Notes on AniSama 2008 Theme Yells~It’s a beautiful life~
Some belated thoughts on the song and the PV, which I only got around to viewing over the last day or two.
Yay, the first Animelo Summer Live theme song that hasn’t made me want to smash my head against a brick wall! I did NOT like either Outride or Generation-A at all, hence I didn’t put in an early order for Yells and by the time I heard the song on some anime radio show, CDJapan had run out of first press editions. God knows if they really have since the copy of Rasen I got the other day was still first press despite that huge orange “First Press Sold Out” button on the page -_-
I like this year’s cover much more - clean and not so er…epilepsy-inducing? No Takahashi Naozumi involved this year means the kakkoii quotient has dropped - Taniyama Kisyo’s too street for me with his tattoos, and everybody else is oyaji… which leaves YOFFY and Imajo ^^;
The standout vocal: Suara
The ‘blink and you’ll forget it’ cameos: ELISA & Ishikawa Chiaki
Why did she get so many lines again?: May’n
Biggest nostrils: Misato Aki
The habits, the habits: Nana’s shaking-finger-to-the-beat thing is kinda annoying -_- though most of them do it to a certain extent.
Introducing the Young Ones:
ELISA
Born 14th April 1989 in Kanagawa, ELISA real-name-unknown is the second youngest participant on Yells. She’s a classically-trained singer turned model, and is signed to elite model management Japan - makes me wonder if she’s of mixed-race parentage (since Japanese models seem to be that these days). It sure beats me why ELISA’s involved with Animelo - euphoric field sold fairly well mainly because of its association with the ef series but HIKARI fell flat on its face (even if I personally loved the song). Is she really planning to make a career out of singing?
May’n
And May’n is the youngest on Yells by 6 months. Is it just me, or has she put on a bit of weight since her Nakabayashi May (above) days? I seem to remember her being stick thin dancing around in her PVs but she’s looking a bit…rotund lately. Anyway, I suppose featuring on Macross F has revived May’n’s previously dead-in-the-water career, though I really do wonder what’s in store for her once Macross is over. It appears that she’s switched record labels to JVC/Flying Dog from Universal, so I suppose the r’n'b is abandoned for good. Looking at the favourite artists listed on her profile - Britney Spears? KELIS? Jamelia?? >_< Somebody feed her some decent music now!
Skimming through the PV:
I’ve got Yells on my iPod, and have it in my basket for my next batch of CD orders (which will include Minorin’s new single) so it’ll be a few weeks before I get my copy yet -_-
July 28th, 2008 at 1:57 am
ROFL
July 28th, 2008 at 2:37 am
The screenshots commentary were like watching niconico without the option to turn comments off.
I like. xD
July 28th, 2008 at 7:33 am
Some actual comment (if this song deserves it…)
1. I don’t like any of the animelo themes (except when MOVE rapped over last year’s), and this year is no exception. It’s not as bad, maybe, and the production for the single definitely improved as they managed to hax in Arika-san and the others.
2. Suara’s range just catches this song’s range on the low end so she didn’t have to go all harmony like Ishikawa. I think Ishikawa will just blow up if she sung it normally. Probably because anisong tend to be whiny anyways? It matches Okui’s range just fine, I wonder why… Considering Momoi can go all out on her lines, YELLS is definitely on the high pitched side of things.
3.5 Speaking of which Ishikawa looks a lot younger with that hairdo. I like.
3. Elisa stood out from the ensemble… just by her looks. I’d like to see her stand side to side with Arika Takarano… And yeah, what has she gotten herself into? She’s got better things to do than to do than this……?
4. Tho I think May’n got so many lines because she harmonizes pretty well…not saying others couldn’t… it is a mystery.
5. Nice knife for Misato Aki…
6. I hate picking on Yoko Ishida because she’s a very nice person(?) but she also could use better makeup like Suara…
7. I can get behind a duet between Chihhi and Kuribayashi…
July 28th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Pure awesomeness. Another post showing just why j1m0ne’s blog is the place for fun fun seiyuu news.
July 28th, 2008 at 8:22 am
I feel like an idiot fangirl after reading this post, lol. I’m overly excited with this year’s Animelo because, well, I can actually come and see it. Not from outside the monitor screen. Anyway:
- May’n really got fatter I was wondering who the hell she was in the first few seconds.
- The ultimate camwhore is Endoh. In whatever DVD I’ve seen.
- Takarano *always* looks like a pissed off goth queen.. even during the actual live. Maybe a bit more here because she got less lines than Hirano Aya.
- I want Momoi’s ring.. xD
July 28th, 2008 at 10:44 am
LOL!!!! I was drinking a bottle of green tea when I read this post… and now I’m trying to wipe off all the tea I sprayed across my monitor when looking at the screencaps (and awesome commentary). I can’t decide which screencap I found most hilarious… but it might be the minorin one (awesome awesome angle XD) or “Spot the Camwhore pt 1″ (HOW DID YOU EVEN NOTICE THAT?!)
July 28th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Hahaha I love the captions. But despite all the blatant camwhoring by nearly everyone, it is actually one of the biggest reasons I enjoy the Animelo videos. Usually music videos always have artists awkwardly starting straight at you absorbed in whatever it is they are supposed to be acting out or staring off into the distance, but here they just look like they are having fun.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I’m saddened by the fact that Minorin only gets like two lines….and the guys only version is kinda blant….it’s quite obvious that the girls get all the main melody and the guys are just backing them up…Sigh.
But all in all it’s a nice song to listen to whenever I need a quick start for my day \o/
Packed my copy of Yells together with the Minorin upcoming single too <3
July 28th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
The song is good for a combination effort by so much artistes and talent. And OMG, Aya Hirano actually sang rather well!
Nana looks rather indifferent to the proceedings. Guess its just another walk in the park for her.
August 24th, 2008 at 3:01 am
How DARE you!!!
August 24th, 2008 at 3:08 am
What you did is not at all funney or entertaining!! Especially Arika!! She was NOT mad about her small part She was just really busy!! And put her and Elisa side by side Arika would CRUSH Elisa Easily!! Finally, if you don’t like animelo or the people in it do us all a favor and SHUT your damn mouth!!
August 24th, 2008 at 5:21 am
I understand where you’re coming from, Dark Angel, but you don’t have to be so profane about expressing your viewpoints. I personally enjoy them both equally (as well as everyone else involved with Animelo).
It seems that, with J-pop (actually, all types of non-spoken word music), it is immensely challenging to rank performers in different classifications of skill and technique, considering that it possesses many complex and technical nuances, much like the intricacies of a web, that an average listener would not be able to quickly and easily catch within one analysis. That being said, I could not really say that Arika is better than Elisa, or vice versa. It’s a lot like attempting to compare Rakim to Big Daddy Kane in the hip-hop realm (putting Mizuki Nana and Sakamoto Maaya together tit for tat is about as difficult)… both are equally brilliant lyrically, although Ra’s more serious/stalwart, and Kane seems to enjoy his work more.
August 24th, 2008 at 6:22 am
Sorry but I hate it when people just assume Arika is a stuck up snob people don’t know her I actually got to meet her she is the sweetest person I know and a VERY talented singer in my opinion she is the best singer in all of Japan but other people might not think so I just wish people would keep their negative opinions about her to themselves.
August 24th, 2008 at 8:00 am
You don’t have to apologize when bigots are dissing/bashing/insulting a singer who is much nicer/more respectful/polite/kind/caring/honest/true/REAL than what the public unfortunately makes him/her out to be. In that case, you are practically ENTITLED to file a complaint. I absolutely DESPISE people who act like they know everything about the subject matter which they are commentating on when the reality of it is that they possess absolutely no knowledge whatsoever of the soloist/vocalist they are unsuccessfully attempting to tear apart in a textual format.
It reminds me of how so many people (especially former rival Kool Moe Dee) have disrespected LL Cool J, and considered/stated him to be an arrogant human being just because most of his rhymes are about himself. Truthfully, James Todd Smith is actually one of the most down-to-Earth rappers in the industry. He’s given props to every single person whom he’s ever worked with, and even emcees that were/are making it big. Much like Kane, he never had “beef with no other performer” unless the adversary/competitor/challenger/opposer said something that got to him on a spiritual/metaphysical level. But, even more importantly, he NEVER BECAME A SELL-OUT. He figured out the secret of how to go for the money and still remain a lyrical master (Rakim is probably the only other emcee from that era to gain wisdom/understanding of it as well; he has two Platinum plaques under his belt, one with Eric B and the other solo). And, for those of you who don’t believe that he’s had any good tracks since 1995, feel free to check out “Shut ‘Em Down.” It’ll kill all of the rumors about him going soft in a heartbeat.
I would personally love to meet Arika in person (and regard yourself as an extremely lucky appreciator for having done so). Having heard most of her work, I can definitely say that she’s in the same league as today’s greats, such as Nana, Maaya, Okui Masami, Kawai Eri (R.I.P.), Kanbe Miyuki (R.I.P.) and Hirano Aya (and, yes, I do know that she’s been around longer THAN ANY OF THEM). Cats unfortunately tend to forget that they should pay their proper, utmost due respect to veterans that laid out the foundation/path for artists such as the ones I mentioned above to innovate/expand upon/follow.
August 24th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
How Dare I!!!! ROTLMFAO. Good lord, I never thought I’d get essay-type comments for entries I knocked up in 3 minutes! If I was an ELISA fan I would be really insulted by your lame comments and I’d appreciate it too if you ‘SHUT your damn mouth’, Mr/Ms Dark Angel. And get back indoors, your mum is calling you for bedtime!
August 24th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Well, j1m0ne, I don’t really know if you directed that response at both of us, but I’ll take it as such. I actually did not intend my frustrations towards you, but rather at one of the spectators (omo, actually).
You are right in that I need to dumb down the vocab in my comments (’cause if they ain’t something that everyone can understand, they don’t hit; just miss. Also remembering that you’re more of an entertainer, compared to Hashihime’s informer style). And please keep in mind that I mentioned in the first post the fact that I enjoy them both equally. Arika’s just the experienced legend, and ELISA’s the eager young student/pupil.
I personally actually considered whether or not to respond to this person’s comment, seeing as how it would have stood more ground HAD IT BEEN POSTED A WHOLE MONTH BEFORE. But, in the end, I just said “Hey, I’ll give this kid some time” and went for it.
Sorry if I wasted your time. And I apologize for being so lame. I am 15 years old, which might explain my relative lack of comprehension regarding the world of seiyuus and anime. I only really jumped on the bandwagon two years ago, so I don’t have that same level of experience that you do.
August 24th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
>anytypeofway
Hey, no sweat. I’m not directing my comments at you at all, but at that kid up there. I’m just incredibly amused when some random troll wanders in and posts something like OMFG! U SUCK BECOS U MADE FUN OF MY BELOVED GODDESS! BOOHOOHOO!
Surprised you say that you’re 15 though, cos you seem much older than that. On the other hand, Dark Angel appears to have the intelligence level of a 6-year old, given his/her inability to comprehend my superior wit and sarcasm *sigh* back to comedy school for me…
August 24th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
NEVER MIND!
August 24th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
All right, then. Thanks for being so forgiving about this whole situation. In retrospective, I really regret having tried to feed and agree with his/her childish anger. As for me being 15, it really is true. I guess the fact that I’ve grown up in an environment where we actually learn to write in full sentences and are raised on becoming eloquent/relevant people instead of the parents just giving their children cell phones, iPods and all that other technological mumbo-jumbo to shut up their constant nagging was kind of beneficial to my intellectual growth (I’ve finished both of my high school English I and II classes with A’s; I’m currently a junior now, and taking II Honors).
And please don’t worry about how funny you are… even after one year of on-and-off dedicated reading (I discovered your blog in May of ‘07, and Hashihime’s two months earlier), I can easily say you’re the most witty, humorous seiyuu blogger I’ve ever known about.
August 24th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
@Dark Angel:
Thank you for taking that comment back. But, since I consider Kane’s “Ain’t No Half-Steppin’” to be one of the best rap songs ever made, I’m going to not just keep the final lines, but post the entire last verse:
“The name is Big Daddy, you know, as in your father
So when you hear a def rhyme, believe that I’m the author
I grab the mic and make MC’s evaporate
The party people say, damn…that rapper’s great
The creator conductor of poetry
Et cetera, et cetera, it ain’t easy being me
I speak clearly so you can understand
Put words together like letter, man
Now that’s dictation, proceeding to my innovation
Not like the other MC’s, who are an imitation
Or an animation, a cartoon to me
But when I’m finished, I’m sure that you are soon to see
Reality, my secret technique
Because I always speak with mentality
I put my title in your face, dare you to base
And if you try and come get it, yo I’mma show you who’s with it
So if you know like I know, instead of messing around
Play like Roy Rogers and slooow doown
Just give yourself a break, or someone else will take
Your title, namely me, cause I’m homicidal
That means murder, cause I’m about to hurt a-
Nother MC, that try to get with me
I’ll just break him and bake him and rake him
and take him and mold him and make him
Hold up the peace sign…
Assalam Walaikum!”
NOTE: Just for the record, I do not subscribe to any of the Nation of Islam’s teachings or beliefs.
August 24th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
I do love attracting kids who can’t spell to save their lives! Or don’t bother looking at the keyboard when they type - ‘poasting’ and ‘funney’ indeed! Or end every sentence with an exclamation mark! Hahaha!
It seems you edited your comment back there so I shall just quote and post it in full for the benefit of people who read this post in the future:
—————————————————-
quoth Dark Angel(August 24th, 2008 at 10:21 pm):
>j1m0ne
I am thankful my regular readers understand my sense of humour ^_^
It shows you have the maturity/intelligence of a 2-year old for poasting crap like this! Drawing all over peoples faces and making rude comments like that go back to pre school already! Talk about disrespectful!
—————————————————-
>anytypeofway
Don’t waste your breath arguing with the guy. I would delete the trollish comments, except that I find them incredibly humourous and will keep them around to make me laugh on gloomy Sunday afternoons
August 24th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Yes… I know how you feel, and agree wholeheartedly. Your resurrection/reincarnation of his earlier comment is only a confirmation of my earlier warning that repercussions will always manifest themselves from biting the hand that feeds you. Thanks for your advice as well not to deplete oxygen on feeding the hunger of a troll who has no knowledge of self whatsoever. I’m grateful for your appreciation as well. I won’t speak any more about this guy, but I WILL, however, give one last piece of advice for chumps that might be considering trolling around here:
‘Supremacy, that’s the perfect definition
But people keep wishing to be in our position
Know good and damn well they ain’t no competition
Huh, I gotta give it to you kid, that’s ambition
For you to perpetrate the role of her, the mistress j1m0ne
The mistress author, naah, don’t even bother
Cause that would mean you would have to teach
Each and every one idiotic son
Trying to make it, you can’t fake it
The comments we make are fully dressed and yours are butt naked
Your speech is weak, while ours stand strong
So, all hail the people that are here to live long’
October 1st, 2008 at 2:33 am
Talk about young and naive. How shameful to all those people who work hard to entertain all of you ingrates. Yeah, it may be funny to some people but to others it is very disgracing especially to all of the artists above. Everyone has their opinions. Since you came up with this and posted it you have to put up with the comments of the people who you have offended. Also in the future don’t delude yourselves into thinking you’re better than everyone else that may lead to not getting so many negative comments.
October 1st, 2008 at 8:03 am
^
LOL. Yes, mother!
I’m young and naive *facepalm*
Humour is dead.
EDIT: And it doesn’t matter if you come back in a couple of months and post using a different name. You could try changing your IP next time, mmkay? Dark Angel/freya whatever. Or maybe you asked your mom to post on your behalf. Yawn.
October 1st, 2008 at 8:19 am
Wrong! Dark angel is my moron of a cousin who happen to use my computer while visiting. At least she is long gone back home finally! So do watch waht you say.
October 1st, 2008 at 8:22 am
Oh great. Now I have family members ganging up on me, wooh. I’m scared. Say hi to your ‘moron of a cousin’ there for me then.
EDIT: Whatever the fuck. Locking comments - now get lost, stop trolling other people’s blogs.
October 1st, 2008 at 8:23 am
Also do NOT mention Dark angel’s mom because she doesn’t have one anymore. You’re very lucky she didn’t get even more angy then she did. What a naive person you are indeed.
ADMIN EDIT: yes yes whatever. Random people who flame me’s personal problems are none of my business.