Since Robocop got rebooted, I'm rebooting stuff too: 'Re'presenting Depapepe

Actually the real reason is, fucking Sony took down all the videos I had attached to the post about Depapepe before this one, and because I discovered some new stuff from the duo lately. Thanks Sony, as if your film company's rehashing films over and over again isn't enough. Fortunately, Depapepe never get's old though.

So for those who haven't seen the old post yet, they are an acoustic guitar duo from Japan. Their style usually goes: one guy plays the chords, and the other plays the melody. Then they alternate. Check it out for yourself, this one is called Ripple.

So smooth, and so crisp. I used to cover these guys with a friend and believe me, it was damn hard to coordinate two guitars, especially the way they did it.

Here's a live clip of them.

Aside from the melody and all that, the fullness of their sound really gets me. It rings, but just enough so that it fills up the sound space when you listen to it. They're just two guitars, but it sounds like an entire ensemble of instruments playing altogether. Like this one.

Just, great, stuff. I'm not even going to waste words on it anymore.

Well okay I think that's enough for today. I think you get the point, that these guys are damn amazing.  And Sony, if you're reading this, I dare you, I double dare you to block me again. Man I'll be beating you at rebooting so much that you'll have to hire me. Motherfuckers. 

As for you my listeners. Thank you for being patient through my vulgar language and lack of explanations, which is another way to spell my laziness. This was the Dreaming Jukebox, peace out. 

Adults yesterday, Children tomorrow.

Sometimes, I wish that I could have stayed as a kid for all my life. When you're little, all you need to do is just run around, laugh aloud, eat well, play with your friends, do your homework, and be a kid, unless you're Asian. Fortunately, my childhood was less oppressive than the typical Oriental household. I'm kidding, obviously. It's not that bad.

What's really not that bad, is today's band. Actually saying 'not that bad' would be an understatement. They're a great band. I give you, Mr. Children. 

Mr. Children is a Japanese rock band that was formed back in 1988 by Kazutoki Sakurai, Kenichi Tahara, Keisuke Nakagawa, and Hideya Suzuki. With over 50 million album sales, they are one of the most successful Japanese rock artists.

At a first glance, I can see why Mr. Children is such a successful band. Their songs are simply very likable. It's comfortable to listen to, and enjoyable by almost everyone.

Like this song, Hanabi. 

This next song is another staple Mr. Children, called Replay.

 
Again, I have no idea what they're saying. Actually I do have and idea here an there. One word understandings mostly. So I won't say anything about the lyrics for the fear of butchering their original meaning.

However, what I can say about the band, is that they're an all-around solid band, that one can listen to on many occasions. It's like one of those bands that you always keep in your iPod or mp3 player, because you know you will go back to them again and again.

Here's several more good songs to fill your playlist. Hero, Crossroad, and Youthful Days.

In continuation of Remioromen, their vocalist is plain sounding, yet very unique in a particular way. I feel as if Japanese vocalists have a way to really convey their honest feelings in their songs, and make their voice truly represent their souls. That's what I feel about Mr. Children's vocalist, Kazutoshi Sakurai at least.

So I leave you today with this one last song, that has a very special video with a great message. Can you guess it? I'll let you decide. Cheers!

This Band Makes Me Crave Ramen

Although infinitely infused with salt and calories, no one can deny the overwhelming savoriness of ramen. Even though they may be a simple meal replacement packaged in plastic wrapping, if done right, ramen could be a nutritious, and delicious dish. So says my friend. Anyways, I do like ramen, and I always try to twist it around by adding various external ingredients into the pot. 

Aside from all that, here's a great band from Japan. Their name, is Remioromen.

Remioromen is a Japanese rock band formed by Ryota Fujimaki, Keisuke Maeda and Osamu Jinguji back in 2000. Since then they've released 5 studio albums, along with a compilation album and a live album.

The band's melody is one of the simpler ones out there, and my not understanding the lyrics is not helping me appreciate this band better. However, there's something captivating about their songs, albeit they are relatively plain.

Here's a famous song from them, called March 9th.

According to my friend, apparently March 9th is the graduation day for high schools in Japan, and this song is played commonly on the day.

For me, the best part of this band is the vocal. His voice is of no particular rarity, but the way he conveys his lyrics, is of much genuine emotion. To me, he's one of those people, that really mean what they say. Whatever he sings, although I can't understand a syllable, I can see that he truly feels that way.

To introduce you more to the band, this next song, is called Sakura. The ones after that is beyond my scope of knowledge. If someone who knows the language would translate the title, you have my gratitude.

I am currently attempting to dive into the language, to decipher this artful tongue and understand what these lyrics are conveying. I've in fact started with learning Yamazaki Masayoshi's One More Time, One More Chance, and certainly Remioromen's songs will be my next covers.

I'll sign off for now, since schoolwork is calling to me. So here's me leaving you with my favorite from Remioromen, Kona Yuki. 

 

Monkeying around in my magical music swimming pool

Along with rediscovering Nell yesterday, I'm going to bring back another band I've been a fan of back in the day. Actually I only knew this one song until today.

Hailing from Japan, I give you, Monkey Majik. 

Wait, it's a Japanese band. So what are these two non-Japanese dudes doing in there? Answer is that they are Canadians who went over to Japan and started a band.

Just to clear any sort of riddling puzzles that might arise later on, a brief history lesson on Monkey Majik. Maynard Plant, fresh out of Queen's University, decides to go over to Japan to work as an Assistant Language Teacher. There he starts the band in 2000 with some friends; Thomas Pritchard, Chad Ivany, and Misao Urushizaka. Pritchard and Ivany quits, and in order to fill the gap Maynard invites his brother Blaise over, and Dick, another Japanese friend. Eventually Misao quits around their second indie album, and Tax is called over to fill the spot. That makes it two Canadians and two Japanese making the band.

Due to the hybrid nature of the band, they've been cross-promoted in Canada and Japan, as well as having been chosen as “Goodwill Ambassadors” for the 80th anniversary of Japanese-Canadian Relations. Their lyrics are often composed of English and Japanese. 

The song above, Fly, was their first hit single on their major debut, climbing as high as the 19th position on the Oricon charts. Here's another hit single that came after Fly: Around the World. 

This song went as high as the 4th position on the Oricon charts. With this song, you could say that Monkey Majik began to go around the world. 

Monkey Majik's style is most definitely pop-rock. Allow me to demonstrate. 

By the way, Negai means wish. 


So in my mind, Monkey Majik doesn't earn a lot of points for musical color, because sometimes it's too damn typical. Not that I'm trying to devalue their music in anyway. I do like their songs, but when I listen to them, I don't feel that vibe that tells me I'm tuned on to Monkey Majik's frequency, until that segment comes where Maynard begins to sing in Japanese.


But then again, it's a Japanese-Canadian band that your average day-to-day guys formed and succeeded with through six studio albums. For instance, Tax, the drummer, was a dental technician whose drum experience until joining the band was playing in junior high for two years. Just by that fact, this band instantly grabbed my heart, because here's a really extraordinary story. Average Joes who came together purely by the spirit of music and succeeded without money in their minds. For example, their first independent album was self-funded, and even until then they considered the band a hobby. 


Forget about those big idol bands being pumped out by major labels and sculptured pop stars. This here, Monkey Majik, is a true musical odyssey. This is how it should be done. There's no other way for it to be done. You start from the bottom, with nothing but music in hand, and doing it for nothing but music. 

Just for that I give them great respect, and that makes me like the band even more, along with their music.  

I just hope that Monkey Majik keeps there pop-rock nature and doesn't try to go into the current trends of dance-pop, like how Maroon 5 sold their souls to cash in on the mainstream scene. Not that they will do that. Japanese artists are pretty stern when it comes to keeping their musical characteristic in my opinion. 

So while I'm on that subject, I'll admit that I'm really getting interested in the Japanese music scene nowadays. There are many artists in Japan that would be considered rare gems in North America. Too many artists, so little time.

Here's some more Monkey Majik to keep you entertained until next time.