The MySpace World and Emi Meyer -2008- Me and Music (3)
In 2006, when Facebook was still just a toddling baby, an SNS called MySpace, created by a true music lover named Tom, took the world by storm in the blink of an eye. It came to Japan, and I was instantly captivated.
Coming to MySpace, I met friends with wonderful ears and sensibilities one after another,
and I was able to discover so many amazing musicians, both famous and unknown, from all times and places.
Some were young but had incredibly sophisticated sensibilities; age doesn't matter among music friends.
At the time, my friends list had grown to about 2,500 people.
I think I'm quite the music lover myself, but someone who far surpasses me is JUNCO from Osaka, who loves live music.
That JUNCO introduced her on her blog.
She's unbelievably pure and cute!!!
Beautiful!!! And her charm doubles when she starts singing!
Her singing voice is, let's see... maybe it's similar to Keri Noble.
She also has a cuteness like Corinne Bailey Rae,
and for the first time in a while, she was spot on for me!
That was almost like a provocation (lol).
When I looked her up...
I heard about a Tamurapan outdoor concert, and that there would be a GESHI FES. at the Yoyogi Park outdoor stage. That's it!
That day, I hadn't been able to get tickets for YUKI, so I was supposed to be staying quiet,
but it ended up being a whirlwind of three consecutive live shows (lol).
It was the summer solstice, but... it was raining, quite a steady rain. No matter.
June 22, 2008
shing02 featuring Emi Meyer Live at GESHI FES. 2008
Emi Meyer sat down in front of the KORG keyboard on the left.
She's unbelievably pure and cute!!!
Beautiful!!! And her charm doubles when she starts singing!
Her singing voice is, let's see...
It's Keri Noble, it's Corinne Bailey Rae, and it's Norah Jones (even her face).
But the moment she covered "Let It Be" for the second song...
What is this voice?! It's Carole King!
After a song called something like "Yesterday's Rain," she played a song she said she wrote in Japanese for the first time.
This one still has a way to go. I think she's fine in English.
On the fifth song, drummer Motoki Yamaguchi joined in.
No, really, for the first time in a while, she was spot on! (lol)
It feels like a supernova has appeared.
I think I'm going to end up chasing after her...
And finally, shing02 appeared!
DJ A-1 (turntables) and Ayumi Takeshima (violin) joined in.
Emi Meyer is, as always, on keys & vocals.
I knew of shing02 because he is Tamurapan's idol, but this was my first time experiencing him live.
Wow, he's cool! No wonder Tamurapan is in love with him (lol).
Even from a father's perspective, he's cool!
About 10 songs, including "Embrace" and "Distortion".
I learned the Hip-Hop version of "Do-Re-Mi" and went home flashing a peace sign (lol).
Still, I'm glad J-ko is in Osaka. If she were in Tokyo, I wouldn't be able to handle it.
I do want to go with her, though (lol).
July 2008
Emi Meyer Live at Mona Records with Shing02 as the guest
Today it's Emi Meyer at Miku-chan's Mona.
The solo part at the rainy outdoor Yoyogi event was just too unsatisfying.
After 7:00 PM, there were three acts before Emi, and finally Emi appeared.
The opening song was, I believe, the same one from Yoyogi.
When she started singing, the room went deathly quiet,
and you could clearly see her world expanding.
She's a bit rough around the edges, but
every time she finished a song like "The Return" or "If We Were Trees",
the smile that spread across Emi's face was indescribable.
She said, "I like John Lennon," and did a cover of "Let It Be."
I won't be pedantic and ask why it wasn't Paul (lol).
Next was an original with Japanese lyrics, "Kimi ni Tsutaetai" (I Want to Tell You).
In a small live house, rather than an outdoor rainy venue,
her world of song came across clearly and it was wonderful.
"If only everything were as easy as choosing you,
I think that, because your value shines brighter than anything else."
It's a lovely riff.
One more song with Japanese lyrics, "Tabi ni Deru yo" (I'm Going on a Journey).
This one will probably get even better as she sings it more.
"I usually go to bed around 11:00 p.m., but lately,
since I'm with Shing02, the live shows start around 1:00 a.m.,
but I'm doing my best to sing (lol)," she said,
and then, "So, as a special guest..."
To my surprise, Shing02 was sitting on the floor in this small box of a venue, right alongside the audience.
No one noticed. There wasn't even a stir.
He appeared suddenly and performed "Shiori" (Bookmark) with only Emi's electric piano as backing.
In the last 20 years of Hip-Hop history, this was the quietest rap I've ever heard.
I suddenly love rap now (lol).
I thought about taking a picture, but he quickly sat back down in the audience.
Too cool (lol).
The last song was "Yesterday's Rain," which I also heard in Yoyogi.
It's a new song that isn't on the album, but it's a very good one.
I was finally able to hear Emi, and then I headed out into the streets of Shimokitazawa.
Shing02 was standing on a rainy street corner.
set-list
unknown
The Return
If We Were Tree
Let It Be(cover)
Kimi ni Tsutaetai
Tabi ni Deru yo
Shiori(w.Shing02)
Yesterday's Rain
In 2009, MySpace changed due to M&A, and our bonds and assets collapsed.
However, I still maintain connections with the young musicians who used this place as an incubator.
More on that later.
Emi-chan is now a mother of two❣️
Today's song
Emi Meyer "Room Blue"