Japanese voice actresses cover legendary punk songs
February 28, 2009 3:56 PM Subscribe
Interesting, "Ruby Soho" cover sounds just like any given Judy and Mary song. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" sounds very ethereal abit unnerving. Interesting.
posted by lone_one at 4:05 PM on February 28, 2009
posted by lone_one at 4:05 PM on February 28, 2009
..and here I thought Kidz Bop made me stabby.
posted by Ufez Jones at 4:07 PM on February 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Ufez Jones at 4:07 PM on February 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
punk?
posted by sunshinesky at 4:08 PM on February 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by sunshinesky at 4:08 PM on February 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
It reminds me of this, the first album I ever bought with my own money
posted by dydecker at 4:13 PM on February 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by dydecker at 4:13 PM on February 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
That has by far the best YouTube comment I've ever seen: "this is what going mad sounds like"
However, I pretty strongly object to the classification of Pretty Fly (For a White Guy), Call Me, and Smells Like Teen Spirit as "Legendary Punk Songs." Neither Call Me or Teen Spirit are punk, and Pretty Fly, well. Let's just say that wasn't The Offspring's best song ever.
posted by Caduceus at 4:28 PM on February 28, 2009
However, I pretty strongly object to the classification of Pretty Fly (For a White Guy), Call Me, and Smells Like Teen Spirit as "Legendary Punk Songs." Neither Call Me or Teen Spirit are punk, and Pretty Fly, well. Let's just say that wasn't The Offspring's best song ever.
posted by Caduceus at 4:28 PM on February 28, 2009
That has by far the best YouTube comment I've ever seen: "this is what going mad sounds like"
I came here to post the exact same thing. Like, verbatim. (I'll admit I still chuckle when I see someone post "fake" in a video that's completely prosaic, like an interview on Regis & Kelly or someone's kid.)
posted by Ian A.T. at 4:31 PM on February 28, 2009
I came here to post the exact same thing. Like, verbatim. (I'll admit I still chuckle when I see someone post "fake" in a video that's completely prosaic, like an interview on Regis & Kelly or someone's kid.)
posted by Ian A.T. at 4:31 PM on February 28, 2009
Do their voices really sound like that, or are they just sped up chipmunks-style?
posted by Afroblanco at 4:36 PM on February 28, 2009
posted by Afroblanco at 4:36 PM on February 28, 2009
Do their voices really sound like that, or are they just sped up chipmunks-style?
Yeah, and people really talk like that, too. For Japanese girls, speaking in a really high squeaky voice is polite.
posted by dydecker at 4:40 PM on February 28, 2009
Yeah, and people really talk like that, too. For Japanese girls, speaking in a really high squeaky voice is polite.
posted by dydecker at 4:40 PM on February 28, 2009
Pretty Fly may be their most visible, though, Caduceus.
posted by Pope Guilty at 5:04 PM on February 28, 2009
posted by Pope Guilty at 5:04 PM on February 28, 2009
Edith Massey called. She wants you to get off the grass.
posted by Smart Dalek at 5:14 PM on February 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Smart Dalek at 5:14 PM on February 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
However, I pretty strongly object to the classification of [...] Call Me
Why? Few bands have more punk rock cred than Blondie. They are one of the earliest punk rock bands. They were part of the NYC punk rock scene from its inception and were regulars at CBGB and Max's Kansas City along with The Ramones, Talking Heads, Dead Boys, etc. etc. "Call Me" is well into their more mainstream period, but it's not completely out of left field. Maybe they should have done "X Offender" instead, though.
Also, this is totally worth it for the Exploited song at the beginning. It's pretty hard for anyone to make it possible to get any enjoyment out of The Exploited, but this accomplishes it.
posted by DecemberBoy at 5:47 PM on February 28, 2009
Why? Few bands have more punk rock cred than Blondie. They are one of the earliest punk rock bands. They were part of the NYC punk rock scene from its inception and were regulars at CBGB and Max's Kansas City along with The Ramones, Talking Heads, Dead Boys, etc. etc. "Call Me" is well into their more mainstream period, but it's not completely out of left field. Maybe they should have done "X Offender" instead, though.
Also, this is totally worth it for the Exploited song at the beginning. It's pretty hard for anyone to make it possible to get any enjoyment out of The Exploited, but this accomplishes it.
posted by DecemberBoy at 5:47 PM on February 28, 2009
Also, Blondie are exponentially more punk rock than the fucking Offspring. Biggest bunch of wannabe me-too poseurs to ever walk the Earth, but I could forgive them for that if their music wasn't complete formulaic shit too.
posted by DecemberBoy at 5:49 PM on February 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by DecemberBoy at 5:49 PM on February 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
A few years ago, I saw Puffy AmiYumi in concert. They did a bunch of stuff I knew, including the themes they did for the Teen Titans cartoon, as well as the cartoon based on them (which they claimed they hadn't seen yet). They left the stage, then came out for an encore.
"This is one of our favorite English songs!"
And then, these two trippy Japanese girls launched into... "Do you have the time to listen to me whine?"
Some of you people are learning the sense of the world being smaller than you expected it to be right now, the sense I had when that happened.
(Then they did my favorite song by them, "Asia no Junshin", which sounds like someone took 1970s ELO, ripped out Jeff Lynne and put in, well, two trippy Japanese girls.)
posted by mephron at 7:30 PM on February 28, 2009
"This is one of our favorite English songs!"
And then, these two trippy Japanese girls launched into... "Do you have the time to listen to me whine?"
Some of you people are learning the sense of the world being smaller than you expected it to be right now, the sense I had when that happened.
(Then they did my favorite song by them, "Asia no Junshin", which sounds like someone took 1970s ELO, ripped out Jeff Lynne and put in, well, two trippy Japanese girls.)
posted by mephron at 7:30 PM on February 28, 2009
Does anyone have any links to one or more of these songs in their entirety?
posted by ErWenn at 7:55 PM on February 28, 2009
posted by ErWenn at 7:55 PM on February 28, 2009
Not all the Japanese girl bands are so terrible. Although I do wish this song had not been co-opted for advertising.
And the inimitable Shonen Knife. Here's one a little more Ramones-ish.
There we go.
posted by Xoebe at 8:20 PM on February 28, 2009
And the inimitable Shonen Knife. Here's one a little more Ramones-ish.
There we go.
posted by Xoebe at 8:20 PM on February 28, 2009
Not all the Japanese girl bands are so terrible.
Righty-o! OOIOO, for example, are totally kickass..
That said, I don't happen to think the *punk* covers by these gals are really so terrible... they're really kind of beyond good or bad, no? I mean, by what yardstick do you measure that kind of thing? It's just, um, what it is. Or, it's just... marketing, really. Just oji-san (middle-aged) music biz guys in Japan handing these girls these songs to record. I'd wager that very very few (if any) of these voice actresses really knew any of these originals.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:59 PM on February 28, 2009
Righty-o! OOIOO, for example, are totally kickass..
That said, I don't happen to think the *punk* covers by these gals are really so terrible... they're really kind of beyond good or bad, no? I mean, by what yardstick do you measure that kind of thing? It's just, um, what it is. Or, it's just... marketing, really. Just oji-san (middle-aged) music biz guys in Japan handing these girls these songs to record. I'd wager that very very few (if any) of these voice actresses really knew any of these originals.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:59 PM on February 28, 2009
Not punk, not rock. Still, I kinda enjoyed listening. Thanks!
posted by telstar at 11:36 PM on February 28, 2009
posted by telstar at 11:36 PM on February 28, 2009
Lubey Soho, indeed.
posted by piratebowling at 4:40 AM on March 1, 2009
posted by piratebowling at 4:40 AM on March 1, 2009
Well, there's also this bizarre punk band with a Japanese singer... Deerhoof - Panda
*pandapandapandapanda*
posted by PontifexPrimus at 6:15 AM on March 1, 2009
*pandapandapandapanda*
posted by PontifexPrimus at 6:15 AM on March 1, 2009
Favorite YouTube comment: "Esta es la peor mierda que he tenido el desagrado de escuchar."
posted by bokane at 9:45 AM on March 1, 2009
posted by bokane at 9:45 AM on March 1, 2009
Rie Tanaka doing Anarchy in the UK?!?!?!
I think I'm going to faint. Tanaka does the voice of one of my favorite anime characters ever, Suigintou (the one in black) from the series Rozen Maiden. It's a character with a great deal of depth, not just "for an anime" but even in a literary sense. And Tanaka embodied her perfectly. I can think of no better song for her to cover.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 11:27 AM on March 1, 2009
I think I'm going to faint. Tanaka does the voice of one of my favorite anime characters ever, Suigintou (the one in black) from the series Rozen Maiden. It's a character with a great deal of depth, not just "for an anime" but even in a literary sense. And Tanaka embodied her perfectly. I can think of no better song for her to cover.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 11:27 AM on March 1, 2009
(Then they did my favorite song by them, "Asia no Junshin", which sounds like someone took 1970s ELO, ripped out Jeff Lynne and put in, well, two trippy Japanese girls.)
That's a nice song. Another is Watashi No Ikiru Michi
But god, they are they exception. J-Pop is simply the worst music in the world - man, it's just the worst. I lived in Tokyo for 11 years, and you come to dread switching on the television because the music on it is so rubbish. I swear I think I heard six decent songs on Japanese TV in 11 years, and half of them were written by Okuda Tamio, includin those tracks by Puffy
posted by dydecker at 12:50 PM on March 1, 2009
That's a nice song. Another is Watashi No Ikiru Michi
But god, they are they exception. J-Pop is simply the worst music in the world - man, it's just the worst. I lived in Tokyo for 11 years, and you come to dread switching on the television because the music on it is so rubbish. I swear I think I heard six decent songs on Japanese TV in 11 years, and half of them were written by Okuda Tamio, includin those tracks by Puffy
posted by dydecker at 12:50 PM on March 1, 2009
J-Pop is simply the worst music in the world - man, it's just the worst.
That's a bold statement. Even Bennie K put out a couple good songs.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 12:55 PM on March 1, 2009
That's a bold statement. Even Bennie K put out a couple good songs.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 12:55 PM on March 1, 2009
Here's one. They're not entirely my favorites, to be honest. I'm more a fan of IOSYS, Halcali, Shonen Knife and Albatrosicks. But Bennie K are alright by J-pop standards.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:06 PM on March 1, 2009
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:06 PM on March 1, 2009
There is this theory that there are food cultures, and music cultures, and it's very rare that you get both in one place. English speaking countries like the US and the UK are music cultures - the sounds are good, but the food is generally revolting. Same goes for Germany, the South Pacific, and Africa.
OTOH China, France, Italy, Korea, Japan and Asia generally are food cultures - people go on and on about food 24/7 and they don't pay the same attention to music.
The only exception to this watertight theory that I can think of is India, which has both.
posted by dydecker at 1:10 PM on March 1, 2009
OTOH China, France, Italy, Korea, Japan and Asia generally are food cultures - people go on and on about food 24/7 and they don't pay the same attention to music.
The only exception to this watertight theory that I can think of is India, which has both.
posted by dydecker at 1:10 PM on March 1, 2009
PS: On review, I realize that Halcali are a pop group with hip-hop overtones, IOSYS and Albatrosicks are both J-core, and Shonen Knife is rock/pop-punk. So maybe your assessment of J-pop was on the nose after all!
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:21 PM on March 1, 2009
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:21 PM on March 1, 2009
"African" food is revolting?
And what is "African" food, anyway? Doro wat? Couscous? Ethiopian or South African? Holy hell, dude.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 1:45 PM on March 1, 2009
And what is "African" food, anyway? Doro wat? Couscous? Ethiopian or South African? Holy hell, dude.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 1:45 PM on March 1, 2009
Until African restaurants spread African food across the cities of the world, I'm afraid you're going to have to put up ignorant opinions such as my own, which in truth is entirely based on two trips to an Ethiopian restaurant in Central Tokyo, where I was served battered crocodile, aka Very Expensive Frozen Chicken.
Please recommmend me your favourite African cuisine, and let me know what I'm missing out on.
posted by dydecker at 2:00 PM on March 1, 2009
Please recommmend me your favourite African cuisine, and let me know what I'm missing out on.
posted by dydecker at 2:00 PM on March 1, 2009
hey dydecker. I have another one for you. We aren't quite a country but Puerto Rico has some awesome if I may say food and we have also you know Salsa which a grand majority of us think is great to dance and listen to. Also, there's a lot of other music in PR. So, I dunno.
posted by lizarrd at 2:23 PM on March 1, 2009
posted by lizarrd at 2:23 PM on March 1, 2009
Yeah it's only a tinpot theory and there are holes in it. As a matter of fact Central/South America sounds like one huge gaping hole--because it has undeniably good music (barring of course those panpipe people from Peru who play in train stations, even my mother doesn't like them) and there is good food also, although I can't say I've eaten Puero Rican. The question is really do you talk about food 24/7 because that's what the Japanese do, and god that gets boring. Music, on the other hand, means nothing to 75% of Japanese I've talked to plenty of people who don't even own one CD.
posted by dydecker at 2:36 PM on March 1, 2009
posted by dydecker at 2:36 PM on March 1, 2009
...two trips to an Ethiopian restaurant in Central Tokyo, where I was served battered crocodile, aka Very Expensive Frozen Chicken.
I must say after 13 years living in Tokyo, I've not yet once been to any Ethiopian restaurant here. But I will say I've had some slamming Ethiopian food in Washington DC (big Ethiopiuan popuation there, I believe) as well as NYC. When it's good, it's damn good. Then again, it might just be one of those cuisines that doesn't float your boat.
The 6 months I spent in Nigeria (back in 1981) left me with the opinion that food there was very... limited. Pounded yam or rice served up with an oily, spicy soup and a few pieces of goat or chicken. That's pretty much what I ate every day, living with a family there. That got a little old, I have to say. Now, there was also fried plantains, which were also pretty oily, but I quite liked those, right up until the day that I got really sick after eating a plateful. After that I couldn't go back to 'em. Not to this day.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:22 PM on March 1, 2009
I must say after 13 years living in Tokyo, I've not yet once been to any Ethiopian restaurant here. But I will say I've had some slamming Ethiopian food in Washington DC (big Ethiopiuan popuation there, I believe) as well as NYC. When it's good, it's damn good. Then again, it might just be one of those cuisines that doesn't float your boat.
The 6 months I spent in Nigeria (back in 1981) left me with the opinion that food there was very... limited. Pounded yam or rice served up with an oily, spicy soup and a few pieces of goat or chicken. That's pretty much what I ate every day, living with a family there. That got a little old, I have to say. Now, there was also fried plantains, which were also pretty oily, but I quite liked those, right up until the day that I got really sick after eating a plateful. After that I couldn't go back to 'em. Not to this day.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:22 PM on March 1, 2009
flapjax: a friend reccomends Queen of Sheba in Naka-Meguro for authentic Ethiopian - although I've never been. I remember the restaurant I ate the crocodile was actually not Ethiopian but one of those bad pan-African jobs with kangaroo fritters and such on the menu - pretty geographically as well as gastronomically challenged if I may say so.
I really miss the restaurants in Tokyo - you can just about find anything there. Nothing in Germany really compares.
posted by dydecker at 3:36 PM on March 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
I really miss the restaurants in Tokyo - you can just about find anything there. Nothing in Germany really compares.
posted by dydecker at 3:36 PM on March 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
We talk about both food and music 24/7 actually. I've never met a Puerto Rican who doesn't talk about both and/or politics as well. We're a very pleasures sort of culture. The ancient Spanish refrain to keep us under control was "Baile, Barajas, y Bebidas" which means dancing, cards, and drinks. In other words, just give us that and we'll be fine.
So, in short, yes I do believe we do. It could though be American influence on the music and our own on the food, but then again South America also is a huge gaping hole.
posted by lizarrd at 3:40 PM on March 1, 2009
So, in short, yes I do believe we do. It could though be American influence on the music and our own on the food, but then again South America also is a huge gaping hole.
posted by lizarrd at 3:40 PM on March 1, 2009
Nigeria: the food may be limited but they produced this so let's forgiven them.
Lizarrd can you link to your favourite Puetro Rican musical export?
posted by dydecker at 3:47 PM on March 1, 2009
Lizarrd can you link to your favourite Puetro Rican musical export?
posted by dydecker at 3:47 PM on March 1, 2009
Didn't Puerto Rico invent reggatón? Or is that pan-Carribean?
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 4:06 PM on March 1, 2009
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 4:06 PM on March 1, 2009
Nigeria: the food may be limited but they produced this so let's forgiven them.
Well, like you said upthread, we're talking music or food, and rarely both. I went to Nigeria for the music, that's for sure.
And thanks for that Tokyo restaurant recommendation: I'l check it out!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:11 PM on March 1, 2009
Well, like you said upthread, we're talking music or food, and rarely both. I went to Nigeria for the music, that's for sure.
And thanks for that Tokyo restaurant recommendation: I'l check it out!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:11 PM on March 1, 2009
Hmm, favourite Puerto Rican musical export huh? Well in Salsa there's El Gran Combo with Brujeria and Hector Lavoe - Bandolera (the woman is dancing there because he's singing about a woman who wronged him in a way). If we're talking rock or something of the form there's my favorite Robi Draco Rosa - Vagabundo. Amusingly enough I keep ending up with live versions which are really good. Clearly, we mostly export salsa and such.
On the Reggaeton question, it's a pan-Latin American thing really. It started officially I think in Panama. Wikipedia seems to confirm what I know. However, it's the Puerto Rican craze, officially starting with Vico C who brought it to us, that has truly made it popular. In essence, our version of reggaeton which everyone else also know is a completely different beast, but does owe its roots to the one created in Panama. That could be considered a bad musical export as far as I'm concerned.
posted by lizarrd at 4:43 PM on March 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
On the Reggaeton question, it's a pan-Latin American thing really. It started officially I think in Panama. Wikipedia seems to confirm what I know. However, it's the Puerto Rican craze, officially starting with Vico C who brought it to us, that has truly made it popular. In essence, our version of reggaeton which everyone else also know is a completely different beast, but does owe its roots to the one created in Panama. That could be considered a bad musical export as far as I'm concerned.
posted by lizarrd at 4:43 PM on March 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
sometimes.. the Japanese ™ flair for the absurd results in something strangely polished and beautiful
I'm more a fan of IOSYS, Halcali, Shonen Knife and Albatrosicks.
I saw one of the very last DMBQ performances before Mana "China" Nishiura, Shonen Knife's old drummer, died. She was an incredible drummer to see in person. I believe they opened for Sleepy Time Gorilla Museum. This was back in late 2005.
posted by 5imian at 3:23 AM on March 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'm more a fan of IOSYS, Halcali, Shonen Knife and Albatrosicks.
I saw one of the very last DMBQ performances before Mana "China" Nishiura, Shonen Knife's old drummer, died. She was an incredible drummer to see in person. I believe they opened for Sleepy Time Gorilla Museum. This was back in late 2005.
posted by 5imian at 3:23 AM on March 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
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posted by dydecker at 3:58 PM on February 28, 2009 [4 favorites]