The Blue Hearts

I can't remember when I first heard about The Blue Hearts. Maybe it was when I was watching "Kizaratzu Cat's Eye", a brilliant TV series from Japan. The main characters there form a band in one episode and play a song which they say sounds a lot like The Blue Hearts.
I got my hands on some of their records and I liked them from the start. Although they are almost 20 years old they still sound fresh and new. No I always liked the original punk sound from the 70s, but most records didn't stand the test of time with me. Obviously I still listen to bands like The Clash, but then again they didn't play the classic sound, now did they?


The Blue Hearts' music is very simple yet it has this special feeling that gets you hooked instantly. They play simple punkrock but the way they use melodies is just great. Songs like "Linda Linda", "Hito ni yasashiku" or "Fuusen bakudan" or get to you in an instant and won't leave you for a long time. Especially "Linda Linda" is such a simplistic song that sure has the ability to annoy people when they listen to it for a long time.

Which brings me to a movie I just happened to watch recently. It's called "Linda Linda Linda" and, yes, as one might assume it's about The Blue Hearts' song. Four highschool girls decide to perform three songs by the band at a school festival and have to face a few obstacles until they find themselves on stage at the end of the movie.
Maybe it's something everyone who at some point in his or her life can relate to. I for my part really liked the movie and the atmosphere it created. The whole story starts out with the band supposed to perform at the school festival suddenly breaking up because their guitarist broke a finger and two other members got into an argument. Along comes a Korean exchange student who is quickly hired to become the lead singer although her knowledge of the japanese language is rather limited. But she shows some spirit and practices by entering a karaoke bar which leads to a hilarious discussion with the owner. You have to watch the movie to get this.
The live set at the end of the movie is wonderful and brings the whole story to a happy ending.



I tried to imagine if it is possible to convert the script of the movie to a german version but when I think of it the one thing that is lacking is the band that the girls should cover. Cause The Blue Hearts fit just right with their catchy punkrock tunes.

The Blue Hearts broke up some time in the 90s and went on to other projects and bands, most notably perhaps are The High-Lows or The Cro-Magnons (not to be confused with the Cro-Mags, of course). I listened to a few of those bands but the all never got back to what The Blue Hearts were doing.

So you might do yourselves a favour and pick up a record by The Blue Hearts.

Football: Dortmund 2 Schalke 0

Borussia Dortmund won the derby against rivals Schalke 04 and by doing so spoiled the chances for Schalke winning a championship after 49 years. Oh happy day.

Borussia Dortmund (BVB) and Schalke 04 (S04) share one of the fiercest rivalries in German football. Schalke have won the championship 7 times (1934, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1958), Dortmund are 6 times champions (1956, 1957, 1963, 1995, 1996, 2002). Both have won the German cup
numoerous times (BVB 1965, 1989 - S04 1937, 1972, 2001, 2002). Both won European cup titles (BVB Cup Winners Cup 1966, Champions League 1997, World Club champions 1997 - S04 Uefa Cup 1997). Schalke have won the 3rd most league titles, Dortmund follow in 4th place. You could say both teams are two of the best teams Germany has to offer.
Since there is only a short distance between their two cities their matches have always been tense games. When one teams wins the supporters of the other team won't have any fun for the next few weeks. We all know that from personal experience, don't we. Whether it is Glasgow, Milano, London, Manchester, Liverpool, Madrid or Barcelona. Those are the special matches your team has to win by any means! Otherwise you wouldn't be able to face your friends who are rooting for the opposing side.

Now, as you can see from the statistics both teams have been successful in the past but this derby was somewhat special. It was a horrible season for Dortmund. Not only were they close to relegation only a few weeks ago (in fact they only saved themselves last weekend), but they had to watch Schalke climb to first place with a real chance of becoming the new champions. And to top it off there was even a chance for Schalke of a) winning the trophy in Dortmund and b) by doing so sending Dortmund to the 2nd division. Of course the threat of relegation was turned away, but the possibility of Schalke clinching the title was still present when both teams entered the pitch for the 129th match of those two. As well as the chance for Dortmund to spoil the Schalke party.

Dortmund came in with a three game winning streak while Schalke were struggling to remain on top.
But we all know those things don't matter in such games. Dortmund hadn't won at home since 1998, so it all looked set for another Schalke victory. But it turned out that we all were wrong. Dortmund went up 1-0 (Alex Frei, 44')before half time and scored the winning goal in the Closing minutes (Ebi Smolarek, 85'). I was watching the game at home while listening to the radio broadcast and when the 2nd goal was announced I was ready to go berzerk. How long did I wait for a day like this. All the suffering I had to endure over this past season was gone, there was only joy. The sweet taste of happiness.

Still, while I write this I have to thiunk of one friend who is a Schalke supporter. He had to go through the horrible experience of losing the title once again. It wasn't as horrific as in 2001 when Schalke lost to Bayern München. They had been champions for four minutes, already celebrating when the news of Bayern's equalizing goal came in. My friend was in such a shock that he didn't speak for five days.

Keeping this in mind and always reminding myself that it is just a game I consider myself to be the happiest man on earth - just at this very moment. Bare with me when I have to smile......................

By the way, keep in mind that the last round of the German championship will take place next week so Schalke still have chances to win although this seems more than unlikely.

The music is here to stay: records revisited

There are some records I haven't listened to in quite some time and there are numerous reasons why I didn't do so. Some I just found boring after some time, some I simply forgot. Some, well, I really don't know why I didn't listen to those.
So this morning I had some time to spare since I had to set some things straight here and there and I needed some music for background entertainment. Which is why I picked a few records out of the cupboard and here we go.

The Get Up Kids - Something to write home about
Boy, I really liked this one back in the days. I remember meeting the band at the PopKomm in 1998 (?) and then a few weeks later at a great show in Monheim. I saw the band a few years earlier but I wasn't hooked at that time. But with this record everything seemed right. In my opinion they never caught up with the level they had on this record. As for their best one, I think I'd go for the Red Letter Day 10"...

Matt Skiba & Kevin Seconds - Split LP
I used to be a huge fan of Alkaline Trio and I still think their first three records are classics. Lately I didn't really get along with their newer stuff, but the old ones are great records. Anyway, this solo record is a fine piece of music as well. I only listened to the M.S. side though, haha. Somehow I can't imagine an acoustic version of 7 Seconds and , yes, I can't really get familiar with Mr. Seconds going singer/songwriter.

Joey Cape & Tony Sly - Acoustic (Split LP)
I was always into Lagwagon and I always liked No Use For A Name. So I was thrilled back then when this record came out. True, the Tony Sly side was a bit boring because Nufan-songs usually are more upbeat than Lagwagon's. But Both guys did a great job here.

The Weakerthans - Fallo
This one is special since it was such a big surprise when I found out that my old friend Stephen, who I met when he was touring Germany with Painted Thin in 1997, was playing guitar with them on their first European tour (and still does so to this very day). A wonderful record that really captures the band best, I think. JKS is just a great songwriter.

Kill Holiday - Somewhere between the wrong is right
This is the record I listened to a lot when I saw the band play live alongside with Jejune in 1996. Or was it 1997? The shows were great and so was this record. Although I have to admit that had they written the whole record so that it sounded like "Meant To Let You Down" then this would be my all time favourite record. Still, this is wonderful music.

Discount - Half Fiction
This Band was my favourite one in 1999. A friend from the US of A had made a tape for me and this band was on it with a song from this record. I saw them live that year and made an interview with their lead singer which turned out to be great. I still like the mixture of raw yet melodic punkrock songs with a female voice.

Jimmy Eat World - Clarity
Lastly this one. That used to be on heavy rotation on my record player for at least a year. Maybe even longer. I love this record to this day. From the moment I bought this I instantly fell in love with the music. Actually I can't remember why I bought this. What exactly did I like about this when I listened to the first notes at the record store? I can't remember.

Ah, sometimes it just feels great to drown yourself in your memories...

I need a new cup of coffee...