原発について

どうしてこうも自信満々でいられるのか？

予見し得ない未知なる自然の脅威と、御しきれない原子力をすでに取りこぼしてしまったというのに。
どうして経済原理の話を同じ前提の上で続けていられるのか？

自らの力の限界を知ること。圧倒的な力に対しての畏怖を持つこと。決して無力感や盲目な信仰に誘われることなく、自分の無力と向きあうこと。

そういったはかない存在で一体何をやり遂げるのか、そこに私たち人間の尊厳がある。

それは抑鬱的な考えかも知れないが、決して分かり合えない、コントロール出来ないかもしれない相手と共存しないことにはこれからは生きてはいけまい。

そのために、知恵を絞らないわけにはいかないのではないか。

そうしないと、無念さをかかえたまま放置されているひとつひとつの魂たちに声は届かない。

Beautiful Girls, The Afghan Whigs(1)

Lately, I came to read the blog, Cassettes In The Mailbox. It is the blog of Brian Fallon, the frontman of The Gaslight Anthem.

http://cassettesinthemailbox.blogspot.com/2010/05/tell-your-mama-that-im-here-to-save.html

I was really impressed by the article of the bands and artists which he could never do without. Please check the following:

1. Tom Waits

2. The Clash

3. Greg Duli (Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers)

4. The Bouncing Souls

5. Bruce Springsteen

6. Chamberlain

7. Hot Water Music

8. Social Distortion

9. Bob Dylan

10. The Rolling Stones

Among the big names everyone knows, I found Greg Duli, The Afghan Whigs, who is one of my unforgettable names.

It was about 15 years ago that I knew his band, The Afghan Whigs. I had a test screening of Beautiful Girls, directed Ted Demme(he is a nephew of famous director, Jonathan Demme), starring Timothy Hutton, Natalie Portman, Matt Dillon, Lauren Holly, Mira Solvino and Uma Thurman.

This is the story of coming to  hometown for high school reunion. Willie(Hutton) is a pianist sometimes working on bars after leaving his hometown. He had a dream to be a piano player,  but it didn't work well. He had a beautiful and talented lawyer girl friend. His life was not so bad, but he felt emptiness. In his hometown, he met an eccentric, 13-years-old girl with peculiar charm , Marty(Portman).

That is my early days in my carrier. What I'd like to mention regarding this movie is soundtrack. I stepped during the  screening as the music went out.

	1. That's How Strong My Love Is	Roland Gift
	2. Be For Real	The Afghan Whigs
	3. Easy To Be Stupid	Howlin' Maggie
	4. Me And Mrs. Jones	Billy Paul
	5. Suffering	Satchel
	6. Graduation Day	Chris Isaak
	7. Beautiful Girl	Pete Droge & The Sinners
	8. I'll Miss You	Ween
	9. Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe	The Afghan Whigs
	10. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love	The Spinners
	11. Beth	Kiss
	12. Groove Me	King Floyd
	13. The Stroll	The Diamonds
	14. Sweet Caroline	Neil Diamond

This album was consisted of 3 types of songs: classic soul music or reconstruction of it(1,4,9,10,12,13), bitter love songs(2,3,5,6,7,8) and memorable "reunion" songs(11,14)

When I read Brian's blog, I was really sympathized his point of view. The Afghan Whigs admirably played Barry White's 70's classic, Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe with passion.

This video was promo reel of this movie, I remember. I look back on it with nostalgia, and I also really like it now.



I'll continue to talk about this movie next time.

Bob Dylan - a part of his 70 years

I read the asbury-san's blog regarding Suze Rotolo.

http://yaplog.jp/asbury/archive/139#commentform

The photo of young Dylan & her on Freewheelin' cover must be the most famous image of Beat generation, and also has have strong impact on people who love their way of life.

At the same time, I happened to have the news that Cameron Crowe's upcoming movie will be distributed by us next year.

In Cameron Crowe & Tom Cruise's Vanilla Sky(also starring Penelope Cruz & Cameron Diaz), they gave their hommage to the image.

Vanilla Sky is the remake of Open Your Eyes, great Spanish film. However, I'd like to recognize that Vanilla Sky includes their original message and affection to pop culture.

After reading asbury-san's blog, I'd like to know Suze's life after her departure from Dylan. That is partly because I have had a keen interest about his changes in his 70 years' lifetime.

His changes must be deeply related with every woman he loved. 

As same as Dylan in 1960's, I have had the curiosity about Dylan's Christianity period, and it has been amplified in me since I watched Dylan this April.

In one of Lennon's last interviews, he mentioned his new song "Serve Yourself", which is the answer song to Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody" This is a very irony episode, but I feel their indirect interest with friendship(like "How Do You Sleep" to Paul).
("Serve Yourself" hasn't been released before John's death.)

I had a feeling that Suze's story would give me one of the clue to understand how we live our lives, and it would be great help to understand Dylan's works.

LIVE PERFORMANCE - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND(Part 1)

I am inspired to listen and write something about Bruce Springsteen. 18 years has passed since my last Springsteen experience, Human Touch & Lucky Town. During this period, I sometimes felt like having letters from an old friend when I heard his activities, like wrestler in the motion picure. 

I saw (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, in which Zooey Deschanel (Summer) said "I wanted to sing BORN TO RUN, but they didn't have it."  (500) DAYS OF SUMMER inspired me to remember a lot of things left behind. Moreover, the conversation mentioned  between Springsteen & Edward Burns via twitter instigated me. Finally, the sincerity of his fun's blog proved to be the fatal blow that makes me come back into Bruce.

I was led into Springsteen by John Lennon. John mentioned HUNGRY HEART in his playboy interview(one of my Bible) as his favorite for current hit tune with 50's mind. When I was 13 (in1982), I had listened to their DOUBLE FANTASY once a day for about 6 months.(I'll pick up this album someday)

Playboy interview

I'm really interested in Bruce.
Soon I purchased his double album, THE RIVER, later got other his master pieces(BORN TO RUN, DARKNESS OF THE EDGE OF TOWN).

As you know, BORN IN THE USA(1984) made him popular, but for no reason at all, I didn't take that.

On the other hand, when I heard the announcement of the release of his first live album, LIVE 1975-1985, I was so excited.
His first gig in Japan was held in 1985, but I was too young and far away to go.
At that time, we heard his legendary live performance, but most of us couldn't experienced. Therefore the press had special issue of his latest one.

I couldn't wait for the release, and I wanted to see his live performance.
As a result, I found bootleg VHS video and bought it:

LIVE IN LARGO (1980)

1.PROVE IT ALL NIGHT
2.TWO HEARTS
3.10th AVENUE FREEZE OUT
4.YOU CAN LOOK
5.DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN
6.INDEPENDENCE DAY
7.FACTORY
8.JACKSON CAGE
9.OUT IN THE STREET
10.THE PROMISED LAND
11.RACING IN THE STREET
12.THE RIVER
13.BADLANDS
14.THUNDER ROAD
15.CADILLAC RANCH
16.SHERRY DARLING
17.HUNGRY HEART
18.FIRE
19.BECAUSE THE NIGHT

★TAPE 2
1.FADE AWAY
2.GROWIN' UP
3.STOLEN CAR
4.WRECK ON THE HIGHWAY
5.POINT BLANK
6.THE TIES THAT BIND
7.CRUSH ON YOU
8.RAMROD
9.BACKSTREETS
10.ROSALITA,COME OUT TONIGHT
11.JUNGLELAND
12.BORN TO RUN
13.DETROIT MEDLEY

This is THE RIVER Tour program, which is consisted of mainly the albums, THE RIVER,DARKNESS OF THE EDGE OF TOWN and BORN TO RUN.

I was blown away at the first song, Prove It All Night.



From the motion picture of his performance, I found his great talent as a guitarist. I was so surprised at the fact that he usually took the guitar solo by himself. His guitar always eloquent same as a singer and a poet. His guitar style is not professional guitar players' one. He plays like exposing his emotion. I know one other great guitar player like him : Neil Young.

I couldn't mention the album, LIVE IN NYC on this page. Next time I'd like to talk about integrity, sincerity, and promising in his music.

40 years old

I sometimes stop and contemplate nowadays. I'd like to do something significant. But the reality is that I spend time on routine work, isn't it. I have to clarify what I'm looking for and concentrate.

All I have to do is having time for myself.

New York City

I used to visit NYC in 1999-2002. My purpose was to visit my adorable people's place, like Dakota house, Washington Square and Sweet Basil.
Now we can't visit one of them.
My last visit was in 2002. I went there twice (on business and private). I remember I felt something weird. It is definitely the loss of artistic feeling.
I sometimes remember the touch of the city. I don't know when I visit there next time.   

around '80

I love around 1980's sound. It means not only songs but also sound itself.

Especially, I like prophet 5 and Musicman Stingrey.

This fact comes from my affection to Off Course, YMO and Double Fantasy. At the same time, I dislike digital reverb and digital synthesizer, like DX 7.

This inclination is the important part of myself.