Shozo Ise -- Heart Beat

 

Singer-songwriter and arranger Shozo Ise（伊勢正三）was one of a number of Japanese folk singers who made that transition into groovy City Pop from the 1970s into the 1980s. I think his most notable work in the urban contemporary sphere has been his "Moonlight" from 1981.

Ise kept going with that City Pop feeling for a few more years at least according to what I've heard so far from his November 1984 5th album "Heart Beat" (the above video from uploader Muzuki is of the entire LP). He also goes into New Wave in this album as well, but the first track is the title track and I'd say that "Heart Beat" keeps things more or less in the City Pop realm.

I say "more or less" because although "Heart Beat" is a City Pop tune, albeit one of a more sophisticated pop type which is different from the just-as-bar-friendly "Moonlight", it also incorporates some synthpop elements such as claps and syndrums as well as some jazz near the end including a somewhat mournful trombone solo. Perhaps this could be from some classy bar in Coruscant? I'd also add that Ise sounds a bit like Yoshitaka Minami（南佳孝）here and he was also one for the eclectic and City Pop at around the same time. Ise was behind words and music here but Takeshi Inoue（井上毅）also helped out on the lyrics.