#Utada Hikaru no uta

[alexandrarosa]

First love

First of all I don’t remember the last time I’ve loved something this much. I think it wouldn’t be an exaggeration if I said it was the best thing I’ve ever watched.

I absolutely loved the characters and their development. I loved how the plot was shown in nonlinear time – thanks to which we could really see the whole story from different perspectives.

I loved the ending and even though it was such a happy one, it kind of wrecked me. And I absolutely have to post my whole analysis of the show because ‘First Love’ is the only thing I’ve been able to think about for the past three days.

(spoiler alert!)

Yae Noguchi

The first character we meet seems like the nicest person in the world. Of course we don’t know her tragic backstory then but we can feel there is some mysterious lingering in her preception of the world around her. She’s a single mother, she works hard day and night. We slowly get to know everything about her life and honestly it’s all so sad. I mean her relationship with Harumichi is lovely. I adore how she sees him as the wild one compared to her. She has her dreams and she’s so invested in all the things she does. She’s courageous – she’s the one who confesses her feelings first (and my beloved dumbass Harumichi doesn’t even get it). She is ready to work hard to get what she wants. She got into university and I think she was really happy there. Of course then the worst happens. And I feel like that accident was the beginning of the most miserable period of her life. She’s always been ambitious, she had plans. And all of the sudden she’s reduced to being a stay-at-home mother and a housewife. Her husband, who seemed like a good guy, turns to be, well, an asshole. His mother treats her horribly. They have no respect for her. She’s kind of treated like housekeeper more than a part of the family. So she struggles, but becames herself again – and takes the control back. Yes, it’s hard. Yes, she has to work night and day. But she’s ready to do it. And she loves her son unconditionally, she’s ready to give him everything he needs. And when he needs to have better care – she’s ready to give him up even though it kills her. She gets back on her feet, she moves away from her mother.

I absolutely love Yae. I love how determined she is, I adore that she really tries, even though she has no hope for herself. And I love that she’s ready to do everything she feels she should.

Yae’s dreams

Something that makes me really sad is that she has to wait for so long to actually make her dreams come true. She has always known what she wanted to do in life, but couldn’t accomplish it for twenty years. She feels like a person with no past cannot have a future. And that’s how she sees herself –she lost so many precious things – not only love and memories, but also (or maybe mainly) the abilities to do what she wants. She didn’t graduate. She was a housewife so she had no experience in any kind of work. Yae from before the accident had the whole world standing open before herself. Yae after the accident has limited choices and no hope for a change.

But it’s so sad that she’s losing it all and her mother does nothing. She’s grieving after a perfect daughter she’s lost like she’s the actual victim. Yae’s mother let her own grief and pain hurt her daughter. She was blaming Harumichi for the accident, because he wasn’t able to protect her. And because of that she punished them both. She made Harumichi believe for so many years that he’s the responsible one. She forced him to dissapear from Yae’s life, she would let her know about him. She preferred the surgeon guy because he had more money. She’s hoping she made the right choice - but honestly she didn’t. She shouldn’t have been making the choices at all. They were not hers to made.

What makes me so angry is that Yae never got back to the university. I wonder why her mother never encouraged her. I’m angry that she had to through all that pain just because her mother decided what’s best for her.

But nothing makes me happier than those small parallels. Teenage Yae greeting imaginary passengers on their flight to Reykiavik and adult Yae being a flight attendant in Iceland. Teenage Harumichi saying that he’s going to be a pilot with a beautiful flight attendant as a wife and they ending up flying together at the end. Their dreams really did come true at the end.

Harumichi Namiki

The literal love of my life. I mean this is the guy who becomes your fictional crush and makes every guy in reality look sad. He’s the epiphany of taking control ovet your own life. And an exellent example of ‘you can’t change him but he will change for you if he cares’ and honestly, damn. Their origin story, their meet cute, whatever you want to call it – my dude was swept off his feet. He saw a girl reading a book and he decided to change his entire life for her. It was, as he stated, laughably easy. He went from a textbook badboy to learning nonstop for several weeks because of the chance he saw on the horizon. He would do absolutely everything for her. He became a pilot for her. His whole life was dedicated to her. She was the energy that fueled his life.

And then she got ripped away from his life completly abruptly. And then at the slightest chance of finding her again – he regained all hope.

I love how he always states that he believes in fate but at the same time he knows that he can’t just sit and wait for the good fings to happen. He uses any chance life throws at him. And everything he could control – he did.

Harumichi’s character development

What’s interesting about Harumichi is a long way he came during his life. From a badboy to a wild student to the military cadet and pilot to the security guard. I love how visible it is that his main reason of being is protecting others. From protecting his sister to protecting Yae and his country. But what’s also worth mentioning is his belief in love – or actually – the way he loves. We see him as a teenager, eager to give love, full of energy. Then, as an adult, we see him with Tsunemi – he’s more conscious, more careful. Less involved. I thought it’s just something that comes with age. But then he finds Yae again and all his energy and involvement come back. I feel like for those twenty years he was passive about his life and work and love. I’m sure he cared for Tsunemi but she couldn’t wake that flame inside of him. And then he became active again because he regained the hope for reuniting with Yae again. And I’m not even sure if it had a romantic purpose at the beginning. I don’t think he wanted to break up with Tsunemi just because he saw Yae. But then it turned out that he didn’t have a choice – Tsunemi wasn’t the one. Maybe in a world without Yae she would do, but not in this reality. That’s why I don’t think that Harumichi broke up with her to be with Yae. I think he thought he had to because he couldn’t love her as he should have.

Their love

I love how Yae’s and Harumichi’s relationship is actually so calm and peaceful. They don’t argue. They don’t have that will-they-won’t-they dynamic. They just love each other and it’s completly pure. I also love the scene after the end credits when they are shown together while walking. Notice how Harumichi constantly grabs her hand, touches her, kisses her. Like he’s afraid that if he doesn’t hold her she’ll disappear. And she’s so happy that he’s back in her life. That there is somebody that really actually loves her. Geeez, I’m so happy that they found each other.

The role of fate and the role of timing

Fate is a tricky thing – some people sit and wait for the good things to happen. But it seems like the characters from the ‘First Love’ know it doesn’t work that way. Yes, you can call it fate that Harumichi saw Yae on the train and then again in the exam room. But everything he did later came from him. He took care of everything that was in his control. And when there was nothing more to do, he had to let fate work again – and it did. They went to the same high school. Fate worked again twenty years later sending them both to Sapporo and making them, in a way, cross their paths. And yet again Harumichi didn’t wait for fate to reunite them. He was listening to the taxi announcements for hours for god’s sake! Life (or fate – whatever you want to call it) gave him the chance to rescue her this time and he did, hurting himself in the process.

The fate did it again with Uta finding Harumichi in Iceland, but Yae actively chose to find him. She made her own choice not waiting for a coincidence.

What’s also worth mentioning is that Harumichi actively played the role of ‘fate’ for Tsuzuru and Uta – he made it possible for them to meet.

The worst part of all that is timing. And we know that timing is a bitch.

So many important things happend in the wrong moment. Harumichi coming to Yae only to find out that she’s pregnant. Yae falling in love with him again when he was engaged. Her confessing her feelings after he decided to take a break and go away. Yae regaining her memories only after Harumichi left. Her deciding to take back control of her life and dreams and pandemic streaking.

But at the same time so many good things happened because of the bad timing – for example Harumichi’s leaving let Tsuzuru find the CD player that gave Yae her memories back. If he had never decided to leave she might have not get them back.

For such a long time I was trying to understand why he didn’t want to be with her when she confessed her feelings. But I think I get it now. He would have to live knowing she doesn’t remember a big part of their shared history. And I think it could be heart shattering. He had to actively choose to leave her again despite their shared love for each other because it would be more painful for him to be with her even though it’s the thing he wanted his whole adult life.

And then she regains her memories. And she comes after him. And my little heart is so happy and sad at the same time when I think of all the things they had to live through to find each other again. But at the same time all that happend – good or bad – made it possible.

The normal life shown in the series

I think it’s something worth mentioning. Every person in the show has their own normal life. And I think it’s so important that the role of the characters isn’t reduced to the love story only. We see them working, eating, partying, cooking, studying, even commuting to work. It seems so natural but at the same time I feel like the western fil/show makers sometimes forget that the normal life is also worth exploring and showing. Characters crying and then going to work in the morning like nothing happened. Cooking for loved ones. Sitting with a giant plushie (another reason for my love for that dude). The mention of living in the pandemic! Seeing it from perspective actually made me cry because I got reminded of that period that I actually struggled with. And so did Yae. It’s so precious to me to see characters being normal people.

The music

I feel like the song ��First Love’ will always make me cry from now on. It always played in such moments in the show that it now gives me the lingering feeling of sadness and happiness at the same time anytime I hear it. And for that I am eternally grateful.

All in all, loved the show. It’s the best thing I’ve ever seen. If it was a book I would literally sleep with it underneath my pillow (like Alexander the Great with his copy of Illiad). I can’t believe I accidentally discovered such a treasure. If you didn’t watch it yet I cannot recomment it enough. If you did – you know what I mean.

[drastrochris]

I hate cilantro, but realizing that Utada Hikaru's song Pakuchi No Uta is just about how much she loves cilantro makes that song a delight.

[kouxbe]

SR MEDIA CALLBACK AUDITION

or: in an attempt to pass a class, kou's professor suggests he audition for a company as part of his first person research. kou somehow makes it in. cover: utada hikaru - first love

he hadn't expected a call back. honestly, kou had thought the message he received was a scam, almost immediately hitting the 'report' button - only to stop short when he realized that it was indeed official. "holy shit."

-

it wasn't like kou needed to go for the second audition. after all, he'd already submitted his paper a few days back and according to his professor, no longer needed to worry about whether he was going to horribly fail or barely pass.

still, this wasn't exactly the sort of opportunity he thought he could pass up. sure, kou might not deem himself as the most ... idol-like person out there; he's clumsy, and silly and quite honestly can barely follow a schedule, but it does intrigue him enough to follow through with the process.

"it won't hurt."

-

so it does kind of hurt. literally. kou is making his way to the sr media building, guitar in hand when he bumps into a pole on the way there. in his defense though, he'd been busy looking up the directions to the building on his phone, and had simply been distracted.

thankfully, the pole he'd hit wasn't too far from the building, and with a deep breath, he takes a step inside. alright. he thinks he's got this. maybe. or maybe he doesn't, in which case – meh. what can he do.

he arrives in a muted outfit ( thankfully, kou's closet is filled with nothing but muted outfits ), and he's never really been the type to wear makeup anyway – so he doesn't worry too much about that. he follows the staff up, and looks around the building. fancy, he thinks.

-

they take him to a room and ask him to pose. pose. what the fuck is this, korea's next top model?

kou scratches his head at first as he thinks of what to do – but the camera man mistakes that as his first pose and kou blinks in surprise when the flash goes off. oh okay, he thinks, too awkward to correct the man behind the camera.

they'd already sort of told him before hand that they would be taking pictures though, and kou had ( embarrassingly ) tried out a few simple poses in front of his mirror at home. and so he mimics just that, whatever sort of pose he'd practiced before hand, before he's brought to another room to perform.

-

"hello, my name is sato kou," he bows. "today i'll be doing an acoustic cover of utada hikaru's first love. thank you," he bows again and picks up his guitar. he tunes it for a quick moment before he clears his throat and begins.

he strums his guitar and the familiar intro begins to fill the room. quite honestly, he feels much more comfortable like this – singing in japanese, as though he's able to understand the lyrics a little better.

ashita no imagoro ni wa anata wa doko ni iru n' darou dare wo omotte 'ru n' darou ( tomorrow, at this time where will you be? who will you be thinking about? )

he sings, strumming his guitar before the chords shift to the chorus.

you are always gonna be my love itsu ka dare ka to mata koi ni ochite mo i'll remember to love you taught me how you are always gonna be the one ima wa mada kanashii love song atarashii uta utaeru made ( you are always gonna be my love i'll remember to love you taught me how you are always gonna be the one love song now and forever ... )

the song comes to an end and kou strums the guitar once more, before he looks at the panel. "thank you."

it should end there. it should've ended there. but things never quite go as kou plans, and instead of "goodbye" he's hit with a question.

“please reflect on your time during the next gen audition process and tell us what you would like to do differently, should you be invited to participate in a second season.”

eh, he thinks to himself, slightly surprised. next gen? the thing he'd been on months ago? that next gen?

i wouldn't participate, he wants to say. next gen – as interesting as it had been – was too troublesome for someone like kou. the thought of having to put on different performances almost every week, of dancing, of taking time away from his cats. that next gen. but as stupid as kou can be, he doesn't actually say that out loud.

"i'd be more interesting," he says instead. which probably isn't the sort of normal response one would be expecting. "i think i was pretty boring the first season – uhm, maybe that's why i didn't get a lot of interesting shots." now that he thinks back on it, kou had been pretty ... normal throughout next gen, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but his friends in school had told him that korean varieties loved a good story and interesting people. which kou admittedly, felt like he wasn't.

"oh, i don't mean like i'd cause controversies," he continues, shaking his hands. "i mean, i would've caught people's attention by taking on a character. probably a leader-like role," not that kou thinks he has it in him to be a leader, but he did once lead a group project in uni, "or have a good storyline. i would work harder on having those if i got invited the another season. i heard that the audience likes a good story and an interesting person, it gives them someone to root for."

the audition comes to an end, and kou once again, bows for what must be the umpteenth time, before he leaves the building.

-

on the way home, he receives an email with the score of his research paper.

"SATO KOU RESEARCH PAPER - 70% Comments: Interesting topic. In-depth with first-hand experience."

he's glad he won't fail the class at least.

[flailingdreamist-blog]

Stockpiling for Utada Hikaru's Science Fiction Tour - Michi道

I can feel the morning beyond the black waves 黒い波の向こうに朝の気配がする

A star that won't disappear shines in my heart 消えない星が私の胸に輝き出す

Even sad songs will someday become nostalgic songs. 悲しい歌もいつか懐かしい歌になる

Invisible scars color my soul 見えない傷が私の魂彩る

Get up even if you fall 転んでも起き上がる

When in doubt, stop. 迷ったら立ち止まる

And ask if it's you そして問う あなたなら

What do you do in a situation like this? こんな時どうする

you are in my heart 私の心の中にあなたがいる

At any time いつ如何なる時も

Even on the road I thought I was walking alone 一人で歩いたつもりの道でも

It started with you 始まりはあなただった

It's a lonely road It's a lonely road

But I'm not alone But I'm not alone

That's how I feel そんな気分

I think there was a time when I was getting carried away. 調子に乗ってた時期もあると思います

People are not just alive, they are being kept alive. 人は皆生きてるんじゃなく生かされてる

only what you can see 目に見えるものだけを

don't believe it 信じてはいけないよ

The sign that stands at the crossroads of life 人生の岐路に立つ標識は

It can't exist 在りゃせぬ

No matter what I do or who I'm with どんなことをして誰といても

this body is with you この身はあなたと共にある

Even on the road I have to walk alone 一人で歩まねばならぬ道でも

I hear your voice あなたの声が聞こえる

It's a lonely road It's a lonely road

You are every song You are every song

this is a fact これは事実

you are in my heart 私の心の中にあなたがいる

At any time いつ如何なる時も

Even if I don't know where it will lead yet どこへ続くかまだ分からぬ道でも

I'm sure you'll be there きっとそこにあなたがいる

It's a lonely road It's a lonely road

But I'm not alone But I'm not alone

That's how I feel そんな気分

It's a lonely road It's a lonely road

But I'm not alone But I'm not alone

That's how I feel そんな気分

Kuroi nami no mukou ni asa no kehai ga suru Kienai hoshi ga watashi no mune ni kagayakidasu Kanashii uta mo itsuka natsukashii uta ni naru Mienai kizu ga watashi no tamashii irodoru

Korondemo okiagaru Mayottara tachidomaru Soshite tou anata nara Konna toki dou suru

[Chorus 1] Watashi no kokoro no naka ni anata ga iru Itsuikanaru toki mo Hitori de aruita tsumori no michi demo Hajimari wa anata datta It's a lonely road, but I'm not alone Sonna kibun

Choushi ni notteta jiki mo aru to omoimasu Hito wa mina ikiterunjanaku ikasareteru

Me ni mieru mono dake o Shinjite wa ikenai yo Jinsei wa kiro nitaku joushiki wa Arya senu

[Chorus 2] Donna koto o shite dare to itemo Kono mi wa anata to tomo ni aru Hitori de ayumanebanaranu michi demo Anata no koe ga kikoeru It's a lonely road, you are every song Kore wa jijitsu

[Chorus 3] Watashi no kokoro no nake ni anata ga iru Itsuikanaru toki mo Doko e tsudzuku ka mada wakaranu michi demo Kitto soko ni anata ga iru It's a lonely road, but I'm not alone Sonna kibun

[godisbestfriend4evaeva]

Gary White dreamweaver Miss A Only you Twice I can’t stop me, cheer up, dance the night away, scientist, likey Mareux The Perfect Girl N-dubz wouldn’t you Tegan & Sara bodywork Justin Beiber peaches Sting englishman in new york, shape of my heart System of a down (old school hollywood, radio, lonely day, aerials)  Utada Hikaru (Tippy toes Apple & cinnamon Poppin) Wait and see First love About you Me muero Can you keep a secret Travelling Automatic I II Letters Be my last Animato On and on Sakura drops Deep river (Hotel lobby) One last kiss Simple and clean Workout Nichiyou no asa Hope Parlow Sick inside Inu yasha Shinjitsu no uta Crystal Kay Kirakuni Dumb ditty dumb Namie Amuro Crystal Castles Kept Grimes California Halifax Genesis Angel Haze Majid Jordan Something about you Shades of blue Her [place like this] Oritse Femi Omolope Styl-plus Olufunmi Dbanj Mr endowed

Page 1

Mo gbono feli feli Oliver twist Wizkid Holla at your boy Don’t dull Tease me Die Aantword [Banana brain] Rich bitch Enter the ninja Future baby Babaji? [Baby’s on fire Dis is why I’m hot Fok julle naaiers Alien Cookie thumper] In This Moment Adrenalize Oh Lord In the air tonight New Year’s Day Joker Angel eyes Gangsta Insane Clown Posse Chop chop slide Mr C the Slide Man Cha-cha slide Kali Uchis telepatia Tei Shi Bassically See me FKA Twigs Wet wipez Tw-ache Tw-ache (2 of 4) [X inc. Glass & patron Video girl Weak spot Water me Papi pacify Good to love Hours] Clean Bandit Mozart’s house [telephone banking] A + E Dust clears [Extraordinary Come over] Symphony Zara Larsson Lush life Aint my fault Wow Øfdream - Red Voids EMIKA Flashbacks (Gnothi Seauton remix) VSN7 x ∆XIUS LIИK Nimb, AoA good luck, like a cat; Girls' Generation=SNSD hoot, run devil run, genie, twinkle

Alan Walker Sing Me To Sleep (dǝǝls remix) SIDEWALKS AND SKELETONS ENTITY Kyddiekafka Obsessions Memoryrave WAVES Monomorte Erutufon Nine Inch Nails A Warm Place Professor Green Game over Remedy Jungle Good to me Maverick Sabre I need Tinie Tempah Pass out Written in the stars Labrinth Earthquake Beneath your beautiful Jessi J Do it like a dude Who’s laughing now Pricetag Birthday Massacre Looking glass Goodnight (blue) Happy birthday He says Red dress Beyond I think we’re alone now Precious hearts Video kid Stars and satellites Sleepwalking One promise RONE Bye bye McAdam Lemniscata Show me love Chivurn Faith Mysterial Going under Blackbriars Eternity Indila Danse derniere Elyose redemption Child of Aphrodite Aegean sea Lily Allen (It's not fair Smile The fear) Stromae cheese papoutai je cours bienvenue chez moi tous les memes carmen ave cesarea ta fete dodo rail de musique alors'un danse formidable Pixie Lott all about tonight Devlin+Professor Green+Example game over Eiselfunk pong Red Queen Insidious Dita V Redrum Lana Del Rey (Doin' time Venice bitch Chemtrails over the country club Kill kill Blue jeans Video game High by the beach Burning desire West coast Carmen National anthem Dark paradise I want you boy put me in a movie) Black beauty (perfect blue) Mr Hudson White lies Forever young Supernova Evanescence Lithium Bring me to life Do what you want Sweet sacrifice Everybody's fool P!NK God is a DJ Yoko kanno Rise origa Inner universe Santigold who be loving me Shiv-R Devil's night Alpha omega The third realm Kiss of the scorpion Forever Diabolic crush Behold the dreamers Grimes California Oblivion Genesis World princess Violence 4AEM We appreciate power Butterfly Kill vs maim Violence Scream Belly of the beat IDORU Delete forever Girls aloud Sound of the underground Love machine I think we’re alone now Hana So & so Creatura Chimera Men without hats safety dance Pussycat dolls Beep Buttons When I

Page 2

grow up Wait a minute Spice girls Viva forever Be my lover Sugababes Stronger Too lost in you Round round Tokio hotel Monsoon (2020 version) Hilary Duff With love Stranger Coming clean Exid DDD Elliphant Spoon me One more Only getting younger Iggy Azalea Black widow Work Team Bounce DVRST Close eyes Bring me the horizon Can you feel my heart Alexandra Stan Mr saxobeat Ecoute moi Dua lipa New rules We're good Levitating Janelle Monae Tightrope Q.U.E.E.N. Yoga Jidenna Little bit more Lenny Kravitz Fly away M-Flo Come again Toopoor Crazy girls Dorian Electra f the world Destiny's child lose my breath soldier survivor say my name nasty girl

Avril Lavigne Perfume Doja Cat Rico Nasty(Tia Tamera) Kerli Rosalia(Bizconchito) CL(lifted) Shania Twain Sza Lil Mix Lalisa Pixie Lott Paloma Faith Asa Kelly Rowland Rita Ora Massari(Real love Be easy) Ayumi Hamasaki {Musici, cii} Kelis(Acapella Bounce Trick me) BoA Bonnie Pink(a perfect sky) Azealia Banks [212; Anna Wintour; Atlantis; count contessa; no problems; heavy metal & reflective; running] Tokyo Cirls Style Kero Kero Bonito Diana Ross(I love to love you) SNSD(Bring the boys out Papparazzi Gee) Sade Jordan Sparks Sevyn streeter(it won’t stop) May7ven (Hands up Ten ten) loan Paul (She doesn’t mind Got 2 love ya) Tiwa Savage love me X3 kele kele love Airis without you Nicki Minaj Zendaya replay Alexis Jordan Paolo Nutini The Noisettes Ludovico Technique Beyonce Rihanna Prima J (rockstar corazon) A touch of class (around the world {la la la}) Bassnectar (the future) Skillet (comatose monster not gonna die tonight) 2NE1 3 days grace Skrillex Chaos Chaos (Do You Feel It?) Benny benassi (cinema), Kehlani (LMK, contact, a message, rewind), KAYTRANADA (10%) Crystal Waters (Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)) FLO (Summertime), Florida Georgia Line (Cruise, meant to be) KILO KISH (AMERICAN GURL, ELEGANCE, NAVY, Locket, ) KAROL G (Provenza)

Nagada sang dhol, Ke$ha we R who we R, Britney Spears break the ice, Kate Nash foundations, Wretch 32 don’t go, Paolo Nutini last request, The Kooks (she moves in her own way, Naive), Chase & Status end credits, ± △Xi∪s ¬iИк - M.I.A. DBT (Remix) ±, ± Damn Whøre - Insomnia ±, ± SUICIDEWΛVЕ - IN Your ΣYΣS ±, PVTY KERRY Ohé, Mike Posner - Cooler Than Me, Shawn Desman (electric, night like this), alt-J (∆) Breezeblocks, ± BLVCK CEILING - Grins ±, Sohodolls Bang bang bang bang, 4MINUTE hot issue, TWICE (CHEER UP, likey, knock knock, signal, Dance The Night Away), Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas this is me, Troy - Bet On It (From "High School Musical 2"), Gwen Stefani rich girl, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbwdJl8TGeY&list=RDCC5ca6Hsb2Q&index=10, GIGI D'AGOSTINO - L'AMOUR TOUJOURS, Turtles - Happy Together, Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy, The Monkees - I'm a Believer (2006 Remaster), Icon For Hire - Make A Move,

Page 3

Kalafina (Magia, Lacrimosa, Sprinter), Stereopony - Hitohira No Hanabira, LiSA - Crossing Field, YOASOBI「アイドル」 Official Music Video, BABYMETAL - メギツネ - MEGITSUNE, Tove-lo (talking body {clean version}, stay high), Flume - Never Be Like You feat. Kai, Disclosure - Magnets ft. Lorde, Amaarae, Kali Uchis - SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY (Remix) ft. Moliy, Icon For Hire - Get Well, Meg Myers - Desire {clean version}, Five Nights at Freddy's 2 Song - The Living Tombstone (FNAF2) , Coco Jones (Caliber, peppermint)

+kids DisneyXD Imbrandonfarris+comedy +gaming Caylus+c +beauty Azzyland+c Rclbeauty101 +Ethnic KieKie TV

Aloma TV

Mark Angel TV

SCENEONE TV

URBAN MOVIES

[faunandfloraas]

Interview translation under the cut:

ELLE How was today's photo shoot?

It was very rewarding. I'm happy to have the opportunity to show my new side to everyone and STAY.

ELLE This is your first fan event in Japan, do you have any special feelings?

At this fan event, there was a stage quite early in the set list where we went around the audience on a trolley, and at that time there were really small children and various STAY who had probably come from far away. I felt like going around and asking each and every one of them, ``What made you fall in love with Stray Kids?'' This emotion is felt every time I perform on stage, and it feels new every time. I think it's amazing that people are so interested in it. My heart is always filled with gratitude, and I want to repay that gratitude and give something to them as well.

Do you want to be loved or loved by ELLE STAY?

I want to give love to STAY. The amount of love I always receive is overwhelming.

Do you want to love the members or do you want to be loved by them?

Please pass that question (lol)

ELLE's new song "WHY?" is Stray Kids' first Japanese drama theme song, so please tell us about your favorite Japanese drama or movie.

When it comes to dramas, the most recent one was ``First Love.'' When I watch dramas, I feel tickled, warmed, saddened, and tinged, and this was the first Japanese drama that made me feel that way. I really like the song "First Love" by Hikaru Utada, which was the inspiration for this drama, and I even sang it for STAY on stage. That song was the reason I watched the drama.

ELLE So, were you moved and cried a lot?

No, I'm not crying. I'm not the type of person who sheds tears when I watch dramas (lol).

ELLE Stray Kids will be celebrating their 6th anniversary since their debut in March of this year, and 4th anniversary since their debut in Japan. Please let us know if there is anything you would like to try next.

Since we did the dome tour, I would like to meet more STAY members while running around on a bigger and wider stage. Of course, eat delicious food too. Personally, I like fried chicken from convenience stores.

ELLE Speaking of your activities in Japan, you also participated in the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen for the first time at the end of last year. What was it like appearing on the show?

I thought the timetable management was excellent. It was strictly guarded and there was a sense of tension. I remember the atmosphere of everyone being very serious. Meanwhile, I also had the opportunity to do a collaboration stage with "Idol," but I was really nervous about that as well (lol).

ELLE This year, you will be performing as a headliner at famous music festivals in America and Europe.

This summer I will be participating as a headliner at three major music festivals, and it's truly an unbelievable feeling. I also want to create my own alter ego and watch the stage as an audience member at a festival. When I was asked to participate, I felt a great sense of responsibility. Since I'm the headliner, I want to do my best.

ELLE It looks like the local audience who came to see Stray Kids' stage performance, which is extremely popular in Europe and America, was very enthusiastic .

It's different from a normal live stage, it's a festival, so the audience has a very active way of enjoying themselves. When we participated once before, the excitement of the audience was really high, and we felt that momentum, so we got excited too wanted do our best! I'm looking forward to it even though I feel pressured to do my best to satisfy everyone.

ELLE ELLE Japon celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. Seungmin, what kind of artist and man do you want to be when you are 35 years old?

I want to be a person with more depth when it comes to music. I also aim to be one of the artists in the world who is working hard and living with the right mindset.

To that end, I want to do my best to manage my throat and deliver my best singing voice, and I will always work hard to do my best even when you can't see it, including being able to show me the wonderful image I took today. I have the spirit of wanting to become someone who can continue to work hard for a long time.

Seungmin for Elle Japan, recoloured.

[noceiling-m]

First Love: Hatsukoi (2022) trailer

All encounters are by chance. I don’t believe in fate. 

                                                          But I... I do believe in fate. Don’t run from it

[wordgruuub]

Here's my second piece in the @utadazine ! Inspired by the album art for #初恋 (Hatsukoi) and the song パクチーの唄 (Cilantro song) #fullview #utada #utadahikaru #宇多田ヒカル

[persimmonlions]

Tagged by @gloriaandrews to list 10 songs I’ve been obsessed with lately by women. In my case, some of these are bands, fronted by and 50%+ women, as I haven’t been listening to soloists lately.

(Thanks for tagging me or I wouldn’t have discovered my Last.fm was broken for the past three months!)

Chikai, Utada Hikaru — yes I blame Kingdom Hearts 3. I love the off-beat vocal around 2:35.

Wo Huai Nian De (What I Miss), Sun Yan-zi (Stefanie Sun) — I’ve been on a Mandopop ballads roll recently and this is a classic.

Lapse, Kinoko Teikoku — an alt-rock nostalgia trip

Umi wo Miteiru, Gozensanji to Taikutsu — one of my favourite bands does musical catharsis

Lifeline, Amber Liu — This is off her mixtape that she made bc she was sick of her agency-label not doing shit for her, and anyway I love and support her.

Oki, rowbai — floaty, atmospheric, and slightly creepy

Dystopia (cw flashing, motion sickness), Utae — this is also stuttery, dreamy, and slightly creepy so apparently I have a type recently

Yogensha (Prophet), Yoko Kanno — She’s my favourite composer so I’m almost always obsessed with one of her songs. Otherworldly, uneasy, and dramatic, it’s from a soundtrack about saving the Earth from environmental destruction.

I Can’t Get To Sleep, Zombie-Chang — I’m into her brand of new wave meets Japanese 80s pop. Also I love this video.

Melos, Suiyoubi no Campanella (Wednesday Campanella) — okay okay technically they’re a trio but the other two members are the composer and videographer, doesn’t count! I live, breathe, and sleep this album and haven’t listened to much else since it came out last July.

Tagging @hattalove, @britishhusbands, @theweightofjupiter. Only if you want to of course!

[alexandrarosa]

scenes I kind of want to see in the ‘First love’ sequel (even though I know there won’t be one)

Tsuzuru and Uta going to his grandmother and getting a flat or some other problem with their car and a passerby recommending them to call Benji because he’s the best and the place is kind of close. Imagine Namiki family inviting them in while they’re waiting. Harumichi haven’t told them about him and Yae yet because he didn’t have the time. Imagine Tsuzuru facetiming him to ask if he’s somehow connected to the Namiki’s car shop because of the name. Namiki family is of course involved in the talk asking all the questions ‘how do you know each other?’, ‘why aren’t you calling us?’, ‘when are you coming home?’. And now imagine Yae appearing in the background. And Tsuzuru being like ‘hey, mom, look where I am!’. And the whole room falls silent because Yae comes closer – and of course they all recognise her – and then only the chaos endures. Harumichi and Yae got reunited. Her son is sitting with them. Her son is naturally their family too. And he brought a girlfriend! Imagine them. Imagine Harumichi and Yae laughing on the screen seeing the chaos. Imagine Harumichi’s mom showing Tsuzuru and Uta all the pictures and things Harumichi left. Just… imagine it.

Harumichi telling Yae the story of him looking for her for the last twenty years. And both of them crying so much.

Tsuzuru telling Harumichi he would be a cool dad and my guy losing it right on the couch and full on sobbing.

More cooking Yae because I love how she does that.

Yae and Harumichi watching the videos of baby Tsuzuru.

Yu’s daughter losing her shit meeting Tsuzuru because he’s famous.

Imagine Benji – a guy who witnessed pretty much everything from the teenage part of Yae’s and Harumichi’s relationship – getting to know that Harumichi and Yae are back together and going strong. Just imagine my guy Benji being happy for them.

Imagine Yae and Harumichi visiting the Namiki family together. That’s a party that will last three days. Imagine if Tsuzuru and Uta were there too. Imagine Harumichi constantly holding Yae’s hand or wrapping his arm around her. Peeking from the other room to check if she’s still there. Imagine him smiling the same as he’s been smiling at her his whole life.

[trash0saurus]

TG Headcanon Time: Ghouls and music...

OK, so, even with their tendency to be sensitive to and overwhelmed by certain noises or sounds, quite a few ghouls enjoy listening to music, and their tastes are quite varied.

Some examples:

Mr. Yoshimura has a collection of vinyl LPs and 45s – some were gifts, some were “found”. His favorite is old Motown – The Supremes, The Temptations, and so forth. Koma has discovered his collection and has been heard humming “Where Did Our Love Go” while he’s cleaning tables.

Itori LOVES Jpop/Kpop Boy Bands, and has even tried to get Uta and Yomo to join her in her crazy fangirling.

Irimi likes Utada Hikaru and Enya. She says the music makes things “feel quieter and calmer”.

Both Yomo and Uta really like Led Zeppelin – not sure who discovered them first.

To his son’s horror, Tsukiyama Mirumo has a couple of Patsy Cline albums that he plays quite often. The household staff has pretty much memorized the song “Crazy”.

Oomori (Yamori) Yakumo is a huge Evanescence and Amy Lee fan, and also enjoys listening to Buena Vista Social Club and the Gipsy Kings – I guess it depends on his mood. Nobody questions him, anyway.

[sangurasu]

@theangry-ace do you know about Utada Hikaru no Uta? That’s the name of her cover album! if you already knew please ignore me!

Wow man this was so long ago shes just a kid back then.

Also. Im so pissed i thought id finally be getting a cover album of hers and it's not i am dissapointed!!!

[astarkey]

chamomile: a song that invokes a lot of fond memories for you?

Chamomile: A song that invokes a lot of fond memories for you? Because I can't pick which one does, here's a small list of songs that invokes nice memories for me!

Simple & Clean // Utada Hikaru

The Real Folk Blues // Yoko Kanno & The Seatbelts

Ash // Gackt

Shinjitsu no Uta // Do As Infinity

Passion // Utada Hikaru

Shiki no Uta // MINMI & Nujabes

You're Not Here // Mary Elizabeth McGlynn & Akira Yamaoka

Half Pain // Bana

A Little Pain // Olivia Lufkin

Duvet // Bôa

Fantasy // Mariah Carey

Wrong Impression // Natalie Imbruglia

Too Much of Not Enough // Silverchair

No Scrubs // TLC

So Gone // Monica

1 Thing // Amerie

U Don't Have To Call // Usher

Foolish // Ashanti

I Can’t Help Myself // Nobody’s Angel

Slam Dunk (Da Funk) // Five

Thank you for asking me!!! 🥰💖

[the-why-nots-blog]

You gotta go hard if you partying with the boys

[prfm-multiverse]

Utada Hikaru - Hanataba wo Kimi ni (67th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen) (NHKG 2016.12.31)

Google Drive ~ OK.ru

[writer-and-artist27]

Username Playlist

Tagged by: @langwrites. Thanks, Lang. :)

Rules: List a song for each letter of your username. 

Hm. I’ll take from my personal iTunes library. (=ﾟ▽ﾟ)/ Let’s go! There’s gonna be so much anime/JPop stuff. And RWBY.

Excluding the numbers in my username because I don’t got any songs in my library starting with 2 and 7. 

W: Wings by Jeff and Casey Lee Williams (RWBY)

R: Reason by ReoNa (Elza Kanzaki in SAO Alternative: Gun Gale Online)

I: Innocent Starter by Nana Mizuki (Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha)

T: This Game by Konomi Suzuki (No Game No Life) 

E: Eiyu Unmei no Uta by Egoist (Fate/Apocrypha)

R: Rising by Jeff and Casey Lee Williams (RWBY)

A: Again by Kimberly (from 2019′s Fruits Basket)

N: Nevermore by Jeff Williams, Casey Lee Williams, and Adrienne Cowan (RWBY)

D: Dearly Beloved by Yoko Shimomura (Kingdom Hearts)

A: All That Matters by Jeff and Casey Lee Williams (RWBY)

R: A Real Life by Greek Fire (the second opening to SAO Abridged) 

T: There is a Reason by Konomi Suzuki (No Game No Life Zero)

I: I Want to Live by Skillet (Fate/Apocrabridged from BlueDrakmaVA)

S: Sanctuary by Utada Hikaru (Kingdom Hearts)

T: Teardrop by BOWL (Yugioh GX)

Tagging: @withanina, @chiefladylightyay, and anyone else who wants to?