Heart Beat
February 7, 2011 11:22 PM Subscribe
Wow... talk about mondegreens.
I think he's using English phrases in the song. "Boyfriend" "big cup, black" (probably talking about coffee).
posted by delmoi at 3:44 AM on February 8, 2011
I think he's using English phrases in the song. "Boyfriend" "big cup, black" (probably talking about coffee).
posted by delmoi at 3:44 AM on February 8, 2011
I think he's using English phrases in the song.
No shit, Sherlock! ;-) There's plenty... touch me baby, love me baby, can you hear my heartbeat, etc etc. For anyone who doesn't already know it, this is a very common, tried-and-true device in Japanese rock and pop.
1980s singer-songwriter J-rock. Sano Motoharu can be said to be something of a Bruce Springsteen wannabe, I suppose. It's even got the requisite bad saxophone playing! And lordy, that harmonica solo at the end, I mean, really, does that go on for like 100 bars too many, or what?
Well, anyway, let's give it up for Sano-san! Otsukaresamadeshita!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:01 AM on February 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
No shit, Sherlock! ;-) There's plenty... touch me baby, love me baby, can you hear my heartbeat, etc etc. For anyone who doesn't already know it, this is a very common, tried-and-true device in Japanese rock and pop.
1980s singer-songwriter J-rock. Sano Motoharu can be said to be something of a Bruce Springsteen wannabe, I suppose. It's even got the requisite bad saxophone playing! And lordy, that harmonica solo at the end, I mean, really, does that go on for like 100 bars too many, or what?
Well, anyway, let's give it up for Sano-san! Otsukaresamadeshita!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:01 AM on February 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
So, is Motoharu the Springsteen of Japan?
posted by Kattullus at 4:01 AM on February 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Kattullus at 4:01 AM on February 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
At your service, Kattullus.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:03 AM on February 8, 2011
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:03 AM on February 8, 2011
The live version of Heartbeats is better than the album version, imo.
posted by empath at 4:55 AM on February 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by empath at 4:55 AM on February 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
It'd help if you said who the original is by. I assumed it would be the Buddy Holly song.
posted by John Cohen at 5:31 AM on February 8, 2011
posted by John Cohen at 5:31 AM on February 8, 2011
It'd help if you said who the original is by.
Not sure why you're assuming Sano-san's tune is not an original. I'm about 99% sure that it is.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:04 AM on February 8, 2011
Not sure why you're assuming Sano-san's tune is not an original. I'm about 99% sure that it is.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:04 AM on February 8, 2011
'sung by' kind of implies he didn't also write it.
Good point. So, anyone know if this is a cover?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:10 AM on February 8, 2011
Good point. So, anyone know if this is a cover?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:10 AM on February 8, 2011
Or... I guess I'm the only person in the western world who doesn't know this song?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:11 AM on February 8, 2011
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:11 AM on February 8, 2011
He appears to roll with centaurs, so maybe we should take it easy. Don't wanna get trampled by Rhymester.
posted by mintcake! at 6:33 AM on February 8, 2011
posted by mintcake! at 6:33 AM on February 8, 2011
From the youtube comments, translated from Japanese to English:
Thank Up
My youth
Night Drive
Love was too young
Sad love
To come in the morning the night
Spent in the heart of Pier Karappo
I was a youth
This song is my masterpiece
Poetry!
posted by brand-gnu at 7:18 AM on February 8, 2011
Thank Up
My youth
Night Drive
Love was too young
Sad love
To come in the morning the night
Spent in the heart of Pier Karappo
I was a youth
This song is my masterpiece
Poetry!
posted by brand-gnu at 7:18 AM on February 8, 2011
I don't see any Youtube comments on this video at all. Hrm.
posted by koeselitz at 8:27 AM on February 8, 2011
posted by koeselitz at 8:27 AM on February 8, 2011
BLUUUUUUUCE!
posted by Mike D at 8:52 AM on February 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Mike D at 8:52 AM on February 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Another old fashioned song sung by a Japanese person with English highlights, Shamisen Boogie Woogie （1949）. This is how it would have looked.
posted by nickyskye at 9:43 AM on February 8, 2011
posted by nickyskye at 9:43 AM on February 8, 2011
I don't get this post. Do you like the song? Or do you find it silly for some reason? Because if you're trying to use this song and Motoharu Sano to make a "let's point and laugh at this silly Japanese pop singer" post, then you're picking on the wrong artist.
Motoharu Sano isn't a has-been star from the '80s, although he was probably at the peak of his popularity back then in terms of sales. But then, music sales in general were higher back then to begin with. So if you think he's somehow washed out as an artist, then you haven't been paying attention. Like Springsteen, he has matured as an songwriter over the years and they are similar in that way as well, since the comparison came up.
I think from the point of view of someone outside Japan who only listens to music from the Western world, it's so easy to dismiss the effort and creativity of Japanese pop stars (or any non-English-speaking songwriter for that matter) who try to incorporate their American music influences into their own songs. And I don't even know where to start about how some of you in this thread seem to think using English and Japanese together in song lyrics is somehow stupid. It's stupid when it's done badly. There are lots of stupid Japanese pop songs and bad "artists" out there, but Motoharu Sano isn't one of them. Like him or not (and truth be told I don't even really like his stuff much and I find him a bit self-absorbed in his interviews, but anyway), he makes quality Japanese pop music and has for the past 30 years.
Some recent songs:
コヨーテ、海へ (cotyote, to the sea) 2007.
君が気高い孤独なら Sweet Soul, Blue Beat.
希望(Hope).
And a classic from his heyday: Someday.
Japanese music isn't an either/or between the Boredoms and Jero. I know I'm not obligated to go around defending Japanese culture all the time, but sometimes I really get tired of these lazy presentations and comments.
posted by misozaki at 5:06 PM on February 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
Motoharu Sano isn't a has-been star from the '80s, although he was probably at the peak of his popularity back then in terms of sales. But then, music sales in general were higher back then to begin with. So if you think he's somehow washed out as an artist, then you haven't been paying attention. Like Springsteen, he has matured as an songwriter over the years and they are similar in that way as well, since the comparison came up.
I think from the point of view of someone outside Japan who only listens to music from the Western world, it's so easy to dismiss the effort and creativity of Japanese pop stars (or any non-English-speaking songwriter for that matter) who try to incorporate their American music influences into their own songs. And I don't even know where to start about how some of you in this thread seem to think using English and Japanese together in song lyrics is somehow stupid. It's stupid when it's done badly. There are lots of stupid Japanese pop songs and bad "artists" out there, but Motoharu Sano isn't one of them. Like him or not (and truth be told I don't even really like his stuff much and I find him a bit self-absorbed in his interviews, but anyway), he makes quality Japanese pop music and has for the past 30 years.
Some recent songs:
コヨーテ、海へ (cotyote, to the sea) 2007.
君が気高い孤独なら Sweet Soul, Blue Beat.
希望(Hope).
And a classic from his heyday: Someday.
Japanese music isn't an either/or between the Boredoms and Jero. I know I'm not obligated to go around defending Japanese culture all the time, but sometimes I really get tired of these lazy presentations and comments.
posted by misozaki at 5:06 PM on February 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
I know I'm not obligated to go around defending Japanese culture all the time...
But misozaki, and i say this in all sincerity, we'd all be much better off if you did! And I have to say that my stated impression of Sano-san as a Springsteen "wannabe" was a bit unfair, and a bit too unnecessarily dismissive.
It was some bad saxophonery there, though...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:17 PM on February 8, 2011
But misozaki, and i say this in all sincerity, we'd all be much better off if you did! And I have to say that my stated impression of Sano-san as a Springsteen "wannabe" was a bit unfair, and a bit too unnecessarily dismissive.
It was some bad saxophonery there, though...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:17 PM on February 8, 2011
It was some bad saxophonery there, though...
True, that.
posted by misozaki at 5:20 PM on February 8, 2011
True, that.
posted by misozaki at 5:20 PM on February 8, 2011
context-free post that could use some context.
i agree with burnmp3s that the Don Johnson Heartbeat is the silliest caricature 80's pop song. or was the point of this "look at the guy singing a mostly non-english song with some english words thrown in! HA!"? if you find japanese pop songs that use english lyrics occasionally humorous you're in luck because that would be ALL OF THEM. This is not even a good example of misused english. for the most part the english he's using fits with the rest of the lyrics in terms of meaning, even if he's not pronouncing the words like a native.
I'm not saying that there's not plenty to dislike about the song. you've got over dramatic delivery, out of tune singing, cheesy 80's band sound, and a ridiculous 3 minute harmonica solo... this is more of a discussion for MeFi music, though.
posted by mexican at 5:53 PM on February 8, 2011
i agree with burnmp3s that the Don Johnson Heartbeat is the silliest caricature 80's pop song. or was the point of this "look at the guy singing a mostly non-english song with some english words thrown in! HA!"? if you find japanese pop songs that use english lyrics occasionally humorous you're in luck because that would be ALL OF THEM. This is not even a good example of misused english. for the most part the english he's using fits with the rest of the lyrics in terms of meaning, even if he's not pronouncing the words like a native.
I'm not saying that there's not plenty to dislike about the song. you've got over dramatic delivery, out of tune singing, cheesy 80's band sound, and a ridiculous 3 minute harmonica solo... this is more of a discussion for MeFi music, though.
posted by mexican at 5:53 PM on February 8, 2011
misozaki,
I tend to post links to things I like without lots of editorializations. So, I linked to this ^ because I listened to it about 10 times in the last 24 hours, and I simply loved it. So there -
posted by growabrain at 7:14 PM on February 8, 2011
I tend to post links to things I like without lots of editorializations. So, I linked to this ^ because I listened to it about 10 times in the last 24 hours, and I simply loved it. So there -
posted by growabrain at 7:14 PM on February 8, 2011
« Older Explore New England's Past | Große Jagd Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by a non e mouse at 1:38 AM on February 8, 2011