So, I've been asked to join a cosplay group, The Lost Aria, started by some friends of mine. I'm really excited, disregarding the fact that I know I'll blow a lot of my money on cosplay now. XD
That said, I never really considered myself a cosplayer. Sure, I like to dress up in outfits inspired by characters and stuff, but I've never paraded around as a character until last year, when I did a last-minute Misa Amane cosplay using my existing wardrobe and a cheap wig.
This year, I cosplayed the Vocaloid Megurine Luka in her Magnet look (as you can see above), and I also cosplayed the 'boyfriend' character from the Vocaloid song Just Be Friends. It was a favour for my friend, really, but being the vain poser I am, I loved dressing up and being photographed and being the subject of people's awe.
Can't wait to do all these cosplays now! I'll do my best! がんばります！
It's been a while since I last mentioned any VK. But since I'm really into this album, I thought I might as well have a little squee over it.
First Impression
I'll be honest. I have always found a9's compositions to be awkward to listen to, and Shou's voice didn't always suit what he was singing. As a result, I only liked maybe 2 or 3 songs of theirs.
I got this album because I was quite tickled by the single they released prior, Senkou, but nevertheless I was a little apprehensive about it. I set myself up to not like it very much at all... However, I'm glad I gave it a chance, because it has really impressed me!
The feel of Gemini is quite...artistic, for lack of a better word. It seems that a lot of attention has been paid to each song, and none of it is awkward (i.e., having a nonsensical melodic progression. That's the best way I can describe it...). Mind you, I guess you could say that it sounds...well, 'major'. It's really not that bad though, and I can actually stand listening to every song from beginning to end. I remember listening to some of their older albums and stopping halfway through every song because I couldn't take it...
The Songs
So the album starts off with I., a lovely whimsical number that starts off nice and orchestral. The song is just really nice to listen to. (Since I'm not of musical persuasion, I won't delve into technical things since I'm not qualified.)
Rumwolf is a funky piece (again for lack of a better word) that I can imagine turning up really loud and headbanging with. It's not heavy, as I know heavy to be, but it's got a good beat that you can just go a bit crazy to. Can't say much about the solos, but I never really could anyway.
Next up is Stargazer. The opening has the feel of magic and wonder and sparkles, and the rest of the song has a cute, magical feel to it too. I really love this song; it's good to hear Shou sing a cute song and actually suit it. (I'm slapping my own wrist for that mean comment haha.) Honestly, listening to this song makes me feel like I'm flying through the clouds and sliding down rainbows...
Stargazer PV
4U doesn't sound like VK at all. It's very pop-y, but again quite whimsical-sounding and easy to listen to. Tbh, it's nice, but nothing about it jumps out at me. I like to listen to it on the bus to work - it helps me relax.
I didn't really like the way Shinkirou opened...but I was won over by the riff after it xD Still, this song has traces of awkward composition in it, but it doesn't get in the way too much. God I love that riff...
King&Queen didn't do much for me. The music is good, but the melody... just not my cup of tea, I guess. Nao is really going for it on the drums though. 8D
Then we get a little SE interlude with Entr'acte. What can I say about an SE? It does remind me of the opening of Still from Togainu no Chi though xD
Senkou really shines (see what I did there?) here, it's a good place to start where we left off in terms of songs. I love the melody, it's engaging and in my opinion, different from their past works. And I've always been a sucker for Shou's harmonies~
Senkou PV
I wasn't expecting much from Fuurin in the first few seconds, just from Shou singing alone, but when the music started, oh lord. This is my kinda song. Probably my favourite from this album, in fact. That is all.
Gemini-0-Eternal started off all mysterious and whatnot - I thought it would lead to disaster, but it didn't really. I like the little riffs and how they carry on into the rest of the Gemini trilogy, although sometimes I feel they played it a bit too much... There's a bit of Shou being awkward with the melody again, but it's just in one bit and the rest is good and epic-sounding. And unlike some of the other songs, I love the solo in this! It's very smooth but very emotional. And the break down afterwards is good too. I like how the beat changes in this song - keeps things interesting.
Gemini-0-Eternal PV
Gemini-I-The Void had a good strong start to it. It was very VK-sounding to me, but not that raw, unrefined sound - this has a very clean feeling to it. It's like a refreshing splash of water. Gawd I'm awful with my metaphors... Again, this song changes the pace a lot. It's like you're being taken through different chapters of a story. The little organ bit was super cool too - that was what triggered my opinion of it being 'artistic'. The song transitions nicely into something mellow towards the end, leading up to the next song.
In Gemini-II-The Luv, we get that riff that was in Gemini-0-Eternal. This piece has a really epic feeling to it, kinda what you expect to hear in the end credits of a heromovie. xD It also has the acoustic bit that was in Gemini-I-The Void. Basically it incorporates bits from the first two songs, which is good for closure and stuff. I do like how they stuck with an instrumental for the last few seconds of the song too.
Birth in the Death is a dreamy, melancholic number. I also really like songs like this, even though I don't have much to say about this particular song.
Overture is an interesting way to end the album. It sounds like a game ending or BGM to me...actually it'd be pretty good to use as one...
Conclusion
I like the general feel of the tracks - the dreaminess, the epic-ness - it's all very magical, celestial if you will. The album certainly suits its title! All in all, Gemini leaves me feeling quite good about the a9 boys. They're not just a bunch of pretty faces after all!
So, now that I'm in this Korean phase, I've stumbled across a few little gems that made my little fangirl heart explode.
When I started watching Running Man, I found out about Sungkyunkwan Scandal, in which Song Joong Ki starred. Curious, I decided to watch it, and I wasn't let down~ without going into the plot (which I don't have the patience for) it's basically about uni life in the Joseon period and follows the daily adventures and misadventures of four students - one of whom happened to be a girl who disguised herself as a guy in order to save her family. Sounds cliche, right? But I've never been one to let cliches get in the way of appreciating things.
I shamelessly admit that I continued to watch the series for the eye candy. Plus it was amusing, seeing Joong Ki's character, Gu Yong Ha, and Moon Jae Shin (played by Yoo Ah In) sharing moments that bordered on shounen-ai... Yong Ha even admitted to having feelings for Jae Shin at one point... xD Plus the lead male thought he was turning gay, falling for the girl-in-men's-clothing. Good times.
Oh gosh, maybe they've become my OTP?? D:
Once finishing that, I was left with a Yoo Ah In-shaped hole in my heart, so I looked up his filmography and found out about Antique, a movie adapted from a BL manga called Antique Bakery.
The boys from Antique
Then away I went and watched the movie, which, funnily enough, also centred around four young men (though they were very definitely all men this time), and their little bakery. It was a pretty artsy movie for what I had expected. I also didn't expect there to be the slightest hint of BL in it, but there was! Kim Jae Wook played the gay of demonic charm, Min Sun Woo, who never failed to seduce any man except for Yoo Ah In's character, plus the main character, played by Joo Ji Hoon.
Again, I shamelessly admit that I watched it for the fanservice. Kim Jae Wook was very convincing x3 But as with SKKS, after I'd watched the movie three or four times, I longed for more... But more Kim Jae Wook this time.
That's how I stumbled upon Mary Stayed Out All Night/Marry Me, Mary. In this drama, Jae Wook plays a straight-laced businessman, Byun Jung In, who competes with the rebellious Kang Mu Gyul (played by Jang Geun Suk) for the affections of Ui Mae Ri (played by Moon Geun Young). Who to choose?? It's basically:
vs.
I'm still watching it right now, but despite the entire drama being focussed on this love triangle, I can't help but imagine the two lead males going for each other. I mean, the two of them having drinks together, then Mu Gyul waking up half-naked in Jung In's bed just as Jung In emerges from the shower... How do you think a BL fangirl is gonna interpret that? Huh? (Mind you, that's how Mae Ri interpreted it too.) And then there was the episode where Mu Gyul proposes that the three of them 'live like we're married'. I know what he means, but when he says that line, he's looking straight at Jung In, and my imagination has a ball. Part of me is thinking how awesome it'd be if Mu Gyul were to fall for the Gay of Demonic Charm xD
