I noticed that the problems are mainly related to Korea this year... Hmmm.
Haha, and here I was hoping that November will be a peaceful month. .___.;;
I said once that I won't let personal rants into this LJ account again, but seeing as how the other is currently under hiatus, and this IS my journal anyway, so.
So. You don't like the song "12月のLove Song", you don't like Korean, and you don't like whateverelse. I don't give a damn what you don't like, but I give a damn when you start dissing Gackt about it. It's up to you to buy the CD, to download the song, or to even listen to it. If you don't like it, just simply don't listen to it. Is there a need to get all nasty and start bombing him about it?
He releases the same song every year. But in case some of you failed to notice, it's actually DIFFERENT. Let's talk about the languages first.
Did you realize that the lyrics of each different version is different from each other? They aren't translations of the original Japanese song, but he was talking about something different in each song. It's like listening to him sing different songs, except that the tune is the same. And we all know that Japanese is the only language he studied since young, so to produce a song in THREE different languages is an amazing feat. Why don't you try doing that, and we'll see how you fare. :D
There is only one thing that is similar, and that is the theme of the song. Personally, I think the theme is to love someone and cherish that person. To celebrate love. He was asked once in an article (I haven't translated that yet) what the song reminds him of, and he said it's the New York terrorism, ground zero. Because the first version was actually made the year that tragic incident occured. That was part of the reason the PV was shot in NY.
This song is a constant reminder to him and all the other people of that. It's the time of the month to show your love and care for your loved ones.
Madagascar. Another reason why I love this song is because of what it represents. I remember reading somewhere that it caused a bit of an uproar when it was first released, because it just doesn't seem like what Gackt might release. The first original version was recorded shortly after he returned from the trip to Madagascar. The trip was such a meaningful one because it taught him so many lessons. It changed him. No, I shouldn't say it changed him, but it opened up the way for the real him that was hidden inside all along. He learned how to smile in that trip.
And this song is, to me, a reminder of the "change" he went through that time as well.
Let's move on to the tune. Again, just listening to the opening already tells you that there is a difference in the tune. There is always a Japanese version included with the other languages in the CD, and even these are different. You hear bells for one of the versions; and for the Korean one last year, it started off really slow and then he brought in violins. It was soooo beautiful.
Moreover, the tune used in the different languages differ from each other in their own ways. So let's see. At least 6 versions of the same tune? With each evoking different emotions? THAT is amazing to me. Isn't that also a sign of how musically talented he is? To be able to play around with all the different musical instruments to create a different feeling for the "same" tune?
I thought the collaboration with Wang Lee Hom for the Chinese version was very awesome. I can't wait to see how this other one will turn out to be. ^^
Being a language lover myself, I always look forward to the 12 gatsus released every year. It always seems like something fun to do; it's like his own personal fun project to me, where he gets to challenge himself and take on the different languages every year, and I'm more than happy to follow him. Lord, how I would love to do something like that. (I don't mean releasing music XD;; but a project which allows you to tackle different languages)
Some people were saying that he is releasing certain versions because of politics issues; because he was trying to break into the market of that particular country; because of business opportunities; and because of gawdknowswhatelse. That never matters to me. As long as he is enjoying himself doing it, then that's good enough for me.
You have your own reasons for not liking the song, just like other people have their reasons for liking the series of 12 gatsus. It doesn't matter which group you fall under, but please respect him and do, at least, acknowledge the effort and hard work he put in for ALL the songs he release. I have no idea when he recorded this new, upcoming Korean version, but remember that he is on tour now, and that he was also doing recordings for DIABOLOS and the singles prior to that... So, think of the time he needs to take out from his already busy schedule in order to record this song for us. ._____.
And with that, let me just end this post with a mini, impromptu translation of UV magazine vol.110 from last year, December 2004, regarding the release of last year's Korean "12 gatsu no Love Song".
Disclaimer: This whole post is a personal rant, so please do not treat it like my other translations and quote something here as the absolute truth. My own feelings and interpretations are included in it. @____@ That doesn't apply for the translation of UV magazine of course. :D
UV Vol.110, December 2004
G: I totally love it. That’s why Chacha says this often, “Stop singing already, choosing the song will take a long time.” (laughs) I sang it for close to one hundred times when we were recording the song “12月のLove Song”.
I: Eh!? And you chose the song from that (one hundred)?
G: Yes. I will sing it until someone says, “The voice is changing, so we can’t (use it),” and then I’ll continue again the next day. “My condition is better today compared to yesterday, so let’s sing again,” and so I ended up singing it one hundred times; I couldn’t stop at all. (laughs) Though we said, “Let’s record it because we might be able to use it,” we didn’t use it in the end. But it’s not like we sang it (so many times) like this for every recording. I really wanted to sing “12月のLove Song”; it wasn’t because we couldn’t use the song that we rerecorded it (so many times), but it was because I wanted to sing it; I sing it because I enjoy it. Even if my voice gives out, I feel something like, “This sounds good too, doesn’t it?” Really, I love to sing recently.
I: Speaking of that, when did you come up with the idea of this Korean version of “12月のLove Song”?
G: When I sang it in English, the languages I know are pretty limited, isn’t it? I know English, Chinese, French, and also a little bit of Korean, so I thought I’ll definitely record them (in those languages too). Once I (finished) singing the Chinese version last year, we went into the preparation for the Korean version immediately. But there was the Korean Boom that came into Japan this summer, right? I honestly thought of stopping (the recording) because I didn’t want people to think that I’m making use of this Korean Boom. But even if we change (the plan) now...... we were already preparing it, you see.
And then he talks about reading Korean grammar books when he was in Germany in Autumn 2004.
Translated by: Sweiled
I said once that I won't let personal rants into this LJ account again, but seeing as how the other is currently under hiatus, and this IS my journal anyway, so.
So. You don't like the song "12月のLove Song", you don't like Korean, and you don't like whateverelse. I don't give a damn what you don't like, but I give a damn when you start dissing Gackt about it. It's up to you to buy the CD, to download the song, or to even listen to it. If you don't like it, just simply don't listen to it. Is there a need to get all nasty and start bombing him about it?
He releases the same song every year. But in case some of you failed to notice, it's actually DIFFERENT. Let's talk about the languages first.
Did you realize that the lyrics of each different version is different from each other? They aren't translations of the original Japanese song, but he was talking about something different in each song. It's like listening to him sing different songs, except that the tune is the same. And we all know that Japanese is the only language he studied since young, so to produce a song in THREE different languages is an amazing feat. Why don't you try doing that, and we'll see how you fare. :D
There is only one thing that is similar, and that is the theme of the song. Personally, I think the theme is to love someone and cherish that person. To celebrate love. He was asked once in an article (I haven't translated that yet) what the song reminds him of, and he said it's the New York terrorism, ground zero. Because the first version was actually made the year that tragic incident occured. That was part of the reason the PV was shot in NY.
This song is a constant reminder to him and all the other people of that. It's the time of the month to show your love and care for your loved ones.
Madagascar. Another reason why I love this song is because of what it represents. I remember reading somewhere that it caused a bit of an uproar when it was first released, because it just doesn't seem like what Gackt might release. The first original version was recorded shortly after he returned from the trip to Madagascar. The trip was such a meaningful one because it taught him so many lessons. It changed him. No, I shouldn't say it changed him, but it opened up the way for the real him that was hidden inside all along. He learned how to smile in that trip.
And this song is, to me, a reminder of the "change" he went through that time as well.
Let's move on to the tune. Again, just listening to the opening already tells you that there is a difference in the tune. There is always a Japanese version included with the other languages in the CD, and even these are different. You hear bells for one of the versions; and for the Korean one last year, it started off really slow and then he brought in violins. It was soooo beautiful.
Moreover, the tune used in the different languages differ from each other in their own ways. So let's see. At least 6 versions of the same tune? With each evoking different emotions? THAT is amazing to me. Isn't that also a sign of how musically talented he is? To be able to play around with all the different musical instruments to create a different feeling for the "same" tune?
I thought the collaboration with Wang Lee Hom for the Chinese version was very awesome. I can't wait to see how this other one will turn out to be. ^^
Being a language lover myself, I always look forward to the 12 gatsus released every year. It always seems like something fun to do; it's like his own personal fun project to me, where he gets to challenge himself and take on the different languages every year, and I'm more than happy to follow him. Lord, how I would love to do something like that. (I don't mean releasing music XD;; but a project which allows you to tackle different languages)
Some people were saying that he is releasing certain versions because of politics issues; because he was trying to break into the market of that particular country; because of business opportunities; and because of gawdknowswhatelse. That never matters to me. As long as he is enjoying himself doing it, then that's good enough for me.
You have your own reasons for not liking the song, just like other people have their reasons for liking the series of 12 gatsus. It doesn't matter which group you fall under, but please respect him and do, at least, acknowledge the effort and hard work he put in for ALL the songs he release. I have no idea when he recorded this new, upcoming Korean version, but remember that he is on tour now, and that he was also doing recordings for DIABOLOS and the singles prior to that... So, think of the time he needs to take out from his already busy schedule in order to record this song for us. ._____.
And with that, let me just end this post with a mini, impromptu translation of UV magazine vol.110 from last year, December 2004, regarding the release of last year's Korean "12 gatsu no Love Song".
Disclaimer: This whole post is a personal rant, so please do not treat it like my other translations and quote something here as the absolute truth. My own feelings and interpretations are included in it. @____@ That doesn't apply for the translation of UV magazine of course. :D
UV Vol.110, December 2004
G: I totally love it. That’s why Chacha says this often, “Stop singing already, choosing the song will take a long time.” (laughs) I sang it for close to one hundred times when we were recording the song “12月のLove Song”.
I: Eh!? And you chose the song from that (one hundred)?
G: Yes. I will sing it until someone says, “The voice is changing, so we can’t (use it),” and then I’ll continue again the next day. “My condition is better today compared to yesterday, so let’s sing again,” and so I ended up singing it one hundred times; I couldn’t stop at all. (laughs) Though we said, “Let’s record it because we might be able to use it,” we didn’t use it in the end. But it’s not like we sang it (so many times) like this for every recording. I really wanted to sing “12月のLove Song”; it wasn’t because we couldn’t use the song that we rerecorded it (so many times), but it was because I wanted to sing it; I sing it because I enjoy it. Even if my voice gives out, I feel something like, “This sounds good too, doesn’t it?” Really, I love to sing recently.
I: Speaking of that, when did you come up with the idea of this Korean version of “12月のLove Song”?
G: When I sang it in English, the languages I know are pretty limited, isn’t it? I know English, Chinese, French, and also a little bit of Korean, so I thought I’ll definitely record them (in those languages too). Once I (finished) singing the Chinese version last year, we went into the preparation for the Korean version immediately. But there was the Korean Boom that came into Japan this summer, right? I honestly thought of stopping (the recording) because I didn’t want people to think that I’m making use of this Korean Boom. But even if we change (the plan) now...... we were already preparing it, you see.
And then he talks about reading Korean grammar books when he was in Germany in Autumn 2004.
Translated by: Sweiled