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Show Me Your Real Love

This album is dedicated to Kiyoharus' father who passed away from cancer a few months ago.

I would like to offer my condolences and sympathy to him and his family. I know it's very little to say and very late and probably not my place either, but I do speak as someone who has had exactly the same experience of losing a beloved parent to cancer when I was younger. In fact that is one reason this review has taken me so long to write. Listening to this album has been a little painful for me, even though I think it's brilliant, it is also heavy with grief and anguish. The feelings he is expressing in this album are so terribly familiar to me.

Grief should always be expressed and acknowledged, otherwise it can fester dangerously. His creativity is healing for him as it is for all true artists so I am not surprised to see this flurry of incredible songs, and an unexpected unplanned album, his little FOREVER LOVECHILD. As usual his vitality and resilience astonishes me. I also have to say that his music over the years has been a great solace to me, and an aid to my own healing. I am sure he has done the same for many thousands of people.

So Thank You to Kiyoharu
for the music and for sharing your shining spirit.


1. receive a revelation

Miyokens' disorto Intro. Ever descending spirals of sound. A timely reminder to flatten that Graphic Equalizer. I am a Miyoken fan. I think he's Kiyoharus' best collaborator and facilitator yet. He has taste discretion and ears too.


2. 予感
Yokan
Kanji, Romaji and English Translation

Sweet tension and release song, erupting with emotion. The words are quite heartbreaking especially when you consider his father was diagnosed with cancer in April and died at the end of September. Hardly time for the reality of it all to sink in.
You used to give me a choice.
And in doing so you gave me my freedom

In spite of it all this song very much alive! Writhing with something...pure energy I think is the best description. An abundance of life in the midst of death. Grief has highs as well as lows.


3. Confusion
Kanji, Romaji and English Translation


※this picture this picture
this picture this picture
confusion confusion
confusion confusion. You have...※


This picture? Confusion?
At least pictures do not corrode you, like words do. They just eat you alive instead.


4. 愛撫
AIBU

Subterranean and again totally alive. The music is like a dinosaur party. It's all very oceanic too, so maybe it's the dance of Giant Sea Scorpions. Very inner sea too with all that moody heartbeat stuff. I wonder what spell he is casting here. Must have taken him quite a few lifetimes to learn to sing like this.

5. Note

This song is a creeper. And when it gets its tendrils into you, it never lets go. Stuck firmly in my mental i-pod ever since I first heard it. It's gently sad but inspiring at the same time, like much of this album. He has the lovely paradox going on which makes it all so real.

6. 妖艶
Youen

Nice intro, distinctive bass, amazing singing and attention to drama and suspense. Very present in the moment at all times is the Kiyomon. This is the chief weapon of his fearsome charisma.
Having said that I think this song never really quite takes us where we are hoping to go. By 4.30 we are well overdue for some kind of shift, but it never arrives. The song just kind of ends. 

7. TATTOO-album version-

This is a nice light sexy interlude and I think a big improvement on the single version. It's much slinkier, and he's lost the brass, which is usually a good move. And I have to say the new Tattoo PV is much much sexier than the first version too. What's with all this military gear Kiyo? Planning to start your private Amazon army?   ;P
Suits you sir!...    ;)~~~
Captain Kiyoharu FTW!

 


 


 

 

 

 

 

8. allow

Sister, she can see playback, can't see answer.
Freak out, allow, allow
Sister, you can get payback. Sadist luster.
Freak out, Her rose, Her rose

allow, allow
Her rose, Her rose
allow, allow
Her rose, Her rose

This song is okay. Not bad but not great either. I dunno it just sounds a bit calculated and formulaic.A bit of a cookie cutter job. The words are most certainly interesting though and as usual all translations and interpretations are graciously and gratefully accepted.


9. 輪廻-album mix-
Rinne

This is my kind of Kiyoharu song, and possibly my all time favourite right now.
Already reviewed it here before I heard the news about his father.
I found it very poignant to hear that Kiyoharu played this song to his father on his death bed. The thought of that scene brings tears to my eyes.We will meet again under the waterfall. I now realise that this is what he might be saying. How strange it is that just after hearing Kiyoharus' song entitled Samsara, I came to read the masterwork of Yukio Mishima, The Sea of Fertility. Even stranger is the coincidence (?) that the main character of the first part, Spring Snow (Haru No Yuki) is named Kiyoaki. Put the two names together and what do you get? And then he goes and releases this album on the 14th of November, the fateful date when Kiyoaki and his lover Satoko part forever. A FOREVER LOVE if there ever was one.


10. 空白ノ世界
Kouhaki No Sekai

This song is incredible. There are other singers I love to listen to, but no-one has this kind of awe inspiring ability. He is defining brave new worlds vocally.

11. Ever

I love this song and its' heart of Africa bassline. It's like a hopeful dawn after a long dark night of the soul. I love it indomitable spirit.


12. MELODIES-album mix-

This is borderline. Sometimes I can find plenty to like about it, and sometimes it leaves me cold. Certainly my least favourite of his singles this year. It has its moments of course, especially towards the end, but it has that deadly "perfect for an anime theme" feel.


13. Lorelei

I called Lorelei, Lorelei
I called Lorelei, Lorelei
I called Lorelei, Lorelei
I called Lorelei, Lorelei

Lorelei is all massive and thumping. We needed a song like this to make the album complete. Lorelei is a siren, a singing mermaid whose sweet voice lures sailors to their death on sharp rocks. It's also the name of Marilyn Monroes character in Some Like It Hot.
So this is a femme fatale of a song, and rather dark and urgent. I like it a lot.


14. PHANTOM LOVER

This an acoustic reworking of the Kuroyume song Nakigara O. It's been changed quite a bit, including the lyrics. It is significant because apparently it was the song that turned Kiyoharus father into a fan. Hearing that song he was so impressed he decided at once to accept and support his sons career choice.
And of course you can hear why. It's a truly great song. And in my opinion this new version is light years better than the old one. He has come such a long way in that time in every respect. He never once stopped learning and progressing, which is the thing I admire the most. I hope I can be like that too.



blah©flyingfox2006

 

 

 

清春
Kiyoharu
FOREVER LOVE
14/11/07
LTCA-00027/28


LYRICS

Yokan

Romaji and English translation thanks to CARDY :)

予感 - 清春
作詩:清春 作曲:清春

さあ陽が堕ちてゆくよ
だけど消えたりしない
遠い空は今日も
鮮やかなコバルト

今夜はきっと夢、願いを叶える

選ばせてくれたね
自由にさせてくれたね

今夜は君の影、狙いを定める

ただ煌きの時間が来て
四月の香りがして
語りかけたロミオに
九月と終わりが来て stay around

さあ、陽が差しているよ
永遠にそう、コバルト

今日から開く夢、笑って眠れる

また煌きの時間が来て
四月の予感がして
歌いかけたロミオに
九月と終わりが来て stay around

ただ煌きの時間が来て
四月の香りがして
語りかけたロミオに
ある美学の答えを見て stay around

煌きの時間が来て
四月の香りがして
歌いかけたロミオに
そう九月は stay around

----------------------------------------
yokan - premonition

saa hi ga ochite yuku yo
dakedo kietarishinai
tooi sora wa kyou mo
azayakana kobaruto

konya wa kitto yume, negai wo kanaeru

erabasete kureta ne
jiyuu ni sasete kureta ne

konya wa kimi no kage, nerai wo sdameru

tada kirameki no jikan ga kite
shigatsu no kaori ga shite
katarikaketa romeo ni
kugatsu to owari ga kite stay around

saa, hi ga sashite iru yo
eien ni sou, kobaruto

kyou kara hiraku yume, waratte nemeru

mata kirameki no jikan ga kite
shigatsu no yokan ga shite
utaikaketa romeo ni
kugatsu to owarai ga kite stay around

tada kirameki no jikan ga kite
shigatsu no kaori ga shite
katarikaketa romeo ni
aru higaku no kotae wo mite stay around

kirameki no jikan ga kite
shigatsu no kaori ga shite
utaikaketa romeo ni
sou kugatsu wa stay around

----------------------------------------

So the sun's gone down!
That doesn't mean it's gone for good.
And today the distant sky is
shining a vivid cobalt blue.

Tonight I'll dream again, make that wish come true

You used to give me a choice.
And in doing so you gave me my freedom

Tonight I've set my sights on that image of you.

I only want those glowing times to come
in the midst of those April scents.
And Romeo had his words
when the end of September came - 'just stay around'

Well the sun's stretching out
And it seems forever is cobalt blue after all

From this day forth my dreams are wide open, smile myself to sleep

Again I just want those glowing times to come
in the midst of that April premonition.
And Romeo sang with all of his heart
when the end of September came - 'just stay around'

I only want those glowing times to come
in the midst of those April scents.
And Romeo had his words
where he faced the aesthetics of the response - 'just stay around' ?

I want those those glowing times to come
in the midst of those April scents.
And Romeo sang with all of his heart
'So September's here..., just stay around'
----------------------------------------

confusion

Romaji and English translation thanks to CARDY :)

confusion - 清春
作詩:清春 作曲:清春

明るい原色を配ってるよ背景
油絵の具で水彩画
「下界ではテレビを覗いたから
新しくて目を疑ったよ」

苦しいという感覚はなくて
会いたかった人もいる
白黒でシュールなドアがあって
トリップ出来るって慓してあって

ビロードを巻いてカーブした裸体
昨日泣いていた、今日は good-bye

※this picture this picture
this picture this picture
confusion confusion
confusion confusion. You have...※

願いは待ってなくて叶うから
一人で泣いた後は good-bye

(※くり返し×2)

confusion

akarui genshoku wo kubatteru yo haikei
aburaenogu de suisaiga
[gekai dewa terebi wo nozoita kara
atarashiku te me wo utagatta yo]

kurushii toiu kankoku wa nakute
aitakatta hito mo iru
kuroshiro de shuurre na doa ga atte
torippu dekirutte shirushi atte

biroddo wo makuite kabbu shita ratai
ashita naiteita, kyou wa good-bye

*this picture this picture
this picture this picture
confusion confusion
confusion confusion. You have...*

negai wa mattenakute kanau kata
hitori de naita ato wa good-bye
----------------------------------------

These cheery primary colors are painting a scenery
oil painting in watercolours ?
[Peering at the world through the television
has brought new reasons to distrust]

And I feel no sensation of any such pain
The person I wanted to meet is here right now
This surreal black and white door appears before me
I could take a trip, the message is right there ?

The velvet coils into a curve through my naked body ?
Yesterday I was crying and today I say goodbye

*this picture this picture
this picture this picture
confusion confusion
confusion confusion. You have...*

I won't wait for my prayers to be answered because
I know I'll be crying after I say goodbye

*Chorus Twice