It all started with a conversation about missed Saturdates, bucket lists, and the year we are turning 30. Then my friend Hazel and I realized we both had a dormant dream – to dance and jump around with our shirts sticking to our skin in a music festival. And boy did it happen.
I don’t normally play music when I write. I need silence. I need a vacuum. I need my mother to stop talking to me about errands and my cat to stop purring on my lap (though that’s really very sweet of the cat. I’m sorry, I take that back).
When I get stuck though, I turn to music. And usually, the music plays in my head. Sans iTunes, YouTube or Spotify. For Blossom Among Flowers, I was writing a story set in Japan about bishounen–beautiful boys or flower boys, and the spunky, manga-addicted, high school girl caught between them. So it made sense to me that my in-head playlist was composed purely of J-pop/J-rock (albeit vintage) hits. These would be the following:
Arashi. Love So Sweet
Arashi. One Love
L’Arc~en~Ciel. Link
L’Arc~en~Ciel. Stay Away
Hikaru Utada* Flavor of Life,
Hikaru Utada Traveling
Ai Otsuka. Peach
Photo and video credits to owners.
*Yes, I named my Hikaru Saito after this wonderful, glorious woman.
I guess it started with a plot bunny, that multiplied into two. Then lunch made me sleepy, and I had to have Adam in my ear. And now it’s Sunday and it’s raining outside. In any case, I’m LSSing, and I can’t complain, really.
And let them go, let them fly
Holding back won’t turn back time
Believe me, I’ve triedYour eyes were so bright
And I remember your eyes were so bright
And I remember your eyes were so bright
When I first met you, how in love were we that night?
And now I’m kissing your tears goodnight
And I can’t take it, you’re even perfect when you cry
Video and lyrics credit to owners.
In honor of the 34th year-mark of the prettiest face in the rock world today (oh and it’s also Father’s Day!), I list down a handful of my favorites from Brandon Flowers, and of course the Killers, here below in no particular order. This is obviously the abridged version.
Cheers to more strangely catchy lines, absurd metaphors, arena rock songs, and summer tours in Manila!
Shot in the Night
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I’ve been keeping up with American Idol‘s new season and although I love the judging panel (Harry Conick Jr, sir, you are awesome), I’m still waiting to root for the contestants. ANY contestant. I just want to feel something and not just tune out and continue reading passages of the Hobbit while they belt out their three-minute renditions. Something’s just missing with these kids and I can’t figure out what. Then Phillip Phillips returns to the stage and I get it.
Call it charisma, wide-eyed sincerity, stage presence (i.e. beautiful blue eyes), a signature weird leg movement, or real understanding of the song. Season 11’s Idol shows the contestants how it’s done. And hopefully they take it from there.
Before the flame goes out tonight
Yeah, we’ll live until we dieSo c’mon c’mon c’mon
Won’t you turn my soul into a raging fire?
Something like that.
Video credits to owner.
Just when I semi-decided I’m not that interested in the new season of the Voice, this video slides into my news feed. I forgot how Adam can croon. The man strips this popular, over-remade and over-remixed song to its basics. Raw, sweet, and just damn sexy. Let’s.
Let’s Stay Together, version by Maroon 5. Video credits to owner.
