Happy New Year! (from Japan) | John Rachel

Ten years ago, I wrote a song that I call my “holiday greeting to the world”. I played all of the instruments and my wife and I performed it in my modest home recording studio. Then I made a video.

Since then we have seen humans plunge into more violence, more brutal inhumanity, death, destruction and suffering.

I wouldn’t change a word of what I wrote back then. In fact, its message is more vital and timely than ever. We need to embrace one another in what unifies us as a species, not destroy one another over differences which in the grander scheme of things are irrelevant, if not petty.

As we approach 2025, may I wish the best year ever for you and those you love!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGXsZ3BsWjs

By the way, ’akemashite omedetou’ means ‘Happy New Year’ in Japanese. Here are all of the lyrics to the song:

1st Verse:

It’s a very special time of year / For family and friends holiday cheer / For those no longer with us / We shed a tear  / A time to share / A time of feast / A time to care / And pray for peace  / A time to give to those who have the least

Chorus:

Merry Christmas? / Happy Hanukkah / Peace be with us / Happy New Year

2nd Verse:

This is the time to start anew  / Atheist Christian Muslim Jew  / To reach within and find the love inside of you  / Discard the old seek out the new / Reject the false embrace the true  / To look ahead decide to bring out the best in you  

Choruses:

Merry Christmas / Happy Hanukkah / Peace be with us / Happy New Year

Akemashite omedetou / Peace be with you / Happy New Year

Merry Christmas / Happy Hanukkah / Peace be with you / Happy New Year

© Copyright 2014 – Words and music by John Rachel, produced for Dancing Needles Music – ASCAP (All rights reserved.)

[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . https://jdrachel.com ]

Happy New Year! (from Japan) | John Rachel

Happy New Year (from Japan)

Eight years ago — OMG, has it been that long? — I wrote a song and Masumi, my multi-talented Renaissance wife — who unlike me can actually sing — and I recorded it in my modest home studio.

I played all the instruments but frankly was never happy with the piano performance. I guess I should have used my hands instead of my feet. Anyway a couple months ago, I did some simple repairs to the piano playing and it sounds at least passable to my ears now.

Of course, this meant I had to resync the music to the song video. I did that and took the opportunity to replace a couple of the images which weren’t really appropriate. One was Netanyahu, who when I originally used his pic I honestly didn’t recognize. He hardly fits with the message of peace and harmony I want to convey with this song, so he’s history.

It was interesting listening to the music and lyrics again. Usually when I go back to a song I wrote, there’s always something I want to change. But honestly . . . I wouldn’t change a single word or syllable here. Why? Because it comes from my heart and says exactly what I want to share with others.

It’s New Years Day here in Japan as I write this. The world has another chance at getting it right, 365 days to show respect and love for one another. I know that 99% of us will try to do just that. For our leaders — crazed, sick, power-drunk megalomaniacs — it’s another story. I hope those of us who know the incredible potential there is in the world for peace, fellowship, and acts of kindness can defeat the purveyors of evil, mistrust, division, war — those for whom love is impossible, those who want to make it impossible for the rest of us to experience and share.

Happy New Year from Japan!

[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . https://jdrachel.com ]

Happy New Year (from Japan) | John Rachel

What Goes Down Must Come Up!

The world may be chaotic but we individually can remain whole and focused.

Our leaders may be amoral and manipulative but we individually can be respectful and sensitive to one another.

The daily stream of news reports can be filled with vileness, anger, confusion, and loss of hope but we individually can be fountains of joy, vision, clarity, fellowship, and positive change.

[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . https://jdrachel.com ]

What Goes Down Must Come Up! | John Rachel