HarvesterOfEyes

As a Portuguese who was alive (albeit a kid) in the 90s, I can summarize this as we didn't have enough resources (both human and monetary) to keep enforcing the U.S. drug war model. Since it wasn't working and we were reaching a critical situation (like half of Lisbon in particular was filled with drug addicts shooting heroin up their veins), we turned to the experts.

The article implies this was a decision made from the beginning of this epidemic, but it was pretty much a last resort because the other model was unsustainable for the government. Not sure if we would've adopted it if we had US' resources.

Also, just giving context here, not trying to diminish this accomplishment.

Portuguese here. This is anecdotal evidence but, as far as I can tell, a lot of our proficiency comes, essentially, to constant exposure to the English language since the early to mid-90s. We don't dub English-speaking media (apart from movies and tv shows more aimed at kids, but even then, Cartoon Network didn't even have subs when I was a kid and I still watched it religiously), the video games we played when we were kids also didn't have a Portuguese language option so we were basically forced to learn English.

And now that the Internet has become widespread throughout the country, the younger generation consume a lot of English-speaking content, so they have little trouble with speaking and writing in it.

This results in a good % of the population having decent to good English, not just the kids but a lot of people in their 30s (and some in their 40s) too.

I guess, haha. Not like we care all that much, though, if it's good music, that's all that matters. When I listened to the song you posted, I was reminded of YUKI, although they're quite a bit different. YUKI has more arrangements and incorporates more instruments into her songs. Also, her voice is a bit weird, being very nasal, but I really love it, makes her have a very unique tone.

Kenji Kawai is such an amazing composer. I didn't know about that particular composition you linked to (and thank you for sharing, it's great!) but I know he made soundtracks for both Ghost in the Shell animated movies, which are so, so good. Here's what I think is a medley of the Ghost in the Shell soundtrack played live. It opens with Making of a Cyborg, one of the most iconic pieces of the first movie.

I also really liked the 2nd song! I'm not sure but is her name Hako Yamasaki? Just so I can look for more of her stuff.

Aside from Mad World by Gary Jules and *Everything's alright" by Laura Shigihara, which have already been mentioned, I have a few off the top of my head:

• Keiichi Okabe - Weight of the World/English Version. Going with this one just because I've heard most recently. Every version is great, though.
• Nobuo Uematsu - Aerith's Theme. Orchestral version for maximum feels.
• Nobuo Uematsu - Tifa's Theme. I always liked the Advent Children version best.

Not much of a country music listener but I've really liked Townes van Zandt, namely because of a tribute album made by various members of sludge/post-metal bands like Scott Kelly, Steve von Til and John Baizley. It's more on the introspective and melancholic side but I think it's also a bit different from a lot of other recommended artists/bands on this thread.

In most games, when there's an option to play as a man or as a woman, I generally choose to play as a dude because...I'm a dude. I guess it helps to immerse myself in the game but I never really gave it much thought beyond that. But in my second playthrough, if it's something like an RPG or anything like that, I usually switch to a girl just to see different story paths, conversations, personality even.

Except for fighting games. I've been telling myself it's because I love fast, rushdown characters like Millia Rage or Cammy. I even managed to fool myself into thinking it was because I used to do the martial art they're representing, like Lidia Sobieska from Tekken. Which is technically true, they have to have a play style I like.

But along comes Granblue and I'm torn between two characters: the badass old man brawler that is Soriz and zoner archer lady Metera. And at this point, I can't lie to myself anymore and will probably play Metera because she's a woman and she's hot.

TL;DR: I like women and they're hot.

I'll chime in and suggest PC, as you can probably get them at a lower price than on PS4.

I'll add Mamoru Miyano to the list.

EDIT: Also, Jouji Nakata aka Alucard from Hellsing.

I'm ashamed to say I've never watched Initial D. But it's on my watchlist.

Not necessarily a song but a whole sub-genre: Eurobeat. It started with Running in the 90s and I just went from there to listening and thoroughly enjoying pretty much the whole Initial D soundtrack.

Really? This is ridiculous! How many parts are in this part?