Currently Listening To...

[TeslaGuy]

XTC still rules
Best British Slavery Song?

XTC - Human Alchemy

That song by Thom instilled a desire to revisit this.
XYC, from little Swindon, has two talented songwriters, but it was probably a John-George relationship. Here is a comparitivly nice Colin Moluding track from the same album.

XTC-Wonderland

This album was produced by Steve Nye, who produced Japan's last two. This thing was dark.

[s3r3nity]

Porno Graffiti and Barbee Boys

Ahhhhhhhhhh! I love this. They go so well togehter.

[TeslaGuy]

Yikes. After a couple of rather depressing XTC songs, want to counter them with a bit of music written later by Andy Partridge to his young daughter. Neither video is by the band.

XTC - Holly Up On Poppy

XTC ~ Wrapped in Grey

[s3r3nity]

Jero - Umi Yuki　海雪

You guys have probably heard of him already, but I just found out about him today. Seriously impressed.

[kuro_neko]

Originally Posted by s3r3nity

You guys have probably heard of him already, but I just found out about him today. Seriously impressed.

ugh, jero. jero bothers me for several reasons. first and foremost, his success is entirely because he is a black foreigner in japan. it is a classic example of how easy it is to be famous in japan for foreign nationals or even just foreigners who can speak fluent japanese and do some sort of trick/stunt. if you listen to jero's voice, there isn't anything amazing or extraordinary about it, he could be any other popular Enka singer. but you open your eyes and suddenly you see a black youth dressed in baggy urban jeans and with a bandana on his head, and suddenly that makes him something else. he has talent and he should be recognized for his voice, not because he is essentially a case of "look at the monkey dance!" and what is sad is that he buys into it and rather than be a spokesperson for racism and foreign nationals he uses his position of fame to do nothing but sing Enka and generally warm the hearts of conservative nationalists. he is an example of what a "proper black" citizen of Japan should be, of how to assimilate. it is disgusting in my opinion.

as for examples of other famous foreign celebrities, there is a certain famous band member, I believe from Foreigner, or perhaps from Megadeath, who became fluent in Japanese and is now constantly on Japanese talk shows and news programs discussing *politics* Why? Because he is foreign and can speak fluent Japanese, so apparently that makes him qualified to comment with authority on all things foreign policy based.

Angela Aki is a good example in my book because she uses her biracial identity to increase awareness of minorities in Japan. Seldom is it that she is seen in public without the Italian colors or without making comments about her white relatives. she doesn't seem to be doing much, but she is demonstrating how the modern face of youth in Japan is an amalgram of cultures. Jero on the other hand is just your garden variety Japanese Enka singer wrapped in black skin.

[justriiingo]

Kings of Convenience - Mrs Cold

I love love love this song.

[TeslaGuy]

Steely Dan - Josie

YMO - Riot in Lagos (Budokan 1980)

[Ringo~Bingo]

the pillows - Twilight Park Waltz

[kuro_neko]

know know too well
know the chill
know she breaks
my siren

siren

[Scribble R]

CLT: Mellow. Never listened to it much before. ATM my favourite loud Ringo song, even above Tsumi to Batsu, Honnou and Identity.I especially love the last chorus where she quickly sighs in the middle of it. She didn't write this, but whoever did captures the essence of writing music FOR someone. Couldn't imagine anyone else singing it as well.