The above video is provided by WizArno: A Magical Journey Together, and it's a most detailed tour of what is perhaps the leading drug store chain in Japan, Matsumoto Kiyoshi. It may sound like the name of an enka singer but believe you me, you'll remember it for all of the medicine, medical supplies and cosmetics that you can shake a stick at.
A while back, I posted up an article regarding one of my favourite songs, period, "Like a Queen" by Tomita Lab（富田ラボ）with the sister R&B act Soulhead providing their smooth vocals. If I ever need a pick-me-up that doesn't involve caffeine or alcohol, this is one of the songs.
Well, the original 2005 single of "Like a Queen" did have a coupling song called "PHARMACY", and to be blunt, it's not quite as catchy or epic as the main song. But it's still a Tomita Lab creation so there is still a fair bit to like. At first though, it was a little weird listening to this odd conglomeration of the typical Tomita groovy smoothness and a synth-based reggae rhythm underlying everything. If I'm not mistaken, it's Tomita himself singing the lyrics here although according to the JASRAC database, no lyricist name is given so perhaps he was winging it while recording it. And as we approach the end, I even get some late 1970s Steely Dan feeling. Maybe "PHARMACY" is the type of song to hear while chilling at the most boho cafe in Tokyo.
Up here in the blue forest "Drug Asahi" , "Happy Drug", a"Tsuruha Drug", and to a lesser degree "sun drug" seem to be the most common. We, do however had a Matsumoto Kiyoshi at the shopping center in train station, and the most famous castle city of this area has two Matsumoto Kiyoshi locations.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have enough brain power left to process all of the complexity of this song. Is he showing off?
ReplyDeleteEven more than Steely Dan's Aja album.
Maybe he tried to show off, although I think even Donald Fagen sings a bit better than Tomita Lab.
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