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YUI’s new PV: Please Stay With Me has been showed  for first time in Fuji TV’s Mezamashi TV today, you can download the vid here!

GLORIA /YUI
Sound Produce & Directed by HISASHI KONDO

When I try to move forward without thinking,
some people advised me that
‘ balancing things in life is important’ 
and ‘there’s no point if you damage your body from doing what you want’
I’m sure you have had people say that to you before too.

Of course,

That is correct

We all know that,

but in life,
sometimes,
you just want to do things, 
knowing you’re just going to ruin yourself
trying to accomplish your dreams
 come before taking care of yourself
I’m sure you’ve experienced that.
if you’re studying to get into a good university 
right now 
might be this time for you.

Today, i opened this article 
saying 
‘Who said your whole life is affected by your teenage times?’
Of course you have to study, but friends, activities, the person you like, you want to challenge new things which might open new paths in life
and you hear yourself
 screaming to tell you to do these things
‘Even when you think you’re rushing 
doesn’t matter, just keep going
just take everything you have and go for it
 cause if you cant do that, then its all a lie.’

I think thats the message YUI wants to tell all of us
The sound of the last single, “It’s All Too Much” had the image of the movie mixed with guitar rock!!
This time, the acoustic guitar is strumming 16th notes throughout the song
and notice the electric guitar only appears in the main riff and the chorus.
As far as having a vocal melody in the intro, it has been missing since “Merry-Go-Round” had the working title “Harajuku Song”.
At any rate, I feel this new song was able to combine the image of the early days with the new one. (old YUI + new YUI)

And the great thing about YUI is, with the exception of the second half of the verse and the bridge, even though the basic chord progression stays the same, she has the ability to write melodies that don’t give you that feeling.
I really respect that!
The band members for this recording recording were the well-known Odakura Yuu!! The rhythm section of Backy and Imamura Mai graciously joined us.

1) YUI recording acoustic guitar

The recording was very enjoyable, and turned out great. Thank you very much!

The B-side recording, ‘Muffler’ is about a relationship from long ago, perhaps having fallen in love and the feeling of a time passing by this friend, who is wearing an unfamiliar muffler…
It’s winter, with New Year’s and so on, I feel is a season for remembering (reminiscing about) your hometown (friends, family, etc)
After working on the song for a bit, I asked the famous northa+, whom I have known for 20 years, to help me arrange the song.
staying in the studio for a long time, talking on the phone really late at night, its a weird relationship, but I can really rely on him.
After that, he dove into the song, layering the chorus, and YUI’s idea began to blossom…
also, working well with Yahagicchi, there was a wonderful atmosphere being created.

Finally, “It’s All Too Much ~Acoustic Version~”
I think it has a very different feel than the original song, and seems like you’re listening it from another angle. Even the opening electric guitar riff from the single was played by another acoustic guitar, with the help of Kuro-chan. We tried to make this using 100% acoustic guitar.
Please take a listen to this song, as well!

All three songs mixed by Tamanoi-kun!
We requested Director Kubo do the MV.

Pretty soon you should be hearing these songs starting to be broadcast, right?
Thank you very much.

Hisashi Kondo

oh and in Icchi☆-san’s “Ai-no-aru” (There is Love)project series,
This time, “Original Mug”
While drinking something warm…
Let’s get through this winter.

dewa
>>SOURCE
Translated by: kagesou & mrsean
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Post your discussion and comments here.

YUI

From herself to everyone in Budokan

(Translated by depyon)
YUI, one hand holding her guitar, and singing on the streets of Fukuoka. She used to sit in her room, cross-legged, and sing. And that was how it all began.
But now, she’s standing in the middle of the gigantic Budokan, surrounded by many people. 19 November 2007, YUI Budokan Live 2007 – this is a concert created by YUI, and the people around her.

2 years ago, YUI was on the stage in a small live house in Shibuya. Seated in the audience seats were judges, and under such tense atmosphere, YUI sang, while looking to the front. This scene created an impact. After the performance, the interviewers told her about it. And she replied lightheartedly, “It’s because I love singing live.” However, when we were preparing to go back, she came to me and whispered into my ears, “Actually I was terribly nervous!” YUI is really an innocent girl who hates losing (being looked down upon).

2 years later, YUI is standing on the stage of Budokan. The tickets were sold out on the day itself. On a cold winter night in Tokyo, the warmth and enthusiasm of the audience, who were eagerly awaiting YUI’s performance, rose the temperature in the concert hall. Hanging from the ceiling, the Japan National Flag (Rising Sun) looked tiny in the huge concert hall. 10 minutes have passed, and as the lighting flashed, thunderous waves of cheers echoed through the hall. As the cheers died down, sounds of cars and bikes driving past, sounds of people walking past, were heard. It was exactly an image of how a street live would have sounded like.

Then, the blasting background music overwhelmed all the sounds. The next moment, everything quietened down to a pin-drop silence. The spotlight shone from above, and a shadow appeared. YUI stood there, holding her guitar case. She then walked out, embracing the thunderous applause that engulfed her. From the centre of the stage, step by step, she walked on the middle path to the substage. She then sat down cross-legged on the floor, drew her guitar out of the case, and placed her water bottle by the side. She then lighted a matchstick and lit up an aroma candle. It failed the first time, so she did it again. She then started strumming her guitar.

She looked forward intently, as she started singing her first song “It’s happy line”.

“For whom, do you live for?” (From lyrics of it’s happy line)

The question, that YUI asked herself when she performed street live then, struck the chords of ten thousand hearts of the people seated in the hall.

She was extremely nervous. But just today, she did not attempt to hide her trembling voices. It’s not because it’s her first concert at Budokan; neither is it because she’s still 20 years old. It’s because she knows that she has to display the truest side of herself to others. And because she knows that she has to trust the audience, who are listening to her. Therefore, this time round, she introduced new faces to her concert- casual talks, mimicking, guitar accompanied with drumming etc. After the concert, we asked the audience for their comments. The most common reply was, “We felt really close to her today.” Her trick succeeded.

“Everyone, thanks for coming today. Next up will be the last song…. NOT!” The MC cracked a joke, as YUI stated her second song “Goodbye Days”. After the A melody part, she stopped and said, “Hmm, one more time”, as the hall broke into laughter. As she sang again, the voice was delicate, full of emotions, yet strong. It was truly beautiful.

Halfway through, the key changed, as she plunged into the next song “Merry Go Round”. As she returned to the main stage where the band was waiting, she grabbed her guitar, and spun around, as she shouted “Budokan!” That was a total contrast from the street live image before, and it showed her progress since the street live in the past. She met many important people who changed her in their own ways. And these bits of experience each played a part in turning on the switch, which created her live concert at Budokan.

As she sang “Life”, she admitted she was nervous too, but she was glad everyone was smiling as she sang. Her “CHE.R.RY” was welcomed by glaring smiles in the audience; “Happy Birthday to you you” was accompanied by special guest “Yu Yu-kun”‘s special dance. All these created a different impact, and all these made the live so real.

She wants to do many many more things. And amongst the songs in the never-ending list, she chose “Winter Hot Music”. It was the first time we saw YUI put down her guitar, and sang with the microphone in her hands. The song that describes the short, but happy, one hour in the morning, was sung with much emotions. Then she sang “Love & Truth”. From behind the stage came a strings band consisting 22 people. This intensity of this dramatic song was brought out by the intricacy of the strings. The simple sounds of the strings came together, creating an immensely complicated amalgan of emotions. And amongst these emotions, was YUI’s singing.

The accompanying scenes were then shown on the screen. Next up, was an acoustic version of “It’s all right”, which left a deep impression in the audience.

As YUI stepped down from the stage to change her clothes, the band began a string of rock performances. As YUI reappeared in her black leather overalls, she started strumming on her guitar, as she brought to the audience the exciting song “RUIDO”. As the song screeched to the end, fireworks were released from the stage. Then it was the punkish song “Jam”. And riding on the adrenaline of everyone, came “Rolling Star”. When it reached the climax, it wasn’t a single hit, but a song in her 2nd album “Highway Chance”. This song describes the current state of YUI perfectly. In fact, compared to the time when this song was released, it suits YUI more as she sang now. As the four people on stage rocked on the song, they upped the pace, and floored everyone in the hall.

The last official song was “My Generation”, which describes her dream when she was 16, and how she persevered and never gave up in the pursuit of her dream.

As a reply to the encore, YUI reappeared on the stage, in her Budokan Live T-shirt. And the relaxed expression on her face was most distinct. On the screen flashed pictures of her family, and YUI when she was a child.

“The long shadow in the dim dusk changed into the shape of happiness. I started walking. It’s all right.” (From lyrics of Understand)

As she sang “Understand”, it felt like one-to-one talk with her. Then came the introduction of the band members, as each of them presented a solo performance of their instruments. And standing at the sides looking, YUI seemed like she was beaming with happiness.

Even though it was her 21st song on that day, it didn’t seem like it, as she sang her debut single “Feel My Soul”- a true classic that hasn’t lost its attraction.

“I’m really glad to see all of you here today. Thank you very much.”
And that thought translated into her next song. She stood alone with her guitar, and sang “Thank you my teens”. And showing on the screen behind her was the video footages of the making of the Budokan concert. It showed all the staff, members, guests and even normal people who helped up in the concert. It’s due to every single person, that the concert was made a success. It’s not just being sentimental, it is the connection that brings us to the next step.

And as always, accompanied by the melody of “It’s happy line”, YUI bid farewell. And as she seemed to disappear from the stage, she suddenly appeared again! (lol)

“There’s this one last song I would like all of you to hear.” “It’s Tokyo.”
The main character of this song left her house, and at that moment, she was at a loss of words. And she is none other than YUI herself. As YUI fought with the overflowing emotions from within, she just carried on strumming the guitar. Looking at the YUI who was trying her best to calm herself down to start singing, the audience gave several words of encouragement. And as she gained strength from these words, she finally started singing.

“In the bus heading toward the station, I mailed my friend. At the platform in the station, I tried to call my friend. But it all did not seem right.” (From lyrics of Tokyo)

Even thought she has come to like Tokyo, meeting many people here, she knows that this is not the end destination. Therefore she cannot just stop here.

“I can’t always choose the right thing. I know just that.” (From lyrics of Tokyo)

YUI knows her own weaknesses, but she decides to walk on with it.

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T/N: Anyway, this article is really touching. I became teary as I was reading and translating it. LOL.
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FAN’S COMMENTS:

“This is my 2nd time. The previous one that I went was at a much smaller venue- Shibuya AX. But the size did not make a difference. If it had been other artistes, I might not have been able to see them. But I could really see her here, it was a typical YUI concert. Her cross-legged performance, acoustic guitar performances really made it feel like a truly live performance.
I could feel the essence of a live performance, I was truly touched. And her voice is good; and she’s cute! I think I’ve just liked her even more. I like the song “Winter Hot Music”, but she seldom sings it in concerts. That made it a really good and precious experience to hear her sing here today. I’m very happy and glad to have come today.”

- Shii-chan/ 17, Year 2 High School/ Female

“This is my 1st time to her concert. I think her last performance ‘Tokyo’ was the best. And I like her innocence and straightforwardness. Her mimicking were great too. And she has perfect skin! It seemed really smooth! Please continue to work hard!”

-Sacchan/ 17, Year 2 High School/ Female

“This is my 2nd time. And I came all the way from Akita! It was excellent. I’m glad I came. I personally like “Highway Chance”, and listening it live was really good, and touching. And of course, her reappearance to sing “Tokyo” was great. I’ll come again.”

-Akita-ken/ Superman Rega/ 24/ Female

“This is my first time. When everyone sang together, it was really good. I cried a lot. And the one that left the deepest impression was ‘Tokyo’. It’s excellent. Please continue to work hard!”

-15, Year 1 High School/ Female

“My first YUI concert was excellent. I love her singing while strumming the guitar. I enjoyed it thoroughly from the start to the end. I will continue to support her! Please tell her that!”

-16, Year 1 High School/ Female

“I saw her first at Summer Festival. But this is the first YUI concert. She’s really stylish, cute and beautiful; and her voice is great. She’s perfect. I didn’t expect her to sing her first song that way. She brought her guitar case along, and took the guitar out. The whole scene was very touching. I became her fan after ‘Life’, so I like her rock songs. I liked the way the rock songs started.”

-Chiba-ken/ Yuuka-san/ 20/ Female

“I happened to be invited, so I came. The last song ‘Tokyo’ was great. I imagined how YUI came all the way to Tokyo this way with a guitar. It’s wonderful. I didn’t expect her to sing this as the last song.”

-Chiba-ken/ Mikasa-san/ 20/ Female

“This is the first time to her concert. The previous event that I went to only had rock songs like “Rolling Star”. This time, I get to hear her acoustic songs. This was how she started, so I guess it’s great to hear her sing acoustic.”

-Chiba-ken/ 20/ Female

“The song that left the deepest impression was the last song. I almost cried out. I could feel her trying her best to contain her emotions. We could all feel it with her.”

-Chiba-ken/ Ai-san/ 20/ Female

“This is my first time. Her first song “Goodbye Days” and last song “Tokyo” were very touching. My hair stood up. At the part when YUI couldn’t carry on singing ‘Tokyo’, it was really impactful.”

-Kanagawa-ken/ Yuuji-san/ 17/ Male

“My first time. When everyone sang ‘Goodbye days’ together, it was great. And she sang as well as the recorded ones in the CD, I was pretty surprised.”

-Kanagawa-ken/ Toshiyuki-san/ 17/ Male

“My first time to YUI’s live. How should I describe… I was touched on my first time here… The first song where she sang while strumming the guitar, sank my heart. I thought to myself, ‘Wow, the first song is already so impactful!’”

-Saitama-ken/ Akari-san/ 18, Year 3 High School/ Female

“This is my 2nd time. Previously I went to the one at Shibuya. From then on I got addicted to her! (lol) When her concert at Budokan was confirmed, I was determined to get the tickets. I even signed up in her official fan club, and got the tickets. My seat was on the second floor, but it was totally professional. The beginning, where she brought her guitar case out, I was already touched and almost teared. And the last song ‘Tokyo’ made me cry. It was great! I felt that live performances are really important. I will continue to give her my support!”

-Kanagawa-ken/ Azusa-san/18, Year 3 High School/ Female

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P/S: Thanks to gotchi for the B-PASS scans. =)

Leave your thoughts and comments in the forum!

(Translator’s Note: Some may have not noticed this, but if you go into the Discography portion of YUI’s website and scroll down, you’ll find a link to a full-blown commentary on the Album. Each and every song is listed with credits. There’s a director’s commentary as well as a small paragraph for each song. There’s so much here I can’t translate it all at once, but I’ve managed to finish the director’s commentary. The link to the webpage is here.)

YUI's debut album 'From Me To You'

Director’s Comment

It’s impossible to measure the full extent of YUI’s talent with just her words and melodies. After hearing her sing, I don’t think anyone here doubts for a second that she was born to sing. However, she doesn’t think that you can make a song with just talent. Every musician puts a lot of hard work into their CD’s. The album’s title, “From Me To You”, comes from a 1963 Beatles work. She puts her own message into the title. I’ve participated in many works, but from when I met YUI at her audition until her debut, just her demonstrations have blown those away. Her music was inevitable. She weaves her worldview, “If there’s no music, one can’t live on” with her work everyday.

The Beatles' single From Me To You (1963)

Track Commentary:

1. Merry・Go・Round
Lyrics: YUI
Music: YUI
Arrangement: YUI and northa+

This memorable song is the Album’s first track. Up to the very last minute, the song had the temporary title ‘Harajuku Song’. Since YUI was working on the tune and the arrangements all at the same time, we recorded the song in a “pre-professional” room below-ground. In the song, the speed increases suddenly when transitioning from the first melody to the second.　By the 2nd beat you’ve been ensnared by the rythm, and the 4th beat connects with the climax of the song. In the song, there is this rotating feeling of love that’s very much like a merry go round. It invokes the image of a heroine, singing while crying. While concealing YUI’s “Image of Harajuku”, the this song raises the curtain on the album with 8 beats.

(T/N: The last 5 sentences or so are VERY hard to understand. Please excuse me for the awkward and shaky translations.)

2. feel my soul
Lyrics: YUI
Music: YUI
Arrangement: Hideyuki Daichi Suzuki

Feel My Soul was the theme song for Fuji Broadcasting Co.’s Fukigen na Gene drama that played back in 2005 for a few months. Some have described it as a bitter, yet touching song, and as we all know it was YUI’s major debut. Just after, and I mean just, we’d completed the song’s general framework, the drama’s producer demanded lyrics, a new D melody, and a new pattern to the song’s interlude. We had to work hard to meet these demands. Following after the title, “Feel My Soul,” they made an arrangement that allowed you to “feel” that rush in the song. We had to do the song three times over before we got it to adequately fit with the drama’s melancholy spirit. After that it became a memorable hit indeed. (Feel My Soul was YUI’s Major Debut song. It released on February 23, 2005, and ranked #95 on the Oricon yearly charts.)

3. Ready to love
Lyrics: YUI, yukamatsumoto （ゆか松本）
Arrangement: Cozzi

This song is actually the work of Cozzi. She lives in Australia. It picks up on Tokyo’s subject. While listening to the demo tape, YUI herself said “This song is really cool”. She picked it up and wanted to write the lyrics for it. But Matsumoto-san had already written lyrics, so YUI refined them and we recorded under the title “Ready to Love.”

4. Swing of Lie
Lyrics: YUI
Music: YUI
Arrangement: Northa+

Somehow I felt the full extent of this song. The range and extent of the key was so wide it was problematic, and the melody was so sad that YUI couldn’t fully complete it. But somehow she was drawn in by it anyway. I think it was the line: “He said ‘I stopped lying,’ but the person he’d wounded hated him more.” The title, “Swing of lie,” is the keyword for lovers that were “in swing”, so to speak. It fully and truly expresses the kind of heartache the couple in the song is going through just before they break up. It also closely resembles the passions and love that just pass each other by when they should sit next to each other and dance. The violin and the viola finish the song so very well.

5. LIFE
Lyrics: YUI
Music: YUI
Arrangement: Northa+

This is only to a certain extent, but you know how in sports or video games, if the opponent or player you’re fighting can’t get any stronger, the game gets really boring really fast. It’s the same with life, hence YUI’s line: “Life isn’t simple. That’s why I can live on.” The song keeps building on itself from one chord to the next. Just after the modulation in the first part, the guitar’s riff becomes a distinct characteristic of the song. LIFE became the fifth ending of TV Tokyo’s nationally broadcast anime “Bleach”, as well as YUI’s third single. Thanks to this song we expanded our fan base quite a bit.

6. Blue wind
Lyrics: YUI
Music and Arrangement: Cozzi

You feel a lot of deep emotion when you listen to this song. Once again, Cozzi composed the song and YUI wrote the lyrics. Around the time this song was being composed, YUI was having some doubts about whether or not she was really singing for other people. She likens this song’s two choruses to be two different songs: one made by her and one created by those other people. It really was a sad time for her, but she overcame it little by little, and this song was built out of that.

7. I can’t say
Lyrics: YUI
Music and Arrangement: Cozzi

This song is Cozzi’s fourth work. No doubt more people will get excited about her work because of this song. Also, YUI often says things like “I like what I like,” and “The good ones are good,” and she sticks to her guns no matter what other people say. You can feel that strong sense of individuality in this song. The initial lyrics were that of a love song. Although she uses simple words, the rhyme of the song is so amazing that you can easily sympathize with the singer’s feelings.

8. Simply white
Lyrics: YUI
Music: YUI
Arrangement: Northa+

We always have a thought of things that we start on, but don’t finish. They tend to pile up rather quickly, and that’s what YUI sings about in this song. YUI cleaned out her desk when she moved to Tokyo: there were a lot of old things from her past. She remembered herself during those times and smiled wryly. But she said: “You get tired of them because they don’t go anywhere.” This title, “Simply White”…I guess it’s about those times when you can’t think of anything and your mind is blank…but does that really fit? Well, “Simply Red” wouldn’t really fit, you know…

9. Just my way
Lyrics: YUI, yukamatsumoto
Music: YUI
Arrangement: Northa+

We had great success with this number at the summer festival. We had a little break while recording the song, so YUI strummed her guitar, made up some lyrics on the spot, and sang them. She loved that, I think. The initial lyrics for “Just my Way”, written by yukamatsumoto, talked about those times when you’re leaving your house, but you can’t find your keys, so you can’t leave the house! And you’re making a lot of people wait because of it! YUI added some lyrics relating that to love later on. You find the right people by chance, so to speak… This is the first time we’ve made a song this way. Maybe there’s a change in the wind for us. “Sound” becomes Rock”! I want a copy of those “Guitar Kids!” (T/N: NO idea what they’re talking about here…)

10. Tomorrow’s way
Lyrics: YUI
Music: YUI
Arrangement: hideyuki Daichi suzuki

Tomorrow’s way was written as the theme song for the Shochiku film “Hinokio.” We saw the movie and talked to the director about it, afterwhich YUI went and wrote down several different tunes. After seeing the movie YUI felt the message of the movie was: “Real life is hard, but we still try to overcome it.” The song’s cords are amazing. YUI’s compositions are very well thought-out.

11. I know
Lyrics: YUI
Music: YUI
Arrangement: hideyuki Daichi suzuki

YUI released “I know” in her Independent single “It’s Happy Line,” which went on sale in December 2004. Only 2000 CD copies were made, but YUI continued to hand-sell the song at her Tenjin Station street performance until her debut. It’s quite a nostalgic work. (laughs) Very precious, you know…

12. Tokyo
Lyrics: YUI
Music: Cozzi
Arrangement: YUI, Cozzi

Tokyo is about YUI’s trip from Tokyo to Fukuoka in September of 2004. YUI and Cozzi listened to the first draft of this song one holiday morning, and YUI pulled out a few melodies and tunes she liked. YUI also said that she linked the melody with the very feelings she was feeling on that day. Just after YUI finished the lyrics, we gathered the staff and they watched YUI as she performed for the recording. Yes, we recorded the song just like that. There was a lot nervousness on both sides, if I remember correctly. But we also felt a lot of resolve and determination. We only added the piano and the raw guitar for the final release. It was a bit of a painful time for YUI…

13. Spiral & Escape
Lyrics: YUI
Music: YUI
Arrangement: Ikoman

When I listened to this song, I think I tasted a strange, mysterious feeling, one of “sitting in a dark corner and musing about the past.” YUI got a request to write a song for the album release, “Just for fun,” so she took up the request. And this song marks the arrival of our arranger “Ikoman.” It was a while before he’d noticed YUI’s music when I offered him the job. He said there was “pressure,” but at the same time he loved the offer. He looked forward to the difficulty of the song, and he exceeded our expectations wonderfully.

Everybody who works here instantly gains confidence in what YUI writes and makes. “Kindness without sacrifice isn’t worth anything,” and with that we wrap up the album commentary.

Bonus commentary:

It seems another message about the Album has been posted on YUI’s website, right under the first one. The page is here.

Here’s the first paragraph:

To all the people chasing their dreams:

YUI’s first album has been completed!

Has there ever been a truly “perfect” album? Without relying on fancy decorations or ornaments, YUI has created this amazing album using only her guitar and her voice. She refuses to dress up or put on flashy clothes for the media, and, no matter what other people might think, she’ll shine on without losing her simplicity or herself. If you keep listening to these songs, you’ll understand her feelings, her nature. You’ll laugh, cry, and be encouraged by them. It’s like those feelings when you talk to your friends: you want to say things, and your friends kindly understand you and sympathize with you. You slap each other on the back to encourage one another. That’s the kind of album she’s created here.
(Note: This part of the translation is incomplete)

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After listening to the album and reading the great commentaries, what do you think?
Feel free to post your thoughts and comments in the forum! ^^