KTBSPA

It’s been 26 years…

Not that I remember 26 years worth of it.

I was about 8 and a half years old 26 years go.

But on this day, 26 years ago, the Backstreet Boys was formed.

It didn’t change my world until about 4 years later, but since then, Backstreet Boys was a part of my life that I cannot imagine without.

I would put their first album on a loop, over and over again.

I have scratched at least 5 copies of that CD.

I can identify the song within the first 3 second of it playing.

Looking back, I didn’t actually like that many songs on the album.

When the second album came, I remember the total hype of “Everybody (Backtreet’s Back)”. 

The dance, the music video… everything.

It was the first song that I learnt an actual dance routine to.

I can still do it.

It’s embarrassing now, but I think after a few drinks I would do it in public.

I will do it in private anytime anywhere.

But I have been known (and there is some photo evidence somewhere) to dance with an inflatable triceratops with Curly whilst watching McFly 10th year anniversary at Royal Albert Hall on DVD. 

When the third album came, it has been about 2 years since the second album. It was a massive deal because it is the first album that went to number one worldwide, “I want it that way” was the song that went number one worldwide and it was the first song that was released on the same day worldwide. 

It was the song to be sung at every single possible occasion.

Little did we all know it is the perfect song to be sung whilst in the shower – because not only the acoustic is better, your voice box is relax, the pitch of the whole song also lies in the range that everybody can sing. 

The song doesn’t make sense with a melody that sticks to your head with lyrics that just falls out of your mouth.

All and all, a genius song (I think).

Also – Nick Carter was really fat at that point. Even he admitted to it.

We all later found out that was into his alcohol and 

The fourth album came, by then the Backstreet Boys has become one of the longest lasting boybands. It wasn’t a great album, the songs are mediocre but they were catchy – one of the main reason is probably that the Backstreet Boys finally have a more creative role, and it has become something that they have an input on and it wasn’t as commercial as the last few.

I still like it.

They have even more creative input on the fifth one, it took them five years to get this album out and then everything fell apart.

Kind of.

That album was the least marketable, but to me that was the best album out of all of them. I still only have a few songs that I really enjoy, but they were songs that means a lot to me.

But one of the member left. 

It didn’t stop the rest of them though.

They realised another album, just the four of them.

That was the album that took them back to the top again, and back to touring the world. 

I saw them in Hong Kong, whilst I took a year off in Hong Kong.

With my cousin.

(that was 12 years ago)

The seven album was very different from the last one.

It was still the four of them.

I supported them because they are the Backstreet Boys.

And then they were back as a five piece boyband.

And everything was back. 

The give of them.

I even celebrate the Backstreet Boys in Hyde Park, with the biggest UK Backstreet Boys’ fan – James Bourne.

From Busted.

At that point, he was in McBusted.

This year, they realised the newest album called DNA.

They are still going strong as ever.

And I am so proud to be a Backstreet Boys’ fan.

You can take the fan out Backstreet, but you can never take the Backstreet out of the fan.

Keep The Backstreet Pride Alive.

When you wish upon a star

I feel like I haven’t addressed this properly.

I have an unrealistic expectation when it comes to my future half because of books and boy bands.

I never wanted a Mr. Darcy. I like the idea of Mr. Darcy, because it’s someone that would challenge me, but I would have been even more verbally abusive than Elizabeth, and probably more like Elisabeth in Pride and Prejudice and Zombie than the original.

I never wanted an Edward Cullen. I like the idea of Edward Cullen, because of his vast knowledge of music, but I wouldn’t want to have someone that is constantly cold and hard as marble. And knowing me, I’d like to mix a drop of my blood in everything just to annoy him and see how long he would be able to hold on until he craves – because playing with fire is the best game, of course.

So many books have the set up where the main male lead is strong, powerful and very overprotective.
To certain extends, that is appealing.
Until the overprotective part.
I like it be able to be my own person, and own myself and whatever I do, it’s not being judge or dictated by anybody.

Fifty Shades would have been my worst nightmare.

Boyband members are the worst because they really are what give you the most unrealistic expectation when it comes to men.

Joey McIntyre, New Kids On the Block.
He was a lanky human and there wasn’t much to him, but now he is just a very hot human.
Nice Carter, Backstreet Boys.
I used to think of him as my world. He is still in my world, but my view of the world has expanded a lot since.

Sakarai Sho, Arashi.
He looked like a thug (a good looking Japanese one, no less) when he went to uni with piercing and punk hair, and graduated top of his class in political science and economic, and became a news anchor on top of everything.

Kato Shigeaki, NEWS.
I wanted to punch his face when I was in uni. He went to uni as an arrogant little shit, graduated top of his class in law, and became an author on top of everything else.

This season of Japanese tv on the other hand, has given you what reality is.

The super smart forensic pathologist was ditched by her fiancé because she works too long hours.
A twenty something year-old just want a simple relationship but can’t find one.
A beautiful and smart teenager thinks she is just a massive mistake that her parents made.
Good looking and top of the class inspector was being looked down by his own father because god older brother and sisters are even smarter.
Beautiful and rich girl with good manners were being bullied by her friends because of what she is.
Newly qualified barrister has no money.
Artistic thirty-something galaxy owner just want someone to spend time with.

The best one?

The top male escort of the Tokyo – not wanted by older woman.

I look at all that and think… I am quite happy living in my own world and in my little bubble.

 

Day 24 of Lent

Back in the 90s (when I was a teenager) there’s a massive thing about wearing WWJD wristbands, or bracelets or even lanyards (weren’t popular back in the days).
Everybody worn them, especially I was in a convent.
Admittedly it was more of a protestant and Christian thing rather than a catholic thing, but Justin Timberlake was wearing them and many people thought it was cool, if Justin Timberlake was wearing them.

I never had one.

Not because I don’t think “What Would Jesus Do?”, but I wasn’t a fan of Justin Timberlake.
It’s the whole Backstreet Boys vs. *NSYNC thing – they are great friends, but as a fan, it’s a difficult choice.
I know most of the *NSYNC songs too – my theory was ‘keep your friends close, your enemies even closer’.

Weird to use in this situation, I know.

At the end of the day though, I just love all boybands and I listen to boyband music because there is always a song to describe my feelings at the right moment, especially when I needed something to express myself and I can’t find the right words.

Anyways, that’s me going off on a tangent.

I supposed asking ‘What would Jesus Do’ is a way to make situation simpler, but on the other hand many people use that excuse as a way to not express themselves because they don’t really want to be responsible for their actions.
Jesus would have done it this way and therefore I am doing it the way Jesus would – if it doesn’t work that it isn’t my problem, this is what Jesus told me to do.
I always think you should ask ‘What Will You Do?’ rather than ‘What would Jesus do?’.
Because You THINK Jesus would have done it that way, but at the end of the day, it’s YOUR interpretation of what would Jesus do.
For all you know Jesus might have done things differently.

And you know What would Jesus do?

Jesus would have expected you to do it your way, not the way you think he wants you to.
Because you are an individual, and you are different from everybody.

Having recently been to Milan and saw The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci, where Jesus was telling everybody what is going to happen and how everybody’s reacting to
his words.
Jesus said Peter was going to deny him three times.
Peter didn’t believe it because he believed that JESUS WOULDN’T want him to do it.
Jesus said one of them was going to betray him.
Everybody denied it because they all believed that none of them would would do it to Jesus.

Well.
Judas did.

He never thought ‘What Would Jesus Do’, but ‘What will I do’.
He made his choice.

Admittedly he died for his betrayal further in the bible, but that’s another story.

What song is your biggest guilty pleasure?

Now.
I don’t think it’s a guilty thing.
Because there is no hiding it.
I love One Direction.
They are a boyband.
Of course I love them.

Like I said, it’s not a guilty pleasure, because I will never regret anything to do with music.
I love Best Song Ever.
I love it.
It’s one of those songs that you can scream at the top of the voice.
Not quite I want it that way, but it’s close.
The lyrics are cheeky, and god knows who is Georgia Rose, with a dad who is a denist, but who cares?
(Also, from the lyrics, you kinda learn a lot of Georgia Rose).

And the music video.
The music video.
There’s the bit where Liam did the shimmy, and there’s the bit where Harry wore the silly glasses, Louis in a fat suit and of course Zayn dressed up as Veronica (yes, ‘she’ has a name)
I cannot take it when I see cute little Niall doing the boyband thing, because One Direction was (is?) a never proper Boyband.
Even James Corden said so.
And Niall so always wants to be in a proper boyband.
He can dance, he can sing and he plays the guitar.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the rest of them too, but Niall is a true boyband member.
He is the only one that really knows the lyrics when One Direction sang the Backstreet boys.

So yes.
I love Best Song Ever.
It’s one of my favourites from that album.
The others being Don’t Forget Where You Belong which was written with one other than Tom and Danny and Dougie Mcfly and Through the Dark is the other one.
When Don’t Forget Where You Belong came on at Wembley, I was the only one that screamed when Niall said he wrote it with Tom and Danny.
I was THAT sad.
People thought I was weird.

But I just like to source of the song.
Seriously.

What songs define the 00s?

The noughties are a funny time.
I was in love with the idea of love, and I was full of love songs, soppy ballads as well as “My heart is completely broken” and full on “I am too good for you and you don’t deserve me” break up songs.

Avril Lavigne falls right into the latter category.
I used to blast Complicated, Skate Boi and Girlfriend at full volume through my headphones and into my ear drums.
Part of me wonders why I am not deaf sometimes.

I was still very much indulging myself in the likes of Boybands (they were everywhere – Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, 98 degrees, Take 5, O-Town, Boyzone, Caught in the Act, LFO, BBMak, No Authority, Westlife, A1…) and songs like Bye Bye Bye was massive.
I have a whole damn list of Boyband songs that define the noughties for me, but these were (and still are) my favourite:

This I promise you.
Shape of my heart.
Straight through my Heart.
All or Nothing.
Flying with out Wings.

It was also the start of the R’n’B era – not the BoyzIIMen stuff, but R’n’B like Nelly and Alicia Keys.
Fallin’ by Alicia Keys is a classic and I slaved myself in front of a piano trying to learn how to play it.

Savage Garden’s I knew I Love you.
Can’t Fight the Moonlight too, was one of my favourite.

Britney and Christina were still on the chart, even though both of them seemed to be going off the rail (just a bit).

And then Busted and McFly turned up.
They were (still are) fun and they sing about absolutely anything and everything.
Busted has Year 3000 – who doesn’t like Year 3000?
Not the Jonas Brothers version – the original.
Year 3000 is probably one of the songs that were covered a bit too early and a bit too quickly.
The original was released in 2002, Jonas Brothers covered in 2006.
(Okay I lied, because Mr. Brightside was released in 2004 and Mcfly covered it in 2005).
The song that was originally titiled as “Crush and Burn” and was re-named “You Said No”.
Busted also Crashed THE wedding (which one, I don’t know), wrote a love letter to an Air Hostess and sang about Thunderbirds, whilst Mcfly released Star Girl and sang about falling in love with Uranus (how juvenile but how funny), and Five Colours in her Hair.
They also gave the middle finger salute to a bunch of paparazzi and radio people with “One For The Radio”.
(I can go on about this for forever)

And hello Enrique Iglesias with Tired Of Being Sorry.
That song rocks.
And Taylor Swift also released “Love Story“, and that song was cute, adorable and just the perfect song to sing at Karaoke (for me).
I don’t want to to call Jason Mraz’ a one hit wanderer but I don’t think you can fault “I’m Yours“.

By mid-noughties, boybands and pop music were faded out by THINGS like Kanye West and things that are similar, so my music collection starts to feature even more heavily on Japanese Pop music, where boybands are still very much a thing.

Arashi debuted in 1999, and even though they were as popular back then as they are now, I still love Sunrise Nippon and Kansa Kangeki Ame Arashi (back then when Sakurai Sho resembled like a member of KAT-TUN than his newscaster-self now).
SMAP had Sekai ni hitotsu dake no hana which recently has been voted number one as the most influential song in Japan.
Tackey and Tsubasa debuted, and I was frantically for weeks learning the dance routine to Yume monogatari (and it has stuck in my head for forever).
KanJani8 released Osaka Rainy Blues, which is still very much one of the most beautiful song that I have ever heard and I love it.
With Nobuta wo. Produce (and the adorable Yuto) came Shuji to Akira, and of course Seishun Amigo that was so over played for many many years (and was still popular after all these years and sang at the countdown last year).

And of course – Real Face by KAT-TUN.

Tokio (Who has been announced as the ambassador as Tokyo 2020 Olympics) released a Sono Fune, which is the theme song for the drama My Boss My Hero.
News released Sayaendou as a six piece band, which is the theme song for One Piece.
Arashi becoming the group that they are right now with Love So Sweet and Happiness.

(I have linked the songs that I think defines the noughties for me)

What songs define the 90s

90s is when I grow up, and growing up in Hong Kong means that I get to listen to all sorts of weird stuff.
I wasn’t a fan of Chinese music except for what my cousin listen to, because she was my biggest influence until I grow up (out?).

The Chinese band I mentioned before, Beyond played a really big part of me growing up.
The lead singer died when I was eight – I kind of knew what ‘death’ meant at that point.
My mother’s oldest brother died of cancer when I was six. I remember sitting in church and swaying my feet on the benches and thinking I have pretty shoes on, and why did I get to stay up past my bedtime.

But that’s besides the point.
I found someone on YouTube who’s put a bunch of songs together into one video.
My favourite song is at 1:02:46.
The official record company has put a playlist up, but most of the songs are actually from after he passed away, so I am not going to bother putting it on here.

For English music, nothing can beats the Hammer.
MC Hammer and his “can’t touch this“.
Disney music started to pop out of nowhere, and they also started to enter the charts.
Songs like A Whole New World, Beauty and The Beast and Colour of the Wind.
And also Can You Feel The Love Tonight.
Prince of Egypt, which was not a Disney movie but a Dreamwork movie – won the best Original Song (written by Stephen Schwartz – who did Pocahontas and went on and did Wicked the musical) with “When You Believe” (sang by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston).

And whilst we are on Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston…
My All. I have always loved that song. I don’t know why. It’s a really whiny sounding song, but I love the song.

Whitney Houston’s “I’ll always Love You” is a classic.

Random fact: Lots of people in Japan knows this song, but they don’t speak much English. They thought the song was called “Anya” for years because of the Chorus: “ANNNYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, will always love you”.

Everybody knows the words to Fresh Prince of Bel Air too.
And watch it religiously on TV.
(RIP uncle Phil)

R’n’B vocal groups were also massive.
Groups like BoyzIIMen, All-4-One, who had hits likes “End Of The Road”, “I’ll Make Love To You” and “I Swear” are also a big hit.
I Swear was played so much during the 90s when I was growing up, you couldn’t possibly not know the song – it was EVERYWHERE.
And I mean EVERYWHERE.
All My Life by K-Ci and Jojo.
(I have a story behind this, and I will again, put it under “story for another time” when I have time).

And then, the boybands.
OH THE BOYBANDS.
I never liked any of the English Boybands, and my focus has always been somewhere else.
Step By Step by New Kids on the Block.
Quit Playing Games by the Backstreet Boys.
Everybody Backstreet’s Back by the Backstreet Boys.
I Want It That way by the Backstreet Boys.
98 Degrees and their smooth sound that sits between R’n’B vocal and boybands – I Do Cherish You, a song that back then, was my first choice of my first dance in my wedding (That obviously has changed).
(*NSYNC came later, but they were like the rival of the Backstreet Boys and even though they are really good friends, I still don’t like them as much as I do with the Backstreet Boys).
Another boyband (kind of) that was massive in Asia was Michael Learns To Rock (I think they are Danish? If not, they might be Swedish – somewhere from the Scandinavian countries), and That’s Why You Go Away is another song that was over played.

And who will forget Hanson and their “Mmmbop”?
Savage Garden’s “I want you”, contrasting with “Truly, Madly, Deeply”.

But nothing was over played (and overrated for that matter) as much as “My Heart Will Go On”.
English version, Mandarin Version, Cantonese Version, Japanese Version.
Before “My Heart Will Go On” though, there was “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now”.
Celine Dion was massive, but so was Shania Twain.
From this Moment.
Man I feel like a Woman.
And Gloria Estafani’s Music of my heart (sung with *NSYNC).
Toni Brixton, who once was sane, has an amazing song “How Could An Angel Break My Heart”.
The younger generation was popping up at the end of the 90s too, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson and Mandy Moore.
But Baby One More Time and Genie In A Bottle were the two songs that were everywhere.

And with movie soundtrack, there is also “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith. The movie was shit (so was Titanic, thinking about it), but the song was great (and I am still not a fan of Ben Affleck).
Another bad movie but good soundtrack, “I Believe I Can Fly” by R Kelly.
Another one: Kiss Me by Six Pence None Richer.

And don’t forget “Don’t Speak” by No Doubt.

Of course, there are songs that I heard cover versions of, and thought was from before the 90s.
Like More Than Words.

90s was the time where I fully engaged myself into Johnny’s Entertainment.
Kinki Kids debuted in 1997, with Garasu no Shounen, a song that I still listen to religiously, knows all the words to (obviously) and knows the dance routine for the chorus.
Two years later they released a song called Flower (and they recently sayid that it’s one the worst songs to sing live, because of the range the song covers… a bit like Dancing Queen by Abba).
Of course, I mentioned Kimi wo omou toki before, and that too, was from the nineties.

I can’t really post the original music videos when it comes to Johnny’s Music because of the very strict copyright law in Japan (I have been lucky with Weekender, Real Face and also Koi wo Shiranai Kimi e – but with Garasu no Shounen and Flower, not so much), but I have a copy of it if anybody wants it.
It’s from the 90s and the quality is bad, and the resolution isn’t that great either.

I also want to mention Ricky Martin “Living La Vida Loca” and Enrique Iglesias’ Bailamos.
Ricky Martin and his hypnotic hip (Hip-notic?) and Enrique Iglesias’ sultry voice.
Cannot get enough of the latter one. Who cares if I don’t understand Spanish?

Memories

I caught up with my Japanese TV and I watched this month’s episode of Shounen Club Premium.

I didn’t think it’d be anything that moves me, because I know they were going to make gyoza (dumplings).
However.

When they talked about News going from 6 people to 4 people, Shige’s little speech made me cry.
All over again.
He said it felt like he’s betrayed a lot of people, and he promised it would not happen again.
And even Massu tear’ed up.
And watching Massu and Shige watching the clip, that made me cry too.

The other thing I did not expect was the second part of the programme.
They did a review of the KAT-TUN 10K concert.
It is their first concert with just 3 of them.
And the last one.

I cried on and off for the 15 minutes that they talked about the concert.

Koyama mentioned that he can’t make to the show, but Massu went to see them in Osaka.
Massu mentioned that it brought back lots of memories, because they sang a lot of the old songs.
They started the show with ‘Gold’, and I knew that too, because Yuya wrote about it.

KAT-TUN has always based their shows round pirates and glamour.
Their third concert, is called Kaizokuban, which is Pirate ship in Japanese.
Their third album is called ‘Queens of Pirates’, their fans – Queens of Pirates.
There was a shot when Ueda said to the crowd ‘This is our last sail!’.
That brought me to tears straight away.
So much nostalgia.
They showed clips of other songs like Real Face, Birth, In Fact…

Nakamaru mentioned that they have been used to four people on stage, and it is really hard to fill in the gap.
They didn’t use any back dancer.
The stage was them, and the front of a pirate ship, with LED lights in the shape of a ship’s wheel.

Then they a clip of Harukana Yakusoku (a distance promise).
It weird to hear 3 people singing a song that I am so used to hear six voices.
I have to pause the programme to gather myself.
Even whilst I am writing this, it’s making me tear up.

They sang their first (and last – for now) song as a trio.
Boku no yume, kimi no yume (my dream, your dream).
It was the only new song in their 10th anniversary album, and even though that song doesn’t mean as much to me as it does to them, it still makes me cry.

From the moment this concert finishes, KAT-TUN will go into ‘charging’ time. During this time, we are going to grow as a person, and become better person individually, to make more people smile. We will be back.
– Ueda Tatsuya

When we are back together after we grow as individuals, I believe things are going to be even more interesting than ever. When the time comes, please come back and we can party together.
– Nakamaru Yuichi

KAT-TUN is made up of K: Kamenashi Kazuya. A: Akanishi Jin. T: Taguchi Junnosuke. T: Tanaka Koki. U: Ueda Tatsuya. N: Nakamaru Yuichi. We debuted as a group with six people. Many things has happened, including 3 people leaving, we are grateful for the journey and we have come so far.
– Kamenashi Kazuya

Nakamaru rushed to the other side of the stage to hug Ueda after Kamenashi made his speech and he joined in afterwards.
Nakamaru was in tears.
So were the two of them, but it wasn’t as obviously as Nakamaru.

They closed the show with Greatest Journey, and Peaceful Day.

They were meant to leave at separate gate at the end of the show, but they didn’t.
They left together.

“I love you all, and I love KAT-TUN”.

You promised to be back.
I’ll always wait.

I walk faster in flat shoes

I finally succumbed today and wore a pair of flats and used a backpack instead of my 300 pound 100% leather shoulder bag.

My back is getting quite sore and I think it’s also because the bed I am sleeping on is quite soft as well.
My body is probably also wondering why the hell am I Walking 10K step a day when I am not on holiday.

I shaved 10 minutes on my way to work today, just because I wore flat shoes.
I guess it’s flat shoes from now on, walking to and fro work. I am tempted to get a pair of Vibram Five fingers. There’s a pair that looks like ballet shoes, and they look really nice. I just have to find out where the hell I can get them.

Alternatively, next time when I go to Italy I’ll pick up a pair, and I’ll just wear my Vans for now (I need to break those shoes back from home first).

Also.
I haven’t had any coke for a third day in a row! I did have some chocolate yesterday and some M&M today though.
I feel quite unsociable sometimes, because so far I have been having lunch at my desk because of the sheer amount of operating procedure that I have to read and I Want to get most of them over and done with as soon as possible so I start getting work done.

I did do my first interesting work though – a guy in a different department asked me for my PROFESSIONAL OPINION. I am well shocked.
Me? A professional?
I mean, I joked about being one and I get very upset if people don’t think I am one when I work, but actually being considered as an adult and a professional, it feels VERY weird.
I think I like it though, so far.

On a different note, it is confirmed for a fact that SMAP is not breaking up, and my world has restored the equilibrium. They got me worried for a while. Life would have been so different if they are not a 5 piece boyband. It’s like now News is now 4 people, when it used to be 9 of them; KAT-TUN used to be 6 people and now there is 4 left, and it’d be 3 soon.

It’s so weird to say this but this week so far has been long and short all at the same time. Long when I am walking into work and walking home, short when I am actually at work and at home, and it feels like I am not sleep enough.
And whilst we are talking about sleeping, I woke up at about six this morning and for the next 40 minutes I’d fall asleep and woke myself up because I was breathing too hard or when I am snoring.

It’s Wednesday and so far I have survived my new role without too much problem.
Let’s keep it this way.

OTP

What really makes me angry is that I never understand why bromance (or even more) in a band has to be covered in the western world.

It’s like… from what I can see on the outside, Europe and USA support equality. The general public supports equality, but deep down they don’t.

Well.
It seems like deep down one country specifically doesn’t like it.
Many time they hide the sexuality of certain people in the public eyes (Lance Bass; Ellen Page), and even though they are out and proud, it apparently ‘ruin’ their status of celebrity.
I mean, look at Matt Bomer and Patrick Neil Harris.
No one seemed to complain about them.
No one seemed to complain about Ellen DeGeneres either.

I am seriously on a rant right now, having seen multiple concerts (live as well as broadcast as well as DVD) this year involving a lot of bromance and I realised how unfair it is, depending on your age and if people learn from their mistakes.

I can really comment on people and bands that I don’t know of, but I can see so many differences already between Japan and England.

Take McBusted.
They are totally up for the bromance game, the OTP.
They have always been a close knitted group.
When Izzy got pregnant, they called it Baby Pudd (Poynter and Judd) for a while, because people have always ‘shipped’ Harry and Dougie together. They are all close friends to the point where they are more like family. And it seemed like they are allowed to do this bromance things because they are married and/or with girlfriends.
It was very obvious that they are all straight.

Take The Vamps, or as I called them, little McFly.
The four of them are always on top of each other, they also have their own ‘ship’ names, Brad falls asleep on top of Tris was the latest photo that was posted on Instagram.
They don’t have a problem on showing affection towards each other and they are all boys.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
They are very close friends, and they are spending stupid amount of time together away from home and they are still young.
All they have is each other.

Take One Direction.
The moment they break America, Harry and Louis stop interacting with each other.
It’s like… they are trying to hide something.
It’s okay for Harry to hang out with Niall or Liam or Zayn.
It’s okay for Louis to hang out with Niall or Liam or Zayn.
But Harry and Louis aren’t allowed to interact with each other.
It’s like… they are too GAY to hang out.
Before they break America, they are best friends. They are close.
It was like, they can’t be hanging out because there are signs of homosexuality and more than friendship between them.
I am sorry. If they are in a relationship, it’s none of our business. We are in the 21st centuary. Most young people are comfortable with homosexuality, and most people are more understanding about equality and love than those who are ‘managing’ the boys.

I am heavily into the pop boyband scene of Japanese music and I am especially fond of a management company called Johnny’s and Associates.
If you look up the people that they manage (all the boybands), they are all pretty looking and cute and talented.
Long story short on how Johnny’s and Associate works… they sign up a bunch of kids (usually round about 10 years old), put them in what they called ‘Johnny’s Junior’. They have to go to school, as well as go to rehearsal and if you’re good enough, you’ll become back dancers to those who are already famous.
Once you get to certain age, you’ll be put into a group and you get to ‘debut’ – become a real (boy)band, with people you grow up with and people you’ve probably been to school with.

Take Kinki Kids.
They are two guys who are not well into their 30s.
They have been friends since they were in their teens.
The whole band was built upon friendship and the fact that they are like family.
And the fans loves how close they are.
Strong bromance game.
Neither of them are married; though there were rumors of some sort of a relationship with some celebrity, nothing was ever confirmed, and they are still as close as ever.

Take Tackey and Tsubasa.
They are just like Kinki Kids, the only different is that they have admitted the fact that at one point they hated each other and there were a few years where they only spent time at work together, and never really spent anymore time outside work.
They talked through that and mentioned it in an interview (in passing), and that they are now best friends again.
They also said that friends some times has arguments and sometimes they drift apart, but if they are real friends they’d drift back together again.
When Tsubasa got really ill last year (Ménière’s disease) during their tour, they never cancelled a show. Tackey stick with it, he did the shows on his own, wearing a t-shirt that has ‘Tsubasa’ on it. He also
Admittedly he had lots of support from the boys at Johnny’s, both the younger generation and the older generation.

Take Yamapi and Toma.
They grew up together.
Toma is a year older than Yamapi.
Many many times they have told the world they are best friends.
They were in a band together for god knows how many years and everybody really thought they’d ‘debut’ together.
Management broke them up because the fans ‘ship’ them since the beginning.
They were seperated and Yamapi became the leader of a new band, with a bunch of people that he didn’t know very well (except for 1).
The fandom broke.
Toma never got what he deserves.
For someone who can sing and dance and also act, he never got to do the singing and dancing. He was never offically ‘debut’ but he is now a master in TV and on stage.
The two of them are still best friends, they are often seen together going out and eating out.
Yamapi was interviewed as part of a TV show that Toma was guest on.
He said ‘I am Toma’s weakness. He has never said “no” to me’.
Toma nodded and said ‘He’s always my best friend. No matter what. He used to follow me like a small child looking up to a big brother; now he’s my equal. I just want to protect him’.
Yamapi became a solo artist after a few years.
His first solo concert (just one show), Toma was his special guest.
Yamapi said ‘because Toma is the best singer and dancer that I’ve ever known and he’s my best friend’.
The two of them sang the first duet that they ever sang with each other.
There dance move were in sync to perfection.
At the end when the song finished, they hugged, and Yamapi melted into Toma. Litrally.
He was in tears. Toma just stroke his head and the camera caught him saying ‘It’s okay’ to Yamapi.

Take KAT-TUN.
They were the first band that were ‘shipped’ from the beginning, before ‘debut’ and even after ‘debut’ people still ‘ship’ them.
Akanishi and Kame.
They are best friends, they are close and they were like the perfect couple when we were in their teens.
Kame was the ugly duckling when he was little, no one liked him much espeically he’s also a stubborn little shit.
Akanishi saw more than that and took Kame under his wings, and would tell the world how amazing Kame was.
Kame grew up and though still a stubborn little shit, he was also amazing at everything, because he was stubborn.
The management company tried to break them apart – rumours of them not getting on, rumours of one of them ditching the other one for another guy in the management company (Yamapi – who is really good friends with Akanishi, and Kame) and then making sure they wouldn’t team up to do anything (Kame and Nakamaru; Kame and Ueda; Akanishi with Ueda…) in shows.
The fandom broke again.
One of them actually got married and now have a daughter that is 3 years old.
She’s the most adorable thing ever.
And they are still friends. They are not a couple.
They just have a strong bromance game that fooled many people.

Take Hey Say Jump.
Management has obviously learnt their lessons (Toma and Yamapi, Akanishi and Kame), and when people start to ‘ship’ Yuto and Yamada, management left it.
In fact, management took an extra step and let them go to photo shoots where they looked more than ‘friends’, and the relationship between them are quite ‘ambiguous’.
Yamada stroke Yuto’s chin at one show.
Yuto kissed Yamada at a show.
The next one Yuto touched Yamada’s junk.
But the fans like that, and the two of them are so adorable together, people didn’t mind that.
And as if one OTP isn’t enough in one band, Chinen was nearly kissed by Yamada, and Dai-chan also nearly kissed Yamada.
Yabu and Hikaru, the two that grew up together since they were 9, are now 25; and best friends.

What I am trying to say is that sexuality shouldn’t be a problem as a celebrity.
What they do in their free time is none of your business.
Who they are into isn’t your business either.
They are still human at the end of the day and I am sorry, there aren’t many fairy tales around.
They aren’t going to fall in love with you and you become the princess.
They are there to be your friends though.

Just a little bit weird

Today everything feels weird.
This morning I was awake by about quarter to five, and I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I ended up reading in bed.
I had 2 cups of coffee when I got into work and everything feels normal.
Then for some very weird reason, two of my shellac fell off – I think it might be because they were chipped already from when I was doing the washing up last night. I was seriously scrubbing the pots and pans.

Anyways.

Everybody has been very complimentary on my new hair.
I have gotten from my adopted big bruv that I look like “a 12-year-old boy with boobs”.
And JB mentioned I now look like a member of “those Japanese boyband you like”.
It actually made me laugh because he once said that they are all really little and they are just a bunch of kids who dance well.
And yet he has sat through reruns of the countdown and concerts with me.
He obviously remembered them.

I can’t wait to see One Direction tomorrow night at the O2.
It’s going to be epic.
I am upset that there are only four of them, but having experience Apple Festival, I know the boys are going to be amazing.

I just wanted to rant a little about One Direction (again), though this shouldn’t be counted as a One Direction rant.
Zayn recently posted a black and white photo of himself and a female friend. The two of them looked rather cozy.
I am not saying she’s his girlfriend, because god knows I have gotten into the position with so many of my male friends before.
The resemblance between this girl and Perrie is uncanny though.
The big eyes, I am pretty sure she’s blond (It’s a black and white photo) and the lips.

Zayn Javaad Malik.
Maybe you have broken the engagement with Perrie, and that she’s possibly a management and PR thing, but you really don’t need to flunk it.
It just makes you look like a right asshole for ditching Perrie, who has not done anything wrong.
Not cool.