Good ideas for vacation?

It's less than a month now to vacation. What do you plan to do over the New Year's break? I'm going to visit my family in the US and go to a history conference, but sitting in an onsen, and visiting my Japanese in-laws, are other options that are nice for the winter vacation.

What are your plans? Do you have any good suggestions? Any good places to go?

Anyone know where this is?

Amazing grace

I think Amazing Grace is a wonderful song.
The reason is it has been loved and inherited by many people until today.
But There was the part which I was not able to hear well in the video. So, I examined it later.
John Newton who wrote the words has done a slave trade. However, when he encountered a storm in the ship, he prayed to God desperately. And he was helped. He got reverted afterwards and became a clergyman. This music was born to convey an amazing change of his mind.
　Not only the melody is nice, but the words and background are great.

How amazing it is!

I knew this warm song is sang by many people, but didn't understand people likes Amazing Grace so much. They are singing it anywhere, any time, for everything...from young to old, from in church to in prison. It is wonderful to enjoy sing songs, and this song gives us special impressions. Besides singing Amazing Grace is easy, after practice some time, you'll sing it soon!
By the way, the way of singing I like most is, in house, while they are cooking. It was like a gospel music wasn't it? I was belong to chorus club in junior high school, so I like singing too(nou I'm enjoy playing jazz!). Music is necessary for us, I believe.

Last Friday,I have having caught a cold , so I cannot seeing the movie. I'm sorry I cannot write my thoughts and impression about the movie...（>д<；）

Hello! I'm sorry , I was late about taking part in this blog.I cannot understand how to use the blog.
My name is Saori.Please call me Saori or Sao☆（＾∀＾）
I like eating☆ My hometown is Hokkaido.There are a lot of good seafoods in Hokkaido,so I like seafood very much.And my father is farmer.My family make a lot of food.For example,potato and corn …etc.
I like singing♪ I belong to a capella club. Singing is very fun!My favorite singer is aiko and KOBUKURO.Their songs are very good♪

Good bye next time ...

"AMAZING GRACE"...Everyone Loves the Song

I have heard "AMAZING GRACE" many times. But I don't know well about the words and the background. So watched the movie about "AMAZING GRACE", I could know about this song deeply for the first time.

The words of this song was written by John Newtonan. He was an English slaveship master and became an Anglican clergyman after his conversion to Christianity. During his navigation, he wrote the words of this song. He wanted to abolish slavery. Slave's past is sad and gross. And he hardly forgat about the lost life of slaves. So he wrote this for memorialize them.

Then this words were spread and came to be sung by many many people. Now, "AMAZING GRACE" is sung by most American. Prisoner also sing this song.

"AMAZING GRACE" is loved by everyone. And in America, children take over this song from their parents. Through this song people can connect with other people from the bottom of heart. Heard "AMAZING GRACE" , I 'm moved though I didn't know the meaning of the words.
It is maybe common feeling of all people. I want to know more about this song and share feelings with many people.

How sweet the sound

I like "Amazing Grace" very much. All the singer who songs this song has very beautiful and clear voice. When I hear this song, I feel myself relaxed. How sweet the sound!

I watch the documentary "Amazing Grace". I know this song is sung in various places. I find that the north place of America sing it but it is different from south place of America. I think this differnce stem from the number of black people. Black people sing it only their voice. On the other hand, white people sing it with musical instrument. I like the version without instrument.

According to the movie, the song was written by John Newton. But it isn't clear who made the music. He was a so-called black slave transport slaver trader. But When he experienced disaster, he got to believe God. So he decided to make songs for the atonement for sin.And he resigned a crew.

I think the song was made for not only himself but also every black people. John had some sort of regret. so this song is heard so sadly and holy.

(the lyrics)
Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I'm found,
Was blind, but now I see. ←this show his regret, I think.

But I didn't understand all because speakers speak to fast for me.

Amazing Grace!!

I watched this movie for the first time.
But I already knew the song,Amazing Grace.
Do you know Minako Honda?
She released CD recording this song.
Also,a lot of singers covered ths song.

Through this movie,I knew some facts about this song.
I knew...
Amazing Grace is sung by a lot of people in many countries.
There are various arrangements.
Many people inheriting this song from their parents.
This song is aometimes sung as anthem. And so on.

After I watched this movie,I searched the Internet
for this song(especially English lyric).
And I found a nice site.
This one
Please jump here and enjoy amazing sound!!:)

My feeling toward the documentary.

First, I want to say for Professor Philips "I enjoyed music".
I thought that Amazing Grace is strong music and very popular in America.
I understand that Amazing Grace is sung by a lot of people, and the sung time, place and occasion are many different kinds of after watching this documentary.
I like documentary: can hear frank opinions and can see various cultures.
However, I dislike tedious documentary.
Finally, I enjoyed Amazing Grace but couldn't get only half substance, because it is made up of English(^^;