Sho Beat 060624

Hello to the listeners in front of the radio. This is Sakurai Sho. Today it’s June 24^th. What day is it? I received a mail from a listener, USO Japan-san. Its nostalgic!  USO Japan is a program which we did last time and during that time we also appeared in another TV station’s program Mayonaka  and we would appear on TV twice a week. Both programs were done in the “night mode” under infra red light..

Today is UFO Memorial Day. Showa Year 22, it was the first time a UFO was observed in America. So that day was the beginning of the UFO mania in the world. In G no Arashi, some people also observed the UFO. I have not seen it, and I don’t believe in those people who have the power to summon a UFO. So Sho-kun, how about you, do you believe in such things? – This is mail that I received. Well, in G no Arashi, I didn’t go for the location shoot, but Aiba and Nino, who went to support the UFO chasing people, when they saw the crow, they said, ah the crow, its a Crow UFO!! XD XD and when they saw a cloud, they went “Ah! That’s a Cloud UFO!!”

Lets go on to play one song. This week, I want to play Arashi’s song, Love Parade for you. This is the bonus track in the July 5^th release of the normal edition of Arashic, this song, its really sugoi, I like this song very much, its a very stylish and impressionable song, I thought, why don’t we put it as a normal song and not a bonus track? But if you think about the purpose of a bonus track, its more an just an extra song stuck somewhere, a bonus track should be a song that is magnificent and powerful. And when it is put in you can really feel that it is a bonus. Indeed.

For this song, the supporting band was those Big Bands, and the recording was done in 2 takes. We had jazz musicians in the studio and they looked at the score, had the mike test and they started playing “Babababa…”and it was recorded and that was it, but the liveliness and the atmosphere created by the musicans is squeezed into this song.  I really like this song. Please listen to it, Arashi- Love Parade.

Arashi/Love Parade.  ♫

Cool Beat Selection

This week – Disk Union’s main shop in Shinjuku, Takahashi-san’s on the indie alternative floor recommends the newest things. These are the comments:~~~ blah blah blah. (dun really care translating this) XP

Introduces : Asobi Sex – Strawberries. Female Japanese group of  four based in New York. They are also being noticed in Japan. The songs they sing have a cute ring to it. Please listen to this. Its in Japanese.

Asobi Sex/Strawberries.  ♫

Listeners Beat

Select Show

This is the last week of the month and I will answer questions from listeners but next week, since the new album will be released, I will chose songs from it and reply to the listeners questions.

Firstly, mail from Katsuki-san

Shokun konbanwa. (konbanwa). "This year, I am a third year in high school.  During the second year of high school, I fell in love with a guy I met during the Culture Day at the end of the year. While I am writing to you, I still like this guy, but recently he has not been sending me mail and has been breaking our dates. (laughs) Breaking the date….Can you please recommend a song to raise my spirits when one’s love life is not going well?" 

Well, it might not raise your mood, but  this song has to be it..

Arashi/Silver Ring ♫

This is a ballad and to me, my image of this song is that of high school love. I really like the lyrics too. In “Silver Ring”, its saying that one still can’t afford expensive things, and a silver ring is as much as one can afford, so it reminds me of high school love.

Next, Mail from Mik

Shokun Konbanwa (konbanwa) "Sho-kun, this is my first time writing to you. There is this exchange student in my class, this student cannot really speak Japanese and is also far away from her family. I think its very tough for her. So please play a song that will lift her spirits and get her to like Japan."

 I think it has to be this song.

Arashi/Cho Cho Arigatou ♫

Cho Cho Araigatou. This is the song where I sing the lead vocals. My image of this song  is like facing the world and telling the world “Thank You.” This song is for Mik-san. Shouldn’t this be it? Originally, this song was titled “Tell All the World”, but the title became “ Cho Cho Arigatou!” and I was very surprised, its not one “Cho” but “Cho Cho” two times and I was surprised, cos it has become twisted from “Tell All the World.”,  to Cho Cho Araigatou. Oh, and this song, the chorus has female gospel singers supporting, and three or four voices were recorded and blended together and what is outstanding is that in the chorus it has something like black gospel music, which sounds really good.

Ok, lets go to the next mail.

This mail is from Junko.

Shokun Konbanwa. (konbanwa)." I have two situations where I want you to recommend a song. 1) A song to be played when the weather clears up during the Rainy Season. 2) During a rainy night a song that you can listen to when you get into bed. "

Firstly the song that is to be played with the weather clears up.

Arashi/Carnival Night Part 2 ♫

This is Carnival Night Part 2. Why is it Part 2, well the lyrics for this song has changed many times. So in respect of the previous lyrics, we named this Part 2. Before,  the lyrics was like C.A.R.N.I.V.A.L Night is spelt whilst singing, in this rhythm. Tantantantantan…But what is shocking and lucky its now changed, was the lyrics: “Sui Kin Chi Ka Moku Dou Ten Kai Mei!” Mei!!! (hahahaha) Its ok if its “Sui Kin Chi Ka Moku Dou Ten Kai” but MEI, it’s a bit shocking.

(NB: 水(sui)金(kin)地(chi)火(ka)木(moku)土(do)天(ten)海(kai)冥 (mei) is the first word in the kanji that describes the various planets in the solar system. However, the kanji冥, also means the underworld, where the souls of the dead go) XD XD. So no wonder they had to can that lyrics too.. XD

Next the song that should be played on a rainy night:

Arashi/Caramel Song ♫

This is Ninomiya’s lead song. I think this is a good song to listen before you sleep. This a cute song and I like it.

Next, this is a mail from Pokorittosan.

“I am getting married and am holding a ceremony. There is a lot to do, like the food, who should be giving the speeches, invitations etc. Really, I feel fed-up. But this is supposed to me my most happy time. So, can you please play a song that will cheer me up for my wedding ceremony?”

The meaning is slightly different, but how about this song?

Arashi/I Want Somebody ♫

“I want somebody, I need somebody.” The lyrics mean asking someone for help. This is Matsumoto Jun’s lead vocal song. Sugoi. The starting is like a Michael Jackson song. (That’s exactly what I thought when I heard this song!!!!) and the tune is like an Insync or Back Street Boys song. This is a strange--- Arashi’s very own MJ, Matsumoto Jun, is singing the lead but the back singers are apparently the real MJ’s (the wacko himself) back singers. Sugoi. So that is the connection between the real MJ, Michael Jackson, and our own MJ! (laughs)

OK Next!! Hahaha… This is a letter from Kazamodori-san

“I use the train a lot. In the morning the interval between the train is 2 mins and in the day about 10 mins. The other day, I missed the train and had to wait for the next one on the Zairai sen (the old tokaido line) and when I checked, the next train was 30 mins later!  So I had to rely on my MD player to pass the time. We are always rushing so can you select a song where we can listen to whilst leisurely waiting for the train?

This is the song.

Arashi/Secret Eyes ♫

This is Aiba-kun’s lead vocal. The lyrics are very interesting. Whilst waiting for the train, you should read the lyrics, it will be an enjoyable way to pass the time, I think. To me, its like a Gokon (group date) song! Hahahaa. Aiba-kun, he likes the song.

The lyrics.. “instead of drinking, is now time to go home…~~~~~~(can’t catch it..) after reading it, surely you don’t feel like bring it home. I think.  Hahaha..Wild Laughter. The lyrics are interesting, the song is dark but kakkoi.

 Arashi/Kitto Daijyoubu ♫

This has been Sho Beat from Sakurai Sho. The 6th album Arashic, will be released on July 5^th. The tour starts 7/9 from Hokkaido. This year, won’t we be working extra hard? There are additional concerts to the addition concerts. There are three concerts in a day. We start at 10am in the morning.  Next week I will talk about that.. Please listen to it. Also, 6/30, in the magazine H, there will be a section on HACHIKURO. Also for Rock In Japan, some one came to do a review cos they heard that we are releasing an album..-(à Not too sure about this)

Any comments, postcards, etc.. write to Sho@fmfuji.co.jp