Music

Aimee Mann has a new album out. She's one of my favorite singers (along with Sam Phillips, Holly Cole and a few others).

Lost in Space is independently produced and brilliant, classic Aimee Mann. She has an amazing vocal range,and writes dark, thoughtful lyrics with catchy tunes. I'm listening to the songs online now and will go buy it today.

Way back when I was in college, she was in a pop band called 'Til Tuesday. I still know all the words to all their songs, even though the band broke up a million years ago. I remember sitting at the sewing machine in my mother's bedroom during a summer holiday, making clothes for school and wobbily singing along.

Her work is part of my life's soundtrack.

Japan is full of incidental music. Train stations on the Yamanote line have signature tunes, busy crosswalks play music, and all around the city at 5 o'clock, songs play on the public address system. I phoned the ward office to find out the name of the tune that's played in our neighborhood.

Mariko Harada was only slightly taken aback by my strange question. She asked what park I lived near and promisd to check and call back. A few minutes later, I had an answer. Our park plays Yuuyake Koyake, a folksong about the evening sunset.