Kayo Aiko's Second single...

was released on April 14, 2004. The title is 愛してねもっと. It's pronounced 'Aishite ne Motto', and can be translated as 'Love Me More'. The c/w track is 'Eyes'.

The PV simulates what it might be like to go on a date with Aiko. She takes you to the record store, then out for some pasta, where she stuffs some spaghetti in your face using a fork (!); then, as a waitress passes by, the camera follows, leaving Aiko with a surprised look as she goes out of frame. When we look back at Aiko, she's mad at us. Very clever concept and a very cute girl. Meanwhile, she fan-dances in front of a red tunnel with two backup dancers who appear in a total of three shots.

The single was featured as the ending song for the anime 'Tenjou Tenge'. The c/w was featured as the ending track of the drama 'Eko Eko Azarak ~Me~', in which Aiko plays the character Misuzu Kurahashi. I've tried numerous times to find an episode of this show but it's not very popular, I hate to say. In particular there are two DVD items on the market, the first being The Director's Cut box set of the whole series, long out of print and at a cost of some $300 USD, if you can find it. The other is 'The Short Story of Eko Eko Azarak ~Me~' which features a behind-the-scenes of the series with a featurette on each of the show's five lead actresses, including Aiko and fellow fetching Kanagawa native Sayuri Anzu.

I rewatched the 'Short Story' DVD the other night and Aiko spends a lot of time with Anzu. Everybody dresses alike (it's a school setting) so it's hard to identify who's who sometimes. Aiko doesn't appear in any of the occult moments with the robes, magic words, and talismans; in fact, one scene shows Aiko popping around a corner to say 'hi' to Anzu just as an apparition disappears. Being oblivious to whatever just happened, Aiko says to Anzu something like, 'did I scare you?' In another scene, Anzu sees a figure on a wall, and Aiko's like, 'what the hell are you talking about?' So it seems she's unaware of the backstory, a kind of giddy character along for the ride. When people get killed, she sees that, so she'll figure it out eventually.

The Aiko footage also shows her recording the vocals for 'Eyes'; although it may be staged, it's being done in the same studio shown on the 'POP' covers. It's the one with the huge mixing board and wall-mounted monitors, probably where she recorded all of her other songs. This footage is one of two occasions that I've seen Aiko's recording sessions; the other is the 'Girl's Box TV' disc from the 'Natsumatsuri' concert DVD, where Kingyo records 'Lover's High' in a much smaller studio.

If anyone can help me out with this series I'd be very appreciative. I found the opening sequence on Stage6 when it still existed, and Aiko has only a quick shot there. I'm not big into drama shows but this is one I'd watch, because Aiko's in it, of course.

I have the original trilogy of Eko Eko Azarak movies and here's the quick story: Kuroi Misa is a new girl in town, everyone says she's a witch, then everyone gets brutally murdered and Misa somehow talks the evil into going away. There's some lesbian scenes, complete with toplessness, so add another lesbian motif to Aiko's legacy. The other two movies -- same thing, mostly, except no more nudity. Guess which one I consider to be my favorite?

Story-wise, the films aren't outstanding. Visually, and as thriller movies, they work. But Kuroi Misa is usually a disappointing protagonist; she finally opens up a can of whup-ass an hour into the third film and it doesn't last for very long. I'm hoping the series is a little more exciting. But my research tells me that it's about Kuroi Misa, and little else. If she ever shows up at your school, house, or workplace, run like hell! Everyone will soon be dead, except for her, and when she fights the evil that's killed everyone else, she'll treat it as some sort of victory. Um, everybody's dead... that's no victory!

SCORE!!!

Marking a record seven posts in one month, meanwhile providing some Aiko information.  I finally figured out something that's been bugging the crap out of me since the first time I heard this song (almost three years ago).

At the start of 'Fantasy', Aiko sings something I presumed was English, because I never knew what she said.  Looking back at my data, I noticed that the song was originally done by Virginelle.  Lo and behold, the first couplets in Aiko's version of 'Fantasy' are from the chorus of the original song. Listen to it here.

Aiko sings (are you ready for this?):

"Carry on too many times for love / I only played as ever with your heart

I don't know, it's like a fantasy / You're only mine, oh what a melody"

Listen to Aiko again, and that's exactly what she's saying.  This is the most English she's ever sung on record.  I know, it doesn't make a lot of sense, and I know, it's hard to understand Aiko when she sings in 'Engrish'.  But I finally figured out what she's singing!  And now you can sing along, too.

Then, a few minutes later I discovered this little tidbit.  Aiko sits in a cafe during the Aishite ne Motto video, and this same place is the setting for a Capsule video.  Capsule was produced by the same guy who produces Perfume, and also did 'cosmic cosmetics'.  Observe:

New 'New Year's resolution': acquire all the Capsule music ever made. This stuff is catchy as hell!

Spanish, anyone?

This just in, spanish chicks love Aiko (more).  Not one, but three spanish-language overdubs of 'Aishite ne Motto' (be warned, amateur audio follows):

Milla version

MidnightSingers version

BeMyCaprice version

Lots of links, Aiko style.

I just took a Mensa Practice Quiz which says I have a "good chance of passing the Mensa test," but if it only weren't for these two simple facts: one, I *hate* word and number puzzles, and two, I'm too busy doing Aiko research to care.  You'll all thank me for doing this, it took a little while.

Seriously, for now I'm done praising everybody else, so it's time for the issue at hand... wait, one more thing... I previewed SPEED's new single Ashita no Sora and it's *damn* good; almost made me cry to see them back together all these years later. I insist you check it out.

Okay, the issue at hand... Ms. Kayo Aiko.  Forget wikipedia, it won't tell you anything.  Rather, check out her blog (also linked above right), or the blog of fellow Kingyo Nao-chan, or the blog of fellow Cheer Up-pers TONO and Kyan Chiaki, where Aiko is bound to (and does frequently) make an appearance. She puts pictures of *them* on *her* blog, so expect the same from her contemporaries.

Also, see Aiko being a video game nerd for whatever the heck this game is called.  Right now there are 18 pages, all accessible from clicking one of the small pictures at the bottom of the main page.

Or, go to youtube for new concert footage, shot about May of this year at Shibuya-O Crest:

Aishite ne Motto

Kanojo wa Gokigen Naname (never seen her sing this live before)

Hitomi no Naka no Meikyuu

Still not impressed?  Keep reading.  Go to Google Maps and copy-n'-paste the following coordinates for your virtual Aiko tour.  Choose "Street View" and pretend you're there.  For extra realism, go there in person!

First, a holy shrine for all Kingyo lovers, Azabu West Studio, located at:

35°39'30.21"N, 139°43'30.56"E

the brown building with the recessed entry and Coke machine (and old guy on street) is where LOVERS HIGH was recorded.

Then, head to Fussa on the outskirts of Tokyo for a couple of Aiko landmarks.

The first is at:

35°44'6.52"N, 139°20'25.32"E

and the store called BIG MAMA is where the 'cosmic cosmetics' cover was shot. Took me a while to find this place, and the store is shuttered in the Street View, which covers up the oh-so-famous "American Antiques" wording featured so prominently on the cover.  Must've been Sunday when the Google people drove by.  But, that's the place.

When looking for that, by sheer accident, I found:

35°44'16.77"N, 139°20'20.19"E

The NICOLA sign (see picture above), which is a pizza place.  I have no idea why this was included, but again, there it is.  By the way, the caption on the Polaroid above reads "I'm happy even on cloudy day."  I would be, too, if I had some pizza!

English, please.

Ms. Kayo,

Here are a couple translations that I've been lucky enough to find.  Sorry I don't have any credits to add (with the exception of 'Kanojo' being found at kiwi-musume.com), so if anyone knows where to find these otherwise, please send me the site and/or translator credit.  Nothing personal, folks.

Hitomi no Naka no Meikyuu (1st single, "The Maze in My Eyes", officially titled 瞳の中の迷宮)

I want to meet you… I can’t meet you


My prayers don’t reach you as much as my feelings for you grow


I’m sure it’s because I lost sight of something
All this time, I believed that


Only the things reflected in my eyes are the sole truth, but-
There isn’t just one world, there’s a world called “if”


I know that it exists infinitely and now I’m puzzled in it

I want to meet you… I can’t meet you


I won’t stop regretting until I tell you my thoughts


I won’t lose, I won’t abandon


Even if I sacrifice my body I’ll find you


Because even if the darkness


Blocks my path


And my timid heart is lead astray


I’ll keep searching for you without giving up

That’s right, to find you is to find myself


I won’t forget that promise we made to each other now

We met many times; I was saved often


Everything will turn into courage, I’m not all alone
I want to meet you… I can’t meet you


Because if that’s a trial, then I’ll definitely overcome it


Without losing, without abandoning


Please wait for me


And believe in me


I want to meet you… I can’t meet you


My prayers don’t reach you as much as my feelings for you grow


I’m sure it’s because I lost sight of something

I want to meet you… I can’t meet you


Where are you now? 

Because I’ll definitely find you out


What I’ve gotten lost in is the maze in my eyes


Because even if the darkness blocks my path


And my timid heart is lead astray


I’ll keep searching for you without giving up

-------

Ai Shite ne Motto (2nd single, "Love Me More", officially titled 愛してね もっと)

For the first time I couldn't sleep
I want to see you right now
So the warmth from you holding me
Never, never disappears

The love that began that day
Hasn't changed even now
I just want to treasure
This time of ours together

Love me more
Hey, love me more,
More, I just love you!

For the first time i hurt you
I can't stop crying
This pain in my heart, it feels as if it's about to burst
I just want you to be with me

I love you forever
Just look at me

-------

Kanojo wa Gokigen Naname (8th single, "She's in a Bad Mood", officially titled 彼女はゴキゲンななめ)  

I talk to you, I smile at you

But your head is in the clouds somewhere

My kisses aren’t enough, there’s no tenderness

Where did our love go?

Have you been cheating on me? I try to keep busy

Tears overflow right away
But I can’t hate you, I can’t give in

You’re not playing fair

It’s kind of, sort of

Suspicious

I quietly, quietly look into your eyes

I know right away what you’ve been hiding

Do you think you’ve been caught?

Wait a minute! Wasn’t this love

Supposed to last forever?
Look only at me

Whenever, wherever we are

Why, why haven’t you noticed

I’m in a bad mood?

We used to always pick out fancy clothes

And go out together

And then we’d be all over each other

That was such a happy time

But now it’s just jerseys and sandals

And the convenience store

That was fine to begin with

But the novelty wears off right away

I kind of, sort of

Don’t think it’s fun

I’m going to sulk now

Will you start panicking right away?

Wait a minute! Has this love

Changed its shape too?

I get a shock, maybe

It’s not someone else’s fault

It’s my fault too, but I’m in a bad mood

Wait a minute! Wasn’t this love

Supposed to last forever?
Look only at me

Whenever, wherever we are

Why, why haven’t you noticed

I’m in a bad mood?