Gave up on writing the Whistler blogs.
Starting again now.
Utada Hikaru's 'Stay Gold' debuted today (January 7th in Japan) on Japanese radio. Its part of her upcoming single 'HEART STATION/Stay Gold'. I think I've mentioned it before.
The radio rip version, as far as I know, was first found on Korean fan site 'utada.top.to' (where it plays right when you enter the page, so if you're interested, you should go and see), which was later posted on hikaru.sc today at 7:00 PT. As far as I know, JWAVE in Tokyo played it at 5 something AM Japan time, so that makes it 11 this morning, I guess.
The previews were just so good that the full version is slightly disappointing. But whatever, its still a good song, and in my opinion, much better than Beautiful World/Kiss & Cry, or even Flavor of Life. Sometimes I wonder of Flavor of Life sold that many digital copies because of her divorce announcement and the drama tie-in, Hana Yori something 2, (most popular of the year with ratings at something like 75).
Well, it'll probably be until February when anything about Heart Station comes up.
Oh yeah, UH's birthday is somewhere around now, but I don't know when.
I would love to be able to listen to JWAVE here, except the thing is that they don't' stream their music online.
Oh, and we don't have a radio in Japan.
____________
Oh, and I just discovered that Ayumi Hamasaki, who I've also talked about before, has lost all hearing in her left ear.
Nevertheless, she says that she will continue singing.
Oh dear.
She has had problems with her ear ever since the summer of 2000. It seems that her heavy touring, and several accidents have taken a toll on her health. Elliot Yamin had some problems with his ears too, if I recall correctly.
From what I've read, her fans say that she hasn't been singing so well, as in singing somewhat off-key, and having to press her earpiece in during performances.
Some of her fans are already starting to fold paper cranes, going back to the story of Sadako and the 1000 paper cranes.
For those of you that didn't hear it before, Sadako was born during the war, and was subjected to the radiation from the Hiroshima atomic bomb attack. She later developed cancer, which impeded on her running career. She and some of her friends started folding paper cranes, because of a legend which said that once you folded 1000 paper cranes, your wish will come true. Although Sadako was in remission from cancer for a while, she eventually died of it. I'm not sure if she finished folding all the paper cranes though.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
30-32
I went to Whistler for the past couple of days, so I didn't manage to get to do my blog.
I will now attempt to remember what I was feeling, thinking, and did for those days.
Blog 30 December 29, 2007 (the previous blog was done at 12:41 AM)
A couple of days ago, I think, I was talking about insomnia.
Well, today was really really bad.
I went to bed at around 2:00 AM, couldn't sleep, woke up at 4:00, ate the leftovers from the meal before, watched half an hour of TV, attempted to go back to sleep at 5:30, couldn't, woke up, searched online about insomnia, tried meditating for a bit, and took some allergy medicine which I didn't really need (I read from the National Sleep Foundation that over-the-counter anti-histamines help cause drowsiness, though, obviously, you shouldn't be dependent on them). They helped me feel drowsy, but I couldn't sleep, it felt as though my brain was very... solid and unpenetrable. Went and ate bread with peanut butter (again, it was supposed to help) at 7:00, didn't help at all, tried sleeping again. I do remember that I didn't manage to sleep for a long time, but I woke up to the alarm clock ringing at 10 or something like that.
So, all in all, I managed to sleep less than 2 hours, probably none, actually.
After I come back from Whistler, I am going to make a sleep diary for 2 weeks, and if things continue like they do, then I will go see the doctor.
Blog 31 December 30, 2007
I went to Whistler today with my aunt's coworker's family (who are hosting) and another coworker's family, for a total of 9 people.
Last year I also went with them to Whistler, and it was awesome.
Oh, by the way, I did manage to sleep a little bit last night, but I still didn't sleep very well, and woke up several times throughout the night.
I'm hoping it'll be better in Whistler.
Blog 32 December 31, 2007
I hate it I hate it I hate it.
I didn't sleep at all last night.
Luckily, though, I don't feel tired. Heck, I haven't felt tired for the last week pretty much.
On a lighter note, I went skiing today!
It was fun to be skiing again, and I felt that I improved a bit, although I am still a very early beginner.
This was also the first time I had used poles, and I fell twice because I tripped on the poles, and somebody almost skiied right into them too. Aside from that, I was okay.
Although there was a fair bit of ice, there was one isolated patch of powdered snow. EC and I followed his dad through the powdered snow section, and we both fell down. EC's skis fell off, and were buried under the snow, while my skis dug into the snow and I fell.
Oh well.
We didn't have much celebrations for New Years Day, though. I was the only person to stay up for the countdown, and all I did was sit 2 feet from the TV trying to listen Anderson Cooper or Ryan Seacrest talking.
Whatever, it passed, and nothing really special happened.
I'm going to finish the rest of the blogs tomorrow, as I should try to sleep now.
I will now attempt to remember what I was feeling, thinking, and did for those days.
Blog 30 December 29, 2007 (the previous blog was done at 12:41 AM)
A couple of days ago, I think, I was talking about insomnia.
Well, today was really really bad.
I went to bed at around 2:00 AM, couldn't sleep, woke up at 4:00, ate the leftovers from the meal before, watched half an hour of TV, attempted to go back to sleep at 5:30, couldn't, woke up, searched online about insomnia, tried meditating for a bit, and took some allergy medicine which I didn't really need (I read from the National Sleep Foundation that over-the-counter anti-histamines help cause drowsiness, though, obviously, you shouldn't be dependent on them). They helped me feel drowsy, but I couldn't sleep, it felt as though my brain was very... solid and unpenetrable. Went and ate bread with peanut butter (again, it was supposed to help) at 7:00, didn't help at all, tried sleeping again. I do remember that I didn't manage to sleep for a long time, but I woke up to the alarm clock ringing at 10 or something like that.
So, all in all, I managed to sleep less than 2 hours, probably none, actually.
After I come back from Whistler, I am going to make a sleep diary for 2 weeks, and if things continue like they do, then I will go see the doctor.
Blog 31 December 30, 2007
I went to Whistler today with my aunt's coworker's family (who are hosting) and another coworker's family, for a total of 9 people.
Last year I also went with them to Whistler, and it was awesome.
Oh, by the way, I did manage to sleep a little bit last night, but I still didn't sleep very well, and woke up several times throughout the night.
I'm hoping it'll be better in Whistler.
Blog 32 December 31, 2007
I hate it I hate it I hate it.
I didn't sleep at all last night.
Luckily, though, I don't feel tired. Heck, I haven't felt tired for the last week pretty much.
On a lighter note, I went skiing today!
It was fun to be skiing again, and I felt that I improved a bit, although I am still a very early beginner.
This was also the first time I had used poles, and I fell twice because I tripped on the poles, and somebody almost skiied right into them too. Aside from that, I was okay.
Although there was a fair bit of ice, there was one isolated patch of powdered snow. EC and I followed his dad through the powdered snow section, and we both fell down. EC's skis fell off, and were buried under the snow, while my skis dug into the snow and I fell.
Oh well.
We didn't have much celebrations for New Years Day, though. I was the only person to stay up for the countdown, and all I did was sit 2 feet from the TV trying to listen Anderson Cooper or Ryan Seacrest talking.
Whatever, it passed, and nothing really special happened.
I'm going to finish the rest of the blogs tomorrow, as I should try to sleep now.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
29
To anon (even though I do know who you are): Yes, you're right. Now, thinking back, I just completely lost it that day. I was pretty reactive during most of it. I became proactive only after he *told* me to calm down and talk to him calmly. That made me more angry because his tone was just so absolutely condescending, but then I shut up. Or, rather, attempted to, because I yelled at him a bit more afterwards.
I did and do have some respect for that person, just maybe not a lot.
Today, I didn't surf the web, or watch tv, or get distracted by other stuff, but I really didn't do much. I woke up late today, and after I finished eating breakfast it was already 3:00. Then, I started packing, but I was quite tired, so I was extremely unproductive. Pretty soon, though, I went to sleep, and woke up 9 something, took a shower, ate dinner, and by then it was 10:45. Only then did I really get into the midst of packing. Nevertheless, I was quite unproductive, and kept dazing off. I guess I'm still tired.
I did and do have some respect for that person, just maybe not a lot.
Today, I didn't surf the web, or watch tv, or get distracted by other stuff, but I really didn't do much. I woke up late today, and after I finished eating breakfast it was already 3:00. Then, I started packing, but I was quite tired, so I was extremely unproductive. Pretty soon, though, I went to sleep, and woke up 9 something, took a shower, ate dinner, and by then it was 10:45. Only then did I really get into the midst of packing. Nevertheless, I was quite unproductive, and kept dazing off. I guess I'm still tired.
Friday, December 28, 2007
28
I remember back when I was very young, it was one of my goals to take an advanced driver training course.
I've been watching Top Gear. Richard Hammond seemed like an eager little boy just given his favourite game for Christmas.
I still want that drivers course, though I will NOT being racing around a track at any time in my life.
I've been watching Top Gear. Richard Hammond seemed like an eager little boy just given his favourite game for Christmas.
I still want that drivers course, though I will NOT being racing around a track at any time in my life.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
26
I love this quote:
"You must make sure you have enough funds to pay your tuition fee and to live."
-London School of Economics
Pretty accurate, don't you think?
On another note, my throat is now sore from yelling at a certain someone.
There are certain 'types' of respect I have for certain people
1. criminals that want world-denomination (you know what I mean) or just evil people
2. sociopaths (well, maybe not completely), abusers in general (eg. child abusers, wifebeaters, etc).
3. ordinary people.
Obviously, there are much more to it than just these 3 categories, but I'm going to go straight to the point.
The person I was yelling at was in category 3, but in that category, I have almost no respect left for that person.
"You must make sure you have enough funds to pay your tuition fee and to live."
-London School of Economics
Pretty accurate, don't you think?
On another note, my throat is now sore from yelling at a certain someone.
There are certain 'types' of respect I have for certain people
1. criminals that want world-denomination (you know what I mean) or just evil people
2. sociopaths (well, maybe not completely), abusers in general (eg. child abusers, wifebeaters, etc).
3. ordinary people.
Obviously, there are much more to it than just these 3 categories, but I'm going to go straight to the point.
The person I was yelling at was in category 3, but in that category, I have almost no respect left for that person.
Monday, December 24, 2007
25
One of these days I should write a blog of respect, and what I'm doing about it.
Perhaps also synergy, and how synergy would make us all feel better by expressing our feelings and doing something about it.
I really should start synergizing a bit more.
By the way, I am aware that I do have tons of weaknesses particularly when it comes to procrastination, forgetfulnes, and using logic (yes, I know) when it comes to life in general (especially household tasks).
On a lighter note, Lily Allen's Littlest Things is pretty nice.
Perhaps also synergy, and how synergy would make us all feel better by expressing our feelings and doing something about it.
I really should start synergizing a bit more.
By the way, I am aware that I do have tons of weaknesses particularly when it comes to procrastination, forgetfulnes, and using logic (yes, I know) when it comes to life in general (especially household tasks).
On a lighter note, Lily Allen's Littlest Things is pretty nice.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
24
I didn't manage to do a single speck of homework, or to practice the piano today.
Hopefully tomorrow will be different.
Though, I really need to be a lot more strict with myself. Maybe I should start making timetables one day ahead, so then I'll have to follow it from the moment I wake up.
I probably won't do that today though, I need to go to sleep now.
Hopefully tomorrow will be different.
Though, I really need to be a lot more strict with myself. Maybe I should start making timetables one day ahead, so then I'll have to follow it from the moment I wake up.
I probably won't do that today though, I need to go to sleep now.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
22/23
Again, didn't manage to do a blog yesterday!!!!
Blog 22
Went to the MACC luncheon today.
I felt really really short.
I was SHOULDER HEIGHT of LN, and chin height of AJ, DJ, LM, and AM. And that was only of the people there.
My brother told me that historically our growth spurt stunts at grade 9 (term 1, actually).
That is not good.
Anyways, going back to MACC certainly brought back many memories, but they were mostly of MC's mannerisms.
Words like 'touch base', 'congregate', etc. were words that she commonly used.
On the topic of vocabulary, my vocabulary certainly 'decreased' DRASTICALLY after grade 7. I'm very serious, my vocabulary today is NOTHING compared to what I had in grade 7. I heard FC mention the word 'insipid', and I did not know what it meant. I promise you, if I spent two more years in that MACC environment, I would have known exactly what she was trying to say.
I guess you gradually turn into what the people around you are like. Or at least get influenced by them.
But then again, there are many things I've learnt in MY from my peers that I would never ever have learnt back in MACC.
Too bad table manners isn't part of the curriculum.
I still remember once when MC almost yelled at me for leaving my elbows on the table at a luncheon of some sort.
Well, at the very least, when she tells us to be quiet, we really be quiet, and extremely quickly by high school standard. I guess it has something to do with the high level of respect we have for her that is nurtured over several years of being in her class for several hours every day. Even the grads shut up pretty quickly.
Blog 23
I think my piano teacher wants to carve me up and give me us an offering to the gods of music.
Okay, maybe not.
But honestly, I'm really really bad with practicing.
So, for this winter vacation, my top priority is piano, with science fair a distant second. (Even though it should be my first priority).
And I will plan to practice 2 hours of piano every single day.
Blog 22
Went to the MACC luncheon today.
I felt really really short.
I was SHOULDER HEIGHT of LN, and chin height of AJ, DJ, LM, and AM. And that was only of the people there.
My brother told me that historically our growth spurt stunts at grade 9 (term 1, actually).
That is not good.
Anyways, going back to MACC certainly brought back many memories, but they were mostly of MC's mannerisms.
Words like 'touch base', 'congregate', etc. were words that she commonly used.
On the topic of vocabulary, my vocabulary certainly 'decreased' DRASTICALLY after grade 7. I'm very serious, my vocabulary today is NOTHING compared to what I had in grade 7. I heard FC mention the word 'insipid', and I did not know what it meant. I promise you, if I spent two more years in that MACC environment, I would have known exactly what she was trying to say.
I guess you gradually turn into what the people around you are like. Or at least get influenced by them.
But then again, there are many things I've learnt in MY from my peers that I would never ever have learnt back in MACC.
Too bad table manners isn't part of the curriculum.
I still remember once when MC almost yelled at me for leaving my elbows on the table at a luncheon of some sort.
Well, at the very least, when she tells us to be quiet, we really be quiet, and extremely quickly by high school standard. I guess it has something to do with the high level of respect we have for her that is nurtured over several years of being in her class for several hours every day. Even the grads shut up pretty quickly.
Blog 23
I think my piano teacher wants to carve me up and give me us an offering to the gods of music.
Okay, maybe not.
But honestly, I'm really really bad with practicing.
So, for this winter vacation, my top priority is piano, with science fair a distant second. (Even though it should be my first priority).
And I will plan to practice 2 hours of piano every single day.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
20/21
I didn't do blog 20 yesterday, because I slept for 12 hours instead of the 1 hour powernap that I planned... Is it okay to do an extra blog to make up for it today?
Blog 20
I'm very happy now that I can sleep regularly again!!! I haven't had too much trouble with power naps, though I haven't had all that fun trying to sleep yesterday.
I finally got the ULTRA BLUE (don't ask me why, it is capitalized!!!) album from Utada Hikaru on the iTunes on this computer.
So far, it has only 5 plays, so quite a bit far from the top 2 albums (there are 5 in total). Actually, its last.
1. Corinne Bailey Rae-Corinne Bailey Rae (honestly, this album is chock-full of potential singles)
Plays: 100 Tracks: 11
2. Maroon 5-It Won't Be Soon Before Long Plays: 95 Tracks: 11
I guess I might as well do the top 10 tracks today...
AI-Don't Stop
Rihanna-SOS
Corinne Bailey Rae-Trouble Sleeping
Esthero-In Tha Mood (I actually think that she's a better song writer than Utada Hikaru, anyways, this is the best song I've listened to for the past week or so)
Jamie Cullum-Get Your Way
Chantal Kreviazuk-Wonderful
The Last Goodnight-Pictures Of You
Maroon 5-Can't Stop
Maroon 5-Must Get Out
Alicia Keys-Karma (her new single, 'No One', to me sounds pretty bad. I think its because of her belting , though I'm not sure if that's the proper term or not)
Blog 21
I finally caught up on the weeks of Hikaru Utada news that I hadn't followed.
Apparently her record company released 'Automatic' as a free download on Chaku-uta for 4 days.
Argh.
It got 400,000 downloads.
Argh.
Anyways, I wouldn't have been able to download it, because Chaku-uta is an NTTDoCoMo mobile song downloading service, and I don't have a NTTDoCoMo phone.
By the way, she still gets her royalties, and her record company and managing office pays for the rest of the fees.
Whatever, EMI's rich enough, and her dad manages her, so its okay. I'm sure Utada can spare some money for her dad.
By the way, she has a new single, 'Heart Station/Stay Gold' to be released on February 20, 2008, if my memory doesn't fail me. I heard a preview of Stay Gold, its 1:30 minutes long and can be found on YouTube.
IT. IS. AWESOME.
Honestly.
I heard it once, and I thought immediately that this was the best song I've ever heard from Utada Hikaru.
I just hope that the rest of song lives up to the promised that this preview brings.
Honestly, please please just go to YouTube and search Utada Hikaru Stay Gold and listen to the preview. It really is an awesome song. (By the way, I'm too lazy to upload it or whatever to blogger).
She also has a new album soon after the release of HS/SG. It would mean that it would be a full 4 new singles since her last album (as in not including singles off her last album)
Boku wa Kuma
Flavor of Life (Utada HIkaru's biggest single EVER, 8.3 million downloads, Japan's number one single EVER, although not the number one Japanese language single ever-its a song called 'Sukiyaki' which hit Billboard number 1-, and possibly the worlds best selling digital single ever-either more than 5 million or more than 7 million-)ring tones and digital songs
(anyways, there is no official digital download chart for the world
-Daniel Powter's Bad Day sold 1.7 m digital song downloads in USA
-Akon's Smak That sold 2.1m ringtones in USA
-Recording Industry of Japan registeres a previous song which sold 4 m in Japan as the worlds best selling digital single
Beautiful World/Kiss & Cry
Heart Station/Stay Gold
By the way, most fans recognize 'Deep River' and 'Ultra Blue' as her best albums, with the former having a very small advantage.
I agree so too, they both have awesome songs, but Deep River has better singles.
But anyways, I haven't listened to all of her albums yet.
Anyways, Utada Hikaru now has the distinction of having the best selling album and best selling single in Japan of all time!
Well, actually, no.
Because of chart rules for Oricon, digital downloads are not accounted for in actual song counts, so Utada Hikaru sold only 650,000 copies of Flavor of Life, which is wayyyyy down the list. Its the number 2 song of 2007, though.
That is so outdated...
Actually, nevermind, I'm adding the video...
Blog 20
I'm very happy now that I can sleep regularly again!!! I haven't had too much trouble with power naps, though I haven't had all that fun trying to sleep yesterday.
I finally got the ULTRA BLUE (don't ask me why, it is capitalized!!!) album from Utada Hikaru on the iTunes on this computer.
So far, it has only 5 plays, so quite a bit far from the top 2 albums (there are 5 in total). Actually, its last.
1. Corinne Bailey Rae-Corinne Bailey Rae (honestly, this album is chock-full of potential singles)
Plays: 100 Tracks: 11
2. Maroon 5-It Won't Be Soon Before Long Plays: 95 Tracks: 11
I guess I might as well do the top 10 tracks today...
AI-Don't Stop
Rihanna-SOS
Corinne Bailey Rae-Trouble Sleeping
Esthero-In Tha Mood (I actually think that she's a better song writer than Utada Hikaru, anyways, this is the best song I've listened to for the past week or so)
Jamie Cullum-Get Your Way
Chantal Kreviazuk-Wonderful
The Last Goodnight-Pictures Of You
Maroon 5-Can't Stop
Maroon 5-Must Get Out
Alicia Keys-Karma (her new single, 'No One', to me sounds pretty bad. I think its because of her belting , though I'm not sure if that's the proper term or not)
Blog 21
I finally caught up on the weeks of Hikaru Utada news that I hadn't followed.
Apparently her record company released 'Automatic' as a free download on Chaku-uta for 4 days.
Argh.
It got 400,000 downloads.
Argh.
Anyways, I wouldn't have been able to download it, because Chaku-uta is an NTTDoCoMo mobile song downloading service, and I don't have a NTTDoCoMo phone.
By the way, she still gets her royalties, and her record company and managing office pays for the rest of the fees.
Whatever, EMI's rich enough, and her dad manages her, so its okay. I'm sure Utada can spare some money for her dad.
By the way, she has a new single, 'Heart Station/Stay Gold' to be released on February 20, 2008, if my memory doesn't fail me. I heard a preview of Stay Gold, its 1:30 minutes long and can be found on YouTube.
IT. IS. AWESOME.
Honestly.
I heard it once, and I thought immediately that this was the best song I've ever heard from Utada Hikaru.
I just hope that the rest of song lives up to the promised that this preview brings.
Honestly, please please just go to YouTube and search Utada Hikaru Stay Gold and listen to the preview. It really is an awesome song. (By the way, I'm too lazy to upload it or whatever to blogger).
She also has a new album soon after the release of HS/SG. It would mean that it would be a full 4 new singles since her last album (as in not including singles off her last album)
Boku wa Kuma
Flavor of Life (Utada HIkaru's biggest single EVER, 8.3 million downloads, Japan's number one single EVER, although not the number one Japanese language single ever-its a song called 'Sukiyaki' which hit Billboard number 1-, and possibly the worlds best selling digital single ever-either more than 5 million or more than 7 million-)ring tones and digital songs
(anyways, there is no official digital download chart for the world
-Daniel Powter's Bad Day sold 1.7 m digital song downloads in USA
-Akon's Smak That sold 2.1m ringtones in USA
-Recording Industry of Japan registeres a previous song which sold 4 m in Japan as the worlds best selling digital single
Beautiful World/Kiss & Cry
Heart Station/Stay Gold
By the way, most fans recognize 'Deep River' and 'Ultra Blue' as her best albums, with the former having a very small advantage.
I agree so too, they both have awesome songs, but Deep River has better singles.
But anyways, I haven't listened to all of her albums yet.
Anyways, Utada Hikaru now has the distinction of having the best selling album and best selling single in Japan of all time!
Well, actually, no.
Because of chart rules for Oricon, digital downloads are not accounted for in actual song counts, so Utada Hikaru sold only 650,000 copies of Flavor of Life, which is wayyyyy down the list. Its the number 2 song of 2007, though.
That is so outdated...
Actually, nevermind, I'm adding the video...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
