Cosmopolitan (08/99)

Delivery in Minor Codes:

Question to Goro: "Fly" is now released and the summer concerts are around the corner. Lately, Dragon Ash (a Japanese rap group) became my favorite. I listen to them often. What kind of music does Goro kun listen?(from Mikoto & Chiyoko)

If someone is waking up with "Blandenberg Concerto" by Bach every morning and indulging into the night listening to the heavy atmosphere of "Matthew's Ordeals", the guy must be a real weird. On the other hand, it is true that I feel like having a great start for the day when I listen to "Blandenberg Concerto" in the morning. Also, "New World" by Dobolzerk has the spirit of discovering the new continent which will cheer me up when I am blue.

Music is indispensable in my life. It is nice to drive around while listening to very danceable and groovy R & B with the beats of animals on FM radio. During the rehearsals for stage plays, the music with strong impact will be played to lift up the mood of dramatic scenes. On the other hand, when I want to relax in my room, I play a music which is arranged from Gumlan music from Bali. ( I was into Irish music last year but I am into Indonesian music now.)

Music does not play a main role in my life but a very important background for my everyday life. It has a very important role everyday and through out my life. Why? I think it is because man creates drama everyday in his life. Music stimulates the life story created by each person. Also, we get some inspirations from music to add some colors in our daily life. Or, some music might remind us about someone who were with us. Music has a power to shake up our memories.

In my case, David Bowie, Doors, Pink Froid, Moomas, and Oasys are the favorites. When it comes to the Japanese musicians, of course, I am very looking forward Professor Sakamoto's (Ryuichi Sakamoto of YMO) opera "Life" in September. Also, The Tokyo No. 1 Soul Set (a rap group but the way they sing the lyrics is very cool. It is like reading some poems.) is quite memorable lately. People often say that what in his bookshelves will tell the personality of the person. I may be exposing my personality by talking my favorite music. After all, I like something heavy and dark. Music with minor tone is my weakness. Therefore, I like Japanese music which has the equation of starting from major codes and turn into minor codes around the important part. My sense of music is very Japanese.

By the way, SMAP has nearly 200 songs. Our new release "Fly" is totally different from other SMAP songs. It is somewhat like heavy funk style with nice melody as the center. Everyone can sing this song. I like to deliver love without any complicated expression. I will insist on delivering the feeling of love straight to someone. That's why "Fly" is one of my favorite songs. How do you think?

Goro this month (a little talk with Goro):

This month with Goro: "Welcome to a VIP room" Mr. Inagaki invited us into the lobby of his apartment in Tokyo. The lobby was very gorgeous. The lobby's floor was white marble. (May be) The sofa was white lather. (May be) The people living in this place were in and out during our meeting. Foreigners passed by; children run around; dogs were barking and occasionally, some people said "Hi" to him... They were friendly to Mr. Inagaki, who is a famous entertainer, just like to other neighbors. What's going on here? "Yeah, there are many interesting people living here." , said Mr. Inagaki.