I didn't really get the chance to check these lyrics, but I did go over them a second time, I feel like I've got'em right. So... Merry Christmas!

( Original Japanese Lyrics )

( Katakana Reading )


( English Translation )

( Translation Annotation )

Here's my small collection of Tamio/Unicorn icons!

( Read more... )

It's a slightly different approach but I thought I would share what I scribbled in my note book.

How to persuade someone to listen to OT with an open mind and in doing so understand why he is so special.

The secret to success is a very carefully chosen mark, preferably one who is interested already, maybe a little older or a bit different in some other way. Loners are often the most curious and aware. Herd animals will not generally accept OT unless someone in authority tells them to. If they think you are the alpha it might work.

Hahaha, I am getting a bit sidetracked. Anyway you get the picture. Avoid people who can't think for themselves, because OT appeals to intelligent listeners. Unicorn even more so. Unicorn appeals to eccentrics and artists. I suggest running Peke Peke Otoko PV by them, or of course that old standby Daimeiwaku PV. I'm a big fan of visual conversion...that's what Youtube was born for. I'd be inclined to start with Unicorn and then move to Fantastic OT9. For conventionial types it might be better going straight to the OT. Unicorns sartorial eccentricity will just confuse them. If they still aren't biting, chuck them back in the water and cast your line again.

Really where ever you enter OTs career you have to be impressed, but the Fantastic lives were my high point of OT fandom. Watching that made me realize what a maestro he is. He is the only guitarist and it's just amazing how he does both so fluently, swiveling serenely there on his Persian carpet. It's beautiful, you know. And the huge crowd are so in love with him. The performance all hangs together like each song is a movement in a total work. I know I'm labouring the Classical analogys a bit but what the heck. He really is a modern composer.

And that's maybe why it becomes difficult to differentiate the songs in your mind afterwards, because it's one total experience, no doubt designed with the live in mind.

He's got a lot of great songs, too many to list now, but what impresses me most is his sheer musicianship, his stagecraft, and also his consciousness...his sixth sense.

You've most likely heard about this already. Tamio is working with Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra again! Single is to release next month.





http://www.tokyoska.net/index.html

Yay! (Yeah, I'm done spamming D:)

Whenever I try to introduce or talk to someone about Tamio they always say "but he's so boring" or "his music's boring". So I tried to pick songs that...uhhh...couldn't easily be called boring XD So I picked "fun" songs.

Kinda sucks because some really good OT songs are just him singing in a lazy, slow manner and/or strumming on his guitar.

1. 人の息子 / 30
2. マシマロ / GOLDBLEND (Tie between ヘヘヘイ and Marshmallow. I like ヘヘヘイ more but Marshmallow is more addictive)
3. 花になる / E

Honestly though If I was going to seriously introduce someone to him I'd tell them to listen to 29 & 30 and if they didn't love him after that then well...
If they were a lazy person (like I was) I'd force them to listen to his single collection. I was sold on the first 4 songs <3

Dunno If anyone here uses last.fm but on his charts the cover he did for the Quruli tribute album (ばらの花) is topping. I love his version~

I've been feeling bad for neglecting this community, especially when I promised to translate some of the Abe songs off the new UNICORN album. Of course, it makes me feel even worse when I decide to translate another song. Haha! I've finished translating Koi no Kakera, but I think it may be a little bit off, so I'm going to consult my dear friend Mayuko before I put it up. So, while we wait, let's do a related Youtube Spam!

Sambo Master is... an interesting band that I highly suggest, if only because I really dig this cover:


(I should apologize for the picture... It's the only OT pic I have on this computer... It doesn't fit the mood at all, does it?)

It gives the song a feeling that it never had before! It feels so much more emotive, and nostalgic. I LOVE IT!

And for those of you wondering why the name Sambo Master sounds familiar, it's because they wrote the ending theme to Densha Otoko.

In any case, youtube being the lovely way it is with suggestions, I find that they have done more with OT!



What the hell? What happened to his soft voice? Man is he out of key. I'm new to Sambo Master, but apparently this isn't out of the ordinary for the lead singer to do, and he was even made fun of for it on a variety program.

But I do wonder how close their connection is to OT.

Boom out.

Question! If had to choose three songs to introduce your friend to Okuda Tamio, what would they be?

1. Tegami (The Letter)/ Matatabi
2. You (Sunlight) / Failbox
3. 674 / 29

I'd prefer that people just make a new post for each selection so we can discuss it in the comments section, but I'm not picky :) If you want, you can just reply to this post.

Stumbled on this article when I was looking for lyrics. Initially, I was happy that OT was getting some international attention...but the comments. Granted the OP was asking for backlash with the title of the post being "The Greatest Prock Artist You've Never Heard: Tamio Okuda". Yeah...bad start!

I just want to say that I don't think Okuda is a rock god or whatever. I just really enjoy his music. Even the "worshiping" on his furinkan site or the junkmagnet page for OT threw me off. I found myself thinking "he doesn't seem as popular/great as they are making him out to be" or "that HMV list came out in 2003(?) what rank would he have now in 2009?".
I see what SOME guys are trying to get at though...not the ones that are saying "good rock" can only come from Britain/America - that's complete bullshit.
( Read more... )

You all probably already about this but Okuda produced and wrote the songs for the movie 僕らのワンダフルデイズ


シーラカンズ / 奥田民生
01. 僕らの旅
02. ドキドキしよう
03. 雲海
04. 僕らの旅 (inst)
05. ドキドキしよう (inst)

僕らの旅 OT version

I like this song :)
It reminds me of Unicorn.

12月23日(水)リリース！
勤労ロードショー ～LIVE IN JAPAN～ / UNICORN

初回生産限定盤：KSCL 1531-3 [2CD+1DVD] 3枚組　\4,300(税込み)
通常盤：KSCL 1534-5 [2CD] 2枚組 \3,500(税込み)
完全生産限定盤：KSCL20009-10 [2Blu-spec CD] \3,980(税込み)

Yay, new stuff! :D

Article  about new release with some live pics.