NACK AFTER 5!
(This is the transcript for the radio show atheon posted in the Media Thread. Enjoy ;))
Keizaburo: The time now is 6:36pm. We are at Oomiya West Exit, Oomiya Arshue Vision Building 5th floor studio. I'm Keizaburo...
Sato: ...and I'm Sato, hereby presenting to you the live telecast of NACK AFTER 5
Keizaburo: So, audiences by your radios, and audiences who have come to the studio early this morning..
Keizaburo, Sato: Sorry to keep you waiting!
Keizaburo: We'd like to introduce our guest for today. Her debut song, 'Feel My Soul' became the theme song of the drama, "Fukigen na Jin". 'Feel My Soul' was released on 23 February. Our guest today is singer-songwriter, YUI! Nice to meet you!
YUI: Nice to meet you too. I'm YUI. Please guide me along.
*Applause*
Keizaburo: Today, we have many fans who gathered at the studio. First of all, at Oomiya Station, West Exit, outside the Arshue Vision Building, you will be able to see lots of images of YUI-san, because we are shooting a live telecast and there are screens over there.
YUI: Oh, I see.
Keizaburo: And also, on the internet website, hithit.com, there are many people viewing the live screening of our programme right now.
Keizaburo: And... YUI, are you feeling unwell? You sound like it.
YUI: Oh, no. I'm fine.
Keizaburo: Oh I see. Sorry! Haha, you know, nowadays kafunsho (pollinois) is getting rampant and people fall sick easily. So, you are not suffering from pollinois, are you?
YUI: Nope, not at all.
Keizaburo: Oh I see. You're in a healthy state?
YUI: Yes.
Keizaburo: Hmm, it's awkward to ask a girl this question, but how old are you right now?
YUI: I turned 18 just this March 26 this year.
Keizaburo: 18? So, that means, you are in high school year....?
YUI: High school... If I were in high school, I'd have graduated by now.
Keizaburo: I see, so you are around that age now. You had your birthday on 26 March, right?
YUI: Yes.
Keizaburo: You had your birthday recently.. so how did you celebrate it? Did you celebrate with anyone?
YUI: I went back to Fukuoka for work at that time. And my friends celebrated my birthday for me. They even bought a cake for me.
Keizaburo: Wow that's nice. So you had like 10 candles?
YUI: Oh, not that many. They brought a few candles for me.
Keizaburo: How about any presents that you received?
YUI: Yes, it's quite popular over there right now. It's called Rirakkuma. It's a picture book character.
Keizaburo: Nirakkuma?
YUI: No, Rirakkuma.
Keizaburo: Oh Rirakkuma, all right...
YUI: Recently the character in the picture book got popular. It's sold in forms of cushions and soft toys. And I got a soft toy of Rirakkuma for my birthday.
Keizaburo: Oh, I think YUI would look really compatible with soft toys.
Sato: It was really recent, right? 26 March.
YUI: Yes.
Sato: So we can still greet you happy birthday, right?
Keizaburo, Sato: Happy birthday!
Keizaburo: Sorry we cant give you anything.
YUI: No, it's all right. It's the thought that counts.
Keizaburo: Your favourite artiste is... Eric Clapton?
YUI: Yes.
Keizaburo: It's recorded here in the database. By the way, today happens to be Eric Claton's birthday.
YUI: Oh, that's right.
Keizaburo: You knew it?
YUI: Yes, I did.
Keizaburo: So, you really like Eric Clapton, dont you? Comparing Eric Clapton and YUI, there's a significant age gap between you two, isnt it?
YUI: Yes.
Keizaburo: I'm sure many people know about Eric Clapton, but if Im not wrong, he doesnt have many fans.
YUI: Is that so?
Keizaburo: You like him, since long time ago?
YUI: I started listening to western music 2 years ago through the influence of friends, and got to know about Eric Clapton. That was how I first got to know him, and I gradually grew to like him.
Keizaburo: Clapton is the king of guitar, right? And today, YUI brought along her own guitar too.
YUI: Yes.
Keizaburo: When did you start learning guitar?
YUI: I started learning guitar two years ago too.
Keizaburo: Why did you think of starting to learn guitar?
YUI: It was through watching street live performances. I got really inspired and touched by them, and I decided to learn more about music. Then I asked the street performers how I could start a career on music, and they introduced me to a music school in Fukuoka. I then entered the school and started learning guitar and music-writing.
Keizaburo: Could you already play the 'F' note naturally then?
YUI: I could play 'F' fairly well, but I thought 'G' chord was more difficult.
Keizaburo: I see. Many people can't hold on the 'F' note well, and eventually give up.
YUI: That's right.
Keizaburo: YUI, you mentioned that it was your dream when you were young to become a singer.
YUI: Yup.
Keizaburo: So how is it now? I think that the door to your dream has just opened. How do you feel right now?
YUI: My feelings?
Keizaburo: Yes, tell us about your true feelings.
YUI: My true feelings. I feel that this is the start of it.
Keizaburo: The real start of your dream?
YUI: Yup.
Keizaburo: You are going to continue walking this path of glory, right?
YUI: I will work hard!
Keizaburo: That's right. Just now you mentioned you were born in Fukuoka. Did you perform much street live back there?
YUI: Yes, even now, I still perform every now and then in Fukuoka.
Keizaburo: Where in Fukuoka?
YUI: Around Tenjin area.
Keizaburo: I see, Tenjin. Around Oyafuko street?
YUI: Umm...around Tenjin.
Keizaburo: I see, mainly Tenjin? I'm sorry... I seem to get everything wrong. Haha.
YUI: Sorry.
Keizaburo: I heard that even when you were performing your street live, there were times where you felt like giving up.
YUI: Yes, thats right. How should I put it? I was still a student then, and I worked part-time too. When I tried to balance the two, it was really busy and I had no time for both, and I couldnt satisfy my interest of music. I felt that I wouldnt want to do things half-heartedly. And I felt that if I carried on that way, there was no possibility of me going onto the music path. I was on the verge of giving up at times.
Keizaburo: But you still decided to challenge it eventually?
YUI: It's going be a long story, but...
Keizaburo: It's okay, tell us your long story then.
YUI: I fell sick then, and went to the hospital for a while, and I had time to think about my future. And then I realized that I longed to go onto the music path. Then at that time, I had the chance of listening to western music and getting inspired by street live performances. Through these, I finally become determined to do what I want.
Keizaburo: You mentioned the keyword, 'Western Music". Who were you inspired by the most? Who gave you the most influence?
YUI: At the beginning... well, before that I only listened to Japanese music. And one day, I got a chance to listen to Avril Lavigne's CD at a CD shop. It was my first few times listening to western music, and rock music too. And I was strongly influenced by it.
Keizaburo: So the first western song you listened to was Avril Lavigne?
YUI: That's right.
Sato: That's really recent, isnt it?
Keizaburo: Yeah, you're only 18 years old. And your debut song 'Feel My Soul'... I heard that you wrote it before your debut.
YUI: I'm now staying in Tokyo, but I only moved here 6 months ago. I came to Tokyo for my debut, so as part of my preparation, I wrote this song. In the lyrics, I wrote that I would continue progressing even as I struggle along the way. It was a song which I wrote my feelings and determination.
Keizaburo: So, we're going to listen to you perform live for us today. How's your preparation? So, give us an introduction and then begin!
YUI: This is an indie song limited in Kyushu. Please listen- It's Happy Line.
*It's Happy Line*
YUI: Thank you.
Keizaburo: So that was your live performance of 'It's Happy Line'. I was touched.
YUI: Thank you.
Keizaburo: You said it was written as an indie. So when did you write this song?
YUI: I wrote this song... hmm when was it.. well, it was around when I started learning guitar. It was the second song I wrote. It was written one and half years ago.
Keizaburo: You have a great voice, and it sinks into my heart.
Keizaburo: Yup, we have here with us singer-songwriter, YUI, who recently released her debut single 'Feel My Soul' on 23 February. We have some messages from your fans.
YUI: Thank you.
Keizaburo: Let's see. We have Ren-san, a 14 year old boy. "I wrote today because I heard that YUI is attending this show. I live in Okinawa. I have never heard any radio programmes with YUI on." Hmm he can listen to us right now, cant he? Oh I see, through our homepage.
Keizaburo: "YUI's songs are great, like Feel My Soul, It's Happy Line etc. Please work hard, while taking care of your health. Bye Bye." This is a message from Ren-san.
YUI: From Okinawa, right?
Keizaburo: He should be listening to us through internet right now.
YUI: I see.
Keizaburo: Come, say something to him. Something like "Ren-san...!" Please...
Sato: 'Please'? You shouldn't be saying that! Haha, I'm so sorry.
YUI: Haha it's okay.
Keizaburo: YUI, it's been half a year since you came to Tokyo. Were there anything that you were surprised when you came to Tokyo? Anything different from your life in Fukuoka?
YUI: Hmm surprising things.. There are many of them, but when I first came, I could feel that there are many people around. The pace at which people walk is totally different too. And the train system is so complicated, with so many train lines. If I get onto the wrong train, I will be brought to strange places. And there were times I got lost and wandered around.
YUI: And... the meals here are expensive.
Keizaburo: I see, the food here is expensive! Tell us exactly what do you find expensive?
YUI: Hmm basically everything is expensive. Am I saying something bad about Tokyo? Haha.
Keizaburo: No no, no such thing. I have been to Fukuoka a few times, and food like fish, even in izakayas, food is cheap and delicious, right? Basically, it's like that. So, what did you find the most shocking here? Like, wow, why is this so expensive here?
YUI: Shocking... a lunch meal is really expensive.
Keizaburo: By the way, how much was it that made you surprised that it was expensive?
YUI: Anything about 1000 yen...?
Keizaburo: And you wouldn't want it?
YUI: No, not that!
Keizaburo: Oh, not that?
YUI: Haha, (not that I wouldnt want it), Im just surprised at it, that's all.
Keizaburo: I see. I'm sorry! Look, I have a bad habit of saying things more and more exaggerated! Anyway, I really like Fukuoka...
YUI: Thank you.
Keizaburo: Places like Fukuma Beach. Do you know about it? And Momochi, Shingu.. and there are many nice places in Fukuoka. I realized all those I mentioned are all beaches. Anyway, what do you like most about Fukuoka?
YUI: I like Shingu beach.
Keizaburo: What about Shingu do you like?
YUI: I like the beach.
Keizaburo: What about the beach?
YUI: Because my hometown is over there, so I often went there. In summer, the white sand covers the beach. And I can easily make a sandglass over there. And it's really beautiful.
Keizaburo, Sato: That's right...
Keizaburo: What I like about Fukuoka is that the city and the beach are close to each other.
YUI: That's right.
Keizaburo: Like when you are roaming in the city, you can easily move over to the beach. The proximity is probably the closest (in Japan).
YUI: Yup, but there are many such places around in Japan too.
Keizaburo: And talking about Fukuoka, there has been an earthquake recently. Was your family, friends and hometown affected by it?
YUI: Yes, my friends were all fine. I was on my way back then, and felt the earthquake too.
Keizaburo: Oh is that so?
YUI: It was pretty strong and scary. It was at Shingu.
Keizaburo: Where were you then?
YUI: I was at home.
Keizaburo: Oh you were at home when the earthquake shook?
YUI: Yup.
Keizaburo: Did anything fall?
YUI: Yeah, almost everything fell.
Keizaburo: Almost everything fell?? And you all were perfectly fine?
YUI: Yeah, I covered myself with a futon. Haha.
Keizaburo: I see, so everyone in your family covered themselves with futons? I see.. Yeah, who would have thought of an earthquake in Kyushu?
YUI: That's right.
Keizaburo: I think no one in Kyushu expected it to come.
YUI: Yeah.
Keizaburo: Do you still have a trauma of earthquakes?
YUI: It was the strongest earthquake I have experienced. And because of that, it feels as if everyone else is worrying more than me right here in Tokyo. But I heard earthquakes in Tokyo are pretty scary too.
Keizaburo: Talking about earthquakes, it's likely to happen anywhere, so we got to be aware of it. YUI, please tell us about your aims from now on.
YUI: I'm doing my street live in Fukuoka now. I'd like to expand my street live performance areas to many places.
Keizaburo: And please check YUI's schedule from now, on our website.
Keizaburo: Finally, please give a message to the fans who are here at the studio, and the people listening to the radio programme.
YUI: I will continue writing good songs and music from now on. Please give me your support.
Keizaburo: Thank you for coming today!
YUI: Thank you.
Keizaburo: Are you intending to watch soccer tonight?
YUI: Ah... not really.
Keizaburo: Oh you don't like soccer?
YUI: Well, no. I will watch it! Haha.
Keizaburo: Please watch soccer, and continue listening to our programme till 8pm.
Keizaburo: 'Feel My Soul' has been released on 23 February. We have had singer-songwriter, YUI, here with us today. As a farewell, please give us another performance of yours.
YUI: Please listen to my 'Feel My Soul'.
*Feel My Soul*
All: Thank you very much.