Speed
Carry On My Way (Toy’s Factory)
by Michael McCarthy
The first group my friend ranted about was Speed, which consists of four young women. So young I doubt they would’ve been offended if I’d called them girls instead of women when their first album (Starting Over– how’s that for irony?) was released. My friend had evidently heard a few of their tunes featured in an anime movie and spent a long time trying to get his sweaty palms on their CDs. Eventually he did and I was subsequently forced to hear them. Although the part of my brain that wouldn’t allow me to listen to the Spice Girls immediately told me to shut it off, the part of me that’s always been a sucker for heavy metal ballads and other things y’all might consider cheese was in love. Some of their songs almost sounded like the ’80s pop that I hated in high school, what with all the synth. But there were guitar solos that sounded like they belonged in rock – or maybe even metal – tunes, and the beats per minute were right up there with Digital Orgasm. Listening to the rapid, furious beats of “All My True Love,” I no longer wondered why a group of cute Japanese gals would call themselves Speed.
Of course, it’s possible that the members of Speed didn’t call themselves Speed. It seems many Japanese pop groups, especially those consisting of young ladies, are manufactured by record companies. The managers and record labels supposedly create the band’s name, image, songs and all that jazz before they even hire the girls. (Probably where the bloke who created the Spice Girls got his idea). But if they’re pretty and they sing, who the hell cares? This is bubble gum pop! I mean, hey, we’d be offended if we found out Tori Amos and Liz Phair were manufactured by their record labels, having long thought of them as credible musicians who write their own stuff and have something to say. But nobody tries to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes with J-Pop acts. In fact, when J-Pop groups break up, it’s announced months ahead of time (can you think of a better way to make sure the farewell tour sells out than to call it the “farewell tour?”).
