Caravan, journey in the sky
As the sun comes out from the day
Caravan, we know who we are
We discover where we went
Oooh, caravan, there we find the love
Love shimmering and soon our love is gone
-- "Caravansary", vocal version by Kitaro ft. Pages
I love so-called "new age" music, though this name is a misnomer. One of the brilliant artists whose music is often included under this heading hails from Japan, the same place where Pokémon hails from. That artist is Kitaro, and he's got good music too that brings Pokémon to my mind. One of them is "Caravansary"; this piece is better known and more popular among fans as an instrumental piece, but a vocal version exists with lyrics that feature the artist Pages. The two versions bring to mind Pokémon in different ways.
Now, "caravansary" refers to a rest house that is located on the trade routes of central Asia (e.g. Silk Road) where traveling people can stop, take a break, and even communicate. Doesn't that sound familiar? Aren't Pokémon Centers in the anime frequently depicted in this way? The title of the piece alone already brings up Pokémon connections. The instrumental version of the piece is a little quiet, so it conjures up exact images of those, as Trainers come by to get their Pokémon healed and to peruse the facilities while they rest.
For the vocal version, the piece is a little more bouncy but still subdued. That one brings to mind not only Pokémon Centers, but also Ash and company using them and then continuing on their journey. There's a certain romanticism in the lyrics that make me think of them specifically, in particular the middle two lines of the chorus, which is the part that I quoted above. They really know who they are and discover places as they stop by.
This piece is wonderful in that it brings up different images of Pokémon for its different versions. Yet the core image is the same, that of Pokémon Centers, which could indeed be considered a modern yet fantasy version of the object for which this piece is titled. In that way it's not only pleasant, but also warming, and most importantly, elegantly appropriate.
Friday, April 7, 2017
Thursday, April 6, 2017
These Foolish Things Remind Me of Pokémon
A tinkling piano in the next apartment;
Those stumblin' words that told you what my heart meant;
A fairground's painted swings;
These foolish things remind me of you.
-- "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)"
Here's a song that has many cover versions yet still sounds nice; the original is by Billie Holiday, but I'm personally partial to the Rod Stewart cover. This one is even more abstract than Shania's minor hit, but it still manages to remind me of Pokémon. In general, this song is considered part of the Great American Songbook as it was a popular song in the mid-20th century, but in my book it might as well be part of the Great Pokémon Songbook.
Considering the lines exactly as above, I'm indeed reminded of a few things. The tinkling piano might not be in the next apartment, but it is part of a particular cover of "Smile", one of the ending themes of the anime. Stumbling words and expressions? There was much of the same when Ash and Misty met for the first time - and subsequent times too. And then the painted swings, they may not be a part of fairgrounds, but they may also be part of schools as in the Trubbish episode. These may be esoteric and a little odd, but they're also a part of Pokémon nonetheless.
I didn't include the very first part of the first verse in the quoted lyrics above for a good reason: I'm not friendly with one of the parts. But that is part of the beauty of the song; they can be revised as little as possible, as above, or even totally to suit a more Pokémon mood. So let's see if I can conjure up a slightly different verse:
Two guardians present, a town on the sea;
I have a blank look, but you can trust me;
Oh, how the ghost of you clings; (Sabrina vs. Haunter comes to mind!)
These foolish things remind me of you.
Hmmm. That works, I guess - with some apologies to Eric Maschwitz (the original songwriter). You and I might have our own foolish things, but they may just remind you of Pokémon. And as another part of the song says:
These things are dear to me; they seem to bring you so near to me.
Those stumblin' words that told you what my heart meant;
A fairground's painted swings;
These foolish things remind me of you.
-- "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)"
Here's a song that has many cover versions yet still sounds nice; the original is by Billie Holiday, but I'm personally partial to the Rod Stewart cover. This one is even more abstract than Shania's minor hit, but it still manages to remind me of Pokémon. In general, this song is considered part of the Great American Songbook as it was a popular song in the mid-20th century, but in my book it might as well be part of the Great Pokémon Songbook.
Considering the lines exactly as above, I'm indeed reminded of a few things. The tinkling piano might not be in the next apartment, but it is part of a particular cover of "Smile", one of the ending themes of the anime. Stumbling words and expressions? There was much of the same when Ash and Misty met for the first time - and subsequent times too. And then the painted swings, they may not be a part of fairgrounds, but they may also be part of schools as in the Trubbish episode. These may be esoteric and a little odd, but they're also a part of Pokémon nonetheless.
I didn't include the very first part of the first verse in the quoted lyrics above for a good reason: I'm not friendly with one of the parts. But that is part of the beauty of the song; they can be revised as little as possible, as above, or even totally to suit a more Pokémon mood. So let's see if I can conjure up a slightly different verse:
Two guardians present, a town on the sea;
I have a blank look, but you can trust me;
Oh, how the ghost of you clings; (Sabrina vs. Haunter comes to mind!)
These foolish things remind me of you.
Hmmm. That works, I guess - with some apologies to Eric Maschwitz (the original songwriter). You and I might have our own foolish things, but they may just remind you of Pokémon. And as another part of the song says:
These things are dear to me; they seem to bring you so near to me.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
That Way You've Got
You've got a way with me
Somehow you got me to believe
In everything that I could be
I've gotta say-you really got a way
You've got a way it seems
You gave me faith to find my dreams
You'll never know just what that means
Can't you see... you got a way with me
-- "You've Got a Way", Shania Twain
I've noticed that I began this week discussing about songs and music, even odd ones, that remind me of Pokémon. It so happens that I dipped into my music collection today and found a few more that do the same. Well, heck. I'll just continue this week doing the same thing - consider it a special week of good music and good stories to tell in relation to Pokémon. It'll be convenient for me as well, given my agenda for the rest of this week.
One of the songs I happened to dip into today was the minor hit for which I quoted the verses above, and the explanation for this one is simple. The verses are all about Ash - that's it. I'm plenty inspired by what Ash does, what Ash says, how Ash is, that everything I quoted above is true. It's why I now pursue writing up all things Pokémon and me in this blog, as part of the effort "to find my dreams", because I believe that I can be great with it.
There is one concession I do want to make regarding this song, and it's about the chorus (and a little of the second verse). It concerns the word "love". As the lyrics are written, they suggest physical love. I prefer to ignore this, or at the very least downplay this in relation to Ash, because it's really not that. It's really just an adoration, which is fortunately mentioned in the bridge, and I would rather have it interpreted as that. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
As Ash pursues his goals and travels on his journey, I do the exact same thing. They may not be quite in the same way, but the gist is the same, which is to do one's best. So to see someone as high-spirited as Ash in what he does is truly an inspiration, even when today Ash doesn't quite look the same as he did in the past. That much may change, but I wouldn't change anything else.
I love you just the way you are. ... It's just the way you are.
Somehow you got me to believe
In everything that I could be
I've gotta say-you really got a way
You've got a way it seems
You gave me faith to find my dreams
You'll never know just what that means
Can't you see... you got a way with me
-- "You've Got a Way", Shania Twain
I've noticed that I began this week discussing about songs and music, even odd ones, that remind me of Pokémon. It so happens that I dipped into my music collection today and found a few more that do the same. Well, heck. I'll just continue this week doing the same thing - consider it a special week of good music and good stories to tell in relation to Pokémon. It'll be convenient for me as well, given my agenda for the rest of this week.
One of the songs I happened to dip into today was the minor hit for which I quoted the verses above, and the explanation for this one is simple. The verses are all about Ash - that's it. I'm plenty inspired by what Ash does, what Ash says, how Ash is, that everything I quoted above is true. It's why I now pursue writing up all things Pokémon and me in this blog, as part of the effort "to find my dreams", because I believe that I can be great with it.
There is one concession I do want to make regarding this song, and it's about the chorus (and a little of the second verse). It concerns the word "love". As the lyrics are written, they suggest physical love. I prefer to ignore this, or at the very least downplay this in relation to Ash, because it's really not that. It's really just an adoration, which is fortunately mentioned in the bridge, and I would rather have it interpreted as that. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
As Ash pursues his goals and travels on his journey, I do the exact same thing. They may not be quite in the same way, but the gist is the same, which is to do one's best. So to see someone as high-spirited as Ash in what he does is truly an inspiration, even when today Ash doesn't quite look the same as he did in the past. That much may change, but I wouldn't change anything else.
I love you just the way you are. ... It's just the way you are.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
One Thing
So get out, get out, get out of my head
And fall into my arms instead
I don't, I don't, don't know what it is
But I need that one thing
And you've got that one thing
-- "One Thing", One Direction
If you've been reading the past two posts on this blog, then you've noticed how songs that are seemingly unrelated to Pokémon do in fact remind me of Pokémon. So here's another one, this time by a more globally known music group. This song is about the attribute that makes someone interested, the "one thing" mentioned in the song. In regard to me and Pokémon, the "one thing" is connected by something I've discussed previously: passion.
As told by One Direction in song, they don't know what the "one thing" is, but they need it from an attraction they found. A similar situation occurs with me and Pokémon. Sometimes I can tell what it is I like about something Pokémon, like the persistence displayed by Ash or the power demonstrated by Pikachu, but other times, I have a hard time describing or expressing what it is I like about something Pokémon, though obviously I have to try my darndest for this blog. I personally feel that it goes back to the other thing I mentioned above, passion. There are times when my passion makes it clear what I can say I like, as for the things above, but then there are also times when my passion clouds specific things, and at that point I am only able to just say I like things as a whole. Again, the challenge for this blog is to get past the latter so I can be in the former.
Can I say that I have a blinding passion? In some ways, but I can also say that I have a passion that guides my way. It's blinding in that it keeps me noticing only particular things at times, but it's guiding because it also leads me to new things to like. It is both at the same time. The trick is to balance the two aspects and know when to stay put and move away from a particular facet that I like, so as to equalize everything.
So what is the "one thing"? It seems to be many things, in regard to the many facets of Pokémon. But then again, in the Pokémon world, all the creatures are united in being called Pokémon. So just perhaps, that one thing is Pokémon itself, connected by the passion I have. It's a simple and elegant way to think about it, since it will remain something that I like. I need it, and you've got it - that one thing.
And fall into my arms instead
I don't, I don't, don't know what it is
But I need that one thing
And you've got that one thing
-- "One Thing", One Direction
If you've been reading the past two posts on this blog, then you've noticed how songs that are seemingly unrelated to Pokémon do in fact remind me of Pokémon. So here's another one, this time by a more globally known music group. This song is about the attribute that makes someone interested, the "one thing" mentioned in the song. In regard to me and Pokémon, the "one thing" is connected by something I've discussed previously: passion.
As told by One Direction in song, they don't know what the "one thing" is, but they need it from an attraction they found. A similar situation occurs with me and Pokémon. Sometimes I can tell what it is I like about something Pokémon, like the persistence displayed by Ash or the power demonstrated by Pikachu, but other times, I have a hard time describing or expressing what it is I like about something Pokémon, though obviously I have to try my darndest for this blog. I personally feel that it goes back to the other thing I mentioned above, passion. There are times when my passion makes it clear what I can say I like, as for the things above, but then there are also times when my passion clouds specific things, and at that point I am only able to just say I like things as a whole. Again, the challenge for this blog is to get past the latter so I can be in the former.
Can I say that I have a blinding passion? In some ways, but I can also say that I have a passion that guides my way. It's blinding in that it keeps me noticing only particular things at times, but it's guiding because it also leads me to new things to like. It is both at the same time. The trick is to balance the two aspects and know when to stay put and move away from a particular facet that I like, so as to equalize everything.
So what is the "one thing"? It seems to be many things, in regard to the many facets of Pokémon. But then again, in the Pokémon world, all the creatures are united in being called Pokémon. So just perhaps, that one thing is Pokémon itself, connected by the passion I have. It's a simple and elegant way to think about it, since it will remain something that I like. I need it, and you've got it - that one thing.
Monday, April 3, 2017
A Story of Love, A Story of Passion
Let love burn intensely in our hearts
Let love bring us together
This story of love that I feel for the first time
Never let it end, our story of love
-- "Cerita Cinta" ("Story of Love"), Kahitna (translated)
While still on the subject of the BW series of the Pokémon anime, there's another song that comes to my mind when listening to the music from this series. This time, it deals with the Japanese side, and specifically, it deals with the first opening theme, aptly titled "Best Wishes". I found that a sliver of the opening theme, the part before the final two lines of the full version of the song (the "Yea-he-he-hey" part), seems to also fit the chorus of "Cerita Cinta", a song by the hit Indonesian pop group Kahitna, of which I have provided the above translation. And now I find singing that chorus every time I hear that part.
So yes, I do get exposed to local content - other than the obvious exception of the Indonesian dub of the Pokémon anime - and like it every now and then. Actually, it is thanks to this coincidental association that I now like Kahitna. This music group has been around for about the same age as I am and I've never given the group much thought until this coincidental association came along. Most of the songs from the group talk about love, including this one, but there's no reason some of the other songs can't also apply to Pokémon in different ways.
Speaking of love, the above song that I quoted somewhat resonates for me and Pokémon. Pokémon is really the first thing I've felt very much attracted to, and has become quite a passion. Think about it - if I didn't have that, I wouldn't be writing this up as a post, a story if you will, on this blog right now, nor would I continue playing the games, watching the anime, or even cosplaying as Ash. Pokémon has affected many parts of my current life for the better, and to like it and to continue to do so is truly an intense feeling I have in my heart.
And I don't want it to end. Never let it end, our story of love.
Let love bring us together
This story of love that I feel for the first time
Never let it end, our story of love
-- "Cerita Cinta" ("Story of Love"), Kahitna (translated)
While still on the subject of the BW series of the Pokémon anime, there's another song that comes to my mind when listening to the music from this series. This time, it deals with the Japanese side, and specifically, it deals with the first opening theme, aptly titled "Best Wishes". I found that a sliver of the opening theme, the part before the final two lines of the full version of the song (the "Yea-he-he-hey" part), seems to also fit the chorus of "Cerita Cinta", a song by the hit Indonesian pop group Kahitna, of which I have provided the above translation. And now I find singing that chorus every time I hear that part.
So yes, I do get exposed to local content - other than the obvious exception of the Indonesian dub of the Pokémon anime - and like it every now and then. Actually, it is thanks to this coincidental association that I now like Kahitna. This music group has been around for about the same age as I am and I've never given the group much thought until this coincidental association came along. Most of the songs from the group talk about love, including this one, but there's no reason some of the other songs can't also apply to Pokémon in different ways.
Speaking of love, the above song that I quoted somewhat resonates for me and Pokémon. Pokémon is really the first thing I've felt very much attracted to, and has become quite a passion. Think about it - if I didn't have that, I wouldn't be writing this up as a post, a story if you will, on this blog right now, nor would I continue playing the games, watching the anime, or even cosplaying as Ash. Pokémon has affected many parts of my current life for the better, and to like it and to continue to do so is truly an intense feeling I have in my heart.
And I don't want it to end. Never let it end, our story of love.
Sunday, April 2, 2017
I Found You, Black and White
Through this window everything seems new
The worlds not changing it's just my view
Spent so much time looking for what I thought was right for me
But it's only when I gave up that I got what I really need...
...
Anticipation is something new
When you never had someone to look forward to
I thought I knew who I was and who I wanted to be
But my mind just kept wandering waiting to let me see...
-- "I Found You", Aaron and Andrew
As I had been (re-)watching the BW series of the Pokémon anime, in particular with the English dub, I noticed something. While this was going on, I had also been watching a program on local TV that used an instrumental version of the above song for its credits sequence; I grew interested in the song and ended up listening to the vocal version as well. So then I was watching a certain episode in the series - I forgot which, but it was one of the early ones - and thought the music of the credits sequence, which was simply just an instrumental version of the "Black and White" opening theme, fitted the verses of the above song. After that point I began to sing along the verses every time the credits appeared.
On the surface, this song doesn't have anything to do with Pokémon, let alone the anime. But with some fanciful interpretation, this song - or at least the verses above - could be construed to have some relation. For the first verse, it's about the relationship between Ash and Pikachu, for as much as Ash relies on his other Pokémon, time after time he also ends up relying on Pikachu, which is not a bad thing at all. For the second verse, the "anticipation" is of the discoveries, people and Pokémon alike, that Ash find along his journey, which help to shape him as a person. These interpretations are a bit of a stretch, but they make sense if you think about them deeply.
The link between this song and the Pokémon anime is purely coincidental, but it's an elegant and sentimental coincidence nonetheless, and I'm only happy that it worked out in this fashion. It allowed a fresh, new perspective on what goes on in the anime, which is good to keep in mind, no matter what happens with Ash and Pikachu on their journey.
The worlds not changing it's just my view
Spent so much time looking for what I thought was right for me
But it's only when I gave up that I got what I really need...
...
Anticipation is something new
When you never had someone to look forward to
I thought I knew who I was and who I wanted to be
But my mind just kept wandering waiting to let me see...
-- "I Found You", Aaron and Andrew
As I had been (re-)watching the BW series of the Pokémon anime, in particular with the English dub, I noticed something. While this was going on, I had also been watching a program on local TV that used an instrumental version of the above song for its credits sequence; I grew interested in the song and ended up listening to the vocal version as well. So then I was watching a certain episode in the series - I forgot which, but it was one of the early ones - and thought the music of the credits sequence, which was simply just an instrumental version of the "Black and White" opening theme, fitted the verses of the above song. After that point I began to sing along the verses every time the credits appeared.
On the surface, this song doesn't have anything to do with Pokémon, let alone the anime. But with some fanciful interpretation, this song - or at least the verses above - could be construed to have some relation. For the first verse, it's about the relationship between Ash and Pikachu, for as much as Ash relies on his other Pokémon, time after time he also ends up relying on Pikachu, which is not a bad thing at all. For the second verse, the "anticipation" is of the discoveries, people and Pokémon alike, that Ash find along his journey, which help to shape him as a person. These interpretations are a bit of a stretch, but they make sense if you think about them deeply.
The link between this song and the Pokémon anime is purely coincidental, but it's an elegant and sentimental coincidence nonetheless, and I'm only happy that it worked out in this fashion. It allowed a fresh, new perspective on what goes on in the anime, which is good to keep in mind, no matter what happens with Ash and Pikachu on their journey.
Saturday, April 1, 2017
It's April Fool's Day!
It's April 1st, so you know what that means - it's April Fool's Day! This is a day rife with all kinds of trickery, and in this cyber age, even Web sites are not immune to the phenomenon. I personally am not apt to create such trickery and won't try to implement one here, but I can implement other kinds of trickery, ones in ways that already appeal to what I can do.
One of those ways is through cosplay. Ever since I had wanted to have an Ash costume - and before I knew more about cosplay - I had thought of an additional use for it, and that was to go out on April Fool's Day wearing it and to act as if I was Ash while doing other things. I suppose in a way this would be an indirect cosplay. Three years ago, I had the chance to pull off this trick, cosplaying as Ash while I played DanceDanceRevolution, something I was able to do better back then. The result is encapsulated in this photo:
Sadly, the DDR machine in that photo is now gone, so now I would have a hard time pulling off the same exact trick. However, now that maimai is available and I can play it well, I can pull off a variant of the trick with the machine. Today, however, I lucked out because it so happened that my mahjong friends decided to hold a play date, and it was in a café that also often supports cosplay events. And so I cosplayed, played mahjong, and had a great time.
Of course, I'm always looking for new tricks that I can do to stir up the tomfoolery on this day. To participate in it is an opportunity that is not to be missed, in any reasonably possible way or form. And...
Hold on, I think I have someone to show you.
[AshKetchumMode]
Hi! I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. This is a nice blog you've got here. Anyway, I'm honored that you've supported me all this time. I may not quite be the best there is right now, but I'm still trying to get there. I didn't know I was such a good dancer with my feet, haha; I should try it sometime. Thanks so much for letting me have a part in your blog!
[/AshKetchumMode]
You're welcome, Ash. There you go - that's something I can do with writing for this April Fool's Day. And this is not just for April Fool's Day; I have a feeling I can get him to come back for other occasions on this blog.
Have a great April Fool's Day! 😁
One of those ways is through cosplay. Ever since I had wanted to have an Ash costume - and before I knew more about cosplay - I had thought of an additional use for it, and that was to go out on April Fool's Day wearing it and to act as if I was Ash while doing other things. I suppose in a way this would be an indirect cosplay. Three years ago, I had the chance to pull off this trick, cosplaying as Ash while I played DanceDanceRevolution, something I was able to do better back then. The result is encapsulated in this photo:
Sadly, the DDR machine in that photo is now gone, so now I would have a hard time pulling off the same exact trick. However, now that maimai is available and I can play it well, I can pull off a variant of the trick with the machine. Today, however, I lucked out because it so happened that my mahjong friends decided to hold a play date, and it was in a café that also often supports cosplay events. And so I cosplayed, played mahjong, and had a great time.
Of course, I'm always looking for new tricks that I can do to stir up the tomfoolery on this day. To participate in it is an opportunity that is not to be missed, in any reasonably possible way or form. And...
Hold on, I think I have someone to show you.
[AshKetchumMode]
Hi! I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. This is a nice blog you've got here. Anyway, I'm honored that you've supported me all this time. I may not quite be the best there is right now, but I'm still trying to get there. I didn't know I was such a good dancer with my feet, haha; I should try it sometime. Thanks so much for letting me have a part in your blog!
[/AshKetchumMode]
You're welcome, Ash. There you go - that's something I can do with writing for this April Fool's Day. And this is not just for April Fool's Day; I have a feeling I can get him to come back for other occasions on this blog.
Have a great April Fool's Day! 😁
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