...the reverse side of beauty..//..Mantified

If you're not already on Twitter, SUGIZO's already ahead of you! He has also set up his Official Facebook Page. It's really exciting to see all these JRockers on Twitter, which include the likes of Miyavi, Aoi and Ruki of the GazettE. Squee!

And of course, I'm now officially on Twitter too! I made it a while ago, but as opening up a web page on my lappy just to read tweets isn't really my style, I haven't used it much...that's until I got myself a swanky new iTouch 4! So yes, if you're interested in following, my Twitter is TaintedMantis. I've also linked this blog to Twitter, so updates will come to you straight away!

Welcome to my daily randomness!

Boy oh boy oh boy oh boy! Just when you think you've heard the end of Miyavi after a month long of Tokyo live streams, we have the next single!

I've been listening to TORTURE throughout the live and thought it was a pretty good song. While I preferred most of the live versions of his songs (Survive being one of them), this is most definitely one which sounds way better recorded than the live. Not to say that I don't like the live version of this song, but the basicness (is that even a word?) of raw Miyavi style rock without the bells and jingles in the song is outstanding in its own right. It's one of the more serious songs I've seen, i.e. no silly facial gimmicks or random spazz, and still very true to the Miyavi essence.

I'm loving this single!

Now to wait for the album release!

I've finally got to "attend" Miyavi's lives! Well...not really, hahaha, but it is technically watching him live when he's streaming in real time.

So far, I've watched 6 lives...all of them were really awesome. Part of what I love is the interaction with the other fans on the chat channel. You could recognize some of them after a while too. And his lives tend to sound a lot better than the CD versions as well, I remember when one of his lives had a jazzy version of one of his classics. Of course, I always laugh whenever he sings What's My Name?, and I love some of the newer stuff too.

Guess I should pre-order that new album soon...

Okay, major Miyavi update is in order...his new single Torture will be out on September 15 - his first single release in 3 years! If you buy the limited edition, there will be an extra CD containing some selections of audio recording from some of his lives in Tokyo, LA and NY, as well as a tattoo sticker. Limited Edition anybody?

He'll also be releasing a new album on October 13 called What is my name? (LOL, typical of him to name something like that XD), his first one in 2 years (and a first after his graduation from PSC too instead of simply a compilation).

Definitely something for your wallet to look forward to! Hahaha.

And, he's got a special surprise for us unlucky people who haven't had the chance to watch him live on his tour. We'll have 12 chances (yes, 12! You heard me right!) to see him live in action online as he continues his tour in Tokyo!

How awesome is that?!

Yup, he'll be Screaming out in Tokyo at the following times on UStream:

08/01/10 HARAJYUKU ASTRO HALL
08/05/10 SHIMOKITAZAWA SHELTER
08/13/10 SHIBUYA Lush
08/14/10 SHINJYUKU LOFT
08/16/10 SHIBUYA O-nest
08/17/10 SHIMOKITAZAWA BASEMENT BAR
08/18/10 AOYAMA TSUKIMIRU KIMI OMOFU
08/23/10 SHIBUYA LIVE STAGE GUILTY
08/24/10 SHIBUYA CHELSEA HOTEL
08/25/10 ROPPONGI morph-tokyo
08/27/10 LIVE labo YOYOGI
08/31/10 SHINDAITA LIVE HOUSE FEVER

open 19:00 / start 20:00 (JAPAN TIME)

Check your time zones for your convenience:
Tokyo pm8:00
LA am4:00 (JAPAN TIME -16hours)
N.Y am7:00 (-13hours)
Toronto am7:00 (-13hours)
Vancouver am4:00 (-16hours)
London pm12:00 (-8hours)
France pm1:00 (-7hours)
Germany pm1:00 (-7hours)
Brazil am8:00 (-12hours)
Mexico am5:00 (-15hours)
Santiago am7:00 (-13hours)
Sydney pm10:00 (+2hours)
Barcelona pm1:00 (-7hours)
Moscow pm3:00 (-6hours)
Shanghai pm7:00 (-1hours)

The link to the live stream: UStream.TV
UStream is also available on his MySpace if you forget the UStream link!

(Thanks to Murbella for the info!)

Personally, I'll probably try to catch the lives as from the 13th after I get my computer fixed: it really sucks when you have no sound on your lappy. D: He's certainly a trend setter for fan connections!

And as for purchases...I'll wait out for the album to allow my piggy bank to fatten up a bit first.

Not only am I loving Miyavi's new single that's going to come out on March 24 (I've placed my order already!), I've also been falling in love with the classics.

That's right...the roots of many of today's JRock's influences: X Japan and Luna Sea (AHAHAHA...LUNACY). I haven't dug much into X Japan yet, but I do like Luna Sea's stuff. And by looking into LS, I've discovered much much more...I now understand why Uruha looks like the way he looks. It's all because of Sugizo of Luna Sea! (With many thanks - if Uru manages to look something like Sugizo by the time he hits 40, it's definitely a plus.)

So, I bring you...Luna Sea's Rosier. So let's play a game...(only good if you're unfamiliar with the band): Which one is Sugizo?? I think it's easy to guess once you've actually seen a close up of him. XD

With the HiFi fixed (finally!) I'm watching the Miyavi live of the beginning of the Neo Visualizm tour in 2007. In the middle of Ossan Ossan Ore Nanbo, I almost dropped my lappy off my lap from laughter. Totally a man with many talents in the Japanese music industry, you can't help but fall in love with his charisma - he's serious about his music, but certainly knows how to pull the audience with his drunk like guitar dance while sticking his tongue out in mock cheekiness.



Now, I'm just hoping that he'll add me back on Facebook soon. ^^

And the other DVDs I've ordered should be arriving by EMS tomorrow. Can't wait! A preview of what I will be watching below!

First up...KAT-TUN! Break the Records Live (break break break). From the looks of it, I really hope that they've topped the performance - because I have really high expectations from these guys, after watching the Queen of Pirates concert, you're pampered to that sort of really high standards. Especially if all 440,000 seats (for shows held in 8 consecutive days) at Tokyo Dome are sold out on the day it went on sale!



And of course...GAZETTO! the GazettE's DIM Scene Tour Finale I'm so excited to hear full live versions of Distress and Coma, Without a Trace and A Moth Under the Skin. Oh, I can feel a nosebleed coming up...please excuse me...

The announcement's made in the Co-Miyavi Worldwide Myspace...Miyavi's going to do a world tour! I'm so excited if he's going to visit Singapore next year, I'll definitely try to make it. =)

Read the official blog entry here

I've also applied for the official Miyavi fanclub, because he's left PS Company, he's not obliged to stay with Heresy (which seems to be in charge of the PSC bands' official fan clubs like the GazettE, Alice Nine, Screw...etc...). Well, the Japan club's already up, now to wait until they open up for the world!

More information from the official Co-Miyavi Worldwide International Family here.

I love you Miyavi for opening up to worldwide fans instead of simply sticking to Japan.

So, before I leave you with some artsy photos of the man (which are not as colorful or crazy as some of the others, but still really beautifully elegantly shot), introducing a song that I can't stop listening to right now: Hime (Miyavi)

Seriously, I could imagine him going nuts with his guitar with this song.

If there is one man who can wear pink and still look absolutely fantastic, it's Miyavi. Seriously, he could easily pull off the shocking hot pink without looking like he's a gay man.





Ok ok, I agree he looks very feminine. But he still looks pretty in his own way. I guess he can compete with Uruha in the more feminine colours. Hahaha. Pink vs. Purple anyone?

I don't have much eye candy on Miyavi, but he truly is musically talented. His songs are not as hard metal as typical J-Rock, but some have some hip hop and/or pop edge sounds, which makes them easier to listen to. Many songs also feature simple guitar playing with the same guitar slapping noises, which has become a sort of trademark sound that identifies Miyavi. Obviously, being a VK artist, rock and metal still need to be the dominating sounds.

I'll see to embedding some Miyavi stuff at a later time.

Not the GazettE related, but also working for the same record company PS Company and another visual kei artist, is Miyavi. Presenting Selfish Love.


Selfish love - Miyavi

The instrumental 1st minute was totally original. Guitar and bongo style combined into one. I have yet to meet someone who can actually play guitar like that (other than Miyavi, of course). And the PV (promotional video) itself was pretty amusing - the foot stamping in the water, the eccentricity of Miyavi's behaviour, the simple melody, the catchy tune, the "I look ridiculous, but I don't give a damn" look...genius!

I have yet to see other Miyavi videos, but Ruki was certainly right when he said that Miyavi's really talented (to the point where Ruki actually envies him). And after watching this video, I believe him. Miyavi could easily run a one man show.