#olivialufkin

[8207398nster]

Olivia Lufkin.

[tomoreadsandlistens]

Alone in Our Castle Sung by Olivia Lufkin

“Alone in our castle Alone in everything we have I’ll never see your face the way it is In our castle”

   2006 was a great time for JPop, at least in the anime industry. Four great artists named Anna Tsuchiya, Yuna Ito, Mika Nakashima, and Olivia Lufkin, were at their prime in popularity thanks to a manga series called NANA by Ai Yazawa. Before the anime came out in 2006, the year before had came out with part 1 of the movie version of NANA that hyped up really fast, and featured Yuna Ito and Mika Nakashima providing the theme songs for the movie. The anime was released shortly after the fact and its popularity skyrocketed. Not only was the anime fantastic but the opening/ending theme songs are some of the BEST music to have come out in anime for its time. To this day I still have the theme songs on repeat and memorized.    Thanks to NANA I was able to look into the two artists in particular that sang the theme songs; Olivia Lufkin and Anna Tsuchiya. I took the time to listen to all of their songs and I don’t regret it one bit. But considering the two artists, Olivia hands down has some of the best vocals and sounds that could exist in music. I consider very few artists to have an angelic sound to their vocal range, Olivia Lufkin is absolutely one of them. It is never a dull moment for me whenever I listen to her songs on repeat; it gives me chills every single time. Olivia Lufkin is an artist that I don’t hesitate to recommend to my friends even if they don’t listen to music in Japanese. Whenever I drive with my friends I always make sure Olivia is on my playlist. I never skip a song each time she comes on. The best feeling is when any of my friends really enjoys a song by Olivia and rocks out to her with me.

First Listen:    I’m almost certain “Wish” from NANA was the first song I ever heard by Olivia. Before I even watched the anime I downloaded any song from NANA since I was already a fan of the manga, and man am I so glad I did. The grungy, rock sound this song provides will literally engage you in .1 seconds, there is no contest. I binge-listened to Olivia’s other music out of curiosity after realizing the music from NANA wasn’t all of the music she had. I became OBSESSED very fast.    So much of Olivia’s music is experimental, whether it’s her vocals, the music production; and the lyrics are like poetry. She especially goes back between English and Japanese flawlessly and fluently. Some older songs by Olivia also feature her brother, Jeffery Lufkin, in her music as well. It is all so beautiful to the point of tears and I am not even embarrassed to admit this. I do have to admit though, I’m genuinely surprised her sister Caroline Lufkin, who is also a musician, hasn’t featured with Olivia yet but I certainly hope they will collaborate someday. Please make this happen!!

Best Album:    “The Lost Lolli” is the first album I heard by Olivia, and personally my favorite. As much as her first album “Synchronicity” is gorgeous to listen to, it doesn’t give you the full vocal range of highs and lows that you hear in her songs in later albums. “The Lost Lolli” is in English but her experimentation for the album is addictive and electric. I had this album on repeat throughout college, especially the summer before freshman year of college in 2009, the album defined my life at the time and I didn’t feel so alone. The nostalgic sounds of love, loss, even sounds of being a member of society is incorporated in her music as realistically as it could be, despite it only being sounds rather than a physical feeling. It is just an incredible way of depicting human existence. Olivia also depicts existence of celestial beings in this album, so intertwining the perspective of a human and an alien is beautifully done. In fact, you don’t even need to see it that way, it could simply be the vibe of the songs that make you feel like you’re in outer space.    Olivia’s music literally could translate the hurt you feel and wanting to be heard, regardless what her music sound like. The end result is beautiful and relatable. She is a musical genius. Rumor has it she is coming out with an album, let’s hope it becomes a reality!

Best Song:    As I previously stated above, Olivia Lufkin’s music is beautiful and addictive; Which is why it was very hard for me to determine what my favorite song by her was. But it dawned on me that perhaps her slow-sounding music is some of her best work instead of her most well known songs from NANA. Choosing “A Little Pain” or “Wish” would be too easy and obvious for this review. The one song I had on repeat of almost a decade is her song “Alone in Our Castle” from “The Lost Lolli”. The first image I have in my mind is a sand castle by the ocean, considering the beginning of the song children is heard playing in the background, but I’m thinking at a beach setting which fits this song perfectly. This song entrances you to feel alone and distant from the sounds of the children laughing and playing, somehow feeling like everyone is fading away from you but you are stuck inside a sand castle surrounded by water; that is all you have. The moments you have had with a loved one is now diminished and all you have left is their memory. You may never get the same love in return but you get to choose to move on from it. You keep those memories locked inside your castle.    This song helped me get through so many times of heartbreak. There was an unrequited love throughout high school and college that I couldn’t get over for a long time. Someone who was once my bully from childhood and was separated from me for a few years. When we were brought back together in high school, it was a transformation between the both of us. However, I was not meant to be with him. No matter the times we had of sensuality and physical bonding; holding hands and hugs; it was not enough to be together. I had an opportunity to ask him out when I gave him chocolates on Valentine’s Day in 2007, but I was too scared to. However he was delighted that he got chocolate from me and immediately ate it as he went off to class.    I lost my chances when a beautiful young girl became his lover, and they actually lasted for a long time, but in the end they weren’t meant to be either. I watched from afar for years and yet this young woman inspired me completely. It was a really bittersweet time that I have stored in my castle, but it is a lesson learned on my part.    If you enjoyed the album version of this song, I highly suggest you also listen to this live concert version, it is just as beautiful as the recording.

https://youtu.be/a2RjdDt2lFA

Lyrics can be found here: https://www.google.com/amp/s/genius.com/amp/Olivia-alone-in-our-castle-lyrics

I hope this song can help anyone else deal with heartbreak as much as it helped me. Olivia Lufkin will always be one of my favorite musicians and I sincerely hope this underrated artist gets more attention; she deserves it. 

Here is my portrait of Olivia Lufkin, also can be found on my Instagram azenobio

Until next time~Tomo

[maheineatworld]

Baby, I know it coming around  I'm totally upside down  I can't get it together to tell you what I feel  Baby, my wish on a wing  And I'll send it off to you  Switch to sensitivity  Follow the traces 🎶 #NowPlaying: #Olivia ♡ ~ #Wish (#EnglishVersion) ♡ ~ #TheCloudyDreamer ♡ #OliviaLufkin #WishEnglishVersion #JPop #JRock #00s #AlternativeRock #GoodAfternoon #Nana #OLIVIAInspiREIRA #TRAPNEST

[babaalexander]

Great Birthday Wishes to Singers Born on December 9 Choi Minho Alexi Blue Nic Neufeld Imogen Heap Bruce Wiegner Camila Esguerra Rahat Fateh-ali Khan Kenny Vance Sylvia Caleb Ryan Jakob Dylan Frankie Zulferino Steve Taylor Lauren Babic Joan Armatrading Emjay Fabienne Sophie Rothe David Kersh Lafee Stacey Jackson Jessie Hill (1932-1996) Olivia Lufkin Erin Boheme Bella Angel Junior Wells (1934-1998) #ChoiMinho #AlexiBlue #NicNeufeld #ImogenHeap #BruceWiegner #CamilaEsguerra #RahatFatehaliKhan #KennyVance #Sylvia #CalebRyan #JakobDylan #FrankieZulferino #SteveTaylor #LaurenBabic #JoanArmatrading #Emjay #FabienneSophieRothe #DavidKersh #Lafee #StaceyJackson #JessieHill (1932-1996) #OliviaLufkin #ErinBoheme #BellaAngel #JuniorWells (1934-1998)

[olivialufkin777-blog]

Travel Industry in Europe sees consistent Growth in Europe. Book It Now offers great holiday packages for popular destinations in Europe.

[lady-rinoa]

"You will find me where it's quiet, listen closely, listen closely~" #ALittlePain #OliviaLufkin

[disorder-alice]

Beautiful birthday present from my mother ♡♡ #present #beautiful #happy #olivia #olivialufkin #oliviainspireira #thecloudydreamer #japanesemusic #jpop #reiraserizawa #trapnest

[juiceradioitalia]

OLIVIA LUFKIN

[mgdrarchive]

Dear Olivia Lufkin... Photo: Kera, 2004 . . . . . #olivialufkin #nana #oliviainspireira #annainspinana #annatsuchiya #土屋アンナ #nana #ナナ #nanamanga #AiYazawa #矢沢あい #dandd #trapnest #オリビアインスピレイラ #トラップネスト #オリビア https://instagr.am/p/CIn6LCjIxG_/

[maheineatworld]

You melt my heart with your little rebel smile 🌊 #NowPlaying: #Olivia ♡ ~ Sea Me (English Version) ♡ ~ #TheLostLolli ♡ #OliviaLufkin #SeaMeEnglishVersion #SeaMe #JPop #JRock #00s #AlternativeRock #GoodAfternoon

[babaalexander]

Great Birthday Wishes to Singers Born on December 9 Choi Minho Alexi Blue Nic Neufeld Imogen Heap Bruce Wiegner Camila Esguerra Rahat Fateh-ali Khan Kenny Vance Sylvia Caleb Ryan Jakob Dylan Frankie Zulferino Steve Taylor Lauren Babic Joan Armatrading Emjay Fabienne Sophie Rothe David Kersh Lafee Stacey Jackson Jessie Hill (1932-1996) Olivia Lufkin Erin Boheme Bella Angel Junior Wells (1934-1998) #ChoiMinho #AlexiBlue #NicNeufeld #ImogenHeap #BruceWiegner #CamilaEsguerra #RahatFatehaliKhan #KennyVance #Sylvia #CalebRyan #JakobDylan #FrankieZulferino #SteveTaylor #LaurenBabic #JoanArmatrading #Emjay #FabienneSophieRothe #DavidKersh #Lafee #StaceyJackson #JessieHill (1932-1996) #OliviaLufkin #ErinBoheme #BellaAngel #JuniorWells (1934-1998)

[olivialufkin777-blog]

Top Holiday Destinations of #Europe. One should definitely visit these places. Low Deposit Holidays

[halcyon0snw]

Vivir en un mundo nublado nos hace apreciar más los rayos de sol.

Sea me

[makemelaugh-05]

Stars Shining Out

Estoy sola en la habitación, mi corazón está vagando, Dejo de llorar. He perdido la llave de mi corazón, y la busco En una noche de Luna en cuarto creciente. Ahora me hundo, me hundo, me hundo, Cuando abro la ventana y miro hacia arriba. Ahora estoy gritando, estoy gritando, estoy gritando, Las estrellas bailan en la distancia. Las estrellas brillan. Las estrellas brillan. Una lluvia de luz ilumina la calle. No dudaré más, el brillo me está guiando. Mi cabeza siempre tiene atado a mi corazón En una lucha que nunca acaba. Detén el ruido que ahoga la voz de mi corazón, Sálvame. Ahora me hundo, me hundo, me hundo, Cuando abro la ventana y miro hacia arriba. Ahora estoy gritando, estoy gritando, estoy gritando, Las estrellas derriten mis lágrimas. Las estrellas brillan. Las estrellas brillan. Una luz brillante, un amor insoportable, No voy a pasar más tiempo llorando, la canción de mi corazón comienza. Ahora me hundo, me hundo, me hundo, Cuando abro la ventana y miro hacia arriba. Ahora estoy gritando, estoy gritando, estoy gritando, Las estrellas bailan en la distancia. Las estrellas brillan. Las estrellas brillan. Las estrellas brillan. Las estrellas brillan. Una lluvia de luz ilumina la calle. No dudaré más, el brillo me está guiando.

[tonkietravinki]

[disorder-alice]

[My heart, binded by tears Every little moment I'm looking for a love i can't have] #today #breakfast #rainyday #quotes #olivialufkin #dreamcatcher #thecloudydreamer #tablesituation #emilybrontë #wutheringheights #tea #teaforone