From India to Japan

Originally posted on 2/22/2007

I was going to write another blog on a different topic, but I wasn't finished writing that one and since this one was almost done last Thursday I thought I'd submit this one.

Back when "Tragic Kingdom" was like the coolest album ever and "Don't Speak" was a new song and virtual pets were still cool. Indian stuff was all over and so popular which was inspired by Gwen Stefani when she use to wear mehndi, bindis and Indian clothes. Just look at an old picture of Gwen between about 1996-1998. Me being between the ages of 12-14 at the time and thinking EVERYTHING Gwen did was like the coolest! Plus it was all over the fashion magazines that wearing Indian inspired stuff was the thing. Gwen could have strapped a toilet brush to her back and I would've done that too.

Then 8 years later Gwen decided to borrow from another Asian culture, the Japanese. This was her objective as mentioned in the song "Rich Girl":
"I'd get me four Harajuku girls to (uh huh)
Inspire me and they'd come to my rescue
I'd dress them wicked, I'd give them names (yeah)
Love, Angel, Music, Baby
Hurry up and come and save me"

These lines are from the song "Harajuku Girls":
"Harajuku Girls you got the wicked style
I like the way that you are, I am your biggest fan"

These lines are from the song "What are you Waiting For?":
"I can't wait to go back and do Japan
Get me lots of brand new fans
Osaka, Tokyo
You Harajuku girls
Damn you've got some wicked style"

I don't really know much about the Harajuku district. But I still wonder what the purpose of the Harajuku girls are? I am still baffled about them to this day.

It's funny that I decided to write about Gwen this week (episode aired on 2-17-07) because MADTV made fun of her liking Asian culture. They made a parody of her video for "The Sweet Escape".