Big In Japan

So, we’re off to Japan first thing Wednesday.
We have the currency. We have the guidebooks. We have the “pointy” idiot tourist books. Needless to say, I have these two songs on the brain.
Finally, in order to fully prepare myself, I did what any sensible, urbane and culturally-sensitive traveller would do and watched all I could find on [...]

Out to lunch

Today I used my lunch break to pop into town and buy a wedding gift for our friends in Tokyo. As I entered the department store I was forced to make my way through the lingerie department in order to reach my destination. I hate it when that happens:
 
Purchase made,  I scoffed a disgusting burger [...]

The Bronx is up and the Battery’s down

Previously on “Simon Says”…
OK, my brain’s still a little fluffy from the jet-lag, but here goes.
Friday
We arrived at the airport, as instructed, three hours before departure (which is to say, at 0630) anticipating stringent security measures. We were asked for both our passports and our national identity cards, asked whether we had anything that looked like [...]

Start spreading the news

Tomorrow we leave for three days in New York. Pre-planning and research has mainly consisted of trawling YouTube for clips from favourite New York movies, either for inspiration before departure, or so that I could re-enact the relevant scenes once I was there.
This one for getting in the mood before we leave.
This one upon arrival.
This one [...]

Theme tune

While suffering through the blaring emptiness of the Torchwood theme tune the other day (my wife watches it, while I find something more fun to do, like scrubbing the inside of the oven), and mentally comparing it to the haunting majesty of the Doctor Who theme tune, I started wondering - when did programme makers forget [...]

Kodò

On Friday night we saw Kodò in concert in Antwerp.
At first I wasn’t sure if two hours’ worth of drumming would hold my attention, and yet I found that whenever they broke up their set with something different like a dragon dance, or a geisha song accompanied by a shakuhachi, I found myself thinking “Well that’s all [...]

Mood music

A favourite song, a favourite video.
Favourite shot starts at 02:54.
Favourite line is the last one: “Immerse your soul in love”.
Then, 12 years later, this one.
Some “Making of” info here.

Bleep!

The acquisition of musical taste is a funny thing, particularly in its early stages. In my case it came from some of my other childhood interests, namely film and science fiction. The first records (yes, vinyl… I bought were film soundtracks, mostly to fantasy or science fiction movies like Star Wars, Superman, etc. I still [...]

Lyrical

What do songs mean? It’s not always obvious. Some songs are deliberately cryptic or ambiguous, perhaps because the writer wishes to tease or perplex, or encourage differing interpretations. And some songs have simply been misunderstood, for a variety of reasons.
Lack of background knowledge. An American review of Thom Yorke’s album The Eraser expressed some puzzlement over the meaning of [...]

Five favourite songs

Dark Therapy, Echobelly
Mysteries, Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man
Iceblink Luck, Cocteau Twins
True Faith, New Order
Blindfold, Morcheeba