Happy New Years from GTG!

We hope the New Year is starting off well for all of you. Have you made resolutions you plan to keep? We definitely hope so! That aside, let's start the New Year off with a bang. And speaking literally, let's talk about fireworks, the inspiration for this month's Mixtape theme, Flowers in the Sky.

Many of us party hard during the New Year. We gather with all our friends and countdown to the '0' that marks the start of a new beginning. Afterwards, we might like to find the best viewpoint and gaze at fireworks bursting in the night sky. That is inspiration for this month's Mixtape.

So what do fireworks mean to us? For some, fireworks represent the moments in life that last only for a blink of an eye. To some it might be the noise that comes with the explosions. And for some, it is the peace we feel when all those loud explosions melt together in total ambience.

So without further ado, please enjoy the musical journey that we at GTG would like to share with you.

Note: Make sure to test out our new comments section on the bottom. Thanks!

Pineapple Pocky's featured pick

Pineapple Pocky leads us with this explosive hit from the TV animation series, Gantz. Veteran Hip-Hop unit Rip Slyme lay down some lyrics that reflect the nature of the anime; guns a-blazing shooting through the opposition. To Pineapple Pocky the intensity of blazing guns is connected to the excitement of fireworks. On that note, make sure to check out the live action of Gantz, which hit U.S. theaters this month!

"I thought "bang! bang!" like an explosion of energy coming out. This song reminds me of how people should just live on the spur of the moment and enjoy what they have already and go for their dreams. Fireworks only happen so often, so you have to enjoy them when they happen."

Hai's featured pick

Hai contributes some moving Vocaloid tracks. Leading the pack is popular artist Halyosy, featuring Vocaloid Kagamine Len. To Hai, fireworks can represent moments that are in our life for only a blink. Vocaloid Len compares how these fire flowers in the sky are like his feelings of love. In case you didn't know, the Japanese word for 'fireworks' (hanabi) can be literally translated as 'fire flower'. Neat, huh?

"Sometimes, life's greatest moments happen in an instant, like a bright and spontaneous firework. However, they have the power to leave great impacts on our lives and are everlasting in our minds and hearts. In this song, the narrator (Kagamine Len) remembers his past love and how although their relationship was short, he cannot forget and will cherish it for times to come."

Matthias' featured pick

Matthias brings to us music from the memorable video game Okami. Full of references to traditional Japanese culture, the sumi-e-inspired visuals and music in the game bring magic and life to many old stories. The firework maker Tama, the character which the song is attributed to, was inspired by Tamaya Ichibee, one of the most famous firework-producing companies of the Edo Period (1603-1868). Make sure to check out the upcoming video game Marvel vs. Capcom 3, in which Okami's main character Amaterasu makes an explosive appearance!

"Considering it has firework noises in the song, I think it fits the bill. It's lively, with bursts of sound - just like the burst of fireworks."

Dear8lue's featured pick

dear8lue brings to us this classic from Fukuoka-raised rocker YUI. In case you're wondering why dear8lue chose a summer-themed song while it's still the dead of winter, it's because fireworks are not launched during New Year's Day in Japan. Instead, they light up the sky during the humid, summer nights.

"Fireworks in Japan always remind me of the summer time: the carnival atmosphere; the sights and smells and sounds; the many festivals that invariably greet its arrival and perpetuate throughout the season; vacations from class and the slow passing of lazy afternoons doing nothing much at all, and culminating in late evenings under illuminated skies. In our early days, we would wish for such times to go on forever, and could almost convince ourselves that they should never end... But as we grow up, we come to realize that such things cannot last, and must inevitably draw to a close. Just as fireworks illuminate the sky for a single, brilliant moment, but must eventually fade... Yet their after-images remain, and will linger in our memories long after they are gone..."

Elliot_G's featured pick

Elliot_G makes his contribution debut with a hit from the popular band Supercell. This song was also featured in the supernatural-themed TV animation Bakemonogatari. Another summer inspired-song, this contribution is a testament to the feelings one is filled with while gazing into a firework-lit sky.

"Coming from relative newcomers supercell (previously a group that did amazing things with the Vocaloid software), this song just makes me feel like it's Summer. And with Summer comes fireworks right? A strong piece of imagery I have when listening to this piece is that of friends sitting on the grass somewhere, watching the fireworks explode in the sky. It evokes an incredibly nostalgic feeling in me and I hope it does for the rest of you who give it a listen as well."

Deshi's featured pick

Deshi shines as being the only contributor of Korean music this month, bringing to us a hit from popular girl group 4minute. Rather than think of fireworks in the sky-gazing sense, Deshi thought of it as a reflection of how our favorite celebrities have their own era to shine. Also, the amazing pyrotechnics we witness at a live concert.

"I think about concerts where the stage would shoot out fireworks, sparks, fire and other exciting stuff. It also makes me think of how superstars are born. The shooting of fireworks into the sky is like the training building up to the explosion of their debut. Celebrities definitely shine. Even if it's for a brief moment, they give us a lasting memory."

Jangta's featured pick

To Jangta, fireworks call for celebration, as the famous duo m-flo and R&B singer Crystal Kay demonstrate after successfully stop a deadly meteorite from destroying the Earth! M-flo has jumpstarted and provided exposure to many blooming careers with their "Loves" series, including, but not limited to, EMYLI, Clazziquai, Monkey Majik, Hinouchi Emi, and of course their co-star in the featured video, Crystal Kay.

"What's better than m-flo singing? How about M-Flo teaming up with Crystal Kay to stop a meteor hitting the Earth. With great vocals by Ms. Kay, awesome hooks and beats by the m-flo duo, a Simon Says bomb, and fireworks in the end, who wouldn't like this catchy song. The meteors both remind me of the danger they pose in this MV, as well as the post-celebration of fireworks when they destroy the big meteor in the end."

Raymaru's Featured Pick

Finally, Raymaru brings to us a side and sound of Japanese music that many of us have been introduced to by hit TV animation Samurai Champloo. The show jumpstarted the popularity of Hip-Hop producers Nujabes, Force of Nature, Fat Jon, and others. However, while not contributing any of those artists, Raymaru demonstrates their influence by bringing to us a few more artists who come from the same realm.

"Fireworks are explosive, sure. But what I will share is not the loud noise you hear when you gaze at those burning flowers in the sky, but the feeling of peace that it brings to oneself. The loud booms and explosions ultimately blend together and become ambient, leaving your mind to draw pictures in the sky with the ink the explosions provide. I definitely started this New Year with a sense of inner peace. Although living in Japan prevents me from gazing at fireworks during this special time, this music always reminds me of the feelings I hold."