Happy 20th Anniversary, YouTube! 20th Anniversary Kayo Picks

 

It is indeed another Hump Day here so why not perk things up a tad? We often celebrate anniversaries such as birthdays here and we're gonna do so once again with Kayo Grace Kyoku and Mr. Calico.

The news was coming that the 20th anniversary of YouTube was near but I hadn't realized that it was actually today. However indeed, on April 23rd 2005, the first YouTube video was uploaded onto the new site with one of the co-founders Jawed Karim putting up a 19-second presentation of his very calm observation of elephants at the San Diego Zoo. Of course, from such humble beginnings, a video empire evolved including tons of music from over the past century, recipe videos from home, soothing ASMR stuff and vicarious drives all over the world among other imaginative ideas. 

Also because "Kayo Kyoku Plus" could only work with the representation of Japanese songs from now and yesteryear existing on YouTube, I have to extend my gratitude to all those uploaders over the years (although perhaps certain companies and artists may not be thrilled). It was always my feeling that a Japanese music blog wouldn't work with just some prose about the songs that I knew and loved; the actual songs just had to be there for listening.

I had actually considered only putting up the Top 10 list of singles for April 23rd 2005 but seeing that most of the top 10 were unknown to me, I quickly ditched that idea. Instead, what I will do is provide songs by certain artists that were released in the 20th year of their time in show business (checked J-Wiki), whether or not they were put out as official 20th-anniversary songs.

(1959) Haruo Minami -- Otone Mujou (大利根無情)

(1967) Hibari Misora -- Makkana Taiyo （真赤な太陽）

(1992) Yumi Matsutoya -- Fuyu no Owari （冬の終わり）

(1985) Hiroshi Itsuki -- Soshite....Meguri Ai （そして。。。めぐり逢い）

(1998) Southern All Stars -- LOVE AFFAIR ~ Himitsu no Date（秘密のデート）

Anyways, congratulations to YouTube on hitting the big 2-0!