And Finally, One of the Most Beautiful C&W Songs Ever Written…

…and mostly forgotten. Reid Jamieson—no, he’s not George Clooney’s evil, underfed brother—presenting Is It So Strange as an Elvis Presley tribute.

Namahage, Meet Krampus

Krampus, meet Namahage.

Happy holidays.

I Should Be Responding to the People Who Stuck with Me…

But I’m weary to my bones, so—and the slacker that I am and to save LCH the trouble of googling—for those of you who come to my blog not named DM… I give you… Jonte Moaning! Channeling J.P. Polnareff?

FYI, that’s his real name, Jonte Moaning, Jefferson High School, class of 2001.

Why There Is a Eurovision Song Contest

…and why, with a little more justification than with the League of Nations and the International Criminal Court, the United States is sitting this one out: The winner by 1.6 kilometres: Fairytale (one word), by Alexander Rybak, Norway.

Need I say more?

ADD: I am pleasantly surprised to learn that I can understand Norwegian. Every single word. There must be something in the adulterated water tonight.

Guido Fawkes (Sort of) on Youtube

Wasn’t it you, Our Man in Abiko, who recommended Guido Fawkes as a U.K. political blog? Well here he is with a couple of journalists, engaging in some mutual sniping. I think the video clip illustrates beautifully the relationship between the mainstream media, blogs (there should be a better word than blogosphere, which has never been cool, like “cyberspace” used to be), and the news and its subjects. I think Paul Staines aka Guido Fawkes had a few weak moments, but perhaps that’s the price you pay when you can’t edit your words before you go public. AndBut I suspect that even his supporters will find this version funny.

One of the journalists claimed that blogs were mostly commentary—the implication being that journalists, unlike bloggers, actually went to the sources for firsthand information. There’s some truth to that (although Paul Staines claimed to have his own sources), but it reminded me of a recent event where a freelance journalist told me that most of my points attacking a Newsweek report on the Nishimatsu scandal was commentary. That was particularly rich, since the main named sources that the Newsweek report cited also happened to be commentary—one a real live blogger! Incidentally, if anyone’s still interested, I’ve put my elaboration of several more of those points on my Globaltalk21 Raw blog. I’ll post them here after I edit them, though I’m not sure anymore whether the article and the accusations which prompted me to elaborate them is worthy of any more of my attention. Verily, England is the homeland of the snark.

Here’s another one about access to sources that implies that there may be something to be said for the kisha club cartel system, which provides at least some protection for reporters who fall afoul of their sources. You may also have noticed that Paul Staines—if it is indeed he—is wearing a wedding ring. So some bloggers do have a life…

On Aging

Paul Simon, American Tune, live.

Live performances of old signature songs can be disappointing; mannerisms creep in, the voice deteriorates. Several years ago, I had the opportunity to hear Art Garfunkel sing at a benefit concert. His upper register had coarsened; it was sad. As for Linda Ronstadt… But then, here’s Carole King, as powerful as ever, if not more so.

We all age differently. It is strange.

Garoto de Ipanema? You Be the Judge

When Prime Minister Berlusconi called President-Elect Obama “handsome, young and also suntanned”, do you think he was referencing The Girl from Ipanema, as in:

Tall and tan and young and lovely?

He did work his way through college as a singing waiter.

ADD: An incredible take by Ella Fitzgerald, live on stage. She segues into Fly Me to the Moon, which I understand also carries deep, Astrud Gilberto associations.

Do You Know Me… ou, Meu Quinze Segundos de Fama

I was interviewed on November 5 by the Brazilian TV network TV Record to talk about the Japan-U.S. relationship, the significance of the U.S. Presidential election in particular. The program aired on the following day. So, if any of you are curious as to how I look (I swear I am not that fat; it’s the TV camera) and talk (most of it is voiceover translation in Portuguese by the correspondent). “click the arrow right next to "JORNAL DA RECORD", below the picture of a yellow van. A window will pop out. Our story is at 22:00 minutes.” Or you can link directly. The program changes regularly though, so if anyone knows how to save the video, I’d very much appreciate your advice.

Jero the Enka Guy, on CNN

It’s good to see this young man get some recognition over there. After all, he’s one of the few college graduates, much less computer scientists, to make the jump from amateur karaoke to the pros in the enka genre, reminding us of all those music majors and teachers in the United States in the 30s and 40s who brought the blues and folk music into the mainstream.

But speaking of the 40s, “a traditional form of lounge music that flourished in 1940’s Japan”? C’mon, enka produced the first Japanese million-seller single in 1961 and continued to produce big hits and megastars for many more years. It is only in the last couple of decades that the genre has seen a serious decline, but it’s still more popular with the general public than, say, American folk music is in the United States. Or the blues. And “lounge music?” If so, then jazz is “lounge music”, as any self-respecting gaijin should be able to tell you.

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There may be a story here to be told about how outsiders from the “riverbed people” to Korean residents have been integrated into the broader Japanese society through the entertainment industry.

Meanwhile, in Boston in game 5, Matsuzaka is froof that if you’re no good, that’s when it’s really good to be lucky.

I’m Old, Why Do I need an iPod…

… when I have YouTube? I mean, when I have YouTube?

* that was close*

How Empires Deal with History: Rewrite It, Said Prime Minister Fukuda

In this English language version of his New Year's greetings (the long version), Prime Minister Fukuda says, “One hundred years ago, in nineteen-oh-eight, the Russo-Japan War ended, ushering in a period of respite for Japan…” Yet we have no plans to celebrate that great victory. And Mr. Fukuda calls it the Russo-Japan, not Japan-Russia, War. And is the Nippon Kaigi doing anything about this? The sissies!

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A more accurate re-rendition of the Japanese original would be, “A hundred years ago, Japan had seen the end of the Russo-Japan War and was enjoying a period of respite...”

Video Clip(s) to Sustain You for the Week: Seventh Installment

Once upon a time in America, lip-synching was legal.

Here's Carole King herself, singing it live.



No, you aren't seeing this. It's your imagination.

Video Clip, to Sustain You for the Week: Sixth Installment

Missy Elliott. Is my memory failing me, or is this much, much funkier than the version I remember hearing on the radio?

Video Clip, to Sustain You for the Week: Fifth Installment

Message? Togetherness, in four letters.

Video Clip, to Sustain You for the Week: Fourth Installment

Queen continues to inspire.

Video Clip, to Sustain You for the Week: Third Installment

A double treat.

Seriously.

Somebody in the Blogosphere Needs Cheering Up Today

So here you go.

Video Clip, to Sustain You for the Week: Second Installment

It's charming, that's what it is.

Video Clip, to Sustain You for the Week

Yes, you.