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I know that this is a video game blog and that most of you probably could care less about some Japanese Band that you've never heard of, but this is also a site for opinions and new perspectives, so for those who take the time to read this post...thank you.
When I wrote the title for this post, maybe I should have wrote it as I Wish You Guys Understood. There's a lot about Japanese Music and the language that I still can't understand. But I've spent maybe the last 3 years of my life digging around the surface. I know that to some of you, music is music. Maybe it all sounds the same, and I've heard the same argument when it comes to Japanese Rock. It sounds like any other type of rock and roll, except that it's in Japanese.
Some of this it true. After the war, Japan was largely influenced by the West. But anytime you adopt something, you make it your own and it takes on your characteristic. That is what has happened on many occasions in Japan, such as baseball. The same is so with America and adopting things like hamburgers and pizza from other cultures.
But I'm getting a little off topic. I wish that you guys could understand the song above. Even more, I wish I could fully understand it. Since you guys probably don't know, the band is Southern All Stars. They been around since the 1970s and have often times been credited as the most influential band in Japan. Ray Charles even covered one of their songs adapting it into the song, Ellie My Love.
I posted a live version of this song because the PV version is not all that interesting and this way you can see some of the band members and them actually playing their instruments. But the song and the lyrics are what really make the song. One of the things that singer Kuwata Keisuke does extremely well is that he has a firm grasp on the intonation of speaking in English. I don't know how his actual English proficiency is but he is able to mimic the way it would sound if any native speaker were singing it. That coupled with the way Japanese musicians mix English into their lyrics, makes songs like these uniquely South All Stars.
That's a dynamic that absolutely love in foreign music. Their ability to throw in English in sometimes seemingly random lines. You'll rarely see musicians in this country throw out lines of another other language largely due to the fact that English is one of the most common and widely accepted languages. But I think that's a dynamic that's lost or misunderstood. I feel it gives songs a quality that reaches out and gives music something to relate to.
Going back to talking about this particular song and the way to moves me. There is always a simplicity to Japanese music that is lost in America. English may be slapped together not making a normal thought, but if you look at it literally and with an open mind it makes perfect sense. For instance, even the title Rock N Roll Superman. No one would say something like that here in the states. But if you think about it, it kinda makes sense is almost a pre-school translation.
There's also a line where he says Anata no Ai de makes me smile, which translates to Your Love Makes Me Smile.
The simplicity and boldness behind that statement is something that I'll never forget and that made me write this blog post in the first place. That stadium they played in is huge. There are so many people at that concert. But I'm still floored by the fact that even though this band is huge in Japan and almost every body knows them. It's a big world. And still so many more people don't even know who they are.
When listening to this song, please try to piece together a meaning of your own by clues given in the English and also how the song sounds overall.
Thanks for listening,
David
PS - The opening with the strings coming in, still gives me chills. This warm feeling blankets me and I can't help but feel good.
Comments
14 years, 7 months ago
Wow, as much as i Love japanese rock music, one of my least favorite things is usually the gratuitous english that is used in them. But your totally right, for some reason that guy is able to say the words perfectly. It ends up being a very cool song.
Good post.
14 years, 7 months ago
You know what song exists in Japanese with lyrics that I cannot find a match for in English?
JAM Project - GONG
http://anisondream.wordpress.com/2006/04/25/gong-by-jam-project-2/
Songs like these, and the one you've mentioned, are reasons why I stick to the Japanese music scene myself. It's unique, and something you just can't find elsewhere.
14 years, 7 months ago
...and I really should've linked to the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiwRcOtwQDc
14 years, 7 months ago
I really like Japanese music but some of them seems to have random English in them, but when you translate like you did with the sentence "Anata no Ai de makes me smile, which translates to Your Love Makes Me Smile" it kinda makes sense. Great vid btw, added it to my favorites ;D
14 years, 7 months ago
I'm not going to pretend that I am a huge fan of Japanese music, I will hear an occasional Japanese song which I enjoy, but I don't really belive that japanese music is better than western music (nor do I think it's any worse) I also agree with DainLidra, as I always feel that the English in foreign songs detracts from their culture.
What I wanted to say was that I'm glad to hear your opinion on the subject, and think that you should keep it up. Their is nothing wrong with offering a little musical education, and those who complain should not keep you fromn doing so
14 years, 7 months ago
Oh, look at all the lonely people.
*Ahem* Catchy lil' song though. =3 I think the most 'American' music that'll use phrases or words from other languages would use Spanish. I'm fairly certain there's at least a few mainstream songs that do that... Or maybe i'm just delusional. At the very least 'Livin' la vida loca' or whatever... Though I 'spose that's a bit of a stretch.
14 years, 7 months ago
That was quite nice to listen to. I haven't really heard that kind of Japanese rock when most of the time I would assume that people are into things like T.M. Revolution or Gackt or something. I'm personally more of an "Access" person myself. But yes, I mostly see the kind of JRock with hard beats and techno, mixed into it and it's nice to hear something that's very mellow but upbeat and catchy at the same time.
As for the whole English into the lyrics thing, it's not that North America doesn't adopt other cultures into their way of life but it's the fact, especially, the U.S., that it becomes assimilated into their culture instead, the whole "Melting Pot" thing.
When it comes to music, I'm pretty much open for anything, any kind of genre, and perhaps any kind of language. I remember the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics just a few months back. I was surprised to see the number of Canadian artists that sung that night. And then, out of nowhere, I came across a wonderful song, "Emmene-moi" sung by French Canadian artist "Marie-Mai". To my surprise, I fell in love with the song, and I didn't even understand an ounce of the French she was saying. I loved the rock and techno beat it had and even the lyrics, despite me not understanding, were quite enjoyable to listen to.
Emmene-moi by Marie-Mai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e03VGSciyT8
Bottom line, as long as I like the music, the beat, the rhythm, I could care less what kind of music it is or even what language it is.
14 years, 7 months ago
I noticed the start of this song is the same as the start of The Beatles song "Eleanor Rigby". Tis one of my favorite Beatles' songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9Itt02QOO0
14 years, 7 months ago
I was just about to comment on the Beatles intro, but Brad beat me to it! I thought I was the only Beatles fan here!
14 years, 7 months ago
And the lead singer looks like a Japanese Paul McCartney.
14 years, 7 months ago
The inclusion of English words/sentences in Japanese music, at least from my knowledge, seems to be very rife. The Japanese music I mostly listen to, and grew up with was through video games/shows, such as the Dragonball/DBZ series sung by Hironobu Kageyama as well as his inclusion in Mystical Ninja Goemon which I played. I personally cherished the insertion of the English words in the songs; it was something I was always looked forward to in order to shout that one magical word/sentence in English while horribly singing the Japanese bits.
One of my favourite songs as a kid, always putting that immense delight on my face was Romantic Ageru Yo by Mikuni Shimokawa, for me, nothing really ever comes closer to making me feel the nostalgia chills these days than that song, and I still love it, here it is if you are interested http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U053y32EO0
14 years, 7 months ago
Dir en Grey, a Japanese rock/metal band has heavily influenced my tastes in music. Because of them, my tastes have opened up dramatically and no other band comes close in comparison to them. Before Dir en Grey I wasn't into Japanese music and they have opened up a world of music for me that I consider loads more creative and original than American music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0i8Iwao0Xw
14 years, 7 months ago
Terrible.
14 years, 7 months ago
In my opinion, I love the music coming from asian countries more than I do here in the states. Of course, there are some bands/songs that are excluded in my bias, but let's leave those out for now.
One of my favorite bands of all time, SPITZ has...a unique sound to them that I don't think I'll ever find here in the music in the states. And I think it goes for all songs really.
The way music is made In other countries/place are often different to each other. Japanese Rock music is clearly different from that of American Rock music. Music Theory, and the way they record music could be a factor.
All in all, I love the unique sounds of different music, whether it be from Japan, China, America, Korea, etc.
14 years, 7 months ago
This song really brightened my day.
Thanks for the post David.
And personally I am not as offended by the fact that Japanese songs have English lyrics. I'm Filipino and some of the Filipino songs that I listen to are sung completely in English. The fact that (most) American songs don't incorporate words from different languages is what people should really be complaining about.
14 years, 7 months ago
Thats a pretty good song ^ ^.
Two of my favourite Japanese bands - Stance Punks and Going Steady.
Going Steady are great cos they use the Western punk and rock influences but mix in Japanese style music as well.
So yeah.. Thanks David. :)
14 years, 7 months ago
Why does it open with Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles? >.>
14 years, 7 months ago
That was pretty awesome.. I'm happy you introduced em to me David.. can't believe I've never heard of them before :/