Momoe Yamaguchi - Aoi Kajitsu (1973)

Artist: Momoe Yamaguchi / 山口百恵
Title: Aoi Kajitsu / 青い果実
Released: September 1, 1973
Oricon Peak Rank: 9
B-Side: おかしな恋人

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Momoe Yamaguchi's big break came with her second single "Aoi Kajitsu" [Green Fruit], her first Top Ten hit. As mentioned previously, she was slated to be the mature one of group, as a contrast to the conservative Masako Mori and the innocent Junko Sakurada. Much of the work done during her early days to cultivate that persona was due to lyricist Kazuya Senke, whose suggestive wording can turn heads in interest. He could transform what would otherwise be a typical pop number into something very different. If the title of the song didn't give you the metaphor up front, let's just say that it hints at the lyrical content concerning illicit romance at a young age. The chorus itself, repeated three times, does enough explaining: "You can do what ever you want with me; it's alright if rumors spread that I'm a bad girl". To put it in context, Momoe was only fourteen when the single was released, although, unlike France Gall, she was very aware of the nature of the lyrics she sang. During her early career she had little artistic control over her music. Eventually she grew to dislike this song saying that "it wasn't her". By the time her career matured, "Aoi Kajitsu" was rarely performed live.


(A Star is Born! [スター誕生!])

青い果実 (Aoi Kajitsu)

Music: Shunichi Tokura / 都倉俊一
Lyrics: Kazuya Senke / 千家和也

あなたが望むなら
私何をされてもいいわ
いけない娘だと
噂されてもいい

恋した時に　躰の隅で
別の私が　眼を覚ますの
大きな胸に　抱きとめられて
きれいな泪　こぼすのよ
側に居れば　側に居れば
誰も恐くない

あなたが望むなら
私何をされてもいいわ
いけない娘だと
噂されてもいい

恋した時に　心の中で
別の私に　生まれ変わる
恥しそうに　薄眼をあけて
初めて秘密　打ちあける
側に居れば　側に居れば
何もほしくない

あなたが望むなら
私何をされてもいいわ
いけない娘だと
噂されてもいい

Miyuki Imori - 99 Tsubu no Namida (1985)

Artist: Miyuki Imori / 井森美幸
Title: 99 Tsubu no Namida / 99粒の涙
Released: July 17, 1985
Oricon Peak Rank: 38
B-Side: 天使のハンカチーフ

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The 1980s in Japanese music was prolific in the number of people who are tossed into the production mill, with most of them falling into total obscurity in short order. Despite her small musical output (six singles and one album), Miyuki Imori saved herself from that obscurity by diversifying her abilities to become the more general tarento, thus interest in her music will rise whenever she shows up in television. Her second single "99 Tsubu no Namida" [99 Teardrops] follows along the stylistic heels of her first single, an easy and soft pop ballad. Even though Imori's voice isn't the most polished or strong sounding, it still charms the listener with its natural and unassuming tone. The chorus is catchy and highly memorable albeit brief. The song may not be star material (in fact, the writers are highly prominent in their field), but it isn't something totally forgettable either.

99粒の涙 (99 Tsubu no Namida)

Music: Tetsuji Hayashi / 林哲司
Lyrics: Chinfa Kan / 康珍化

不思議なんです どうしてあなた
わたしのこと 選んだのですか?
もっと素敵な 女の子たち
すぐね そばに たくさんいるのに

つき合いたいと 言われたのです
陽気なあなた 真面目な顔で

うれしかった うつむいたけど
私何も できないけれど
99粒の涙をもってます
最初の一粒を あなたのために
あなたのために

教室中が シンとしました
だってあなた あこがれの的よ

女の子にね きかれたなら
もてなくなるわ 平気ですか?

うれしかった 涙がでそう
私何も できないけれど
99粒の涙をもってます
大事な一粒を あなたのために
あなたのために

99粒の涙をもってます
最初の一粒を あなたのために
あなたのために

Toshihiko Tahara - Aishu Date (1980)

Artist: Toshihiko Tahara / 田原俊彦
Title: Aishu Date / 哀愁でいと
Released: June 21, 1980
Oricon Peak Rank: 2
B-Side: 君に贈る言葉 (アフター・スクール)

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If Seiko Matsuda ushered in the new era of female idols in the 1980s, her counterpart for male popstars would be Toshihiko Tahara. A product of the perennial Johnny & Associates talent group who are responsible for churning out boy bands and teen idols for the girls to fawn over, Toshihiko made a strong entrance with his debut single "Aishu Date", an adaptation of "New York City Nights", itself the B-Side to Leif Garret's 1979 single "Feel the Need". The Japanese cover is a cleaner production compared to its American original, removing some of the heavier disco elements for a brighter instrumentation that makes it sound a bit more up to date. Despite its major success, peaking at No. 2 in the Oricon charts and granting him a spot on that year's Kohaku Uta Gassen, it is pretty clear Tahara is still working on his voice. It won't be until his second single does he start to sing more clearly and convincingly.

哀愁でいと (Aishu Date)

Music/Lyrics: Andrew Joesph di Taranto & Guy Hemric
Japanese Adaptation: Kazuko Kobayashi / 小林和子

赤い薔薇投げ捨て それで終わりにしようぜ
はしゃぎ過ぎたあと しらけちまう
火遊びみたいに 抱き合って
死ねるならいいね その日だけの恋ならば
やさしさも 無い方がマシさ

I say Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと あざやかな
Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと 笑顔みせてよ
Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと 醒めすぎた罪な奴

誰かに誘われ 君が乗り込む Yellow GT
“愛してる”なんて 疲れちまう
左であばよとドアに描き 思いきり殴る
その日だけの センセーション
心まで奪われたのさ

I say Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと あざやかに
Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと 恋を演じる
Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと 醒めすぎた罪な奴

Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと 駆け抜けた
Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと 赤い稲妻
Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと もう二度と…
Ah ha ha ha . . .

Junko Sakurada - Watashi no Aoi Tori (1973)

Artist: Junko Sakurada / 桜田淳子
Title: Watashi no Aoi Tori /
わたしの青い鳥
Released: August 25, 1973
Oricon Peak Rank: 18
B-Side: 恋人になって!

(download)

We've already been introduced to Momoe Yamaguchi and Masako Mori, two of the three middle-schoolers who graduated from the Star Tanjou! talent program together as the "Hana no Chusan Trio". Junko Sakurada was the second of the three to make her official debut, but unlike her fellow graduates took a bit longer to reach popular and critical acclaim. Her third single "Watashi no Aoi Tori" [My Bluebird] is a well-contained song, with Junko's clear voice singing the melody with an ease and strength not heard in her earlier two singles. It was at this point she became more confident with her abilities and asserted her sound directly. The song takes on one of the more common conceits of romantic Japanese writing, comparing one's love to a bluebird, although lyricist Yuu Aku took certain liberties by using the "coo-coo" sound, which is not realistic but plays the point across portraying Junko as the girl singing for her bluebird to come. As such, it was a critical success, netting Junko the Best Newcomer at the 15th Japan Record Awards.

わたしの青い鳥 (Watashi no Aoi Tori)

Music: Yasushi Nakamura / 中村泰士
Lyrics: Yuu Aku / 阿久悠

ようこそここへ　クック　クック
わたしの青い鳥
恋をした心にとまります
そよ風吹いて　クック　クック
便りがとどけられ
誰よりもしあわせ感じます
どうぞ行かないで　このままずっと
わたしのこの胸で
しあわせ歌っていてね
クック　クック　クック　クック
青い鳥

ようこそここへ　クック　クック
わたしの青い鳥
夢のような心に誘います
くちづけされた　クック　クック
木ノ実のなる下は
天国の花園の香りです
どうぞとばないで　この手のひらで
しあわせ抱きしめて
わたしを見つめていてね
クック　クック　クック　クック
青い鳥

どうぞ行かないで　このままずっと
わたしのこの胸で
しあわせ歌っていてね
クッククック　クック　クック
青い鳥