Korean Culture Two & Three – 어쩌다 and You-Go-Girl

Click on the title above to watch the videos! Next up in my series of catching K-pop tunes is 어저다 (which means “casually” according to Babelfish) by Korean band Brown Eyed Girls. Its very catchy but I don’t understand a word of it.

Marginally more understandable is the georgeous Lee Hyori with You-Go Girl. Also catchy, and a great video. Especially the “OK!” bit after 3 minuntes- she’s so hot!

Enjoy!

Tangled Up In Blue (For Real)

Tangled Up in Blues has become Tangled Up in Blue, as I’ve ditched the standard tuning of my guitar for an open D and spent a couple of hours learning the fantastic alternative version of this classic Dylan track. Along with released bootleg tracks “Idiot Wind” and “If You See Her Say, Hello”, this is a gem from the original New York recording of the album that was later changed into its released version.

The open D gives it a fantasticly clear and vibrant sound, one that fits the emotions of the more personal songs perfectly.

I can’t uplaod mp3s to the blog (not even sure if that would be legal or not), but you can find the song on the Bootleg Series, Volume 2 (along with “Idiot Wind”), and “If You See Her, Say Hello” on Volume 3.

Ketsumeishi and Kiyoshi

There’s lots of important stuff on the horizon, with my Dad and Uncle visiting Japan from saturday (although I’ll first meet them on tuesday), Blues important home game against Liverpool on saturday night, and then a trip to Koshien stadium to watch Hanshin Tigers play Yakult on wednesday. I’ll be away from home for a week or so, but when I return there’ll be plenty of bloggable stuff to, well, blog about.

Until then let me introduce two great Japanese artists to you- Ketsumeishi, and Hikawa Kiyoshi.

Ketsumeishi have been around for a while, and have 5 albums, named Ketsunopolis 1 thru 5. They reached their peak around Ketsu 3, and this video is an interesting bonus track from that album.

Its name is 花鳥風月, pronounced “Kachoufuugetsu”, meaning the beauties of nature. Its constituent parts are four “nature” kanji- 花、flower, 鳥, bird, 風, wind, and 月、moon (pronounced “hana, tori, kaze, tsuki).

Remember, as with all YouTube videos, that if it keeps starting and stopping just pause it and let the whole video load before playing.

Next up is a track by the King of Enka, Hikawa “Zundoku Bushi” Kiyoshi. As you may or may not be aware, Japanese enka is not universally liked, either in Japan or beyond these shores, and is definately not very cool. But it does have a certain pazzazz that makes me warm to it. Kiyoshi was a pioneer in the genre in that he broke the mould of ageing “ojiichan” and “obaachan” singers with his youthful popstar looks and silky smooth voice, appealing to both young and old alike. Sadly his appearances on his own daytime TV show seem to suggest he has little personality whatsoever (although maybe its just lost in translation). This is his signature tune, “Kiyoshi no Zundoku Bushi”, used as the title track from BBC3s “Japanorama” series with Jonathan Ross.

Enjoy!

Drogstea Din Tei, Para-Para Hit in Japan!