Message-ID: <35239E23.4FE0@yamata.icu.ac.jp> Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 06:18:11 -0800 From: Kenji Shimizu To: megami@usagi.jrd.dec.com Subject: Re: SM Soundtracks? Reply-To: megami Sam wrote: > > > Given that and without sounding too condemning, I'd ask that you at least > > make every effort not to purchase SonMay CDs unless you happen to reside > > in Taiwan and have no other choice. I know the originals are expensive, > > but there are a lot of people who's paychecks are dependent upon people > > buying legitimate copies. A true fan, I would think, would want to reward > > the folks who brought him or her the music and anime they so enjoy. I'll > > get off of my soap box now. Thank you. > > I've got my own attitude to pirating. I grew up in Saudi Arabia, > where there were no originals, only Pirated copies of everything: ...I grew up in Bahrain, right next to Saudi Arabia... I didn't have any problems finding the original... -_-; (life must suck in Saudi...) > videos, music, hell sometimes magazines. Every video was a copy of > a copy of a copy and were almost unwatchable. All the music was done > by companies like 747, and hence the quality was apalling. ...videos, music, magazines, newspapers, heck, even FOOD I was able to get the ORIGINAL Japanese.... (even Japan airlines flew into Bahrain once a week ^_^;) > Son May's copies are at least musically replicas. ................. > Now don't think I'm supporting pirating. I was one of those rare > Amiga owners who went in for originals, and have never bought a > pirate in my life. I *do* own two Son May CDs (Mononke Hime and AMS > 97 Singles) but they were a gift from a friend :) > > The thing is, I wouldn't *want* a pirated version of something. It's > like copying things off TV - it *feels* like you've not got a proper > version. Buying pirated AMS CDs would feel like buying an issue of > the manga that was drawn by someone other than Fujishima. "But Sam" > you yell, "Son May copies are digitally identical!" The trouble is > that it doesn't *feel* the same. It doesn't come with 1) first press gifts, 2) nice booklets 3) other misc. stuff that comes with the original stuff... AMG singles (CD album, first one) is a VERY good example... (that THICK booklet (welll, a normal booklet, plus all those picture cards ^_^) THAT was worth my money (more then worth it ^_^) > There's one other issue to raise. I was looking at a friend's Son May > versions of some AMS and other CDs and they were of just as high a > presentation as western originals. Then I had a look at my own and > other people's original Japanese CDs, and the quality of presentation > is just phenomenally different. One gets so much more with a > _Japanese_ original. If a reader here doesn't get Les's morality > point or my "it still *feels* like a low grade copy" stand, at least > think about the fact that you get so much more with a Japanese > original. The booklet, etc. makes you feel that way, maybe...? ^_^; > Not to mention the fact the the folks who make the AMS CDs deserve > your money for making such wonderfully enjoyable music. (I've got to agree with this totaly ^_-) > Sam (who knows that Martin-san wasn't looking for a lecture, but > can't resist the need to rant ;) ^_^; Kenji Shimizu