Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - East Asia (Part 2)
Bracket 3.1.5 Shigeru Umebayashi - Yumeji's Theme
Susumu Yokota - Secret Garden
I'm a little proud that so many liked my pick "Secret Garden", but for me it's no contest. "Yumeji's Theme" is my lost great soundtrack (I forgot about it for the 2000 poll).
Bracket 3.1.6
Berryz Kobo - Anata Nashi de wa Ikite Yukenai Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
An even more famous soundtrack.
Bracket 3.1.7 Yamaguchi Goro - Kokû-Reibo (Bell Ringing in the Empty Sky)
Shugo Tokumaru - Lahaha
This was a difficult choice. "Kokû-Reibo" is stunning although I'm sure I would vote for "Lahaha" if that was the stand-out from what I usually listen to.
Bracket 3.1.8 Than Mai - Tóc Mai Toc Van Soi Van
The Fantastic Plastic Machine Philter
Another great find!
Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - East Asia (Part 2)
The Spotify playlist with only 4 songs more but including the lengthy Yamaguchi Goro piece.
Bracket 3.1.5
Shigeru Umebayashi - Yumeji's Theme Susumu Yokota - Secret Garden
Like Stephan and Dan pointed, a difficult choice. Umebayashi's song is majestic but I would choose Yokota's one because it sounds more Eastern (apart of its mysterious ambiance).
Bracket 3.1.6
Berryz Kobo - Anata Nashi de wa Ikite Yukenai Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
A shut-out is expected in this bracket. A quite decent teen-pop that has no options against Sakamoto's masterpiece. The original instrumental version is outstanding but the vocal version with David Sylvian (Forbidden Colours) is (arguably) even better and the (solo piano version) is excellent too (all three versions were released in 1983). And mainly because of this wonderful pentatonic melodic line (D E D A D, D E D E G E D E D A C, C B G E) immediately evocative of the Far East. My candidate for winning the East Asia part of this game.
Bracket 3.1.7 Yamaguchi Goro - Kokû-Reibo (Bell Ringing in the Empty Sky)
Shugo Tokumaru - Lahaha
"Kokû-Reibo" is great, it's amazing how the performer achieves so much with so little (the shakuhachi is simply a wooden flute with only 5 holes), the variety of nuances here is impressive and mostly due to the mastery of Yamaguchi. But I'm sad for not voting for "Lahaha", absolutely delicious.
Bracket 3.1.8 Than Mai - Tóc Mai Toc Van Soi Van
The Fantastic Plastic Machine - Philter
Fantastic songs. I'm going to chose this obscure Vietnamese psychedelic-soul gem nominated by Mindrocker but the Shibuya-kei easy-listening piece nominated by Greg is outstanding too.
I really love this instrumental, not only for its beauty but also because it captures the essence of the movie so well. Elegant, romantic. It took me time to get used to the other song (me and electronic music) but it's also a great song
Bracket 3.1.6
Berryz Kobo - Anata Nashi de wa Ikite Yukenai 5 Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence 8.5
There is worse dance pop than "Anata Nashi" but sure it's not the kind of music I want to have as a ringtone. The Sakamoto song is a great classic, so reminiscent of the early 80s !
Last 2 brackets were very very tight
Bracket 3.1.7 Yamaguchi Goro - Kokû-Reibo (Bell Ringing in the Empty Sky) 7.5
Shugo Tokumaru - Lahaha 7
Zen flute. Amazing because not boring at all. Highly spiritual. i like that. Lahaha is a good indie pop song.
Bracket 3.1.8
Than Mai - Tóc Mai Toc Van Soi Van 7.5 The Fantastic Plastic Machine Philter 7.5
I love both songs, both evocative of the seventies, but I have a penchant for the second one, soo kitsch and elegant with its trumpet. Great choice bro. I'll be happy if either wins.
Great movie, In The Mood For Love. With something that recognizable it's hard to separate out the emotions you already associate with it. But love the textured electronic stuff it's up against.
Berryz Kobo - Anata Nashi de wa Kitie Yukenai 4
Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas 7
Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - East Asia (Part 2)
BillAdama
With something that recognizable it's hard to separate out the emotions you already associate with it.
Separate out the emotions ? Why should you need to do that ? Strange thought. If I like a song, it's because of its emotional and evocative power. Why shouldn't we trust our emotions in music ?
BillAdama
Sorry Nicolas
. No harm. The Yamaguchi Goro song is very special.
Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - East Asia (Part 2)
nicolas
BillAdama
With something that recognizable it's hard to separate out the emotions you already associate with it.
Separate out the emotions ? Why should you need to do that ? Strange thought. If I like a song, it's because of its emotional and evocative power. Why shouldn't we trust our emotions in music ?
Because a lot of those emotions were generated by the movie, not the song.
Neither song is really my thing, but Yumeji's Theme feels too much like the usual faux-classical movie soundtrack stuff.
Bracket 3.1.6
Berryz Kobo - Anata Nashi de wa Ikite Yukenai Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
No contest, although Sakamoto's synths do sound a little dated to me.
Bracket 3.1.7
Yamaguchi Goro - Kokû-Reibo (Bell Ringing in the Empty Sky) Shugo Tokumaru - Lahaha
So close, and very hard to even compare the two songs. So I'll have to go with my gut first reaction, though I could wake up tomorrow and feel the opposite.
Bracket 3.1.8 Than Mai - Tóc Mai Toc Van Soi Van
The Fantastic Plastic Machine Philter
Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - East Asia (Part 2)
I counted your vote Henrik, as I always will if you post before I start collating; the more the merrier. In any case, it did not change any of the results:
Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - East Asia (Part 2)
It was wondering if I could use this write-up on my other website, I will link it back to your website though.Great Thanks. spells to make him fall in love with you