Japanese granny group releases English rap video to promote Osaka G20 summit
- Track by elderly icon group Obachaaan includes lyrics about how funny Osaka residents are
The video for Oba Funk Osaka, which was uploaded to YouTube on Thursday, shows the group Obachaaan dancing through the streets and singing about how the locals are “the funniest people in the world”.
Obachan is the Japanese word for an older woman and Osaka obachan are noted for being loud, witty, talkative and friendly. In the video they play on this stereotype, down to offering confectionery that they always carry with them.
Obachaaan, formed in 2011, has seven regular members.
“Up to now, we moved like we were undergoing rehab. But this time we nailed it,” said Eiko Funai, a 71-year-old who along with other members of the group performed in the kind of tiger-patterned outfit that Osaka women of a certain age are said to favour.
“We hope that people all over the world get energised after watching the video,” she said.
The music, which resembles the Maceo and the Macks classic Cross the Track or James Brown’s Sex Machine, has lyrics like “Let’s talk! Let’s dance! Here is Osaka wonderful city!” and “Let’s conversation! Hard communication! Come on!”
The release of the video by the group, came ahead of the G20 summit to be hosted by Japan for the first time on June 28 and 29.
