Credits

I would like to give credit where credit is due. Videos are from YouTube and other sources such as NicoNico while Oricon rankings and other information are translated from the Japanese Wikipedia unless noted.

Monday, June 4, 2018

Hiromi Iwasaki -- ROSE


I've taken a look at the J-Wiki article for Hiromi Iwasaki's(岩崎宏美)"Wish" album which came out in August 1980, and although it's been categorized as aidoru kayo, I think when Iwasaki's hair became those long and flowing locks and she became a fan of nail polish, the aidoru part of her career was retired to be replaced with some great pop works.


Yup, I am indeed looking at the cover of "Wish", and one of the tracks from the album certainly doesn't sound aidoru. "ROSE" is imbued with the Japanese meaning of "moody" and images of contemplative drinkers in expensive hotel bars come to mind rather than bouncy teenyboppers. It was around this time that she was showing more of that urban contemporary side to her and I was more than happy.

"ROSE" was written by Rei Nakanishi(なかにし礼)and composed by Kyohei Tsutsumi(筒美京平)with arrangements handled by Tsugutoshi Goto(後藤次利). "Wish" peaked at No. 14 on Oricon. Love the trumpet solo and Hiromi's enticing vocals.

2 comments:

  1. I'm not commenting on Rose as such, but another song from her kayo era that I re-encountered recently, Kono hiroi sora no shita. It's a track from her first album, Aozora, that she re-did as a b-side for her 2001 single, Yume. It really showcases her wonderful voice.

    https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x37vdn7

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    Replies
    1. Hello there.

      And thanks for the recommendation. Speaking of B-sides by Hiromi that could use with a bit more love is the one that was on the other side of her hit single "Madonna-tachi no Lullaby" from 1982, "Akai Ito". It has that appealing kayo pop with a hint of City Pop in there.

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