Gilbert's Tokyo June 2004 Concerts!
Tokyo suki desu (I like Tokyo)
Gilbert traveled to Japan in June. He performed four concerts at the Duo Music Exchange in Tokyo on June 5-8, 2004. He also did numerous radio and TV appearances. The shows were connected to the release of a new Japanese compilation Best Hits and Rarities and a CD single. Although his concerts start off
with the same songs as the April Bloomsbury London show, Gilbert dropped most of the songs from Piano Foreplay. Nor was there a drummer or bass player. Here's the song selection from the last performance on June 8th. Please note that this show was recorded for future use by Gilbert's Japanese record label. It's unclear if it's release will be a CD or DVD or both. [ ] indicate
original album or single.
  
IT AIN'T FOR ME
Gilbert quietly walked on stage and opened his set with this song. [By Larry/The Little Album]
THE THING IS
Julian Webster Greaves accompanied him on harmonica. Afterwards Gilbert greeted
the audience in Japanese with Domo, arigato and kon-nichiwa. [A Stranger In My Own Back Yard]
NOTHING RHYMED
The single that started it all reaching UK #8. Gilbert was accompanied by Julian Webster Greaves on flute. [UK Single MAM 3 /Himself]
NO MATTER HOW I TRY
The audience clapped along! [UK Single MAM 53]
IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS
Gilbert mentioned the rainy season which is in June in Japan. He also mentioned that this song was
a waltz and that not too many pop songs are written in waltz tempo. He mentioned the Beatles Baby's In Black as one.
[Piano Foreplay]
WE WILL
Gilbert says that this is one of his favorite old songs. Every time we drove to the Club we passed this big poster of Andy Williams in Toyko Plaza. Gilbert noted that Andy had recorded this song but asked to change the lyrics which he did not understand. Gilbert thought it was odd since they both speak English. [UK Single MAM 30]
MAKE MY DAY
Gilbert called this the Clint Eastwood Special- Make My Day Punk. Julian Webster Greaves played the saxophone ending. Mitsubishi Motors used this song for a Japanese commercial. [Piano Foreplay]
MISS MY LOVE TODAY
Gilbert mentioned that when he was young he wanted to play guitar. Everyone wanted to play guitar. However,
there were no left-handed guitars and the guitar teacher was trying to teach him on a right-handed guitar. So he switched to piano where there is no left-hand or right-hand problems. [Southpaw]
STICK IN THE MUD
Julian Webster Greaves does the saxophone solo. [Frobisher Drive/In The Key of G]
CLAIR
The song had a false start and Gilbert said "domo arigato" which got a laugh from the audience. On previous nights he asked
the audience to join in on the song's title but not tonight. The harmonica solo and ending was by Julian Webster Greaves. [UK Single MAM84/Back To Front]
SOMETIMES
Gilbert told the audience that this was a new approach to an old song with keyboards and Julian on the flute. "It's almost like a new song to me." [Sounds of the Loop]
MR. MOODY'S GARDEN
Gilbert mentioned that many fans had been to all four Toyko shows and he was adding this number which was not done on previous nights. He also mentions that the song features Eve, one of the back-up singers. [UK Major Minor Single MM613/Berry Vest Of Gilbert O'Sullivan]
THE WAY THINGS USED TO BE
Gilbert said "Karate piano player" at the end of this track. [Frobisher Drive/In The Key Of G albums]
WHAT'S IN A KISS?
A monster hit in many countries. It reached UK 19 and was featured in a Japanese TV commercial. [UK CBS Single 8929/Off Centre]
THE MARRIAGE MACHINE
Gilbert says this song is about marriage. A subject that's very interesting to write about. It's good to be married. It's a subject I enjoy. Again this is something we didn't necessarily plan. [A Stranger In My Own Backyard]
DOESN'T IT MAKE YOU SICK (Mortar and Brick)
The only song from the album Singer Sowing Machine.
TOMORROW TODAY
Gilbert says: "This next song means a lot to people in Japan. Much more than it does to people back home in Europe and England which is nice." (It was a huge hit in Japan in 1992 when the song was featured in a TV drama series.) [Southpaw]
HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU GOT
"A bit of Country for you now" with Mick Parker on piano-accordian. [By Larry/The Little Album]
WATER MUSIC
Gilbert explains that the inspiration for this song came from a recording of sounds of women and men washing clothes on the rocks in South America. [Irlish]
WHO WAS IT?
Complete with the usual sound effects and some nice background vocals from Eve & Helen. [Back To Front]
BAND INTRODUCTIONS
Gilbert introduces the Band as follows:
Mick Parker - Keyboards
Julian Webster Greaves - sax, harmonica and flute
Eve Nyler - Background vocals
Helen Harding - Background vocals
OUT OF THE QUESTION
The song features Julian on flute and the ladies shared the last verses with Gilbert. [Back To Front]
IS IT A CRIME?
The only song from the second CBS album. Mick's organ playing is superb! [Life & Rhymes]
MATRIMONY
This is the other song about the subject of marriage. You say..Sykick, in Germany they say Hochzeit, we say Matrimony. [Himself]
IF I DON'T GET YOU BACK (AGAIN)
This song made its concert debut this evening! Gilbert said: This next song is an old song that I've rediscovered. It's from my first album. I had to learn the chords and work out how I played it. Again it's a discovery and it's almost a new song! [Himself]
IF I DON'T GET YOU BACK (AGAIN)
At the end of the first performance you can hear Mick Parker say..Let's do the whole song! Gilbert mentions they were filming
the set that evening and he jokingly blamed Mick and said no more drinks for you :-) Gilbert turns to the audience and said: "You don't mind hearing it again do you?" [Himself]
WHAT COULD BE NICER (MUM THE KETTLE'S BOILING)
The band performs the reggae version of this song. [Back To Front]
ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY)
This songs was the second opening theme to Maison Ikkoku a very popular anime series in Japan. It was
also used in a recent Television drama called HOME DRAMA.[UK Single MAM 66/Best Hits and Rarities]
SAY GOODBYE
Naturally, Gilbert sings in Japanese:
Sayonara konbanwa
Ohayo-gozaimasu kon-nichiwa
Kon-nichiwa gokigen-ikaga-desuka
Genki-desu arigato anatawa-ikaga-desuka. [ByGum CD Single BGR 103/Irlish]
GET DOWN
Gilbert brings the audience to its feet and the Japanese shows to their close with a raucous five and half minute version of this song. Sayonara and arigato GILBERT! "Get Down" was the third closing theme to Maison Ikkoku. [UK Single MAM 96/I'm A Writer Not A Fighter]
|
