February 9, 2009
Straight Out of Tokyo
Alright, Japanese music... Where to begin?
When I first came here I didn't really like it. I didn't understand the lyrics and most songs sounded like the music from the eighties and nineties. Then I found out that a lot of songs are actually remakes, so that makes kind of sense in a way.
Also, unlike most Japanese people, I'm not really into boy bands. All those boy bands... I'm not saying it's crazy, but yeah, sometimes it's just crazy. So now, five months later, I still don't understand the lyrics, but I learned to appreciate it a little more. Some songs are not as bad as I thought they were, to be honest.
I really like Japanese stuff and I love hip-hop music, so I thought, "Why not find some good Japanese hip-hop?" This was actually harder than I thought it would be. I already knew a few rappers but I can't really say I liked them. I would just laugh at the ��cool�� Engurish (Japanese English) they would put in somewhere random in their lyrics. After a long search I finally found a few good "classics". The beats are just awesome (I love beats) and there is just a good vibe.
Although not all Japanese rap is super good, I really like Japanese rappers. They are not as shy as some Japanese people and they are not as "crazy" as the dressed-up lolita from Harajuku, for example (no offense). They are just cool and I found out they are fun to hang out with because I actually met a few during the last couple of months and always enjoy listening to their freestyle raps. They��re just having fun.
My all time favorite Japanese rap song is "Koko Tokyo" (This is Tokyo) by Aquarius featuring S-word, Big-O and Dabo. You can look it up on Youtube if you want. It's about how confusing and stressful Tokyo can be, without really being negative about it. I think it's a really good song because it's very recognizable for many people here.
But enough about J-pop and J-Hip-Hop, let's talk about my favorite super-addictive drink. Van Houten Chocolate Strawberry Milk is just pure awesomeness in a half liter pack. Unlike melon pan, I just don't get sick of it buying it everyday. I actually don't like chocolate milk that much, nor am I a big fan of strawberry milk, but a mix of these two makes me feel happy inside.
When you drink it, it��s cold. Then you taste this sweet, somewhat strong and yet soft chocolate taste and after you swallow it, you have a delicious and fresh aftertaste in your mouth. I just love it and it's already on my list of things I will miss when I go back to my own country.
Aight! Thanks for reading and keep safe!
Until next time!
Wess