It's been a little over three months since the untimely passing of singer-songwriter KAN and when I hear some of his more poignant songs, it does make the heart grow warmer and maybe even the eyes a little wetter.
Case in point: his May 1989 5th single, "Tokyo Life". I've known that KAN was a huge admirer of the Piano Man himself, Billy Joel, and he has infused some of his songs with Joel's way with music. I think "Tokyo Life" is one of those examples as he sings about the average young salaryman in Japan's biggest city and how his life has gotten busier, more difficult and maybe even lonelier compared to his salad days in school. But in the end, the one thing that keeps him going week after week is his significant other. I'm not sure whether it's his wife or girlfriend, but just by being within proximity, the corporation guy is hanging in tough.
The use of those particular keyboards and KAN's plaintive vocals has the nostalgia flooding in regarding the turn of the 80s into the 90s which I witnessed firsthand as a teacher in Japan. "Tokyo Life" was also a track on his 4th album, "HAPPY TITLE: Koufuku Senshuken"（HAPPY TITLE -幸福選手権-）which was released in June that year.
Great tune. It's a shame he's not around because I know he would have been happy to hear that Billy Joel released his first new song in over 10+ years with "Turn the Lights Back On."
ReplyDeleteIt's also good to hear that Joel is still performing in concert. The man is a living legend.
DeleteKan always reminds me a little of Christopher Cross at least in this song.
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