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I’ve finally decided to do an introduction entry and this also serves as an entry where you can put in random comments (this entry will remain at the very top). I like people leaving me comments, but it get a bit annoying when I have a totally random comment on my fan fiction or other review entries. Because when I see that some one left a comment on these entries (which take time to write) I’ll really look forward to what people think of that piece of writing, and to see that it just a random ‘hi’ does make me feel a bit disappointed. Yet I do like random comments.

So this is why I have this entry. Lastly- for people who often come to my blog: please tell me how you managed to stumble onto my blog! I am just very curious about this!

Lastly, I don’t like using life journal cut that much, so I probably won’t put something under life journal cut unless it is really long. But to my defence: I have a summary bar which prevents you from having to spot the title by having to scroll down a lot of times.

PS: If you want to friend me then please tell me because I don’t always notice when people add me as their friend even though I love expanding my F-list. Chances are I will add you back. 

Haruka 2 game dialogues
 

Fan fiction links

Haruka

Prince of tennis

Fushigi Yugi

Other anime/manga

Other computer games

I am very excited as the first semi-final is on. Technically it is on Today, but due to time difference for me, it is tomorrow. (We used to be the earliest country in the world). So I thought I’ll relisten to the songs (watch the official videos) So excited!!! I even planned to wake up early in order to watch it (well, I didn’t need to but I have to work tomorrow. My supervisor: “Can you work Wednesday?” I think: “Eurovision is on Tuesday and Thursday so no problem!” Aloud: “Okay.” Later on: “Oh my gosh time difference!!!”

1. Montenegro: Euro neuro (English)- Rambo Amadeus
Same thought as before, I think there is something about this song that I just don’t get. However, I did hear that the performance would be quite interesting.

2. Iceland: Never forget (English version [original- Mundu eftir mér (Icelandic)]- Greta Salóme & Jónsi
Same opinion- I love it! Please win!

3. Greece: Aphrodisiac (English)- Eleftheria Eleftheriou
This song is an example of lyrics and performer having a major effect. The music is actually really nice, it seems quite Greek. In addition, I actually quite like the singer’s voice and if this song is not in a language I understand then I might like it. Right now, I can’t help but to want to cringe at some of the lyrics. The other factor, as I have said, is the singer. At least from the national performance at her video, I have that feeling. However, it is possible that she might be able to pull it off in the actual Eurovision, although I am not sure exactly what I mean by ‘pulling it off’. I am a bit interested at seeing this song being performed as I think there is a chance it could turn out good.

Totally random but I would love to see Helena Paparizou performing this song.

4. Latvia: Beautiful Song (English)- Anmary
As mentioned…the reason that I dislike this song is due to part of the lyrics, I feel that it is quite arrogant, transcending the old idea of achieving your dreams. With the video, I at least find the concept interesting, but I don’t think this can be done in the life performance.

5. Albania: Sous (Albanian)- Rona Nishliu
I think my feeling for the song remains the same. There is nothing that I can really critisise the song for other then that it is not my cup of tea. For me, I find the pace too slow and I got a bit bored, and this has nothing to do with the language. As I have said before, I feel that with this song you would either be moved to tears or be a bit indifferent and for me, it does not move me.

6. Romania: Zaleilah (Spanish/English)-      Mandinga
I actually quite like this song now, and I feel that the switch of the two languages is done very well. However, my criticism of the video came after the official music video, as I feel that it is sexed up.

However, it has moved from a song that I want to be in the final just because I have space, to a song that I do want to make into the finals as I like it.

7. Switzerland: Unbreakable (English)- Sinplus
I think my feeling for the song pretty much remain unchanged. It doesn’t’ really interest me.

8. Belgium: Would you- Iris
My initial comment is that it is nice, but a bit bland. Noting for me to critisise other then the fact that I just don’t like it.

9. Finland: När jag blundar (Swedish)- Pernilla Karlsson
I still don’t remember who I think the singer look like but I can say that I quite like the song. It is hard to describe why I like it but I think the best way is to say that I feel there is a beauty in its simplicity. We don’t have the signer raising a high as or long as note (unlike Spain or Albania) and the music does not even change that much. But for me, there is something very moving about the song and it just grab you there.

I said that the song has a mystical feeling and I guess one reason is due to the dress the singer wears. It is green with leaves.

10. Israel: Time (English/Hebrew)- Izabo
I think what I feel for the song is pretty much the same, it seems so 60s and I guess I might not dislike it now, but I still do not like it. However, I am quite curious about how it would be performed live.

11. San Marino: The Social Network Song (English)- Valentina Monetta
This song seems to receive more criticism then praise, but I think it is starting to grow on me. I must confess: I actually am starting to like it. And no matter what, it would be interesting to see the performance. The song is actually quite catchy but due to the lyrics, you kind of feel a bit embarrassed to admit that you like it.

12. Cyprus: Lala Love (English)- Ivi Adamou
This song is a really weird song for me because even though I don’t really like it that much, I love the music video and as a result…I am starting to like the song. I know, weird. But I love the whole fairy tale feeling and the way she dresses in the video…she is so beautiful (which I know has nothing to do with it) but I think it’s the combination of everything, the dress and the video along with the background. She really seems like a princess from a fairytale. But I suspect that it is because I am noticing the story in the video more, not so much the words in the background.

13. Denmark: Should’ve known better (English)- Soluna Samay
As I have said before, the song is nice, but it is one of the songs that I do not dislike or particularly like although I am leaning toward like more then dislike. I think it might grow on me, but for some reason, it hasn’t grow on me yet.

14. Russia: Party for everybody (Udmurt/English)- Buranovskiye Babushki
This song really does not cease to amaze me, because you can only see this in Eurovision. I must admit, I want them to be in the party for the sake of it and I do think that it is possible that they might just win as they are so different. I wouldn’t be surprised at all.

15. Hungary: Sound of our hearts (English)- Compact Disco
This song receives the shortest comment from me. For some reason, it is just really bland for me.

16. Austria: Woki mit deim Popo (Mühlviertlerisch- German dialect)- Trackshittaz
I didn’t re-listen to this song because I know that I don’t like it, I don’t like this type. However, I will watch it at the semi-final.

17. Moldova: Lăutar (English)- Pasha Parfeny
The song grew on me…I now want it to enter for more reasons then me wanting Moldova to enter. Although it is not a song that I support strongly. I want it to enter the final but that is it.

I must admit, one of my major dislike for the song is due to the performance, at one bit, it really creep me out. However, I feel that it got a bit redeemed for me due to the official music video. So I guess it would depend on the performance. I really like the first two line of the song: “At the wedding tonight, she looks nicer than the bride When she smiles, I forget my lyrics”

I do wonder though, what would runaway have been like if he had been the vocalist instead of Sergei Yalovitskiy. However, that is quite unfair as this is something that would never happen. But I feel that they won’t interact as well.

Anyway…good luck Moldova!

18. Ireland: Waterline (English)- Jedward
I realised that I need to update the MV entries as Belarus and Ireland both updated their videos (probably quite a while ago too)

Okay…for me, Eurovision is about performance and with these two…I don’t know why but when I look at their performance, I just want to laugh. Evemn though I know that the song is pretty nice I just can’t disconnect it from the performance. I want to laugh and that prevents me from listening to it properly.

Yet I must say, it is nice to see someone so happy at Eurovision.

Anime
2010
*         Katanagatari- Yasuri Shichiki
*         Maid Sama!- Kurosaki Ryounosuke

2011
*         Chihayafuru- Wataya Arata
*         Level E- Yukitaka Tsutsui
*         Moshidora- Hoshide Jun
*         No.6- Nzumi

2012
*         Inu x Boku SS- Sorinozuka Renshou
*         Kuroko’s Basketball- Junpei Hyūga
*         Kids on the slope- Kawabuchi Sentarō
*         Ginga e Kickoff!!- Furuya Ouzou

OVA
*         A town where you live- Kirishima Haruto
*         Denpai teki na kanojo- Juuzawa Juu
*         Prince of Tennis- Shiraishi Kuranosuke

Game
*         Asaki, yume mishi- Ichito
*         Edel Blume- Auguste Muller
*         La corda d’oro 3/kiniro no koruda 3- Serizawa Mutsumi
*         Musketeer- Athos
*         Prince of Tennis: Driving Smash- Shiraishi Kuranosuke
*         Prince of tennis: Doubles no Oujisama- Girls, be gracious- Shiraishi Kuranosuke
*         Prince of Tennis: Motto Gakuensai no Oujisama- More Sweet edition- Shiraishi Kuranosuke
*         Prince of Tennis: guotto dokidoki survival- Shiraishi Kuranosuke
*         Souten no Kanata- Riyoyuu

CD
*         Dear Prince (to the princes of tennis)- Shiraishi Kuranosuke (solo version)
*         Dear Prince (to the princes of tennis)- Shiraishi Kuranosuke (as part of Ikemen Samurai)
*         Iro asenai ano sora he- Shiraishi Kuranosuke (as part of Stones)的使命
*         Koi no Gekidasa ecstasy- Shiraishi Kuranosuke (as part of Tachikiritai)
*         Maid Sama- Another side- Kurosaki Ryounosuke
*         Medicine or…?- Shiraishi Kuranosuke
*         The best of Rival players XXXI: Bible- Shiraishi Kuranosuke
*         Poison- Shiraishi Kuranosuke
*         Prayer- Shiraishi Kuranosuke
*         Valentine Kiss- Shiraishi Kuranosuke

Other appearances
*         Prince of Tennis 100 songs Marathon
*         Tenipuri feasta 2009
*         Tenipuri feasta 2011 

Others
*         Epilogue (lyrics)
*         I.ng (lyrics)

Author’s Note: This is inspired by someone’s work on fan fiction net. Basically this person ‘xMourns the Wickedx’s’ wrote ‘Notre Dame de Paris Retitled!’, which she explains what the title of the songs of the musical really ought to means. Eg.Le temps des Cathedrales: “Prologue? Nah. We just wanted to show how sexy Gringoire is.” I highly recommend it. Just type that and you should be able to see it on fan fiction.net. But due to that, I was inspired to write this, and I guess this is the English version- where I mention the English songs. They are really comments about the changes made. I think it’s a sense of you’ll get it if you do.

Three things I must point out.
1. I love the French version and really dislike the English version
2. I love Bruno Pelletier’s Gringoire and Bruno Pelletier himself
3. I really don’t like Tina Arena. Not her Esmeralda, not her as a person.

Therefore, this is how my views will be biased. I don’t speak French but I have read translations of the lyrics. I used http://ndparis.narod.ru/eng/translations/english.html#17 to see the English lyrics.

The Age of the Cathedrals: we decided that we want to surprise you so this whole thing is going to appear from nowhere and we’ll make our end of the world prediction more reliable by throwing a reference source (1)
The refugees: we decided to change a verse- never mind that it is the one verse with the really different words
Intervention of Frollo: he better still be the archdeacon…you won’t get away with doing what Disney did! (2)
Bohemienne: Esmeralda suddenly loves Andalusia so much that it is always her home even though she has never been there before (3)
Esmeralda you see: English-speaking audience will like the English-singing singer more instead of the French-singing singer, so let’s cut away his lines and give it to her (4)
So look no more for love: hold on a second…isn’t it a bit too early for the mature content stuff? Isn’t that only happening at the end of the act? (5)
The feast of fools: we’ll change the title from pope to king, more impressive that way
The king of fools: is it me or did this song suddenly got much shorter?
The sorceress: Best way of insulting someone- saying that their hair is like fur (6)
The founding: am I too paranoid by thinking that the song seems to emphasise the master-servant relationship more then the father-son aspect?
The doors of Paris: Let’s get this song cut too but we’ll disguise this by letting everyone think: Gringoire, didn’t know you have that kind of thoughts about the night (7)
Kidnap Attempt: Esmeralda now have a higher standard, instead of not going with a solider, she now does not go with any man (8)
The court of miracle: We’ll compromise cutting Gringoire’s previous song short by giving him a few extra lines here
The word Phoebus: a poet is using ‘don’t you know’? A poet?
Shining like the sun: tough as anyone? Can’t run away as he is too warm? Is there truly no other words that could be used as a substitute? (9)
Torn apart: Unlike the original Phoebus, this Phoebus seems to be genuinely struggling which might be why he knelt first (See note for to get back to you) (10)
Anarchy: English speaking audiences are too dumb to understand ‘Ananke’ so we will just use a word that has a totally different meaning and hope that no ones will look at the dictionary (11)
Water please: I wish that they will not use oh so often…
Belle: I am not surprise at Phoebus and Frollo thinking about Esmeralda in that way but Quasimodo? I am amazed. (12)
Home in the sky: the girl is more likely to agree to visit if it is a home in the sky instead of any normal house
Ave Maria: the French Esmeralda didn’t get her words hear as she was too soft spoken so we will do it louder
If you can see inside me: Eh…isn’t this Frollo’s song?
Your love will kill me: what love?
The shadow: Like the French one, I don’t get what Phoebus means at the end. Nice to see that something remains the same
At Val d’amour: there is no question of this Gringoire being a regular visitor here
The voluptuary: one can almost feel sorry for this Phoebus
Oh Destiny: we really want to use destiny but it has one less syllable then fatalite, so what do we do? Ah, add an Oh in front of it, never mind the fact that this makes the song sound really stupid.

Talk to me of Florence: the English speaker audience are clearly more into a duet of the special friendship between the two who does not have a special friendship instead of an intellectual conversation so let’s scrape this song off from the English concept albums. (13)
The bells: hmm…a song that actually did not get changed that much
Where is she: this is no one’s fault but swallow just sounds so much nicer in French
The birds they put in the cages: we decided, the priest will be the bad guy from here (14)
Cast away: we will lessen the name calling
The trial: why can’t pagan be used? Why do you have to switch it to pig? (15)
The torture: this basically stays the same but surely it is hard to screw this up?
I am a priest: really original title. Instead of being a struggle of one’s profession and feelings, it becomes a ‘this is what I do and by the way I happen to love a girl’.
Phoebus: what, you don’t want to go to Andalusia even though you decided that it is actually your home? (16)
To get back to you: we decided to make Phoebus nicer, so he will do the begging first
My heart if you will swear: Am I the only one who is a bit scared? Why is it that I can see her pulling out a knife? (17)
Frollo’s visit to Esmeralda: the return of can’t you see comes…
One morning you danced: is there any other way to nod other then to use your head? (18)
Free today: ladies and gentleman, Gringoire has become a participant instead of the narrator as we are just letting him sing the same as what every one else is singing (19)
Moon: eh, yes, the changes in the lyrics. Well, eh, I was perhaps a bit too distracted by how good the singer is
This small whistle I leave you: same logic with ‘Esmeralda you see’
God you made the world all wrong: seriously, there is no other word then an ‘ugly stain?’ (20)
Live for the one I love: the song that is so good that the English album has to include it twice (21)
Attack on notre dame: please see the notes for free today
By royal law: we are too lazy to write new lyrics so we will just throw in the old words
My master my saviour: the don’t you see returns again….
Give her to me: luckily this bit remains the same…
Dance my Esmeralda: hey maybe the English version can be good…what, this is the last song? (22)

(1) The original lyrics: ‘The time of cathedrals has arrive…the end of the world is predicted for the year 2000’. As opposed to ‘From nowhere came the age of the cathedrals…a wise man once said, in two thousand this world ends
(2) In the original version, Phoebus actually says ‘Monsieur the archdeacon’ but the English version has him saying monsieur Frollo. The reason that I am paranoid is because in the Disney version, Frollo wasn’t even the archdeacon.
(3) In the original version, Esmeralda does show a tendency of thinking about Andalusia but it is only an image ‘But when I imagine the sea it takes me far from here, towards the mountains of Andalusia’. But in the English version, the same line becomes: ‘I dream of oceans rolling on, they take my heart where I must come, Andalusia mountain home’. In the French musical she talks about continuing wandering: ‘I will follow to the end of the world’ and then talks about whether it is worth going back to Andalusia: ‘The skies of Andalusia, is it worth the trouble to return here?’ In the English version she talks about how she will go home and then immediate talk about Andalusia. Therefore, it seems that she regard Andalusia as the place of her home and unlike the French version, she is certain of her wanting to go there.
(4) In the French version, this whole song is Clopin’s but in the English version, the lines are divided up pretty evenly. However, in the Spanish and Italian version, while Esmeralda does get an extra verse and line, the song is still mainly Clopin’s. However, in the English version, the song is no longer Clopin’s song, but a duet between them.
(5) I am sure that I am not the only one who thinks that this is a bit rated: “And all the words you’ll say, will fill my heart with fire. As night turns into day, I’ll do all you desire”. But the Frnech version is perfectly innocent: “All the words of love, all the words of desire. Better then any torubadours, you will say them to me.”
(6) I just thought that this line is really weird: ‘She wanders obscene with a dark hair like fur’.
(7) The French version just have Gringoire talking about what the night have, but the English become: “The night takes off her clothes”
(8) In the French version, she says: “Esmeralda is not a soldier’s girl” but in the English version, she actually says: “Esmeralda does not just go with any men.”
(9) I just really dislike Fleur-de-lys’ line here. ‘He is shining like the sun, but he’s tough as anyone, when I’m in his soldier’s arms, I want to run, but he’s too warm.’
(10) I really feel that Steve Balsamo sounds so gentle that one almost feels a bit sorry for him, where as Patrick Fiori just looks so smug.
(11) Can someone explain how anarchy can be destiny?
(12) I really could not believe my ears when I heard this line: “She dances naked in my soul and sleep won’t come.” As I said, I won’t be surprised if Phoebus or Frollo said this, but Quasimodo, whose love for her is meant to be pure…
(13) Florence actually got cut off in the English concept album. In the English concept album, all the songs except ‘la cour des miracles’ and ‘Florence’ stayed and instead, we have ‘Cast away’ and ‘The birds they put in cages’. Since Cast away is still a Clopin’s song, I presume that Florence got replaced by the Birds they put in cages. And I am not surprised because all the English versions I have seen of the story, never include the part about ‘this will kill that’
(14) The English version have this line: “There’s a priest who counts your heartbeat, if he comes near you must run’. But the original version is just about how she is a pagan and would not wish to let a preiest be near her for the last rite.
(15) This is the French lyrics: ‘c’est une sorciere, c’est une etrangere, c’est une bohemienne, c’est une paienne’ which basically translate to ‘Sorceress, stranger/foreigner, gypsy, pagan’. And intialily, it seems the English version is using the same words but then: “She is a stranger, a sorceress; she is a pig, she is a bohemienne.’ So…what happened to pagan?
(16) As I previously mentioned, it seemed that Esmeralda in the English version really regard Andalusia as her home. Yet it is really ironic, because in the last line of the song in French, she actually asks Phoebus to take her away, to Andalusia. But the English version just have: “Please come and take me far from here’.
(17) When I heard the line: “Unloose my belt let down my hair, come take me if you still dare’ it really feel as if she is pulling out a knife…
(18) I am referring to this line: “If you nod yes with your head”
(19) In the English version this is all Gringoire says: “Hear our prayer asylum now” but in the French version, we can see him being a narrator by the reference of them. He is still the narrator. “They demand the right of asylum, give them the right of asylum.”
(20) In reference to this line: “I am just an ugly stain that the world just wants to hide”
(21) I am not sure why but there is the version sung by Tina Arena who played Esmeralda, and a version especially sung by Celine Dion.
(22) I was actually quite impressed by a lot of the lyrics in this song.

Eurovision will be starting in less then two weeks and unlike the previous years, I am super excited as I’ve already heard the songs and I can’t wait to see what they will be like live. I decided that this is the best method, listening to the songs first. No, not just listening, listen properly first. Look at the lyrics as well. And I realise…the countries that I’d end up supporting is kind of different from what I initially thought. Well, I still wish that Spain and Moldova will do well, but that is more due to a principal’s basis. Although I still want Iceland to win, as I made that decision after I finished listening to the song. The only drawback is that the song is in English, but then it is a duet and I love the idea of the story behind it. Something that suddenly occured to me…I know that some countries does have an English version, but I reckon that if they win, then they should sing the winning song in their own language.

Serbia’s video got updated. Please see this entry.

Anyway…this is the three songs that I am hoping to win (not really in any particular order. Well, no number 2 and number 3, since I do want Iceland to win). But I realise…the songs that I like all tend to be in the second semi-final, yet Iceland’s song is in the first semi-final.

Iceland- “Never forget”
Serbia- “Nije ljubav stvar”
Bulgaria: “Love unlimited”

In addition, these are the songs that I hope would make into the finals. There are ten songs that can be picked from each final. I won’t try to pick ten songs, because I actually don’t have ten songs that I like. But I admit some songs would be there due to a ‘since there is a gap then I feel that this song could be the final’.

Semi-final 1
1. Albania: Sous (Albanian)- Rona Nishliu
2. Finland: När jag blundar (Swedish)- Pernilla Karlsson
3. Iceland: Never forget (English version [original- Mundu eftir mér (Icelandic)]- Greta Salóme & Jónsi
4. Romania: Zaleilah (Spanish/English)-  Mandinga
5. Israel: Time (English/Hebrew)- Izabo
6. Moldova: Lăutar (English)- Pasha Parfeny
7. Russia: Party for everybody (Udmurt/English)- Buranovskiye Babushki
8. San Marino: The Social Network Song (English)- Valentina Monetta

Semi-finals
1. Belarus: We are the heroes (English)- Litesound
2. Bulgaria: Love unlimited (Bulgarian)- Sofi Marinova
3. FYR Macedonia: Crno i belo (Macedonian)- Kaliopi
4. Portugal: Vida minha (Portuguese)- Filipa Sousa
5. Serbia: Nije ljubav stvar (Serbian) - Željko Joksimović
6. Bosnia & Herzegovina: Korake ti znam (Bosnian)- MayaSar
7. Croatia: Nebo (Croatian)- Nina Badrić
8. Slovenia: Verjamem (Slovene)- Eva Boto
9. Turkey: Love me back (English)- Can Bonomo

The result seems fairly even but this is not so, there are actually more songs that has a ‘since there is a space’ position in the first semi-final.