Hiromi Iwasaki - Nijuushou (Duet) (1975)

Artist: Hiromi Iwasaki / 岩崎宏美
Title: Nijuushou (Duet) /
二重唱 (デュエット)
Released: April 25, 1975
Oricon Peak Rank: 19
B-Side: 月見草

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While we're looking at debut singles, let's go to Hiromi Iwasaki's beginnings as a singer. She entered the Star Tanjou! talent competition in 1974 with her rendition of the hit ballad "Anata" (originally by Akiko Kosaka). Her performance there garnered interest from scouts from eight different record labels, but she eventually went with Victor Records and underwent preparations for her official entrance as a professional. "Duet" was your generic pop tune, a safe and catchy song to test the waters for the sixteen year-old. It wasn't entirely ordinary, however. The song displayed Hiromi's vocal range that would eventually be one of her leading qualities, and despite her youth, her voice already has the mature edge to its tone that would improve as she develops her style. The arrangement by Mitsuo Hagita was also well integrated and one of the best-sounding in its time. It's showing on Oricon hit the Top 20, which isn't bad for a first song. However, compared to her entire output, it is probably the song that is the least like her style (another distinction shared with "Slow Motion" by Akina Nakamori).

二重唱 (デュエット) (Niijuushou [Duet])

Music: Kyohei Tsutsumi / 筒美京平
Lyrics: Yuu Aku / 阿久悠

あなたがいて 私がいて
ほかに 何もない
ただ秘密の匂い たちこめるだけ
あなたが好き ほんとに好き
二人それだけを
ただ小鳥のように くり返すだけ

くちづけするのなら
素早く盗んで
返事などさせないで 泣いてしまう
誰かに少しねたまれそうな
あなたと 私の恋の時

あなたの手が 私の手を
強くにぎりしめ
もうはなさないよと ささやいている
あなたのため 心をみな
見せてあげたいと
今せつないほどに 私は思う

ふるえているけれど
おびえていないわ
しあわせがかけめぐり とまらないの
何かをいうと 涙になるの
あなたと 私の恋の時

あなたがいて 私がいて
ほかに 何もない
ただ秘密の匂い たちこめるだけ
あなたが好き ほんとに好き
二人それだけを
ただ小鳥のように くり返すだけ

Nana Okada - Jogakusei (1975)

Artist: Nana Okada / 岡田奈々
Title: Jogakusei / 女学生
Released: August 25, 1975
Oricon Peak Rank:
B-Side: 放課後

(download)


Nana Okada was one of the minor idol singers of the 1970s, a product of the TV talent show circuit, she gained recognition as an actress, photo model, and a singer, all simultaneously (nowadays wrapped together in the term "tarento"). Her 2nd single (and we seem to be talking quite a bit about those aren't we?) "Jogakusei" (Schoolgirl) typifies the cute girl image her production company cultivated around her. Frankly I don't know much about the content of the lyrics to justify it, but just listening to the song along, the swinging momentum, the matter-of-fact singing, and the general "innocentness" of the music in the song brings out in the mind a girl in a sailor suit singing about some sort of secret love. Nevertheless, the unadorned and honest sound to the song speaks out to those who finds contentment in simple things.

女学生 (Jogakusei)

Music: Shunichi Tokura / 都倉俊一
Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto / 松本隆

あなたの写真をそっと
定期入れにかくしたら
放課後友達にふと見られました
恋人でしょうと聞かれ
夢中で奪りあううちに
破けてしまいます　あなたの笑顔

いつでも逢えないと
淋しさばかり
写真にくちびる　そっと寄せます
誰にも秘密
言えない秘密
心にめざめます

夕暮れ通りでバスを
待ってる横顔みつけ
人影かくれて遠く見つめました
制服姿の私
あなたに見られたくない
そんなはじらいさえ　知らされました

あなたに逢うたびに
変わるの私
恋する想いがあふれそうです
誰にも秘密
言えない秘密
心にめざめます

Takashi Hosokawa - Kokoro Nokori (1975)

Artist: Takashi Hosokawa / 細川たかし
Title: Kokoro Nokori / 心のこり
Released: April 1, 1975
Oricon Peak Rank: 1 (4 weeks)
B-Side: 泣きぐせ

(download)

Takashi Hosokawa is one most successful Enka singers in Japan, despite coming into the genre at a time when new talent in Enka was on the start of a downturn. His wildly popular debut single "Kokoro Nokori" (Heart Pieces) stayed at the top of the Oricon charts for 4 weeks and ranks 8th overall for 1975. It is a strident song about abandoned love and regret, carried along in its doo-wop styled music. By the year's end, he has won many awards with his song including "Most Excellent Newcomer" in the 17th Japan Record Awards (日本レコード大賞) and the 3rd FNS Song Festival (FNS歌謡祭), "Broadcast Music New Member Prize" in the 6th Japan Song Grand Prix (日本歌謡大賞), and a "New Member Prize" in the Japanese Television Music Festival (日本テレビ音楽祭). Both Hosokawa and his debut song have become established standards in the Japanese music world.

心のこり (Kokoro Nokori)

Music: Yasushi Nakamura / 中村泰士
Lyrics: Rei Nakanishi / なかにし礼

私バカよね おバカさんよね
うしろ指 うしろ指 さされても
あなた一人に 命をかけて
耐えてきたのよ 今日まで
秋風が吹く 港の町を
船が出てゆくように
私も旅に出るわ 明日の朝早く

私バカよね おバカさんよね
大切な 大切な 純情を
わるい人だと 知っていながら
上げてしまった あなたに
秋風の中 枯葉がひとつ
枝をはなれるように
私も旅に出るわ あてもないままに

私バカよね おバカさんよね
あきらめが あきらめが 悪いのね
一度はなれた 心は二度と
もどらないのよ もとには
秋風が吹く つめたい空に
鳥が飛び立つように
私も旅に出るわ 一人泣きながら