I enjoyed "Anpan"（あんぱん）, the NHK morning serial drama that wrapped up at the end of September after its six-month run, but I never really got into its theme song by Radwimps. To me, there just seemed to be a bit of a disconnect between the fictionalized life and times (1927-1993) of the couple behind the "Anpanman"（アンパンマン）manga and a song that just sounded a little too technorock for the story.
On the other hand, the current asadora "Bakebake"（ばけばけ...The Ghost Writer's Wife） is not something that I've gotten into right away since I'm not too up on my Meiji Era although it is the fictionalized account of author Lafcadio Hearn and his wife Setsu Koizumi. Still, I've taken a liking to its theme song, "Warattari Korondari" (Laughing and Tripping Over) by the folk duo Humbert Humbert（ハンバート ハンバート）.
I've already written a few articles regarding the works of the husband-and-wife team of Ryosei Sato（佐藤良成）and Yuuho Sano（佐野遊穂）and have found them to be the refreshing alternative to all of the aidoru and R&B that has taken over much of Japanese pop music these days. And this isn't to say that I dislike the genres but sometimes there is the need for me to zigzag among different genres if I've gotten too much of one.
Actually, I had already heard "Warattari Korondari" even before "Bakebake" debuted a couple of weeks ago since Humbert Humbert came onto "Uta Con"（うたコン）to sing the song. It didn't particularly hit me with a light bulb at that point but hearing it as the opening credits for "Bakebake" roll by gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling like freshly-made donuts. I think it helps that the credits themselves have finally eschewed the whiz-bang special effects of previous asadora and gone for a more down-to-earth series of snapshots of the loving couple as the gentle country-folk vocals and sound of "Warattari Korondari" plays out. The connection between the series and theme is stronger here, I believe.
I'm not sure whether Humbert Humbert was going for their own version of American Gothic in the image accompanying the full version of the song here. Maybe we can call it Meiji Gothic?
Warattari Korondari is way outside the box! I don't spend much if any time with this genre of music. However, I am glad that some of the current Japanese writers and artist are thinking outside of the box.
ReplyDeleteI see less and less the AI art on the article and I'm very glad and grateful for that :)
ReplyDeleteHello, Solarriors. I understand that many people hate AI art, but to be honest, I'm not one of them. If I think one example of it would be nice as a thumbnail on the article, then I will put it up. But if you don't like it, that's fine. I will not begrudge you your opinion.
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