When I listen to this song I get very irritated and I don’t know why. It makes me laugh because as soon as I put it on my pulse picks up and I feel like I have to turn it off. It feels like an eyelash in my eye or a hangnail or a pebble stuck in my shoe. I’m not writing this to critique the music, but rather to see if anyone might know why I react this way. It’s the first shamisen song I haven’t liked and ,since my feeling goes a bit past dislike, I am really curious why. People with greater music theory knowledge please help me out. Is there something different going on in this song that may account for my reaction?
I don’t think the answer to your question lies in music theory, but rather in something personal. That said, Jongara Bushi is considered a favorite by most who enjoy tsugaru shamisen. It’s kind of the flagship song for the style. That probably doesn’t make you feel better though.
p.s. I’m in no way implying that it’s wrong of you to not care for it.
Can you name some of the other shamisen songs you listen to that you don’t have this reaction to?
Hmm I hafta admit I didn’t like the seemingly repetitive notes in jonkara bushi, but I grew to really admire it as I tried to imitate it on my shamisen. It was alot harder than I thought to reach those speeds while still being accurate. I am still learning jonkara bushi but I enjoy knowing its a good challenge that I can always appreciate.
Here, I have an idea: what musical genres outside of shamisen do you enjoy and which do you dislike. Maybe if we know that we can draw some parallel in music theory.
That’s too bad. I love jonkarabushi. It just never gets old.
Everyone has their own tastes though, theres nothing wrong with that.
That’s too bad. I love jonkarabushi. It just never gets old.
Everyone has their own tastes though, theres nothing wrong with that
I love it too。
Hmmm. It might be worth pointing out that there are literally 10 billion different versions of Jongara bushi floating around out there.
(I’m exaggerating a bit of course) but seriously if you think about it there are three (some people even insist on “Four”) completely different basic versions from the old kyu bushi, the middle naka bushi and the shin bushi (New) version. Each with it’s own Rhythmic and Harmonic structure. These also begin to split into things like Shin Kyu Bushi and so on…To add to that the concept of Jongara Kyoku biki in which each individual Tsugaru Shamisen player creates their own Jongara bushi from scratch and you begin to see that simply saying you hate jongara bushi begs to inspire the question… “Exactly which specific Jongara bushi do you hate?”
Each year when we travel to northern Japan for the tournaments we enter the auditorium and are witness to one Jongara Bushi after another all day from morning until nighttime. An endless sea Of Jongaras. Each one different . Some are sublime beyond words, bringing tears to the listener as the dynamic swells of the Shamisen strings seem to breathe with its own flow moving from ferociousness to subtle beauty and eventually building to an emotional climax that can tear your heart chakra open with such violent force you are literally left breathless.
And then there are other performances of Jongara Bushi that make you cringe with pain because of how poorly and unemotional the performance is.
Another thing is that there have been a ton of different recorded versions of the actual “Song” itself (as in with a singer!)
Once again, I have heard this song sung with such sweetness and expressive beauty that I immediately fell in love with it and recognized it as a musical gem of northern Japan. And again, In contrast I have heard the most disturbing performances of this song that would make even a musically deaf person want to demand their money back!
I guess if I could conclude with a comparison, imagine you have never heard the star spangled banner and every time you go to a ball game some talentless shmoe with no sense of pitch is belting it out as though they were trying for the “Who can sound most like a cat in heat!” award. You’d probably spend your days saying “God! I hate that song!”
On the other hand if you were to hear a real singer with a beautifully orchestrated musical accompaniment sing it with real passion, emotion and a deep sense of genius beyond description you might just change your mind about it.
If it doesn’t resonate within you there isn’t really a musical or scientific explanation for it, you just don’t like it. I can give you a thousand reasons why I love or hate any band or song, but ultimately they are all meaningless, it’s just what you feel! If you have listened to the greats play it over and over and you still don’t like it then focus your style on what you love and create what you love. No need to try and change, you never know you, may grow to like it in time, you may not, it’s all good 
The version I listened to is the one on the bachido website. I understand that it comes down to my personal feelings, but for it to be the only song that I’ve heard that doesn’t appeal to me, it must have something different about it.
Maybe it’s like coffee or whiskey for you. You have to endure the first few times to start appreciating it.
Just a thought!
Derik, try listening to the whole song,at least once.
The jongara version at bachido,is one of the most beautiful,in my opinion. It makes me think about one’s own existence in the world,and this isn’t because it was played by Takahashi Chikuzan.
If you don’t like it, listen to some taikai versions. They are completely different and new,compared with older ones.
Of course,there are some versions I don’t like neither but they all have the player’s opinion and feelings (I hope so,because this is needed to define if a version is either a masterpiece of creativity and philosophy, or simply bare hitten strings producing a normal sound)
OK I listened to it a few more times. Just the version on the bachido site, mind you. To me it sounds like the notes and rhythm are all over the place. it seems “jerky” to me for lack of a better word. As I’m listening I feel like my attention is constantly being jerked away and forced to refocus. Ahh, like I said I don’t know how to describe the feeling.
If you haven’t already; something that might give you a bit more insight about Jongara Bushi (as a concept) would be to read and watch Kevin’s video series/article on the break-down of one’s “personal journey” that comes about while creating/performing one’s own jongara.
http://bachido.com/community/articles/the-nature-of-tsugaru-jongara-bushi
I’m not interested in swaying your opinion one way or the other; that’s for you to parse out. But with more background and understanding of the piece, maybe you’ll be able to figure out what exactly pushes you to feel how you do when listening.
The best to you, Derik~