Good morning! Finally, I've come to one of the blogging challenges that I like most, listing you're 5 favorite songs. The blogging challenge was created by 
Although I am excited for this entry, I feel tortured at the same time because I have plenty of favorite songs in my mind and I feel quite sad I can't include them all here. But I have to stick to the challenge so I just picked my current favorites from my favorites artists after much deliberation.
STRAYKAT'S 5 FAVORITE SONGS
#1 Unlasting - LiSA
LiSA's song, "Unlasting", is the ending song for the anime Sword Art Online: Alicization War of Underworld. LiSA (real name: Oribe Risa) is a Japanese pop/rock/anime song singer well known for singing anime songs. LiSA also stands for "Live is Smile Always".
I would have easily picked an old song of hers like and the super popular anime song "Gurenge", but I chose Unlasting because it sounded different to her usual music which rock. This song feels intricate and the emotions overflow on every word. I love it even though I don't understand it. Lol! But I understand the first word of the song, "hitori", meaning "alone". That single word plus the melody of the song would surely mean it's a sad song.
Anyway, I searched for the English translation of the song and thes are some of the lines:
I’m fine even if I am on my own
Me pretending to be strong is overflowed by that declaration
To think that the beautiful days we had together
Could be this heartbreaking...
If I have to live alone
I will not love anyone else
Your scent and the way you talk
Even now, I can feel pieces of your fragmented love all over my body
My wish, my only wish
Is that somewhere, you’re crying, too
There's a Youtube channel called "The First Take" where they invite artists to sing in just one take and LiSA was invited to sing two songs. The other one aside from Gurenge is Unlasting.
#2 Kanzen Kankaku Dreamer (完全感覚Dreamer) - ONE OK ROCK
I am really confused which is my ultimate ONE OK ROCK song but for now I'll choose Kanzen Kankaku Dreamer. This song is about pushing forward to your dreams with burning passion regardless of what people say.
Say it "we can't end here till we can get it enough!!"
Even though this song is already 10 years old, it never gets old. The song is very lively and an easy favorite for the band and fans. No wonder they still use this song for the encore during concerts. Hearing and seeing the band perform this song live will boost your motivation like you could conquer the world after it. Well, that's how this song makes me feel.
(I almost forgot to introduced the band! Lol!)
ONE OK ROCK is Japanese rock band with four members: Taka (vocals), Toru (guitar), Ryota (bass), and Tomoya (drums). The band was formed in 2005 and increased their popularity after releasing this song. Meanwhile, they captured the world's attention after singing songs for the movie, Ruruoni Kenshin. They have also done collaborations with various artists like Avril Lavigne, Kiiara, Kellin Quinn, Mike Shinoda, and more.
Here's the original music video.
And here's a live version! This one was during their orchestra tour.
When covid-19 hit the world, ONE OK ROCK also made a pandemic-themed song by doing a parody of the song. On the music video, they show what it's like for them to be stuck in their homes.
#3 DA DA DANCE - BABYMETAL
BABYMETAL is a kawaii idol metal girl group from Japan with two members: Su-metal and Moa-metal. They have unique music which leaves metal fans and music enthusiasts confused after hearing their song or watching them perform. Some say the fusion of idol and metal don't mix well together but some like the music and consider it as something refreshing. They are regularly invited to perform at metal festivals overseas and have also done an arena show in both U.S. and Europe.
My best BABYMETAL songs would be "Megitsune", "Headbanger", "Ijime Dame Zettai", "BxMxC", "Oh! Majinai!", but I really like listening to "DA DA DANCE" lately. The tune is so catchy and Moa-metal does a rap on this song which is special. Lol. But on a serious note, the stage production and all those light effects added coolness to the song. And why would I forget the fun dance moves! It makes me want to dance as well! BABYMETAL wouldn't be complete without awesome choreographies!
The live performance of the songs was from their "Live At The Forum" concert at Los Angeles, California, during their world tour last year. This was also their first U.S. arena show.
#4 Feed The Fire - coldrain
Oh, look at what we have here! Another Japanese band! Lol. But don't worry because their songs are in pure English as their vocalist is half Japanese and half American. The band was formed in 2007 with all original members still on the band: Masato (vocals), Katsuma (drums), RxYxO (bass), Y.K.C. (lead guitar), and Sugi (guitar).
PRESSURE
IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD
Think where you started from
To where you're standing now
FAILURE
IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD
THE BEST OF US RISE FROM THE FALL
Most people would think a song with loud music and a screaming singer has nothing good in it, but in fact (in my opinion), these songs have more meaning in it than those mainstream ones we hear today. Oooppss!! I'm not mentioning one!! Lol.
Feed The Fire tells us to find strength in our weakness and in every struggle that we go through, and as they say, the most successful people have experienced a lot of failure before reaching success. The lines, "Think where you started from to where you're standing now", also tells you to look and appreciate at your progress in case you've been being paranoid of feeling you're not improving.
Soak in your weakness
See if those colors feel right for you
The best of black and blue
Embrace the darkness
The light is there so don't give in to fear
You'll make it through
#5 Back To The Earth - Jason Mraz
Last on my list would be, Back To The Earth by Jason Mraz. Surprise!! Not a Japanese artist! Haha!
Back To The Earth is an environmental song and a very good song to listen to when you feel so full of the modern and urban world and just want to live a simple life with nature around you.
Whenever my head starts to hurt
Before it goes from bad to feeling worst
I turn off my phone
I get down low
I put my hands in the dirt
I try to stop the world from moving so fast
Try and get a grip on where I'm at
To simplify this dizzy life
And get my feet in the grass
The song also projects a humble and simple living.
Well, The higher we go, the taller we grow old
We lose sight of our land below
You can have your place up in outer space
Cause my home is where my food is grown
When I want to take a break from all the Japanese artists I listen to, I would most likely find myself listening to Jason's relaxing songs like this one.
I hope you listened to the songs! That's all for the seventh blogging challenge!
Related posts:
30-Day Blogging Challenge Day 1: The Story Behind Straykat
30-Day Blogging Challenge Day 2: 10 THINGS ABOUT STRAYKAT
30-Day Blogging Challenge Day 4: ALONE BUT NOT LONELY
30-Day Blogging Challenge Day 5: STRAYKAT, THE SCAREDY-CAT
30-Day Blogging Challenge Day 6: 4 THINGS THAT MAKE ME SAY "UGH"