Emo ahoy!

[geoviki]

I fall in love too easily.

Used to be I'd fall in love with guys and gals (before Mr. Geoviki, that is). Nowadays I fall in love with other things, but to me it feels the same - the excitement, enthusiasm, and joy that love brings is something I crave.

So this month I've fallen in love with X-Japan, a visual kei band that was hugehugeHUGE in Japan, and that started recording in 1987 and broke up in 1997. Yoshiki (the drummer and pianist in my icon) and Toshi (the vocalist) formed the band way back in high school. They're long-time friends.

Yoshiki, BTW, just friended me back on MySpace, so clearly we're gonna be BFFs. ;-)

Today I found this YouTube video of their last concert in 1997. I don't think I can remember seeing two men in such obvious and naked pain who carry on regardless. It begins with Yoshiki on the ground where he'd collapsed just after finishing an intense physical drum solo. In the middle, there's a long, poignant walk, and then watch how Toshi struggles to sing after that. It's the slashiest thing ever, beautifully edited. And it ends as Yoshiki sobs at the keyboard. Can any of you watch his face beginning at the 7:25 mark and not feel your own heart breaking with his? If I could ever capture such emotion in my writing, I'd consider myself a whopping success.

The good news is (as I mentioned before) X-Japan has reunited. They're slated to play Madison Square Garden in NYC Sept. 13, 2008. I think Paris is on the agenda in the summer. The sad news is that hide (the red-haired guitarist shown quietly weeping) died in 1998.

Enjoy...

ETA: OMFG, it's Saturday (almost) night, and I'm sitting here working on technical evaluations for airborne geophysical proposals. Just kill me now!!!

Comments

[alex-s9.livejournal.com]

Because of your earlier post I showed this video to my friend today an she cried as I did the first time I watched it.

[alex-s9.livejournal.com]

I thought I'd share. (http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=B62157976D05221A)

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Wow, thanks! I've been looking for this. See, that's why I MySpacefriended him - because he's so damned hot in that androgynously sexy way musically gifted.

*cough* http://community.livejournal.com/robot_rotation/31319.html *cough*

[alex-s9.livejournal.com]

He is, isn't he? I'm fascinated by his practiced sexual look. Have you seen his webpage?

I'm quite content with the CD of X-Japan I've got, the Fan Selection. It's not there, I noticed.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Oh, I cried too! You'd have to be dead not to - the emotional angst is so overpowering. And violins are playing in the background of the song, which is a sure-fire tear-starter for me.

[kagyakusha.livejournal.com]

I'm a long time X fan so welcome to the club.

I refuse to acknowledge them getting back together though, because
frankly, I worship hide-sama as a god, and there is no X without hide.
Yoshiki and Toshi may have formed the band, but hide was the soul.
I know my opinion is kind of radical, but...it just isn't X for me without
hide. They're playing the hide Memorial Summit at Ajinomoto Stadium on May 4th (2 days after the anniversary of hide's death) and that seems right to me, but otherwise going around and calling themselves X just seems...wrong.
Very Very Wrong.
Also, I know it's unfair, and it's irrational, but I blame Toshi for breaking the band up. I know he wasn't himself and that the cult did bad things to him...but...my heart is irrational.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Hey, don't say anything bad 'bout my new BFF!!! I must defend him now that we are together on My Space, don't you know?

I think your opinion about hide is fairly common, from what I've read. That's the nice thing about coming to the band so late, though - I don't have an opinion about it; I'm just glad they're making more music. (I did like I.V. very much.)

[djin7.livejournal.com]

So how is it that I can be a huge fan of Loudness, have all their albums, and yet, to have never really heard of this band? It rings a vague bell, but I was checking out their stuff on youtube, and this was right up my alley in the 80's. Hmm. Thanks for the point.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Check this: http://community.livejournal.com/robot_rotation/31319.html

Come fall in love with me!

[luci0logy.livejournal.com]

You use My Space? Somehow I'd thought it was the domain of the young. *is impressed* I do hope you're not going to desert us for all things Japanese like other H/D authors have.
At least not until you've posted that Daniel fic. *eyes you*

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

You do realize that my betas hated that Daniel fic, right? It's just way easier to sit here and cry over X-Japan's last concert.

*iz emo*

*needs cat macro for this*

[luci0logy.livejournal.com]

Well you could always send it to a most appreciative audience of one.

ps I've never heard of X-Japan, but I know who Gackt is, courtesy of Karadin.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Gackt is now in a group, S.K.I.N., with Yoshiki from X-Japan. so there!

[luci0logy.livejournal.com]

The only Japanese songs I can hum along to are from the Gravitation sountrack.

[parthenia14.livejournal.com]

No no no!! More Daniel is required! Also, may not be the most useful beta in town.

[karadin.livejournal.com]

Have you caught Yoshiki, Gackt, Miyavi and Sugizo on YouTube as S.K.I.N?

Hello again, by the way, our fandoms collide once more.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

I knew they were together, and I've poked around today. I found their photo shoot on YouTube, where Yoshiki's trying on a bunch of different black shirts. Cute.

[karadin.livejournal.com]

of course we know Yoshiki is best in nothing at all. ;D

[karen-jk.livejournal.com]

I also fall in love too easily. And I fall hard.

Glad we have this in common. :) Wish we lived closer and could have coffee and tell old, old stories.

Thanks for this vid...quite an experience. What beautiful boys, especially Yoshiki. hide was so beautiful, too.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

I used to think it was a weakness - and it was, when I was dealing with people. But falling in love with ideas and experiences is much less harmful to my brain. :-)

I'm all about Yoshiki now. It's fun!

[mayflo.livejournal.com]

I do not fall in love easily nowadays. So me falling in love with X-Japan is because it's really something... *GUH*

I feel so much for Yoshiki who couldn't overcome Hide's death for almost a decade. That's what got me. And the reunion is, to me, the way of Yoshiki to seek absolution. He feels so much guilt about Hide's death. Is kinda what I felt reading thru' his entries on MySpace, you know?? He's very sincere on his emotions, which is something rare for a man. It may seem vulnerable, but to me, admitting to such feelings is nothing more than courageous. *nods* Is why he's my hero, Yoshiki is someone I sincerely look up to. Because he has struggled but overcome it eventually and in such a graceful way.

Also, if you you knew what the lyric is about, it'll shatter your heart shards even more... *sobs*

[mayflo.livejournal.com]

Aaand, here's the Forever Love English translation:

http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=3530822107858481268

BTW, I haven't even had time to read your fic T_T Sowieee!! Don't think that I didn't leave a comment!! I need a little more time...

[mayflo.livejournal.com]

Umm, the translation isn't so good nor precise. There's this phrase that is particularly heart-wrenching:

"Thought I was used to getting hurt, but now...
Ah, hold my heart wet with tears
If there is unchanged love in this ever changing time...
Will you hold my heart?
Stop my flowing tears
It's about to break
All my heart

Forever love, forever dream
This overflowing emotion
fills up the time
uncontrollably and painfully
Oh, tell me why...
All I see is blue in my heart

Will you stay with me?
Until the wind passes by?
They flow yet again
all my tears"

Isn't it fitting for a closure??
This is the last song they sang before their official break-up in the End of Year gig in Dec. 31st, 1997.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

God, I cried again when I read this. So gorgeous.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Well, it should come as no surprise that I love men who show their emotions so plainly. Especially beautiful androgynous men like him.