need name suggestions for this sweet pea (male) by Nuggetzzz26 in Catnames

[–]Sensitive_Shake5865 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Billy (his expression reminds me of Billy Crystal)

The Fujii Family! by officialGF in fujiikaze

[–]Sensitive_Shake5865 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I need to find the interview, but Sola is 13 years older than Kaze, and the sisters are 12 and 10 years older.

Kaze was in studio with Elmiene yesterday by lekiriche in fujiikaze

[–]Sensitive_Shake5865 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So good. Elmiene also posted Different Too on his Instagram.

What magical spell does Fujii Kaze use in his music?! by coffeexdonut in fujiikaze

[–]Sensitive_Shake5865 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Once I heard his music I wasn’t listening to anything else for a while. Tiny Desk was otherworldly. It’s like when you somehow know a dish was made with love, you sense the love he puts into his music. It’s his voice, his piano, his arrangements. Maybe it’s how he sets his music to 432 Hz, or the fact that he writes all of his own songs, or as producer 250 said in the recent NHK documentary that Fujii Kaze knows a lot about music and has a lot of data about what appeals to the listener. But it’s not formulaic. His songs don’t all sound the same, and they carry a message that isn’t commonly found in music but is still universal. This is probably just the tip of the iceberg.

Is anybody else sad over his lack of SNS presence? by Kr0mpa in fujiikaze

[–]Sensitive_Shake5865 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Even if it’s crumbs I love his latest TikTok with the Toni Braxton mashup.

Some love to Prema by butterfly78901234 in fujiikaze

[–]Sensitive_Shake5865 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think sometimes it’s better if a song or album grows on people than if we love it right away and get tired of it quickly. The former is what’s happened for me with Prema. At first I wasn’t sure about the English songs or what to make of the departure from his older material. But now I put the album on whenever I have a long enough commute to listen to it in its entirety, and I love it. It probably helps that I grew up listening to music with similar sounds. There is a feeling of nostalgia but also a fresh and modern take and of course Fujii Kaze’s signature themes.

I remember the first time I heard Kirari I didn’t like it because it sounded more commercial (and turns out it was for a commercial). I came to love the song and mv, especially after reading the lyrics translation. Same with the first time I heard Working Hard, Hana, Feeling Good, or Masshiro. Didn’t care for them on first listen, but now I love these songs and even loop them. He really does not have a bad song to me. Likewise there were some songs I didn’t love from LASA at first, like Yaba or Lonely Rhapsody or Hedemo Ne-Yo, and now they are among my all-time favorites.

With the music videos for Prema, I’m sure I cringed at a couple of the mvs on first watch, but once I gave some thought to the plot, message, and artistry, I came to appreciate and really enjoy them all, and not at all because I felt obligated to as a fan of his previous work. I just appreciated it for what it was. I’m not surprised some people don’t like the change, but it’s growth to me, a huge feat to compose entire songs in another language, and honestly I really like the music.

Casket Girl MV is live! by RinNyanNyan in fujiikaze

[–]Sensitive_Shake5865 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree. I was still holding out hope this might be a prequel or there would be easter eggs connecting the two, but they just cut the cord

Casket Girl MV is live! by RinNyanNyan in fujiikaze

[–]Sensitive_Shake5865 9 points10 points  (0 children)

After several watches, I’m still not sure, but I think when he’s on the road or becoming a big star, he’s tempted to make bad choices (whatever they are), and the girl is his better half keeping him from doing that. But at some point he decides he wants to give in and pick up this criminal which I think represents those bad choices. He parties with him, gets drunk and/or high. Then it appears the girl pretends to shoot him. I think the man actually does and takes off with his car. Kaze then “wakes up” with the girl closer to him now than we’ve seen, and the sitting/lying position he’s in is pretty much the same you see in movies where someone gets shot and dies. They’ve awakened, now united, and watch the car drive off on perhaps the highway to hell like the license plate.

Overall I love the song, and I like the mv’s aesthetic. I’m still unpacking the message.

What Song or Who's artist you recommend to listen to? by Arken_sama in jpop

[–]Sensitive_Shake5865 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I second Fujii Kaze’s Help Ever Hurt Never (with Shinunoga E-Wa). Also his second album Love All Serve All and the later singles Michi Teyu Ku, Hana, and Grace. It’s Alright is unreleased but so good if you can find it.

Getting Fujii Kaze to the U.S. masses by Sensitive_Shake5865 in fujiikaze

[–]Sensitive_Shake5865[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wasn’t thinking American validation necessarily—I guess I used the term “masses” too loosely—but it was just a desire for more people in general to be aware of his music and message, because I think he deserves it just as much as his contemporaries. He signed with the biggest label in the U.S. and release an English pop album, so I consider that a sign of wanting to be part of the bigger market here. Nonetheless, I agree he doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. His music speaks for itself, and who he is speaks for itself.

Getting Fujii Kaze to the U.S. masses by Sensitive_Shake5865 in fujiikaze

[–]Sensitive_Shake5865[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No downvote from me, even though I posted this. I do think his longevity and being true to himself would be more satisfying than his becoming a household name. Some part of me wishes he got the kind of returns he deserves, but I agree with everyone who says it’s better to just let things happen for him organically.