Oi you. Have you ever seen the video of David Bowie and Mick Jagger Dancing Slowly in the Street? Some guy had the genius idea of slowing down the original and the end result is Jagger looking like a deranged withered prune about to have a coronary, while Bowie struts around like a tranny in a trench coat. You haven’t seen it? Really? OK, here it is:
“Summer’s here and the time is right for dancing in the street”, Mick sings. I couldn’t agree more. Tokyo in August is full of people dancing, drinking and having fun. Last weekend saw 1.2 million people pile out onto to the streets of Koenji for its annual Awaodori – with alleyway-afterparties featuring old men beating traditional drums to death before falling over blind drunk.
It really is an amazing spectacle. But while the Koenji Awaodori was fun, it was the Shimokita Awaodori that I fell in love with. I would say that though: it’s where I live and I’m ridiculously biased towards my little neighbourhood. Just 100 metres from my house there was all sorts of mad stuff going on, including individual taiko drum performances that I was insanely jealous not to be involved in.
Festivals like this are why I love Japan so much.
And you know what? The slowly decaying bodies of Jagger and Bowie would love it too.
So just like the 12th then only with more make up and less bigotry?
That slow down version of dancing in the street is hilarious mate.Check out bit when (around 3:25) Bowie sings: "on the streets of Brazil" and then Jagger shouts "Back in the U S S R r r r" Brilliant.