Comments on: Sayonara Farewell Tokyo: Souvenir Songs of Japan

By: Peregrina

Peregrina — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:47:43 +0000

I have this LP on vinyl but have been too lazy to rip it – thank you! Also, the first track – “China Song” – is usually known as “Shina no Yoru” (same meaning, although the current Japanese work for China is “Chuugoku”). It was popular in the U.S., says my aunt, who was in her early teens (in the U.S.) when WWII ended.

I think Guy Incognito nailed it, but we all benefit now from the odd imperialist kitsch of the Forties and Fifties…I have a few of this sort of album, and most of them are terrific. The Japanese, like the Shanghainese, had killer jazz and dance bands before WWII, so it makes sense that the survivors would be able to form some sharp groups after the war. Check out Seijun Suzuki’s Sixties films to see the cool Japanese nightclub music scenes that Quentin Tarantino “borrowed” shamelessly from in “Kill Bill.”

By: c.f. gehrung

c.f. gehrung — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:41:43 +0000

Thanks i was looking for these songs . was stationed at N.A.S.ATSUGI WITH V.U.5 FASRON 11 KOREAN WAR

By: jack cass

jack cass — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:21:57 +0000

A version of “Tokyo Boogie Woogie”/”Gomen-Nasai (Forgive Me)” was on Columbia 4-39954; the 45 label shows “Vocal: Shizuka Kasagi; Sung in Japanese” and songwriter credits are “M. Suzuki – R. Hattori”. Artist credit on the label is COLUMBIA TOKYO ORCH. I believe I heard this song as background from the movie, MASH, too.

By: lilgee

lilgee — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:33:53 +0000

Here are the words:

Tokyo Bugi-ugi, ri-tsu-mu uki uki, kokoro tsuki tsuki, waku waku.

In English:

Tokyo Boogie Woogie, rhythm floats, your heart pounds, thump thump

I love this song, too!

By: smalldogs

smalldogs — Fri, 19 May 2006 02:11:19 +0000

LOL, your first paragraph is brilliant.

I love “Tokyo Boogie Oogie,” but I think you got an “oogie” in there where there should be an “ookie.”

By: Guy Incognito

Guy Incognito — Mon, 01 May 2006 18:58:13 +0000

The cover says it right: “Souvenir songs of Japan.” Tens of thousands of US military men spent between six weeks and ten years stationed in colonised areas in those decades. Without any actual wars to fight their minds drifted and they attempted to enjoy, from their limited perspective, the culture of the host country. The tropical tiki stuff was something they bought into when they were back in the States as a fantasy of the exotic women and exotic sounds they never quite experienced during their stint overseas. So this stuff was Beetle Bailey’s jerkoff material.

By: jayKayEss

jayKayEss — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 18:59:00 +0000

Dude, check out this country-western version of “China Nights”
http://www.bubblegum-machine.com/week92.html