5 posts tagged “the gazette”

So yeah yesterday I had my presentation of my favorite band on English. I was really nervous and my hands were slightly trembling. I asked the class to have understanding for what I was going to present them, noting that I have to make them try to understand something in five minutes what took me three years.

So after presenting the band (and getting an applause because it was really clearly and pretty said) I asked them what kind of a song do they want me to play. Did they want a ballad, a furious song, a rock'n'roll one or something completely experimental. They all expressed that they want to hear something "regular" that the GazettE have.

I don't really know why but I wanted to play something from NIL, since that album is one of the best I've ever heard. So I looked at my sister and asked her "Filth or Shadow?" and she said "Shadow". I regret it later, but well can't change that. No matter how prepared I would be, I'd always have a complaint.

So I played SHADOW VI II I. It was really loud so I could hear all the imperfections in Ruki's 2006. singing (which got really better after they've released Filth in the Beauty single). I also noticed that my heartbeat was synchronized with Kai's drumming (which was really scary). I didn't look at the class, just down at my table, wishing to kick Ruki in the balls every time he opened his mouth. I've noticed that the class chattered surprised on the bridge where Aoi plays his acoustic guitar and Ruki sings like he is from some boyband.

After the song, they've said that it sounded all right and cool and the teacher said it reminded her on System of a Down (O_O?). And when looking at my paper the teacher asked the most common question: "Are they all men?.

I've said: "Yes"

Since the end of the school year is coming soon and I'm up to my throat with exams whose number is exact to the legally allowed number of exams per week, our English teacher has been so nice not to gives us an exam and to let us mostly relax on our English classes until the end.
So today we had to listen to this song which glimmering optimism almost made my ulcer pop and fill out the lyrics. Just as always when learning English through songs.
That was ok. Until the homework part...
Which is:

You have to pick your favorite song and play it and hold a five minute speech about the band and the song.

A homework most people would die for to have, right? Sure if you're an average teen listener stuck on MTV hits or the usual pop or rock classic artists (like well... everybody from my English class).

To say that my situation is slightly different would be understating. Especially when destiny has made that my so called favorite rock band comes from the land most people tend to generalize as Asians working vacation-less in high tech factories with their small eyes, big incisors, black hair and always bowing, invading every tourist spot in the world; that look hotter than most girls do (while not having boobs and having an extra something in between their legs) and whose songs would be to mild to describe as ultimate auditive chaos rock hybrid of various not rarely unmixable genres? And when most of the people (I know) find the term "Japanese rock" as funny and crazy by itself and I'm well in a school/land/*wider term* where is normal for teens like me to listen to the usual things you see on MTV?

My poor teacher. I'm sure she was unintentionally thinking that we all listen to English (hence English) bands and songs.
How am I going to hold a minimum five minute about my favorite band when my hands and voice shiver every time I have to show/talk about to somebody my favorite band and not to mention about holding a speech about them in front of the class trying to compress the understanding and tolerance for a such band in five minutes that I needed three years to get. If my heart won't jump out and throw itself out of the window I'll consider myself as a "strong character".

So if I do manage to pull the talk out it is still a problem which song to play and describe. I don't have a specific overall favorite song by them, most of their songs are my favorites. I was thinking about Taion, but then again Taion begins with Ruki's uncorrectable English and does sound a bit harsh for your average listener (and the song has a special meaning to me I'm not sure I want to share). Another one of my favorites is the legendary Filth in the Beauty which would make an almost perfect choice if it weren't for the obvious incestuous lyrics (damn your perverted mind Ruki). I have to find some other T.T....

So yeah...
In short...
I'm screwed.

So as you might already know the GazettE have finished their probably most longest tour ever, the 2007-2008. Standing live tour STACKED RUBBISH - PULSE WRIGGLING TO BLACK.
The tour started way back in July (15.7.2007.) and lasted to 20.4.2008. with a total of 71 performances divided unto 4 tour parts.

Part 1 (15.7-7.9.2007.) had live performances throughout various clubs, halls and live houses in Japan with a final performed on 7.9. in Nippon Budoukan. Anybody watching the NAMELESS LIBERTY SIX GUNS live DVD (from the Budoukan concert in 2006) will see that the guys have kept their promise and returned again to Nippon Budoukan as well as "making a tour in which they will go and play in every city or town, no matter how small it is". Looks like they'd even managed to do that, since they had so many performances.

In the interlude between tour 1 and 2 the guys managed to put a special 1.5 tour as well, going to Europe and performing in Finland, Germany, France and England. The concerts were a big success, some had to be moved to bigger venues, while others were sold within days. Man the months before 1.5 and the days this tour lasted were a real torture to me, knowing that my favorite band is performing at a distance that is no more than 500km away from me, on a tour I had a chance to go, but couldn't since my father's trip to India came in the same time when these guys had their tour.
I swear that I really hated them back then just because I love their music so much and that I'll have to wait again (after waiting a year) for them to come back to Europe. All I wanted was to see the persons whose music means the life to me. Just to say one day Thank you for everything to them would mean the world to me. Because I can't never make up for what they have done for me.
After coming back from Europe (which was also marked with their reversion to indies as I've heard, well no one knows for sure if they're major or indie) their tour went into stage 2 (6.-29.11.2007.) of their tour which was basically touring around Live Houses throughout Japan. The boys got rid of their BURIAL APPLICANT outfits (THANK YOU GOD) and had special outfits just for this tour. This tour marked the end of a very successful year for the GazettE starting with the release of the great single Hyena, boiled up with the announcement of their 3rd album which was a little disappointing (and as such the only remark on the GazettE this year), but they made up for that with a fabulous tour and the announcement of their single Guren.

The start of 2008. was marked with the boys collaboration with the jewelry label GEMCEREY and the release of their personally designed jewelry, which was followed with the release of their, probably the best, single ever Guren. The single was released on 13.2.2008. and managed to get to number 2 in the Oricon single charts. After the single release the guy's were ready to continue their PULSE WRIGGLING TO BACK tour with the Fan Club only tour part 3 (1.-10.3.2008.)

The tour went into it's last stage with the tour part 4 (11.3.-8.4.2008.) where the boys played in various halls in Japan and head forth for the Tour GRAND FINALE [REPEATED COUNTLESS ERROR]. Their tour final was performed in the big Oosakajou Hall (where the boys used screens for the first time, I'm not really a fan of screens during concerts (I think it rather makes a distance then a connection with the fans) so that didn't really pleased me). So the tour ended with a two day spectacle in the Yoyogi park (Gymnasium something) and judging by the live reports the final was truly great.

As predictable the band announced that the concert held yesterday in Yoyogi National Stadium will be released on a DVD the GazettE TOUR 2007-2008 STACKED RUBBISH GRAND FINALE [REPEATED COUNTLESS ERROR] IN 国立代々木競技場第一体育館 and the band will hold a Gazerock Festival [BURST INTO BLAZE] on 23.8.2008. on Fujikyuu (not quite sure about that) highlands. And of course the guys will release a new single this autumn (let's hope it will be Gazerock at it's best and craziest form).

So yeah, wishing them less than this would be egoistical (knowing that I'm not really fond of the band's ever growing popularity, but I can't keep them for myself can I?) so I wish them the best and more than that because they deserve more than the best. They have got my biggest gratitude.

Even if they really know to piss and annoy me sometimes, I still love them. I wish them a lot of success and many years of happy Gazerocking.

To the greatest rock band if not in the whole, than at least in my world.

Yeah I admit I am feeling posting-happy so look forward for me posting stupid but still entertaining posts X).

I simply love what interesting things you can find browsing around Livejournal and other forums/blogs/whatever where hordes of Visual kei fans get together and share interesting things. I am also continuing the series of before/after posts I have started and that Heroin(e) has continued with an excellent post about GazettE's Aoi and Kai's previous bands.

Today I will literally unmask the beautiful visage of famous Visual kei artists and show their normal, human side. No make up allowed. Are you ready?

So yeah the first ones to uncover their make-up are Girugämesh!
So yeah, as much as I love Girugämesh I must admit that when I first saw them in their Visuals (not without the make up) that I said to myself Whoa! These guys are reaaaaaal ugly! Poor guys... If I am ever going to listen to them it definitely won't be because of the appearance. Yeah unfortunately Girugämesh is really one of the ugliest bands around (although charming in a way), but at least they look very much like themselves without the make-up even more than some other Visual kei artists.
Although they are a bit aesthetically challenged I must admit that they really don't need the looks to compensate songwriting, because they songs rock hard and they could easily go on stage with messy hair and greasy faces and they still would rock hard!!! Don't be sad guys, I find your unique appearance really charming ^______^.

Next are D'espairsRay!
D'espairsRay always had this great Visuals and they always looked really good, starting from their extreme dark Visuals from the start of their career up to nowadays with a bit watered down, but still very stylish Visuals. The guys look mostly like they do in real life nowadays because they don't use a lot of make up and are going for a more natural style.
So first of all let's take a peek at singer Hizumi and bassist Zero.

This was from their interview from like about two years ago on the German (or wait is arte Austrian?) television report. Hizumi looks really dorky in a way, but quite natural and I love his fluffy hair. It's really hard to get some Zero pictures where he is not wearing shades but he looks a bit mysterious and a bit feminine (just look at those charming lips). They look quite boring and normal don't they?
With makeup they look quite cool but also very close to their natural look. As I said D'espairsRay is going for a more natural look nowadays. But the difference can be seen.
But the guitarist's Karyu looks without the makeup really differs from his Visual look. He looks more tougher and older, and a lot different than with makeup.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
Whether you celebrate it or not I hope you will enjoy this day with people you love and most important of all that you're happy on this day. As corny as it may sound no one should be sad on Christmas.

I've already gotten my presents. Mostly make-up which I'm glad to receive because now I can experiment around with it. Recently I'm very into the Style Council section in Cure magazine and I would like to try out some Visual make up.
I've also got a new pajamas, a black Hello Kitty one which is very cute. I really wanted a new pajama, and finally I have one. I've even got the board game "Risik" but it is quite difficult.

I'm giving my best to enjoy this Christmas as much as I can....

Since this is first of all a Visual kei related blog this post can't pass without a Christmas Visual kei greeting.

And before I forget... I've been having a real difficult time posting to VOX. VOX is in 90% cases down for me so I can't post unless I refresh a couple of 50 times. I can't write a normal review or anything. It is not that I'm lazy or something, but I can't post when VOX is down. I hope they'll fix this issue or I'll move this blog to the more stable Livejournal.

メリークリスマス皆様！