Its been over 24 hours since the north east coast of Japan got done by an 8.9 magnitude earth rumbler – but the atmosphere is still crackling with tension and apprehension at the prospect of another threat that’s looming. The nuclear power plant in Fukushima Dai-Ichi has been having problems cooling down its reactor – they’re not sure if it will result in a meltdown but people in a 10km radius of the plant have been evacuated. Down here in Tokyo the supermarket shelves are becoming scarce of food and people although appearing calm on the surface, are clearly concerned for their immediate future. I’m here all alone in my apartment with the windows closed and candles at the ready since we may experience blackouts later on tonight and tomorrow due to the power plant crisis. Its reality check time. Tomi is at the bar hosting a party tonight and he isn’t far away but its far enough away for me… kinda don’t want to be alone right now but as the Japanese say “shouganai” or “that’s life”. There’s always Skype and Facebook I guess. Panic is not an option – even if a sensitive existential being like myself gets herself sucked in to watching gratuitous videos about 2012 on Youtube! That would be too easy. To get sucked in that is. Better to just deal with the blows as they come.
I wrote a song a number of years ago entitled “Earthquake City” to offset my fears of such a thing happening here. It was a tongue in cheek thing to do and I’ve noticed when I’ve played it in public people have become noticeably distressed. Here are the lyrics in question:
Deep deep underground there’s no light and there’s no sound and no air to breathe
The monster purrs in its dream the monster stirs and makes the buildings tremble like autumn leaves
Its just a tremor a little reminder of how we all toe the line in this little Tokyo town
It could’ve happened yesterday walking through Shibuya to hear the band play it was such a simple pleasure
I sure hope I’ll be having fun cause when it comes the sound of drums will be heard in equal measure
How easy we forget what the Earth wants It will get after all our flesh is so tender
All the fruits and all the suits entertaining their pursuits suddenly have a new agenda
Earthquake City I’ll make you a deal I’ll give you my number to let you know when my time is near
I know it’s tempting fate to play this song but then in a way it reminds me to live every single day
I’m here all alone in a city difficult to call home but it might call me
Yes its a bit of a suffocating song and some of you out there might think I’m being insensitive but I honestly wrote it so I could somehow put it into a place where I could make peace with the possibility of it happening. Songwriting is kind of like packing up demons for me. Some people express theirs differently – art is a great outlet for them. Other try to drown their demons in alcohol, some in food or sex or they embrace them freely and are somehow fueled to live a fearless life. I like to put em in pretty coloured bottles. Kinda like a genie maybe. When I sing them they have their freedom for a while – though they sometimes don’t sit so well with the listener. That’s OK. They aren’t your demons. Or maybe they are.
So I’m here with a different kind of demon tonight. His name is Entropy and he’s a bit thirsty. He guzzles up Fear and right now its flowing on tap. I don’t want to give him any more of mine so perhaps we can write another song together.
After we played they graciously invited us to have a drink and some nibblies and we proceeded to chat away like old friends. I even played my song “Hungarian Men” for Ayca on their daughter’s kiddie piano. Lovely people. Romance is alive and well that’s for sure.
