Since Acchan passed away in October last year, I have been in a very depressed mood, I don’t want to do anything, and I also have some problems with my eyes. I have been feeling better recently, so I would like to greet everyone and wish you a good start to the new week.
BUCK-TICK ヒズミ (Hizumi) - English translation & romaji
"Distortion"
What do I live for?
It won’t go well, this makeup
It’s a tough weekend, isn’t it
My mom’s dreams?
I violated them
I tear off my chest
Lullaby, the blood won’t sto…p
Lap at the mouth of the wound
We’re distorting, this town, me and you
The twilight swing sways
Everyone distorted
is living mysteriously
Look, a window light
My dad’s dreams?
I killed them too
Sunday, with a pattern of rain
Lullaby, goodbye, farewe…ll
Chop it all u…p
We’re distorting, this town, me and you
The traffic light changes to red
Grandpa, grandma
Let us join hands
Don’t bother!
Please leave us alone
Dad, Mom, don’t forget, okay?
I love you so so much
If it’s got to be this way...
I want to become gentle
The next train will go… mad*
*[T/N] the kanji Sakurai uses in the lyrics is 狂う、”go mad”, even though in the song it sounds like 来る, “to come”, which makes sense in the context of "the next train coming"
+ it has been confirmed by Sakurai that the lyrics depict experiences of a "man with a woman's soul" who wishes to live as feminine (whether it's an euphemism for a transgender woman or a gnc man isn't entirely clear to me, i think it could be both). either way, it seems to express frustration at being unable to get rid of your masculinity completely - x
Alright, let's talk about the meat of this trip, the reason why I traveled over 17.000 KM to the literal opposite end of the world.
I went to see one of my favorite bands play live: Buck-Tick 🥺
After three years falling in love with their catalog, I took the chance at going to see them (since they don't tour abroad). I went for two shows, at this same venue, and it was incredible 😍
Day 2 (already a day has passed in my area) of B-T appreciation. My fave album rn is prolly One Life, One Death🤩🤩🤩 the album came in the decade I was born into, a year before I was born. Love the techno and electronic beats in this album. Baby I Want You, Cyborg Dolly, Check Up and Megami have to be my faves😍😍😍 also the OLODCU tour is my absolute fave😍😍😍 definitely a very out-of-the-box and eclectic album
In 1995, Acchan wrote his own obituary.( I also wrote it but never finished.) This article probably said that he died in his apartment at the age of 51, and the cause of death was alcohol poisoning. Based on his personal wishes, he does not plan to hold a farewell ceremony, and his wife Kathleen will handle the posthumous affairs (who is Kathleen?? XD)
The band stopped touring in 2007, there were rumors that some members died and the band was about to disband… However, the studio and albums continued to be released, so there is such a theory-->Atsushi Sakurai's eldest son is his Kagemusha (Haruka Tono was only 4 years old in 1995. He probably did not expect that his child would later receive the Akutagawa Prize). Later, at the "We are Living" concert in Los Angeles, all members appeared, and it was confirmed that the magazine had falsely reported it. A few people know that Sakurai is also a potter, but all he makes are drinking vessels. It can be expected that he will die from drinking too much… something like this.
Acchan said that many family and relatives in his family passed away around the age of 50, so he also thought that he would die at that age. After death, there is no way to know how future generations will evaluate you, and nothing will matter.
P.S. I just can't stop crying.....my eyes still feel swollen and sore.
BUCK-TICK 名も無きわたし (Namonaki watashi) English translation & romaji
"Nameless me"
One drop of rain
Please, just one drop
One drop of love
Please, just one drop
Me, without a name*
Came across you
Even to me, without a name,
Butterflies… wind… and dreams..
Oh you flowers that bloom out of season
Now, bloom in profusion!
Oh living things who bloom out of season
Disarray disarray disarray*
Thank you for love
For days in sunlight
A single flower
A hair ornament for you
Me, without a name
Came to part with you
Even to me, without a name,
Red…and yellow…dreams…
Oh you flowers that bloom out of season
Now, bloom in profusion!
Oh living things who bloom out of season
Disarray disarray disarray
Oh you flowers that bloom out of season
Now, bloom in profusion!
Oh living things who bloom out of season
Disarray disarray disarray
[T/N] 乱れ (midare) means unrest, disorder, disturbance, but also disarray, for now i chose disarray because it sounds the closest to midare, but perhaps i’ll change it
i decided to translate "namonai" as "without a name" for the sake of phonetic continuity, but as an adjective, it also means "unknown", "insignificant", "obscure". literally "na mo nai" means "without even a name", and i feel like it conveys the meaning better, but maybe that's just me
This one is simple and elegant, I really enjoy black, red and white together. Also, I like Atsushi’s posture and outfit, the way the veil falls and covers part of his face makes him look androgynous. And with the “unicorn” in the background, feels like contemplating a dream.
Album: 十三階は月光
My favourite Album Art, the Gothic concept is mesmerizing. Many things going on there, the aesthetic, the postures, symbolism, faces, ornaments... I like how darkness is approached, considering that the lyrics involve vampirism, we have these other entities in the background experiencing their own world. There is a feeling of being enraptured by this photo session because I like to start thinking about the possible scenerios those characters could have, what’s going on, their stories.