Puffy on YouTube
Since yesterday’s post was warmly received by all two people who read it, and because I’m so “ubseased” (as ARCHORRobin2 would say back in the old Sailor Moon Room Chat — how’s that for an old school reference?), I decided to post some of my favorite Puffy clips currently available on YouTube.
YouTube is, of course, a godsend if — like me — plunking down $50 per Puffy DVD is a little cost prohibitive (and that’s not even counting the fact that all currently available Puffy DVDs are Region 2). Sure, the quality isn’t always great, but it’s better than the alternative, which is nothing. Anyway, here we go.
Asia no Junshin - The promotional video for Puffy’s first single, from back in 1996. Now, even if I didn’t know the date this video was made, the video itself would have told me; seriously, everything about it just screams “Hi, I’m an early/mid ’90s music video!” (it actually somewhat reminds me of the video for “Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm” by the Crash Test Dummies in spots). Also note that, in contrast to their current style, Yumi and Ami look like they could have…oh, I don’t know…just walked out of a Lilith Fair concert or something.
Sui Sui (Live) - Live performance of a track from the Spike album — watch as Ami tries to rip off a totally awesome guitar solo, only to have a string snap on her, thus throwing her completely off. Like a good trooper, though, she soldiers on and laughs the whole thing off.
Always Dreamin’ About You / Watashi no Nozomi (Live) - A pair of solo performances. Ami, on guitar, singing “Always Dreamin’ About You” (her solo spotlight from Fever*Fever), and Yumi — on electric piano — performing “Watashi no Nozomi”, which was the closing track from her disc of the solosolo album. Both of these performances are arguably better than the actual CD versions (well, “Watashi no Nozomi” is definitely better than the CD version), and I only wish their recent concert had included solo spots like this. That would have totally rocked.
Nice Buddy - Promotional video for the song off of Splurge - OH MY GOD IS THAT REALLY ONE CONTINUOUS TAKE HOW DID THEY DO THAT?!?!?!111 Seriously, though, this is a pretty rad video.
Mogura Like - Promotional video, again from Splurge. You see the crazy dance Puffy and the backup dancers are doing, with the arm uplifting and all? Imagine an overweight, 40-something dude with spiked white hair (and wearing a homemade Puffy shirt) doing that, and that’s pretty much how the Puffy concert in Detroit was.
Anyway, there’s plenty more where that came from — more promo videos, live clips, TV appearances, etc. — on YouTube, so go knock yourself out if you’re so inclined. Just ignore the bad fanmade music videos.
Categorized as Media, Media/Music
Oh my god… that Nice Buddy video… multiple Amis and Yumis…. everywhere?!?!… bwaaaahhhhh… hahahaha
I think the video broke Reaper’s mind.
I do so adore those videos. I’m going to buy Splaaahhhge next week. Totally.
I also need to get an album with Asia no Junshin because that is one seriously kickass track.
As Apple and I were watching these videos, I swear the music style reminded me of something, some band I’ve heard, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. It was a good kind of reminder, though. Maybe one of these days I’ll figure it out…
Actually, “Asia no Junshin” is easily available in the U.S. — the original Japanese version is on the Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi soundtrack, and a version with English lyrics is on the An Illustrated History collection. Personally, I prefer the Japanese version.
You’ll find that various Puffy songs will remind you of certain bands. The opening of “Jet Keitsatsu” (also available on An Illustrated History), for example, uses practically the exact same opening as the Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again”; and the track “Tokyo Nights” (from Nice.) is essentially the Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” with different lyrics and a slightly different arrangement. It’s can be slightly annoying at times, I suppose, but it’s not like they’re the only band that ever does stuff like that.
Those videos are great. Watching some of the other ones available on YouTube is an exercise in surrealism sometimes, though. Like watching the video for “Mother”, which cuts back and forth between Ami and Yumi, playing guitars and singing, and stop-motion animated Barbie dolls. Or the video for “Joining a Fan Club”, which is nothing but Ami and Yumi singing to the camera while throwing crap at each other in extreme slow-mo (though I suppose that might be of interest to those food fetish people who enjoy watching women get smeared in the face with food and stuff, I dunno). They’re all entertaining, though, at least, and a lot more fun (and take themselves a lot less seriously) than most Western music videos, which is refreshing.
Oi… now you’ve turned me into a YouTube whore. I’ve been searching for Ayumi… and Glay…
Evolution is such a good song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwpLYAspsy4
Oh, and I ended up ordering Spike, and Glay - Drive
MUHAHAHAHAHAHA! SUCCESS!
“Evolution” is pretty good; just watched the video.
I think when I get some more cash I’ll have to look into expanding my J-Pop collection (which consists of nothing but Puffy at this moment). The only drawback to importing J-Pop is, of course, the fact that it’s $30 per CD. We need some sort of specialty import shop around here or something.
Yep, I saw that Asia no Junshin was on the Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi album, and was figuring I’d go for that…but I may wait ’till I come up north next month and maybe check out your collection to see which albums I like best.
A specialty CD import shop would be great. There was plenty of that kind of stuff available in Japantown out in San Francisco. With the recent influx of Japanese folks in Novi and surrounding areas, you’d think a few Japanese stores would make sense out there.
Apple and I both agreed that Splurge has to go in my car, definitely. Since the China Dolls have basically “retired” in Thailand, I think I have found my replacement.
You can definitely check out my Puffy CD collection when you’re up here.
I’ve even got a handful of singles to go with all my albums. It’ll be a smashing good time!
What we need is a Japan CD Store to go with the Japan Book Store and Japan Grocer out by Laurel Park. Then I could go there and feel out of place all over again. =P
Glad to hear that Splurge will be finding a home in your car — it’s a damn good album. Maybe it’ll be like the “KOR, disc 9″ of its time.