Doing Business with the Japanese

• A Japanese response “I’ll consider it” may actually mean “no.”
• Negatively phrased questions typically get a “yes” if the Japanese speaker agrees. For example, a question such as “Doesn’t Company A want us?” will be answered “yes” if the Japanese thinks that Company A indeed does not want you. In English, the answer would be “No, they do not want you.”
• Incorporate the words “I’m sorry” into your vocabulary when you go to Japan. However, don’t be ingratiating out of fear of offending; just be polite.
• Hard-sell techniques will fail in Japan. Instead, find the points on which you and your Japanese counterparts agree, then build upon those. A positive, persuasive presentation works better with the Japanese than does a high-pressure, confrontational approach.
• Negotiations are begun at the executive level and continued at the middle level (working level).
• Connections are very helpful in Japan. However, choose your intermediaries carefully, because the Japanese will feel obliged to be loyal to them. Do not choose someone of lower rank than the person with whom he or she will be negotiating. Intermediaries should not be part of either company involved in the deal.
• If you don’t have a connection, a personal call is better than a letter or e-mail.
• Use an intermediary to convey bad news.
• Using a Japanese lawyer rather than a Western one indicates a cooperative spirit.
• The Japanese usually use the initial meetings to get to know you, while at the same time asking to hear about your proposal. Agreements of confidentiality are vague.
• Contracts are not perceived as final agreements. You or they may renegotiate.
• Because age equals rank, show the greatest respect to the oldest members of the Japanese group with who you are in contact.
• You will not be complimented on good work, because the group and not the individual is rewarded. It is a bad idea to single out Japanese workers.
• The Japanese will not explain exactly what is expected of you.
• Most Japanese go through job rotation, in which they change jobs within the same company every few years. In this way, the employees get to know the company and its work force well.
• Suggestion boxes, so often ignored in the United States, are useful in Japan, because Japanese employees stuff them full of suggestions.
• Do not make accusations or refuse anything directly; be indirect.
• At work the Japanese are very serious and do not try to “lighten things up” with humor.
• When working with Japanese who know English, or when using an interpreter, be patient. Speak slowly, pause often, and avoid colloquialisms. Your interpreter may seem to be taking more time with the translation than you did with your statement; this is because she or he is using lengthy forms of respect.
• Do not be surprised if your interpreter translates Japanese into English almost simultaneously but waits until English speakers are finished before translating into Japanese. Unlike English, Japanese is a very predictable language. By the time a Japanese businessperson is halfway through a sentence, the translator probably knows how the sentence will end. Indeed, it would be very impolite of a Japanese to end a sentence with an unexpected choice of words.
• At times, you may need to pretend you are sure that your Japanese colleague or friend has understood you, even if you know this is not the case. This is important for maintaining a good relationship.

Business Entertaining

• Business entertaining usually occurs after business hours, and very rarely in the home. You will be entertained often, sometimes on short notice. While the first evenings will probably be spent going from bar to restaurant to “hostess bar” (not a good idea for businesswomen), you may suggest alternatives later. These may include sumo wrestling or karaoke (“empty orchestra”) bars, where you sing along with prerecorded music.
• When you are taken out, your host will treat.
• Allow your host to order for you (this will be easier, too, since the menus are in Japanese). Be enthusiastic while eating, and express your thanks afterward.
• While business entertaining is primarily for building friendships rather than for doing deals, you may discuss business during the evening.
• If you are invited to a Japanese home, keep in mind that this is a great honor: show your appreciation.
• For social occasions, it is appropriate to be fashionably late.
• When entering a Japanese home, take off your shoes at the door. You will wear one pair of slippers from the door to the living room, where you will remove them. You will put them on again to make your way to the bathroom, where you will exchange them for “toilet slippers.” Do not forget to change back again.
• In a home, you will sit cross-legged, or with your legs to the side, around a low table with the family. You may be offered a backrest.
• Meals are long, but the evening usually ends at about 11:00 p.m.
• Never point your chopsticks at another person. When you are not using them, you should line them up on the chopstick rest.
• Use both hands to hold a bowl or a cup that you wish to be refilled.
• Eventually, you will wish to invite your hosts out. Be insistent, even if they claim that a foreigner should not pay for anything.

 

Greetings

• The Japanese are very aware of Western habits and will often greet you with a handshake. Their handshakes will often be gentle; this gives no indication of their assertiveness of character.
• The handshake may last longer than customary in northern Europe or North America.
• The bow is their traditional greeting.
• If someone bows to greet you, observe carefully. If you are greeting an equal, bow to the same depth as you have been bowed to, because the depth of the bow indicates the status of the relationship between you.
• As you bow, quickly lower your eyes. Keep your palms flat against your thighs.

Titles/Forms of Address

• In person, use last names plus San, meaning “Mr.” or “Ms.” Do not immediately assume that the Japanese will call you by your first name.
• In correspondence, it is more respectful to add –dono or –sama to the last name.

 

Gestures

• Japan is a high-context culture; even the smallest gesture carries great meaning. Therefore, avoid expansive arm and hand movements, unusual facial expressions, or dramatic gestures of any kind.
• The American “okay” sign (thumb and forefinger curled in an O) means “money” to the Japanese.
• Some Western gestures convey nothing to the Japanese. These include a shrug of the shoulders or a wink between friends.
• Pointing is considered impolite. Instead, wave your hand, palm up, toward the object being indicated, as the Japanese do.
• Beckoning “come here” is done with the palm down.
• Moving the open hand, with the palm facing left, in a fanning motion in front of the face indicates a negative response.
• Sniffing, snorting, and spitting in public are acceptable, but nose blowing is not. When you must blow your nose, use a disposable tissue and then throw it out.
• To get through a crowd, the Japanese may push others. There is also a gesture meaning, “excuse me,” which involves repeating a bow and a karate chop in the air.
• The Japanese do not approve of male-female touching in public.
• Men do not engage in backslapping or other forms of touching.
• In conversation, the Japanese remain farther apart than do North Americans.
• Prolonged direct eye contact is not the norm.
• A smile can mean pleasure, but it can also be a means of self-control, as when it is used to hide disapproval or anger.
• Keep a smile, even when you are upset.
• Laughter can mean embarrassment, confusion, or shock, rather than mirth.
• Silence is considered useful.

 

Gifts

• Gift giving is very common in Japan. Business gifts absolutely must be given at midyear (July 15) and at year-end (January 1). They are often given at first business meetings.
• Make sure your gift was not made in China.
• For the Japanese, the ceremony of gift giving is more important than the objects exchanged. Do not be surprised by either modest or extravagant gifts.
• Take your cue from the Japanese with whom you are working. Allow them to present gifts first, and make your gift of the same quality as theirs.
• The Japanese do not usually open gifts directly upon receipt. If they do, they will be restrained in their appreciation. This does not mean that they do not like your present. Again, follow their lead.
• Good gifts are imported Scotch, cognac, or frozen steaks; electronic gadgets and toys for children of associates; or items made by well-known manufacturers. Elite, foreign namebrands are always best.
• Always wrap your gifts in Japan or have them wrapped by hotel or store services. It is best to buy the paper there, so as not to choose a paper that is considered tasteful in your home country but unattractive in Japan (for example, black and white paper is unacceptable). Rice paper is ideal.
• If you are invited to a Japanese home, bring flowers, cakes, or candy.
• Avoid giving gifts with even numbers of components, such as an even number of flowers in a bouquet. Four is an especially inauspicious number; never give four of anything.

Dress

• Men should wear conservative suits. Avoid casual dress in any business meeting.
• Because shoes are removed frequently, many people wear shoes that slip on.
• Women should dress conservatively, keeping jewelry, perfume, and makeup to a minimum. Pants are becoming more common. High heels are to be avoided if you risk towering over your Japanese counterparts.
• Summer is usually very hot in Japan, so bring lightweight cotton clothing. Be sure to have plenty of changes of attire, because the Japanese are very concerned with neatness.
• If you wear a kimono, wrap it left over right! Only corpses wear them wrapped right over left.

Business Cards

• Business cards are extremely important for establishing credentials. Have them prepared in advance and checked by a Japanese business representative. It is best to have one side printed in your native language, with extra information such as membership in professional associations included; the reverse side should be in Japanese. If your status changes, have new cards printed immediately.
• Cards are presented after the bow or handshake. Present your card with the Japanese side facing your colleague, in such a manner that it can be read immediately.
• Read the card presented to you, memorizing all the information. Ask for help in pronunciation and in comprehension of the title; if you understand without help, make a relevant comment.
• Handle cards very carefully. Do not put them in your pocket or in your wallet if you plan to put it in your back pocket. Never write on a person’s business card (especially not in his or her presence).

Cultural Note

• Should you have occasion to visit a Japanese person who is ill, never bring him or her white flowers. The color white is associated with death. Also, avoid giving a potted plant, which suggests that the sick person will soon be planted in the ground.

Negotiating with Russians and Americans

Russians

• It is said that Russians are great “sitters” during negotiations. Traditionally, Russians regard compromise as a sign of weakness. Some even see compromise as morally incorrect. Russians would rather out-sit the other negotiator—and gain more concessions from the other side.
• Be certain that all members of your negotiating team know and agree on exactly what you want out of the deal. Write this down (perhaps adding a few “nice to haves” that can be given away later) and bring it with you. Do not show the Russians anything other than unity among your team.
• Be factual and include all levels of technical detail.
• “Final offers” are never final during initial negotiations. Be prepared to wait; the offer may be made more attractive if you can hold out.
• Until you have a signed a formal agreement, do not get overconfident about the deal at hand. And never expect that you can renegotiate later for a better deal. This contract is as advantageous as you will ever get.
• The Russians may request that some funds be paid to them directly in cash, or to an account in a foreign bank. This may be because of their historic concern over the oppressive Russian tax system and the rarity of being paid in cash. Be prepared to propose various options.
• One Russian tactic is to allow (after long negotiations) the foreign partner to own 51 percent of a joint venture. However, contracts usually require unanimity among the partners for major decisions anyway, so 51 percent is not a controlling interest.
• Include a clause requiring the joint venture partners to submit to arbitration in a neutral country if they can’t come to an agreement. Sweden is the most popular choice for third country arbitration.
• Russian regulations represent the biggest liability to a successful joint venture. These regulations are in constant flux (reforms are being made all the time), so don’t count on your Russian partner to have a full grasp of the legal issues involved. Get your own expert in Russian law. Don’t be surprised when something you did yesterday is disallowed tomorrow; some laws are nebulous, and their interpretation is subject to change.
• Appearances can be deceiving. Russian firms may look prosperous and full of potential. Select a partner based upon full knowledge of the assets it owns or controls.
• Since it is not customary for Russians to disclose their home phone, or other personal telephone numbers, no official residential phone books are issued at all. However, various directories are produced, and many of them are accessible free on the Internet.
• In many countries—such as Japan—people tend to respond to a question by saying “yes.” In the USSR the tendency used to be just the opposite; managers and bureaucrats said “no” at every opportunity. However, Russian executives now often say yes to proposals—even if they lack the authority to do so. They make promises to buy time, and expand the contacts they want with foreigners.
• Historically, there were many reasons why Russians said no to business proposals. One was that innovation was traditionally discouraged. Also, Russians were afraid that if they gave the go-ahead and a project failed, they would be held responsible. Another reason had to do with the position of an individual in a rigid, hierarchical bureaucracy. You rarely met a Russian bureaucrat who had the power to push a project forward without the agreement of others. But one individual could cancel a project, all by himself or herself. Often, the ability to say no was the only real power many bureaucrats possessed; not surprisingly, they used it frequently.
• Peace, international relations, the changes in Russia, and difficult economic situations are all common topics of conversation. People will ask what you think of Russia and what life is like in your home country.

Americans

• Business is done at lightning speed in comparison to many cultures. U.S. salespeople may bring final contracts to their first meeting with prospective clients. In large firms, contracts under $10,000 can often be approved by one middle manager in one meeting.
• Send all relevant information electronically to prospects prior to your visit, and be prepared to process invoices through their paperless online systems.
• Appointments are made by e-mail, conferences are broadcast live over the Web, information and presentations are archived on corporate intranets so employees can access them worldwide at their leisure. Speakers and presenters should remember that their recorded words may ring over speakers, through the Web, for years to come.
• Executives should keep up to date with new electronic gadgets and means of communications in the United States. Hot zones (wireless access) are proliferating; you can access e-mail and surf the net from a multitude of locations—including your airplane seat. The gadgets will only get faster and smaller, so stay current.
• The use of handhelds, cell phones, and associated devices are common in business meetings. Taking calls while others are in the room can be highly irritating to international visitors—but be aware that it is common practice.
• In response to an increase in the vehicular accident rate, some states (for example, New York and New Jersey) have made it illegal to talk on a hand-held cell phone while driving.
• While knowing the right people and having many contacts in an industry is valuable, it is not seen as being as important for a salesperson as a good history of sales. Sales staff are evaluated and compensated on their “track records” rather than the potential for exploiting their contacts.
• The “bottom line” (financial issues), new technology, and short-term rewards are the normal focus in negotiations.
• U.S. executives begin talking about business after a very brief exchange of small talk, whether in the office, at a restaurant, or even at home.
• Whether a colleague is a man or a woman should be ignored, except when it comes to personal questions. Women should not be asked if they are married. If a woman mentions that she is married, you should simply ask a few polite questions about her husband or children.
• Remember that the United States is the most litigious society in the world. There are lawyers who specialize in every industry and segment of society, from corporate tax attorneys to “ambulance chasers” (personal injury lawyers).
• The standard U.S. conversation starter is “What do you do?”—meaning “What kind of work do you do, and for whom?” This is not considered at all rude or boring. Actually, to many U.S. citizens, you are what you do.
• Compliments are exchanged very often. They are often used as conversation starters. If you wish to chat with someone, you can compliment something that person has (e.g., clothing) or has done (a work or sports-related achievement).
• Until you know a person well, avoid discussing religion, money, politics, or other controversial subjects (e.g., abortion, race, or sex discrimination).
• Some common topics of conversation are a person’s job, travel, foods (and dieting), exercise, sports, music, movies, and books.
• Before smoking, ask if anyone minds, or wait to see if others smoke. Smoking is generally prohibited in public places: in airplanes, office buildings, in stadiums, and even in bars. Large restaurants in some states usually have a section where smoking is permitted. Many hotels designate rooms as smoking and nonsmoking.
• While business people always have business cards, they are not exchanged unless you want to contact the person later. Be sure to include your e-mail address, Web site, etc., on your card.
• Your card will probably be put into a purse, wallet, or back pocket. People may write on your card as well. This is not meant to show disrespect.

Language in Timor Leste

Timor Leste, Tetum, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesia or English?

J. Ramos-Horta, Dili | Opinion | Fri, April 20 

Once in a while, a journalist or scholar opinionates on Timor Leste’s choice of its official languages. Victor Richard Savage, associate professor in geography at the National University of Singapore, wrote recently “The current presidential election in Timor Leste has brought international visibility to this rather marginalized state within Southeast Asia.”

Mr. Savage then proceeded to provide us with his scholarly opinion on what is actually a very simple issue in Timor Leste, the issue of languages.

Articles 13 and 159 of our Constitution determine that Tetum and Portuguese are our official languages and Indonesian and English are our working languages. Can one be more open-minded and pragmatic than that?

Timorese leaders and people, though islanders, are very outward-looking, open to cultural influences, eagerly learning and absorbing the good (and bad) we see, read and hear around us. We are among the most polyglot people in the world. A very large percentage of us manage as many as three to five languages — a native language, Tetum, Indonesian, English and Portuguese.

I always advise our youth to be open-minded toward information, knowledge and other cultures and learn as many languages as they can. I tell them not to be provincial as the average Australian, American or Briton, who speaks only English.

An increasing number of young Timorese are becoming conversant with English. It is estimated that English is understood by 31.4 percent of the population.

According to Timor Leste’s 2010 census, close to 90 percent of all Timorese use Tetum in their daily life. An estimated 35 percent are fluent Indonesian language users and 23.5 percent speak, read and write Portuguese. This is a very impressive number bearing in mind that in 2002 less than 5 percent of all Timorese understood Portuguese.

In his essay, Mr. Savage questioned the wisdom of Timor Leste’s language policy and suggested that we should opt for English rather than Tetum and Portuguese, ignoring the fact that our Constitution provides space for Indonesian and English as working languages.

However, Mr. Savage erroneously claims that while Tetum is an official language, “on the ground one gets the feeling that Portuguese has been given priority because it is the language of communication of the political and social elites — in short, it is an elitist language in Timor Leste. This language policy has its own challenges.”

It is obvious that either Mr. Savage has not been to Timor Leste or has been there only in the usual fly-in, fly-out fashion. Most proceedings in our National Parliament, Cabinet, seminars, etc are conducted in Tetum.

The Timorese resistance, government and our Church have done more for the spread and modernization of Tetum than anyone. That Tetum is today spoken by almost 90 percent of our people is a great measure of our success in nation-building. But Tetum is still in the process of becoming a truly modern, functional language. Hundreds of words are borrowed from Portuguese, some from Indonesian, and I believe that in another 10-20 years Tetum will be a very colorful, rich and dynamic language.

In another 10 years, at least half of our people will manage Portuguese; our own version of Portuguese, as lively and musical as the Portuguese spoken in Rio or Luanda. And Tetum will be as colorful and lively but better endowed to face the challenges that come with the nation’s opening to the world.

Mr. Savage, like many anglophiles, seems to hold a very simplistic view that English alone would literally opens heaven’s gate for poor Timor Leste and would solve our economic and social problems. And if English is the key to Timor Leste’s future then I presume it must also be every poor country’s road from rags to riches.

Conversely, following such a line of argument, does the said scholar and others want us to believe that it was the English language that actually catapulted nations like Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy and France into major industrial powers? And how does one explain Portuguese-speaking Brazil’s rise to global economic status overtaking aging England to become the world’s sixth-largest economy?

And how does one explain the ongoing “fragile state” of some Pacific islands and sub-Saharan African countries, which were under British rule and adopted English as their official language since independence?

Furthermore, how about our Aborigine brothers and sisters in Australia whose life expectancy is 10 years less than ours? Aren’t they supposed to be much better off since they have been colonized by English speakers for some 200 years?

Contrary to the Singaporean scholar’s assertion that our decision not to use Indonesian has to do with political sensitivities, I say we have no hang-ups as far as the Indonesian language and culture are concerned.

I have even argued that we should elevate Indonesian to official language status at some point. We just have to carefully look at all the implications in terms of costs, availability of qualified teachers, etc. An estimated 36 percent of our people speak Indonesian but in the age bracket of 5-10, particularly in rural areas, this percentage drops significantly.

While we have great respect for the scholar’s seemingly great knowledge about Indonesia and are grateful for his very wise advice, Timor Leste and the Republic of Indonesia enjoy exemplary relations in every dimension thanks to the foresight of the leaders of the two countries in opting for a forward-looking, pragmatic approach in managing the relationship.

Timor Leste, since 2005, has been an active member of the ASEAN Regional Forum and participated in every ASEAN Ministerial meeting for almost 10 years now. We have full-fledged embassies in five ASEAN capitals and by the end of 2013 we will have embassies in the remaining five. We also have embassies in Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing. There are 20 foreign embassies in Timor Leste and international organizations based in Dili.

While I am grateful for Mr. Savage’s useful contribution to the debate on the language issue and for so generously showing us the possible ways out of “regional marginalization”, I dare to challenge the Anglo-Saxon-centric view that somehow the whole world would be a better place if we all surrendered to the dominance of the English language.

We all know that English is an important language, almost incontournable (inevitable) if one wants access information on science and technology, international trade and money markets. But, the fact that a particular language has regional or global usage does not necessarily mean we must all automatically dump our historical languages and roots and adopt that language as an official language.

Even if we were to be persuaded by Mr. Savage and other like-minded scholars about the “superiority” of the English language and adopt it as our official language, there would be extraordinary challenges in terms of the human and financial resources required to implement such a policy.

I concede we are not all as practically-minded as our Singaporean brothers and sisters. I confess we are mostly somewhat romantic, and possess a historical perspective, because we have a long history, and do not possess the Singaporean practical and trade-oriented mindset.

So, will we be condemned to slow progress merely because we have a vibrant multi-cultural, multi-lingua, colorful, dynamic society, spending time to enjoy the beauty of life?

I am sure we won’t. I am sure Timor Leste will be able to deepen the quality of education, integrate seamlessly within ASEAN and spur modern economic development without forsaking the common sense feeling of belonging to our roots.

The writer is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and was President of Timor Leste May 2007 – May 2012

Taken from HERE.

Three Tunes No.4

Once again, if you're up for it, listen to the three songs in this zipped file and offer a review of your favourite one (or two - or all of them if you want). Do a bit of research to get some biographical information about the band or the artist. This will make your review journalistic rather than just a personal response. Here is the fourth pack of three...

Ane Brun - These Days

There were nights, and mornings, when you'd come to me. 

Find your way into my bones, my joints, into my veins. 

Like an animal you called your darkness around me 

you spelled your name in charcoal all over my body 

But these days I just walk with you 

These days, I let you stay 

A little further away but I'll walk with you 

These days, I let you stay 

There were summer days and nights when I was blind to you. 

You were quiet and you were still even when the moon was full 

My temporary state of lightness would scare me 

After all I was sure you were most wrong then, I was daring. 

But these days I just walk with you 

These days, I let you stay 

These days, I just talk with you 

These days, I let you stay 

A little further away but I'll walk with you 

These days, I let you stay 

The things you showed me over the years, 

The roads you blocked and how you define me 

These days, I just walk with you 

These days, I let you stay 

These days, I just talk with you 

These days, these days 

David Bowie - "Heroes"

I

I wish you could swim

Like the dolphins

Like dolphins can swim

Though nothing

Will keep us together

We can beat them

For ever and ever

Oh we can be Heroes

Just for one day

I

I will be king

And you

You will be queen

Though nothing

Will drive them away

We can be Heroes

Just for one day

We can be us

Just for one day

I

I can remember

Standing

By the wall

And the guns

Shot above our heads

And we kissed

As though nothing could fall

And the shame

Was on the other side

Oh we can beat them

For ever and ever

Then we can be Heroes

Just for one day

We can be Heroes

We can be Heroes

We can be Heroes

Just for one day

The Sundays - Here's Where The Story Ends

People I know places I go 

Make me feel tongue tied 

I can see how people look down 

They're on the inside 

Here's where the story ends 

People I see, weary of me 

Showing my good side 

I can see how people look down 

I'm on the outside 

Here's where the story ends 

Ooh here's where the story ends 

It's that little souvenir of a terrible year 

Which makes my eyes feel sore 

Oh I never should have said the books that you read 

Were all I loved 

It's that little souvenir of a terrible year 

Which makes me wonder why 

It's the memories of the shed that make me turn red 

Surprise surprise surprise 

Crazy I know, places I go 

Make me feel so tired 

I can see how people look down 

I'm on the outside 

Oh here's where the story ends 

Ooh here's where the story ends 

It's that little souvenir of a terrible year 

Which makes my eyes feel sore 

& who ever would've thought the books that you brought 

Were all I loved 

Oh the devil in me said go down to the shed 

I know where I belong 

But the only thing I ever really wanted to say 

Was wrong, was wrong, was wrong 

It's that little souvenir of a colorful year 

Which makes me smile inside 

So I cynically, cynically say the world is that way 

Surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise 

DOWNLOAD these three.

Three Tunes No.3

If you fancy it, listen to the three songs in this pack and offer a review of your favourite one (or as many as you want). Do some research and find a bit of biographical information about the band or the artist to make your review journalistic rather than just a personal response. Here is the third pack of three...

DOWNLOAD

Caecille Norby - Life On Mars

It's a god-awful small affair 

To the girl with the mousy hair 

But her mummy is yelling "No" 

And her daddy has told her to go 

But her friend is nowhere to be seen 

Now she walks through her sunken dream 

To the seat with the clearest view 

And she's hooked to the silver screen 

But the film is a saddening bore 

For she's lived it ten times or more 

She could spit in the eyes of fools 

As they ask her to focus on 

Sailors fighting in the dance hall 

Oh man! Look at those cavemen go 

It's the freakiest show 

Take a look at the Lawman 

Beating up the wrong guy 

Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know 

He's in the best selling show 

Is there life on Mars? 

It's on America's tortured brow 

That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow 

Now the workers have struck for fame 

'Cause Lennon's on sale again 

See the mice in their million hordes 

From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads 

Rule Britannia is out of bounds 

To my mother, my dog, and clowns 

But the film is a saddening bore 

'Cause I wrote it ten times or more 

It's about to be writ again 

As I ask you to focus on 

Sailors fighting in the dance hall 

Oh man! Look at those cavemen go 

It's the freakiest show 

Take a look at the Lawman 

Beating up the wrong guy 

Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know 

He's in the best selling show 

Is there life on Mars?

Colin Hay - My Brilliant Feat

Did someone call my name?

Like a distant drum is beating

Or is it just another dream of long ago?

I dance again, I am spinning

In the light, I am living

And I can feel the power rushing through my veins

Once upon a time I could do no wrong

For the candle flickers, the flame is never gone

To my brilliant feat

They all pay heed

I hear the crowds roar oh so loudly

Is it a game of chance

Or merely circumstances

A jack to a king and back

Then you have to pay to play

The world it won't wait for you

It's got its own things to do

The sun's gotta rise and drive another night away

And as I listen to the silence

I can hear thunder in the distance

To my brilliant feat

I make grown men weep

And still my eyes grow oh so cloudy

Dresden Dolls - Backstabber

the record goes from blue to gold 

so thank you for all your help 

I know you want to jump around 

but try to contain yourself 

you always struck me as the type to take it lightly 

but now you’re gonna have to shut your mouth or fight me… 

backstabber, backstabber…. 

you’re all alone you’re all over  

the popular magazines will never care what do you care 

you’re down with the japanese 

but you’ve got no right to sit there saying I abuse it 

when you only sleep with girls who say they like your music 

backstabber backstabber backstabber backstabber backstabber backstabber backstabber backstabber 

backstabber! hope grabber! 

greedy little fit haver! 

god, I feel for you, fool….. 

s**t lover! off brusher! 

jaded bitter joy crusher! 

failure has made you so cruel…. 

rotten to the core  

rotten to the core 

rotten like a crackwhore 

backing out out the backdoor 

show us what you’re good for 

stick it to the noise board 

come on join the bloodsport 

show us some support, still 

working at the drugstore 

is it because you’re A F****ING 

backstabber! hope grabber! 

greedy little fit haver! 

god, I feel for you, fool….. 

s**t lover! off brusher! 

jaded bitter joy crusher! 

failure has made you so cruel…. 

  

so don’t tell me what to write 

and don’t tell me that I’m wrong…… 

and don’t tell me not to reference my songs within my songs 

so here we go the open road 

is covered with taco stands 

and you can stop we’ll drop you off 

and write to you when we land 

BACKSTABBER!

Put on your music journalist hat. 

Three Tunes No.2

Once again, if it's your cup of tea, listen to the three songs and offer a review of your favourite one (or as many as you want). Do your own research to obtain biographical information about the band or the artist. Here is the second pack of three...

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Cowboy Junkies - Something More Besides You

One foot strands before the crib

The other by the casket

A question formed upon stilled lips

Is passed on but never asked

I guess I believe that there’s a point

To what we do

But I ask myself is there

Something more besides you? 

Two are born to cross

Their paths, their lives, their hearts

If by chance one turns away

Are they forever lost? 

I guess I believe that there’s a point

To what we do

But I ask myself is there

Something more besides you? 

This morning I awoke,

The bed warm where it once was cold

Small blessings laid upon us

Small mysteries slowly unfold

Yet I still wonder is there a point

To what we do? 

’cause I kind of doubt

That there is something more besides you

Although it’s hard to find the point

To what we do,

Do I dare believe that there is

Something more besides you?

Lloyd Cole - Man on the Verge

Independent reader I

Looking for a better quality of life

Seeking to depart from lonely hearted page

Sensitive to greying hair

Looking for a w/sense of humour

Do you have a script

Perchance, I could rewrite?

Man on the verge

Of the nerve

For "Hello, I love your shirt"

Could it hurt?

Man on the verge

9/11 subway train

You had yellow hair and mine is grey

You half smiled

Got off at Astor Place

Man on the verge

Of the words

to "Hello, I love your shirt"

Could it hurt?

Man on the verge

Waiting for the kiss of life

seemingly lost without a TV Guide

Boyish 37

Sorely uninspired

Single melancholy male

Owning up to loneliness is no big deal

Everything is gone tomorrow miss you much

Man on the verge

Of the nerve

For "Hello, I love your shirt"

Could it hurt?

Man on the verge

Man on the verge

Mouthing the words

And the air between them

Could it hurt?

Man on the verge

XTC - Earn Enough for Us

I've been praying all the week through 

At home, at work and on the bus 

I've been praying I can keep you 

And to earn enough for us 

I can take humiliation 

And hurtful comments from the boss 

I'm just praying by the weekend 

I can earn enough for us 

Found a house that won't repair itself 

With it's windows cracking 

And a roof held together with holes 

Just because we're at the bottom of the ladder 

We shouldn't be sadder 

Than others like us 

Who have goals for the betterment of life 

Glad that you want to be my wife, but honest 

I've been praying all the week through 

At home at work and on the bus 

I've been praying I can keep you 

And to earn enough for us 

So you're saying that we're going to be three 

Now, a father's what I'll be 

Don't get me wrong, I'm so proud 

But the belt's already tight 

I'll get another job at night, but honest 

I can take humiliation 

And hurtful comments from the boss 

I'm just praying by the weekend 

I can earn enough for us 

Just because we're at the bottom of the ladder 

We shouldn't be sadder 

Than others like us 

Who have goals for the betterment of life 

Glad that you want to be my wife, but honest 

I can take humiliation 

And hurtful comments from the Boss 

I'm just praying by the weekend 

I can earn enough for us 

I can earn enough for us

Show us the budding music journalist in you.