Most people I know are fully aware how much I adore Acid Black Cherry; their music, and the amazing Yasu – a totally unique and inspirational individual. I may not yet understand Japanese but I find language to be no barrier at all to loving the music, the poet, the songwriter, the many masked Yasu and the musicians who surround them. Yasu dances in my soul and sparks me back to life when my embers are in danger of becoming cold.
So when I heard that Yasu was seriously ill (so much so that the forthcoming tour of new material was cancelled) I wanted to give something back to the amazingly beautiful being I find so inspirational. Ten Thousand Cranes was the result.
When I wrote it I could not help thinking of Marlene Dietrich, with top hat and a swirl of cigarette smoke in some bordello from the roaring twenties but I could never match her voice. And when I tried singing the song I found it hard to reach the range of notes that I heard in my head or breathe in a way that served the song. My recording is a poor example of the basic tune waiting for someone to give it wings.
The photograph of the lyrics and cranes was taken to be included in a special book prepared by a group of international fans to show Yasu their/our undying support and love (Thank You Cherry Bomb!).
I don’t usually write an explanation of my songs, but felt a need to express what I was trying to achieve wrapped up with love in the cranes folded paper wings.
Green and Grey 