A little about me:
- Name: Mark
- Age: 20
- Hobbies: Listening to/playing music (guitar and keys), watching/discussing anime (don't do as much watching as I would like to), playing video games every now and then
- Favorite genres of music: rock, jazz, classical, hip-hop
- Profile picture is Abigail Jones from Great Pretender.
- Apparently, I'm an INTP-T, but I'm not sure how true to my personality that actually is.
A few...
- Likes: pizza - music - anime - manga - being alone - junk food - mustard - Coca-Cola
- Dislikes: studying - getting up early - mayo - pickles - (most) cooked vegetables - exercise - dramatic irony
List Notes:
- Ratings are sort of a mix of quality and enjoyment. I'll hopefully be able to refine the system someday.
- If you're wondering why my ratings are pretty low compared to most other "new" anime fans, I just haven't come across many anime/manga I believe are 8 or higher.
- I usually watch dub but am not above watching sub also.
Milestones:
- 1st Anime Completed: Great Pretender (March 11, 2021)
- 10th Anime Completed: Banana Fish (July 6, 2021)
- 25th Anime Completed: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 3: Stardust Crusaders (November 30, 2021)
- 50th Anime Completed: Great Teacher Onizuka (August 1, 2022)
- 75th Anime Completed: SHOCK! (February 3, 2023)
- 1st Episode Watched: Great Pretender – “CASE1_1: Los Angeles Connection” (March 5, 2021)
- 100th Episode Watched: Samurai Champloo – “Hellhounds for Hire (Part 2)” (April 16, 2021)
- 200th Episode Watched: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken - "New York's JoJo" (June 26, 2021)
- 250th Episode Watched: Shingeki no Kyojin - "The Response / Attack on Trost, Part 6" (August 6, 2021)
- 300th Episode Watched: Hunter x Hunter (2011) - "Pursuit x and x Analysis" (September 3, 2021)
- 400th Episode Watched: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 3: Stardust Crusaders - "Judgment, Part 1" (November 23, 2021)
- 500th Episode Watched: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 4: Diamond wa Kudakenai - "Shigechi's Harvest, Part 2" (January 11, 2022)
- 600th Episode Watched: Mob Psycho 100: "An Invite to a Meeting: Simply Put, I Just Want to Be Popular" (February 26, 2022)
- 700th Episode Watched: Great Teacher Onizuka: "GTO - The Legend Begins" (May 27, 2022)
- 750th Episode Watched: Hunter x Hunter (2011) - "An x Indebted x Insect" (June 20, 2022)
- 800th Episode Watched: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 5: Ougon no Kaze - "Diavolo Surfaces" (July 9, 2022)
- 900th Episode Watched: Space*Dandy - "I'm Never Remembering You, Baby" (October 21, 2022)
- 1000th Episode Watched: Death Note - "Overcast" (December 24, 2022)
[stopped keeping track after this]
- 1st Manga Started: One Punch Man (August 5, 2021)
- 10th Manga Started: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 1: Phantom Blood (December 22, 2021)
- 25th Manga Started: Futsuu ni Kiite Kure (July 7, 2022)
- 50th Manga Started: One Piece (January 2, 2023)
- 75th Manga Started: Bokura no Funkasai (December 18, 2023)
- 1st Manga Completed: Uzumaki (September 7, 2021)
- 10th Manga Completed: 1-nichi Go ni Shinu Gorilla (July 12, 2022)
- 25th Manga Completed: Shimanami Tasogare (March 26, 2023)
Anime:
Master - 4/10
Spring - 4/10
Manga:
The Girl That Can't Get a Girlfriend - 5/10
Sofa-chan - 4/10
1-nichi Go ni Shinu Gorilla - 3/10
I'm taking two online asynchronous classes right now but have been keeping busy with other things like volunteering at a food pantry, playing guitar, and just attending various events really.
By the way, I just checked out your club and your vinyl wishlist, and I gotta say your picks are based, as per usual! You are the resident classic rock expert of MyAnimeList, undoubtedly. You should be a real DJ, man. You're a great musician in your own right as well as a tastemaker. (I did also listen to your track Molly Ringwald on Spotify and I enjoyed it. I heard some Elton John influence in there, if that makes sense.)
I want to get The Whos' "Tommy" and "Who's Next" on vinyl myself. Those records remind me of one of my favorite music films, "Almost Famous" (trailer)
One of my favorite clips from the film is this scene: https://youtu.be/6m3xLgI1HLc?si=UqNT9EeuFx-BQxiJ
...which also contains my favorite line of the whole movie: "In 11 years, it's gonna be 1984, man. Think about THAT!"
Anyhoo, I feel tempted now to flood your comments with 60s obscurities (as well as modern baroque pop) I think you will like; but I don't want to be inconsiderate in doing so all at once. So I'll edit this comment as I keep remembering recommendations that I anticipate will resonate with yewww~ 🌼
JK & Co - Suddenly One Summer (this record contains one of my favorite obscurities of the 60s, "Fly")
The Flames - Soulfire!! (featuring "Solitude")
The Bee Gees - Bee Gees 1st (showing their roots as a psychedelic rock band. I particularly enjoy the track “Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You”)
All amazing picks. I also enjoy "Help Me Rhonda," "Surfin' Safari" and of course, "Don't Worry Baby." I fell in love with the song upon seeing it featured in this scene from the Drew Barrymore film, "Never Been Kissed." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEY2L9sXjwU
Ahh, you're right about the calibration issues with the game; it must be the incompatible TV that's causing the issue. At the end of 2023, I finally got my first modern TV; just a 32-inch, small standing flatscreen, but it's fine for my purposes of gaming. Before that, I was relying on a bulky TV from 2008 which was just not ideal. It's still in the house in case I ever want to use it for the PS2 again, but that old thing was definitely not the best fit for my modern games (Switch and PS4.)
CRT's are impractical when it comes to weight and the (lack of) space I personally, currently have. But one day I'd love to buy myself one of those cute, early 2000s CRT's that was made for kids.
Aww yeah, that's the thing, the game uses such outdated technology that it can be really frustrating to calibrate. It gives me lots of the same errors too now. Hard to properly sync up the visuals/sounds to the TV, even after doing the manual calibration in the menu so many times. Lowkey I guess my guitar controllers are kinda breaking/half-broken from having been stuck in storage for multiple years.
I'd probably have an easier/funner time emulating the game, but I don't currently have any device powerful enough to be capable of that. One day for sure I ought to build myself a gaming PC
What are your favorite Beach Boys songs?
Also, I think I recall you had asked me a few questions before about my thoughts on Pet Sounds and "Don't talk: put your head on my shoulder"? I don't remember the precise question, though, but I'd be happy to oblige with a real, lengthy answer now :3
I never fully conquered "I Me Mine" either. To be completely honest, I find that song a bit overwhelming/unpleasant to listen to anyway. It's fairly chaotic compared to the standard George Harrison-led composition
The White Album is all over the place but that's what's interesting about it. It was The Beatles' brief experimental era~
I love how the Rock Band video game has the super cute, lil' 3D modeled Beatles. The visuals of the game are charmingly outdated. They tried to get as close to reality as possible (which was difficult during the Wii/Xbox 360 era when the game came out)
The game's portrayal of the Rooftop Concert is probably my favorite. I cried laughing while playing the game with some school friends once in 2011.
I had a friend who was trained in actual, operatic singing and the way she belted out "While my guitar gently weeps" was the funniest/coolest thing ever. I couldn't contain my laughter at how dramatic her rendition was.
Heck yes I did! The Beatles Rock Band was my favorite game when I was 14. It comforted me every day to come home and play it on the Wii. <3 <3 <3
Your picks are fantastic. Martha My Dear is a cute, albeit underrated track. I love the backstory behind it (it was dedicated to Paul McCharmly's sheepdog.)
I would guess you're also an "Obla Di, Obla Da" fan? I love the polka influences embedded in that song.
My top 10 favorite Beatles songs (all about equal as to how much I love them):
Hey Jude
Within You, Without You
A Day in the Life
Across the Universe
Because
Yesterday
Blue Jay Way
Strawberry Fields Forever
She Loves You
While my guitar gently weeps
Lower priority favorites but still bangers:
Helter Skelter (one of the OG metal songs, which got banned on radio stations at the time, because Charles Manson exploited the song and said "it made him want to start a race war." I think less than a year after this song was released, the Manson Murders of a heavily pregnant Sharon Tate + her loved ones occurred. This made the Beatles feel guilty because they never intended to incite such violence just by making one heavy metal record.)
Now and Then (lowkey too sad to have in my daily rotation; but still a beautiful song, when I'm in the mood for it)
It Won't Be Long
All My Loving
And I Love Her (sampled by Lana Del Rey for the song "West Coast)
Paperback Writer
Eleanor Rigby
Penny Lane
Day Tripper
Norwegian Wood
Tell Me Why
Love Me Do
Boys
Something (At the time of the song's release, Frank Sinatra said he believed it was "the greatest love song ever recorded," which was a high honor)
My favorite Beatles covers:
Roll Over Beethoven
Twist and Shout
Shout parts 1 and 2 (Isley Brothers cover)
Be bop a lula (a rare recording from before the Beatles were even called the Beatles - Nowhere Boy is a great film that chronicles their early journey, mainly through Lennon's perspective)
Perfect answer, as expected from the Top Music Expert Guy of MAL *thumbs up*
I agree with you on everything you said there. I recall that I got lightly teased for being "the Beatles girl" in school. A few of my classmates (in my mostly homogenous, Latin community) would say "it's only for white people." Or, for example, one girl (whom I thought was my best friend, but actually loved to gossip about me behind my back) made fun of me for being obsessed with the song Hey Jude because "it sounded like a gospel song." She also thought it was annoying that I tried to sing the song with a Liverpool accent. I just loved Paul McCartney and aspired to become just like him, is all.
Anyway, I digress. Personally, I found that expanding my musical horizons to British Invasion artists opened my heart to learn about musical traditions worldwide, by extension.
Getting into The Beatles gave me my first taste of sitar music. I went on to become a dedicated, practicing yogi later in life (starting around 19-21). It was always important to me not to be an Orientalist or fetishist. I have always respected the roots of yoga and meditation as an Indian/Hindu practice.
Being a Beatles fan basically was my personality for the first 2 years of high school. I only ever stopped listening to my favorite band because I got tired of the label and the spotlight it put on me, so to speak.
My high school music teacher taught me that a lot of Eastern music was based on the Pentatonic Scales. When I showed him the Touhou song I wanted to learn how to play on piano ("Broken Moon") he sort of made fun of me in front of the other classmates. Teach said, "that sounds like it's from an anime or video game" (which, yes, he was not wrong about that.)
I have often used sitar music, Chinese guzheng music, and Japanese shamisen/koto music for meditations or to calm me down.
Couldn't agree more. Bochhi-chan (Hitori) is one the most annoying anime girls I've ever seen. Her anxiety tantrums were just so over-exaggerated, unnatural, stupid and ridiculously clumsy. And unlike you I actually tolerated all of that annoying non-sense and went on to finish the show, which made me hate the show even more.
All Comments (2169) Comments
How is college going for u?
I want to get The Whos' "Tommy" and "Who's Next" on vinyl myself. Those records remind me of one of my favorite music films, "Almost Famous" (trailer)
One of my favorite clips from the film is this scene: https://youtu.be/6m3xLgI1HLc?si=UqNT9EeuFx-BQxiJ
...which also contains my favorite line of the whole movie: "In 11 years, it's gonna be 1984, man. Think about THAT!"
Anyhoo, I feel tempted now to flood your comments with 60s obscurities (as well as modern baroque pop) I think you will like; but I don't want to be inconsiderate in doing so all at once. So I'll edit this comment as I keep remembering recommendations that I anticipate will resonate with yewww~ 🌼
JK & Co - Suddenly One Summer (this record contains one of my favorite obscurities of the 60s, "Fly")
The Flames - Soulfire!! (featuring "Solitude")
The Bee Gees - Bee Gees 1st (showing their roots as a psychedelic rock band. I particularly enjoy the track “Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You”)
Ahh, you're right about the calibration issues with the game; it must be the incompatible TV that's causing the issue. At the end of 2023, I finally got my first modern TV; just a 32-inch, small standing flatscreen, but it's fine for my purposes of gaming. Before that, I was relying on a bulky TV from 2008 which was just not ideal. It's still in the house in case I ever want to use it for the PS2 again, but that old thing was definitely not the best fit for my modern games (Switch and PS4.)
CRT's are impractical when it comes to weight and the (lack of) space I personally, currently have. But one day I'd love to buy myself one of those cute, early 2000s CRT's that was made for kids.
I'm thinking something along these lines:
https://www.reddit.com/r/crtgaming/comments/15mxz4c/newest_crt_tv_its_hello_kitty_themed_model_no/?rdt=57464
That Reddit user is living mah dream~
I also love the SpongeBob CRT models I've seen:
https://www.reddit.com/r/crtgaming/comments/132se0r/being_that_i_can_effortlessly_quote_the_first/
I'm lucky to have a pre-loved SpongeBob PS2 controller just like this, which makes me happy every time I see it (one of my favorite visual stims in my room!!) https://us.amazon.com/PS2-SpongeBob-SquarePants-Control-Playstation-2/dp/B0000ALQA7
I'd probably have an easier/funner time emulating the game, but I don't currently have any device powerful enough to be capable of that. One day for sure I ought to build myself a gaming PC
What are your favorite Beach Boys songs?
Also, I think I recall you had asked me a few questions before about my thoughts on Pet Sounds and "Don't talk: put your head on my shoulder"? I don't remember the precise question, though, but I'd be happy to oblige with a real, lengthy answer now :3
The White Album is all over the place but that's what's interesting about it. It was The Beatles' brief experimental era~
I love how the Rock Band video game has the super cute, lil' 3D modeled Beatles. The visuals of the game are charmingly outdated. They tried to get as close to reality as possible (which was difficult during the Wii/Xbox 360 era when the game came out)
The game's portrayal of the Rooftop Concert is probably my favorite. I cried laughing while playing the game with some school friends once in 2011.
I had a friend who was trained in actual, operatic singing and the way she belted out "While my guitar gently weeps" was the funniest/coolest thing ever. I couldn't contain my laughter at how dramatic her rendition was.
Your picks are fantastic. Martha My Dear is a cute, albeit underrated track. I love the backstory behind it (it was dedicated to Paul McCharmly's sheepdog.)
I would guess you're also an "Obla Di, Obla Da" fan? I love the polka influences embedded in that song.
My top 10 favorite Beatles songs (all about equal as to how much I love them):
Hey Jude
Within You, Without You
A Day in the Life
Across the Universe
Because
Yesterday
Blue Jay Way
Strawberry Fields Forever
She Loves You
While my guitar gently weeps
Lower priority favorites but still bangers:
Helter Skelter (one of the OG metal songs, which got banned on radio stations at the time, because Charles Manson exploited the song and said "it made him want to start a race war." I think less than a year after this song was released, the Manson Murders of a heavily pregnant Sharon Tate + her loved ones occurred. This made the Beatles feel guilty because they never intended to incite such violence just by making one heavy metal record.)
Now and Then (lowkey too sad to have in my daily rotation; but still a beautiful song, when I'm in the mood for it)
It Won't Be Long
All My Loving
And I Love Her (sampled by Lana Del Rey for the song "West Coast)
Paperback Writer
Eleanor Rigby
Penny Lane
Day Tripper
Norwegian Wood
Tell Me Why
Love Me Do
Boys
Something (At the time of the song's release, Frank Sinatra said he believed it was "the greatest love song ever recorded," which was a high honor)
My favorite Beatles covers:
Roll Over Beethoven
Twist and Shout
Shout parts 1 and 2 (Isley Brothers cover)
Be bop a lula (a rare recording from before the Beatles were even called the Beatles - Nowhere Boy is a great film that chronicles their early journey, mainly through Lennon's perspective)
I agree with you on everything you said there. I recall that I got lightly teased for being "the Beatles girl" in school. A few of my classmates (in my mostly homogenous, Latin community) would say "it's only for white people." Or, for example, one girl (whom I thought was my best friend, but actually loved to gossip about me behind my back) made fun of me for being obsessed with the song Hey Jude because "it sounded like a gospel song." She also thought it was annoying that I tried to sing the song with a Liverpool accent. I just loved Paul McCartney and aspired to become just like him, is all.
Anyway, I digress. Personally, I found that expanding my musical horizons to British Invasion artists opened my heart to learn about musical traditions worldwide, by extension.
Getting into The Beatles gave me my first taste of sitar music. I went on to become a dedicated, practicing yogi later in life (starting around 19-21). It was always important to me not to be an Orientalist or fetishist. I have always respected the roots of yoga and meditation as an Indian/Hindu practice.
Being a Beatles fan basically was my personality for the first 2 years of high school. I only ever stopped listening to my favorite band because I got tired of the label and the spotlight it put on me, so to speak.
My high school music teacher taught me that a lot of Eastern music was based on the Pentatonic Scales. When I showed him the Touhou song I wanted to learn how to play on piano ("Broken Moon") he sort of made fun of me in front of the other classmates. Teach said, "that sounds like it's from an anime or video game" (which, yes, he was not wrong about that.)
I have often used sitar music, Chinese guzheng music, and Japanese shamisen/koto music for meditations or to calm me down.
Beatles or Stones?
https://youtu.be/kLWSQRNnGY8?si=BjabZ9nvdcaR2EBG