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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
(download)
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
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)
(download)
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 . . .
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
Artist: Yu Hayami / 早見優
Title: Love Light
Released: July 21, 1982
Oricon Peak Rank: 38
B-Side: ガラスの街角
(download)
There has always been an issue with how much English can be used in Japanese songs, whether the singer can pronounce them as is or render them into katakana for ease of pronunciation. At times it leads to some rather awkward sounding music, but this is generally not the case for Yu Hayami, who was one of the handful of exceptions during the Golden Age of Idols.
Having lived in Guam and Hawaii in her childhood and preteen years, her handling of English was on an advanced level and with only a slight accent. This skill gave her some advantages with songwriters as they could include more English (whether that is a good or bad thing) to her songs. Her second single "Love Light" was one of the more extreme examples, where the chorus was entirely in English. Its provenance was likely a European dance-pop song that has since disappeared from public memory, so the Japanese adaptation remains. Here her ability to sing fluently between Japanese and English is audible. Musically, it has a strong beat, and decent melody, although Yu has slight trouble with the vocal acrobatics in the lead to the chorus and the chorus itself. Otherwise, it is fine for a song, and would work well in a dance hall context.
(15th Shinjuku Music Festival [第15回新宿音楽祭])
Love Light
Music: Jimmy Jackson
Lyrics: Pia Jackson
Japanese Adaptation: Yoshiko Miura / 三浦徳子
雨降る街角 ひとつの傘
彼女とあなたを 見かけたのよ
小さな この胸は つぶれそうで
雨に濡れたまま さ迷い歩いたのよ
欲しいのは love light
あなたの愛の陽ざし
どうぞ気づいて pick me up
抱きしめて欲しいのよ
Let me, let me be the one you love
Let me be the one you need
I'm like a little flower
Let me, let me be the one you love
Let me share your joy and pain
I'm like a little flower, flower
傷つけたくない 誰のことも
だけど好きな気持ち 変えられない
どうぞ お願いよ she's not the girl for you
あなたから 私を愛してると言ってね
欲しいのは love light
あなたの愛の陽ざし
どうぞ気づいて pick me up
抱きしめて欲しいのよ
Let me, let me be the one you love
Let me be the one you need
I'm like a little flower
Let me, let me be the one you love
Let me share your joy and pain
I'm like a little flower
Let me, let me be the one you love
Let me be the one you need
I'm like a little flower
Let me, let me be the one you love
Let me share your joy and pain
I'm like a little flower . . .
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
(download)
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
Artist: Hiroshi Itsuki / 五木ひろし
Title: Yokohama Tasogare /
よこはま・たそがれ
Released: March 1, 1971
Oricon Peak Rank: 1 (1 week)
B-Side: 男が泣くとき
(download)
While this was the debut single for Hiroshi Itsuki, it certainly wasn't the first time the man entered the music world. He sang under his birthname Kazuo Matsuyama during the mid-1960s with middling results, which led him to change production companies twice (from Columbia to Polydor to Minoruphone), and don two stage names in the process (Yoshikazu Ichijo [一条英一] and Ken Mitani [三谷謙] respectively) in an effort to remake his image. He performed his final overhaul in 1970, settling on his current stage name, and things thereafter went far better than he would imagine.
The lyrics for "Yokohama Tasogare" (Yokohama Twilight) describe disjointed scenes of fleeting romance, giving the port town an aura of dark mystery. Hiroshi's strongly masculine vocal clarity lends to that imagery, where it may find itself comfortable in smoky bars and clubs. While it saw a spring release, the song took its time to gain traction in the charts, and finally experienced its brief reign at the top during summer of 1971. It also earned a nomination for "Best Song" in the 13th Japan Record Awards and granted him a spot in the Red-White Song Competition. Even though he would later, like Mori Masako in the previous entry, become a fixture in Enka, his early career was more hybrid in nature, singing Enka-quality songs with more pop styled arrangements. This gradual shift towards orthodox Enka is not unusual and rather common, and we'll see this effect as we both delve later in their careers and discuss other artists who've gone through that same path.
よこはま・たそがれ (Yokohama Tasogare)
Music: Maasaki Hirao / 平尾昌晃
Lyrics: Yoko Yamaguchi / 山口洋子
よこはま たそがれ
ホテルの小部屋
くちづけ 残り香 煙草の煙り
ブルース 口笛 女の涙
あの人は 行って行ってしまった
あの人は 行って行ってしまった
もう帰らない
裏町 スナック
酔えないお酒
ゆきずり 嘘つき 気まぐれ男
あてない 恋唄 流しのギター
あの人は 行って行ってしまった
あの人は 行って行ってしまった
もうよその人
木枯らし 想い出
グレーのコート
あきらめ 水色 つめたい夜明け
海鳴り 燈台 一羽のかもめ
あの人は 行って行ってしまった
あの人は 行って行ってしまった
もうおしまいね
Artist: Masako Mori / 森昌子
Title: Sensei / せんせい
Released: July 1, 1972
Oricon Peak Rank: 3
B-Side: 太陽の恋人
(download)
Momoe Yamaguchi was not alone when she made her debut into the music world. As mentioned earlier, she was one of three who graduated at the same time from the Star Tanjou! talent competition. Masako Mori was one of the other two and was the first to officially debut with her single "Sensei". During the competition, many in the industry found her voice the most appealing of the three and predicted great success in her future. Peaking at #3 on the Oricon charts and garnering recognition in the Japan Record Awards later that year, the song's strong start showed good signs for Masako. Her singing style is steady and clear, and high in register yet without shrillness. These qualities were well suited for her entrance as an Enka singer, which was rare to bestow on someone as young as she. "Sensei" has the qualities of melancholy and more traditional melodic structure found in Enka, yet its arrangement is rather light and friendly to popular music tastes. The broad appeal of the song combined with her personal appeal would see her become a big favorite in the Enka world, and, for the time being, find a place in the dynamic and competitive world of the teen idol.
せんせい (Sensei)
Music: Minoru Endo / 遠藤実
Lyrics: Yuu Aku / 阿久悠
淡い初恋 消えた日は
雨がしとしと 降っていた
傘にかくれて 桟橋で
ひとり見つめて 泣いていた
おさない私が 胸こがし
慕いつづけた ひとの名は
せんせい せんせい それはせんせい
声を限りに 叫んでも
遠くはなれる 連絡船
白い灯台 絵のように
雨にうたれて 浮んでた
誰にも言えない 悲しみに
胸をいためた ひとの名は
せんせい せんせい それはせんせい
恋する心の しあわせを
そっと教えた ひとの名は
せんせい せんせい それはせんせい
Artist: Kazuko Matsumura / 松村和子
Title: Kaette Koi yo / 帰ってこいよ
Released: April 21, 1980
Oricon Peak Rank: 5
B-Side: やん衆哀歌
(download)Kazuko Matsumura was somewhat of a flash-in-the-pan when she came into the music world plucking merrily on her shamisen in her debut song "Kaette Koi yo" (Come Back, My Love); a veritable youngster at the age of eighteen for a singer of an Enka tune. The song slowly grew on the Japanese populace through the end of 1980 and well into 1981. Although one may consider this to be a more pop-friendly kind of Enka song, the slightly melancholy aspect of the lyrics washed over in its rollicking melody, and the shamisen twanging away not in yearning, but just as accents. Regardless, the song proved popular enough to grant her a coveted spot in the New Year's Eve Red-White Song Competition in 1981, and that was the capstone for her musical career. Although she would continue recording into the decade, she is best known for this song, one of Japan's most treasured one-hit wonders.
帰ってこいよ (Kaette Koi yo)
Music: Noboru Ichidai / 一代のぼる
Lyrics: Tadao Hirayama / 平山忠夫
きっと帰って くるんだと
お岩木山で 手を振れば
あの娘は小さく うなずいた
茜の空で 誓った恋を
東京ぐらしで 忘れたか
帰ってこいよ 帰ってこいよ 帰ってこいよ
白いリンゴの 花かげで
遊んだ頃が なつかしい
気立てのやさしい 娘だったよ
お前の嫁に 欲しかったねと
おふくろ今夜も ひとりごと
帰ってこいよ 帰ってこいよ 帰ってこいよ
可愛いあの娘の 帰る日を
お岩木山で 今日もまた
津軽の風と 待っている
忘れはしまい あの約束の
こんなにきれいな 茜空
帰ってこいよ 帰ってこいよ 帰ってこいよ
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
(download)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
Artist: Mako Ishino / 石野真子Title: Ookami Nanka Kowakunai /
狼なんか怖くない
Released: March 25, 1978
Oricon Peak Rank: 17
B-Side: ひとり娘(download)The Nippon Television Network talent show Star Tanjou! [スター誕生!] (A Star is Born!) has produced a significant number of highly successful singers that graced the Japanese charts during the 70s and 80s, two of them have been featured here in this blog: Hiromi Iwasaki , Akina Nakamori and Momoe Yamaguchi. We'll be looking at another one of the show's successful alumni: Mako Ishino.
Despite her homely appearance and slightly crooked teeth (Asian dentistry wasn't so great at the time), her cute image and decent singing (of a Japanese cover of a Danièle Vidal tune) won the judges over, among them the lyricist Yuu Aku, who would later pen the words to several of Mako's earlier songs. She signed onto the Victor Entertainment label and released her debut single "Ookami Nanka Kowakunai" ("I Ain't Afraid of Wolves"). The song is a breezy number playing up the metaphor of men as wolves in the game of love. As per habit for Japanese singing, the song had its own trademark moves, in this case Mako pursing her right hand to imitate a wolf's head when singing the chorus. Her singing character straddles between the voice of the typical pop teen voice and that of a feminine and mature woman, giving her the potential for versatility in song material that is not very common for most singers. Needless to say, her producers took advantage of that, the results we'll see when we get back around to her again later on.(Hit Studio Night [夜のヒットスタジオ])狼なんか怖くない (Ookami Nanka Kowakunai)
Music: Takuro Yoshida / 吉田拓郎
Lyrics: Yuu Aku / 阿久悠
あなたも狼に変わりますか
はじめてのルージュの色は
紅過ぎてはいけない
大人の匂いがするだけでいい
唇をすぼめたままで
くちづけは出来ない
鏡に向かってあれこれ思う
鼻が邪魔だと誰かがいってたわ
古いと映画の台詞(セリフ)だったかしら
あなたも狼に変わりますか
あなたが狼なら怖くない
あなたも狼に変わりますか
あなたが狼なら怖くない
ハイヒール両手に下げて
逃げたりしちゃいけない
片目をつぶって 見るだけでいい
あのひとはいいひとだから
傷つけたり出来ない
その日を思ってあれこれ悩む
熱が出るわと誰かがいってたわ
ヒットソングの言葉だったかしら
あなたも狼に変わりますか
あなたが狼なら怖くない
あなたも狼に変わりますか
あなたが狼なら怖くない
Artist: Miyuki Imori / 井森美幸
