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| By AVRO via Wikimedia Commons |
I'd thought that my previous article on Shiro Sagisu（鷺巣詩郎）would be the final one for February 2026, but I was very wrong there on realizing that the music world has lost a pioneer in pop music and someone who has had a presence on "Kayo Kyoku Plus" over the years. Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka passed away at the age of 86 on February 27th.
From what I've read on his Wikipedia file, he was responsible for a huge number of hits for himself and other singers, especially during the 60s and 70s, and I recall hearing his voice through radio, on K-Tel commercials and TV appearances since I was a kid. In fact, the very first ROY article that I posted was a Sedaka creation for Captain & Tennille. But for his own records, I always remembered that higher and melodic voice of his.
With all of those Sedaka successes in the postwar era, it's perhaps no surprise that the Japanese, who were more than happy to provide their own cover versions of many American and British hits of the time, also took a fancy to Sedaka's own tunes. Here are the ones that have been plucked from the pages of KKP over the years.
(1960) Masaaki Hirao & The All-Stars Wagon -- Koi no Katamichi Kippu（恋の片道切符）
(1961) Kyu Sakamoto -- Calendar Girl
(1977) Hi-Fi Set -- Koi no Nikki （恋の日記）(from 3:35)
(1978) Masako Miyazaki -- The Hungry Years
One of my favourites by Sedaka though was "Laughter in the Rain" from 1974. It still gives me a chill when he sings the chorus out and it's a song that I definitely have great memories about. My condolences to his family, friends and many fans.
This is another one those post where start reading it thinking "I do not know this song or I do not know this artist", but later found out I have actually heard the song somewhere before. So, as it turns out I have heard "Laughter in the Rain", before, but I just never knew the the name of the song.
ReplyDeleteIf I recall, "Laughter in the Rain" was also used in a series of commercials in Japan during my time there.
DeleteHe also provided the melodies for the two opening songs and sole ending theme for the Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam series(Mami Ayukawa and Hiroko Moriguchi did the singing).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information. Did not know that. It's amazing that one of the premier pop songwriters for a certain generation was also responsible for anison!
DeleteFireminer here. Neil Sedaka also composed the first two opening songs of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. I tried to look for them on KKP. Only the second opening "Mizu No Hoshi E Ai Wo Komete" by Moriguchi Hiroko got a write-up in this article (https://kayokyokuplus.blogspot.com/2013/12/jtms-80s-playlist-j-doramaanimemovie.html) and it wasn't tagged with his name.
ReplyDeleteThe first opening "Zeta - Toki wo Koete" by Ayukawa Mami hasn't gotten an article yet, so I'll just leave it here for anyone who want to tackle it.
Hello again. Although JTM's article didn't mention his name in the prose, there is a Neil Sedaka tag at the bottom of the article. As for the Ayukawa/Sedaka collaboration, I'll probably cover it in the next few days due to the latter's approach to the song.
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