Wednesday, October 29, 2008

This post is just for fun

I'm too free. It's 2 am in the morning, I'm on an adrenaline high and coming up with randomness.

YUI's new music video for "I'll be". . I hope they let this one stay a little longer.


Earlier I mentioned that YUI liked to do spontaneous street lives, so here's one caught on tape, recorded last year before her 20th birthday at her hometown of Fukuoka, when she went to celebrate by visiting places in her past.

Note: No microphones, no wires, so amazing.


The girl has a habit of posing with her head slanting to the right. Here are a few examples:




Told you it was a random post.

Raison D'etre

There is such an amazing freedom, in knowing why you are.

Things are hectic, as is expected of a post-grad student. Just finished an exam and a progress report presentation last week.

Plus I'm preparing for Nepal.

The weather has gotten all hot and dry all of a sudden.

I'm looking for a winter coat.

What happened in September:

Charis Selvyna Raj turned One.
Here, we can only see Jo's teeth.


Pizza for TSF. Kenny likes them in stacks.



Amy and Leng turned 2* and 2* respectively.

We celebrated them at....

Mr and Mrs Marky Tay celebrated by staring intently at the menu.
*Focus*focus*

I agree completely.

What happened in October:
UPM 32nd convocation. A whole lotta people donned the mortar and robe. Including:
Yune
Yune again
Still Yune.
(Sorry lar dearie, you're too cute already. I tried to resist putting the pics but couldn't)

The vets, Lay Hoon and Zhi Hui ( Dr. and Dr.)


Aminah
Wei Xin
Cindy Hiew


Wan Ling and Cindy Yap



Congratulations to all.
Minna-san Gambatte kudasai, ne!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Leaves are green, all year round

A few updates.
I'm going to Nepal with Flo Lee in mid-Nov, for a mission trip.

I will not be sitting for Comprehensive exam this semester, because Dr. R, one of my supervisors, has had a stroke and is in the hospital.He's stable but needs bedrest. The face to face oral exam cannot be done without him. I'm not relieved. I was prepared to sit for it this week or next, get it over with. Things happen. Dr R is already in his 60s, so I wish him speedy recovery.

I visited the new ICC building with the other leaders


First impression: Small
For the uninformed, Ps. D is starting Ignite Christian Centre (ICC), a community/ youth centre and varsity student focused church in Serdang, some of the TSF leaders will follow him there to plant this ministry. UPM, UNITEN and UKM Bangi cell groups will follow here as well. We are not splitting from TSF of FGA, but multiplying from it.
The visit has prompted me to reflect on why I'm going.
At first it was because UPM cg will be relocated, but over the 2 years since this vision was proposed by Ps D, the Lord has been revealing stuff that I myself need to do here, in this new place.
I'm excited.
I have a clear direction. Touch lives, change lives, love people.ICC has provided the platform for it. here are the resources. Here is a structure. Here is a dream materializing. Here is wings to fly.
It has ceased to become Ps D's dream. Now it's mine as well, it's ours, all of us who have decided to go.


The only downside is that I'll miss all the people who are staying behind to continue the work in TSF; Amelia, Adrian, Esther Ooi, Flo Toh, Wendy, etc. There will be no more pictures like this:

So, until next time.
p/s Here's fanmade trailer I found. The editing is really good.


Most of the footage is take from
~Taiyou no Uta( A song to the sun) -YUI, Tsukamoto Takahashi
~Niji no Megami (Rainbow Song)- Ueno Juri, Hayato Ichihara (whose back we get to see)

If ever they made an actual movie with both YUI and Ueno Juri, I'll be rolling around the floor with glee. However, YUI will probably never act again, herself admitting that it's not her forte and that she's uncomfortable with it.

I'll be and My Short Stories

It's finally out!!
YUI's new single "I'll be" was aired for the first time yesterday on Japanese Radio.
Thanks to lamevil for recording it.



It's such an encouraging song... addictive as well.
Here are the lyrics, Credit to Uchihamel at YLforum , but I did some editing of the English translation

I’ll be [romaji]

I’ll be kimi no koto
Omoi dashite itanda
Tabidachi wo kimetanda ne
Together itsu datte ouen shiteru yo

Moshi kujikesou ni nattara nee
Heya ni komotteru dake ja dame sa

Machi wo aruite
Kyou no you na
Kimochi torimodoshite Oh Baby Try

Nando datte “Play You”
Yaru shika nain dakara

I’ll be kimi iro ni
Nuri kaete yukeba ii
Mayou koto mo sorya aru kedo sa
Together itsu datte ouen shiteru yo

Moshi kodoku ni makesou nara nee
Suki na uta wo kiite mite hoshii

Hito gomi ni
Magiretatte
Mitsuke daseru kara Oh Baby Try

Egao tte “Play You”
Chikara ni narun dakara

I’ll be kimi no koto
Omoi dashite itanda
Tabidachi wo kimetanda ne
Together itsu datte ouen shiteru yo

Itsuka dareka wo sotto
Aishite yuku toki
Mamoreru yuuki wo
Kimi no naka ni sodatete yukun da

I’ll be sasai na shitsubou wo
Kurikaesu tabi ni kitto
Yasashisa ni fureaeru
Jinsei wa suteta mon ja nai rashii

I’ll be kimi iro ni
Nuri kaete yukeba ii
Mayou koto mo sorya aru kedo sa
Together itsu datte ouen shiteru yo



I’ll be [translation]

[I’ll be] I’ve been recalling
About you
You’ve decided on your journey right
[Together] I’ll believe in you no matter what


If there ever comes a time when you feel like giving up
Don’t just be cooped up in your room

Walk on the streets
Rediscover the feeling
Which you felt on this day [Oh Baby Try]

Over and over again “Play You”
because there is no other way to be.

[I’ll be] You just have to
Paint it into your own colours
Though there will definitely be uncertainties
[Together] ] I’ll always believe in you

If there ever comes a time when you feel like you’re losing to loneliness
Listen to the songs that you love

Even if you are
Lost in the crowd
You’ll be able to find it [Oh Baby Try]

A smile is like “Play You”
and it’ll become your strength

[I’ll be] I’ve been recalling
About you
You’ve decided on your journey right
[Together] I’ll always believe in you

The time when you find yourself slowly
Beginning to love someone
The courage to protect that someone
Will grow in you

[I’ll be] Each time you look back
On those little disappointments definitely
You’ll be able to feel tenderness
It seems life is not something to be thrown away

[I’ll be] You just have to
Paint it into your own colours
Though there will definitely be uncertainties
[Together] I’ll always believe in you


This song is a part of Sony's new walkman campaign "Play You", aimed at empowering young people through music. She's their main spokesperson.
I've had it on loop for half a day now. Still not sick of it. This is why I adore her music, and why I've stopped listening to local English radio where every other song is either emo, angsty, downright depressing, or dirty (think 'my hump').
YUI is such a breath of fresh air because she consistently writes optimistic lyrics and has the rare gift of composing a tune that fits the mood of the song, so that even if you don't understand the words, you get the general 'feel'.

'I'll be' is included on her next release, a compilation album called My Short Stories, which contain all her B-side songs from when she first debuted.

Regular edition:
CD only. Tracklist:
01 - I'll be
02 - HELP
03 - Last Train
04 - Winter Hot Music
05 - Jam
06 - Skyline
07 - Free Bird
08 - I wanna be...
09 - Oh My God
10 - Cloudy
11 - Driving today
12 - Understand
13 - crossroad
14 - It's happy line
15 - Why me

Limited edition:
CD+DVD containing:

<Music Video>

『I'll be』
『Understand』
『Jam』


<YUI 3rd Tour“oui”~I LOVED YESTERDAY~ Premium Edition>

No way
Daydreamer

Street live at Sapporo
(*ツアー中に札幌で本人が行ったストリートライブの映像)
Namidairo
Am I wrong?

Street live at Sendai

(*ツアー中に仙台で本人が行ったストリートライブの映像)
Love is all
Tomorrow's way

Street live at Hiroshima

(*ツアー中に広島で本人が行ったストリートライブの映像)
Good-bye days

I'm particularly looking forward to the secret street live footages, recorded during her tour middle this year.YUI apparently has a habit of sneaking out with her guitar between concerts and randomly sitting down at some sidewalk to perform. Sugoi, ne?