Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Amusing Music Video: Caroline Charonpuroppu Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - PonPonPon

It has been a while since I have posted an "Amusing Music Video".  It's not that I don't see them out there.  It's just that I don't want to become known as a novelty blog, where people can come for empty-headed amusement, rather than for exposure to serious and talented artists. 

But hooo daddy!!!  Have I found a video for you guys today. 

Well, to be honest, lots of people found this video before I did.  Apparently Katy Perry loves this video.  When she tweeted about it, the video went viral, and now it has been viewed almost 15 million times.  But this isn't the first time that I've shown up for a party after it's already over, and I'm sure it won't be the last time.

Anyway, without further ado, I present to you in all of its bizarre psychedelic glory, Japanese musician/model/fashion designer/performance artist Caroline Charonpuoppu Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, and her truly revolutionary song PonPonPon.   As for wanting this blog to be about serious artists. . . well, the more I find out about miss Pamyu Pamyu, the more serious in her artistic lunacy she seems.  This is not just funny because it's bad.  This is funny because the whole point of the exercise it to make you wonder if you really just saw that, or if it was just a figment of your fevered imagination.

Music Video: Nanook - Ingerlaliinnaleqaagut

Back when I was still just posting my international music observations on my personal Facebook page, I linked to a couple of interesting hip-hop groups from Greenland.  Despite being pretty rudimentary musically, they did ignite in me an interest in discovering more about the music scene in this often overlooked, scantily populated, island in the Arctic Ocean.

As one would expect from a place that is officially an independent nation within the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland's music is heavily influenced by Europe.  Geographically, as a part of the North American continent, Greenland's music also displays influence from Canada and the United States.  Culturally, as a nation that is primarily ethnically Inuit, and which officially speaks Greenlandic, songs are typically sung in a language that would confound even the most widely traveled linguists.

All of which brings us to the band Nanook and their song Ingerlaliinnaleqaagut.  The title and lyrics might seem at first totally alien, but the music is instantly accessible.  Originally formed by two brothers, one from Nuuk, Greenland and the other from Copenhagen, Denmark, Nanook blends these influences beautifully in this mellow acoustic tune.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Music Video: Erdmöbel - Das Leben ist schön

I frequently go through phases with listening to music, where I will latch onto a band, and listen to everything they've ever done for a few weeks.  Then I drift off to my next phase.

The German band Erdmöbel was one of my phases.  This band from Cologne (via Münster) has been around since the mid-1990s, and has evolved significantly over that time in both style and substance.  Their current style, as demonstrated in Das Leben ist schön, has strong hints of Elvis Costello - with its raspy vocals, layered melodies, and sometimes surprising instrumentation.  In this particular case, though, the lyrics are much more optimistic and upbeat than Costello could ever manage.

While I have moved on to new phases, Erdmöbel always has a place in my iPod for times when I want music that makes me feel good.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Music Video: Zainichi Funk - Scary Bomb

Some days I wake up feeling uninspired.  Same breakfast.  Same long commute into work.  Same dreary job. 

And then, on a whim, I follow a musical suggestion that arrives to me from out of the blue.  All of a sudden, my heart is beating.  My feet are tapping.  I want to DO something with my day.  Music has a funny way of doing that for people.  In my case, funk music does it better than almost anything else.

And so, in keeping with many of my recent posts, we stay in Japan to bring you Zainichi Funk and their soul moving tune Scary Bomb.  Some viewers will say this is awesome.  Others will probably laugh, and say "What the hell was that?!?"  But whichever attitude you take to this song, I'd bet you dollars to doughnuts that your pulse just went up by at least 10%.  I'll take that any day.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Music Video: Irie Révoltés - Zeit ist Geld

A couple of months ago, I profiled four bands that play in French, but who come from elsewhere.  Today, I bring an unofficial fifth.  Irie Révoltés comes from Heidelberg, Germany, but for some reason they sing about 70% of their songs in French, with most of the rest in German.  To my own ear, it's an exciting mix because Irie Révoltés' music combines the Gallic tongue with decidedly Teutonic inspired reggae, ska, hip-hop, and electronic beats, with the music changing the feel of the language, and the language changing the feel of the music.

A good example of this mix is Irie Révoltés' song, Zeit ist Geld.  This is heavily electronic hip-hop, with some ska horns mixed in, and lyrics in both German and French.  As Irie Révoltés is an explicitly political band (thus the name of the band), this linguistic and musical internationalism merely adds further punch to their universal message of speaking to the common man.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Music Video: Scandal - Shoujo S

I get depressed when I watch too many "musicians" who are all image and good looks, and who are never actually seen in the same room with an actual musical instrument.  Watching popular music from around the world, as well as from the United States, I have been depressed an awful lot lately.

But then I returned to one of my musical standbys, Japan, and my faith in music was restored - at least for today.  The Japanese band Scandal has been around since 2006, and they have had an impressive impact not only in Japan, but beyond Japanese shores as well.  Partially through their providing songs for the popular anime programs Bleach and Fullmetal Alchemist, and partially through worldwide touring, Scandal has developed quite a following in the United States and Europe.  Through their song Shoujo S from their first major label album "Best Scandal", we see Scandal at their indie rock best.  Already, this song has been covered by fans around the world in languages as diverse as Italian and English.  Don't let the rather tired and overwrought cliche of the schoolgirl outfits dissuade you, Scandal can rock out with the best of them.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Music Video: Tété - Fils de Cham

As a blogger of negligible note but of global scope and ambitions, I am always interested to see where my readers come from.  It's no surprise that most readers come from the United States.  Similarly, it's no surprise that many readers come from places like Germany, Spain, or Russia - places whose musicians I have profiled over the past couple of years.  What does surprise me is that I get almost no visitors from France.  Heaven knows I have tried.  Posts about French artists are among my most viewed posts. . . it's just that they're not being viewed by people actually from France.

Well, let nobody accuse me of not being willing to beat my head bloody against that wall of Gallic indifference.  Today I bring you my favorite French artist of 2012, Tété.  As one of Paris' adopted sons, Tété has been writing and performing gripping guitar driven rock/R&B hybrid songs for years.  Finally, with his most recent release, "Le Premier Clair de l'Aube", he is getting the attention he deserves.  The song Fils de Cham perfectly represents this thoroughly enjoyable album.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Music Video: 2NE1 - I Am the Best

Let's just get this out in the open:  I generally don't like corporately manufactured music.  In my mind, music should have elements of spontaneity and should represent an emotional connection between the musician and the listener, not be seamlessly prepared by committees and manipulated to sell "product".  Unfortunately, much of what is coming out of east Asia falls under the corporate music umbrella, which is generally why I don't profile much of it here.  There are, of course, massive exceptions like Joyside from China, or ZukunaSisters from Japan.  But unfortunately acts like those are seldom ever heard outside of their home countries, while female Korean versions of NSync pack Madison Square Garden (true story).

That brings us to today's band, 2NE1 and their song I Am the Best.  They are typical of the current crop of Korean (aka "K-Pop") groups.  The group consists of several young attractive women, who are flawless dancers, and who have probably never even met the musicians (well, programmers) who play the music to which they sing along.  It's all so commercial. . . and soulless. . . and empty. . .

. . . and. . .

. . . well, dammit, so catchy!  I want to hate I Am the Best and everything that it represents.  And I will - I promise - as soon as I stop dancing along.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Music Video: Alina Orlova - Lijo

I've been trying to figure out for years how to better define what music I like.  After all, it would be really easy if I could just decide that I only like - say - electroswing, and just focus on listening to that.  It turns out, though, that I simply can't define what I like.  Music either speaks to me, or it doesn't.

There are a few things that I have been listening to today that speak to me, but foremost among them is the music of Lithuanian artist Alina Orlova.  Many people have commented on her ethereal voice.  She definitely has that.  But she also writes hauntingly beautiful melodies - sometimes just for piano, other times using distinctly Baltic instrumentation.  Her music is startlingly compact in structure, but sweeping in scope.  Whatever it is, there is something about Alina Orlova that I find deeply affecting and appealing.  For a perfect example, you need go no further than her song Lijo.