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Artist: Tomoko Kuwae / 桑江知子
Title: Watashi no Heart wa Stop Motion /
私のハートはストップモーション
Released: January 25, 1979
Oricon Peak Rank: 12
B-Side: たずねびと
(download)
Sometimes critical success doesn't guarantee lasting presence in the limelight, as is the case for Tomoko Kuwae whose fame rests on her debut single "Watashi no Heart wa Stop Motion", placing her amongst other equally ephemeral acts in the stage of one-hit-wonders. Even though Kuwae may not have made a lasting mark in the music world, she was of one the more prominent singers that came about the late 70s New Music revival that saw many acts come in from outside of the usual pop music sphere. The song itself is a pleasant one, with bright and light instrumentation coupled and contrasting with Kuwae's somewhat husky voice. A very nice touch in the song happens during the chorus where after she sings each half of the title, a flute flourish seemingly imitates the beating of a heart, giving the lyrics a moment of word painting. The song entered the Top 20 during the spring of 1979 and eventually by the end of the year she would also win the "Best New Artist" in that year's Japan Record Awards.
私のハートはストップモーション
(Watashi no Heart wa Stop Motion)
Music: Shunichi Tokura / 都倉俊一
Lyrics: Machiko Ryu / 竜真知子
ああ 私のハートはストップ・モーション
あなたに出逢ったまぶしさに
ああ 私のハートはストップ・モーション
通りすぎるなんて できないわ
ノックもなしに飛びこんできた恋
私あなたをはなさいわ
マンションのエレベーター降りたとたん
出逢いがしら はじけた熱い視線
春先によくある アクシデントなのに
感じたときめき ああ せつなすぎる
ああ 私のハートはストップ・モーション
あなたに出逢った ときめきに
ああ 私のハートはストップ・モーション
こんな熱いショックはじめてよ
春と一緒に舞こんできた恋
私あなたをはなさないわ
あなたのその燃える胸に飛び込むまで
冬のコート着ていた私の心
暖かな陽ざしにブラインド降ろして
恋するやさしさ ああ 忘れていた
ああ 私のハートはストップ・モーション
あなたに出逢ったまぶしさに
ああ 私のハートはストップ・モーション
通りすぎるなんてできないわ
ノックもなしに飛びこんできた恋
私あなたをはなさいわ
Artist: Hiromi Ohta / 太田裕美
Title: Amadare / 雨だれ
Released: November 1, 1974
Oricon Peak Rank: 14
B-Side: 白い季節
(download)
Fusion acts weren't uncommon during the 1970s as changing styles can often blend into one another. Hiromi Ohta is one such example of that fusion, between the worlds of pop music and that of the singer-songwriters that dominated the New Music scene. Having already launched her showbusiness career as a member of the singing and dancing youth troupe in the variety show Stage 101, she eventually became the most successful of the former members during her solo career. Though she didn't write her debut single "Amadare" (Raindrops), her input was noted by Kyohei Tsutsumi, who devoted a significant role in the song to the piano, her primary instrument. The motif of rain is present in the lyrics and in the music, from the small flourishes of the piano to the descending strings in the chorus. The minor key of the song gives it an air of somberness, her voice: gentle, a little frail, yet clear and persistent, deepens the effect of the lyric's description of separation and longing (seemingly a common trope in Japanese lyrics). Though released late in 1974, it eventually garnered enough attention the following year, earning her a respectable Top 20 hit in the charts as well a nomination for "Best New Artist" in the Japan Records Awards in 1975.
(17th Japan Record Awards [第17回日本レコード大賞])
雨だれ
(Amadare)
Music: Kyohei Tsutsumi / 筒美京平
Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto / 松本隆
ひとり 雨だれは淋しすぎて
あなた 呼びだしたりしてみたの
ふたりに傘がひとつ
冬の街をはしゃぐ風のように
寒くはないかと気づかうあなたの
さりげない仕草に気持がときめく
淋しがりやどうし 肩よせあって
つたえあうのよ 弾む恋の芽ばえ
何故か あなたに甘えたくなって
そっと 腕を組んだ街角よ
ふたりの影はひとつ
いつか愛に優しく包まれて
見つめる瞳にふれあい探すの
心がほのかに高まってゆくのよ
淋しがりやどうし そっと寄りそい
感じあうのよ 熱い恋の芽ばえ
Artist: Chiharu Matsuyama / 松山千春
Title: Kisetsu no Naka de / 季節の中で
Released: August 21, 1978
Oricon Peak Rank: 1 (6 weeks)
B-Side: 青春II
(download)
Chiharu Matsuyama is one of the major singer-songwriters in Japanese popular music. His style is in line with the New Music movement that arose in the 1970s, although he has written and sung in various other styles as well. His most famous song "Kisetsu no Naka de" (In the Middle of the Seasons) was a distinct departure from his usual style, incorporating the then-current and popular disco sounds in its chorus. Whether or not this nod to common tastes led to its immense popularity in both 1978 (26th overall) and 1979 (24th overall). By then the song heralded Matsuyama's peak period where he wrote many more hits before trends went against him in the mid-1980s. Regardless, this song remains a timeless classic, now amongst the annals of popular Japanese song.
('79 Super Jam ['79 スーパージャム])
季節の中で (Kisetsu no Naka de)
Music/Lyrics: Chiharu Matsuyama / 松山千春
うつむきかけた貴方の前を
静かに時は流れ
めぐるめぐる季節の中で
貴方は何を見つけるだろう
海の青さにとまどう様に
とびかう鳥の様に
はばたけ高くはばたけ強く
小さなつばさひろげ
めぐるめぐる季節の中で
貴方は何を見つけるだろう
昇る朝日のまぶしさの中
はるかな空をめざし
はばたけ高くはばたけ強く
貴方の旅がはじまる
めぐるめぐる季節の中で
貴方は何を見つけるだろう
Artist: Tomoko Kuwae / 桑江知子
