I post this song, but really, I want you to listen to this song — after. You can’t understand how awesome that one is, though, until you listen to this original first. Shiina Ringo guests on the other track and sings the trumpet melody from this version… and it makes you realize what an awesome singer she is. The way she throws her voice around is incredible. So listen to this first, then make sure you check out the other version.
If this song doesn’t grab you right from the opening riff… I don’t really need to say much more, other than to tell you that you need to get Tokyo Jihen’s new album, Dai Hakken.
My consumption of ’90s soft rock skyrockets in the summer for some strange reason… but to ease off the cheese factor a bit, today’s dated selection is Spitz, so I’m sure it’s forgivable, yeah? :) My cab driver was playing this in her car this morning (yes, her!), and I’ve had it stuck in my head since. Breezy with a tug of wistfulness in a great melody line.
Whereas I can enjoy ’80s pop music without a hint of irony, I think the ’90s are still a little too close that there’s a fair amount of guilt if I enjoy it too much. Luckily I don’t feel that way with the New Radicals, who I wish had transcended from one-hit wonder status after “You Get What You Give.” I’m a little more partial to their follow-up, “Someday We’ll Know.” I got a thing for soft alt-rock power ballads. The musical similarities to Todd Rundgren doesn’t hurt either… who also sang on the Hall & Oates cover of this song, by the way…
Sometimes you need gloomy music for rain. Ohashi Trio’s “Clam Chowder” is not the one, but still perfect rain music… hopefully while you are indoors and not getting soaked. :)
I used to be in love with CHEMISTRY. Maybe “obsessed” is a better word. After I moved on from pop boy bands (… okay, slight lie, they are still my Achilles heel), I transferred that devotedness to this R&B-pop duo, who I’ve been following since their televised debut. Their music went through some varying phases, from R&B-based tunes to a jazzier base, a dip into uninfluenced adult contemporary pop, and even their recent (not-so-great) dance-pop efforts, complete WITH dancing. Poor CHEMISTRY. It’s hard to survive among the AKBs and Perfumes and EXILEs out there.
I don’t listen to CHEMISTRY much anymore, but some of their older songs are still classics. “Itoshii Hito” is a lesser known B-side that is a constant on my summer playlist. The roar of the train in the intro, the whistled melody line, the lush and relaxed arrangement… this is summer-sunset, retrospective hammock-nappin’ music.
