This post is rather short so I thought I’d take some time to give an update as to the situation here in Tokyo.

So, we’ve been under what some people have been calling a “soft” state of emergency for a few weeks now. This was in response to a surge of cases that happened (surprise) less than two weeks after a lot of restrictions were lifted that led to large groups of people gathering together.

Funny how that works.

Anyways, people have been calling this a “soft” state of emergency because it didn’t change much from a legal perspective. It made it easier for the government to start assistance programs and disaster prep/response, but not much else. There are no laws in Japan that can regulate people’s behavior in a way that could be called a “lockdown.” Everyone keeps saying that it’s impossible to pass such laws in Japan, but I just think that they’re lazy and don’t want to bother trying.

The soft state of emergency was implemented with the goal of reducing traffic by 80%. That goal was not hit, especially in the first week or so. But people have been getting the hint as of late. While too many office jobs haven’t seemed to close down, most retail and restaurants have shut or severely cut back their hours. Major shopping areas like Shinjuku and Shibuya are relative ghost towns now. Local shopping streets seem to vary neighborhood-to-neighborhood.

Cases do seem to have slowed down a bit as a result, but it’s very hard to tell because the government isn’t testing enough. About the only measurable metric we have to judge how well things are going is by how busy the hospitals are. They are all busy, but none have been pushed to the breaking point yet. So things are relatively under control, I guess.

The state of emergency was supposed to end this week, but thankfully the government has learned from their mistakes, it was extended all the way to May 31st.

That’s super-great awesome news and a rare example of a government actually LISTENING TO THE FUCKING SCIENTISTS and shutting things down as much as possible, for as long as possible. I feel that after this month, Japan will be able to open up more, at least to the point where retail stores and schools can have limited hours again.

While this, like I said, really good news from a prevention standpoint, I AM GOING INSANE. I’ve already gone two months without working, and a little over a month in isolation. I’m staring down another month of this shit and it’s giving me tremors. I am desperate to get out of my apartment, see my friends, drink at my favorite bar, and BUY SOME DAMN RECORDS.

While my boyfriend is here with me and he’s the best, it is getting rough. I’ve nearly run out of productive things to do. I’ve organized and sorted all I can. I’m trying to study Japanese but that gives stress and anxiety on good days, so I can’t do it all that much. I’ve been playing a few games. A lot of Animal Crossing. Talk about the right game at the right time. The boyfriend and I are also using this time to watch as many movies as possible. We’re currently knee-deep in 70s disaster films and 80s legal thrillers. Would love to hear some recommendations of lesser-known films from those eras.

Would also love recommendations for mental health tips.

And whiskey cocktails – which can be the same as mental health tips.

Anyways, here’s a really stupid song.

 

Monsieur Goraguer
Sexy Dracula
Sexy Dracula (Instrumental)

This song is about Dracula having an orgrasm.

Sorry to be overly crass and kind of gross. But there’s really no way around it. In terms of subtly, the lyrics of “Sexy Dracula” are about as understated as Donna Summer’s moaning in “I Feel Love.” A woman tells Dracula that she wants him to come. Then he laughs. Then she again tells Dracula that she wants him to come. Then Dracula (repeatedly) says that he is about to come. Then the woman (again) tells Dracula that she wants him to come. Then Dracula says, “I’m there, move it little girl, oh yeah.” Then Dracula laughs some more. The song ends.

Needless to say, the instrumental version of this one is better than the vocal one. With the overly detailed lyrics stripped away, the melody gets a chance to stand on its own – and the melody is really good! It has a good creepy vibe to it. And the bassline is just killer. It’s a good combination of lush, instrumental disco, old-school funk, and a touch of electronic music. Musically speaking, the song is just fantastic. Maybe they knew that and decided to throw the instrumental version on partially to vindicate themselves?

Whose responsible for this? Well, Monsieur Goraguer is a pseudonym. This track was actually composed by Alain Goraguer, a French composer who worked with Serge Gainsburg and composed the score for Savage Planet. I have no idea if this was him slumming it, him having a goof, or him trying to capitalize on disco for a paycheck. Whatever the reason, the song didn’t seem to get a wide release. I think it only came out on a seven inch single in Japan and that was it. It’s the only credited released under this pseudonym.

As good as the instrumental is, that’s probably for the best.

Also, for a song called “Sexy Dracula” the Dracula on the cover is decidedly unsexy, unless “sad daddy” is your type.

 

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