Unlike in some other years, I've been finding some good sources for J-Xmas this year, including a 2-CD compilation of the stuff through "Fantastic Christmas" which was released back in 2006. Most likely, I picked it up at Tower Records or HMV in Shibuya. When the season comes, these compilations pop up like jack rabbits all over the place and I'm Elmer Fudd...a more successful one.
One of the more recent examples on CD 2 is Crazy Ken Band's（クレイジーケンバンド）"Christmas Nante Dai Kirai!! Nanchatte" (I Hate Christmas!! Just Kidding) which was whipped up by Crazy Ken Yokoyama（横山剣）himself with co-writing help from Goro Matsui（松井五郎）. This was CKB's 6th single from December 2002, and I can only theorize, mind you, but that title probably got formed from the observation that it was playing on Yokoyama's usually initially scary appearance but then folks find out that he's really a decent sort. I think the same thing has probably come from first meeting Masayuki Suzuki（鈴木雅之）.
Although I probably wouldn't place it within the City Pop genre, there's something about "Christmas Nante Dai Kirai!!" that sets it on the snow-covered downtown streets as folks are making merry while doing their Xmas shopping and dropping by the nearest café for hot chocolate with marshmallows. If it had been filmed somewhere in Toronto, I think the community of Unionville just a tad north would have been perfect.
Still, the music video setting is just as good and to confirm the uploader's suspicions, indeed "Christmas Nante Dai Kirai!!" was adopted for a cellphone commercial. Couldn't get more Xmas-y than this with a few thespians in there including actress Juri Ueno（上野樹里）. The song peaked at No. 14 on Oricon and was placed onto CKB's BEST compilation, "Crazy Ken Band BEST" which hit as high as No. 10 on the album charts.
I like this song, although every translation of the title I've seen until now left off the "Just Kidding." That's a pretty big omission.
ReplyDeleteThe "Fantastic Christmas" compilation is really good. It has a pretty diverse selection. I got it along with "Winter Gift Pops" from, of all places, a seller on Amazon located in Nebraska, or someplace similar.
There's also a fantastic jazz cover of this on the 2011 album "Christmas Jazz" by the New Roman Trio.
Hi, Scott. I agree that leaving out the translation of "nanchatte" is a pretty big omission. I think the whole point is that Crazy Ken looks intimidating but he's actually a sentimental softie at heart.
Delete"Fantastic Christmas" does cover quite a bit of ground on its 2 discs.