For my first show with French broadcaster LYL Radio I felt obliged to engage in a bit of navel-gazing. I began by asking myself: How in the world did I end up having a radio show with a French radio station? These are the things you learn to accept when life opens certain doors for you. In accordance with acceptance of this occurrence, I then asked myself: What in all holy hell should I begin with? That’s when I stumbled upon a brilliant focus: Pari shōkōgun.
Pari shōkōgun, the Japanese translation of Paris Syndrome, encapsulated perfectly what I felt. Feeling attached to my own home, I still felt (in music) the ability to transport myself as a citizen of other locales, when venturing outside of it. It’s something I’ve never felt as transportive through other artforms. It’s the reason music holds such a special place for me. Here, I was, an American of Mexican descent trying to create a mix of music made by Japanese who felt inspired by the aesthetics of France. You know, just my own way of bringing all of this full circle.
To be caught between homesickness and Paris sickness, or writ large, between nationalism and globalism makes one adapt a certain quicksilver quality. It’s this quality, I think, that really takes one’s taste/awareness to the next level — to actually function as a global citizen (a noble, but surprisingly, tough thing to justify/quantify in this day and age), to feel the importance of it all.
Pari Shōkōgun: Japanese French Pop Music 1981-1992
1. Poison Girlfriend – Quoi
2. Yukako Hayase – Ari
3. Taeko Ohnuki – Labyrinth
4. Yuki Nakayamate – トロワ 3-TROIS
5. Mégumi Satsu – Clocharde
6. Testpattern – Souvenir Glacé
7. Yukihiro Takahashi – Grand Espoir
8. Asami Kobayashi – Lolita Go Home
9. Sonoko – Souvenir De La Mer
10. Ichiko Hashimoto – Ile De Étrange
11. Pizzicato Five – The Word Of God
12. Asami Kado – ひまわり
13. Morio Agata & Moe Kamura – 夢みるように眠りたい
14. Satsuki Shibano – Rayures Venitiennes
15. Mio Fou – 子供達のメトロノーム [Children’s Metronome]
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One response
What a beautiful mix, thank you! Being an anglo-canadian of french descent, obsessed since a tender age with all things japan (those nasty ghost stories!), one could say that this one was designed for me! I had never heard of the term ‘pari shoukougun’ before, although I have been digging up that particular vein for years now.. Many familiar tunes for me here, a few new ones and one brilliant selection. Domo arigato!