We Belong, Itsumo, First Love - Who Copied Whom?

September 27, 2006

If you wanna know firsthand what I'm gonna talk about, listen first to these songs (click the triangles to play): 

 First Love by Hikaru Utada

We Belong by Toni Gonzaga

Itsumo by Dice & K9

Did you hear something suspicious?

Yup, First Love and We Belong sound surprisingly similar. And also, just in case you were able to pick this up, some of the Japanese lines in the chorus of Itsumo are also found in First Love.

First Love is actually one of my favorite Japanese songs. It was performed by the New York-born pop singer Hikaru Utada (宇多田ヒカル UTADA HIKARU in Japanese). The song First Love came from her hit debut album, also called First Love, which was released in 1999.

Then, around a couple of years ago, Itsumo by the local group Dice & K9 aired in the local radio stations. The song actually became a hit, most probably due to the Japanese chorus mixed with the song's characteristic pumping beat. It's actually one of my favorite songs too, but it was criticized mostly by local fans of Hikki for allegedly copying the chorus from First Love. First Love's two choruses are actually English mixed with Japanese. But some of the chorus lines in Itsumo seemed to be Japanese translations of a couple of English chorus lines in First Love.

Compare: (Lines in CAPS are allegedly taken from First Love; lines with ** asterisks ** are allegedly the English lines from First Love that are translated into Japanese in Itsumo)

In Itsumo (Warning: some Japanese words are actually mispronounced in the song itself. The lyrics are correct):
ITSUMO KOKORO WA HOSHII,
ITSUKA DAREKA TO MATA KOI NI OCHITEMO
ITSUMO KOKORO NI IRU,
ITSUMO ANATA DAKE NO BASHO GA ARU KARA

In First Love, first chorus:
** YOU ARE ALWAYS GONNA BE MY LOVE **
ITSUKA DAREKA TO MATA KOI NI OCHITEMO
I’ll remember to love
You taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
Ima wa mada kanashii love song
Atarashii uta utaeru made

In First Love, second chorus:
** YOU WILL ALWAYS BE INSIDE MY HEART **
ITSUMO ANATA DAKE NO BASHO GA ARU KARA
I hope that I have a place in your heart too
Now and forever you are still the one
Ima wa mada kanashii love song
Atarashii uta utaeru made

You be the judge.

As for Toni Gonzaga's latest song We Belong, the song is suspiciously similar to First Love, especially the chorus. Is We Belong copied from First Love, too? Again, you be the judge.

My post is influenced by liamshane's.

English Translation of Pangarap na Bituin

Someone in the tagboard requested me for an English translation of the song Pangarap na Bituin by Faith Cuneta. This song is the theme song of the Philippine release of Jewel in the Palace (Daejanggeum), one of the very popular Korean drama series today.

Here's the song by the way (click the triangle to play):

Here's the lyrics, first in Tagalog, then in English. The translation was done by me.

Pangarap na Bituin
by Faith Cuneta

(Stanza)
Saang sulok ng langit ko matatagpuan
Kapalarang 'di natitikman
Sa pangarap lang namasdan
Isang lingon sa langit at isang ngiting wagas
May talang kikislap, gabay patungo sa tamang landas

(Chorus)
Unti-unting mararating kalangitan at bituin
Unti-unting kinabukasan ko’y magniningning
hawak ngayo’y tibay ng damdamin
Bukas naman sa aking paggising
Kapiling ko'y pangarap na bituin

(Stanza)
Ilang sulok ng lupa, may kubling nalulumbay
Mga sanay sa isang kahig, isang tukang pamumuhay
isang lingon sa langit, nais magbagong-buhay
Sa ating mga palad nakasalalay ang ating bukas

(Chorus)
Unti-unting mararating kalangitan at bituin
Unti-unting kinabukasan ko’y magniningning
hawak ngayo’y tibay ng damdamin
Bukas naman sa aking paggising
Kapiling ko'y pangarap na bituin

(Chorus)
Unti-unting mararating kalangitan at bituin
Unti-unting kinabukasan ko’y magniningning
hawak ngayo’y tibay ng damdamin
Bukas naman sa aking paggising
Kapiling ko'y pangarap na bituin

English Translation

(Stanza)
Where in the corners of heaven will I find
The fortune I never had
Which I've seen only in my dreams?
There I would look up the heaven and exhibit a genuine smile
Then a star would shine and guide me to the right path.

(Chorus)
Little by little I will reach the heaven and the stars,
Little by little my future will shine,
With only a strong courage in hand.
Tomorrow when I wake up from sleep
The star in my dreams will be with me.

(Stanza)
Hidden in some corners of the earth are people in sorrow,
Those that lived in utmost poverty.
They would look up the heaven and wish for a new life.
Our future is in our hands.

(Chorus)
Little by little I will reach the heaven and the stars,
Little by little my future will shine,
With only a strong courage in hand.
Tomorrow when I wake up from sleep
The star in my dreams will be with me.

(Chorus)
Little by little I will reach the heaven and the stars,
Little by little my future will shine,
With only a strong courage in hand.
Tomorrow when I wake up from sleep
The star in my dreams will be with me.

Endless Love Soundtrack

September 22, 2006

I didn't know that I have these Endless Love music files lying around my hard drive (click the triangles to play):

Reason by Jung Il Yung (Autumn in My Heart OST)

Prayer by Jung Il Won (Autumn in My Heart OST)

From The Beginning Until Now by Ryu (Winter Sonata OST)

If you want the actual files, you can download them here:
Reason
Prayer
From The Beginning Until Now

Enjoy!

Chords nAPO ito: Ewan by Imago

September 15, 2006

Ewan by Imago is one of the most innovative songs in the APO tribute album Kami nAPO Muna. The remake has a danceable feel, yet still maintains the spirit of the original. And as usual, Aia De Leon's singing is so melodious, and the background harmonies are tight and alright.

 Here's the lyrics and chords of Ewan. All the chords shown here are transcribed by myself. Have fun! 

=======

Ewan
By Imago

(Intro)
Ewan…

AM7  DM7  AM7  DM7
AM7  DM7  AM7  DM7

(With drums)
AM7  DM7  AM7  DM7
AM7  DM7  AM7  E7

(Stanza 1)

C#m7     F#m7       C#m7       F#m7
Di   ko alam   kung bakit ka ganyan

  Bm7                  Esus      E
Mahirap kausapin at di pa namamansin

C#m7        F#m7   C#m7       F#m7
Di   mo ba alam  ako'y nasasaktan

       Bm7                  Esus      E
Ngunit di bale na basta't malaman mo na …

(Chorus)

  FM7          G           Em7      Am7
Mahal kita, mahal kita, hindi ito bola

     Dm7                       Gsus        G
Ngumiti ka man lang sana ako'y nasa langit   na

  FM7          G           Em7      Am7
Mahal kita, mahal kita, hindi ito bola

    Dm7                        E (hold)
Sumagot ka naman 'wag lang …

  AM7   DM7   AM7   DM7   AM7   DM7   AM7   DM7
Ewan …

(Stanza 2)

C#m7   F#m7  C#m7           F#m7
Sana naman  itigil mo na 'yang

      Bm7                 Esus            E
Kakasabi ng ewan at anong bola na naman 'yan

C#m7         F#m7  C#m7         F#m7
Bakit ba ganyan, dalaga'y di alam

       Bm7                     Esus       E
Na ang ewan ay tulad na rin ng oong inaasam …

(Repeat chorus)

(Instrumental)
AM7   DM7   AM7   DM7   AM7   DM7   AM7   DM7

C#m7   F#m7  C#m7  F#m7
Bm7          Esus  E
C#m7   F#m7  C#m7  F#m7
Bm7          Esus  E

(Repeat Chorus)

(Coda)

  AM7   DM7   AM7   DM7
Ewan…

  AM7   DM7   AM7   DM7
Ewan…

  AM7   DM7   AM7   DM7
Ewan…

  AM7   DM7   AM7   DM7
Ewan…                 Oh!

AM7     DM7   AM7   DM7
    Doo doo   Doo-ooh…

AM7     DM7   AM7   DM7
    Doo doo   Waah-waah…

AM7     DM7   AM7   DM7
Doo Doo doo   Waah-waah…

AM7     DM7   AM7   DM7
Doo Doo doo   Doo-ooh…

AM7     DM7   AM7   DM7
Doo Doo doo   Waah-waah…

AM7     DM7   AM7   DM7
        Waah  Waah-waah…

      AM7     DM7   AM7   DM7
Aaa…ahhh…

AM7   DM7   AM7   DM7

AM7   DM7   AM7   DM7

AM7   DM7 (Fade out)

=======

 

Chords nAPO ito: Yakap sa Dilim by Orange and Lemons

September 5, 2006

Starting today, I'm going to post the lyrics and chords of my favorite songs in Kami nAPO Muna, a tribute album for the APO Hiking Society. All the chords shown here are transcribed by me.

Here's my personal favorite, Yakap sa Dilim, performed by one of my favorite bands, Orange and Lemons. As usual, Mcoy's vocal work is smooth and sweet, as if he's actually wooing the girl mentioned in the song (and us listeners as well). The band's sound is very well done, the guitar solo is clean, and the vocal harmonies are tight.

Anyway, here's one "broken" chord used in the song (but it also appears in many chord charts):

        EADGBe
Bbsus   x13341

And now, here's the song with the chords:

Yakap Sa Dilim
Performed by Orange and Lemons

(Intro)
F  Dm  Gm  C
F  Dm  Gm (pause)

(Stanza 1)
                   F         Dm
Sandal mo sana ang ulo mo sa unan

Gm          C    F         Dm
   Katawan mo ay aking kukumutan

Gm          C       Am        Dm
   Mga problema'y iyong malilimutan

C#                     C             C7 (pause)
   Habang tayo'y magkayakap sa dilim

(Stanza 2)
                         F       Dm
Huwag mong pigilin kung nais mapaluha

Gm          C      F          Dm
    Pakiramdam mo sana'y guminhawa

Gm              C       Am        Dm
    Kung gusto mo ay magsigarilyo muna

C#                  C              C7
    Bago tayo magkayakap sa dilim

(Refrain)

Bbsus      Bb            Bbsus    Bb
      Heto na ang pinaka-hihintay natin

Bbsus         Bb        Bbsus       Bb
      Heto na tayo magkayakap sa dilim

Ebm7         G#m        Ebm7     G#m
     O kay sarap ng mga nakaw na sandali

C#                     C             C7 (hold)
   Habang tayo'y magkayakap sa dilim

(Instrumental)
F   Dm   Gm   C
F   Dm   Gm   C
Am  Dm

C#                      C             C7
 …Habang tayo'y magkayakap sa dilim

(Refrain with variation in chords)

Bbsus      Bb            Bbsus    Bb
      Heto na ang pinaka-hihintay natin

Bbsus           Bb        Bbsus      Bb
      O heto na tayo magkayakap sa dilim

Ebm7         G#m        Ebm7     G#m
     O kay sarap ng mga nakaw na sandali

C#                     C            C#   C#7 (hold)
   Habang tayo'y magkayakap sa dili…im

(Stanza 2)
                F#          Ebm
Halika na at sumiping na sa kama

G#m          C#      F#         Ebm
    Lasapin natin sarap ng pagsasama

G#m              C#   Bbm       Ebm
    Sa 'ting pag-ibig tayo ay umasa

D                     C# - C# - C# - C# - C# - C# - C# (hold)
  Habang tayo'y magkayakap …

      F#      F#7 (hold)
Sa dilim…

 

 

The Latest Song from Creamsilk by Mojofly

September 4, 2006

Here's the audio. Click the triangle to play.
Choose by Mojofly

If ex-Mojofly vocalist Kitchie Nadal had to be "kikay" in one of her commercial ads, then Lougee Basabas has to make her own thing in an ad, too!

But this time, Lougee's showing off not "kikay-ness", but girl power. She looked so gorgeous on the stage!

By the way, I've come across the lyrics of Choose, the theme song of the Creamsilk Pink Power, Girl Power ad. I'm going to transcribe the chords later and put them on this page. So for now, I'll just post the lyrics. Later on, I'm going to modify this post to put the chords.

Update: The chords are now here! Here are the "broken" chords used in the song, in compact ASCII notation:

       EADGBe
C/E    0×2010
Bb/F   1×3331

And here's the lyrics with chords. Enjoy!

================
Choose
By Mojofly
From the Creamsilk Pink Power, Girl Power Commercial

(Intro)
C/E  F   C
C/E  F   C

(Stanza)
C/E             F           C
    I can see fire in your eyes

C/E                     F            C
    You make your own future, don’t be afraid to try

C/E                F
    Be ready to seize the moment

C    
  Take a chance, make a statement

C/E           F              C
    Fuel the passion in your   soul

(Refrain)
Am                    F
    Listen to your heart

           Dm
Don’t you hesitate to seek your fate

         G                      Bb
You are destined to make a change

(Chorus)
                 C
Stand up, be proud

        Gm7
Stand out

           Bb                  F
Choose to let your beauty shine

                 C
Speak up and shout

              Gm7
Speak your mind

         Bb                   Bb/F
Let the world know who you are

      FM7                 G
Your turn has come, the world is waiting

    Am                  F
See all your dreams begin unfolding

       C               Em7
Break out and break free

            Am     Bb
Be true to who you are

(Interlude)
C/E  F   C

(Stanza 2)

C/E             F                 C
    Feel the yearning in your heart

C/E             F                C
    Eager to make a difference, be more of who you are

C/E              F
    Choose to live life’s passions

C
  Embrace your beauty, ambitions

C/E             F         C
    Live to touch another   soul

(Repeat Refrain)

(Chorus 2)
                 C
Stand up, be proud

        Gm7
Stand out

          Bb            F
Let your girl power shine

                 C
Speak up and shout

              Gm7
Speak your mind

         Bb                   Bb/F
Let the world know who you are

      FM7                 G
Your turn has come, the world is waiting

    Am                  F
See all your dreams begin unfolding

       C               Em7
Break out and break free

            Am     Bb
Be true to who you are

(Repeat Chorus 2)

(Coda)
C/E  F   C

           C/E     F    C
Be true to who you are