Ekkusu no Studio phase 4.1.
Happy 44th birthday, dearest Yoshiki ♥!!
The last time i updated my skin was on Yochan's 43rd birthday, and a year had passed. I'm glad that his surgery went fine and i hope he's recovering well. Don't neglect your therapy, Yochan, and hope to see you next year in China ^^
God bless your abundantly!!
(o^___^o)
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ekkusu
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Faith - past skins
A fan of JRock music and bands. Most favourite band of all time: the legendary band, X Japan.
Loves its leader, drummer, pianist and main composer, Hayashi Yoshiki , usually called Yoshiki.
Loves one of X's guitarists, Matsumoto hideto, or usually called hide, and
one of the best vocalist I've ever heard, Deyama Toshimitsu, or usually called Toshi.
A list of favourite bands and artists/singers:
Versailles Philharmonic Quintet
(members: Kamijo (vo),
HIZAKI (gt) ,
Teru (gt) ,
Yuki (dr), ,
Jasmine-You (ba) ,
Tohoshinki or Dong Bang Shin Ki or TVXQ
(members: Xiah Junsu (mid-high), Micky Yoochun (mid-low), Youngwoong-Hero Jaejoong (lead), Choikang-Max Changmin (tenor), U-Know Yunho (bass))
SKIN
(members: Yoshiki (dr, pi) , Gackt (vo, pi), Sugizo (gt, vi), Miyavi (gt))
Lareine
(members: Kamijo (vo) , Mayu (gt), Emiru (ba), Machi (dr))
Kamijo (vo)
(bands: Lareine, Versailles
HIZAKI
(bands: HIZAKI grace project, Versailles )
Mana
(bands: Moi dix Mois, Malice Mizer)
Raphael
(members: Kazuki (gt), Yukito (ba), Yuki (vo), Hiro (dr))
DuelJewel
Dir en Grey
L~Arc en Ciel
Janne da Arc
Psycho le Cemu
GLAY
Luna Sea
Rentrer en Soi
Siam Shade
Was part of management committee of Endless Dream website and
ScreamingKIAI International forum, dedicated to Yoshiki and his music.
Alumni of the following schools:
Jakarta, Indonesia:
TK Genesis
SD Tarakanita III
Penang, Malaysia:
Chung Ling Private High School
Singapore:
Kent Ridge Secondary School
St Margaret's Secondary School
Pioneer Junior College
St Andrew's Junior College
Wednesday 19 December 2012
Beginning from last week, I had started cleaning my room. As expected, I found some treasures that I didn't expect to find. Labels: life stories, nostalgic, technology, x japan, yoshiki
For example, my old Sony Walkman. How many of you still remember a Walkman? You know that boxy squarish metal that only have 2 functions in it: radio and casette-player?
When I left home 14 years ago, I was so lonely in Penang. One day, one of my friend and distant relative lent me his walkman. I played with it until it was spoiled, and I felt so bad. But, I discovered the happiness of being accompanied by music, and there wasn't any turning back.
When I went back home for vacation, I asked my parents for a walkman, and they complied. This walkman was the second one I have, if I remember correctly. The first one spoiled quite soon after I got it. But this walkman went a long way with me. It even accompanied me to Singapore.
My beloved Sony Walkman from 13 years ago
I listened to radio with it, I recorded my favourite songs from the radio into blank cassette with it, I recorded my own voice (and others) singing with it (that was our first karaoke session!! at home!!), I loved it dearly. This Walkman and library books were the only things keeping me sane, because there was no other means of entertainment at that time. I didn't have laptop, we weren't allowed to watch TV, and basically no exposure to media other than the radio. I got so attached to this Walkman.
Then, with the progression of technology, came the Discman. Now, how many of you still remembered the discman?
I had cleanly forgotten about my discman until I found it just now.
Just now, I opened the cardboard box with the intention of throwing it away. When I saw that green discman bag, my heart leapt with joy. Could it be.... is it possible that my beloved discman is still inside? Oh gosh, yes, it's still inside! Oh my goodness...
My discman bag, dirty because of years in storage
...still has my discman inside it!!
And, there was a CD inside, and when I checked, it was my beloved X Japan The Last Live CD, the second one CD.
My Panasonic discman from 10(?) years ago!
...still with my X Japan The Last Live CD inside!
I
brought it outside, I opened the battery compartment, it was empty
(thank goodness I had the sense to take out the battery before storing
it years ago!). I took a couple of fresh batteries, and with bated
breath, pressed the play button.
When the small screen
blinked and showed "hold" I almost cried out in joy. I fumbled at the
side button, switched off the hold function, and pressed play again, and
it started playing!! *flails happily*
MY OLD DISCMAN STILL WORKS!!!!!!!
Now, the Walkman marked the time when I first started listening to music. I listened to everything in it. The Discman, however, marked my first venture into bands, boybands, and fandom. And I held it even closer to my heart.
The time when I started having this Discman was the start of me becoming a consumer of the music industry, because that was when my CD obsession start. I started buying lots of CD, though because of constraint of pocket money I must be very careful of what I bought. My first few purchases were Westlife and a1 CDs, which I got my parents to buy for me, I was a huge fan of them at that time.
Then, my friend introduced me to X Japan. It was inside this discman that I first heard the song Forever Love, Longing, and every song recorded in the X Japan Ballad Collection.
And that marked my departure from western music scene into the Japanese music scene, and I never really got back into listening western songs.
Being quite a new piece of technology, I took great care in protecting my discman. I put it inside a special bag -green, not exacty my favourite colour but, eh, it worked- that provided some cushion and protected it from scratches. It also has a pocket for a couple of CD casings at its back. Quite practical for the standard of that time. I used to bring 2 CD cases, which contained 2 CDs each, so I was carrying 5 CDs around (1 obviously inside the discman itself).
After I got to know X Japan, I couldn't be parted from my discman. I carried this discman everyday to school, listening to the same CD over and over and over again. At that time, my journey to school would take about 40 minutes and I always dozed off in the bus, so I memorised at which song I should wake up so that I didn't miss my stop.
When I finally saved enough money to buy my very first X Japan official CD, it was this very CD: X Japan The Last Live. It was a live recording of their 31 Dec 1997 concert, broken down into 3 CDs and cost about SGD30 at that time (was a huge amount of money for someone whose pocket money was around SGD10 per week, who still had to buy food and other stuff).
When I finally bought the CD, I held it like I was holding gold, and I listened to it every single freaking day. I knew the whole concert like the back of my hand. I knew which song they're going to sing next, I knew what words Toshi would say (and I don't speak a word of Japanese!), I knew when the audience was going to scream, I knew the point when Yoshiki left the drums and let drumming recording took over as he went backstage to rest, I knew when they would resume playing live, I knew every sob, sniff, and gasp as Toshi sang his heart out while crying during Forever Love, I knew that exact moment when Yoshiki slipped and pressed the wrong note on the piano, I knew the exact moment when he lay his head down on the piano and it produced the dissonant chord, I knew I knew I knew.
I knew every single freaking thing in The Last Live CD, because I listened to it hundreds, thousands of times!
And, as I listened to the CD again, right now as I write this, those memories, the emotions came right back to me like they just happened yesterday.
Panasonic, thank you for making such a long-lasting, durable discman that had brought me so much joy and happiness.
I don't think I will continue using it, because I loved it too dearly, I'm really scared I'm gonna spoil it further. Even right now, the volume knob is a little bit wobbly and there is some noise every time I adjusted the volume. And now every time I carried it, it hiccuped with every small movement/bump, even though last time I carried it all the time in my bag, in whatever position, and it always played smoothly without hiccuping.
But otherwise it was still in awesome condition. I even tried playing Hizaki's Curse of Virgo there and it worked flawlessly, and it sounded even better than when I played it in my laptop *side-eyeing my Asus U46*...
Anyway, wondering what other treasures will I find while I clean my room?
7:48 pm
Thursday 13 December 2012
I just want to point out Changmin's eagerness to grab Jaejoong's takoyaki. Oh, Changmin, your love for food is as funny as your snark xD
1:30 pm
Wednesday 12 December 2012
Labels: performance, tegomass
I watched the video above with half a raised eyebrow. I mean, sure it's very Tegomass kind of song, but... What's with Massu wearing that big shirt with very short shorts? And what's with all the colourful feathers in Tego's head? xD And, what's with the dance moves???
I admit it's a very dangerous song/video to introduce people to Tegomass to.
But, yes, I'm still rooting for these 2 dorks.
Why?
Because despite the insistence of Johnny to slap a silly, kiddy, nonsensical image to these 2 poor souls, they are still the only duo in Johnny's whole family with enough vocal power and harmonising sense to produce song like this:
Don't worry TegoMasu, for as long as you keep on singing, people will continue to flood your concerts =) TegoMasu faito~!
6:06 pm
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CD Wishlist
JaeChunSu - The... (preordered)
JYJ - Thanksgiving Live in Dome DVD (preordered)
Tegomasu - Tegomasu no Ai minialbum
Versailles - Ascendead Master (mini movies in Limited Ed singles type I,II,III)
Yoshiki - Eternal Melody 1
Versailles Philharmonic Quintet - Jubilee (major debut album)
Jejung & Yuchun from Tohoshinki - COLOR~ Melody & Harmony/Shelter Double A single
Tohoshinki - Stand By U single
Dong Bang Shin Gi - Rising Sun album
Tohoshinki - Five in the Black album
Tohoshinki - Heart, Mind, Soul album
Dong Bang Shin Gi - Tri-Angle album
Tegomassu - Tegomassu no Uta album
Tegomassu - Tanabata Matsuri
NEWS - Touch
Tegomass - Miso Soup
Yamashita Tomohisa - Daite Senorita
Hizaki GRACE Project - Ruined Kingdom
Hizaki Grace Project - Dignity of Crest
Within Temptation - Mother Earth or Silent Force
Saint Preux - Concerto Pour Deux Voix
Lord of the Rings Complete Recordings
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Complete Recordings
Raphael (Kazuki) - Forever and Ever
Raphael - Raphael Singles
X - Vanishing Vision Album
X Japan - Dahlia Album
X Japan - Art of Life ~mini album
X Japan - Art of Life ~live
L'Arc en Ciel - Smile
Hyde - 666
DVD Wishlist
Tohoshinki - The Secret Code live in Tokyo Dome
TVXQ - All About TVXQ Season III DVD <--- !
Versailles Philharmonic Quintet - Chateau De Versailles DVD
Versailles Philharmonic Quintet - History Of The Other Side DVD
X Japan Returns Complete DVD 30th/31st December 1993
Versailles - Aesthetics HIZAKI version, with perfume Princess Stairs
Versailles - Aesthetics Kamijo version, with perfume Louise
Hizaki Grace Project - Monsho
Raphael - First
Raphael - Last
Raphael - Raphael Clips
Raphael - Pictorial Poem 2
X Japan - Art Of Life - 1993.12.31 Tokyo Dome
X Japan - Dahlia Tour / Dahlia Tour Final
X Japan - Complete Collection II (which, upon acquiring, will cancel the earlier 2 DVDs mentioned)
hide - Film The Psychommunity Reel.1
hide - Film The Psychommunity Reel.2
hide - Seventeen Clips - Perfect Clips Presented By Hide Museum
hide - Ugly Pink Machine File 2
hide - Alivest Perfect Stage 10000 Cuts Hide Hide Hide
CD In Possession
Versailles Philharmonic Quintet - Jubilee (major debut album)
Tohoshinki - Bolero/Kiss The Baby Sky/Wasurenaide Triple A single <--- !the perfect single!
Tohoshinki - Stand By U single
Dong Bang Shin Gi - Mirotic album (Platinum edition)
Tohoshinki - T album
Tohoshinki - The Secret Code album
Versailles - Ascendead Master (Reg + Ltd Ed. DVD Type I, II, III)
NEWS - Koi no ABO single (Reg and Ltd Ed.) <-- i'm selling the regular edition, contact me if you're interested (only for beijing, singapore and jakarta buyers only)
Versailles - Prince & Princess single
NEWS - Color album
Versailles - Noble album
Tegomass - Ai Ai Gasa single
Tegomass - Kiss ~Kaerimichi no Love Song single
NEWS - Summer Time single
NEWS - pacific album
My Chemical Romance - I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
HIM - And Love Said No, The Greatest Hits 1997 - 2004
HIZAKI Grace Project - Curse of Virgo single
Hyde - Faith
Yui - Can't Buy My Love
Versailles - Lyrical Sympathy mini album
Yoshiki - Catacombs Soundtrack
HIZAKI - Maiden Ritual ~experimental edition
HIZAKI - Dance with grace
Raphael - Fumetsuka
Within Temptation - Heart of Everything
X Japan - Blue Blood & Blue Blood Special Edition
X Japan - Jealousy & Jealousy Special Edition
X Japan - The Last Live
X Japan - X Japan on Piano
X Japan - B.O.X (Best of X)
X Japan - X Japan Perfect Best
X Japan - Best Fans Collection
Yoshiki - Eternal Melody II
hide - hide BEST Psychommunity
Malice Mizer - La Meilleur Selection de Malice Mizer "best selection"
Moi dix Mois - Dix Infernal
Gackt - Mars
Dir en grey - Macabre
L'Arc en Ciel - Awake
L'Arc en Ciel - The Best of L'Arc en Ciel 1998-2000
Luna Sea - Never Sold Out
Glay - Speed POP
Glay - Rare Collection vol.1
Glay - Rare Collection vol.2
Glay - Love is Beautiful
Glay - Drive, Complete Best
GLOBE - Level 4
Aikawa Nanase - ID, Best Album
Hamasaki Ayumi - Duty
Every Little Thing - Every Best Single + 3
V6 - seVen
V6 - Very Best I
V6 - Very Best II
My Chemical Romance - Threee Cheers For Sweet Revenge
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
DVD/VCD in possession
X Japan - X VISUAL SHOCK DVD BOX 1989-1992
TVXQ - All About TVXQ Season II DVD Set <--- ♥&hearts♥
NEWS - Pacific Concert 2007-2008 and First Tokyo Dome Concert
NEWS - Never Ending Wonderful Story
Happy Feet Japanese version - Tegoshi Yuya as Mumble
X Japan - Aoi Yoru Shiroi Yoru Complete Box
Yoshiki - Yoshiki Symphonic 2002 featuring Violet UK
hide - Ugly Pink Machine File 1
X - Hamettsu ni Mukatte 'On The Verge of Destruction' Concert
X Japan - The Last Live
X - X Clip 1
Phase 3.2 (2008)
Phase 3.1 (2008)
Phase 2.0 and 2.1 (2007)
Phase 1.2 (2006)
Phase 1.1 (2006)
Phase 1.0 (2006)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/arsenalx/ekkusuphase32c.jpg
featuring: Yoshiki
about: Yochan underwent a surgery to correct his spine, a problem that had persisted since 1995, when he finally started to feel numbness in his fingers. the surgery went fine, thank goodness. hopefully he will recover completely and it doesn't affect his piano playing. as for drums...don't forget your neck braces everytime you drums, yochan!
etc: read below xD i've made too many layouts featuring Yoshiki i don't wish to repeat myself =P
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v457/arsenalx/?action=view¤t=ekkusu3.jpg
Featuring: Versailles
Background: formed in 2007 by founding member Kamijo (ex Lareine) and Hizaki (ex Sulfuric Acid), they released their debut single Revenant Choir which tells a story about a clan.
Just as like Kamijo's past works, Versailles tells a story through their symphonic metal music and extravagantly elaborate costumes inspired from antique European era.
Members: Kamijo (vocals), Hizaki (guitar), Teru (guitar), Jasmine-You (bass), Yuki (drums)
etc: Versailles beautiful music managed to win my heart totally. saddened by the loss of Jasmine-YOU in 2009, but i hope the 4 of them will still make great music from now onwards. rest in peace, Jasmine-YOU, and watch out for the guys from up there...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/arsenal_x/ekkusu2.1copy.jpg
featuring: S.K.I.N.
Background: Formed in 2007, performed first during Anime Expo at the States in May.
Members: Yoshiki (drums, piano, guitar), Gackt (vocal, piano), Sugizo (guitar, violin), Miyavi (guitar, shamisen)
etc: ekkusu phase 2.0 was lost because i didn't save it in photobucket (because it refused to upload it properly).
and so, from now i'll start my skin from phase .1 instead of .0
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/arsenalx/ekkusunostudio1-3.jpg
Featuring: Hiruma Youichi
Model's background: manga character (Eyeshield 21)
More about the model: quarterback of Deimon Devilbats, The Commander From Hell;
the backbone and the brain behind Deimon High School's American Football Club, The Deimon Devilbats.
Icons: various facial expressions of Hiruma, the maniacal, elven-faced leader of Devilbats ^^
Etc: Eyeshield 21 is a sports manga about American Football and it's one of my current favourite.
My rating for them is:
hilarity 10/10
excitement: 9/10
intellectual level: 9/10
drawing: 7/10
characterisation: 9/10
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v457/arsenalx/?action=view¤t=yoshiki56trialwithrollovercopy.jpg
Featuring: Hayashi Yoshiki
Model's background: leader, drummer, pianist, main composer of legendary band X Japan (1982-1997); leader, drummer, pianist,
guitarist, composer of band Violet UK, debut coming soon.
More about the model: Yoshiki in the early X Japan era in early 90's when he still has long curly locks.
Etc: YOSHIKI IS MY HERO AND IDOL!
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v457/arsenalx/th_yoshiki46copy.png
Featuring: Hayashi Yoshiki
Model's background: leader, drummer, pianist, main composer of legendary band X Japan (1982-1997); leader, drummer, pianist,
guitarist, composer of band Violet UK, debut coming soon. Born in Tateyama, Chiba (Japan) in 20th November 1965 and currently living in Los Angeles, California (USA).
Head company of Extasy Records, Extasy Japan and Extasy Records International (now defunct). http://myspace.com/yoshiki
More about the model: the faint background picture of Yoshiki was taken in the recent years when he's already cut his hair short and
started the habit of wearing sunglasses.
Icons: pictures taken from Yoshiki's house in LA: his front door, piano in the middle room, dining room and swimming pool.
Etc: I can write essays on Yoshiki, but let's just keep it simple and straightforward: YOSHIKI IS MY HERO AND IDOL!