Hiromi Go - Otokonoko Onnanoko (1972)

Artist: Hiromi Go / 郷ひろみ
Title: Otokonoko Onnanoko /
男の子女の子
Released: August 1, 1972
Oricon Peak Rank: 8
B-Side: 夢をおいかけて

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Hiromi Go possesses one of the most enduring careers in Japanese music, and has so far today not shown signs of slowing down just yet. Even so, it is still worth looking at how he once started, during the formative years of Japanese idols. He was the most junior (in terms of career) of the "The New Big Three" [新御三家], a trio of male singers in the 1970s, that comprised of him, Goro Noguchi, and Hideki Saijo, though none of them were ever truly alike in singing styles, Goro was primarily a ballad singer, Hideki was the slightly edgier rock-ish one, while Hiromi captured the pop world's attention. Yet, he was the first of the three to score the major hit. His debut single "Otokonoko Onnanoko" (Boy and Girl) certainly evokes that teen pop attitude, with its catchy refrain and light arrangement. Here, his voice had that quality common in young male Japanese singers: high, slightly nasal, and without significant depth. It would take some time for his voice to mature to that of a high, slightly nasal man. However, the song's appeal was strong enough in itself to garner Hiromi Go a Newcomer's Prize in the 14th Japan Record Awards, as well granting him his first of many appearances in the Red-White Song Competition.

男の子女の子 (Otokonoko Onnanoko)

Music: Kyohei Tsutsumi / 筒美京平
Lyrics: Tokiko Iwatani / 岩谷時子

君たち女の子　僕たち男の子
ヘイヘイヘイ　ヘイヘイヘイ　おいで遊ぼう
僕らの世界へ　走って行こう

幸福さがすのは　まかせてほしいのさ
ヘイヘイヘイ　ヘイヘイヘイ　夢があふれる
一度の人生　だいじな時間

アアアア　青空に
アアアア　陽が光る
明るい風の中　髪をなびかせて
GO GO GO GO

ほほえむ女の子　みつめる男の子
ヘイヘイヘイ　ヘイヘイヘイ　愛の雨降る
一度の人生　だいじな時間

泣いてる女の子　ふりむく男の子
ヘイヘイヘイ　ヘイヘイヘイ　胸がふるえる
一度の人生　だいじな時間

アアアア　あの瞳
アアアア　好きなんだ
花火があがるんだ　ふたりで手をとり
GO GO GO GO

男と女の子　心がふれあえば
ヘイヘイヘイ　ヘイヘイヘイ　おいでいそごう
僕らの世界へ　はだしで行こう