On the Verge of Lunacy

Set in a different Bakumatsu era in Japan, a loud Sakamoto Ryouma wants to be recognized as a rock star. The shogunate and most of the people however have not heard this kind of music. The sounds created by Ryouma's electric guitar, given by Yoshida Shoin, is strange to people's ears. The Japanese are used to listening to Heaven's Song, which the shogunate uses to control the unsuspecting populace. The current top idols are the Shinsengumi led by Hijikata Toshizou and Okita Souji. Anyone who sings or creates songs besides Heaven's Song will be punished. Ryouma wants to change this and he keeps trying to show people his own brand of music. In one of his impromptu performances, he meets Takasugi Shinsaku who plays bass guitar and Katsura Kogorou, a drummer. Together, they form a band to spread rock music in Japan and to fight for freedom. Sakamoto Ryouma From left: Takasugi Shinsaku, Sakamoto Ryouma and Katsura Kogorou Hijikata Toshiizou (left) ...

This 12-episode series is set eight years after Hino Kahoko's stint at Seiso Academy's annual musical competition. Kohinata Kanade transferred to Seiso because one of her childhood friends Kisaragi Ritsu asked her and his brother Kisaragi Kyouya to do so. Seiso's orchestra club is preparing for the national concur and Ritsu feels that Kanade and his brother might be able to help them win the competition.  As this is a story of Seiso orchestra club's journey to the finals, there will be a lot of characters from different schools, each character seemingly more talented and intimidating than the last. There will be no shortage of boys of course, but the series also gives a nod (however slight) to the ladies. If you have seen Primo Passo, it's unavoidable to start comparing Kahoko to Kanade. Unlike Kahoko, Kanade already knows how to play the violin. Her struggles in the series show that even someone with her talent can also lose composure and con...

Kiniro no Corda: Primo Passo Seiso Academy has two branches; the general education section and music section. Hino Kahoko belongs to the former, but her encounter with a musical fairy named Lili near the school's entrance forced her to mingle with students from both branches of the school. Even without any musical talent or knowledge, she has to join the school's annual musical competition just because she can see the fairy. Lili grants her a magical violin which allows her to play (even if she doesn't know how) as long as she believes she can. In this 25-episode series, Kahoko has to compete with music geniuses Tsukimori Len (violin), the only other general education student Tsuchiura Ryotaro (piano), Yunoki Azuma (flute), Shimizu Keiichi (cello), Hihara Kazuki (trumpet), and the other girl in the competition Fuyuumi Shoko (clarinet). Kahoko (red hair) with the other contestants and Kanazawa Hiroto (white coat), who's in-charge of the competition ...

Shuichi Shindo, an upcoming music star, is tested when he met a critic who told him he has zero talent when the paper containing his lyrics of a song was picked up by a stranger. Shuichi's pride was hurt and ever since that meeting he was determined to prove to that man that he can write. Within the first episode, Shuichi was able to determine where the stranger, named Yuki Eiri, lives. It turned out that Yuki was a popular romance novelist. Irritated that Yuki teased him, he follows him around the house and insisted on a challenge. Shuichi was further disturbed when Yuki said he must be in love with him because he follows the latter around. They get on the elevator and still arguing, Yuki kissed Shuichi. This 13-episode series tells the struggles of falling in love and trying to nurture a blossoming music career. Shuichi was not alone on his struggles to understand love and deal with the heartaches. He got plenty of support from his bandmates and co-workers, as well as from ...

My countrymen have always been known as music lovers. We are fond of gatherings, parties and special occasions and most of the time the indispensable videoke (or karaoke for some) is always present. Anyone who can sing the high notes are regarded as 'good singers', although this is not the only criteria that will earn a person a recording contract. Most of the songs performed on singing contests are usually what people generally call 'love songs'. Most of these are released during the '80s and '90s, while some have been playing in the radio stations for more than 3 decades. I do not claim to be an expert on such things or to have had the luxury of time to do a research, only that these observations are based on experience. The current trend (and it has been going on for quite some time) in the Filipino music industry is to revive the old love songs. I do not know who started this but I remember M.Y.M.P. got me into this new trend. It is a great thing to try an...