MARIAH'S THOUGHTS on Your Lie In April

Genre:

Music, School, Shounen,

Drama, Romance, Anime

Series:

TV series

Rating:

PG-13

Episodes:

22

Run Time:

22 min per episode

Release Date:

September 1, 2014

(Japan)

October 10, 2014

(US)

Directed by:

Kyohei Ishiguro

Producers:

Aniplex, Dentsu, A-1 Pictures, Kodansha, Fuji TV, Aniplex of America

Plot Summary:

Piano prodigy Arima Kosei dominated the competition and all child musicians knew his name. But after his mother, who was also his instructor, passed away, he had a mental breakdown while performing at a recital that resulted in him no longer being able to hear the sound of his piano even though his hearing was perfectly fine. Even two years later, Kosei hasn't touched the piano and views the world in monotone, and without any flair or color. He was content at living out his life with his good friends Tsubaki and Watari until, one day, a girl changed everything. Miyazono Kaori is a pretty, free spirited violinist whose playing style reflects her personality. Kaori helps Kosei return to the music world and show that it should be free and mold breaking unlike the structured and rigid style Kosei was used to.

Cast:

Natsuki Hanae, Ayane Sakura, Risa Taneda, Ryôta Ôsaka

*My Thoughts*

Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso in English known as Your Lie in April is a recently completed anime series with a manga of the same name but the anime is much more than a school show. The anime required only 22 episodes of vibrant colors and well placed music, classical and OST, to bring the story to life. While an avid fan of Your Lie in April would crave more out of the anime, the 22 episodes was all that was necessary tell the story of 4 junior high kids. Kousei Arima, the main protagonist, is a quiet and shy boy that needs to learn how to move on. His friends, Ryota Watari and Tsubaki Sawabe, help Kousei learn to leave the past behind especially from the crash entrance of Kaori Miyazono. I wouldn’t consider this anime to have any antagonistic characters but simply rivals and competitors in competition with each other. There’s no sabotage involved or damaging of another character during the present story that’ll leave scars or painful memories. While the elements in Your Lie in April are typical to the School Life anime genre, uniforms, club activities, and school crushes, it makes full emotional impact.

Although bit and pieces were cliché and the ending is predictable, I wanted to watch ‘til the very end. At first I really disliked Kaori because she represented a personality I wasn’t comfortable with: loud, hot-headed, then happy the next second, and an overall Tsunshun type of dere, the kind that insults a lot but it is revealed they are sorry for it later on. This anime was passionate, encouraging, and tear jerking. It offers inspiring words to follow your passion, live life to its fullest, and to never give up with a story in which you could say, “I’ve seen it all before.”

The symbolism is heavy in this Your Lie in April from the opening theme to the sounds, animals, and especially the classical pieces chosen in the competitions. The cherry sakura blossoms an obvious representation of spring, death as a release, and friends just popping up everywhere like daisies representing the very common message “Friendship can defy anything.” The first opening theme song, Hikaru Nara, pumps up the first season’s episodes for a fun time despite the inevitable end of the series. The second opening, Nanairo Symphony, begins to slow down the series for the finale. You can’t forget the representations of the main protagonists: Ryota is a soccer superstar, Tsubaki is an annoying big sister, and Kaori is a wild and free-spirit that comes and goes, like the dove in the opening theme song or the cats throughout the series. As for each song played by Kousei on the piano, as the view progresses through the story, the songs play a critical role in defining Kousei’s emotions and mental state therefore tracking his growth.

A word from Kousei: "Spring will be here soon. Spring, the season I met you, is coming. A spring without you...is coming."

I found this quirky as coincidentally, Your Lie in April stopped airing on the first day of spring, March 20th, in the U.S. and therefore had become “A spring without you…” even though Your Lie in April started airing in fall of 2014.

The animation of this anime is absolutely beautiful and helped Your Lie in April become my favorite anime as opposed to the usual action shonen I’m used to. Every detail is taken into account, especially during up close scenes on the piano; the viewer can see each string of the piano vibrate and every screw that keeps the piano together. The fingers of the pianist look like motion capture used in the cinema. To emphasize the realistic animation of the musicians, a musician friend of mine personally dislikes music based anime because the movements of the characters in the anime don’t sync right with how a song is played in real life but is excited to give Your Lie in April a try. Each value of color is distinct from the lightest light to the darkest shadow.

My rating:

RELEASE DAY BLITZ: Walkin' on the Sun: The Official Smash Mouth Biography written by Paul DeLisle

I could not be more excited to feature this new release! Who hasn't rocked out to the music of Smash Mouth?! Now you can go behind the music with a band that carried the spirit of a generation in Walkin' on the Sun; The Official Smash Mouth Biography. 

Blurb: 

Hello. My name is Paul DeLisle. I’m the guy who wrote this book. You've probably never heard of me. That's okay. Most people wouldn't know me from Adam. But, unless you've been living in a cloistered monastery for the last fifteen years, you have heard of my band.

So begins the memoir of the creation, rise, and current state of the multi-platinum recording artist Smash Mouth as told by bassist Paul DeLisle. Well known for their hits “All Star,” “Walking on the Sun,” “Then the Morning Comes,” “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby,” and “I’m a Believer,” the band carried the spirit of a generation, but didn't stop there. Enjoy this behind-the-scenes look from Paul’s unique, there from the start, insider’s view.

Excerpt:

There's an episode of Cheers where washed-up ball player Sam Malone, frustrated with either Diane or Rebecca, proclaims, "Y'know, most people don't know this ... but I’m famous!"

I love that line. I can totally relate. You see, I am a founding and continued member of the band Smash Mouth. Yet I am, proudly and alas, the bass player. I’m not famous. My band is.

From the beginning, Smash Mouth was set up as a democracy between four musicians and a manager, each player having an equal voice on band matters. Yet we were all fully aware and accepting of the fact that, as lead singer/frontman, Steve Harwell would be getting a disproportionate amount of attention. Seeing as he is the face and mouthpiece of Smash Mouth, you may be a little disappointed he didn't write this book.

But stay with me here. Because as you'll see, I have a unique vantage point: as one of only four original constituents, I’ve been involved in every aspect of the band since day one. Only Steve and I have trod every step of this Smash Mouth journey. Also, while traditionally under-recognized, the bass player himself sees everything. Plus I went to college. Who better to write a book about Smash Mouth?

That said, keep in mind this book is solely from my point of view. Steve, Greg, Kevin, and Robert would obviously have different takes on certain events. However, this book is simply intended as a comprehensive account of our rise to fame and continued success.

So without further ado ... here’s what happened:

EEP!!! How awesome is that! Pick up your copy of Walkin' on the Sun today and get your own "backstage pass" to the world of Smash Mouth! 

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Release Day Blitz Organized by

NE-YO Performs at Fantasy Springs in Indio, California

It has been a while since I've been to a live show out here in the Coachella Valley. A few of the casino/resorts out here announces a variety of shows regularly. When I found out that Ne-Yo was going to be performing here at the Fantasy Springs Special Events Center, I was so definitely going to be there...along with my friend Cynthia. We were absolutely excited for this show. This would have been my first time to watch him live on stage! And, boy, Ne-Yo's performance was absolutely amazing! He sang many fan favorites...and got the audience dancing! Oh yeah! He was amazing! He started off performing "Let's Go!" And, yes, he did get the audience "going"...me included...haha!!

I remember Ne-Yo most from the movie Stomp The Yard with Columbus Short and Meagan Good. Oh yeah, Ne-Yo sure can dance...he's got moves! He was incredibly entertaining and sang wonderfully! Even though for a moment there was some equipment difficulties, Ne-Yo didn't let that interrupt the show at all! He continued to sing and dance for the audience. 

Check out this clip as NE-YO started the show!

Here's a little background on this amazing performer/actor: NE-YO!

Three-time Grammy Award®-winning artist Ne-Yo was explaining the genesis of his new album title, R.E.D., an acronym for Realizing Every Dream. "It came from me stepping outside myself, looking at my life as it is today and realizing that every dream I've had from the day I decided I wanted to do music, that I wanted my life to be about music, every dream that I've had from then til now, if I haven't realized it by now, I'm definitely on the way to realizing it." 

R.E.D., released September 2012, is Ne-Yo's fifth studio album for the Universal Music Group (UMG). It is also his first album for the newly revitalized Motown Records after seven megasuccessful years and four RIAA gold and platinum albums as a core member of Island Def Jam Music Group. Adding to the R.E.D. album's provenance is Ne-Yo's appointment (announced January 2012) as the new Senior Vice President of A&R for Motown, a coveted role at one of America's most important and prestigious blue-chip record labels. In yet another new dream role, Ne-Yo will be working alongside industry great Barry Weiss, Chairman & CEO of Universal Republic and Island Def Jam Motown. 

"I'm beyond flattered that they felt I was a person who could be helpful in reestablishing Motown," Ne-Yo says. "What put me over the edge was Barry Weiss's overall belief in me, his belief that I could be an integral part of this revitalization. Maybe he sees a greatness in me that I haven't realized in myself yet. If the executive is the next step, then so be it. It's just another set of dreams, another set of goals for me to move towards."

Becoming an actor was never one of Ne-Yo's desires, even though is stage name derives from a recording studio engineer's observation, more than a decade ago, that he perceives music the way Neo perceived the Matrix. Nevertheless, in 2008, after the triumph of his third album, Year Of The Gentleman, reverberated around the world, Ne-Yo was cast in two big budget, major studio blockbusters that took him away from music for most of 2009, during their back-to-back shooting schedules: director Jonathan Liebesman's Battle: Los Angeles (Columbia Pictures), which opened in 2011; and George Lucas' World War II epic Red Tails (20th Century Fox), the chronicle of the Tuskegee Airmen, which opened in 2012. 

"One thing I learned about acting," he says, "it's actually very similar to music. It's all about the level of passion and the level of emotion that you put into what you're doing, that's gonna make what you're doing good. You can hear it when a singer receives that anointing to where he's not even in his body anymore, the music has completely taken over. It's the same with acting, you can see when an actor has become his character. You must have a strong understanding of who you are in order to become somebody else. I'm still a student to the music, and I'm still a student to acting, but it's another transition, another step, another group of dreams and goals to set."

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Wow! Ne-Yo has accomplished a lot and is still going! 

Back to the show, Ne-Yo was amazing on stage...plus, his dancers! They definitely did put on a show that made audiences cheer, scream and cry! I was in awe at his amazing performance. He sang many song favorites such as: Let's Go, Miss Independent, Mad, So Sick...and more! Yah...the show was absolutely amazing! Cynthia and I definitely had a good time watching the performance...and dancing along with the music! I would so go to another Ne-Yo show!

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