This week’s 4M is a free choice week. Since a local adaptation of James Brock’s rendition of Aesop’s Fables, which I am a part of, will open this weekend only at a local playhouse here in Nagoya, I dedicate this 4M to the fox.
Everyone knows about the “Tortoise and the Hare” from the Aesop’s Fables collection! But have you heard “The Fox and the Sour Grapes”? Or even the “Donkey and the Lion Skin”? Or perhaps, “The Fox and the Crow”?
Why did I choose the fox for this 4M? Well, that is because I am playing the character of the Fox in one of the fables. I also play the role of Betty who is a bit of a snob and wants everything her way, think Gretchen Wieners from Mean Girls or a snobby rich girl from Clueless. (Note: This play features humans transforming into different animals, It’s also an ensemble play.) I can’t reveal the whole story (but you can find parts of the play on Google Books) as you have to come to Nagoya to see it! Of course, I can post the highlight video when it comes out.
Hey guys! Mental Health Awareness Day was on October 10. Although, I was busy with work and couldn’t talk about it on that day, I was nominated by Laura Spoonie to talk about how music helps my mental health and what songs helps me to stay positive. See what songs I picked under the cut!
Sorry for the week-long, unannounced hiatus. This week was crazy busy as I worked seven days, studied for an exam, and then had practice for a play that I will be in. I came home after work every night very tired and wanted to go to bed early, thus not being able to focus on this blog. Sorry for disappearing!
For today’s blog post, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Welsh alt-rock musician Rhy Davis’ latest release Nouveau Mode. This release brought many nostalgic feelings to mind when I listen to this four-track EP. How can something so brand new bring back this feeling?
I want to thank those who have visited my blog so far! I had over 1,600 views in August, more than July, and I am thrilled. Sometimes, I feel guilty for having a music blog because I write content for only one genre. I don’t write about not multiple genres as I see with many other blogs. I could write about lifestyle and travel, but my real passion is music. I want to stick with music (and maybe other entertainment) for now. I will continue to work hard to provide new musical experiences for my viewers.
I write about past and forgotten releases on this blog. But, I also want to feature more about music that is new and upcoming. Especially from bands and artists that are indies or just starting. I am continuing that trend with a band from Scotland named Foggy City Orphan.
Ever since I was little, I have been influenced by many musical genres. My mom always listened to songs from different eras and various genre in the car or the house. Also, TV programs, the radio, and even going to the mall let me discover new acts and love new ones. Many people think I am a mainly Japanese pop person, but I genuinely love all genres, especially rock.
I was given the opportunity to listen to two songs by Alternative rock band Arcadia Sun from Liverpool, England. The experience of listening to these two songs are powerful with emotions deeply embroidered in every note and word.
It’s the end of another busy week. This week, I had long work days, an extra work day, and a stressful examination. Now, I can sit back and enjoy the two days I have off with music. Different genres of music have been playing all day long, letting various melodies and notes freely flow around my apartment. As a Jem song once put it, music is magic: it stirs up multiple emotions, makes you dance or cry, and soothes you.
As I bask in the light of the hot sun setting under the horizon, I find peace by listening to “‘Di Na Muli” Never Again by The Itchyworms.
Two years ago, I wrote a post about Jane Child to celebrate Canada’s Independence. This year, I want to talk about the Barenaked Ladies and their infamous song, “One Week”.
Before you say “Wait, what?”, hear me out! “One Week” was one of the musical themes during the fourth grade. I still remember riding in my mom’s car, hearing then-musical newcomers such as Britney Spears, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, and etc. on the radio, and debating which boy band member was the best during lunch time. Even though the Barenaked Ladies weren’t technically new when they released “One Week” in 1998 (as they formed ten years earlier), they were pretty new to me as well as the United States music scene back then.
Why was “One Week” such a popular song back in the 90s? You have to admit, the musicality of the song isn’t anything amazing; a basic 90s’ rock song that doesn’t have any amazing vocals nor instrumental solo that really stand out. Yet, the answer doesn’t lie in the musicality, but more in the lyrics. These lines are oozing with multiple pop culture references. As someone wrote on the song’s Wikipedia article: “The song is rife with pop culture references, which includes the following: Aquaman, Swiss Chalet, LeAnn Rimes, Bert Kaempfert, The X-Files and its character, The Smoking Man, the film Frantic and its star Harrison Ford, Sting and tantric sex, Snickers, sushi and wasabi, golf clubs, the film Vertigo, Akira Kurosawa and his film Seven Samurai, Sailor Moon, A Tribe Called Quest’s song “Scenario”, Birchmount Stadium and its annual Robbie International Soccer Tournament.”[1]
These popular references give listeners something to relate to. For example, I have watched X-Files with the lights on (who hasn’t done this?). — though I had to because I watched X-Files as a young girl and let me tell you, that show was scary as hell when you are young. Another example is the Sailor Moon reference. Whenever this song came on the radio, I would always wait for my favorite part, which was when the band’s vocalist Ed Robertson sang: “Gotta get in tune with Sailor Moon Cause that cartoon has got the boom anime babes”. I was beginning to become a big fan of Sailor Moon when this song came out twenty years ago. So, when I heard it being mentioned in a hit song, I became super excited: someone famous knows my favorite anime, and put it in a popular song!
Robertson also makes this song addictive to sing to with his smooth style of rapping during the verses. The cleverness of how Robertson writes the lyrics also makes anyone want to sing this at karaoke.
“One Week” might not be memorable as a talented musical piece like Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always As Love You”. But with its bouncy rhymes and pop culture references, the song made listeners excited to listen for our favorite pop culture items inside the tune back in the 90s. Now, it lets us reminiscence on 90s’ pop culture.
Were you are big of “One Week” back in the day?
About the Band:
Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian rock band with four members: Jim Creeggan (vocals and bass), Kevin Hearn (guitar, keyboard, and vocals), Ed Robertson (guitar and vocals) and Tyler Stewart (vocals and drums). Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Ontario as a duo (Robertson and Steven Page). The band kept adding members afterward with brothers Jim and Andy Creeggan joining at the end of 1989 and Stewart was added in 1990. When Andy Creeggan left the group in 1995, he was replaced by Kevin Hearn. Also, Steven Page retired in 2009.
The group released their first album, named “Buck Naked” in 1988 as a cassette tape under a indies label. The became popular when they released their third indies album, named “The Yellow Tape”, in 1991. The album reached #9 on the Canadian charts. Due to the success of “The Yellow Tape”, the band signed with the major label Reprise a year after and released “Gordon”, which reached #1 on the charts. They broke into the US music market in 1998 with the release of “Stunt”, which reached #3 on the charts there.
The band is still active as a quartet as they released the album “Fake Nude” last year.
☆ai love music☆ 