Change my life – Ai Takaoka
November 7th, 2008
It’s difficult during these times; not just myself during these examinations, but people around the world who are suffering from the financial crisis. Well, I know for sure it’s definitely hard for me since these examinations means one step closer to whatever I want to achieve/be in life, but when compared to people suffering from the financial crisis, my problems are suddenly minuscule.
I’ll complain about how hard I have to work, how much material there is, how much uncovered material I have to study, how I have look for another job these holidays…etc, but when these problems are compared with losing your house, losing your job, getting lower wages, not being able to feed your family, not spending enough time with family because you have to work to keep the family functioning, eradication of certain liberties; it’s a whole different story. Personally, I don’t know what they are going through and I don’t want to be in their shoes because I probably wouldn’t be able to cope. I’m too used to having these luxuries and I know I’ve been taking them for granted. I honestly can’t imagine myself not coming home to a computer screen, a roof above my head, food, the comfort of a bed etc.
Then I look at myself, I whine and complain about small problems and I feel bad. Because my life doesn’t suck, it’s brilliant. I have what I need and more. The people who are losing their jobs, their lives suck because they can’t feed their families.
Takaoka Ai’s latest single entitled “Change my life” is her tenth single, and it’s as just as glorious as her previous album “fiction”(I’ll probably write on her album later but I’m too cluttered these days) . Her soothing voice resembles similar vocalists such as Michelle Branch and Alanis Morissette, which isn’t surprising since Alanis is one of her favourite artists. And with all of her releases, the acoustic guitar is a fundamental foundation to “Change my life”. It is a sensational ballad; it has uplifting characteristics coupled with a cheerful tone as it progresses, and the title and the tone couldn’t have been any more appropriate in such miserable times.
It’s weird because all the new songs I’ve heard recently after ‘Remember’ have only been for entertainment value. YUI’s latest was bland compared with SUMMER SONG, SCANDAL’s DOLL was just fun to listen to, Tan Tan Taan! Is the product of Koha feeding the other two Milky Way members cocaine, JUMPER is just epic, MADAYADE is just weird and I would be extremely surprised if Oogoe Diamond made me think as hard as I did with ‘Remember’. No new songs have made me think and ponder until today when I listened to ‘Change my life’.
The first verse feels like she’s treading through life, slowly and without direction. Her back is slumped not just because of her situation, but also of her guitar on her back. As the song progresses, the chorus kicks in, and when it does, it feels like she whips out her guitar that she’s carrying from her back and breaks into a song to lift her spirits. The chorus feels much more uplifting because she knows she must ‘Change her life’ in order to stop this cycle of depression. As the song comes to an end, the uplifiting feeling of the song feels like its parallel with her spirits and she feels like she must change her ways in order to ‘change her life’.
My analogy is TOTALLY different from the PV. But it would have been nice if it was something similar.
I’m here at my desk, miserable, studying for these examinations which inevitably determine my future; in fact going to tertiary education has already somewhat already determined a portion of my future. These exams will ‘change my life’ to the point where I will change from a student and conform to the working class. I know it won’t stay the same forever, but it just makes me think of the future and what it holds. Will it be bright and spirited as the chorus or will it be gloomy and droopy like the first verse? Seriously, it’s scary. But, what fun would it be if you already knew your future?
Taking small jumps into the unknown this year has changed my life. Registering my blog for International Wota and appearing in #wotachat has changed my life this year, not just with the obvious paedophilic signs, but having a bond with people’ 5000 miles’ away is special. I slowly made my mark in the community (HURRRRRRR), I learnt about other people, they learnt about me and I learnt about myself. Exploring other subjects, trying out for a competitive major, discovering Hello! Project etc. has changed my life.
Takaoka Ai has done what she has always done best and that is to compose beautiful ballads. But she instead of using a traditional melancholic tone throughout the ballad, she instead uses a more cheerful and positive tone. A sense of optimism is apparent as the song progresses especially in the chorus, showing her hopeful attitude towards the future and that everything will “be alright” in the end.
Maybe this is how we are supposed to act in these troublesome times?
“It’s alright”.
Tags: Ai Takaoka
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