____T.H.E. .P.A.S.S.

____X Japan's Art Of Life

When I had to leave Wilson's place early while the rest were probably spending a hell of a time watching football on Boxing Day night, I was feeling a tinge of regret. Something in me asked me "Where do your priorities lie?". I shrugged off the thought and cycled at top speed all the way home. The cool early morning air took over as I tried to enjoy the breeze as much as possible.

Lack of sleep that night, lack of water the next day during the hockey game, lack of sleep the night following that and I swiftly fell ill. The warning signs were there and on Thursday, I tried to drink as much as possible but to no avail. So here I am at home, having seen the doctor and listening to the best music in the world (or at least I've heard so far), still pondering about the outcome of the NPCC outing that I will be having later. I'm not really keen to meet up already - besides the fact that I'm not feeling well, how to have a good outing if you know that there wouldn't be a decent conversation?
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I had a short of conversation a week or so back when I was told Jay Chou's "Feng" is the best song ever written. Almost instantaneously, I thought sarcastically, "Yeah and when the next Jay Chou album comes out in the market, there's going to be a new best song ever written." If I were still living the time when I was just into my first year in the army, I would have said the best song in the world is "An Jing" also by Jay Chou. My stand now? The best song ever written would be "Art Of Life". The song is so good, it overcomes the test of time.

A couple of days ago,
Me: X Japan makes one of the best music in the world. Best band in the world.

Seehiong: Luna Sea fans would say Luna Sea makes the best music in the world, X Japan fans would say X Japan makes the best music in the world.

Lianshi: X Japan sucks.

Me (indignantly): X Japan incorporates the use of the piano in their rock tracks and that this is rarely seen in the music industry.

Seehiong: No, no. Luna Sea also uses the piano. In fact, X Japan copied Luna Sea in making the same type of music because Luna Sea came out first.

Me: .....

Disgusted, I went into iTunes yesterday to check out some Luna Sea tracks. I would say their songs are pretty unique which focused on Ryuichi's melo-dreamy vocals and some really good arrangement. But the music was nowhere near X Japan's and I don't think I remember hearing any piano. Then I went to search the internet for some information and I wouldn't deny that Luna Sea is quite a good band but.....

Luna Sea formed in 1986. X Japan formed in 1982.
Luna Sea completed in 1989. X Japan completed in 1987.
Luna Sea's first album in 1991. X Japan's first album in 1988.

The biggest irony of all is that Yoshiki (X Japan) founded his own record label "Extasy Records", while Luna Sea's first album was recorded by none other than.... Extasy Records.

HAHAHAHAHA!!!! SEEHIONG, YOU'RE A TRUCKLOAD OF RUBBISH!

In 1993, X Japan released the astonishing 29 minutes opus - "Art Of Life" (http://www.yoshikinet.com. Yoshiki hit his creative peak in that year as I have never heard a band writting a 29 minute piece. I listen to it everyday and when my time on Earth is up, I want it played during my funeral along with "The Last Song".

Art Of Life starts off with Yoshiki playing a melodious tune on the piano that is slowly rising in volume, giving the listener an expectant feeling such that it seems like a story is about to be told. Toshi's voice soon comes in singing a song with lyrics that basically doesn't make sense as with many other X Japan songs. However, there is this particular line that really seems to conclude everything I feel about living - if it's a dream, now wake me up. if it's all real, just kill me.

After a short span of peace and serenity, the song kicks off in a pulsating beat where the rest of the band gets into action and Yoshiki drumming his heart out. Into the tenth minute of the piece, the guitar solo-ing comes in, reflecting the rage and frustration of the song. The solo-ing slowly changes the mood into a new determination to "dry my tears, wipe my bloody face".

As I'm carried along with the song, the equivocation between the will to fight against fate and then surrendering in despair continues. Like every fight, exhaution sets in and the song turns seamlessly into a classical piece as Yoshiki plays a repetition of a distinct tune. In the live performance of the song, there is the trademark "hammering of the keys of the piano" by Yoshiki just like how he always manages to portray his feelings into the music he plays.

For around 10 minutes, the classical tune goes on and on before the song ends in an orgasmic high of more guitars, drums and Toshi vowing never to stop fighting - "never wanting to breathe his last".

Like how instinct drives wolves and dogs to howl in the night, like how I feel a sudden rush of panic and despair, like how everyone else yearns to find the purpose of their existence, to me, Art Of Life tells of a never-ending search for the truth - the relentless quest for the art of life.

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