There's a Japanese manga-to-anime-based television series from 2006 called "Nodame Cantabile" that I discovered through my almost-otaku, self-proclaimed hentai (not in the perverted sense) cousin Iam (Yami-chan!). It centers on Chiaki Shinichi, a piano student with ambitions of becoming a famous conductor, and Noda Megumi, his next-door neighbor and fellow piano student, who immediately falls in love after a performing a piano duet with him. I love it so much that I won't let a day pass without re-watching my favorite scenes from the dvd or playing Beethoven's symphony no.7 and Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, two orchestra pieces among dozens that make up the soundtrack of the show. I won't pretend to be familiar with classical music -- only recently I could only recognize and name Pachelbel's Canon in D (because it's in such popular demand as a wedding march) and Rossini's William Tell Overture (while still occasionally forgetting the composer's name). I have a "Classical for Beginners" cd that I listen to from time to time, but I have trouble remembering symphony titles and the composers, and all that sticks in my memory is that the Mussorgsky piece sounds like something that was used for the Star Wars films. I still can't tell a Mozart symphony from a Beethoven, but at least now I can recognize S#7 when I hear it, and salute the great Ludwig. The wonderful thing about this show is that it pumps anime comedy into stodgy classical music, and the result is absolutely brilliant. And then there is Tamaki Hiroshi who's spot-on perfect as Chiaki -- snooty, uptight, gifted and so beautiful that even if he lets fly a dozen anime wallops at poor lovesick Nodame throughout the series, she still won't give up on him. I wouldn't either, if I were next-door neighbors to a kawaii music god who will feed me and clean my apartment while still managing to keep his hair perfectly in place. I love you too, Chiaki-senpai !!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment