22 Comments
User's avatar
Speed's avatar

so is soapland like a japanese bed bath and beyond

they sell soap there too

MD Streeter's avatar

The soap is included in the service.

ex101st's avatar

Sorry MD, my knowledge of Japanese pop is limited to Kyu Sakamoto from the early sixties.

MD Streeter's avatar

They still love him there. My colleagues were surprised when I sang one of his songs at an end-of-the-year party one time.

Ataraxis's avatar

I like the Band Maid vibe. The lead singer has a great voice.

Gianni's avatar

Those maid cafes are some bizarre s-. The thing that really struck me was as she walked thru the city streets to the cafe, there was no graffiti on the walls nor trash in the streets. I bet the elevator she rode up to the cafe didn’t smell of urine either.

MD Streeter's avatar

Japanese elevators did not smell like urine the last time I was there. I believe it will still be true when we return next month.

Rick T.'s avatar

Well I’ll never look at one of these the same way again.

https://www.applewoodseed.com/product/baby-blue-eyes/

Gianni's avatar

GenX wants to know where The Plastics fit into this.

MD Streeter's avatar

To be honest I have never heard of The Plastics before this! They broke up shortly after I was born, and except for City Pop my knowledge of pre-1990 Japanese music is extremely limited. The internet tells me they were very stylish (perhaps more style than substance) but some flashy Western acts liked them a lot. They had a more direct impact on City Pop, which is the article after next, than any of the rock/metal bands in this article.

Gianni's avatar

Everyone that watched SCTV remembers the Gerry Todd bit where Tim Ishimuni showed their Top Secret Man video:

https://youtu.be/Gi5un_z6A9M?si=F3UiLwrRUzIspGjG

The two co founders of the band have passed away.

Andrew White's avatar

I appreciate all of this, mostly because I am the American copy of this guy. At least for most of my life. I've had a raft of used junk I bought cheap, fixed, and drove into the ground because I hated to lose money on anything. But I also refused to spend real money on transportation when I could have something cheap and reliable while I spent money on my classic junk.

Probably the worst was a Subaru. It paired both electrical gremlins and mechanical failures, which is the jackpot of shitbox problems. By jackpot I mean rolling snake eyes.

Probably the best wound up being my Dodge Ram 4x4 once I spent some money on it and uncut all the shortcuts Iacocca and the previous owner took.

The high from taking something a normie thinks is toast and fixing it up is very addictive.

Sobro's avatar

Another enlightening post MD. Thanks. I was skeptical of the BAND-MAID ladies until I viewed the live version of Magie. No, this isn't the girl metal band version of Milli Vanilli.

Some rabbit-holing led me to an old Reddit AMA from a gaijin lady who works in "delivery health". One of the things I learned is that selling PIV is illegal but anal isn't. She called it the poop hole loop hole.

It is legal to "fall in love at first sight" and accept a gift for PIV sex. The Japanese are a strange people.

MD Streeter's avatar

My first thought when youtube's algorithm served BAND-MAID to me was, "Are you for real right now?" It took me a couple of weeks to click the link, but I'm glad I did.

I've heard about that loop hole, but I don't know much more than I've already said.

Hex168's avatar

You wrote "prog" in regard to one of the Band Maid songs, so I clicked on it. They are quite good. for some reason I can't identify, they remind me of Deep Purple back in the day.

MD Streeter's avatar

It's the straightforward rock sound. There's no BS, they can just play like an old-school band.

GT Limited's avatar

Love BAND-MAID, highly recommend their live instrumental “Onset” on YouTube.

It’s a shame some of their live stuff seems to have been pulled down. There’s still a fair bit on there, but there used to be a wicked version of “Daydreaming” with an extended piano intro and gnarlier guitar solo that’s disappeared.

unsafe release's avatar

Nemophila’s cover of Whole Lotta Rosie is outstanding. I listened to it several times cranked up to 11 with a big grin on my face.

Also listened to some of BAND-MAID. Good stuff, man.

Somewhat relatedly, Yoshiki performed a rockin’ version of the Japanese national anthem at Suzuka yesterday. Sounded great!

MD Streeter's avatar

I usually skip the pre-race festivities. I'm going to have to go back and find his version now, though!

unsafe release's avatar

Ya know, I’m not even sure that it was Yoshiki. It said Yoshiki on the drum set, but it looked like a all female group.

MD Streeter's avatar

Well, he is very pretty.

unsafe release's avatar

😁