I wish I had a picture...

There is a Bon Jovi slot machine in Japan now...

Unless you know what a pachinko parlor is you are probably wondering why there are slot machines in Japan (especially when gambling is actually "against the law").

Check out the Bon Jovi slot machine site here.

I actually met Richie Sambora once...which is why the title of this post is "I wish I had a picture" because I didn't take one...grrr.

New stuff

I haven't listened to them all but I am pretty happy with my new stack of CDs...some of which are shown above.  

HOWEVER, I'm gonna be honest... 

I haven't found anything new that really moves me.  

Everything is nice.  Nicely packaged,  nicely promoted, nicely recorded, but nothing grabs me the way music used to.

I hope this is just a faze, because music has been the vitamin of my soul for such a long time.  I'll suffer from malnutrition if this goes on.

In the meantime...I did get something that makes me smile big time.  

Tickets to Simon and Garfunkel's concert to be held in Osaka in July.

Yep, they are concerting together and I will be there to witness it.

This will be my second time to see them perform.  I am extra happy though because of this music draught I am experiencing. 

For more details: http://www.simonandgarfunkel.com/

lucky me

I have been very lucky in life...I suppose.  I have had jobs in the past that bestowed upon me "free stuff". 

When I worked at a bookstore/publishing importer, I got a bundle of copies (I miss this...) and when I worked in the radio business I got lots of sample CDs.  Some of the CDs were like this:

This is the latest promotional sample CD by Warner Music Japan.  (This CD is NOT for sale.)

Sample CDs are not always filled with the latest releases.  Sometimes they have old hits to help remind people in the media of upcoming concerts or other events of "promotional value".

Here are a few of my favorites from this CD...Green Day's new song (that goes on sale in Japan tomorrow) "Know Your Enemy", Keziah Jones "My Kinda Girl", Alain Clark "Father and Friend", Jack Penate's "Tonight's Today" is rather interesting too.

Sweetbox has a new singer...the prior vocalist for Sweetbox (till 1996) was Jade Valerie.  

I remember meeting her when she started her solo career.  She was so sweet (no pun intended) and I hope that she will continue to release new albums.  (I think she is working on releasing one right now...)

The gem on this sample compilation would have to be a re-mastered version of Mr. Big's "Next Time Around"...  The regrouped band will be in my area of Japan one month from today and I am psyched.