Alan Mirikitani has written songs for Lonnie Brooks, Tinsley Ellis and Ruth Brown, who won a Grammy with his song "Too Little, Too Late." He also delivered several songs to films and TV shows.
Raw, their latest album, is a masterpiece. "Road to Ruin" is a little reminiscent of the boogie of ZZ Top. "Cross the Water" (with Kellie Rucker) and "Just For Fun" are ballads and "Stop Talkin' That Way" is a Texas Blues in the tradition of Steve Ray Vaughan.
"At Ten She's Two" is rock 'n' roll, "Chicken Head" and "It's Hard to Please a Woman" are rock songs and "What's Come Over You" reminds me of the swamp blues like Slim Harpo did and last but not least a gospel tune, "Mary Don't You Weep."
BB Chung King & The Buddaheads
BB Chung King & The Buddaheads are back on the LA scene after returning from a tour of Asia and the U.S. Taking a year and a half off, Alan Mirikitani (aka BB Chung King) established his own 24 track recording studio “Dawghouse Studios” in Burbank California.
BB’s music is a mix of roots rock with a blues base. BB has always claimed blues to be his first love, but comes from a generation that loves to rock. Their first CD “Blues Had A Baby”, was released in 1994 on RCA/BMB and received generous support from radio fans. If you have to categorize the music, it is somewhere between newer artists Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Blues Travelers. But make no mistake, BB Chung King & The Buddaheads are the original LA version!
BB keeps quite busy with the Buddaheads, but also finds time to write, record and produce music for other artists. BB has written songs for blues legends such as Lonnie Brooks, Tinsley Ellis and recently helped Ruth Brown receive a Grammy for her performance of his song “Too Little, Too Late”. Then he produced, wrote, engineered and played on B.J. Sharp’s Grammy nominated CD “Never Felt No Blues”. Her CD reached number 4 in the charts in Europe, without being issued there!
You can also hear the Buddaheads paying tribute to Lowell George. Together with Eddie Money, they perform the title track to the tribute album titled “Rock and Roll Doctor” (a song which appears as a bonus track on the Buddaheads “Live Japan” CD).
“Play Hard”, the third full length album, was released in Japan by Kiagan Records. Here in the US, the band is negotiating a new contract and distribution deal. To please the demand of the rest of their fans around the world, they have added some recent songs and the now re-titled, selfmanufactured limited edition CD “In The Mirror”, is available and will no doubt become a collectors item.
“Go For Broke” is a breathtaking collection of Rockin’ Blues and power packed ballads. “More great Buddaheads music” you say? Yeap. These songs, and many of their other of their tunes can be heard.
Website: Welcome to Buddaheads dot com
RIP Alan Mirikitani
The blues lost another great blues/rock guitar player when Alan Mirikitani died of a heart attack in the recording studio last weekend.
Alan was known to many as BB Chung King, and his band BB Chung King & The Screaming Buddaheads has been a fixture in the LA Area since the 1980s when I can remember first seeing them.
I’ve seen Alan many times as he has played Arcadia Blues Club which is fairly nearby.
Alan was always a gentleman to me and the other blues players in the area. When I was young and new to the area we used to converse via email periodically and he was always helpful.
Alan will surely be missed in my area, and likely in yours as well. So today I pay a tribute to Alan and if you’ve never heard his music I hope you’ll take some time to listen.
Showdown
B.B. Chung King & The Buddaheads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
露払いは俺 観音坂独歩
今日心は安穏だなちょっと
Narrow な野郎と罵られようと
自分自身でまずこの名に vote
場数の順じゃ蚊帳の外 だけど
妄想相手に 喉涸らそうと
ボソボソ喋りゃ 即死ぬ騒動
今日も逃げ込む多くの teens が言うんだ
「暮夜の大空戻れるかどうか」
シンジュク・ネオンの航空灯火
この灯決して消しちゃいけないんだ
経年劣化 お前の滑走路
舗装は不要だ そのチャンプロード
首都高5号じゃあ遅ぇんだぜ?
ほら「ご静聴俺らの成長スピード」
この戦禍に勇ましき子供等
だが此処ではあるまじき事もない
懐中へ詰め寄る音も無く
全力で説き伏せるこの言霊
ハッ そりゃコトだな?
その言葉は愚かだ
新たな時代はここから
忖度抜きのそんな空気
『OK!』ブクロ西口
『世界の中心!』
表現していく存在を 他の誰でもなく
証明していく勝敗を 決戦の show time を
勝ち癖の為に少額 bet?
博徒は貧乏性じゃ食えんぞ
貸しは pay off 魂が抵当
天井知らずのレートはグレーゾーン!
暮れ忙しいシーズンまで隷属
だけど心までセールスせんぞ?
営業しようか? 無用な予算消化
はたまた一二三と「接待しようか?」
意気揚々息巻き
魑魅魍魎召喚
から直スピード納棺
辞世の句でも代筆しようか?
謝罪原稿は「ナンマイダ?」
微笑む女神のご来店
君のヘルプには全く用無いね!
「ご指名シンジュク No.1」香を焚いて
煙に巻きたいのはしょうがないね?
この逃避行では無視で行こうね!
だってジジイに届くの もう一光年
破れたデニムはハートでコーデ
変えちゃお 天命すら日々微調整!
怒りが汚した光と影が
君の嘆きを見逃しかけた
荒れ狂う海から掬い上げ救う
『シンジュク:痛み打ち克つ group』
表現していく存在を 他の誰でもなく
証明していく勝敗を 決戦の show time を
CPU 燃えるまで加速しとこうと思う
未証明の命題 解こうと思う
韻がない世界はモノクローム
多くの苦悩を経て届く notes
あると思うのかよ必勝法?
ボードゲームや賭博と一緒よ
いいか? 全額出して
「天が下した」
お膳立て 茶化すんが
「一生よ!」
I wanna say I told y'all
だから再登場
今日は大統領
スピーチも最強 二郎
アンサンブル 阿吽の境地の
「二重螺旋がユニゾンする包囲網」
嫌いじゃない その兄弟愛
だが所詮は正常性バイアス
心の絡繰りに不案内
なら焼かれるぞ
その記憶媒体
誰もが世界の主人公
まだ未読の小説も無尽蔵
だが俺から見える全てをキチンと
威信かけてケリつけ踏む韻を
賽子に施す乱数調整
夢の中にまで見たこの勝勢
後世に残る名は他にないね?
『永遠に語り継げ Fling Posse』
表現していく存在を 他の誰でもなく
証明していく勝敗を 決戦の show time を
声が音が共鳴して シーソーゲームの live
成功も失望も肯定して 進行形の life
The lyrics to B.B. Chung King & The Buddaheads's song "Showdown" convey a sense of determination and confidence in oneself, despite facing opposition and criticism. The first stanza begins with the line "The pen is mightier than the sword, Hypnosis Mic," which suggests that the power of words can be influential and decisive. The lyrics then go on to express a sense of perseverance in pursuing one's goals, despite being misunderstood or overlooked by others. The song encourages listeners to be proud of their own achievements and to strive for success in their own way.
The lyrics also allude to the idea of growing up and taking responsibility for one's own actions. The lines "Vote for yourself first under this name" suggest that individuals should prioritize their own goals and aspirations, rather than being swayed by others' opinions. Furthermore, the lyrics mention "teens" who are "escaping" and wondering if they can return to a sense of stability, which suggests the challenges and uncertainties faced during this period of transition.
Overall, "Showdown" conveys a message of determination and resilience, encouraging individuals to pursue their dreams and rely on their own strength and self-belief.
Line by Line Meaning
(ペンは剣よりヒプノシスマイク)
The power of words is stronger than physical force in the world of Hypnosis Mic.
露払いは俺 観音坂独歩
I am the one who clears away the dew, walking alone on Kannonzaka.
今日心は安穏だなちょっと
My heart is at peace today, just a little.
Narrow な野郎と罵られようと
Even if I'm insulted as a narrow-minded guy,
自分自身でまずこの名に vote
I will vote for myself first.
場数の順じゃ蚊帳の外 だけど
I may be left out due to lack of experience,
ヤバい順ブクロ 頭からsort
But I'm a dangerous guy, sorting from the top.
妄想相手に 喉涸らそうと
I will talk until my throat is dry, facing imaginary opponents.
ボソボソ喋りゃ 即死ぬ騒動
If I mutter, it will be a deadly commotion.
今日も逃げ込む多くの teens が言うんだ
Today, many teens who seek refuge say,
「暮夜の大空戻れるかどうか」
"Can we return to the night sky?"
シンジュク・ネオンの航空灯火
The neon lights of Shinjuku act as guiding lights for us.
この灯決して消しちゃいけないんだ
We must never extinguish this light.
経年劣化 お前の滑走路
Your runway has deteriorated over time.
舗装は不要だ そのチャンプロード
Paving is unnecessary for that champion road.
首都高5号じゃあ遅ぇんだぜ?
Highway No. 5 in the capital is too slow, you know?
ほら「ご静聴俺らの成長スピード」
Look, listen to the speed of our growth.
この戦禍に勇ましき子供等
Even the brave children in this war,
だが此処ではあるまじき事もない
There are things that should not happen here.
懐中へ詰め寄る音も無く
Without any sound approaching my bosom,
全力で説き伏せるこの言霊
I will firmly persuade with all my power through these words.
ハッ そりゃコトだな?
Ha, isn't that obvious?
その言葉は愚かだ
Those words are foolish.
新たな時代はここから
A new era starts from here.
忖度抜きのそんな空気
An atmosphere without consideration.
『OK!』ブクロ西口
"OK!" Bukuro west gate.
『世界の中心!』
"The center of the world!"
表現していく存在を 他の誰でもなく
We will be the ones to express our existence, not anyone else.
証明していく勝敗を 決戦の show time を
We will prove our victories and defeats in the show time of the final battle.
勝ち癖の為に少額 bet?
Should I bet a small amount to maintain my winning streak?
博徒は貧乏性じゃ食えんぞ
Gamblers can't make a living with a poor mindset.
貸しは pay off 魂が抵当
Debts will be paid off, with the soul as collateral.
天井知らずのレートはグレーゾーン!
The limitless interest rates are in a gray zone!
暮れ忙しいシーズンまで隷属
Until the busy end-of-year season, I will submit myself,
だけど心までセールスせんぞ?
But I won't sell my soul, will I?
営業しようか? 無用な予算消化
Shall we do sales? Unnecessary budget consumption.
はたまた一二三と「接待しようか?」
Or should I casually say, "Let's entertain them?"
意気揚々息巻き
With high spirits and enthusiasm,
魑魅魍魎召喚
I summon various demons and monsters.
から直スピード納棺
I bury them straight away at high speed.
辞世の句でも代筆しようか?
Should I ghostwrite a parting poem?
謝罪原稿は「ナンマイダ?」
As for the apology draft, "No problem?"
微笑む女神のご来店
The goddess of smiles has come to visit.
君のヘルプには全く用無いね!
I have no use for your help!
「ご指名シンジュク No.1」香を焚いて
"Shinjuku's No.1" burning incense.
煙に巻きたいのはしょうがないね?
It can't be helped if I want to deceive others, right?
この逃避行では無視で行こうね!
Let's ignore everything in this escape journey!
だってジジイに届くの もう一光年
Because it already takes one light year to reach the old man.
破れたデニムはハートでコーデ
I coordinate my torn denim with my heart.
変えちゃお 天命すら日々微調整!
Let's change it, even adjusting the divine decree day by day!
怒りが汚した光と影が
The light and shadow tainted by anger,
君の嘆きを見逃しかけた
Almost overlooked your grief.
荒れ狂う海から掬い上げ救う
I scoop and save you from the raging sea.
『シンジュク:痛み打ち克つ group』
"Shinjuku: The group that overcomes pain."
CPU 燃えるまで加速しとこうと思う
I plan to accelerate until the CPU burns out.
未証明の命題 解こうと思う
I want to solve unproven propositions.
韻がない世界はモノクローム
A world without rhyme is monochrome.
多くの苦悩を経て届く notes
Notes that reach after experiencing many sorrows.
あると思うのかよ必勝法?
Do you believe in winning strategies?
ボードゲームや賭博と一緒よ
It's the same as board games or gambling.
いいか? 全額出して
Listen up! Put all your money on the line.
「天が下した」
"Heaven has decreed."
お膳立て 茶化すんが
I'll make preparations, but with mockery.
「一生よ!」
"For a lifetime!"
I wanna say I told y'all
I want to say I told you all.
だから再登場
So I'm making a comeback.
今日は大統領
Today, I'm the president.
スピーチも最強 二郎
My speech is also the strongest, like Jiro ramen.
アンサンブル 阿吽の境地の
An ensemble, achieving perfect harmony.
「二重螺旋がユニゾンする包囲網」
"A double helix forming a united encirclement."
嫌いじゃない その兄弟愛
I don't hate that sibling love.
だが所詮は正常性バイアス
But it's just a bias towards normalcy after all.
心の絡繰りに不案内
I'm unfamiliar with the intricacies of the heart.
なら焼かれるぞ
Then I'll be burned.
その記憶媒体
That memory medium.
誰もが世界の主人公
Everyone is the artist of their own world.
まだ未読の小説も無尽蔵
There are still countless unread novels.
だが俺から見える全てをキチンと
But I will accurately perceive everything from my perspective.
威信かけてケリつけ踏む韻を
I will put my reputation on the line and step on the rhymes.
賽子に施す乱数調整
Adjusting random numbers on the dice,
夢の中にまで見たこの勝勢
The winning streak that I even saw in my dreams.
後世に残る名は他にないね?
There is no other name that will be remembered by future generations, right?
『永遠に語り継げ Fling Posse』
"Let it be passed down eternally, Fling Posse."
声が音が共鳴して シーソーゲームの live
Voices and sounds resonate in the live game of seesaw.
成功も失望も肯定して 進行形の life
Embracing both success and disappointment, living in the present tense.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kj, Invisible Manners, Dragon Ash
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind