I Like the Cover Better - Hi-Standard - Can't Help Falling In Love

The original of this song is pretty sappy, but also just flat-out good.



The cover?

Well, it just makes me happier. I love the thick accent but clear enunciation of Ken Yokoyama.





Just as a sidebar, I had a sweetheart when I was younger that I was totally enamoured with. It didn't end up going anywhere useful, except that she really hated Elvis. I didn't think much of him. But just to be annoying to her - boys'll do that to girls they like - I started to turn up Elvis whenever he'd come on the radio instead of switching him off. In the process, I started to really appreciate his voice and presentation.

J-Ska? - HEY-SMITH - "Let it Punk"

I was listening to some Hi-Standard and Ken Yokoyama the other day and this popped up in my recommended videos on Youtube:



Japanese ska-punk? How is it that I'm only just now aware of these guys?

Hi-Standard - Another Starting Line

I'm off to visit some old friends, back in the city where I was first introduced to Ken Yokoyama's and Hi-Standard's music. So here is a recent one, from their long-awaited reunion release.



I still need a "FUCK KEN" t-shirt, but I doubt I'll ever find one.

I think I've said this before, but I've had a running argument about Ken Yokoyama's English. I think his accent is very, very thick - but his English is correct, idiomatic, and smooth. It sounds very Japanese, but you don't get a lot of "Let's Fighting Love!" errors in his songs. Check out Ricky Punks III for what I mean:



Here is a bonus track, as well - Ken Yokoyama, "Ten Years From Now."



I think that's Fat Mike from NOFX and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on the bass.

Beat Crusaders - Japanese Girl

Some of my punk-rock loving students turned me on to the Beat Crusaders. Same kids who introduced me to Hi-Standard and Ken Yokoyama, actually.

The Beat Crusaders are way poppier, in the way that The Pillows are poppy.

There seems to be an official, totally weird video:



Got to love that Angus Young-ish outfit and headbanging-while-dancing bit, too.

Ken Yokoyama: Won't Turn Off My Radio

Back when I taught Junior High School in Japan, I had some students who were way into punk music. They introduced me to Hi-Standard and its lead singer, Ken Yokoyama and the record label Pizza of Death. One proudly wore a "Fuck Ken" t-shirt, which I can assure you they and Ken Yokoyama both understood.

I chanced to see Ken Yokoyama on Japanese TV playing his new single:



It's good. If you like that, you'd probably enjoy the rest of his songs, such as How Many More Times or Ricky Punks. Or this cover of Basket Case by Green Day.

Actually I had an interesting discussion about him and his English. I said he speaks English well - but with a very strong Japanese accent. The person I was talking to said it wasn't good, because it sounded so Japanese. I think both are good points. Ken's English usage is correct. He doesn't just sprinkle random English words into a song ("Let's Fighting Love!") but uses English correctly and well. Yet there is the accent. You decide.