Sonia's Journal

Win. Tired. Hurting. STILL.

Obviously = SUCCESS.

More later XD

Oh, lookie this (photo by bento_dan)

Just stumbled across the music video for Laruku's Shine. OMG, it's such an iPod commercial, I LOVE IT, so sparkly XD

Randomly, I thought I'd share what I've been screaming along to at the top of my soprano lungs today:



Symphonic goth melodramatic metal FTW. And please, no arguments about Annette vs Tarja, I like them both and I think the songs which were written for the different singers suit them.

Right you lot, I'm working my butt off trying to finish a book for the printers which is already late and I have yet to start on 2 new projects which need pages by this Friday and next Monday. Not to mention another AyaTakeo page before Sunday. BUT... it is my birthday tomorrow. And for the first time in... 3 years? I'm not away working at some event on the day or that weekend!!

I demand Saturday night to be club night. You. Me. The Junction, in Cambridge. 22:00. Mr. Scruff is DJing till 03:00. The stars have aligned, it is meant to be. Dock, Selina, Caz, lemme know if I/Matt can crash at yours or something afterwards XD Let's buy some tickets.

Then I want KFC on Sunday evening. I'll probably want us all to nom chickens and play lots of videogames in a location that is easy for people to get to and can accommodate a fair amount of bodies. So! Again, I ask for the kind people above if they are willing to let me abuse their friendship XD (no pressure tho, grateful if you can, perfectly happy if you can't)

Then next week, over 12,13 and 14 May evenings, I want to hang around with other people and watch EUROVISION. GODAMNIT, I NEED TO SEE THIS.

Over and out

WHO NEEDS RED BULL WHEN YOU CAN LISTEN TO THIS??!!

Do you remember this LJ post of mine from last summer? Particularly the question: What song do you think sums up your personality and why? Well, it was this song and if you know me, you'll understand why. I finally found a youtube video so it's easy for you guys to listen to this song if you want to ^^

While the dying world re-defines the reasons we strive to exist
We feign control though we’re bound to learn the meaning of moments like this
'Cause in the peaceful hour, the quiet spell, seduced by the promise of bliss
We soon forget that nothing's happened yet, we're living for moments like this
So hold me, whisper gently this is what we live for, how we learn who we are
It defines us, ever reminding us that life never is more precious than this
From the dim light in the grayness, the aim of the soul tends to miss
When the clouds catch fire and the oceans pitch, we're made for the moments like this
So hold me, whisper gently that there's nothing to fear, you'll always be near
To remind me, to stand behind me, although life can be rough, we can never give up
It's in our power to face the storm with all its fury and madness
The flash of thunder roll behind us with a longing and sadness
The clouds will break.

My little brother Simon starts his first year at the Academy of Contemporary Music, in Guildford, Surrey.

I'm super proud of him, as his years at school have not been easy due to his OCD - but he is truly a gifted musician, and his audition CD and offers of recording contracts/professional orchestral gigs have proven that.

So I was wondering whether some of his music was available online for you guys to hear.

Well, I found this on youtube. He's the drummer. Look out in particular for his awesome solo at 2:00 in -



Please bear in mind that he's been at this level of jazz drumming since he was about 14 and he's also taught himself guitar. He is AMAZING to have at parties XD

The geniuses responsible for the music of PixelJunk Monsters (which was the main reason we bought a PS3) have music available for you to buy online. I've just bought all of their stuff, it's gorgeous happy ambient electronica that you can listen to for ages.

Buy and preview their music from Hear Japan (which stocks music from selected Japanese artists)
http://www.hearjapan.com/store/group/OTOGRAPH

If you want to check out their official site:
http://www.otograph.net/

OMG, I only just found out about this. And within two hours, I have bought tickets for me, my husband and my sister, reserved a hotel room and confirming eurostar times...

^____^



Tickets:
http://www.digitick.com/09-05-2008-le-zenith-l-arc-en-ciel-css4-digitick-pg101-ri50866.html

PSST! Don't worry - I will still be heading back to the UK the morning after to get to the BRISTOL COMIC EXPO on time! Saturday 10th May - Sunday 11th May, see you there ^_^

Thanks for the well wishes dudes ^_^

pinkapplejam, you will like this. Tonari no Totoro (ParaPara version) となりのトトロ(パラパラver) :


I managed to extract the mp3 from the video. I also adjusted the volume gain so it's loud enough to match my other parapara hyper stuff. So, available on mp3 for the next 7 days... grab it while you can!
http://download.yousendit.com/6720BA3A0CC830B1

(Apologies if I emailed you several times with either different or the same link - I had uploaded two versions, thought I messed up, but it turns out I got two noticifcations from yousendit XD)


My sister has been responsible for re-igniting my love of dance music, para para and DDR. Kylie's latest album made me look back at lots of stupidly danceable things. It has also made me realise that I like other types of music which I normally wouldn't admit to. For example, I'm actually quite a closet fan of RnB/hiphop/NuSoul/Urban stuff. I've found the Japanese versions more listenable/admissable for a while now, because there isn't so much continuous reference to big, black arse shaking in tight gold hotpants and bling bling bling baby yeah, but maybe it's because I've only ever heard the RnB/gangsta rap crossover on the radio until recently. I think I've realised that the more soulful/dancier female artists in this genre will make lyrics I can deal with and also have vocal range most similar to mine (so I now sing along to the music I listen to a lot more!). I also REALLY REALLY House Anthems, it is a bit of a guilty pleasure. And Breakbeat electronica - I was really into this stuff when I was a teenager and listen to it on and off when back when Pandora was working for me.

So I must now confess that recently, I have bought:
Kylie Minogue
Madonna
Mary J Blige
Alicia Keys
Leona Lewis
Rihanna
Beyonce
Ministry of Sound anthems

And I shall look into gettng some Breakbeat stuff when I figure out which artists are right for me. Keep the suggestions coming!

Their latest single Seventh heaven is coming out the end of this month! Check out their PV on YouTube - crazy dancers, discotheque beat and gothic dreadlocks galore:


After a little bit of digging... ladies, do you like your men with eyeliner? I had this song ages ago, but had no idea that Hyde looked so delicious in this video.

"...I was a baby when I learned to suck,
But you have raised it to an art form..."

XD some lyrics from the song "Wind me up" by the Barenaked Ladies. They are funnies.

Speaking of which, their concert totally rocked, they are seriously funny entertainers, fantastic improvised MCing and top notch musicianship. They even did a silly boy band dance during "Angry People" and threw lots of flowers out to the audience (one of which I caught ^.^).

The BARENAKED LADIES are on a UK tour from 28 March - 10 April!!

http://www.bnlmusic.com/tour/

In case you've forgotten/don't know them:
"The infamous Canadian rock band, best know for their hit singles 'One Week', 'Pinch Me' and 'Brian Wilson' bring their unique style of humourous and melodic tunes on a UK Tour in support of new album 'Barenaked Ladies Are Me'."

"One Week" was one of my favourite songs when I was about to go to university, it's just so infectiously fun.

For previews of their classic choons, check out their official website and their music page:
http://www.bnlmusic.com/music/

For previews of their more recent stuff, head to their myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/barenakedladies

And their first concert is in Cambridge, the Corn Exchange, wed 28 Mar 7.30pm for only £22.50, there's still standing and seating room available. I'm SOO GONNA BE THERE!!! Rock on.

In a word: AWESOME.

( Full gig report! )

I lost my first auction when I was outbid at £68 on Sunday night (I was willing to pay up to £60, but I can't really afford that as it is...) so I was feeling low. And when I saw that lots of auctions were ending at £50 and £60 plus, I thought, "I bet I'll get outbid again and again, *sigh*"

And then as I was browsing ebay on the off chance.... I found someone selling them for buy-it-now at £40!! With £1.95 recorded delivery! @o@ Bought it within 3 seconds of checking the photo of the ticket.

I LIVE! THE DREAM IS MINE!!! YESSSSHHH!!!! *drops to knees, elegantly*

Now I'd better re-schedule Tiggy's booster shot appointment ^_^;; it was set for this friday, need to move it to Thursday or Tuesday

I have a very wide range of music tastes. So much so, that it really it hard to try and say what my favourite music is. I was intending to make this a fairly short post, but what the hell. Let's explore my musical tastes. Cos I'm narcissistic and feel like telling you.

( Click to find out tons about what I listen to and why... )

I had no idea!!!! ARGH!!

*frantically bidding for tickets on ebay*

They are playing next Friday night at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, what a perfect reward for finishing all the work on Romeo & Juliet... *starry eyes* I hope I get these tickets, damnit...

I've liked their music ever since I heard them on the OST to the movie, Twister, back in 1998-1999. They are particularly famous for their song, "Iris", a Virgin Radio favourite. Now I'm catching up on their music, and when I went to their website and saw they were frickin' playing in Cambridge, my jaw dropped.

Check out their music if you haven't already heard of them:
http://www.googoodolls.com/

They have lots of music to preview on their website, and their showcase song on their website, "Stay With You" is fabulous!

Can't believe I haven't added them to my list of favourite musicians, they've just always been in the back of my mind though XD

Matthew did a wonderful thing, and got us a couple of tickets for Jools Holland and his orchestra next Friday!
*^______^* YAYY!!! He also bought us tickets to see Courtney Pine next February. Standing tickets of course (the best in my opinion, cos that means we can dance!)

Work is steady and good. I really want to do some sewing this weekend. I've prepared a huge bag of clothes that I will give to Oxfam tomorrow. My wardrobe has now got tons of space! This means I must make lots of pretty gothic and lolita clothing!

The Home Office officially suck. They still have my passport and they have no idea when it'll be given back. Because of this, I may lose my Thai residency (I need to fly back once a year before my renewal stamp runs out.... and it does on 3rd Jan 2006), which took over 10 years and about £1000-£2000 in total to get. But unless I get my UK residency stamp this time round... I'd have to start all over again, and it'll take another 2-3 years and another £750-£1200 in admin fees..... ARGH! Nuff of that, don't ask about it!!!

What else... hmm...

We're having Haggis, tatties and neeps for dinner tonight! This is because our vegetable box had swede, carrots and potatoes in.... and I remembered that I had a frozen haggis in storage - et voila! instant cultural meal delight!

(in case you didn't know, I have an organic, local vegetable box delivered to me once a fortnight. Over a kilo of veggies with a different selection each time, locally grown and delivered to my doorstep - for £8.)

Now that I've had a chance to listen to some of the music from it....

DON'T LET REVIEWS OR SONG TITLES PUT YOU OFF!!!

It's nowhere near as bad as some people have said it is, or as I suspected it would be. Long time listeners of Utada will find that her style has developed and changed a little - it's not quite as happy as Distance, not quite as angsty as Deep River, but is a little more chilled and ambient than both. She's matured a little, and her English is bloody good. Not bad considering she's about a year younger than me! o.O;;

I was preparing myself for the worst when Easy Breezy Japaneezy came on (dunno the speling) but was pleasantly surprised at it's listenability. I think it's helped by a non-outrageous accent i.e. I still find it a little difficult to listen to Gwen Stefani's Harajuku girls cos of the way she sings - Utada sings sincerely! It's cute and cheesy music, but her singing carries through with her syncopated jazzy style.

Kremlin Dusk is particularly lovely, ^_^ Great lyrics, and ONGST!

I will definitely get this album when it's released in the UK on Sept 26. I need to listen to "The Workout" any how - it's the only song I wazsn't able to find on the net.

I might put a few mp3s up on yousendit if peeps are interested? She also did some music for Kingdom Hearts by the way...

Yay! I just got lots of music by KOTOKO and the OSTs to Devil may Cry 1,2 & 3! Happy......

*headbangs to Devil May Cry battle music*

*this messes up my inking a little though.... sits still*

Lemme know if you want - I can send you the mp3s.