2012, please grant my wish!

Let us be strong like the dragon! /by ink pot on deviantart

PRAY THE HATE AWAY!

 

Millions of Americans wear purple on Spirit Day as a sign of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and to speak out against bullying. Spirit Day was started in 2010 by teenager Brittany McMillan as a response to the young people who had taken their own lives. Observed annually on October 20, individuals, schools, organizations, corporations, media professionals and celebrities wear purple, which symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag. Getting involved is easy -- participants are asked to simply "go purple" on October 20 as we work to create a world in which LGBT teens are celebrated and accepted for who they are. ~ glaad

American or not, let's wear purple today and show support.

An Update of Eastern Melodies

Music by Kyoko Taide on deviantart

A little note: Hello to all our readers!
We have not posted anything in a long time, because of a series of personal and professional issues that take most of our time. But now things seem to be coming back to normal, so we hope to update The Beautiful World more oftenly.

This time we won't go deep into any issue, but rather give emphasis on five beautiful songs from Japan and Korea, hoping that they will make your days and nights beautiful. All of the bands presented here compose great music, so we suggest you search more of their songs.

Kokia: Bird of Paradise

This flower was used for the cover of her first album 'Songbird'. And how fitting this is indeed. Far more suitable than the hibiskus flower of her nickname.

Kokia is the nickname of Akiko Yoshida. Can you see her inventiveness? A-KI-KO -> KO-KI-A. It's spelled backwards, signifying also her birth flower, a species of hibiskus flower. She may be quite humble and not particular cute for the standards of the japanese song industry, but her voice is stunning and full of surprises. For almost 2 decades she has given us a rich repertoire. She's 35 now and often performs in Europe, basing her activities in Paris. As she was sent a couple of times in America during summer for music classes, she is one of the very few artists speaking so clearly and fluently English. She came to be known through her songs for anime and games.

Serendipities- part 2

 How much more will I have to lose, before my heart is forgiven?
How many more pain will I have to suffer, to meet you once again?
One more time, oh seasons, don't disappear
One more time, the time when we were messing around

Celtic Magic

From Wikipedia:

Often, the term Celtic music is applied to the music of Ireland and Scotland because both lands have produced well-known distinctive styles which actually have genuine commonality and clear mutual influences; however, it is notable that Irish and Scottish traditional musicians themselves avoid the term "Celtic music," except when forced by the necessities of the market. The definition is further complicated by the fact that Irish independence has allowed Ireland to promote 'Celtic' music as a specifically Irish product. In reality, the terms 'Scots/Scottish' and 'Irish' are purely modern geographical references to a people who share a common Celtic ancestry and consequently, a common musical heritage.

[...]Critics of the idea of modern Celtic music claim that the idea is the creation of modern marketing designed to stimulate regional identity in the creation of a consumer niche.

 Marketing or not, it's such joyful and mystical music. It makes you wanna dance! I love it!

Winter songs- because Christmas is international

Cardcaptor Sakura by CLAMP

Christmas is a holiday that although has Christian roots has reached almost every corner of the earth and is celebrated by million people of different races and religions. In my country 99,9% of the songs we listen to have to do only with Jesus, God, angels and mages. In English... that's another story. There are many that aren't religion-oriented and of course I don't talk about the traditional ones. So I felt the need to search for seasonal songs that don't tie anyone with their meaning and lyrics, including me, who I don't believe in any religion; plus some extraordinare and not the usual ones, that just 'sell'.

Will you follow me for a pleasant -and even thoughtful at times- listen?

When angels touch my heart : transcending classical pieces

Thy Angel's Song by Angel-Zakuro on animepaper- based on You Higuri's art

There are times when you hear a melody and immediately you feel drawn to it. And beyond your religious beliefs, you feel that something divine blessed you; that perhaps you connected with an ethereal sphere or the universe. Phrase it as you want to.

stop-move-stop-move... + music = great stop-motion music videos

The sound of water makes her dream
Awoken by a cloud of steam
She pours a daydream in a cup
A spoon of sugar sweetens up

I’d give it all to you
The feelings in my heart
There’s nothing I won’t do

And because You Tube makes our lives sometimes harder... Sia's Breathe me in a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghPcYqn0p4Y&p=1F00ACE06BC31D07&playnext=1&index=13
I couldn't embed it :(

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
I'm needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

CODE NAME: CREATIVITY- TEDster's come-back

creativity by wesso85 on deviantart

Here we have another two speeches,both of which we have hosted here and here, from two very intelligent and distiguished individuals. They talk to us about different aspects of creativity: Sir Ken Robinson links creativity to education and to a revolution the education system needs; Lawrence Lessig links creativity to laws, freedom and socialibilty.
Follow up some really clever typography/ graphic design works about creativity and some recommendations for watch.

A singing bird : Maaya Sakamoto

Maaya Sakamoto with Kobato, Suu(Clover) and Sakura Kinomoto(Cardcaptor Sakura)

The above illustration is by CLAMP. That's pretty natural isn't it? Maaya Sakamoto has tied her name very strongly with anime adaptions of CLAMP's works (Cardcaptor Sakura, Clover, Clamp School Detectives, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles). But that's not where Maaya started from...

create-rip-mix-burn : a whole new culture

And you may wonder what this picture is all about and how does it relate to the 'pirate' processes most of us follow at home. If you want to know more, follow me after the link. Two TEDsters will enlighten you; the first one sharing his opinion about the laws protecting copyrights in society of information we live in and the second one talks about a pioneering 'legal piracy' that helps teachers teach in a whole new fascinating way.

Animation in Music Videos

It's in the Rain
Ανέβηκε από RavenTV.







I really like these tidbits of animation in music videos. This contrast of (moving) 2d and 3d world creates a unique atmosphere with beautiful results. If you have in mind more such examples, please, link me :)