Vox is shutting down. It feels like....being forced to evacuate from your house due to an en-boc sale of the block of flats.

I've shifted all my posts to typepad, the only option available if I want to keep them. But the service sucks and it's like a 10 years downgrade from vox's functions. Something like an expanded twitter? Not neighbourhood friendly at all. In any case, I doubt I will continue posting on typepad. The only option available would be lj. Or wordpess.

Anyway, what I'm most concerned about now is keeping in touch with the very nice neighbours I've made there. Somehow, I feel that because vox was less prominent as a download avenue than lj, the people there.....are friendlier. It feels like home. So, I want to keep in touch with my ex vox neighbours.

If you came from my vox and was a neighbour of mine there, please add me here and comment with your vox account name. I'll add you to a special friend filter. If I can't ascertain you as a vox neighbour, I won't add you so please please leave your vox userid!

I'm watching tonight's Arashi ni Shiyagare, though just Jun's part with Angelina Jolie...when I got super excited.

The last time I got so excited was during the Mannequin 5 SP on HnA #88, where Arashi visited Gotemba Outlet Mall, a place where I had visited just a few months before...

And now, this.
 

( This entrance... )

I was rewatching AnShi #8 because I remembered pettomomo's blog post about Arashi's facial expressions when Jun did the banana slip. I wanted to see them myself...and indeed, they looked so worried. In fact, before Arashi's turn, when Jun commented that it seemed really painful when the guest did a demo, Nino gave an odd laugh. I don't know if it's just me being affected by Arashi's facial expressions after that, but I felt that he wasn't really laughing from inside. More of like...pretending to laugh to ease the tension around/within.

And then, before Jun's turn, while he was saying his 'last words', neither Aiba nor Sho was smiling. After the slip, only Aiba smiled a bit, and it's the kind of...worried/cynical half-smile/smirk. No one else had facial expressions that reflect the laughter in the audience. In fact, I thought that Ohmiya looked pretty worried. It was only when Jun started laughing himself that I saw Ohno and Aiba laugh a bit.

In fact, the next scene showed Nino at the other side of where he was initially standing, together with Jun. Maybe he was trying to check that he fellow young-one is alright?



I digress, because my purpose of posting is actually the below. The one small moment of Juntoshi. XP

 

( Yes, I love juntoshi )

I was confused when I received a comment on my Arashi ranking derby photo (credit to anj) saying "front page of vox".

So I ignored the comment and went about posting my very long post on the new album. I checked my lj page after the task and found this post, which clarified the confusion.

Apparently, that photo got featured on vox's sign in page. @.@ How it caught the attention of those in-charge I don't know. And I had intended to n-lock the photo, as I did for most scan cut-outs. But somehow I forgot to for that batch. hmmm happy coincidence? More publicity to Arashi. And....the selling point is....them wearing ridiculous costumes. lol.
 

Work has started, and now I can finally empathise with how my fanfriends who had embarked on their career earlier felt regarding catching up with Arashi. It was something like a few years back (2008 period) where Arashi was moving too fast for me to catch up. Anyhow, I'm going out to get some work shoes that will not kill my feet and some work clothes that don't need dry cleaning. A quick post here.

I downloaded the new album....and had put it on random play mode. The first song (and the song that prompted this post, even without having listened to every song) that played was Jun's solo, Come Back to Me. The song itself is catchy, and a very different style from previous songs/solos. Jun sang pretty well there too. But one thing was out of place.

Within 10 secs of the song, something hit me.

The melody, the beats, the tempo....

Reminded me of a kpop dance track. You know, the kind that has been taking over the cd charts in Korea in recent years? Yes, a dance track. Something not frequently seen in Jpop. Especially in a JE group (or rather, those JE groups I listen to).

Before I put a final verdict on the album, I'll proceed with the other songs first....

And for now, shopping first. =X MP3!

Main points of Sho's interview in MISS, as translated by Jen.

1) We are always in quest for the meaning of "Arashi" rather than the definition of an "idol".
    自分たちは、『アイドル』の定義というより、　『嵐』の定義を追い求めている。
    Is that why Arashi is so unique, so un-idol-like? The meaning of Arashi...is the 5 of them.

2) We do feel scared stepping out onto the 11th year.
    １１年目に踏み出すにあたっての怖さを感じている。
    Raised expectations, past results, the push for change...those are sources of immense pressure.

3) Its impatience and uneasiness that push us to move. And, its because the 4 guys are with me that I can continue so far.
    自分を突き動かすのは、焦りと不安。　そして、この４人がいてくれたから続けてこれた。
    But with the support of each other, surely they will find the courage to move, to try, and to fail.

4) Everyone always talk about sales figure and number of variety programs that we have but for us, we have always enjoy ourselves at those times.
    売上数とか番組数とかいいろ言われるけど、ぼくらは、その時その時が楽しかった。
    Stay that way! The memories you make are more important than chasing after figures.

5) I want to carry those loads with me, however heavy, but in reality we have to leave some things behind in order to move forward. I want to make sure that those loads left behind are not shameful.
    どんな大きな荷物でも持って歩きたいけど、実際は何かを置いていかないとならない。だから、置いてきたものに恥じないように
    Put them down if it makes it easier for you to take flight. A new chapter is drawing open.

6) I feel even stronger the importance of us not changing when our surrounding is. We still have to move forward. Please watch over us when we do this.
    周りが変わっていく中で、僕らは変わらないことの大事さを、さらに強く感じる。それでも前へ進まないといけない。そんな僕等を見守ってほしい。
    Yes, everything has been changing a lot since 2007. But I'm glad you guys are still the same dorks from 2002.

7) I want to fall in love but I think I cannot. Its all about this principle I have.
    恋愛はしたいけど、できないと思っている。その価値観しかないから。
    Principle...? Regarding work? Regarding being an idol?

8) We have always been described as a pentagon (5 corners) but we are more the potter's wheel turning on top. Depends on the moment you hold it the shape changes.
    僕らは五角形みたいに言われるけど、「ろくろ」の上で回ってるイメージ。そのときに応じて、形も配分も変わる。
    That's a great comparison. External forces (the media, fans, critics, opportunities) may come hitting, but you'll change shape to turn them into forces that make you all progress and mould you all into an even better group.

9) We are just the image of 5 guys goofing around beside the blackboard after school.
    放課後、黒板の横でバカやってる５人というイメージ。
    And that ends it all well. May you guys stay like that!

Yasashii Jikan.

How should I put it?

It's...very Nino-ppoi.

 

( Meaning it's very deep, and you get to discover new things with each layer peeled off... )