メーリークリスマスみんなさまあ！
01.12.25
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Music o' the Entry: Square Vocal Collection CD
Yeah, we can tell what I've been doing for the past 5 hours or so-playing obsessively with my new toys. Well, the majority of this year's haul came in the form of music, which is always a good thing as far as I'm concerned. Certainly, I intend to listen to all my CD's in a most thorough fashion, but I felt simply COMPELLED to listen to this one, and it's grand. Here's the tracklist for those who care:
1. Owaranai-mono (The Bouncer)
2. Small Two of Pieces (Xenogears)
3. Kokoro no Takara-bako (Chocobo Racing)
4. 9 Times: Sobut (Punk This Town - Generation XX)
5. Lovely Strains (Soukaigi)
6. Eyes on Me : Orchestra Version (Final Fantasy VIII)
7. Somnia Memories (Parasite Eve)
8. Stars of Tears (Xenogears)
9. Radical Dreamers (Chrono Cross)
10. Melodies of Life (Final Fantasy IX)
11. Song of Mana (Legend of Mana)
12. Chiisana Hana (Daisu de Chocobo)
I haven't finished listening to the entire thing yet, but when I do, I'll certainly let you know my full opinion on the CD and whether or not it's worth your cash. I've also listened a little bit to my new Pierrot CD (Private Enemy), which I am pleased to say utterly rocks, even more so than FINALE (it's darker than the previously mentioned, yay), and even contains "Guernica", which I love dearly (I was wondering why I never saw it mentioned on tracklists until I realized that the title was in katakana)...smashing. So yeah, things went well, but around this time I always feel kinda evil and spoiled. I mean, the only reason I get all this wonderful stuff around this time of year is because I happened to be born into my family, I've done nothing to deserve it, I know there are millions more throughout the world more deserving than I who struggle to find enough food to eat daily while I worry about my weight. What is that? I don't give my parents hell or anything, but even if I did they'd still get me stuff. I don't get it, not at all. My mother was speaking of how this is the last "real" Christmas we'll have together before I take off for the other side of the ocean, but my father immediately said they'd fly me back over the sea for Christmas...how very odd.
Speaking of intense oddness, I just returned from my living room in which my mother attempted to verbally attack me for no apparent reason, saying I was treating my sibling like he was from another planet when I was in actuality attempting to be kind to him O_o;...uh, okay. My father observed the entire thing and didn't have any clue what I did to deserve that...merry freaking Christmas to me. Oh well. Actually, if it'd be known, I much prefer Chanukah (complete with that rocking spelling, I'd be delighted to learn both Hebrew and Yiddish if I was given the chance. Actually, I did make the vestiges of an attempt during the David [pronounced "dah-veed", going by English prescribed pronounciation] Story Arc (indeed, my life has come to resemble a shoujo manga to the point of referring to specific periods in time as "story arcs." Fear me. Well, either that or I'm turning into a bigger nerd than I was previously, which is likely what's actually occurring). I've only attended parts of one Chanukah celebration, but I enjoyed it much; totally different atmosphere than Christmas, which I find somewhat sappy (plus I dig klezmer), and better food. Of course, we don't do the traditional Christmas dinner, this evening I dined on Italian tamales (I don't get it either) while my other family members feasted on steamed crab legs and pizza. Well, after you figure in the sparkling ciders (blimey, where's my Sangria?), various deformed Christmas cookies (courtesy moi, I had some issues this year with the cookie gun. Although I did enjoy making Christmas cookies in Halloween shapes, it seems joyfully irreverent.), goat cheese, and those frightening Korean cookies that were apparently made with a petroleum byproduct (one bite was enough to scare me away.) of some sort. No, I certainly won't be lighting any matches near THOSE things.
But yes, I got cool stuff: Final Fantasy Chronicles, my CD's, some clothing from my father (which wasn't trashy underwear. Although I'm sort of grateful in this circumstance, it'd just be disturbing if my father bought me trashy underwear.) which was very proud to have picked out all by himself and that fit me, a gift certificate to Lotions n' Potions from my aunt (which is splendid, I will proceed to promptly purchase $20 worth of glycerine soap, I adore that stuff), as well as a book on learning Latin from my mother, smashing. Actually, my mom's given me a number of books for Christmas, including a Chinese cookbook, one of Latin phrases for everyday use (this is all Nobuo Uematsu's fault, damn him and "One Winged Angel") so this little hick girl isn't quite as ignorant, one on mixed drinks, and the book of strange tombstone epitaphs. Then there's the plastic Twinkie wearing orange and pink go-go boots (according to Bronde), a navy blue bandana with hearts on it (hide?), and a cowboy hat; and of course we can't forget my Edward Scissorhands figure who is proudly standing next to my incense burner and rubber cuttlefish. Did I mention I bought my mother a plastic pufferfish for Christmas? I love being odd. It's rather sad, though I received FF Chronicles, the first thing I proceeded to do after opening gifts (besides sharing my newest Pierrot possession with my family before being yelled at to "turn that crap off") was go play Kartia, this time on Lacryma's quest, because I suck and didn't get the final Kartia I needed and am not certain if I'll be able to get past the point where I am now ^^;...oy.
Speaking of Kartia, I've a couple of new links up at the links page, Adobe Scribe's drowned in fleeting joy and I also linked to my ancient blogger entries, if you care to see them; nothing really special, plus I think I've actually lost my earliest entries, but feel free. Speaking of such things, bloodwing is officially a year old now, how very special. I'm not precisely certain of the date, I think around the 20th of December if memory serves, but regardless, it is now a year old. Let us rejoice, or something. Truly, I'm not certain whether I should happy or worried of such a thing, but I think it's been good for me; it's a decent emotional outlet, despite how I'm usually showing the least emotion at the worst moments, and it gave me a way to chronicle all my Japan trip this year, which I regretfully didn't get to do last year. So happy birthday to my blog and perhaps there will be more. I don't have any reason nor intention of shutting it down at the moment, so look forward to more angst and oddness in the future.
I've some excellent news, folks: Matt will be returning home for New Year's on which we'll (meaning us, Mari, Yuya, and pretty much anyone else we can find who wants to hang out with us) be able to see each other. No, 18 days isn't truly that much, when you look at REALLY long-distance couples, but it feels like it when you've BEEN a couple for basically that amount of time. No, it likely wasn't a stroke of brilliance for us to do all that confessional crap right before we left, but it's better than the odd uncertainty and not being sure of how to act around the other upon our return. It's going to be grand, we're going to hang out at Matt/Yuya/Yuichiro's house until heaven knows when and then I'm going to sleep at Mari's...y'all've (yes, I conjugate contractions) no earthly idea how much I'm looking forward to this. It's strange, as important as Matt has become recently, I've written so little about him...but this whole thing is quite sudden and unexpected, plus we're not seeing each other at the moment, so expect loads more when the winter quarter begins. I know, you're positively wetting yourself with excitement. But I think this is going to be a good thing, it truly will be. Provided I can get over my own relationship issues and be what Matt deserves.
Okay, official brief Square Vocal Collections report:
1. Owaranai-mono: Pretty, but too pop-ballad for me to truly like it. Passable and will likely listen every so often, though more than likely not to the entire song. Like the vocalist, doesn't have that awful whiny-Japanese girl thing going on. Not that whiny vocalists are limited to Japan, but a quick survey of the idol scene will very quickly give you an idea of what I'm talking about.
2. Small Two of Pieces: I've always loved this song, there is still no exception. Simply beautiful, I dig Celtic stuff and Joanne Hogg has a lovely voice. Notice this is Small Two of Pieces, not Mebius, the Japanese version; generally speaking, I'm a fan of songs in whatever language they were originally written in, regardless of whether or not I understand it fluently (for an excellent reverse example of this, see X-Japan's "Kurenai". Toshi, I don't CARE how good your English is, leave Kurenai alone!). Quite a powerful piece, very easily a favourite song of mine not just off of this CD. Plus I love to sing it, despite how emotionally draining it can be at times.
3. Kokoro no Takara-bako: What is this doing in Chocobo Racing? I didn't know racing games had vocals, I've never heard of such a thing. I'm not too crazy about this, seeing as it suffers from an acute case of Little Japanese Girl Syndrome. I wouldn't go as far as to call it bad, but it's simply not my cup of tea. Next.
4. 9 Times : Okay, maybe we should've stayed with Track 3, I don't know what the hell this is doing here, nor where it's from. Punk Engrish? Wah? Well, I suppose it works...it kind of reminds me of the inclusion of "Alive" on the X-Japan Ballad Best Collection (have you noticed how everything always goes back to X?). I SUPPOSE it's a ballad, of the angry and screamy variety, but in the company of "Forever Love", "Tears", "Crucify My Love", "Endless Rain", "Say Anything", etc...no, I don't think so. Not that it's a bad song by any stretch of the imagination, I actually like it a lot, but still, I digress. But I suppose I should talk about "9 Times" instead of "Alive". It's what it says it is, punk...just sort of random. And they yell out "9 TIME!" frequently. I think it's time to escape. No, not my reason for purchasing this CD.
5. Lovely Strains : Why did no one ever tell me Soukaigi had a freakishly gorgeous song that would own me? That has an OBOE? This is the second game song I think of where the oboe just stuck out to me, the other being the Final Fantasy VI opening (I should rant about how insanely awesome that OSV is another day, I'll see if Matt'll let me borrow it). The voices on this are slightly ethereal and it's difficult to make out words, but it's not necessary, as the music easily stands on its own. Yes, definitely one to factor into your consideration of purchasing this shiidii.
6. Eyes on Me (Orchestra Version) : I'll say it outright, I've never been crazy about this song. However, when I heard the opening to this version my mind immediately thought "YOSHIKI ETERNAL MELODY", which is always a good thing (for the curious, Yoshiki presents "Eternal Melody" is basically where Yoshiki and an orchestra play X music, and it is wondrous. It's out of print, so look for it on eBay.)...until Faye Wong started singing. Maybe it's just her singing in English, but it just sounds and feels so...the only word I can think of is "simpering", it makes me think of dripping maple syrup, producing an aroma so cloyingly sweet I'm ready to hurl. This is one of those instances where I really wish it WASN'T orchestrated, it makes an already sickly sweet song rather overkill...I'll admit, I haven't played Final Fantasy VIII out of sheer apathy (I should before I move out, since I still don't have to rent it), so I don't have any emotional attachment to the song or anything that it brings to mind...but no, I don't like it very much. Trying to decide now whether I prefer this or that weirdo "NINE TIME!" punk thing.
But now I'm tired of that, so look forward to me finishing the review sometime tomorrow. I mean it, I truly will.
Oh, Sho is happy, Yuri's package arrived today, right on time, containing Love Psychedelico's "The Greatest Hits", a cute card, a shiny lavender CD case (what can I say, the girl knows me too well), and purikura, including super-kawaii ones of Yuri and Misha, whom I hope is wildly enjoying her new host family. Ah, how I miss both of those women.
But anyways, tomorrow I'm bound for the mountains to spend time with extended family, so more tomorrow evening. Going to bed now as I'm feeling distinctly ill. Seasons greetings and well-wishes to all of you (don't worry my fellow agnostics and all your kin, we still have the Solstice and New Year's). お休みなさい~
chronos
・kairos
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