Tarako song and dance
Posted on 28. Oct, 2006 @ 1:30 pm by harvey in Culture, Food, Media
There is a company in Japan called キューピー “Cupie” which makes a mayonnaise. The image character for this mayonnaise… is TARAKO (たらこ).
※ Note, if you check the Tarako webpage the Tarako image characters will appear to close in on you, back you into a corner, and follow your mouse around the screen. Do not panic. No harm will come to you.
Tarako is a pod-like red thing with an eerie cute baby face.
If you ask me, Tarako looks like something that would appear in a psychedelic nightmare after studying a bit too much Kanji in one day.
To make it worse…
This song and video on YouTube is the promotion video for Tarako.
The song sounds like it should be in a Tim Burton movie. Happy… Yet… Some how creepy and forboding… If you can understand the lyrics. Please read them. In fact. I’m going to post the translation soon.
Memorize them, and sing the theme song while walking down the street to amaze (and probably creep out) Japanese around you.
I’m sure this song is also available in Karaoke booths, so practice and bust a move!
If you can memorize the dance… Impressive.
Most Impressive…
Ominous even.
You can download you Tarako wallpaper here. I’m using it. You should too. If you haven’t had enough, there are more Tarako commercials available on the official website as well.
- Harvey
[tags]Tarako, Japan[/tags]
12 Responses to “Tarako song and dance”
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nory
Oct 28th, 2006
at 23:41
確かに強烈。たらこの歌。一度聴くと頭から離れなくなる。
That’s advertising!
harvey
Oct 29th, 2006
at 08:11
That’s brutal!
Heather Meadows
Oct 29th, 2006
at 13:56
I always figured that mascot was based on Kewpie Dolls.
Eagerly awaiting your translation of that bizarro song!
harvey
Oct 29th, 2006
at 18:35
You’re right Heather, that is based on Kewpie dolls.
Why did you know about Kewpie dolls? Are they fairly well known in the states among Japan-heads?
I’ll get the translation within the next 7 days for sure! Probably sooner.
zen
Oct 30th, 2006
at 03:21
You use the wallpaper!!!
maybe it is time for a vacation…
no seriously.
Jacqueline
Oct 31st, 2006
at 10:32
Hi Harvey,
About a month ago I contacted you randomly through yahoo’s FSWE website and asked for your advice about going to study or work in Japan or China. You told me that it is easy to teach English in China, so I just wanted to let you know that that is what I am doing now. I am in Jilin province in China (former Manchuria….where the Japanese invaded) I’m having a great time, so thank you so much for your advice. Your website is AWESOME and I hope to make one to be its equal in the near future. I will let you know….we can compare notes!! lol. Sadly, yes, people here do not like the Japanese. It would be interesting to compare the versions of the historical facts together…hmmm…I’ll let you know when I set up a website for China. Maybe I will never go home…lovin’ it here tooo much. :)
Jacqueline
harvey
Oct 31st, 2006
at 10:40
Wow. I love the internet. I’ll be in touch with you via email Jacqueline!
Roger
Nov 1st, 2006
at 12:26
That thing reminds me of Seaman (Sega Dreamcast).
Heather Meadows
Nov 1st, 2006
at 23:16
Harvey,
I don’t know if Kewpie dolls are popular now, but my aunt had a whole bunch of them when I was growing up.
» 2006 » November » 14
Nov 12th, 2006
at 09:47
[...] Recent Posts: Osakayaki Yokohama Customs Office Tell me your favorite Japanese Movies Kitty Sponge Cake Chocolate Banana Tarako song and dance Japanese Mind Games Beer Dumping Wedding Not so useful Japanese Lesson 1 – Abduct North Korean News [...]
» Tarako Revisited
Nov 20th, 2006
at 01:27
[...] This is for everyone who has succeeded in getting Tarako out of their heads already. [...]
nex
Dec 22nd, 2006
at 21:18
Here’s the translation of the song:
I would jog and I’d start rowing,
Every day you’d see me going to the park and to the gym
I’d go drinking in the pub and every evening I’d go clubbing
If I only had some limbs
I would learn to play the trumpet
‘Cause just sitting on my stump it tends to make my life quite grim
I’m content but I’d be more so if I wasn’t just a torso
If I only had some limbs
Oh I just sit and cry, a quadruple amputee
I just hang around all day and watch TV
But that’s the life of quadriplegics
I’d play cards and I’d play scrabble,
Not just spend my days imagining a life where I had shins
Cos I’ve never had a date, hell I can’t even masturbate
Oh if I only had some limbs
(I’m kidding, this is from ‘Snippets’ by Amateur Transplants.
I was reminded of the song the moment I saw the first
picture above; these Tarakos somehow look quite depserate.)