I've been a fan of Japanese popular music for 40 years, and have managed to collect a lot of material during that time. So I decided I wanted to talk about Showa Era music with like-minded fans. My particular era is the 70s and 80s (thus the "kayo kyoku"). The plus part includes a number of songs and artists from the last 30 years and also the early kayo. So, let's talk about New Music, aidoru, City Pop and enka.
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.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Circus -- Mr. Summertime
One of the attractions for kayo kyoku is that the music had been very enthusiastic about adopting international genres, especially jazz and bossa nova. A lot of foreign artists have often been more beloved in Japan than even in their home countries. The vocal group, The Manhattan Transfer, has been a favorite for decades. I even had the privilege of seeing them live a couple of years ago in Tokyo's Blue Note in Aoyama.
Japan has its own vocal groups. Currently, the most famous one seems to be the acapella group, The Gospellers. I've already mentioned another one that began in the 1970s, Hi-Fi Set. And there is Circus which debuted in 1977. The quartet is a family affair consisting of three siblings (the Kanos...叶) and an in-law, Junko Hara (原順子）.
Their second single was the one that got them onto the charts. "Mr. Summertime" was released in March 1978 and got them to the very top of the Oricon weeklies to become the group's biggest hit. However, this song was actually a cover version of Michel Fugain's"Une Belle Histoire" in 1972 which is shown below. Circus' cover is given the French Riviera resort-and-cocktail jazz spin which has reminded me of classic Manhattan Transfer.
Thanks for you sharing this beautiful song. I've searching this song's story for a while,but I couldn't find any chinese or english translation of this japanese lyrics. Do you know the meaning of this japanese lyrics?
As for the overall translation of the song, the Japanese lyrics talk of the protagonist's regret over losing her love, the mysterious Mr. Summertime, and the deep shame that she feels to the extent that she doesn't ever want to see him again. I found an English translation that gives the basic message although the structure is slightly odd.
english-house.seesaa.net/article/98673577.html
It's indeed a lovely if sad song. I actually first heard on that old radio program that I've mentioned in some of the other articles, "Sounds of Japan" all the way back in 1982.
Beautiful music. Both versions.
ReplyDeleteThanks for you sharing this beautiful song.
ReplyDeleteI've searching this song's story for a while,but I couldn't find any chinese or english translation of this japanese lyrics.
Do you know the meaning of this japanese lyrics?
Hi, Tammy. And thanks for your comments.
DeleteAs for the overall translation of the song, the Japanese lyrics talk of the protagonist's regret over losing her love, the mysterious Mr. Summertime, and the deep shame that she feels to the extent that she doesn't ever want to see him again. I found an English translation that gives the basic message although the structure is slightly odd.
english-house.seesaa.net/article/98673577.html
It's indeed a lovely if sad song. I actually first heard on that old radio program that I've mentioned in some of the other articles, "Sounds of Japan" all the way back in 1982.