Soundtrack for Sendai: Music for Kansai Oniisan

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photo by Kansai Explorer

Are you excited yet? We're almost at the official release date for Stories for Sendai! I know I am incredibly excited. I've heard authors say that their first stories to see print were their most exciting. For me, given my more cynical turn, I'm always afraid that the last story will be, well, my last story. Every story that I write not only gets stronger, but also becomes more rewarding. To celebrate my story, "Kansai Oniisan," I'm offering you a soundtrack.
I frequently listen to music when I'm writing, and often times I develop a sort of leitmotif, in which certain songs represent certain characters.  I rarely, however, develop an actual soundtrack for what I'm writing.  In fact, this is less of a soundtrack and more of a musical preview.   At the risk of sounding professorial, I think it might be fun to watch these videos, sometime before you read the story, and then perhaps again after.  If I've done my job as a writer properly, you will appreciate the music and culture represented in a different way.

So, without spoilers as to context in the story, here's the outline:

The bulk of the story is covered by three songs by Japanese pop artists using English titles.  The video, "Loveless," by Yamashita Tomohisa, captures some of the tone of the opening of the story, perhaps the first half or so.  As things hit a moment of normalcy and comradeship, I would recommend the video, "Weeeek," by NEWS. Once things suddenly turn dark and heavy, go to, "Truth," by Arashi.

At the end, though, it's all about this song, "Nani wa Iro ha Bushi," by Kanjani8.  If you watch none of the other videos I've linked, at least watch this one.  It will really give you a sense of the Kansai cultural personality, which lies at the heart of story.

Hope this helps get you all pumped up for the anthology!

.Nevets.