Music Blog 2/6/10

Rokudan by Zumi-Kai Original Instrumental Group (from Koto Music of Japan, Laserlight, 1993)

Ah, yes, for us Westerners, those plinking koto sounds can only mean that it’s time once again for the Super Bowl. It would be poetically just if there were some waggish sports radio show in Japan that runs Texas Swing under their annual presentation of Sumo Championship Sonnets.

Yamaji by Yamato Ensemble (from The Art of the Japanese Bamboo Flute and Koto, ARC, 1993)

…or maybe Ragtime Jazz under Japan Series Limericks.

Powerhouse by Sid Bass (from Melodies and Mischief: Space Age Pop Vol. 1, RCA, 1995)

This Sid Bass, of course, is none other than author Salman Rushdie using an alias. Oh, wait, no…that’s Sal Bass.

Honey by Bobby Goldsboro (from Billboard Top Pop Hits 1968, Rhino, 1995)

This song can apply to dogs as well as to humans, except for the tree-planting part.

Vitamin by Kraftwerk (from Tour de France Soundtracks, Astralwerks, 2003)

Lassen Sie uns zu Octoberfest auf unseren Fahrrädern gehen! Or something like that…