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Kosaka Daimaou’s singing, dancing, leopard-print loving alter-ego Piko Taro refuses to go away quietly, with a new Axel F mashup video, an appearance on Japanese "Sesame Street," and a photograph with Sting being the star’s most recent achievements. His catchy, Guinness World Record-winning tune, “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen” has spread around the world, and in Japan it still has legs on which to run, with Piko Taro now performing the hit with some bizarre adjustments.
For weekly The Television magazine, “PPAP” has now become “PLLP”. What does the new acronym stand for? Click here to find out.
That song goes against everything PPAP logic has ever taught us! Sure, there’s a Lemon-Pen, and strangely enough, another Lemon-Pen. Mashing each component together causes Piko to get some of the imaginary citrus in his eye. But since when does Lemon-Pen + Lemon-Pen = The Television? With the magazine’s The Television logo on the top left in Japanese, it appears that the lyrics to “PPAP” are fully negotiable when there’s advertising involved.
Piko Taro previously mentioned in a Japanese interview that he hasn’t earned a single yen from the original song, so we can’t blame him for getting out there and singing for his supper. In another new version of "PPAP," the star appears in a clip for candy manufacturer UHA Mikakuto. This “UHA M牛牛S version” uses the words "gyunyu," "niunai" and "susu," which means milk in Japanese, Chinese and Indonesian respectively, in order to highlight the candy’s main dairy ingredient.
In a more glamorous commercial (see video below), the singer increases his bank balance by getting down with Nogizaka46 members who are also Can Cam models, to promote the January issue of Japanese magazine Can Cam in the “Can Cam Campaign”.
One of the most likely reasons for these videos to be appearing online now is the fact that Piko Taro’s new album was released on Dec 7. It was an event that was much-talked about in the Japanese media, with another weird version of the song appearing on local television programs, which the singer described as an “answer song” to the original “PPAP”.
In this one, Piko Taro has a "bin" (bottle), a "kanabun" (drone beetle), and an "ebi" (prawn). The lyrics are even crazier than the original fruit-and-stationery themed hit:
“I have a bottle, I have a beetle – ugh – beetle in bottle / I have a bottle, I have a prawn – ugh – prawn in bottle / Beetle in bottle, prawn in bottle / Ugh Beetle buzzed (away) but the prawn’s in the bottle / Beetle in bottle … Again!”
With so many new Piko Taro releases a couple of weeks away from Christmas, we don’t doubt that the cheeky star is still hiding a few surprises up his shiny sleeve. We can’t wait for him to show us what other things he’ll hold in his hands!
Sources: YouTube/CanCam, YouTube/Smartザテレビジョン, YouTube/UHA味覚糖公式チャンネル
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen singer makes shocking claim about how much money the song has earned him -- Piko Taro performs new “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen” extended version at Foreign Correspondents’ Club -- Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen cafe set to open in Tokyo for a limited time!
© Japan Today
41 Comments
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nath
OMG enough already. your window of fame closed already
Moonraker
It's like some kind of analog copy and paste where the quality keeps getting lower and lower.
Ian Duncan
I've seen chemotherapy with more entertainment value than this buffoon.
Mate, look - you're a chancer and you got lucky. You were "performing" for free in parks in January. You'll be doing it again by next December. Changing a lyric doesn't make you a two-trick pony.
Pack it in. It's crap.
Mike L
I find it funny that Japanese people will tell you quite proudly that this is popular "all over the world". without any sign of embarrassment.
JefferyDomer
Ah! I see that the dead horse needs another beating!
This is so classic Japanese:, "clearly it`s not broken, so lets fix it!"
Strangerland
Yeah, how dare they be proud of something that was a little fun that people enjoyed for a while.
dcog9065
So lame, but those chicks are babes
kohakuebisu
If he's signed with Yoshimoto, we'll never see the back of him.
Maybe it's just me, but it feels like changing the lyrics has worked about fifteen times for Perfume.
kickboard
I know. It's like Gannum Style 2.0
DaDude
Like a friend told me after Jero blew up with his hip hop-style enka music- Everyone has their hustle. He makes his money by doing this the same way we get our paper doing whatever we do. No reason to be a hater if it doesn't affect your life one bit.
Goodlucktoyou
I have "an apple". I have "a apple"? English is so confusing.
HollisBrown
Pathetic Piece of Absolute Pap - is, in my opinion, an accurate description of what PPAP is.
It's the perfect example of how English is seen to be a joke by many in Japan. The PLLP follow up reinforces this - it's utter nonsense. Woe betide anyone who dares to try and make something using serious English - even a slightly amusing comedic sketch or song. It seems that you have to have pen drawn on your face, wear daft clothes, or dance around like a clown using words that don't much make sense to get away with using English.
Where are the role models who kids at school can look at and say "cool, she can speak English. I want to be like her"? Why isn't it acceptable to speak a bit of English and appear intelligent? Look at the shows that get the movie stars / musicians / sportspeople on when they are in Japan promoting there new movie etc. The 'talent' in the studio are full of 'halfs' who can speak English - for example Becky. Why do they have Becky sitting quietly at the back and the host interviewing in Japanese with a translator helping? Just get Becky to do the interview in English and subtitle it, or get Becky to translate it herself.
Maybe if stuff like this happened, English would be less of a joke, and people would realise that it's OK to speak decent English, or just TRY and communicate in half decent English in public.
But in the meantime, we'll just get more PPAP, PLLP, and 'comedians' saying 'gets' and 'Yes fall in love' etc.
theeastisred
This man makes Psy look good. The Donald Trump of entertainment.
Strangerland
It's just stupid fun. Not everything needs a message, and not everything has a message.
oldman_13
Leave it to the anti Japan crowd to take a light-hearted news about a song that is popular around the WORLD, and engage in pointless and meandering negative comments about Japanese society.
Doesn't it get old for some of you?
Derek Grebe
Nobody ever went broke underestimating the crap Japanese people will sit through if you tell them it's unique.
goldorak
Hear you dcog! Hope piko's not married and enjoying the perks of fame. Do it for the team Piko!
MikeH
*@Strangerland "It's just stupid fun. Not everything needs a message, and not everything has a message."* Stupid fun is for stupid people so are you saying that Japanese are stupid for enjoying this version of the song as clearly most people from abroad found the original version fun but the other follow up versions trash! @Derek Grebe ... great comment! You've got a good point and the reality of Japanese society...
A.N. Other
He could release a song called "Crayon Raisin Apple Pen" and call it C.R.A.P.
Strangerland
Why? Where is that decreed? I know plenty of intelligent people who enjoy some stupid fun.
Your question is based on an incorrect assumption (see above).
kohakuebisu
I tried changing the lyrics myself but the best I could come up with was
I have a X, you have a Y
where X and Y are my favourite names for men and women's naughty bits. I don't recommend singing it aloud, but it does make the song funny again.
Asakura Cowboy
Totally agree HollisBrown. It's not harmless fun, because it makes a mockery of English and gives Japanese people (mainly kids) another reason to 'laugh it off'. Those of us who are not English teachers don't have to deal with students who repeat these ridiculous catchphrases over and over again in class for months because they think it's real English or the teacher will laugh or be impressed or whatever. Then there's all the kids at kindergarten who yell it at me whenever I drop my son off purely for the fact that am 'eigo jin'. Imagine if I made up a silly song in Japanese and posted it on YouTube. I bet it wouldn't be a hit. In fact I bet lots of people, not only Japanese people would be offended and accuse me of mocking the Japanese language and Japanese people. I might even get called a racist. It's just yet another reason not to take English seriously by laughing at it. And to say it's just a job, the same as any other is ridiculous.
SenseNotSoCommon
There's bigger fish to fry, people, regardless of your politics or circumstances.
Ignore the distracting prolefeed.
Kobe White Bar Owner
Im going back to picking peanuts out off poo, far more enjoyable.
smithinjapan
Strangerland: "Yeah, how dare they be proud of something that was a little fun that people enjoyed for a while."
The point is that they are often proud as though they accomplished something themselves, when they had zero to do with it. In fact, I know one person who went to Taiwan and when the bus driver heard she was Japanese he said, "I like Japanese people. Pineapple pen!" and she said she smiled, felt immense pride (her words), and it was the absolute highlight of her trip. She then went on to ask, "Why can Taiwanese people love us but Chinese and Koreans won't?"
I was just completely at a loss as to what to say... starting with how utterly sad it is that the highlight of a person's overseas trip was a reference to this tarento's 'work' and her pride over it, and then at a loss with what to say over the insecurity issues and lack of common sense or knowledge of history.
In any case, this guy is beating a dead horse. He got lucky with PPAP, but yesterday's news is yesterday's news; even most Japanese are sick of the guy and don't know about these 'new versions'. First one -- the fluke -- was fun, yes, but this is out of hand.
ChaosWyvern
I personally find it stupid and pointless, but if people think it's fun then ok, fine. I would never take pride in it just because it's Japanese. That's ridiculous. Rather, the opposite. I feel ashamed if this is the image people have of Japan, just as I feel ashamed of idol culture. I would probably be less grouchy and sensitive if people didn't constantly generalize about all Japanese based on every stupid song or fad that comes along.
Those of you who think silly pop culture seriously reflects how we all think are wrong. I point this out every time, but on every story it's the same "all Japanese are stupid and every one of them thinks like this" sort of rubbish. I would never make such stupid generalizations about other countries based on their silly pop culture either, so do us a favor and at least try to be fair in return.
Derek Grebe
@ AN Other - good point. Or "I have a Watermelon, Apple, Nut, Kumquat"
Alfie Noakes
OK. From the country that gave the world Elgar, Vaughn Williams, The Beatles, David Bowie and hundreds more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNkgDJpcuwU
ozziedesigner
@Mike L. Yeah my J wife proudly proclaimed this to me. When i told her that if i were Japanese i'd be embarrassed by that clown she then didn't talk to me for a few days... ha ha ha
djv124
Only on JT would people actually think to criticize something that is obviously harmless fun which happens to have went viral. I bet the same people criticizing PPAP also sit and watch silly memes that get posted on FB walls and share those memes with their friends. Oh, the hypocrisy!
@HollisBrown: Becky can barely speak English, certainly not at a native level enough to do translation. Just a friendly FYI.
On a completely unrelated note, wow, the Nogi girls are getting down! Always good to see part of the AKB family spreading happiness like this and doing it looking fine as all heck!
Mlodinow
Hasn't made a single yen? lol Who owns the "official video" on youtube, on a channel called "Piko Taro Official"? It has almost 100 million views. And the iTunes downloads? ..they're not free. Those two income streams will already be in the 2-3 million dollar range, and on top he has other advertising, appearances, upcoming album etc etc. What a strange claim to make.
Kobe White Bar Owner
@djv124Dec. 14, 2016 - 07:24PM JST
Only on JT would people actually think to criticize something that is obviously harmless fun which happens to have went viral.
Or are they just pointing out again how such pap once again is the lowest denominator being drip fed into the ears of the youth who have nothing more digital games and repeater/teachers filling there minds with total trash, oh sure but its harmless fun..... Phew rant over.
djv124
@Kobe White Bar Owner:
Once again, only on JT can somebody actually think ppap is responsible for the degradation of youth. Wow.
You are acting like PPAP is responsible for the end of the world. It isn't. Moreover, if you want to complain about total trash being drip fed into the ears of the youth, well, isn't that really a very subjective standpoint? What one person calls "trash," another person calls "art." You know what else was called the lowest common denominator in music years ago? The Clash. The Sex Pistols. Metallica. And on. And on. And on.
Maybe you are too young to remember this, or maybe you're too old to allow yourself to see the fun in ppap, but the way I see it, this song isn't promoting violence and can't even remotely be considered profane. It's one guy using English in a very tongue-in-cheek sort of way to be silly, and that's it. No need, in my opinion, to attach this song to the overall reason why the youth of today are bad. That's like saying because a teenager enjoys watching silly cat videos he's gotta be a really dumb person who couldn't possibly have any intelligence. Your'e forgetting that even genius kids need a break from being so majime all the time. I think we all need a break in this regard, and I'm happy to see ppap give that to us.
Phew rant over.
Hmmmmmm
The song broke the top 100 pop chart in the USA & also made it into the guiness world book. Not bad for a guy just trying to make a buck.
gogogo
Avex trying to squeeze as much as they can. His time is over
bones
Can't blame the guy, if people are willing to make him rich then hey!
Kobe White Bar Owner
@djv124
Thanks for your worldly advice ill take it into consideration, please learn the art of self fertilization ;o)
Wolfpack
The Piko Taro tune makes little sense to me but Japanese often have a different sense of humor than what I can relate to. It's just simple fun. All the hand wringing by some here that it's making Japanese people ignorant of proper English, making it difficult to teach young people English, and even racist had someone from another country poked fun at the Japanese language is just silly. Sillier than the song itself.
Isn't it tiresome being so serious, uptight, and even politically correct about everything all the time?
I don't get the humor in the original PPAP song but Kohakuebisu's version of it cracked me up.
Outrider
uh...its complete rubbish AND its creepy.