"Mind you, sometimes the angels smoke, hiding it with their sleeves, and when the archangel comes, they throw the cigarettes away: that's when you get shooting stars." -Vladimir Nabokov; written in a letter adressed to his wife as he was still trying to quit smoking
Hello there and welcome to my humble abode! Please do wipe your feet on the way in. My name is Xavier and I enjoy indulging in anything artsy and/or meaningful (although I'd prefer a balanced mix of the two). This is my webbed site, coded from scratch with lots of love and inexperience. Please bear with me as I continue to learn HTML!
This site is responsive, although best viewed on a 1920 x 1080 screen (forwarning, this site will look ridiculous on one of those super big monitors). Please enjoy yourself!!
An overbearing longing for authentic creation and expression online once overtook me. Crush this up with a frustration towards the modern web of only corporations, limitations, and profit, and you have the perfect recipe for exactly what inspired me to make this site.
That being said, I mainly use this site to keep a Blog (and some legible records of my interests) about politics, sociology, and my interests that I adore particularly for their involvement with philosophy, history, and the arts. I hope to inspire others to look into their own interests a little deeper, too.
Angelic Conversation is the name of the seventh out of ten tracks by Buck-Tick released in 1989 on their fourth album, Taboo.
Here is the official music video and a clip of them performing the song live in 2017.
Warning: There is a clip of an animal giving birth in the music video. Be wary. I have provided a clip of the song in concert for those unable to watch the music video.
In an interview with Imai (who composed the music and wrote the lyrics), he said this about the song:
"Well, it's about a dialogue with an angel," Imai began. "I got really into the idea of heaven and angels when we were doing Seventh Heaven. But in this song, the devils look like angels, and they're really tiny, but their wings are devil wings. And you've got lots of angels over here, and then there's a little devil watching them. He's like a bat, and he's stuck in this tower-like place. I saw an illistration like that in a book, and I just felt so sorry for the little devil. Because devils aren't all bad, you know. That's what I thought. So basically, the theme of the song is people, as divine beings."
Translation by Cayce
Although this song was written when the members had yet to become the musical and philosophical geniuses that they are, this is still a terribly beautiful song that brings me to tears. It feels completely and utterly "in love with the world." Even better, it feels like a love letter to mankind.
I'd consider it safe you assume that you're wondering who the guy all over your screen is (if you even realized that it is, in fact, all the same guy). Unless you're on mobile, of course. I encourage you mobile users to please consider revisiting this site on a dekstop!
The man is question is named Atsushi Sakurai (first, last). Even the cursor you're using right now is his official plushie released in 2020 (although it changes to Imai's when you hover on links). If you couldn't tell already, I am a huge fan of his. There are also lots of cats on this site not only because I love them, but because he happened to love them as well.
Mr. Sakurai remained Buck-Tick's main lyricist and sole vocalist for the entirety of his life. He was a man of integrity and dedication. If you listen to just two clips of his voice just a couple years apart, it'll become apparent that he was always, always trying to improve as a vocalist and a person. He is a legend among Japanese music and has been called by many great musicians, "an extraordinary vocalist." More than anything, he was dedicated to his career and felt obligated to give only the best quality audio and visuals to his fans.
He was a lover of all things gothic. Lyricism was his outlet, if not his meaning, in life. He picked his sentences meticulously, even down to the very last word (que the documentaries of his lyric sheets with most of the words crossed out and re-writtten). He said that singing and writing saved his life and felt like they were what he was meant to do.
What I find so fascinating about him isn't his otherworldly vocal skills, but his intelligence. He wrote with such expertise about art history, history in general, philosophy, psychology, and many fine artists he enjoyed. I've haven't even mentioned the fact that he was, although intimated by the pressure on Japanese musicians to stay quiet about politics, extremely political.
Atsushi made this world a more musical and beautiful place to be in for many people, scowering from his many fans all the way to the many people benefited by the charities that Buck-Tick has donted to so many times. His words have filled the hearts of many.
All in all, he was an incredible man who left us too soon, at only age 57 in 2023. All of those who love him wish to continue his legacy by remembering him and continuing to support Buck-Tick. Remember, Buck-Tick will always be 5.
This site was coded by hand with much love and tears. Thanks so much for stopping by! Don't forget your umbrella on the way out. ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚