Covers

There are covers and then there are covers. Many Japanese bands have covered American or British tunes, such as Shang Shang Typhoon’s version of the Beatles’ “Let It Be,” Cibo Matto’s version of “The Candyman,” or more recently Pistol Valve’s version of the Who’s “My Generation.” Sometimes they get more obscure. Higurashi Aiha covered Public Image Ltd’s “This is not a Love Song;” Yoshida Kyodai covered “By This River” from Brian Eno’s Before and After Science. And of course, sometimes Japanese bands cover Japanese songs. Pizzicato Five covered the Plastics’ “Robot;” Go!Go! 7188 did an entire album of covers (Tora no ana, or Tiger’s Lair), including the theme song from Cutie Honey and “Peppa Keibu” by the infamous Pink Lady.

So what’s my point? When are US and British bands going to do decent covers of Japanese songs? I’m sorry, but “Sukiyaki” really doesn’t count.