku horonigai The flavor of life -----
English translation (edited...)
For some reason it's painful when you say "Thank You" Like a magic spell that isnt undone after "good bye," faintly bittersweet The flavor of life
Stuck in the middle of being friends and lovers Like an unriped fruit dreaming of the day of harvest Unable to move one step forward Why is it so vexing?
For some reason it's painful when you say "Thank You" Like a magic spell that isnt undone after "good bye," faintly bittersweet The flavor of life
Simply sweet words of invitation are a senseless poison It sparks no interest in me Life isn't something that you throw away when things don't go your way
When I'm suddenly asked "what's wrong?" I just say "no, nothing" The smiling face that disappears after "good bye" isn't like me The more I want to believe in you, the more painful it is It's more like you to say "I like you" more than "I love you" The flavor of life
When you suddenly remember people you were about to forget I honestly want to be happy when I think of the whiteness of the snow that builds up
More than diamonds, I want a soft, warm future I want to spend my limited time with you For some reason it's painful when you say "Thank You" Like a magic spell that isnt undone after "good bye," faintly bittersweet The flavor of life
Credit goes to: sunny0401 (youtube), akaiyubi (http://akaiyubi.wordpress.com) and St3p1onm3 (www.jpopasia.com)
