Student Film

This is the UCLA student film I am working on. My 2nd student film in LA. I did a song for the end credit before I went back to KL. Now it's the real task - scoring the film.
Film scoring is different from song writing, can be pretty different in some cases. In this film, music is totally a supporting role. Playing underneath, bringing out the emotion, merging the sound design, and most important doing what the director wants.

I know the rules. I want to score this confidently. I DO.

I wish to write something different, but I choose to write in the box.
No shit, I need a good credit for this.

New Year Wishes

've been busy this holiday season - Crazy count down, friends' departure, crazy drinking again, jobs, exploring with my newly installed MAC OSX Tiger... Stop me from posting a word on the new year.
My housemates and I finally made new year wishes yesterday, Jan 2nd.
What I wish the most - Establish a career in LA this year.
I always remember a quote my primary school teacher wrote me on my autograph book
及时努力
means be hardworking promptly. This always remind me about my worst habit
No 1 thing to learn this year, STOP DRAGGING... in everything

Happy New Year

When our memories outweigh our dreams, we have grown old.
Happy New Year :)

瞳をとじて Lyrics

Lyrics and music: Ken Hirai

[Translator's note: The "just your shell" in the first line is literally translated as "your discarded skin is beside me", what an insect might leave behind after a metamorphosis. The idea is that the girl, although physically present, has already moved on past the relationship to a different stage in life -- her soul isn't there anymore. However, though insect carcasses may have their place in Japanese torch songs, I don't think they belong in English ones, so I've translated it a bit more liberally. Thanks to Ryo and Hideki for their ideas about the symbolism here.]



朝目覚める度に　君の抜け殻が横にいる
ぬくもりを感じた　いつもの背中が冷たい
苦笑いをやめて　重いカーテンを開けよう
眩しすぎる朝日　僕と毎日の追いかけっこだ

Every time I open my eyes in the morning, the body that's beside me is just your shell,
and your back, where I always felt warmth, is now cold.
I stop my bitter smiling and throw open the heavy curtain
to the over-brilliant morning sun that chases me down each day.

あの日　見せた泣き顔
涙照らす夕陽　肩のぬくもり
消し去ろうと願う度に
心が　体が　君を覚えている

The tear-stained face that you showed me that day, shining in the sunset,
and the warmth of your shoulder --
whenever I wish for these memories to disappear,
my heart and body suddenly remember you.

Your love forever
瞳を閉じて　君を描くよ　それだけでいい
たとえ季節が　僕の心を　置き去りにしても

Your love forever
Closing my eyes and seeing you; that alone is enough
even if the seasons leave my heart deserted.

いつかは君のこと　なにも感じなくなるのかな
今の痛み抱いて　眠る方がまだ　いいかな

I suppose that sometime in the future, I may feel nothing for you.
It's better to go to sleep embracing my current pain, isn't it?

あの日　見てた星空
願いかけて　二人探した光は
瞬く間に消えてくのに
心は　体は　君で輝いてる
I wish forever

Even though the light that we wished on and searched for
as we looked at the starry sky that night has been extinguished,
my heart and body still sparkle because of you.
I wish forever

瞳をとじて　君を描くよ　それしか出来ない
たとえ世界が　僕を残して　過ぎ去ろうとしても

Closing my eyes and seeing you; I can't do any more that that
even if the world passes me by and leaves me.

Your love forever
瞳をとじて　君を描くよ　それだけでいい
たとえ季節が　僕を残して　色を変えようとも
記憶の中に君を探すよ　それだけでいい
なくしたものを　越える強さを　君がくれたから
君がくれたから

Your love forever
Closing my eyes and seeing you; that alone is enough
even if the seasons pass me by and all the colours change.
I shall search for you in my memory; that alone is sufficient
because you gave me strength that overcomes what I lost.
Because you gave me that.

hitomi wo tojite 瞳をとじて by Hirai Ken

Friends come and go, but the music stays

I love this song. One of the song that I learned about in LA from my japanese dudes. We used to sing this song loudly when we got drunk in party. First time I heard Fumi singing this song in a Karaoke in Sawtelle, WOW! fabulous!

It's already 15 months I've been here. Last year on today afternoon... around this time, I got back from Tokyo. On my way back to westwood from LAX by bus, I carried a lot of uncertainty, confusion, and questions. I met another batch of new friends at the same night, mainly koreans this quarter / semester. I had memorable time with Koreans. This winter, I did well in my study, also wrote my very first serious composition for live orchestra. I spent most of my time on revising Tonal Harmony, which I never pay attention during my college.


I've been missing Cheshire and my family and I finally went back to Malaysia for a short vacation end of March. I met a new korean friend on the plane, and we went out dinner with his family, his english teacher, and my Cheshire. I didn't manage to learn this song until I came back from vacation in 2nd week of April, after stopping by at Soeul. On the arrival night, my Japanese dudes sang this song with me on my YAMAHA keyboard. They gave me the lyrics and patiently explained me the meaning. Touching. It was hard to follow their singing. While playing with them, I started my new circle of friends, and another happening quarter.

The part that I like the most about this song is the opening of a girl saying GoMeNet (sorry in japanese)
I just got this MTV from Chai. 'd like to share with you.


http://www.youtube.com/w/Hirai-Ken---Hitomi-Wo-Tojite?v=_v7dEVAJtAQ&search=ken%20hirai