2010年8月21日 星期六

槙原敬之 / Love and Peace Inside



I haven't been paying a lot of attention to Japanese pop songs in recent years (though I really like some of the songs written by平井堅 and 宇多田光 in earlier times). Unexpectedly, during a visit to Hokkaido a couple of weeks ago, I happened to have heard a new song by SMAP called "Love and Peace Inside". The melody was remarkably catchy and left a lasting impression on my mind. Later I found out that it was composed by Noriyuki Makihara (槙原敬之), a highly reputable veteran singer-songwriter who wrote numerous hits, some of which were covered by Chinese artists in the 90s. Then I bought his new album "將手伸進不安之中" - well, I have to admit that I have no knowledge of the Japanese language but his music is filled with a sense of enthusiasm and is very pleasant to listen to!

2010年8月12日 星期四

5 "secrets"

Have been reading this book lately. Based on interviews with hundreds of wise elders, this book offers some useful insights on how to apply five commonly shared principles, such as "be true to yourself", "live the moment" and "leave no regrets" to access meaning and happiness in one's life.