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Topic Summary

Posted by: Sunlight
« on: July 08, 2026, 09:58:35 pm »

"Velcros. They are not as water-resistant anymore, but otherwise are still functional."

This reminded me of some old sandals I still have. Thinking of it now, would you agree that sandals are more earthly and non-Western than conventional shoes are?

"Same! On the other hand, I despise performative grungers who deliberately damage new clothes (or furniture etc.) in order to then mend them so as to fabricate the style. They are in my eyes no better than those who undergo cosmetic surgery to fake a gracile face shape."

Yes absolutely. What's worse is when people buy clothing that are already (performatively) damaged, making the inauthenticity even more lazy. Even working class baseball caps aren't spared. Gone are the weatherworn and well-seasoned hats people have worn on the job since they were teenagers, now truck stops sell hats with an insincerely made "grimy" look to them fresh off the shelf. It used to be commonly understood that Counterculture requires commitment and authenticity. What happened? Posers must die.

Going back to this thread's topic, may I risk a rare Counterculture stamp of approval for this one?

https://youtu.be/QK8mJJJvaes

Even if you and I may not like how the song sounds itself, when it came out it felt noteworthy for a popular song's message to be a lighthearted passion for thrift. Its just a breath of fresh air compared to most of what's out there today.
Posted by: 90sRetroFan
« on: July 07, 2026, 06:59:56 pm »

"Seriously, what kind of shoes are they? They're still holding up after all this time?"

Velcros. They are not as water-resistant anymore, but otherwise are still functional.

"I always try to mend my clothing, the stitches and patches are a point of pride for me."

Same! On the other hand, I despise performative grungers who deliberately damage new clothes (or furniture etc.) in order to then mend them so as to fabricate the style. They are in my eyes no better than those who undergo cosmetic surgery to fake a gracile face shape.
Posted by: Sunlight
« on: July 07, 2026, 06:04:03 pm »

Unbelievable aura. Seriously, what kind of shoes are they? They're still holding up after all this time?  I always try to mend my clothing, the stitches and patches are a point of pride for me.
Posted by: 90sRetroFan
« on: June 30, 2026, 05:45:35 am »

The characteristics you describe are also reflected in:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grunge

Quote
The grunge look typically consisted of second-hand clothes or thrift store items
...
"Grunge ... became an anti-consumerist movement where the less you spent on clothes, the more 'coolness' you had."[106]

I myself have so much coolness that I am still wearing the same pair of shoes that I used to wear to school in the 90s.  8) 
Posted by: Sunlight
« on: June 28, 2026, 10:56:21 am »

Quote
If a necessary condition for something to be called Counterculture is promotion of anti-Western aesthetics, then the main issue is whether or not its American influences count as anti-Western. Chronologically, the Counterculture era had already begun in America by then, so a strong case can be made that citypop artists perceived American influences as anti-Western. It should especially be noted that American aesthetics are associated with anti-conservatism in Japan:

That's what I was stuck on. I know many in Japan call citypop "Western" at first glance for its American influences alone, but I agree that's not really the case once you look beneath the surface at its anti-conservative connotations.

Quote
which would appear to be a symptom of low self-esteem, whereas we typically associate Counterculture with the regaining of self-esteem by "non-whites". I think what was going on at the time was that citypop artists were dissatisfied with Western aesthetics but felt safer challenging it with American aesthetics. As they saw other artists successfully challenging Western aesthetics without relying on American aesthetics, the citypop artists rejoined the mainstream, thus citypop as a separate genre faded away.

Is it fair to say that there are some Counterculture genres are superior to others? I would consider lo-fi, for one, to be superior. The uniquely relaxing atmosphere of lo-fi aside, lo-fi is incredibly nostalgic as well. You don't really have a lo-fi song without a sample from a movie or sound effect from the '90s. To me, lo-fi is the musical equivalent to Japanese minimalist art, as its characteristics of understated low-fidelity easily fits these Aryan concepts influenced from Zen Buddhism:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi

Quote
In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi (侘び寂び) centers on the acceptance of transience and imperfection.[2] It is often described as the appreciation of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete".[3] It is prevalent in many forms of Japanese art.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma_(negative_space)

Quote
In modern interpretations of traditional Japanese arts and culture, ma is an artistic interpretation of an empty space, often holding as much importance as the rest of an artwork and focusing the viewer on the intention of negative space in an art piece. The concept of space as a positive entity is opposed to the absence of such a principle in a correlated "Japanese" notion of space.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibui
Quote
Shibui (渋い) (adjective), shibumi (渋み) (subjective noun), or shibusa (渋さ) (objective noun) are Japanese words that refer to a particular aesthetic of simple, subtle, and unobtrusive beauty

Quote
Shibui objects appear to be simple overall, but they include subtle details, such as textures, that balance simplicity with complexity. This balance of simplicity and complexity ensures that one does not tire of a shibui object, but constantly finds new meanings and enriched beauty that cause its aesthetic value to grow over the years. Shibusa walks a fine line between contrasting aesthetic concepts such as elegant and rough or spontaneous and restrained

Bonus music - "Eternal Youth":

https://youtu.be/W6hasdx4a1I
Posted by: 90sRetroFan
« on: June 27, 2026, 08:32:10 pm »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_pop

Quote
There is no consensus among scholars regarding the definition of city pop.[2] In Japan, the term referred to music that projected an "urban" feel and whose target demographic was urbanites. Many city pop artists did not embrace Japanese influences,[2] and instead largely drew from American funk, soft rock and boogie.[9] Some songs feature tropical flourishes or elements taken from disco, jazz fusion, Okinawan, Latin and Caribbean music.

If a necessary condition for something to be called Counterculture is promotion of anti-Western aesthetics, then the main issue is whether or not its American influences count as anti-Western. Chronologically, the Counterculture era had already begun in America by then, so a strong case can be made that citypop artists perceived American influences as anti-Western. It should especially be noted that American aesthetics are associated with anti-conservatism in Japan:

https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Yanki

Quote
The name "yankii" is borrowed from the English word "Yankee", a name taken from the American GIs who gave the Japanese their first glimpse into the world of rock ‘n’ roll.[1]

in contrast to conservative Japanese preferring European aesthetics. So from this angle citypop could be considered Counterculture. On the other hand, we cannot ignore the attempt to minimize Japanese influences in citypop (back to first link):

Quote
"City pop" referred to the likes of Sugar Babe [ja] and Eiichi Ohtaki, artists who scrubbed out the Japanese influences of their predecessors and introduced the sounds of jazz and R&B—genres said to have an "urban" feel—to their music. ... The term has drifted in and out of the musical lexicon ever since. ... With a term as vague and broad as city pop, it's natural that no one seems to be agreeing on what the label actually means anymore.[2]

which would appear to be a symptom of low self-esteem, whereas we typically associate Counterculture with the regaining of self-esteem by "non-whites". I think what was going on at the time was that citypop artists were dissatisfied with Western aesthetics but felt safer challenging it with American aesthetics. As they saw other artists successfully challenging Western aesthetics without relying on American aesthetics, the citypop artists rejoined the mainstream, thus citypop as a separate genre faded away.

Bonus MV:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkVfDCIBqF0
Posted by: Sunlight
« on: June 27, 2026, 07:21:58 pm »

Is Japanese city pop counterculture?

https://youtu.be/8D06hksenVM?list=RD8D06hksenVM
Posted by: Satellite Traveler
« on: June 09, 2026, 08:05:44 am »

DIE MITTELMÄCHTE IN KAIRO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAPdioOTrA8

Lyrics excerpts:
"Für den Kaiser, für den Krieg. Bis Kairo fällt durch unseren Sieg. Vorwärts."

"Unsere Schwerter, unsere Pflicht. Der Sultan ruft, er gibt euch nicht. Allahu Akbar!"

⬛️✠🟥 & 🟥☪🟥
Posted by: Raise the Flag
« on: October 30, 2025, 09:07:19 am »


Various versions of the Horst Wessel Lied (aka: "Die Fahne Hoch")
https://archive.org/details/das-horst-wessel-lied-die-fahne-hoch-the-biggest-archive-ever/Horst+Wessel+Lied+-+Biggest+Archive/Horst+Wessel+Lied+(Rock+Version).mp3
Posted by: SodaPop
« on: October 19, 2025, 08:47:52 pm »

Hard Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bLY5MTKYnI&list=RD2bLY5MTKYnI&start_radio=1
Posted by: WestCoast!
« on: August 14, 2025, 04:27:26 am »

America's U.S. Citizens\Westerners Nightmare Fucken duh dumb American? Hello? Anyone home?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvc1aumlzV4&list=RD22fS5Tf-IjY&index=2
Posted by: WestCoast!
« on: August 14, 2025, 04:11:36 am »

Aryanist warrior ****:

Foe Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22fS5Tf-IjY&list=RD22fS5Tf-IjY&start_radio=1
Posted by: TheKiffness
« on: June 19, 2025, 10:43:21 pm »

The Kiffness - Please Go Away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APD9Ipzq_P4&list=RDAPD9Ipzq_P4&start_radio=1

So tired of westerners and their hoe'ish ways. Hedonistic sex-fiend descriptor summarizes most westerners at this point. If they want sex with you they won't quit just like a rapist watching you from the shadows!
Posted by: LyracistBro
« on: June 16, 2025, 01:09:51 am »

Peter Mulvey - The Trouble With Poets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgfznBgOIms&t=202s

Shirt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPymTb2KEvY&list=RDGPymTb2KEvY&start_radio=1
Posted by: ImBernanke
« on: June 13, 2025, 01:24:30 am »

I Think I'm Ben Bernanke (sole)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4XRsrlt3Ng&list=RDgrj_HR715SQ&index=2