Enjoying Bachelorhood! Chapter One Recreate a Blur live show with a mirror ball!

To my dear few readers!
At this time, everyone is staying home, and there are those who want to enjoy music at home. I’m going choose some items that allow you to enjoy this time in bliss.

First is the mirror ball.

If you often go to concerts, many of you will remember scenes when you’ve been drunk from the effects of the mirror ball.

Speaking of concerts where I clearly remember the effects of the mirror ball, the second Blur performance in Japan in 1994 is one. When the recent "PARK LIFE" album was released at the time, the UK rock scene was split between Oasis and Blur popularity.

On the day of the concert, the Kawasaki Club Citta venue was overcrowded, and the popularity of the idol was strong, as was clear from the large number of women in the audience wearing Lonsdale T-shirts * worn by Damon Albarn at the time.
* T-shirts manufactured by a British boxing equipment manufacturer. It is also known among UK rock fans that many artists, including The Jam, wore their T-shirts.

Blur appeared on stage to great cheering. After the first song, the organ instrumental "LOT 105" was played with ease, they followed up with mainly songs from "PARK LIFE". I still remember it as a really rockin 'performance when I listened to it live on a CD or record. In the middle of the show, before "POP SCENE", the first single, someone in the front row of the audience threw a can on stage… I couldn’t really understand why. Damon picked it up looking bewildered? He was wondering what it was all about, but he started the song holding the can. When he pushed a button on the can early the intro, a large amount of paper tape popped out. This was at a time when we could still enjoy a Blur concert on the Club Citta scale. It was a warm pleasure like going to a live pub party in a residential area of London.

And then late into the show. When the killer ballad "To The End" from "PARK LIFE" began, the hall darkened. A mirror ball was shining in the hall like a full starry sky. This number is like an outro theme song that can sometimes be heard in ancient movies. Even in Japan, in the 90's, there was a 60's soundtrack resurgence, so I think many people became Blur fans after this song.

Well, I’ll immerse myself in such memories listening to Blur's "To The End" 12-inch single.

I took out the record after not having listened to it in a long time, but I felt that just listening was not enough.
So, I decided to set up a mirror ball, taking full advantage of the privilege of being able to use the company housing all for myself being that I transferred here alone! Many may think that mirrorballs can only be set up if you are a professional setting them up in a shop or that they are expensive, but it was actually easy & inexpensive once I tried it!

First, the mirror ball.
I chose an AMERICAN DJ / MB20
Diameter: 20cm, a compact size that takes up less width than an LP record.

And a motor to rotate it.
AMERICAN DJ / M1RPM

Keywords "slowly rotates the mirror ball" in the product description is perfect for the song “To The End”！

Now, let's set it up.
First of all, and you connect the mirror ball and the motor ....

I would like to install the motor on the ceiling, but .... I live in company housing, and am faced with the fact that we cannot directly drive nails into the walls or ceilings. I squeezed out ideas so as not to give up, and went out and got two extendable poles from a 100 yen shop, and firmly secured them in a narrow section of the ceiling. I also bought hanging clips for a curtains at the 100 yen shop, a superb set-up that hooked into the holes in the motor!

Now, next we also require lighting equipment to illuminate the mirror ball.
So I purchased an
AMERICAN DJ / PINSPOT LEDII

I installed it here on top of the curtain rail on the opposite side of the room from the mirror ball, and used a larger clip for documents to fix it to the rail (also purchased at 100 yen shop).

Now to dim the lights, and turn on the power to the outlet....

Indeed, memories of that Blur show were revived in my room!
It reminds me of the days of the Brit-pop, and makes me want to scream out “90's Forever!” This is definitely another way to enjoy records!
This effect was well received by other record buff colleagues in my company. In fact, this room is now so popular, we regularly hold record listening meetings using the mirror ball.

By the way, after "To The End" was over, the song that started next was a remix of the strongest 90's disco number ,"Girls And Boys". This helps bring out the effects of the mirror ball!

For music fans who are transferred and assigned to work alone (lonely bachelors), why not try listening to music in a way that cannot be easily done at home with your family?
There are lots of other records that I want to enjoy with the Mirror Ball besides Blur, so I would like to introduce some of them and then put down the pen on this blog.

1、David Bowie / Lady Stardust

The opening number on the B-side of David Bowie's masterpiece, "Ziggy Stardust," which requires no explanation. The glittering piano sounds and Bowie's singing voice are just like stars falling down from the sky! Listening with the mirror ball rotating is addictive.

2、The Velvet Underground / I’ll Be Your Mirror

The 1st Velvet Underground album with the Andy Warhol designed jacket is also famous. The best song is the title track, but I think the other songs on the album also shine when the mirror ball is spinning. On the back of the jacket, each member's face is illuminated by a mirror ball.。

3、Dan Hartman - Instant Replay

Speaking of mirror balls…Disco! There are many disco songs that go well with mirror balls, but it's best to play this song at a loud volume. It is full of thrilling moments reminiscent of “Y.M.C.A.” that was playing at the Club Citta just before the Sex Pistols first performance! Please give this a try.