Back when I was in a band that did j-pop covers, we played songs from bands like Glay, Wands, and even Lindberg, but by far my favorite of all those tunes on our “setlist” was a super cool song called “Asia No Junshin” sung by a new duo act called PUFFY.
This was when those wacky girl vocalists Ami and Yumi had just come out, and though in a few years they would really explode onto the scene with hit singles, hit albums, TV shows and even exposure in America, back then they were mostly known for being produced by singer-songwriter extraordinaire Okuda Tamio (he of UNICORN fame), as well as being christened by none other than Jellyfish’s own Andy Sturmer!
The song Asia No Junshin had this VERY retro-70’s laden song which sounded not just a bit like ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA, that Jeff Lynne led group famous for such songs as Evil Woman, Sweet Talking Woman and Don’t Bring Me Down, though the Puffy song sounded more in the vein of their later works like I’m Alive and All Over The World (yes, the songs from Xanadu) with its phased vocals, droning guitars and melodramatic synthesized violins throughout!
This song was such a joy to play!! One thing that really makes a song fun (particularly for the drummer, in other words, ME) is when it has a lot of changes, and I loved the way the song alternated between the steady ¼ time during the verses and the regimented drum fills during the “Shiro no Panda” bridge to the chorus.
Bereft of any keyboardist, our band made do with two lead guitars, and I have to say that the way our guitarist Ken-chan used his whammy bar to simulate the swirling organs always was a highlight for me! In fact, to this day, when I listen to the Puffy song, I still expect to hear it! HAHA!
Later I was to finally see the PV for Asia No Junshin, and I was pretty impressed by what a cool bunch of chicks they were! Back before the matching blue or black t-shirts (which kind of became their look for awhile) they were just a couple of alt looking gals with faded jeans and flannel shirts, VERY Seattle looking! I liked them immediately!
By the time I got to see them performing Aisa No Junshin live on a music show, they had already adopted the aforementioned “Puffy & Co” t-shirt look, and so some of the edge was taken off, but what did it matter, they were here to have fun, and have fun they did! From this point on, I became a big fan of theirs, buying all their singles and albums, and even making an effort to videotape as many episodes of Pa-Pa-Pa Puffy as I could!
And who wouldathunkit that just a few years later, they would be successful over here in America! When I heard those familiar voices on the Cartoon Network, singing the theme song for DC Comics’ TEEN TITANS show, that’s when I realized that Puffy had really come full circle!
PS: The High, High HIGHLIGHT of my Puffy fanaticism was an EXTREMELY interesting and enjoyable appearance on a show comedy duo Downtown hosted. On that show Matsumoto and Hamada had invited along the rest of their bigger comedy troupe ECCENTRIC SHONEN BOY, and along with Puffy , had the game contest showdown to end all game contests- Shaving Cream Pie in the face batsu! Oh, MAN, I’ll have to find that one and rip it to share with y’all! Tanoshimi, yo!
