Canção de Engate - António Variações

After yesterday's depressing post, I decided to share with you all a music from my childhood from one of Portugal's most innovative artists from the 1980's. :) 

I know it's been almost 30 years, but it is an amazing song. 

Actually, my first real recollection of this song is a cover, even though I think I have always known it was not the original. So, I decided to share both versions and the lyrics. Unfortunately I have not found the translation and I lack the confidende to do it myself (I am a Biology major not an English major..., but I might try to persuade my Sister... hihihi).

On with the videos:

Original: António Variações

(credits to MASMP @ YouTube)

To be honest, I do not remember hearing this version, but I liked it.

Cover: Delfins

(credits to nelsoncarmo26 @ Youtube)

 Lyrics (credits to LT):

Tu estás livre e eu estou livre
e há uma noite para passar
porque não vamos unidos
porque não vamos ficar
na aventura dos senti - dos

tu estás só e eu mais só estou
que tu tens o meu olhar
tens a minha mão aberta
à espera de se fechar
nessa tua mão deser- ta

vem que o amor
não é o tempo
nem é o tempo
que o faz
vem que o amor
é o momento
eu que eu me dou
em que te dás
tu que buscas companhia
e eu que busco quem quiser
ser o fim desta energia
ser um corpo de prazer
ser o fim de mais um di - a

tu continuas à espera
do melhor que já não vem
e a esperança fio encontrada
antes de ti por alguém
e eu sou melhor que na - da
refrão (3x)

And the usual links:

António Variações - Wiki

Delfins - Myspace

Mute Math - You Are Mine

Mute Math is a band that I discovered through my Sister (a.k.a., My Personal Music Dealer), who in turn discovered them because of The Twilight Saga Soundtracks.

This is one of my favorite songs by them:

Mute Math - You Are Mine

(Sorry, I was only able to find live videos)

(Credits to thepromisecollision @ YouTube)

Lyrics (credits to mute math web):

Everyone has their obsession
Consuming thoughts, consuming time
They hold high their prized posession
That defines the meaning of their lives

You are mine
You are mine
You are mine, oh mine
You are mine

There are objects of affection
That can mesmerize the soul
There is always one addiction
That just cannot be controlled

You are mine
You are mine
You are mine, oh mine
You are mine

Everyone has their obsession
Consuming thoughts, consuming time
They hold high their prized posession
They hold high their prized posession

And here are the usual links:
Official Site (it has clips from their concerts in Japan, go check it)
Official YouTube
Wikipedia

Alice Nine. - 葬園-名も無き君へ- (Graveyard to the Nameless You)

This is my Alice Nine. favourite song, so I decided to share it. This music is from their 2005 album ALICE IN WONDEЯLAND.

Here´s the video and the link for the lyrics (romanization and translation).

Alice Nine. - 葬園-名も無き君へ- (Souen -Na mo Muki Kimi e-)

(EmyTsuki @ YouTube)

In case you liked what you heard you can go here for more information:
Official Site
Official Myspace (for their most recent works)
Wikipedia

Metallica - One

I decided to share one of the not so good videos that I made on the 9th of July at the Metallica concert. It was my first time seeing Metallica playing live and actually being present at the concert, I have seen several of theirs live concerts on TV. I really enjoyed it, and they played most of the songs that I like. One of them is One from the ...And Justice For All album, released in 1988.

Metallica - One

Because of my video's the lack of quality I decided to also share the original video (which I think is awesome) and the lyrics.

Smile (music by Charlie Chaplin)

(Credits to ChaplinsViolin @ YouTube)

Smile
Music by Charlie Chaplin
Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though its breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile with your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just
Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though its breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

that's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

I have to be honest I remembered this song today because of Michael Jackson's memorial. However ,this is definitely a great song, that even though it carries a message of hope it as a very sad feeling to it (at least in my opinion). Please enjoy. :)

A year of JRock...

So, around this time last year, I first heard of Japanese Rock music... And a very interesting relationship began. I haven't felt so thrilled by music for a long time, and not only the music but the people that make the music.

I got to known Miyavi, Gackt, the Gazette, Alice Nine, Kagrra,, Sugizo (and, consequently, Luna Sea) and Yoshiki (which of course also includes X Japan) and a few others. These artists are not only appealing because of their music but also because of their visual style. For instance, I cannot imagine Miyavi without his tattoos, piercings, crazy hats and clothes. The remaining artists also have a very strong and charactheristic visual image. However, in the end their music is what remains.

Give them a chance, don't get shocked for their visuals or their stage antics (some people might feel ofended, but its fanservice; it exists because the fans want to see that kind of stuff). Go to YouTube and search them. I'll leave here some links for each of them.

Miyavi (oficial homepage; wiki)
Selfish Love
(the music/video that made me fall in love with Miyavi)
Hi No Hikari sae todokanai kono basho (ft. Sugizo)
(the latest single; link for the lyrics translation - credits to baka_neko - just in case your curious)
Ashita, Genki ni Naare

Gackt (oficial homepage; wiki)
Lust for Blood
(also the music/video that made me fall in love with Gackt)
Misty
(instrumental, have a bit of patience and wait until the music starts its worth it)
Returner -Yami no Shuuen
(the latest single)

the Gazette (oficial homepage; wiki)
Chizuru
Filth in the Beauty

Alice nine (oficial homepage; wiki)
Souen Namonaki Kimi e
(definitely my favorite from these guys :))
Q.

Kagrra, (oficial homepage; wiki)
Utakata
(the link for the lyrics translation is some posts back)
Sakebi
Satsuki

Sugizo (oficial homepage; wiki)
Synchronicity by Soundtrack
Lucifer
Kind of Blue

Luna Sea (oficial homepage; wiki)
(i don't know Luna Sea that well... this is just a glimpse; to tell you the truth I still have a lot to learn about all these artists, so search for them if what you see and hear is somewhat enjoyable for you)
Storm
I for You
Rosier

Yoshiki (oficial homepage; wiki)
Symphonic Concert Trailer
(Yoshiki is, among other things, a composer, a piano player and a drummer)
Drum solo
Unnamed Song

X Japan (oficial homepage; wiki)
I.V.
(from Saw IV soundtrack)
Art of Life
(only an excerpt, since the original is ~30 minutes long; to hear the remaining of the song follow the links that are in the description box)
X (version 1, 2)
Rusty Nail

As a bonus a music from a band composed of Yoshiki, Gackt, Sugizo and Miyavi:
S.K.I.N. - Killing you Softly
(unfortunatly something official has yet to be released)

There is a ton of other JRock and/or Visual Kei bands that I don't know. This is nothing but a small sample.

PS - It took me more than a hour to write this post. And I was stupid and lost the last few that I had written, because I logged off... So I had to re-write everything and go after the last links again...

PS2 - I had two addtional PS's but I don't remember what I wrote...

PS3 - I remembered one: It seems like I don't feel lazy to write about Japanese Rock music in English. To tell the truth it feels completely natural...

Because I love this music...

Pearl Jam - Oceans (Ten)

Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
Glide me towards...
You know something's left
And we're all allowed
To dream of the next
Oh, ohh the next, time we touch...

Oooh... (4x)

You don't have to stray
Tho oceans away
Waves roll in my thoughts
Hold tight the ring...
The sea will rise...
Please stand by the shore...
Oh, oh, oh, I will be...
I will be there once more...

Oooh... (4x)
Uh huh, oh yeah... (2x)

(lyrics @ tripod)

This music reminds me of my teenage years, the house I used to live and my sisters. However, nowadays it goes beyond that, because it makes sense in my present has well.

Life goes by so fast, not that I feel old, on the contrary I feel younger than what I really am. :)

Kagrra, - うたかた (Utakata)

Because this music is beautiful and I've been to post it for some time now... Here it is Kagrra,'s Utakata.

(I would like to acknowledge Oneechan345 for posting the video on YouTube.)

Utakata means Ephemeral, if you're curious about the lyrics go here.
The traditional japanese instrument played is a Koto. :)

In case you wanna learn more about this Visual Kei band, here's the link for their official homepage: Kagrra,.

EDIT: Sorry, I just noticed that the previous link wasn't working... I've replaced it. :) (27-02-2008)

Century - Lover Why (lyrics)

And as a complement here are the lyrics (for a long time I only knew the chorus and not that well :P).

A sign of time
I lost my life, forgot to die
Like any man, a frightened guy
I'm keeping memories inside
Of wounded love

But I know
I'm more than sad and more today
I'm eating words too hard to say
A single tear and I'm away
Away and gone

I need you
So far from hell, so far from you
'Cause heaven's hard and black and gray
You're just a someone gone away
You never said goodbye
Why, lover why ?
Why do flowers die ?
Why, lover why ?

Everytime
I hear your voice, you heard my name
You built the fire, wet the flame
I swim for life, can't take the rain
No turning back

I need you
So far from hell, so far from you
'Cause heaven's hard and black and gray
You're just a someone gone away
You never said goodbye
Why, lover why ?
Why do flowers die ?
Why, lover why ?

Why, lover why ?
Why do flowers die ?
Why, lover why

(taken from here)