Hideki Saijo - Jounetsu no Arashi (1973)

Artist: Hideki Saijo / 西城秀樹
Title: Jounetsu no Arashi / 情熱の嵐
Released: May 25, 1973
Oricon Peak Rank: 6
B-Side: 夏の日の出来事

(download)


As mentioned earlier, Hideki Saijo was associated with a trio of young talent dubbed the "New Big Three" that included Hiromi Go and Goro Noguchi. In contrast with the other two, Hideki Saijo was cultivated to have an edgier, more rock-styled image, yet still comfortably within the confines of Japanese pop cultural norm. "Jounetsu no Arashi" (Passion Storm) was his 5th single and his most successful song up to that point in his career. Full of energy, the song throws its musical gales of guitar, drums and horns at the listener as the lyrics full of flustered metaphors whips up the literal storm of passion Saijo describes that exists between him and his love. It is no surprise then to hear screaming hordes of fans scream out his name whenever he sings this, as if begging to be the "one" he is singing about.

For those who are huge fans of Hideki Saijo or may have seen videos of him performing this song, an interesting audience quirk can be noticed from a pseudo call-response effect where after each phrase in the beginning of the verse the fangirls shriek out his name "HIDEKIII!!!". This practice has been so attached to this song that it has become somewhat of an injoke for Saijo whenever he would perform it in later years, sometimes with the outburst of his name played up for comedic effect or used inappropriately in a few of his other songs.

情熱の嵐
(Jounetsu no Arashi)

Music: Kunihiko Suzuki / 鈴木邦彦
Lyrics: Takashi Taka / たかたかし

君が望むなら　生命をあげてもいい
恋のためなら　悪魔に心
わたしても　悔やまない
その瞳　僕のもの
この体　君のもの
太陽が燃えるように　二人は愛を
永遠にきざもう
君が望むなら　たとえ火の中も
恋のためなら　怖れはしない
情熱の嵐よ

噂のつぶても　かまいはしないさ
体を張って　愛する君を
赤い血が燃えるよ
その笑顔　僕のもの
この若さ　君のもの
太陽が燃えるように　二人は愛を
永遠にきざもう
君が望むなら　たとえ火の中も
恋のためなら　怖れはしないさ
情熱の嵐よ

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

(download)


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

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