It all began with a dream.
Jeff knew he was in his bed, and he knew he was in a dream, as he’d had this exact dream in this exact bed many times before. Pleasant, if somewhat elusive, every time he found himself in a swirl of beautiful colors, but this time was different. It felt like he could almost see something on the other side of…
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
“CRAP!”
With a start, he leaped out of bed, realizing he’d slept through his alarm again, and today of all days! Bolting for his checked bag clad in self printed anime stickers, he raced out the door, threw himself into the lemon of a blue Chevy that he called his car, and floored it on the 494.
Wanna see how we made the single art for this one?
The intent behind this one was to match the production of the song to the enthusiasm and sense of adventure in the lyrics, and man, does the production go places on this one. Starting with an a cappella section (meant to sound like an alarm clock set to turn on the radio as the alarm), we kick off the groove, and the song basically doesn’t stop from there. This song, if nothing else, is really supposed to convey a sense of momentum and movement, in terms of production and lyrical progression.
FUN FACT: The song modulates up in the middle to represent reaching cruising altitude on an airplane, which is why it also modulates back down at the start of the third verse, as the plane has safely come back down, much like the key of the song. Also, the dueling trombones are supposed to represent passengers fighting over a seat. Mariah happened to get acquainted with Christopher Bill, the biggest trombone YouTuber in the world, and got him to feature on this one!
The title of Tokyo A Go Go! is sort of nonsensical, but Jeff’s intentions for visiting Tokyo, are sort of nonsensical too. He’s running entirely off enthusiasm, and while he doesn’t realize it yet, that enthusiasm is based around the idea of what Tokyo USED to represent to him, as he keeps coming back over and over again, to the point where it’s almost compulsion. Those feelings start to bubble to the surface in Neon Night, but during Tokyo A Go Go! and the follow up song, Jeff is blissfully unaware, and just thrilled to be off on another adventure in the land of the rising sun.
ONE LAST THING: Check your inbox for the second song of the album, because while this one is good on its own, there’s a reason it cuts off abruptly, but you won’t know unless you listen to the second song!
Run to gate 11 with a passport in my hand
For a one way flight I leave tonight
First class on Air Japan
Set out for adventure for a couple nights of fun
When I touch down in my favorite town
In the land of the rising sun
Before I ever make it home
My bag’s already packed
That Tokyo a go go always
Keeps me coming back
Been saving up so many months
I’d save so many more
‘Cause nothin’ in this world could quite
Compare to all the stores
Shrines, and sights, and wonders waiting
For me when I land
I’ll say ohayo to them all
My trans-Pacific friends
Before I ever make it home
My bag’s already packed
That Tokyo a go go always
Keeps me coming back
I’ll have myself an Ambien
Or 2, or 3, or 9
However much I need to take
To put me out tonight
I’ll sleep right through this flight
And somehow I’ll wake up in paradise
Wake up on the runway
Time to get to my hotel
Though I’m twice as tall and wide
As everybody else
Riding on the bullet train
Today I just don’t mind
My favorite place on planet Earth
I’ve finally arrived
Before I ever make it home
My bag’s already packed
That Tokyo a go go always
Keeps me coming back
Tell us what you think of the song!