Make ten steps...Then turn and fire ! ! !
She Says:
I am going home for most of the month of May so this will be our last post of a while but before we take our break we are going to have a battle of the sexes. Which one of us has the best taste in Asian Music ? ? ? And we would like you vote for the one you like the most in the poll at the end of the post.
Whatever . . .. .
He says:
Hello ladies ( and gentlemen). We have decided this week to battle it out, musically, in a rip snortin’ “Battle of the sexes”. Who has the better taste in music ? Is it the beautiful, charming and fragrant Sakura or brutally ugly, virulent and pustulous me ? ( Correct answer is “me” , obviously, I had to make Sakura promise not to sulk when she lost. Women, eh ?). We’ve chosen three songs each that represent different aspects of the gender divide. A “fast” song, a “slow and smoochy” song and a “wild card”. Furthermore and notwithstanding you get to vote in a poll at the end to show how much better my taste is !! How cool is that ?
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Ms S – Fast Track- Ling Tosite Sigur – Telecastic Fake Show
She Says:
I really like this band and I have nominated them several times on RR. They can be a little bit too technical and clever sometimes but in this track they really rock ! ! ! I think the guitar parts are really great and the drumming really drives the track along and the mix of a guy and girl singing adds variety. I think it is classic track to start with ! ! !
He Says:
Well this certainly makes a noise ! Not my favourite , perhaps, a little to “moderne” for my tastes and clearly not as good as my selection (vote for me..me..me..) Still, of it’s kind it’s a perfectly acceptable number.
Mr P – Fast Track – The Monsters- Hi Heels and Mini Skirt
He says:
Yes, ladies, we men really are that shallow ! We’ll tell you all sorts of rubbish, how lovely your hair is , how beautiful your eyes but, at bottom it’s all about well…bottoms and legs and well..need I go on. This track is crude, pounding, loud and clumsy. Much like any man. This is caveman music. From Japan. Arooogah grunt.
She Says:
Mr P ! ! ! I am really surprised at you ! ! ! I believed every word ! ! ! MEN ! ! ! ! I liked this track a lot actually. It has a great bass line and (like a man) is really simple and direct. But anyway it is nice to know that our clothes and shoes are appreciated.
Ms S – Slow Track - Chatmonchy – Renai Spirits
She Says:
I love Chatmonchy ! ! ! They are maybe the most successful indie all girl band and have been together since 2000. This is one of my favourite tracks by them. It is a song about jealousy which is something all girls know about ! ! ! I love the way she starts the song really weak and upset but her power builds during the song even if the ending is ambiguous. I think this is a really great track in a simple way that talks about girls experience. I hope you like it ! ! !
He says:
Grumble….O.K., yes I like this one a lot , damn it , I love the fragile start and the way it builds into a pretty “kick arse” track. A definite, “I’m not just some pretty little girl” vibe going on here, I think. One of the few Chatmonchy songs I have on my pod, not from choice , they are just really hard to get hold of over here.
Mr P - Slow Track - The Blue Hearts-Romantic
He says:
Forget what I said in the first post, darling, of course I love you, it’s you I love not just your fantastic bod and big boobs and … er …. anyway this song represents the other side of the coin, manwise . This is what you girlies want us to be like, isn’t it? All soppy, moon gazing like little rabbits, hand holding, dreamy eyed and fat of wallet.
She Says:
This is a really nice track from a truly iconic band. I love the slightly 1950 nostalgic feel to this one. I think you can hear how genuine he feelings are (unlike some men ! ! !) A really lovely track ! ! !
Ms S – Wild Card track – YUI – Jam
She Says:
This is our song ! ! ! It is about an intelligent, beautiful, and funny girl who go to Jam with a grumpy old ex punk rocker ! ! ! I think it is actually one of YUI’s best rock numbers and I did think about it for our Engrish post as it describes the grumpy old punk guitar as a Resu pooru (Les Paul) Like YUI says in the song Punk is not dead (while there are grumpy old punk rockers still around)
He says:
I had hoped it would be a song about fruity preserves but it’s not. Notice how Sakura has nominated this as “our song”. This is a trap all we men know about. If we forget that it’s “our song” or if it’s being played and we don’t recognize it then we are in for trouble. It’s actually one of my fave Yui songs with some nice tremloed guitar in the mix.
Mr P - Wild Card Track - Laughin’ Nose – Never Trust Women
He Says:
Living dangerously here. I have a feeling that someone is not going to be talking to me after posting this song! Misogyny personified. Poor Mr Nose has obviously had some bad times with the ladies. He’s right though, isn’t he? Women are mysterious, complicated creatures. Men are simple and “what you see is what you get”. We don’t understand what’s going on in your pretty little heads and hearts. Too many times have we been let down, betrayed, our tender man hearts trampled in the dust. Woman, verily thy name is perfidy!
She says:
I admit to being well known for being complicated and also one of the best sulks in Japan, but if a guy can not read my mind before I think of something and then do what I want perfectly before I have asked for it, why will he be surprised if I get in a mood ? ? ? Oh dear . . .I liked the song by the way. . .
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We are still friends who ever wins ! ! !
He Says:
So there you are. There’s an obvious winner, of course, I shall be collecting my medal later but would like to thank Sakura for trying so hard to beat me. Why is it that I get the feeling that I am going to be in somebody’s bad books for a loooong time ? Maybe she will have forgotten after her holidays ? See you soon folks and thanks for all your votes.
She Says:
It has been really fun and to do this post, and the whole series and we both definitely want to do more after my my holiday. Of course it has been an education (for Mr P) writing together. So please take part in the poll and we publish the results next week. And thank you all for voting for me and reading the posts in the series.
Ok. I’ve already (quite consciously and voluntarily, mind, many times over) relinquished any sort of solidarity with or claim to membership in the Stisterhood™ (Cif stuff, nevermind), so i haven’t a whole lot of qualms about calling Pairubu my winner, but he just squeaked it.
Fast Track -
Ace guitar on Ling Tosite Sigur, but the vocal were a deal breaker. The Monsters squeaked it. Second rate guitars, but palatable vocals, and un-PC lyrics (I’ll take your word for the interpretation. And I’m a Stones fan, remember) give it a razor thin edge.
Slow Track -
Again, Chatmonchy is great guitars and music. Vocals again a dealbreaker. Especially the intro.
The Blue Hearts – nothing to hate there. If nothing i’d kill myself to find again, it certainly was a smiler.
Wild Card-
A meh tie. The charms of Yui are still lost on me. It’s certainly not dislike, it’s pleasant enough. But a very long way from like or love.
Laughing Nose – Karaoke punk. Which no doubt you think is the shit, but i’m afraid i’m unmoved. Hey, I could do that! Which is i’m sure the point. But have to say was a bit of a dud for me, given the possibilities or your wonderfully warped brain.
Hey, you guys need Panther for a third perspective…(whose ace metal nom on the mothership i forgot to dond)
Thanks! Have a nice trip home Sakura, and maybe your dad will like James Brown?
thanks for Metal solidarity Amy (raises devil horns in salute) !
Hi Amylee ! ! !
Thanks for reading and your support over the series we have really appreciated it ! ! ! I know Japanese voices can sound “squeaky” to western ears, maybe this is the problem? But I am happy you liked some of the grumpy punk’ s tracks
We have had a lot of fun with the series and hope people enjoyed it also! ! !
“The Old Hipster” does like James Brown very much and has quite some of his records. (Yes real records – big, black, flat things)
I am actually really excited about going home and seeing my family again ! ! ! It is too far and too expensive to be able to go for weekend (more than 1,000 miles and you have to fly – it is actually much closer to Taiwan than Tokyo) so I only usually manage to go two times a year. In spring or summer and New Year.
Thank you very much Amylee ! ! !
Oh ! ! ! Sorry, I forgot to say I am not so much of a member of the “sisterhood” either, and it is light hearted post of course ! ! !
Karaoke punk eh ?
Hmm…I get more “Music Hall Punk”, the kind that started to become common over here in about 1978 ( and which, ultimately, caused me to stop going to punk gigs). The kid of “sing/shout a long” stuff that bands like Sham69 and the Angelic Upstarts popularised amongst the lumpen punkatariat.
This week was all about the “message” for me. It took me ages to decide on the tracks as I really wanted them to “speak” about the sex wars.
I am coming from the men’s side and thus, inevitably, will lose. ‘Tis the way of the world. We simple men can never outsmart the subtle wiles of the womanly brain.
Unfortunately, the “message” is harder to pick up simply due to language. No doubt we all miss a lot from these songs because of that.
You’re both winners ! ! !
(& the oddest coupling since the invention of the interwebs).
Now there’s something to chomp on – odd couplings. Me and Toffee, Shane, Mitch, or Aba? (Stones haters all, if one didn’t get the connection.)
What on earth did I ever say to make you conclude that I hate the Stones? I grew up on Big Hits (High Tides and Green Grass), as it was one of the few non-classical records in the house; I’m less overwhelmed by the later stuff, but would fully concede that they’re a great band – hell, I bought Steel Wheels, and the first Keef solo album. Beatles v. Stones no contest as far as I’m concerned.
don’t understand me being in that list either – the pastiche of Faraway Eyes was my accidental template for relationships – paint it black is genius – get off my cloud is equally perfect Britishness and a loner anthem … I could go on (I grew up with the albums, easily picked them in preference to the Beatles when my Dad gave me a choice of the two)
But I wouldn’t champion them – not my era or area of expertise…
Really can’t stand (my perception) of Jagger’s money hoarding, selfishness and unpleasentness – his mum was a sweetie to me, so she makes up for it.
… and I try to only use the word ‘hate’ for extremes – I can be passionate about disliking music because it grates or is bland – but then I just don’t listen to it or try question it’s hype … (says the father of a 7 year old who need perspective in his use of ‘HATE’ in the English language – save it for when you really mean it – save it for when you REALLY mean it)…
…. steps down from high horse and drinks his milk, sorry Amy, lost me there for a moment.
sorry, guys sorry….
I thought i remembered you all in a post from many, many moons ago before i got to RR – someone had linked to a post somewhere on the old ‘Spill about bands you couldn’t stand – and a few people named the Stones – memory no doubt faulty…
I meant to use “hate” very lightly there…and i have no problem at all with people not liking the Stones! I crack some deadpan jokes about it every now and again that may get taken more seriously than was meant…..
I meant to use “hate” very lightly there –
I know, Amy – I’m just in explaining to 7 year old mode – no harm done here. I shall put my high horse back in my toy box – and I’ll calm down.
no need to calm down, fault all mine…i’ve been posting while exhausted lately, which is never a good thing. Must learn to stay away from keyboard when brain and filters unengaged…
Well Mr P is odd . . . .so any coupling with him would be odd ! ! !
You might want to check the other meaning of “coupling” before you get me all excited !
Thanks for reading the post and series Shoey ! ! ! We hope you enjoyed it ! ! !
How do I vote? I selected it, but then what…..?
For me Sakura-chan just pipped it.
Of course, I’m no expert on these things, but for the fast tracks, I liked the ‘aaaaghhhs’ of The Monsters, but was pretty blown away by 凛として時雨. I know you’ve mentioned them before Sakura, and I really should have followed up on it, but this was just a great great song. I loved the guitar and the interplay of vocals (which I really liked) – just great !
Chatmonchy, who I do know and don’t always love, were on fine form for this track, great build-up and nice rockin’ out. Normally, the Blue Hearts would win out every time for me, but this track seemed to lack some oomph when held against Chatmonchy – sorry Pairubu !
Laughin’ Nose are definitely ‘karaoke punk’ – quite literally for me ! They have saved me a couple of times from actually having to attempt to sing properly after being dragged reluctantly to a karaoke session. This was cool and just about beat out Yui, which was good, but not quite good enough – sorry!
Thanks for a great series you two, sorry I couldn’t keep up to comment on all of them, but I did try to listen to them all. Looking forward to what you come up with in the future. If you ever do a post on Japanese garage rock/punk or 70s rock, let me know !
Have a good Golden Week Sakura !
Hi Panthersan ! ! !
I fixed the Poll – I do not know why it was not working I had make a new one, but you can vote now ! ! !
We do take requests ! ! ! So we will put garage rock and punk of the 70′s decade on our list ! ! !
We are really happy you liked the series ! ! !
You fixed the poll !
Ha ! I knew it !
Fixed ! Foul ! Referee !
Hmm..maybe the Blue Hearts track was a bad choice. I did agonize over it, I wanted something that was sung by a bloke and soppy. Not speaking the language hampered my selection a bit ,I think. I’ve got plenty of “slow” songs but they could be singing about squirrels for all I know.
The Monsters kicked Ling Tosite Sigur into a bucket. Telecastic Fake show was exciting, but not nearly as fantastic as the ruggedness of Hi Heels and Mini Skirts.
I like the Blue Hearts, but Chatmonchy was wonderful. I loved the delicacy of the opening of the song and then it rocked.
I can barely admit this as I am probably quite clearly on record as not being moved at all by any of the Yui tracks that I’ve clicked on over on RR. This one was different. She sang in a lower register and the song, Jam, was superb. I love Les Paul’s stuff, and if Yui has an appreciation for him too, that’s bonus points as well. I liked Laughing Nose tremendously, but not as much as Yui.
In general, my taste is closer to Pairubu’s. But you chose your battle weapons wisely, dear Sakura.
This was fun. Thanks.
Have fun in lovely Okinawa, Sakura.
Have fun in lovely Devon, Pairubu.
Oi bist in Glawstershire my lover, not Devon !
Thanks for popping in, even if you did vote wrong.
Well, somewhere down there in wellie country, then …
Yay ! ! !
One for me ! ! !
I am really happy you enjoyed the post ! ! ! And thank you for reading and commenting on all the series. We really have had a lot off fun with it and hope people have enjoyed it also.
Actually I got the latest YUI DVD as a present from my boyfriend last weekend and you can really see how she is changing ! ! ! It is easy to forget she released the first album at 17 years old and is only 24 now and I think she is definitely becoming much more mature. I hope we get a new album soon ! ! !
This is Rolling Star from the “Cuising” DVD – maybe you will like it more. It is actually quite different from the earlier versions.
Yes, her voice is not so shrill here. I like this better. By the time she’s 45 she’s going to sound a lot like Muddy Waters. (Just kidding.)
Now, Sakura, I have been looking at the votes which seem substantially in your favour. You are not doing a bit of “harmless” vote-rigging are you?!
Mr P certainly gets the prize for (possibly inadvertent) self-revelation…
Not equal to judging fairly at the moment (heavy cold) but…but… I think Chatmonchy – Renai Spirits and The Monsters- Hi Heels and Mini Skirt are both great tracks. Of the two, Chatmonchy edges it, so I vote for Hoshino.
I owe no allegiance to any sex (or human beings in general really) but I think the Yui track clinched it for me.
Course, if either of you had posted a Kuricorder Quartet track I’d have voted for you without hearing the others.
Is there such a thing as Japanese country music by the way? Is it any good?
“Is there such a thing as Japanese country music by the way? Is it any good?”
Yes indeedy. An acquired taste, I’d say.