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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- Oct. 25, 2017 | Marissa Lorusso -- As Japanese Breakfast, Michelle Zauner writes sparkling, opulent dream pop about grief and love (and, occasionally, robots). After releasing its debut album, Psychopomp last year, the band returned with this year's stunning Soft Sounds From Another Planet. Where Psychopomp, written in the immediate aftermath of the death of Zauner's mother, zeroed in on the experience of Zauner's grief, Soft Sounds widens her aperture, featuring paeans to her coping mechanisms, ruminations on crooked relationship dynamics and said sci-fi robot fantasy.
At its Tiny Desk concert, the band swapped out Soft Sound's gauzy, astral synths for acoustic guitar and piano, and was joined by members of Washington, D.C. string quartet Rogue Collective. Zauner had wanted to do something special for the performance, and was tipped off by Landlady's Adam Schatz that the Rogue Collective make pretty great Tiny Desk partners. The Collective practiced with Japanese Breakfast the day before the Tiny Desk, and was a featured guest later that night at the band's D.C. show.
The adaptation highlighted Zauner's strength as a songwriter, providing an even more direct line into the raw emotion at the heart of her songs. The string swells during "Boyish" lent gravity to the song's bittersweet desperation. During "Till Death," her ode to marriage, Zauner sang - as she often does - in a way that strains her voice to the crackling, taut edge of heartbreak. It's arresting on any stage, but particularly powerful in the stark midday light of NPR Music's office.
For its final song at the Tiny Desk, Japanese Breakfast performed "This House." Gone was the Rogue Collective, and indeed much of the band - just Zauner and pianist Craig Hendrix remained. The song describes moments in love that are more fearful labor than bliss, the hazy space where commitment, confusion and longing intersect. Like much of Japanese Breakfast's music, the performance shows Zauner looking unblinkingly at fear and pain, daring us to do the same.
Set List
"Boyish"
"Till Death"
"This House"
MUSICIANS
Michelle Zauner; Deven Craige, Craig Hendrix; Peter Bradley; Alexa Cantalupo; Kaitlin Moreno; Natalie Spehar
CREDITS
Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Producers: Bob Boilen, Morgan Noelle Smith; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Niki Walker, Bronson Arcuri, Colin Marshall; Photo: Christina Ascani/NPR
For more Tiny Desk concerts, subscribe to our podcast: www.npr.org/pod...
Saw them live, the whole band was amazing. Some dude yelled from the audience if Michelle wanted wings and she said yes, so he climbed on stage and they ate chicken wings on stage together lol
When I was reading this comment I thought for a second this person in the audience had a pair of wings from some costume - then I read the second line of your comment lol.
Seeing them live is definitely on my bucket list!
I mean what do you expect from wingchick69
I thought red bull
It's a tradition to bring her food
That's so cool
the way they look at each other when they say “marriage” for the “till death” makes me cry after learning the circumstances of their wedding
@@user-pf2zt6kk6o I would recommend reading Michelle's book 'Crying in H Mart' which explains everything in far better detail, but basically, her and her husband got married as a way to give her terminally ill mother something to look forward to before she passed. She died two weeks after the wedding. The book provides a lot more context which makes the circumstances of their wedding much more devastating.
@@user-pf2zt6kk6o this is japanese breakfast- Michelle Zauner is the lead singer. But yes, mitski is also phenomenal
What I don't understand is how anyone can describe this music as being 'boring'. It's so special, with Michelle's voice being so special and fragile, while in till death, there is the beautiful blending of sounds from all the violins, the piano and guitars. Till Death is probably my favourite song, feeling like a strange and vivid dream, filled with memories lost from long ago. Absolutely beautiful.
people who find Japanese Breakfast boring might like her old band better, Little Big League. i love both, but im still kinda sad LBL only made two albums before breaking up, they were so good.
TILL DEATH is my favorite song right next to The Story by Brandi Carlile. Love it
Yikes.
@@danstvguy wdym
Horrid voice
She has the perfect amount of imperfection in her voice. Absolutely beautiful.
Totally get it!!
she’s not the greatest singer yet she still sounds great lol
These are my thoughts that I can't transform to words. Thanks for the help lol
I cant hear whats wrong with it?
@@dontgotocollege5232 She doesn't climb scales or slam dunk every note like Celine Dion or Mariah Carey but she emotes beautifully and her range, naturally, works well within her songs.
I love Japanese Breakfast, Boyish is one of the best ballads if heard, sounds like it’s made during the Elvis era, gorgeous
And the mv compliments it incredibly
Agreed. Wayyy underrated
0:00 - Boyish
4:05 - Till Death
7:57 - This House
ty
i hope someone loves you everyday forever in the way you need, because you deserve it
Tiny desk concerts changed my life
Personally I think she's my artist of the year. Soft sounds from another planet is incredible from front to back.
Allen Hill top record
Allen Hill exactly
How about this year?
Man if Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers didn’t drop an album in 2017, then soft sounds would easily be album of the year no question.
‼️‼️
The book she just released is soooo good.
Yes. I just finished reading it. I cried the hardest when she started wailing while she changed her deceased mom’s clothes
3:55 "this next song is called til death, and it's about marriage" *she and her husband look at each other*
gbrlsrn wait thats her husband?
yes! he joined the band. soft sounds is dedicated to him
@@gbrlsrn omg are you sure?? 💔💔💔
@@mamangcilorjaxel6117it's true!
JDHAKFJS IK IT WAS SO SWEET
Till Death is my favorite song of 2017. Many songs represented the grand scheme of things and the state of the world from individual to a general perspective. This song does the contrary by giving a context of the world as it is to paint the scenario and then it moves to the love between two people.
By itself it is a pretty well written and instrumentally beautiful song. Minimalist but with enough depth showing how much both people mean to each other. The lyrics in the end show some of the pain they have gone through, from traumatic events, and then it ends with the fear of losing each other to death.
I love this song.
great interpretation, so much meaning in a few words
till death makes me sad in a way I can't ex[plain.
the way the strings build during the lyric about being sung to sleep moved me to tears the first time i heard it. It's a beautiful song and sentiment.
Same feeling :')
So glad Japanese Breakfast gets an NPR Tiny Desk Concert! I saw this group perform at the Neurolux in Boise, Idaho, about a month ago, and I bought both cd's and have really enjoyed listening. Michelle Zauner is a very interesting songwriter, and there is something so compelling, honest, and pure about her singing. Anything that helps promote the interesting musicians who are currently ignored by big record producers is most welcome! I have made many wonderful discoveries on Tiny Desk. Thank you NPR and the many, many talented people who get a chance to reach a wider audience.
HOLA!!!!
HOW ARE YOU!?!
She’s such an amazing songwriter. Her music fits her so perfectly. She has a somber sense that you can hear in her vocals and it really just completes everything you’re hearing. Michelle is a truly unique and genuine artist.
Are you on drugs? This is zero talent; complete trash
The way she sings is so sincere and makes my heart ache. So beautiful.
I cried in the shower when I sang these lyrics to myself. They just took everything back to a hard relationship. It is so beautiful though.
I also like crying in the shower :)
this house is probably one of my favorite song this year.
Favorite band in this last year. Seen them 3 times. Michelle is such a great performer.
Chase Adams I'm jealous lol. Hoping I get to see her at some point
Searched for a Japanese breakfast NPR 2 days ago, disappointed to find one didn't exist. What a roller coaster.
boyish is soo beautiful, even better than studio version. wow
HER VOCALS ARE STUNNING HOLY
What are YOU hearing?
I come back to this video every now and then and i cant emphasize how impactful this performance is. Its so beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.
i really like the tone and emotion of her voice when she sings the line "your voice in the night sing me to sleep" :D
Best song
japanese breakfast is one of my favorite niche artists. michelle's voice has made me cry so many times
Michelle’s book, “Crying in H-mart” is fantastic. This album and her book reference her mother’s death. For example her Korean mother used to make her a Japanese breakfast sometimes.
Great reminder. She almost looks like she could be Brandon Lee’s sister. Or, even Jack White’s🧐
THIS IS SO AMAZING!!!! THE SOUND, THE WORDS, THE SENTIMENT. CAN THIS BE THE SOUNDTRACK TO MY LIFE? THANK YOU
ThePunkyDuck TINA!
I love how she's married to one of her bandmates and they play a song about marriage
Also the 2 violinists in the video are a couple. Love abounds.
@@beevee9480 how did u know this
@@ajsuflena156 googled their names :)
@@ajsuflena156 it’s in her book
What’s the song called ?
I find that Michelle Zauner is incredible, authentic, fragile and so artistic. I am reading her book ' Crying in H mart', which is so real and touching my heart. I didn't know of Michelle Zauner until I read her book. I'm now exploring and learning her music. It is a blessing to meet a person like Michelle Zauner.
Came here because @withcindy talked about the memoir Michelle wrote for her mother. Did not know anything about them before and now that I listened to this, I am absolutely enchanted. So glad I came here to check them out.
So beautiful, they got a new fan.
Isabel Vda yep... I'm all in now.
11 minutes, i wished this was an hour! love it!
Toby Kral 💟💟💟
Oh fuck, those strings put the songs in another level of awesomeness! So beautiful! Michelle is so freaking talented!
I recently discovered Japanese Breakfast through a collaboration Giraffage did with Michelle in one of his new songs titled, "Maybes". When I started listening to Michelle's tracks, I instantly found them to be a true hidden gem. To see them here, on NPR, is a real treat.
Giraffage's latest album blew me away.
I've been waiting for this forever :). She's is a great musician and poet. She writes lyrics you can get lost in.
Who else is here after reading her freaking amazing book :p
Michelle, this tiny desk concert was truly amazing. Your voice soothes me very much. I’m coming back to this again and again
boyish depicts my story more than i ever could
That's what great artists do.
Mood.
love how michelle is playing what seems to be, a classical guitar
I am obsessed with Japanese Breakfast lately, Boyish is definitely my most favorite song of all time~ it's simple, but it's catchy also the lyrics are perfect for what I'm experiencing. Really love the instrumentals as well ❤️
if you guys love michelle she had this incredible band named little big league; which was an og boyish song and i saw her live not knowing it was their last tour, i was so happy to have gotten their set list
Your boyish reassurance is not reassuring
And I need it
And all of my devotion turns violent
If you go to her, don't expect to come home to me
[Chorus]
I can't get you off my mind, I can't get you off in general
So here we are, we're just two losers
I want you and you want something more beautiful
[Verse 2]
Lack of inhibition works wonders in revealing every demon
And all this confrontation, this suffering
What do you want from me?
If you don't like how I look then leave
[Chorus 2]
I can't get you off my mind, you can't get yours off the hostess
Watched her lips reserving tables
As my ugly mouth kept running
Love me
Love me!
I saw these guys live in concert and they were great, another band Mother opened up for them with a similar vibe. The bass player for Japanese Breakfast in particular is incredible live. They have some songs where he can really groove on.
Have returned here countless times throughout the years, truly wonderful music
mixing (live sound) is phenomenal
I put off watching this performance (still less than 24 hrs) cause I had a feeling that I would burst into tears. And I was right! only took 5 seconds lol
OMG I was waiting for this!!! i literally just searched up "japanese breakfast npr" last night and it wasn't here yet on YT! i'm just so happy! :')))
I love it when my favorite bands and people get on here!!!
This is one of her very best performances. She DESTROYED this event!
she’s incredible. i was lucky to see them for free at the Paper Tiger and it was amazing. her voice transports you and everything feels surreal. she’s an incredible performer and you can tell she’s so incredibly humble because she would smile so much and look at the ground because the crowd loved them so much. i adore her
Wasn't expecting to see them here, awesome performance!
Why would anyone give a thumbs down to this? Why?! This is why we can't have nice things
wow i almost cried listening to Till Death
Oh, WOW!! This is just BEAUTIFUL. The melodies, and lyrics are so heart touching. While listening to this, I felt this soothing calm, like a cold morning in a cabin out in the woods. I loved it.
AMAZING HARMONIOUS VOCALS, WHAT A BLESSING
I watch this video ever single day
ive watched this 10 times in the past 2 days
I cried to this in chemistry class thanks Japanese breakfast
Instead of paying attention in chemistry class? Kids today.
Tiny Desks always give me that spark of inspiration back in a second ; they remind me why I want to do what I want to do. Michelle Zauner, Japanese Breakfast- amazing, amazing.
Saw them live a few nights ago! Absolutely amazing. I’m so grateful I got to see them debut a few new unreleased songs and when they’ve already finished touring for jubilee!!
Picture window, Honey Water and Mega circuit 😭😭❤
the audio IS AWESOME always love japanese breakfast
So good! Her voice is amazing and phrasing is really good. :)
Their music brings me so many emotions, so visceral.
Naming the band *JAPANESE BREAKFAST*
Origins *GERMANY-KOREAN*
😇
Michelle Zauner, you are special and you are lovely. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
"Genetic disease" never sounded so good.
what always interested me about michelle's voice is how she uses its limits with conscience. she's very aware of her voice and its instrumental value. i remember she said in an interview that she was proud of a certain song because it was "dynamic" and that struck me as being unusual and intriguing.
Great band, love the additions of the stringed instruments, suits their style well
I can listen to her sing for hours and it would never get old
Saw them live this last year. Fantastic concert experience. Probably the most enjoyable concert experience I’ve had so far in my life
I’m so terribly in love with Michelle’s voice.
Me too.
this was very dope. glad to see Japanese Breakfast on here.
Alex G (Sandy) next.
saw them together in ATL
well fuck you, then. (don't take it personally, I'm just bitterly jealous)
yes yes yes pls
saw them in philadelphia (their hometown) last july, couldn't help but get tearful.
for folks coming here 5 years later, she performed this the day of her FIRST EVER headlining show, which was at the Black Cat in Washington DC. She brought the string trio with her!!!
(I joked with her at the merch booth afterwards that I would "see her at the 930 club" and she laughed at me with MIRTH! Of course, the next time she was in DC, less than a year later, she had sold out two nights at the 930 club! who's laughing now?)
I'm going to see them live in two days!!!
she could’ve killed a performance of Posing for Cars on Tiny Desk. I wonder why we did not get a TDP during the Jubilee era
Michelle came to my school earlier this year. Armed with an SP-404 & a guitar, she shut shit down. Big fan!
you ever come across artists that sound even more amazing live well that’s japanese breakfast for you saw her in houston and wooow i was blown away
so glad to have found her music
Totally unlike the sound in the KEXP session and yet ... still awesome and spine-tingling!
That is a sign of quality!
the raspy voice in the choirs are one of the best things of this band, besides the voice of Michelle, i tried to reach the tone but I died in the attempt lol
still in love with their ep.
I had tickets but I wish I was able to go to their concert with Jay Som as their opening. So good live
Jay Som opened for them? That must’ve been holy.
A LOT of radiohead in there, especially voice lines.... love it
LADY LAMB (formerly the beekeeper) needs a tiny desk!! These guys almost remind me of sweet lyrical Aly
YOOO I did not expect to see a Lady Lamb comment ever. Totally agree with you though she has a session on KEXP and Audiotree though. I'd love to see her new stuff on here though.
I totally agree I tweeted them the other day about it lol but nothing back
Saw her perform at a coffee shop in Spokane on my birthday. Bought a mocha, two vinyls, and got to air guitar with her after the show. She's a sweetheart and a breathtaking performer, perfect for tiny desk.
Till Death killed me.
Me to ...
Pussies
OMG sameeee
@@Trentberkeley86 why don't u fuck yourself
Track list:
00:00 Boyish
03:56 Till Death
07:35 This House
dreamy
El único comentario en español xd Michelle es maravillosa, me gusta la intensidad con la que canta y las letras tan personales. Su voz es muy sublime, realmente. Es una rica, la amo 💟 btw, till death es una de los mejores del álbum :)
Such talent. Must be amazing feeling that loved and accepted by an audience! Many Blessings
Soft Sounds is for sure one of my top 5 albums this year.
She is beautiful inside and out
I watch this every day, this is everything, a tour de force.
Glad I discovered this group from Tiny Desk (: Their music sounds like driving in an old movie at night
Saw her at Lolla this year, perfect work music - love it!
I could. Listen to these 1000 times
Saw her in Austin at ACL 2018 and it was my favorite performance of the whole festival! I love her
The Violine...Just Beautiful...
HELP my three favorite songs from the album
incredible work, Michelle! God bless, and we all love you so so much!
They will do the soundtrack for Sable, one of the most beautiful indie game you'll ever see
Be Sweet hooked me!!!