4 posts tagged “cpop”
Avex: Twinkle Preview (.asf format)
I awoke to a shock that Alan Luo did a collaboration with Koda Kumi. Not that I'm anything less than thrilled. Out of all people, it seemed kind of random, although their musical styles would mesh well.
But this song is in English T_T
I'm glad that Koda Kumi is improving in her English skills. I was disappointed that she couldn't sing her own English version of Real Emotion/1000 Words for the game, but I've heard her unofficial versions and SquareEnix would have been out of their minds to use it (I think the word "lackluster" was used). But since then, A Whole New World showed great improvements in just her general pronunciation.
This song doesn't sound too bad (seriously couldn't be worse than Mika Nakashima's attempt at Amazing Grace), but it leaves me wondering what's up with "clap". Koda Kumi somehow managed to traverse "soaring, tumbling, free wheeling" but not the word "clap"
It seems to ruin a lot of songs for me. Namie Amuro's "No" would be perfect, saving the fact that I hear the word "crap" like 80 times in that song.
Boo. Otherwise, sounds like a reasonably good song. Can't wait for the CD.
[Edit://] The video features the Japanese version of the song and is incredibly entertaining to watch. Very anime.
I wasn't particularly impressed with this CD. Aside from a few tracks, everything sounds kind of the same if you aren't paying attention. (Or perhaps I don't have an ear for this genre.) What is strong is strong, but everything else is sort of meh, which weakens to overall presentation. The album is enjoyable, but doesn't quite catch my attention in casual listening, although most of these songs are probably more dance worthy.
Recommended Tracks: Deja Vu, Sugar Mama, Freakum Dress
Incredibly cute and fun album with upbeat and hyper songs to cheer you up. Her voice is oddly good in both light happy songs and deep ballads and this album provides a good variety to sample.
Recommended Tracks: Jie Mao Wan Wan, Tai Yang Wan Sui, Meng De Guan Dian
*resists urge to fangirl*
I'd say this album wasn't as good as November's Chopin, but it does grow on you after a while. Many of the songs are kind of formula Jay Chou songs which reduces how ground breaking it is. Otherwise, there are songs on here that you can't help but love.
A delightful surprise was the videos that Jay Chou directed himself that were great in cinematics and relation to the music. It's hard to believe that he's adding film directing to his resume of singing, song-writing, composing, and *cough* acting.
Recommended Tracks: Faraway, Twilight's Chapter Seven, Chrysanthemum Flower Bed
I find that I continue to read a series out of love for the first book, but I'm not sure I like where this one is going. I just saw that there's a fourth book and I'll probably only read it if I get bored.
After forging a shaky peace in the last book, the new ruler of Wyvren Court faces the big question of whether to marry an Avian or a Serpiente. The book focuses on Nicias, the head of her personal guard and son to exiled Falcons, who begins to grow into his powers. He travels back to the land his parents fled to find understanding of his new abilities and the majority of the book is spent painting this sort of deadly paradise. Eventually he is made to choose between his responsibilities in both kingdoms and I got very depressed reading this because it seemed too hopeless in the eternal suckiness of his life. Everything good that's ever happened has a dark side. I also began to tire of the characters because they weren't seemlessly crafted. Each flaw and trait seemed too planned to be natural. I understand fantasy, but the way characters are written can usually be measured by the same standard and I'm increasingly finding that Atwater-Rhodes' people are very flat.
I never remember why I tend to dislike anthologies until I read one. I hate reading long extended sagas, but I like development of background and context. Falling into the middle of a story doesn't give me time to like the characters or to feel involved.
However, I did find all the stories themselves to be cleverly written and as complete as they could be for a short story. I loved that not all the tales contained obvious accounts of courage, but often more subtle and down to earth examples. If only I could express myself that well in such a small amount of space, brevity is admirable in this case.
Again, I wonder why I keep picking series in which the books get less interesting to read as it goes. I very much enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl and kind of liked The Queen's Fool, but this one was just...
Firstly, the protagonist is none other than Robert Dudley who was a reasonably believeable social climber attempted to gain the thone through Queen Elizabeth in her first year of reign, but I think my biggest issue is with him and the other major characters. Since we know Dudley's thoughts, he comes off as annoyingly smug and selfish. I found it more forgivable when Anne Boleyn was doing it because manipulating her way to power was just about the only option and she obviously suffered in doing so. But something about Dudley just rubs me the wrong way.
Elizabeth was portrayed as completely smitten and stubbornly in love with him. It was horribly frustrating watching her be indecisive in her leadership. Like, she was pretty much emotionally unstable half the time and apparently a passionate/manipulative/ambitious female the rest of the time. I guess it could be considered more realistic, but it was just stupid to have her change her mind so much through the book.
Amy Dudley was just so childishly in love with Robert that it actually came to the point where I thought she deserved the neglect. She did practically walk into every conflict. I think him being an asshole is enough reason for her to stop loving him, but noooo. *eyeroll*
I did love Cecil and his sarcastic barbs and his smooth diplomacy. Laetitia was also another enjoyable character only because the both of them were probably the only two not being manipulated and tricked the whole time by one party or another. These were the two that I could relate to, yay for cynical people. I guess overall it was a mindless borderline chicklit read with historical background.
Shanghai is an incredibly interesting city with an interesting history of imperialism and foreign influence, but it is hard to capture it all in a book. This one does a wonderful job, but I find it a bit sensationalist in always drawing back to the seedy underbelly of society and things like gang warfare and opium. But I'm not saying these aren't fascinating things to read about.
I liked the switch between rich and poor and foreign and native, in describing both lives of people from both sides. Generally, I found the transitions to be too subtle, or nonexistant. Often I would be reading about the growth of industry and suddenly find myself reading about prostitution. But I think the book does a wonderful job of presenting a lot of detail about very broad subjects.
Another weakness was that most of the pingying was in an unfamiliar style. For example Hangzhou and Suzhou were written as Hongchow and Suchow. I had a difficult time trying to discuss what I had read with any actual Chinese people because they couldn't decipher the ping ying.
Hamlet by William Shakespeare (4 Stars)
I am/eternally will be amused at how emo Hamlet is. Is this play really a tragedy? I keep laughing. All the characters are so caught up in their own problems that they completely ignore the secret things going on with everyone else and their own problems.
I love the sillioquies in this one, there are a lot of good lines and things to learn.
I know everyone is always on Hamlet's case for overthinking and procrastinating, but I think I would do the same thing because I constantly let thought paralyze my actions. Plus he's witty, although I will admit I wouldn't get half of it without help. *dense*
The Light of the Oracle by Victoria Hanley (4 Stars)
Ok...I don't know why I'm suddenly reading the third book in three book series, but I finally have one that I wasn't disappointed it. Hanley manages to create insanely interesting fantasy worlds and powers with the most natural of characters who can find a way to kick ass on an adventure.
Byrn is plucked from obscurity and taken to train as a novice at the Temple of the Oracle, where those chosen by a bird (symbolic of their personality and one which grants them a secret & unique power) go on to provide predictions for royalty. I think that alone is fascinating enough to keep someone reading, but the cast of characters is another plus.
Weblogs
-The feeds of my own blogs due to some very silly reasoning. Of course I know when I update, but I would want that someone using my computer to easily find my sites if I needed them to do something important.
-An assortment of personal sites and blogs arranged in whatever order I happen to decide on (usually varies between age, geography, or rate of updating).
News
-BBC International Edition: I love that they seem to present subjects that local media doesn't focus on.
-Blogging Baby: Parenting-related news. Random yes, but I find the ones that relate to teenage issues to be typical issues that we would care about.
-CNN World News: More specifically the Asian news section, I depend more on local offline sources of US news anyways.
-Japan Times Online: I particularly enjoy their articles on either daily life, or ones that contain recent statistics and opinion polls.
-People's Daily Online: The English edition to a particularly political Chinese newspaper. Presents an interesting view and great editorial reads.
-Shanghai Daily: The English paper in Shanghai with a focus on subjects very local to that city.
Entertainment Blogs
-Kaiju Shakedown: Variety's Asian movie blog detailing the status and happenings with upcoming movies from Asia.
-Hikki Texts: Translations of Utada Hikaru's Japanese blog.
-JPop News: Simply details and tracklistings for upcoming Japanese album and single releases.
-Chinese Music Blog: Music reviews.
-Hot Celebrity Photos: Guilty pleasure. Actually I'm mostly just curious as to who is considered hot these days. Contains a good mix of Western, Asian celebrities as well as some fictional characters.
-New Game Plus: Gaming blog focusing on issues and developments relating to female gamers.
Vox Newbie
I've already fallen in love with the books, photos, and audio functions. Not to mention the interface is so much more visually appealing than what I am used to. I was honestly expecting a long line to get a chance to check it out, but Chantelle was generous enough to send me an invite (Thanks!) And thus, my wait was thankfully cut short.
So that explains how I got here and so that only leaves me with where I'm going with this...
Memoirs is already where I discuss what is happening in my life and I don't really plan to expand on that. Live-journal is amazing for communities and staying in touch, but I dislike trying to dive into my more private and thoughts in such an impromptu manner. One is a bit too structured and the other too abstract, so I want this endeavor to be what falls in between the two.
About this Weblog
我的心中的日月 is Chinese for The Sun and Moon of My Heart. The title was inspired by Wong Lee Hom's song Shangri-La, or 心中的日月. Although "Shangri-La" is meant to describe a paradise/utopia, I usurped the Chinese title's more literal translation to better suit what I plan to pursue with the weblog.
Caros is a nickname of Caroline used only by my close personal friends. It is special to me not only because of that, but also because my name comes with so few available offshoots. Entries, for now, are public, but photographs, books, and other features are available only to those listed as friends.
Established August 3rd, 2006.
Neighborhood
Explore friends, family, friends & family, or entire neighborhood.
