Your Song Is Good

Your Song Is Good
Origin Japan
Genres Ska
Calypso music
Years active 1998-present
Labels Kakubarhythm
Universal J/Nayutawave Records
Website [1]
Members
Jun "JxJx" Saito (Organ, Vocals)
Masatomo "Maurice" Yoshizawa (Guitar)
Koji "Shiraishi" Shiraishi (Guitar)
Yasuhiko "Shorty" Hattori (Trombone)
Hiroyuki "DaaaaTaka" Takada (Bass)
Reiji "ZeeeeRay" Tanaka (Drums)
Past members
Takeo Matsumura (Bass)
Hiroki Moriya (Bass)

Your Song Is Good (ユア・ソング・イズ・グッド Yua Songu Izu Guddo?) (often abbreviated YSIG) is a Japanese ska band. They are currently signed to Nayutawave Records (a Universal Music label) and Kakubarhythm.

Contents

History

The band first started playing together as School Jackets, which was formed by 4 members of Nuts and Milk (Tanaka, Shiraishi, Yoshizawa, Matsumura), and Fruity member Jun Saito in the spring of 1997. The band pioneered a raw, frantic blend of thrash, funk, punk, ska and soul. Saito has said he wanted to create a blend of James Brown and Charles Bronson (band). Most songs remained under 1 minute - most under 30 seconds.

During approximately 6 months of activity, School Jackets released a demo tape "My Favorite 18 Soulful BLASTS!", a split tape with Less Talk More Rock entitled "SOUL FOR THE SOUL '97", and appeared on several compilations. A discography CD "Back to the Dance Floor" was later released by HG Fact (HG-090). All are now out of print.

Despite increasing popularity, the band decided to end School Jackets and reinvent themselves. From School Jackets' ashes, Your Song Is Good was born in 1998 with all of the same members intact. They initially took to a melodic punk/hardcore direction influenced by late 80's bands such as Dag Nasty. Video from one of the few shows from this early YSIG period can be seen on the "PLAY ALL!!" DVD. But again, they quickly abandoned this sound. It was at this time that YSIG went seemingly quiet.

After several years of intense practice and honing an entirely new musical direction, Your Song is Good re-emerged. After a few compilation appearances, they debuted in 2003 with a 7-inch EP called "Big Stomach, Big Mouth" as the first release on their new label, Kakuba Rhythm. Drastically mellower then their previous efforts, the new Your Song is Good was tight and polished. Combining elements from soul, to funk, to ska, to calypso, they distilled their punk energy into a refined - and uniquely Japanese - sense of melody.

Though YSIG remained largely instrumental for the first few years, since 2006 they have slowly began adding traditional vocals and lyrics to some of their songs (though many still remain instrumental). Also returning to the forefront in recent releases (notably on "The Action") is an increased sense of urgency and energy harkening back to their punk rock roots.

This trend continues on their latest release "B.A.N.D." (released March 3, 2010).

Timeline

Members

Current

Jun "JxJx" Saitō (サイトウ "JxJx" ジュン?) - Organ and Vocals
Name: Born Jun Saito (斉藤淳 / さいとうじゅん) in 1973. From Hyōgo Prefecture. Graduated in Tokyo.
Former member of Fruity on Vocals and later Drums.
Gear: Uses a Hammond XK-2. Initially used a Fender Rhodes.
Masatomo "Maurice" Yoshizawa (ヨシザワ "モ〜リス" マサトモ?) - Guitar
Name： Masatomo Yoshizawa (吉澤成友 / よしざわまさとも)
Former member of Nuts & Milk on Vocals.
In charge of Album Art Design and Merchandise Design.
Gear: Uses several Semi-acoustic guitars, initially used an Epiphone Emperor II. Recently has been using a Fender Stratocaster.
Kōji "Shiraishi" Shiraishi (シライシ "シライシ" コウジ?) - Guitar
Name：Kōji Shiraishi (白石浩二 / しらいしこうじ). From Chiba Prefecture. Graduated in Kisarazu.
Former member of Nuts & Milk on Guitar.
Gear: Fender Telecaster
Yasuhiko "Shorty" Hattori (ハットリ "ショ〜ティ" ヤスヒコ?) - Trombone
Name: Yasuhiko Hattori (服部康彦 / はっとりやすひこ. From
Joined in 2000. Currently the oldest member. Originally just played in the studio. Began coming frequently and became a member unknowingly.
Hiroyuki "DaaaaTaka" Takada (タカダ "ダ〜タカ" ヒロユキ?) - Bass
Joined in 2001. Currently the youngest member.
Was a Salaryman but recently quit.
Reiji "ZeeeeRay" Tanaka (タナカ "ズィ〜レイ" レイジ?) - Drums
Former member of Nuts & Milk on Drums.

Former

Discography

7" EPs

  1. Big Stomach, Big Mouth/Love Generation (KAKU-001) - March 2002 **Out of Print**
  2. Good Bye/Ka Cuba (KAKU-003) - December 2002 **Out of Print**
  3. Super Sould Meetin'/Sweet Spot (KAKU-006) - August 2003 **Out of Print**
  4. Your Song Is Good x Irurime (イルリメ)/Mu-Stars x Zakkan Morimoto (森本雑感/Breakfast) (KAKU-016) - November 2005 **Out of Print**

Mini-Album

  1. Come On (August 9, 2002)
    1. Papa’s Groove
    2. 10 Inch Stomp
    3. Hot Grapefruit
    4. Shortcake Pt.1
    5. My Melody
    6. Relaxin’
  1. Booootsy (May 3, 2006) Beat Crusaders Split Album
    1. Fool Groove (Your Song Is Good x Beat Crusaders)
    2. Nothing to Loose (Beat Crusaders)
    3. "2.4.6.6.1.64"Number (Beat Crusaders)
    4. Hit in the USA (Your Song Is Good)
    5. Jump Up! Shimbashi! Jump Up! (Your Song Is Good)
    6. Our Melody (Your Song Is Good x Beat Crusaders)
  1. Fever (July 5, 2006)
    1. The Intro (ジ・イントロ～)
    2. Super Soul Meetin’ (超ソウルミーティン～)
    3. Aah Wee: Stomp, Jump & (風呂編～)
    4. Nettai Boy (熱帯ボーイ)
    5. Wah! Wah! Boogie Woogie (わぁわぁブギウギ)
    6. A Short Vacation (ア・ショート・バケイション)
    7. April Sessions (4月の演奏～)
    8. Fever (フィーバー)

Albums

1. Your Song Is Good (October 6, 2004)

  1. "2,4,6,6,1,64" Number
  2. Splash
  3. Love Generation
  4. Yakiniku Madness
  5. Good Lookin'
  6. Locomotion
  7. Do The Jxjx
  8. Short Cake Pt4
  9. Lovely Yellow
  10. Good Bye
  11. Shinyurigaoka 3a.M.
  12. Up! Up!
  13. Walkin' Walkin'
  14. The Outro

2. Hot!Hot!Hot!Hot!Hot!Hot! (May 16, 2007)

  1. Ooh Weeeeees! Ooh Weeeeees! Ooh Weeeeees! (ウイッス!ウイッス!ウイッス!)
  2. Calypeeeeee! So (笛+カリプソ-)
  3. Aitsu ni 4649 (あいつによろしく)
  4. Nettai Boy Pt 2 (続・熱帯ボーイ)
  5. Honneymoon Shuffle (はねむ～んしゃっふる)
  6. Weekend Strut (週末はストラット)
  7. Shorty's World (ショーティーの世界)
  8. ”Six Mens” Goes to the South (6人は南をめざす)
  9. Summer vs Winter (夏 対 冬)
  10. Play It ”Booreiko” (無礼講な演奏)
  11. O.S.T. from ”Walkin' with Maurice” (MOOD for 真昼間)
  12. Boogaloo Super Express (ブガルー超特急)
  13. The Hot-aka Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot!
  14. ”Oi,Ole,Oh-Mae” Calypso (オイ、オレ、オマエ。)
  15. Now Playing (いつでも演奏中)

3. The Action! (July 23, 2008)

  1. The Kids Are Alright
  2. A Man from the New Town
  3. Magic Number
  4. Action!!!!!!
  5. Move or Die
  6. I Wanna 再 ! 発 ! Right Now
  7. Enjoy and Joy
  8. I Like It Like That
  9. 1-2-3-4! Calypso!
  10. This Planet にて
  11. The Catcher in the Music
  12. The Hey!

4. B.A.N.D. (March 3, 2010)

  1. B.A.N.D.
  2. Deck O Track
  3. Catch-as-Catch-Can
  4. Dance with Me
  5. Fight Back! Fight Back! Fight Back!
  6. We Are
  7. Mr. Everyman
  8. Oniroku
  9. Our Life
  10. Namaensou Shimakuri no Weekend
  11. The Love Song
  12. Unbreakable
  13. Signboarder Trippin'

Singles

  1. Aitsu Ni Yoroshiku (あいつによろしく) (April 11, 2007)
    1. Aitsu Ni Yoroshiku (TBS series "Count Down TV" Ending) - あいつによろしく TBS系「Count Down TV」2007年4度エンディングテーマ）
    2. Bugaru Choutokkyuu (ブガルー超特急)
    3. Fever Mu-Stars Double-Three-Seven-Mix
  2. The ReAction EP (April 23, 2008)
    1. A Man from the New Town
    2. Move or Die
    3. 10Inch Stomp
    4. The Reaction Baby

DVD

  1. PLAY ALL!!!!!! live,accident,history,idea, We are YSIG 1998-2008 (May 13, 2009 - Released)

Other works

  1. Sound Sketch (February 5, 2003)
    5.Love Generation
  2. Doping Panda "Remixies for 3Years" (September 19, 2003)
    2.Tabloid Pubrock (Tabloid Pubrock Is Good Mix: Your Song Is Good)
  3. "Mosh Pit on Disney" (July 28, 2004)
    22.Under the Sea
  4. "Rock Motwon" (February 23, 2005)
    9.You Can't Hurry Love
  5. Mu-Stars "Check1,2" (November 9, 2005)
    16.Funky Soysauce featuring Your Song Is Good
  6. "Husking Bee" (March 21, 2007)
    12.後に跡
  7. "アイのうた" (December 5, 2007)
    13.オイ、オレ、オマエ。: “Oi,Ole,Oh-Mae” Calypso

External links