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Andrew W.K. “Kiseki”

The ironic thing about Andrew W.K.’s album of J-Pop covers is that it is only available in Japan, which is perhaps the one place on earth where it is least useful. If you are a Japanese music fan, you probably know all of the selections on The Japan Covers, and the value of the record comes down to the novelty of hearing them performed in AWK’s distinct style. For most everyone else, AWK is providing a curatorial service — a crash course in his favorite J-Pop numbers, with all of the lyrics translated to English. Andrew’s love of J-Pop is apparent in every second of the album, and in retrospect, it becomes clear that the influence had been in his music from the start, and particularly evident on Close Calls With Brick Walls. The songs overflow with bold melodies, optimism, melodrama, romance, and fun, and fit perfectly into his bombastic triumph-rock style.

“Kiseki,” an adaptation of a hit by the boy band GreeeeN, is a revelation in Andrew’s new arrangement. Whereas the original version’s wonderful melody was diluted by its limp, sappy accompaniment, AWK’s take is a highly dynamic power ballad with a massive, anthemic chorus. It’s difficult not to get swept up in the moment of the song, and its outsize optimism and over-the-top sentimentality. The lyrics are clearly about romantic love, but I think it’s fairly easy to take lines like “we went through a bad night / but we still saw the sunlight!,” and interpret it as a love song to Barack Obama on the day of his inauguration.

Buy it from CD Japan.