GakuPost - "I wish that in 10 years, 20 years and 30 years we’ll be together just like now"
Ara~~! Long Title is Long!.. But I guess it fits this damn long entry...
And the entry is late again because I caught a cold and everything that was coming out of my brain was a jumbled mess... well it still is a jumbled mess but not as bad as it could have been. XD
At first I didn’t think that it would take so long to make all these entries, or that I would make so many, but as I started writing them, I realized that there’s so much to say about him, there have been so many highlights in his career, that making just seven entries like I intended, isn’t even scratching the surface. And even after making these nine entries, I feel that there’s still so much I left out. He’s capable of igniting so many emotions in me, emotions that I normally don’t really show, that now more that before, I feel that no other artist will be able to rise to the standard his passion for music has created in my mind.
Though, doing these entries took quite some time, time I could have spent doing something else, I don't regret writing them because it helped me put into words, part of the feelings I have toward this talented individual.
Today’s GakuPost:
- I hope that in 10 years, 20 years and 30 years, we’ll be together just like now -
My View on Gackt
My first introduction to the world of Gackt was through Vanilla, six years ago, and through this song alone he managed to attract my attention. It wasn’t the fact that Gackt was humping Masa that attracted me, though it was quite entertaining, but the energy and passion he put into his performance. He exuded so much… happiness, passion and pleasure on stage that my first thought was “ah, he really is having fun, isn’t he? He really must love what he‘s doing. ” After this first introduction, I found his energy, passion and beautiful voice so alluring that I began searching for more about him, and in that search, I found my second song, Mind Forest.
After I finished listening to this song, I was hooked. I found his music to be so refreshingly different, his lyrics are so elaborate and poetic, full of romanticism and idealism, that they touch your deepest feelings, remind you of hidden memories and bring inspiration, if you listen to them closely with an open heart and mind. He blends so many different sounds into each of his songs, that it becomes impossible to assign a certain genre to his music. He creates what he desires, what fits the theme of the story he is creating and it becomes uniquely his. Many people might not appreciate his songs, after only hearing them once, but once you actually take time to listen, you begin to understand the meaning and beauty behind each and everyone of them. The more you listen to them, the more they blossom into the incredible musical and lyrical compositions that they are and that’s the key to appreciating his music.
And then there’s his voice. And what can I say… he has “spoiled” me so much with that beautiful voice that I can’t listen to a song without thinking “ah, it really doesn’t compare to Gackt’s voice.”
In these past 10 years, his voice has evolved and I feel that he has gained better control over his vocal range. But whether old or new, now or before, his voice is still beautiful and full of emotion and his vocals are always so perfect and so in tune, that you can’t help but be swept by his singing..
Sometimes he’s regarded as a god, either jokingly or seriously, because of his talent and “perfection” but for me that kind of “diminishes” what he‘s able to do or create. First, I can't see him as a god because I don't believe in gods, and just thinking of him as one would be hypocritical of me. Second, I feel that by giving him the “title” of god, it detracts from his abilities. Gods are supposed to be omnipotent, they can do anything without even trying, without breaking a sweat, and this image is the total opposite of Gackt. He's a perfectionist who always strives to do his best and only his best, if he fails at something he'll keep trying until he does it right, if someone does something better than him then he'll push himself harder until he can do it even better. This is why I can’t see him as a god…
For me he's just a human, a human who found his true calling. A human whose passion for music reaches such levels of perfectionism that not one of the songs that go into an album or the end result for a live DVD has not met an strict standard of quality and perfection. His own standard.
He is someone who will keep going on in spite of being sick, sad or in pain. In fact, he'll draw inspiration from that pain and sadness to write new lyrics. And this is one of the reasons why I have so much respect and admiration for him, because he really is the perfect example of the meaning of the word "がんばって." He always makes sure to encourage someone to do his/her best, and so many people draw inspiration from it, because those words of encouragement aren't just empty words said to fit the moment or to make himself look better. These are words that are backed by 10 years of trying harder and harder, of working himself to such extremes, that passing out after a concert isn’t uncommon for him. He has worked so hard to realize his own dreams, that he understands that if you really want something, you have to always do your best, to keep going regardless of the obstacles that might get in your way. And this, I feel, is a trait that should be admired, just as much as his undeniable talent.
However, because of his biting honesty and how he pretends to be stuck up or egotistical on TV, many people see him as being arrogant and full of himself, and make these the reasons why they hate him. I won’t say that he doesn’t have flaws because he does, but what these people don’t know is how strong-willed yet kind he is. He’s a perfectionist yet will act like a dork at times. He’s a proud person yet sensitive and emotional.
He has been through so much in his life, he has faced so many tragedies, yet he always looks at the bright side of things. He has lost many dear friends, but he understands that he can’t give into sadness. He knows that if those lost friends were by his side, they would tell him to go on, to use that sadness and pain to move people. And that’s what he does, he pours that sadness into his lyrics, he creates these beautiful compositions and shares them with his beloved fans. And it is through these songs that we can see and feel who he is, experience what he’s gone through, and gain a small insight of the feelings he keeps hidden. There are times, when I'm listening to his songs, that I can’t help but think that he must have so much sadness inside and I’m reminded even more, that he’s just a normal human who just wants to be the best at what he does, but needs just as much love and affection as the one he showers to all his fans…
I don’t care if you don’t like his music, not everyone likes the same things, but when you hate him just because he pretends to be something, you’re just acting like a ignorant a**hole.
This is one of the things that, for six years, have pissed me off so much, because what makes these people think that they know him so well? I don’t know all about him and I’ve liked him for six year, and I doubt that his most loyal fans know him well either. I really don’t get it, and I don’t think I ever will… *sigh*
I decided to write these entries now because this month is quite special for me since it marks my sixth year as his fan. For me this is something that I never thought would be possible because I tend to get over things far too easily, very few artists have remained as my “favorites” for more that a year. And I haven’t liked anyone for six years, except for Gackt. No artist before him has sparked so many emotions in me. I have cried, laughed, felt sadness, pain, I’ve been uplifted whenever I felt sad, I’ve been reassured that what I’m doing is the right thing, I’ve felt so many things, all through his songs. I’ve seen the love and gratitude he sends to all his fans. I’ve seen and felt the passion that he puts in everything he does. He never does things half-assed, because he knows that he can do even better, he knows that he can still get even higher, and will always strive for it in order to show what he’s capable of and to make his fans even happier. He has taught me that music has no formal language or style of its own. It can be expressed in any way and it can reach anyone regardless of their background, gender, or nationality…
These are the reasons, some of the reasons, why I became his fan and why I admire and respect him more than any artist before him, and why I will keep drawing inspiration from his words whenever I feel that I can’t go on…..
To end I would like to give my thanks:
Thank you to all of his fans, for always sending him you support and encouragement. Thank you for being so understanding of his need of making everything he creates perfect, even if it might mean moving the date for a desired release. Thank you for loving, respecting and admiring the artist I love. I’m proud of being one of you.
Thank you to past and present members of GacktJOB. Thank you Masa, Ren, Ryu and Toshi, for having taken part of his dream. Thank you Ju-ken, Nell and Minami for supporting him when you’re needed. Thank you Chacha, YOU, Chirolyn, Jun-ji and Igao for being with him now. Thank you to all of the member for the passion you pour into all of your performances. Thank you for helping him share his story through your instruments. Thank you for helping bring to life the thoughts and feelings he pours into each one of his compositions.
And finally,
Thank you Gackt, for giving us 10 years filled with incomparable, unbeatable, magnificent music that always manages to reach our hearts. Thank you for the passion and love you infuse in your lyrics. Thank you for the magical world you create in your concerts. Thank you for the hard work and dedication you put in everything you do. And thank you for the appreciation you always show to your fans for their continuous support.
(Late) Congratulations Gackt, for the amazing first 10 years of your career. I, as well as all your fans, look forward to your next project…