HAPPINESS

Konnichiwa!

My name is Yuri. I don't know why you're here reading this but just so you know this vox account is dedicated to my sheer (crazy, silly, fanatic) love for Arashi. So, if you don't have any idea of what Arashi is, then I guess you're just kinda lost. (^^.')

Anyway, if you do know Arashi, welcome! welcome! ┖(♡´∀｀♡) ┚

First of all, this vox is simply what it is, a journal. So basically it contains all of my random thoughts and flailings on Arashi. If you're looking for stuff to watch, listen, download, etc., I'm sorry but you are not gonna find anything here. Inasmuch as I want to share stuff like that to the Arashi fandom, I have very, very, very limited resources, so I got nothing. There are, on the other hand, a gazillion groups and accounts around overflowing with Arashi stuff so go join there instead.

This is just a collection of my thoughts, no more, no less.

Despite this, I would really appreciate it if you want me to add me as your friend. I don't know why you

would add me, but if ever you do, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

...and if you wanna read the start of my long, incoherent, fangirl rants...click here!

One of my most favorite Arashi songs is Ai to Yuuki to Cherry Pie. I absolutely love it -- from the soothing melody to the heart-tickling lyrics (and of course the singers which are to die for!). The title is also perfect. I find it a super sweet package that I'd probably get diabetes the longer I listen to it. LOL.

Out of the blue, I just randomly typed the song in the youtube search bar and this video shows up. This is the only live performance of Ai to Yuuki that I've seen (and is the only one available on youtube).

And why am I not surprised to see them dancing (on a what is supposed to be a non-dancing song) again?!

Anyway, I loved it. There's the Ohno-hair that I love! Though I can't feel all sweety and all especially after seeing Nino's hair :D, those (too) bouncy boys with oversized shirts, and Ohno's sitting position.

Hiroya Oku's sci-fi action manga "GANTZ" is being adapted into two live-action films planned to be released in 2011. The movies will star Arashi's Kazunari Ninomiya (26) and actor Kenichi Matsuyama (24).

Shinsuke Sato is directing the films, which have reportedly been given a budget of 4 billion yen, with lots of CG involved. It is said that producers are aiming to make the film suitable for general audiences, which means that it may likely lack the violence of the original manga.

"GANTZ" has been serialized in Young Jump since 2000. Kei Kurono (Ninomiya) and Masaru Kato (Matsuyama) are two young man who should be dead after a train accident, but they are summoned back to life by an entity known as GANTZ. Under GANTZ's orders, the two are repeatedly sent on missions to fight against alien beings. So far, 26 volumes of the manga have been released in Japan, selling more than 10 million copies combined.

Although Kei and Masaru are high school students in the manga, their characters will be older in the movie. Kei has been turned into a college student looking for work, while Masaru is already working and taking care of his younger brother. The two childhood friends happen to meet again on a subway platform.

Oku's manga is still being serialized, but the two movies will tell a complete story with an original ending.

Filming is scheduled to start next month. The first movie is expected to hit theaters in winter 2011, while the second is slated for spring 2011.

Source: tokyograph.com

I smell something good being cooked next door.
I said: "Uwa~~ I'm hungry"
Mom said: "You know what to do in these situations? Yyou inhale the scent of the food... then you eat rice along with the smell."

I smiled.

I remember Yamada Taro. :D

Arashi released My Girl, their 28th single last November 11, 2009. The release contains the song My Girl -- the theme song for the drama of the same title in which Arashi member Masaki Aiba stars as the lead. Also included are two B-side tracks which I'll be talking about later.

Anyway...

I've been actually listening to the songs for quite some time now and Arashi has captured my heart again no doubt ;) with their wonderful songs. Let's take My Girl first. Having seen both the drama and the PV, I think that the melody of this song fits them (drama and PV) perfectly. The guys have always been veterans when it comes to heartwarming and nostalgic songs and this song is no exception. I have shed (oceans and oceans) of tears on the drama, on the PV, and on the song itself. Everytime they sing the chorus (♫arigatou no omoi wo tsutaetai yo sotto kimi no motto e...♫) there's this unexplainable feeling... you feel happy and sad at the same time. Wait, am I looking for 'nostalgic'? Speaking of nostalgic, I also can't help but be reminded of Everything when I listen to this. They both give me that unexplainable feeling.

Now to the B-sides I mentioned earlier.

The second track is entitled Tokei Jikake no Umbrella and it's the theme song for 0 Goushitsu no Kyoku, a series of (super) short dramas which Arashi leader Satoshi Ohno stars in. Another perfect theme song! In the beginning of the drama, a short preview of the song (well, insturmental only... the part where Yokoyama Yuu explains what Room 0 is about) is played and then the song is played again in the end and I was completely oblivious that it's already an Arashi song that they're playing. (**Well, another explanation for that is that I didn't listen to the radio rips 'cause I wanna wait for the release to surprise myself and indeed I was suprised!) As soon as I hear the intro (I'm a dunce in classifying musical instruments and now I'm guessing it's an accordion. Please shed some light, for those who know.) I instantly love it (especially when it's Ohno's voice that you hear in the beginning). It's different. It's just like when I first heard truth. It's not the usual Arashi song, yet it's beautiful. The song reminds me of a dark, old circus, and I imagine jokers with dark outfit dancing around. (I have weird a imagination.) I feel like the song gives out a mysterious, dark, and dramatic mood which I think fits the drama perfectly. I just feel sad that they did not release a PV for this song, It's PV-worthy guys! Make one! Eeh, maybe they're just too busy to make one. Anyway, another thing that bothers me is that Sakurap inserted in the middle of the song (Sho fans please spare me). The first time I heard it, I was like, "eeeehh~???" I feel like it's somewhat out of place. But no worries now. As I listen to it more, it kinda grows on me, so okay, sakurap is fine. :D

Speaking of 'growing' songs, the last track on the single is called Super Fresh. 'Growing' song because it is also one of those songs that my ears do not easily accept but eventually 'grows' on me until I finally love it (another example is MatsuJun's Naked but let's not talk about that anymore 'cause I like that song now :D). I guess my ears weren't just prepared with the melody of the song. Is it pop? I guess but the song kinda reminds me of songs that I hear at New Years Eve (wtf!? I don't wanna explain more on this 'cause it's kinda hard to. hehehe~) I actually thought that this song is weird. I can't seem to capture the melody. Well, they're rapping so... But again, no worries! I love the song. Seriously. I love it that I had no idea that I've been listening to it more than My Girl and Tokei Jikake no Umbrella. See? It 'grows' fast!

Overall, I just noticed that the My Girl single contains three songs which features different genres of Arashi songs so it kinda showcases the flexibility of their music. Ii ne?

I'm feeling quite down today that's why I'm listening to Kitto Daijoubu and hey, it really helps!
I ran across the Arashi quiz I took ages ago and things turn out better actually. Last time, Aiba appeared as the one whose I'm most compatible with, but now it's Ohno! Yay! It's also amusing to see that the next three places didn't change (Nino, then Sho, then Jun).

At least the results brighten up my mood somehow.

***before anything else, I would like to note that I used the My Girl PV uploaded by fseventh as basis for my thoughts since it has the (awesome) translations.

Alas, Arashi's latest PV of their song 'My Girl' (as of 2009.11.10) is now flooding the internet. If I'm not mistaken, this is their second PV which has a story it, the other being Aozora Pedal.

Same with the melody of the song, the PV gives out a very nostalgic feeling. I think they also got the idea of the story from the dorama, My Girl where someone dies but still the memory of the beloved remains. In the PV the guys act out as brothers (kawaii ne? I really love this idea ^v^) and they're cleaning the house getting ready to move to another place. It is also implied in the video that their mother has passed away. While cleaning stuff out, of course the guys can't help to be all nostalgic, especially Aiba's role which I think is the most affected son in their mother's death (well, he is the lead role of My Girl so let's give him that role!) being all pensive and gloomy.

But the video isn't all that sad! We also get to see a bit of fun things like when Sho and Jun are fighting over who gets the largest room while Nino chose the smallest (I would want that too. I like small spaces. hahaha~). Sho is also very hyper in the video in total contrast to Aiba. We also get to see Ohno being the big brother, giving out orders and stuff (haha~).

Speaking of Ohno, there's a scene there where he's inside a closet taking out stuff (what are those round things anyway!?) and it kinda reminds me of Toshio from the Grudge ^v^ (seriously, that movie gave me trauma about those Japanese closets!).

One thing I have to note is the picture of their okaasan. It turns out that the picture was formed using one feature each of the guys. The shape of the face is Jun's, the eyes are Sho's, the mouth is Nino's, the nose is Aiba's and the eyebrows are Ohno's. Kawaii ne? But, I really think that the woman looked more like Ohno, ne? Hehehe~

Another thing to note is the letter from okaasan. Yes, and you know letters from dead people = tears.

You were born as our children and one day you should grow up and move out to do what it is you love to do. When that day comes, go. I'll be watching you from this house.

In the end, (as initiated by Onii-san Ohno, teeheehee~) they decided not to move so as to stay longer with their mother. Now wouldn't this be a nice for Mother's Day?

The end!

Actually, I've already seen this video yesterday but it is only now that I've understood everything with the help of the translations (thanks fseventh!) and now I'm fighting hard to suppress my tears because my liquid eyeliner would smear. lol.

One last last last thing! Aiba definitely look wonderful in this video (of course!). totemo kakkoii desu!

I have been missing a lot of Arashi shows. busy. busy. busy.
Anyway, I just saw a clip on youtube -- an (it's subbed which makes it 10x more amazing!) episode of Himitsu no Arashi-chan SP and it features ARAOKE. No, it's not your regular karaoke. In celebration (I think it'll be a 10-year celebration) of their tenth anniversary, Arashi is out to meet and greet the fans who love singing their songs on karaoke. Did I just say meet and greet? It's actually meet and SING WITH ARASHI! Kyaaa~!!! I wanna be there too!!! I don't mind singing all their songs with them all day! Gosh, while I was watching the video, I was even more excited than those girls whom Arashi had sang with. >.<!! They were so dumbstruck... and this girl TOUCHED OHNO. T_____T jealous.  jealous. jealous. Plus, Riida's outifit is much much ♡♡♡!

What if I were in the same situation? Kyaaa~!!! I would have fainted.LOL.

You can check the clip HERE though only the first part's up yet.

Anyway, thanks to argooleeshi and ihsara001 for sharing.

I have a strong feeling that Arashi won Channel V's Battle of the Pop against Kat-Tun (and other JPop and KPop artists involved).

Too bad we don't have Channel V here, (so what's the purpose of me voting like crazy!?) but nevertheless, we still have VTunes on Star World and at least I still get to see Arashi PVs on TV! And yes, THEY DO GIVE ARASHI MORE EXPOSURE NOW. So far I've seen A.RA.SHI, Everything, and Crazy Moon~Kimi wa Muteki~ aired. An episode of JKPop is not over without a video from the boys.

Well done guys! And actually, WELL DONE EVERYONE!
To everyone who voted in the poll, thank you very much for letting Arashi invade Channel V.