Outside the norm

To me, the most beautiful instrument is the human voice when properly trained. I was just listening to opera and it was heavenly. The range and the depth and the dynamics...

I was searching up Fifth Element for the opera scene where the blue lady sings. She has such a lovely voice....there's a certain part at around 3:52-3:55 that just gives me goosebumps. I remembered this part of the movie from the first time I saw it years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MR6D7tL38U

And coming in second of most beautiful instrument...the piano. I just love the piano and how it sounds.

I just discovered Vitas, a Russian pop singer I think. I can't believe that a guy could produce such a high range of vocals. It's just incredible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjO_VXHxsRw

His dance made me laugh a little but listening to just how high his voice goes made me gawk. I showed his videos to my mom and we were just amazed.

Today at my music school, we had a guest performer come and play a concert.

His name is Giovanni Umberto Battel

Here's his biography:

Giovanni Umberto Battel, born in the province of Venice, began his piano's studies when he was four years old, under the guidance of his father Camillo, pianist and composer, and graduated with full marks and honours and honourable mention at the "G. Tartini" Conservatory in Trieste, under the direction of M° Luciano Gante. Under pianist Lya De Barberiis he obtained, with full marks and honours, the post-graduate diploma at the "Accademia di Santa Cecilia" in Roma. In the meantime, having an education in classical studies, Battel took a degree in musicology, with full marks and honours, at Bologna University and published articles on the new methodologies of performing analysis.

Between 1974 and 1979 he won six important national piano competitions connected with the main Italian concert societies. Between 1978 and 1982 he won prizes in seven international piano competition, proving his value in different places and times, it is enough to mention the first prizes in Stresa and in Enna and other prizes won at “Pozzoli”, at “Viotti” and at “Busoni” competitions.

After his début as a soloist in 1976 for Venice's theatre "La Fenice" and his first performance with orchestra in 1980 at the Sanremo theatre, he has given many concerts in Italy. Since 1986 Battel has also played in France (Paris, Nantes, Strasbourg, Obernai), Germany (Hamburg, Bonn, Bremen, Lubeck, Munich, Meersburg), Great Britain (London), Belgium (Brussels, Jodoigne), Sweden (Stockholm), Slovenia (Ljubljana), Croatia (Pola), Serbia (Belgrade), Greece (Athens, Tesaloniki), Turkey (Ankara, Smyrna), Russia (Samara), Japan (Tokyo, Osaka), U.S.A. (San Francisco and other towns in California).
He played with chamber and symphony orchestra conducted by De Bernart, Gavazzeni, Steinberg, Scimone and many other.

He recorded for both Italian radio and television (RAI). Among his recordings it is to mention two CD with Busoni Piano Concert op. 39a (Bongiovanni ed).
When he was twenty, Battel obtained the Piano Chair at “B. Marcello”, the Conservatory of Venice, and has been Director of the same Conservatory from academical year 1997/98. He has taught master classes in Italy, France, Spain, Serbia, Turkey and Japan, has been a member of the commission of piano competions and music consultant for concert seasons.


He was absolutely amazing. His hands and how they played were so beautiful. They overlapped many times during pieces he played but none of the awkwardness of such a movement showed in the playing. His dynamics were perfect. I felt my emotions in sync with his playing. I actually cried while he played. The way he plays is so sincere, nothing showy in how he plays even though the pieces themselves were so grand. I enjoyed his Chopin. I didn't know that the Sonata included the Funeral March. When he played that, I was just so overwhelmed with emotion. It was so beautiful. I never let my eyes fall away from his hands. Their movements were so spectacular while playing loudly, softly, quickly, slowly.

Hearing him play reminded me of why I love piano and music with all my soul, why I enjoy playing and listening to music.

I love Rachmaninov. The first piece I've every played of his was the Elegy. Since then I've played so many pieces of his; I fell in love with his music. And hearing him play the Sonata which I've never heard before played in a recital, was phenomenal. I was watching his hands all throughout and found my own hands trying to mimic his movements. The sonata was just so Rachmaninov in musical style.

And the Prokofiev. The ending was so powerful, so riveting. When he started the ending part, I held my breathe. At the grand ending, I let it out. It was amazing,the speed his hands were moving and the dynamics and the technique.

This was the best piano concert I've ever been to. I've never felt so alive and so ...like this.

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Here's what he played today:

F. Chopin: Sonata in B flat minor, Op 35

R. Schumann: Toccata in C major, Op 7

S. Rachmaninov: Sonata in B flat minor, Op 36

M. Ravel: Toccata in E minor

S. Prokofiev: Toccata in D minor, Op 11

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What I'm listening to right now:
Shiny Toy Guns - Le Disko

AHHHHH!!! I had such an awesome night on Thursday!

1) I saw my highschool friend who I haven't seen since summer and we hung out since 3pm. We ate dinner and then had such wonderful dessert. We ate at three different places in two hours!!! First at falafel house, then Starbucks, then this Japanese desert cafe. I had a Tiramisu parfait. It was so amazing. And the best part?! The bottom of the parfait had cornflakes in it! It was so insane and creative. Oh so...good! We were so stuffed and bloated but it was just such wonderful food.

2) I went to see FAKE SHARK-REAL ZOMBIE! And OMG they were fantastic. I now have a crush on the drummer!! So cute! They were just so amazing. The vocalist's dancing was just so adorable and so dorky. They're a local band that recently got a recording contract in Japan and they've been touring. They play rock, happy hardcore and punk music. They even play some hiphop flavoured stuff. I love their music. They're just so upbeat and so fun. Gah, I just had a wonderful wonderful time.

Check them out!
http://www.myspace.com/fakesharkrealzombie

Of course today, my cold got worse and I feel like absolutely crap. But Thursday was worth it. Right now, I'm watching the Harry Potter Movie 6 and drinking Ginger tea. My plans for this weekend are to sleep, get better, finish my music and study study study. Lovely.....

Mazohyst of Decadence by Dir En Grey

Japanese:

umiotosareru kodomo tsumi no ishiki no nai otona otosare
namae mo nai boku naze koko ni iru no ka sae wakaranai keredo
tatta suukagetsu no inochi tomo shirazu....

boku wa aisaretai boku wa umaretai kono botai no naka mitsumete
boku ga ishiki wo matta toki kara nikkagetsu me nani ka ga hayai to kanjita
mada nani mo dekinai sono uchi puragu ga....

fukanzenna boku wa kaki otosareta itami ga karada wo tsukinukeru
haha no naki sakebu koe mimi nari ga yamanai hakui no otona tachi boku wo sukui ageta
reiketsu ni michi afureta hitomi ni chimamire no migi te no nai boku ga utsuru
sono mama kuroi biniiru ni tsutsumareta
dandan ishiki ga usureru naka boku wa kangaeru shizuka ni
Cage no boku wo kono mama aiseru nara sore de ii yurusezu
aisarenai boku wa kono mama shinda hou ga ii
dakara ugoe wo agezu shizuka ni nemurimashou
ichodo dake haha no ai kono te de kanjite mitai
kore ga ai na no ka mo shirenai arigatou
nido to hirakanai tobira kataku tomerarete ita
demo ne boku wa kitto mirai no kimi dakara
ra ra ra....

karada yakitsukusare hone ga nakunaru made yakitsukusu
sayonara

English:

Child that will be born adults with no sense of guilt fallen
I who has no name why am I here I don't even understand, but
I don't know that I only have a few months to live...

I want to love I want to be born inside this mother's body, staring
since the time I waited for conciousness two months on I sensed something fast
yet I could do nothing that cord of ours will be...

I, incomplete, my body pierced through with hooked pain
mother's screaming voice, ringing in my ears, will not cease white coated adults scooped me up
in eyes overflowing with coldheartedness bloody, without a right hand, I am reflected
just as I was, in black vinyl I am wrapped, engulfed
while my conciousness is gradually fading, I consider quietly
if I, caged, am loved as I am, that is good it cannot be forgiven

it's better that I, unloveable, died as I am
in quiet I shall sleep without giving my first cry
just once, I want to feel a mother's love
maybe this is love thank you
a door that never opens was closing tight
but I am surely your future, and so...
la la la...

my body burned, consumed until my bones become nothing burned, destroyed
goodbye

Taken from songmeanings.net

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*sigh* I'm such a fangirl. The GazettE is like my favorite visual kei band right now.

What is visual kei?

According to wikipedia:
Visual kei (ヴィジュアル系, vijuaru kei?, lit. "visual style") refers to a movement among Japanese musicians,[1] that is characterized by the use of eccentric, sometimes flamboyant looks. This usually involves striking make-up, unusual hair styles and elaborate costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics.

According to me:
It's making an artistic expression with your appearance in addition to your music. Visual kei music artists make great efforts in their appearance.

Anyways...it's a huge genre in japanese rock. It started with X Japan and became a huge in Japan. Dir En Grey used to be Visual Kei before they left that behind. And it carried over into western countries too. For example, Marilyn Manson.

My favorite is The GazettE. They're all absolutely gorgeous and their music is fabulous. The reason I like japanese rock is that it's different, unique and the lyrics are much more beautiful than many of the English songs I hear now.

I'll introduce the band members. *The photos are fairy large sized. I haven't figured out how to shrink them*

Ruki (Vocalist)
( Photos )
Aoi (Guitarist)
( Photos )
Uruha (Guitarist)
( Photos )
Reita (Bassist)
( Photos )
Kai (Drummer)
( Photos )

The GazettE is an all male band.

I've been a huge fan since I was introduced to their music last summer. I've collected about 28 magazines in which they had photos. Each were like $15-30 since they were imported. I have all their singles and albums. It's hard to go into details as to why I love them. I just do.

MUSIC VIDEOS:
Filth in the Beauty
Chizuru
Silly God Disco
Shadow VI II I
Hyena
Regret
Zetsu
Reila
Cassis

Other Visual Kei Music Video links:
Pistol by 12012
Cubic'[L/R]ock by Ayabie
Yokan by Dir En Grey

Here's a meme I got from painless_j: comment and I'll give you a letter. In your journal, list 10 of your favourite songs that begin with that letter.

Damn...to choose only 10 was hard.

painless_j gave me the letter P:

1) Passion by Hikaru Utada
2) Pocket Size Sonata by Alec Templeton
3) Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones
4) Pain by Jimmy Eat World
5) Points of Authority by Linkin Park
6) Pushing Me Away by Linkin Park
7) Parody by Hikaru Utada
8) Perfect Love...Gone Wrong by Sting
9) Put Em' Up by Namie Amuro
10) Pistol by 12012

Well I'm all better now. My blood test results were inconclusive. Doesn't matter now. Anyways, I received my Provincial Marks. Eng=89% Bio=89%. That means that I'm officially in UBC. WOOT! and I get to keep my scholarship as well as receive one from the government. Anyways I found a whole bunch of tests to amuse myself....

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Well I've been getting into Japanese music. Some sites I've been visiting are:
Tonberry Torrents
Jpopmusic
Get Azn Music
and a whole bunch of BitTorrent sites.
I've been into Malice Mizer, Moi Dix Mois, Gazette, Miyavi, Pierrot, Hyde, Gackt, L'Arc~en~Ciel, and a lot of other J-Rock artists. Visual Kei's are so hot.
My computer is so slow. hehehe....

I haven't updated in a while now. It's summer and I've graduated. My last time ever going to my Highschool was Awards Night on the 29th. Afterwhich I went out to White Spot with two of my friends.
It still seems surreal that I'm done Highschool and going on to University.

What have I been up to lately? Well we got a new patio set so I've spending a lot of time outside. I got tanned which I almost didn't think could happen to me since I've always been pale.
I've been watching Animes. Samurai Champloo is the latest thing for me. It's so funny and the fight scenes are amazing and fast paced. I also love how it's not so conservative about sexual issues especially those revolving around homosexuality and prostitution.

( Continue reading.. )

hi it's now 4 min into the next day. i have been listening to AFI all day. i tried listening to something other but it all comes back to AFI. reminds me of my addiction to Coheed and Cambria which lasted three weeks of non-stop listening. well it did stop once my batteries ran out.

i'm going to warp tour. bought the tickets and everything. i'm so excited. omg...it's gonna be my first concert ever and although this makes me sound distinctly like a nerd..i'm gonna enjoy it.

i have a piano recital to go to tomorrow. well it's my brother's but they want older experienced people to play to encourage the younger kids to reach to higher levels. i'm kinda nervous. I hate performing in front of people.