March 20, 2006
Mothra Monday
This is not the place to learn all about the Toho Films pantheon of creatures. I don’t know a whole lot about Mothra, but I’m picking up a few facts here and there. She was an adversary of Godzilla and, for all I know, they became fast acquaintances or maybe secret fuck-buddies in later films…
you know how fickle these radioactive monsters can be. Perhaps Ivan Lerner can step in and fill in the blanks. Or you can do your own research. This is the goddamn internet, in case you haven’t noticed.
What’s clear to me, and anyone else, is that Mothra is a giant moth. Let’s pause a moment and let that sink in. A moth. Possibly the most harmless pest in terms of battle, a fluttering, delicate moth can - what, nibble on your linens? Does Godzilla end up after the melee with raggedy-ass holes in his/her underwear? (Just kidding. Everyone knows Godzilla doesn’t wear any underwear.)
(…Damn, that’s sexy.)
As an aside, you can find out all about Mosura’s fragile ego and mothy powers right here. And this other page has the original version of the theme, as well as storyline summaries, smart links, cool photos, lyrics and translation.
The real movie came out in 1961, then was remade in 1996, probably because somebody imagined that was somehow necessary.
The U.S. credits for the original movie had Jerry Ito’s name listed as “Jelly Ito.” How excellent is that?
Anyway, I found an old cassette tape that has this tune which I’d assumed was by girl duo the Peanuts as those adorable little twin Japanese maidens (the Shobijin) that worship an enormous moth. This must be from a record I own called Godzilla Legend III: Dialogue of the Infantians by Makoto Inoue, which is apparently slavish synth interpretations of the original Akira Ifukube score, made in 1983. I like to imagine it’s the Peanuts on vocals, but for all I know it’s Pink Lady in a karaoke bar. Got your wings on, good buddy?
Rick at 11:58 pm
4 CommentsÈ
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Oh Rick, God bless you and the ground you walk upon; I truly needed this piece of music–although I’m not a big fan of Mothra per se. Give me Godzilla, or Rodan, or Ghidrah–and whaddya know, they’re all there in Godzilla Vs. Monster Zero! (and Destroy All Monsters, I know, but I’m being exclusionary towards Mothra: hee-hee!)
You’ve got to remember that Mothra was a “good” monster even before Godzilla made the switch to “Friend of Children.” The first Mothra movie is like the movie Gorgo–a “mother” looking to protect her kid. I think that Mothra was created by the Toho Studios whiz-kids to tap into the lucrative girls market: Mothra looks harmless and pathetic, but then proceeds to destroy the city anyway–yay, girl power!
Rick, your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to find the song “The Words Get Stuck in My Throat” from War of the Gargantuas and upload that. However, if anything happens to you or your Toestubber crew, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge…
Comment by Ivan Lerner Ñ March 21, 2006 @ 4:58 pm
I now have started the process of legally changing my name to “Jelly Ito”.
thanks for sharing.
YiF
Comment by pete in venice Ñ March 25, 2006 @ 10:12 pm
I just added the KING VS. GODZILLA soundtrack to my collection. Its a new release with most of the original Ifukube cues absent from the bastardized American release version.
Stop by for details.
Comment by Steve Cattani Ñ April 10, 2006 @ 9:34 am
I watched the movie MOTHRA with my six year old daughter last year. She LOVED it, and was especially enthralled by the Shobijin. We’ve seen it several times since at random times when it comes on cable, and I kid you not, she can sing this song in Japanese. I can hardly wait to spring it on her tomorrow.
Comment by mrtickles Ñ April 27, 2006 @ 7:09 pm