Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra / Beautiful Burning Forest - Roadie Reacts

[@HaroMatsuRestarted]

I usually recommend “Pride of Lions” by Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, as its lyrics are all in English.

[@a.j.figliolini7771]

This song was all over 2002 in Japan. Really takes me back.

[@gabrielamoon6274]

Really?

[@madant7777]

They are stellar live!

[@minamihideki7123]

Wow, I'm so happy you reacted to my favorite band! This song is one with the guest vocalist, Tamio Okuda, the lead singer of the another famous Japanese rock / pop band, 'Unicorn'. The song is read in Japanese, as 'Utsukushiku moeru mori' and I think the English title is right. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, also known as 'Ska para', is a popular Japanese ska band formed in 1985. Their ninth album with this song, 'Stompin' On DOWN BEAT ALLEY' (2002), is a masterpiece (Of course I have it, haha). I think this song is a relatively slow or mid tempo ska tune, but I think the build-up and groove at the end of the song is fantastic (your reaction shows it, I think, haha). The soprano sax solo through the song is by 'Gamo', one of the front horn section members. However it has also more upbeat ska tunes in the album. It is also good that 'めくれたオレンジ' (Mekureta Orenji, Flipped Orange) with another guest vocalist in it, 'Down Beat Stomp', 'BOGGIE's NOT DEAD' are good. Well, the one I like the best, it is 'One Eyed Cobra', although it is not a ska, ha (maybe). Please react to them too! Thank you from Japan!

[@Sisterfifi]

I’m a sucker for anything ska, but this is a totally different ska than I have experience. It’s great to see different musical genres traverse the globe and get modified in all sorts of interesting ways.

[@MaartenT]

This is way closer to first wave ska, which originated in the '50's in Jamaica and is the pre-cursor to reggae, not the 2nd and 3rd wave bands from the '70's or '80's on that a lot of times got mixed with punk and which most people know about in the West. For other bands that are somewhat similar to this, check out The Skatalites (one of the originators of the genre) or The Slackers. The original ska has way more jazz influences compared to newer waves of ska. I used to listen to ska regularly a lot of years ago (25 or so) and learned a bunch of bands from some friends at school. An other one from back then that I enjoy a lot and has a lot of jazz influences is the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble. I did listen to these guys back then as well, but stopped doing so when I started getting into different genres. I remember really liking them though, I should give all of them an other shot.

[@leadumbrella3210]

They've been around a while, with a decently broad range inside of ska. They also have done a fair bit of collabs which shake things up a bit. They're not my favorite ska band but they're consistently putting out some solid stuff.

[@jefffromchicago6321]

I've heard a few by them. Not this. It's nice. Good background music. I wouldn't buy a CD.