Top 3 Indies Videos 12/21/17 - Starcrawler, Spitfires, StarBenders, Minnesota Voodoo Men (Jpn)

It's time once again for this week's Top 3 Indies Video Countdown for the week of Dec. 21, 2017... 

First off, I have to say sorry for missing last week's countdown. I think that was the first countdown I missed since Sept. 2014 when was in the hospital! Last week, I was in Russia and I couldn't access the regular page where I post these countdowns. I thought there was something wrong with my Wi-Fi in Russia, but it seems the site had been down since at least last Saturday. They are trying to fix it now. So, very sorry about that.

First up are three guys from Watford, England who were first introduced to us by the Biscuit Boys, Gabbie and Chris (thanks guys!) the band is known as the Spitfires. Their bio says: "Taking influences from The Clash, Billy Bragg, The Jam through to Soul, Reggae and Ska - the band have released 2 albums since 2015... Their work ethic and powerful song-writing mixed with their acute social commentary and lack of mainstream industry support has made this fiercely independent band one of the most popular underground success stories in the UK today. This DIY attitude and independent spirit has earned them a dedicated following and sold out shows across the whole of the UK and Europe."

Dig it! Here's their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheSpitfiresUk/

#3) The Spitfires - Over And Over Again  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZuN17MwMzs&sns=fb

At #2 is a song that is performed by Starbenders which is one of the most exciting new acts of 2017! This is their second time on our countdown! Their bio states: "Hailing from Atlanta, GA, Starbenders are the half way home for misunderstood misfits, fringers and glam punks. Front-woman, Kimi Shelter and her gang have concocted a perfect alchemic blend of androgynous rock and roll power with "stuck in your brain" pop melodies. Imagine David Bowie playing 7 minutes in heaven with Debbie Harry."

Here's their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/starbenders/

#2) StarBenders - Blood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQyAmR2GFeE

At this week's #1 is a band that I debuted on Japanese FM radio a LONG time ago, Starcrawler! This is their 4th or 5th time on our countdown! Their bio says, "We will kill you." So what more could you ask? 

Starcrawler are coming to Japan 3/7 (Wed) O-nest in Shibuya, 3/8 (Thu) Nagoya @ Huck Finn, 3/9 (Fri) Osaka @ Conpass, 3/10(Sat) Kyoto @ Metro. Tickets are available here: WWW.BEATINK.COM

Here's Starcralwer's Facebook page. Go Like it: https://www.facebook.com/starcrawlertheband/

#1) Starcrawler - Used To Know  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXPhANmnAdM

Spotlight Artist!  Today’s spotlight artists are a "Wild 60's Beat" trio from Tokyo, Japan named, The Minnesota Voodoo Men. They were introduced to us by rock star, Mario Cuzic in the legendary movie about Japanese Garage Rock: Garage Rockin' Craze (see trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNukfLBvALc)
Their bio says: "The Minnesota Voodoo Men formed in Tachikawa Near Fussa ( The capital of garage rock/group sound in Japan ) in 1998. Typical story, Ringo met Fabian while playing live at his art school. Fabian was the local guitar Madman & since Ringo played bass and had similar tastes in music they decided to form a band and got onboard, another wild man, Bamboo on drums. They started by honoring their idols samurai style and mostly did covers of 60's garage, surf & British beat with a few originals playing the tokyo/fussa underground garage scene while getting profusely inebriated and getting what “all” rockers start bands for: PUSSY. 

Of course, The Minnesota Voodoo Men have a Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/The-Minnesota-Voodoo-Men-246602626236/

Spotlight Artist! Minnesota Voodoo Men - I Want You to Get Excited  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDSBHuQi8FM

Ghostroads – A Japanese Rock n Roll Ghost Story world premiered in London on Sept. 25 and was completely SOLD OUT! The movie is now on a Road Show in Japan and at a theater near you. You can find details here:  https://www.facebook.com/Japaneserocknrollghost/

日本語の情報は：http://ghostroads.jp/

Here’s the Japanese trailer (It has English subtitles!) Check it! Oh, and we have a really cool webpage: http://ghostroads.jp/

Ghostroads – A Japanese Rock n Roll Ghost Story – Theatrical Release in Hiroshima and Yokokawa decided! Jan 13 ~ Jan. 19, 2018!
【広島・横川シネマ上映決定！】
横浜シネマリンさんでの上映後少し間が空きましたが『ゴーストロード』の広島での上映が年明け1/13(土)～19(金)に横川シネマさんで決定いたしました！映画公開の前の週1/5(金)には広島クラブクアトロでTHE NEATBEATSのライブもございますので年明け早々、気分を上げていきましょう！追加！2/9(金)｜シネマート心斎橋

That’s all for today! See you next week when we return to the Top 3 Indies Artist Videos Countdown. See ya! – Mike in Tokyo Rogers

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About Mike in Tokyo Rogers: Mike has been a professional music/TV/radio/anime-related program producer in Japan since the eighties. He is a founding member and International Director of the Mt. Fuji - Atami Film & VR Festival. He began in the music business in 1977 as lead vocalist with the legendary Los Angeles Punk Band, “The Rotters” (Sit on My Face Stevie Nix.). As a university student, he was assistant to the legendary Rodney Bingenheimer (Rodney on the ROQ – KROQ Los Angeles from 1980 ~ 1981.) Mike was the first and only foreigner in Japanese history to become the General Manager of a major Japanese broadcasting station (TV Tokyo owned InterFM). Has produced a few smash hit programs (some real losers, too!) and several of Tokyo’s highest rated and most famous radio programs. He is currently producing and hosting “The Mike Rogers Show” every Sunday live on InterFM 89.7  in Tokyo and Radio Neo in Nagoya 79.5 and nationally broadcast on Radiko.jp (Internet radio).  And his life’s dream is his just completed full-length motion picture, “Ghostroads – A Japanese Rock and Roll Ghost Story”which was released by a major Japanese motion picture company and in theaters all across Japan in Autumn 2017.

Ghostroads – A Japanese Rock and Roll Ghost Story Japanese Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxwJ4AfzOwM&t

Ghostroads – A Japanese Rock and Roll Ghost Story Foreign trailer: https://vimeo.com/210533272)

… Oh, and he likes to write about himself in the third person!

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PAST ISSUES OF THE TOP 3 VIDEOS:

LAST WEEK:

Top 3 Indies Videos 12/7/17 – Starcrawler, Blondie, Monsieurs, The 50 Kaitenz (Jpn)  robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-videos-12717-starcrawler-blondie-monsieurs-the-50-kaitenz-jpn/

Top 3 Indies Videos 12/01/17 – Five Fab Japanese Indies and Garage Bands! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-videos-120117-five-fab-japanese-indies-and-garage-bands/

Top 3 Indies Videos 11/25/17 – 50 Kaitenz (Jpn), Pale Lips, Pip Blom, Dirty Fences! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-videos-112517-50-kaitenz-jpn-pale-lips-pip-blom-dirty-fences/

Top 3 Indies Artist Video 11/17/17 – Dream Wife, Cabbage, Starcrawler, Boris (Jpn) robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-artist-video-111717-dream-wife-cabbage-starcrawler-boris-jpn/

Top 3 Indies Artist Video 11/11/17 – Van T’s, Nervous Twitch, Eux Autres, Daikaiju! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-artist-video-111117-van-ts-nervous-twitch-eux-autres-daikaiju/

Top 3 Indies Videos 11/04/17! Starbenders, ED WOODS, the Routes (Jpn), Luxury Death! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-videos-110417-starbenders-edwoods-the-routes-jpn-luxury-death/

Top 3 Indies Videos 10/28/17! Touts, Peter118, Rews, Van T’s, Cabbage, Vivian Boys (Jpn)! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-videos-102817-touts-peter118-rews-van-ts-cabbage-vivian-boys-jpn/

Top 3 Indies Videos 10/23/17! Japanese Garage Bands and Amyl & the Sniffers! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-videos-102317-japanese-garage-bands-and-amyl-the-sniffers/

Top 3 Indies Videos 10/14/17! Femme Krawall (Ger.), Neatbeats (Jpn), Fazerdaze, Pale Waves! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-videos-101417-femme-krawall-ger-neatbeats-jpn-fazerdaze-pale-waves/

Top 3 Indies Videos 10/08/17! Crazy Squeeze, Su凸ko D凹koi (すっとこどっこい), The Beverleys!
robot55.jp/blog/top-3-videos-100817/

Top 3 Videos 9/30/17! The Neatbeats (Jpn!), Lola Pistola, The Jacques, MeMe Detroit! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-videos-92317-the-neatbeats-jpn-lola-pistola-the-jacques-meme-detroit/

Top 3 Videos 9/16/17! Amyl & the Sniffers, Cambodian Space Project, Mackshow (Jpn), Shame! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-videos-91617-amyl-the-sniffers-cambodian-space-project-mackshow-jpn-shame/

Top 3 Videos 9/9/17! The 50 Kaitenz (Jpn), Lisa Mychols, The Sold! & Bones!, Ya Freshness! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-videos-9217-the-50-kaitenz-jpn-lisa-mychols-the-sold-and-bones-ya-freshness/

Top 3 Videos 9/2/17! Twinkles, Neatbeats, Peter118, Mr. Diagonal! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-videos-9217-twinkles-neatbeats-peter118-mr-diagonal/

Top 3 Videos 8/25/17! The Neatbeats, Darts, Estrons, Honeychain, Creepshow, Homeless Gospel Choir! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-videos-82517-the-neatbeats-darts-estrons-honeychain-creepshow-homeless-gospel-choir/

Top 3 Videos 8/18/17! Amyl & the Sniffers, Aimee Lay, Holy Moly & The Crackers, The Soap (Jpn) robot55.jp/blog/top-3-videos-81817-amyl-the-sniffers-aimee-lay-holy-moly-the-crackers-the-soap-jpn/

MORE TOP 3 VIDEOS SEARCH: http://robot55.jp/?s=Top+3+videos

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I Drank Coffee with Russian President Vladmir Putin - A True Story!

As some readers might know, I just came back from Sochi, Russia. I was there for the 2017 Sochi International Film Festival and Awards event. And what a fantastic event it was! The people were great! The movies were great! And the accommodations were fantastic!

I woke up with a hangover every single day.... Oh, the pain!

First off, Vlad's a nice guy and he even likes regular cats, not just man-eating tigers!

Everything was free! My airfare, hotel, food.... And drinks were free too!!!! I drank more vodka in six days in Sochi than I would ever drink in six lifetimes. 

I woke up sleeping on the sofa in the hotel lobby, with no recollection of how I got there... Twice! Two times! 

If I did that at home, my wife would have killed me.

Besides eating and drinking to excess every day and night, and watching cool movies, my main dream and mission was to drink vodka shots with Russian Federation president, Vladimir Putin. 

I can say "Mission Accomplished!" Well, sort of.... Read on!

These two ladies were serving the food and adult beverages everywhere I went... Oh, and yes, all Russian girls look like this.

My first few days at the festival I spent all my time learning how to say, "I want to meet Vladimir Putin" to everyone I came across. Most laughed at me. When I realized that meeting Vlad might be a tad bit difficult (Hey Steven Seagal met him, why can't I?) I started asking people if I could drink with the Russian mafia.

Famous Russian actor, Oleg Hill... OK... Maybe he is a little bit crazy!

I told my friend, well-known Russian Actor, Oleg Hill, if he could introduce me to the mafia. He leaned towards me and whispered, "I can't introduce you to the mafia, but see our security staff? They are all ex-KGB members. But, of course for you, my friend, I can arrange for you to drink vodka with ex-KGB members!"

Ex-KGB!? I'm in!

It was true! I think. These ex-KGB guys were huge and they didn't talk much. Oleg pointed out to me an older guy who seemed like the boss of the ex-KGB guys and he wore a red star badge on his suit. Oleg pointed to him and said, "See that red star medallion on his suit? He is a friend of Putin's and was a very high ranking general in the KGB. He won that medal, the highest honor in Russia, during the war in Afghanistan."

Photo of war veteran and highly decorated hero of the war in Afghanistan.

I tried to tell him I was honored to meet him, but he couldn't speak a word of English. 

I also tried to not look at his missing arm.

I looked at the general and, indeed, he wore the bright red star medal proudly upon his chest. I also knew he was the boss because he was ordering around the rest of the ex-KGB guys constantly. Oleg added, "Notice how he always has his right hand in his suit pocket? That's because he lost his arm in the war."

Come to think of it, it was true. The guy always had his hand in his pocket! Poor guy! I guess he got his arm blown off destroying a terrorist base camp single-handedly with nothing but a Swiss Army knife clenched in between his gritted teeth.

Oleg on the red carpet escorting a well-known actress named Fatima Havpacheva. 

I said, "OK, Oleg! Tell the ex-KGB guys I want to drink vodka shots with them." Oleg patted me on the back, winked and said, "Leave it to me, my friend." He then smiled at me and confidently walked off!

Oh joy! How many people can brag that they got trashed with the KGB? Not many, I'd reckon!

A few days passed and I never got the chance to drink with the KGB guys. Oleg would later tell me, "They are ex-KGB, they don't drink."

Damn!

"...he lost his arm in the war." - Oleg Hill

The general (in the middle) with some other famous Russian guys whose names I could never pronounce in a million years!

Later on, I'd meet the general one early morning and there he was waiting at the bus barking orders. I tried to talk to him and I shook his hand... I SHOOK HIS HAND!? Wait a minute! He had two arms! That Oleg told me a bunch of bullshit! I'll bet he told his friends, "That crazy American wants to drink with Putin or the KGB!" 

I could imagine them howling with laughter at my expense.

Moscow Airport. Yes, it was cold. Why do you ask?

Well, the days went by and I never met Putin, the Russian mafia, and I am not even sure those guys were ex-KGB! When I confronted Oleg about this and told him he lied to me about the general's missing arm, he laughed and said, "But, of course, my friend!"

Oleg and I would drink shots together several times... Each time to my regret and massive hangover the next day (everyday).

Upon the day of departure from Sochi, I realized that I had failed in my one mission in Russia: to drink with Vladimir Putin.... 

Or had I?

Defeated and dejected... With no photos of me and my pal Vlad, Vladimir Putin, I took the bus back to Sochi airport and then headed off to Moscow airport.

It was there, suddenly and to my total surprise, that the trail to Vladmir Putin suddenly grew hot. Hotter than I could ever imagine. For inside Moscow airport, I found Valdimir Putin merchandise on sale everywhere! Can you believe it? I guess the guy is sort of like some rock-star. You name it, they were selling it; Putin coffee cups, key chains, refrigerator magnets, T-shirts, etc, etc, and the Holy Grail of Valdimir Putin stuff: the 2018 Vladimir Putin calendar!

Putin calendars?! I had to have one, so I bought one. It was the last of only two at all the shops I could find at Moscow airport! Treasure!!!!

For your enjoyment, here are some select photos from inside the calendar!

Cover of the 2018 Vladimir Putin catalogue. He pets tigers because, well, because he can.

My drinking buddy, Vladimir Putin making a speech. 

Born to be Vild, er I mean, Wild! Don't think that Vladimir is a big pussy. He rides bikes with the boys! Helmet? What? This is Russia! We don't need any stinking helmets! 

Hell yeah! The dude likes fishing. Anyone who likes to fish is OK in my book! Normally, when I go fishing, I wear a T-Shirt... Not Vlad, he has to be ready for nuclear war at any second, so he wears a dress shirt!

Vlad is also a macho hunter too! No shirt while hunting? Forget about nuclear war! Even the mosquitoes fear Vladimir!

Don't mess with Vlad. He'll kick your ass! Here he is thrashing bozos with his karate moves!

Of course, there's Vlad honoring the military too! I'll bet they even let him shoot the big guns on those ships for duck hunting.... 

Not much meat left on the duck though, after being hit by a 12-inch shell!

Finally, Vlad, just wants to show that he is an ordinary working man. The kind of guy that ladies would love to bring home to introduce to mom and dad.

I am so glad that I was able to find the 2018 Vladimir Putin calendar. It was only one of the last two.

I would later show my friend Kasia Madera of the BBC show "Newsday" my Vlad calendar and she just had to have one so I showed her where the last remaining copy was. Of course, she bought it. 

Smart move, Kasia! No wonder you are on the BBC!

And now, as usual, dear reader will be complaining now about the title of this storied article: I Drank Coffee with Russian President Vladmir Putin - A True Story! Isn't true at all and I have no proof that I drank coffee with Vlad!

Oh, ye of little faith! I do find your lack of faith disturbing!

It's true. I swear to god that I did drink coffee with Vladimir Putin and I have a photo to prove it! See? Here I am with a hellacious hangover drinking coffee with Vladimir Putin....

Extremely hung over drinking with Vlad...

....Drinking coffee with a Vladimir Putin coffee cup!

Thanks to Vladimir Putin and thanks to my Russian friends in Sochi at the 2017 Sochi International Film Festival and Awards and my friends in Moscow!

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MORE Humorous stories about Russia?  

The Last Christmas With Sexy Hot Russian Babes!? Vladimir Putin and WWIII With Russia? https://modernmarketingjapan.blogspot.jp/2017/12/the-last-christmas-with-sexy-hot.html

The Russian Embassy, Vladimir Putin, Natasha and Me - Another True Story https://modernmarketingjapan.blogspot.jp/2017/12/the-russian-embassy-vladimir-putin.html

John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Tony Palmer, Roland Joffé and Me - Another True Story https://modernmarketingjapan.blogspot.jp/2017/12/john-lennon-yoko-ono-tony-palmer-and-me.html

Here is the Facebook page for the Sochi International Film Festival and Awards. Go "Like" it: https://www.facebook.com/SochiFilmAwards/

The Last Christmas With Sexy Hot Russian Babes!? Vladimir Putin and WWIII With Russia?

ENTRY: Dec. 13, 2017 5 am. 

I'm in the territory formerly known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, affectionately known as Soviet Russia; today? The Russian Federation. 

I wake up early again just like every day. It is very cold. Is this all a dream? I am in the Russian Republic, captivated at a 5-Star hotel in Sochi Russia named "Отель Арфа-Парк." (That's Arfa Park Hotel for all you illiterates.) And there are beautiful women everywhere, and the food is free. I am here at the world famous "Sochi International Film Festival & Awards" event. 

It is the best film festival in all of Russia! (https://www.facebook.com/SochiFilmAwards/)

Oh, and did I say that the Arfa Park Hotel is a really nice luxury hotel?

On the way to some film screenings, yesterday, one of the Russian film directors asked how I liked Sochi. I said, "The people are friendly. Russia is really nice."

"Sochi isn't Russia. You need to go to Moscow." He said as he demonically laughed with his friends. I felt a tinge of danger in Moscow.... It must be different... Why? Because if I were sitting in my hotel here in Sochi, and you didn't tell me where I was, I couldn't really tell it apart from a top hotel in Hawaii, or Thailand, London or Tokyo.

With Tim

Yesterday, I sat and had dinner with four young Russians who live outside of Russia. I talked and ate with Tim (I think his real name is Timovenitch) and Yuri (Yuri is his real name) and Dennis (I won't even attempt to tell you what his real name is) and an awesome Russian babe named Larisa... (I'll try to get a picture of Larisa today... That is, if my smartphone doesn't melt while attempting to take her photo.)

These four people are all about 25 ~ 30-years-old. They are all extremely intelligent and fluent bi-linguals - two of them tri-linguals. As is often the case when meeting foreigners, for a moment, we talked the boring subject of politics.

After just a few minutes, I realized that these people were far and away much more knowledgeable (and realistic) than many of my Super-Hero comic-book reading, TV watching countrymen. 

I was relieved and pleasantly surprised.

Later, I'd talk to my world-traveler, Jet-Setter American movie director friend Stephen David Brooks, who succinctly summed it up, "Yes. It would seem that the more one travels, the more the realization that people all over the world are basically the same. It's the governments that mess things up."

He's right. And that was the crux of the message from the young Russians who have traveled and now live in foreign countries.

What do I want to say here? In a nutshell. I want to say that there is no way we should ever have a war with the Russians. 

EVIDENCE #1: Look at this photo: This is a photo of a red carpet cinema event for the Sochi Film Festival just like we have in Hollywood. But! With a huge difference. Just look at those two walking up there! We can't go to war with these people! In America, we have Disneyland and everything, but in Russia, they have the real fricking Snow White and Cinderella* living there! I wouldn't be surprised to find out that A.A. Milne's "Hundred Acre Wood" is actually named "Hundred Hectare People's Community Forest" and is really located somewhere near Kursk and that Winnie the Pooh actually holds a Russian passport and his real last name is Poohkovik! 

What kind of savage animals could bomb Snow White or Cinderella? Not me. Could we ever even conceive of droning Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy at Disneyland? No way! (*In America, that Snow White & Cinderella at Disneyland isn't the real Snow White or Cinderella, they are SAG-AFTRA models/dancers. In Russia, they have the real thing.)

There are Coca-Cola signs everywhere here in Russia. This is at some little Mom and Pop owned diner down the street from the hotel. All the stores sell this stuff... Judging from that, the war was over a long time ago.

Holy Balaclava! Hot Russian babe and bottle of vodka? Could there possibly be any two better reasons against war than that? "Hot Russian babe + bottle of vodka." Case rests, your honor.

Basic reasons to never have a war with the Russians:

1) Basically, they are just like us.

2) There are lots of hot babes. 

3) They seem to be pretty tolerant of religion and I gather mostly Christians as I am seeing Christmas shit everywhere.

Christmas tree in hotel lobby. Cute girl waves from behind the counter.

4) They have, McDonald's, Burger King, Coca Cola as well as giant-assed Snickers bars, Kit Kat, M&Ms and all sorts of the same stuff we have.

Yes. That's what you think it is.

5) They have gone Japan crazy too. They even have Karaoke. Yes. You read that correctly: THE RUSSIANS HAVE KARAOKE TOO! 

6) Oh, and speaking of Christmas... Just another BIG reason we can never go to war with the Russian people and that they are just like us; Not only have they have imported all the things we love in the west: Junk food, junk culture and they have Christmas commercialism and giving presents too (or were they first?) But not only THAT, ladies and gentlemen, probably the worst thing that they ever imported from the west, and you'll be able to relate to the untold suffering this has brought upon those poor Russian brothers and sisters of ours, is that at Christmas, they have to suffer listening to that God-damned Wham song "Last Christmas" over and over just like we do!!!! Hell on earth. 

What hath we wrought???????

My friends, we must make forever lasting peace with these good Russian people.... Not only do they eat Whoppers, Big Macs with fries, eat shit like Snickers bars and drink Coca-cola, they must endure listening to Wham every Christmas like we do in the west!!!!

We simply cannot make war on these wonderful people. They listen to Wham's "Last Christmas"!!!!??? Haven't we made these people suffer enough?

Russian beauty singing in front of a bar that offers Karaoke. She was so sweet and nice. Maybe I'll go there tonight and sing Russian Karaoke songs?

NOTE: Some of you alert readers might be saying, "Wait a minute! Mike mentioned Valdimir Putin in the title of this article!" Some might remember my post from last week: The Russian Embassy, Vladimir Putin, Natasha and Me - Another True Story (https://modernmarketingjapan.blogspot.ru/2017/12/the-russian-embassy-vladimir-putin.html)

I wrote: 

"In September, I went to Raindance Film Festival in London and met my hero Johnny Rotten, former lead vocalist of the Sex Pistols... 

Now, in December, I am going to Russia. Can I meet my other hero, Vladimir Putin, president of the Russian Federation? I think so. Yes! 

My wife said, "That's crazy. You can't compare a punk like Johnny Rotten to Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia!" 

She's right, I suppose. Johnny Rotten has been famous for 40 years!"

So, I have been trying to arrange to meet Putin every day since I've been here. I have even learned the phrase in Russian, "I want to meet Vladimir Putin." "Я хочу встретиться с Владимиром Путиным." (YA khochu vstretit'sya s Vladimirom Putinym.)

You probably won't believe me, but my friends who know me well will not be too surprised that I am walking around and saying to people I meet "I want to meet Vladimir Putin" (besides "Good morning" = "Doubra utroa.")

Some Russians laugh. Others just look at me funny.

BUT! Yesterday, one guy told me his best friend is a friend of Putin's... See? Now I am only two or three people away from meeting Vlad and drinking vodka shots with the dude for world peace!

I have 4 more days in Russia to meet Valdimir Putin....Destiny will not be denied!

POST NOTE: Just now, at breakfast, I asked some people if it were possible for me to drink vodka with the Russian Mafia. The security guys all seem like they could be mafia, but if they are, they are strangely missing tattoos. He told me, "No. They are not mafia. But they are all ex-KGB agents. The boss is a formerly high ranking Russian General who won one of Russia's highest military honors."

He pointed me to the guy.... Aha! So that's why he is wearing a suit with a giant red star medal on it! 

I think I can go drinking vodka with these guys tonight. Now I know someone who has met or may even know know Putin personally... The trail grows warmer!

Stay tuned. 

Rock and Pop Musicians! Please Make Two and a Half Minute Songs!

"Brevity is the soul of wit." - Lord Polonius from Shakespeare's Hamlet 1602

Everyone knows that the attention spans of people are getting shorter yet rock musicians (people who are appealing to those with the shortest attention spans of all), keep making songs that are getting longer.

I don't get it.

According to the website: Attention Span Statistics data: 

"The average attention span in 2000, 12 seconds. The average attention span in 2012, 8 seconds. "

Yet, people keep making pop and rock songs longer and longer! Ever since "Let it Be" by the Beatles and Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, which BOTH were six minutes long, pop and rock musicians keep making songs over four, even five minutes! Is this counter-intuitive? Or just plain, well, "Not smart"?

No. This is NOT what I want!

I think it's not very smart. Let me tell you why...

I used to program and select all the music for a very popular morning drive-time program in Tokyo. Our service area covers 42 million homes, so it's huge. I know that many people like me (I've asked) have agreed that the "perfect pop/rock song" is 2.5 minutes long (or thereabouts). Three minutes? Well, okay... Three and a half minutes? You're pushing it. Over 3:30? Hmmm, it had better be as good as the Rolling Stones, "Jumping Jack Flash" (which, I didn't look, but I believe is 3:48!) Still, with that, I will probably cut the last 30 seconds. Over 4 minutes? That's starting to get really difficult to use. Over 4:30 or 5? No thanks... Send me a radio-friendly version, will ya?

(By the way, if I must be going to a commercial in, say, 1:40 from now, and I have to cover the time, will I play the 2:30 song and cut 50 seconds, or am I going to play the 5 minute song that has a 48 second intro? Easy call, isn't it?)

Yet musicians keep sending us their new singles and the songs are all over four or five minutes. I hate it!

Why?

OK. It's simple. Did you know that there are ten times more listeners at 7 am than there are at 7 pm (due to people driving in the morning)? Let me repeat that: Did you know that there are ten times more listeners at 7 am than there are at 7 pm (due to people driving in the morning)? And the number of listeners rapidly declines after the morning driving time ends (in Japan, after 8:30 am). So that's why you want your song on before 8:30 am; there's many more potential listeners for your tunes if they are on early. 

Did you also know (at least in Japan's case) that the average listener listens to FM radio for only twenty minutes at a time? That's right.

Now, morning shows (the ones with, by far, the highest ratings) need a quick tempo and a fast pace. We don't have time to screw around. We have to get lots of information, news, weather, sports, traffic, commercials and music shoved into the shortest time span possible. That means we play lots of short songs in the mornings (when, as I mentioned, the ratings are highest)... That means we (well, I won't) play any songs at all that push the 3:30+ mark (or I just lop off a few minutes - do you want that?) 

I greatly prefer short songs. 

If you send me a 2:30 song, then I will greatly consider that for airplay during the peak times... But, if you send me a 5 minute song? Yeah, later on in the show... Or never. Long songs are difficult to use.

Of course, I'm talking about the fun shows that are on in the mornings (did I say the ratings = more listeners - were higher at that time? I did? Thanks.)

That means, in my case, I will play short, up-tempo songs like early Beatles, Stones, Ramones at peak times to get the listeners pumped-up and ready to go in the mornings. We don't do easy listening...

It used to be that, long ago, songs were always under 3 minutes. What happened? I don't know. But this "long song" business is foolish. 

It's simple; if you want your songs played when there are the most listeners, then make them short. If you can't say it in 2.5 minutes, then you need to work on it.

Of course, there is a time and place for longer songs.... But generally not on the highly rated morning shows... I'm trying to wake people up in the morning and cram in as much as I can in the shortest space I can... But, then again, maybe people don't care about radio anymore... OK. I can understand that too.

But, knowing this, and if you DO want radio airplay, why would you want to make long songs?

Your call.


NOTE: Oh, and PS: If you are a new musician, then make sure you "Like" the FB pages of the radio programs you are (or want to) promote to. Our FB page is here: https://www.facebook.com/MikeRogersShow/

NOTE TWO: THE PERFECT SONG? I don't know but it's a great example of what I'm talking about. Within the first 30 seconds, you hear the intro, verse, chorus and hook... If this isn't perfect, then it's damned close: The Beatles - Paperback Writer (if link doesn't work, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmVwo2DxkGg)

Here's another one (You can argue with me but you can't argue with the success of the Beatles!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyclqo_AV2M