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.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Rie Nakahara -- Tokyo Lullaby (東京ららばい）
I've profiled Yasuko Naito's（内藤やす子）"Roppongi Lullaby"(1984) which is either bluesy and brassy or bluesy and tenderhearted depending on which of the 2 versions you listen to. Rie Nakahara's（中原理恵）"Tokyo Lullaby" which was released in March 1978, is more cheerfully rollicking. It starts with a Spanish guitar riff before going into a melody which sounds slightly enka-ish but also has a touch of exoticism that was fairly popular in a number of pop songs coming out around the late 70s. In any case, it's one of those songs I've heard a number of times in TV music retrospectives and in the karaoke boxes. I think it kinda reflected (and still reflects) the hustle and bustle of one of the world's largest metropolises as it gives a shout out to places like Yamate Road, Tokyo Bay and Tokyo Tower.
Born in Hakodate, Hokkaido as Tamie Mekata（目加田貴美恵）Nakahara debuted with "Tokyo Lullaby" at 19. Sounding mature for her age with a huskier voice, her managing agency initially bumped up her age a couple of years for the sake of "authenticity". Written by Takashi Matsumoto（松本隆）and composed by Kyohei Tsutsumi (筒美京平）, the song peaked at No. 9 on Oricon and earned Nakahara a berth in the 1978 Kohaku Utagassen as well as a Japan Record Award as Best Newcomer.
Nakahara also gained further fame when in 1984, she became one of the Madonnas in the Tora-san movie series entry for that year. And she was the first female co-host of TV Asahi's long-running "Music Station" for its first year.
hey freind, thanks for the mind blowing uplaods!! any chance of some rie nakahara albums? i have killing me, yume tsudzure(?) her golden best, i know she has an album called lady and another called vivid, its impossible to get them online, any chance of these at all, rie nakaharas vocals are amaizng
Howdy, Laurence, and thanks for the post. I'm afraid I only know the one song by Nakahara, and I think she sang another one for the anime, "Kimagure Orange Road" back in the late 80s. But I'd like to explore a bit more about her. In particular, there is "Killing Me", her 2nd album.
I checked Amazon.jp (as probably you did as well), and yep, outside of "Killing Me" and some of her BEST compilations, I can't seem to find any other albums out there by her. However, if you or a friend of yours is planning to head to Tokyo in the near future, I know some places that you can search for the old and rare discs.
Oh, and let me know which songs you would recommend by her!
hey friend, i have managed to download and listen to a few of her albums as well as listen to everything off you tube and download it over the past year, i am simply a huge fan of hers, amazing voice, lots of very experimental songs that still stick to easy to listen format, songs i would recommend are definitely these...after you check them out heres a link to download some albusm i found, hope it still works, it think there mihgt be some detours invovled but i defo got them, if its too much trouble just ask me and ill upload them somwhere for u, i would put this women's voice up there with akina nakamori,
Thanks kindly, Laurence. I'll have to take a listen to them. There's always something great about a rich voice. Akina and Rie and Kahoru Kohiruimaki have them.
BTW, how did you get into kayo kyoku in the first place? Just curious.
indeed, i am a huge fan of rich voices, and i must check out kahoru because ive never heard of her, to be honest i cant recall how i came across it, but im so very glad i did, sometimes its still hard to believe the things we can do with teh internet, i mean, we are spoiled for choice, if you come across any more Japanese female vocalists with rich voices id love to here them, i love keiko terada from show ya, she has great range and very unique vocals, looking forward to frequenting this blog!
I've taken a listen to "Asa Made Issho Ni" and "Shake Shake". Rie has that lovely ability to shift from straight-ahead kayo kyoku to more soul stuff like that first song. "Asa Made Issho Ni" makes for a nice addition to City Pop.
Mariko Takahashi and Akiko Kobayashi might be another couple of singers you may want to try as well.
thanks alot ill check them out, let me say this, i highly advise you too sift through ries stuff, because there are many outstanding gems that i could have easily skipped , check out . Gingakei Made Tonde Ike., a great tune and i have a live of it for u http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdDRduc9-iU , also this is a great soul inspired but very Japanese tune http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tq7jSHW3OA that showcase her lovely voice, thanks again for those links, have you ever heard mariko tone? amazing voice, and once you find the right songs, some of the best 80s funk and ballads, ill link u two a few vids below,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_Qfnu7BIAA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9MP6WhZtO8 the second song form this live is great
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th1eHulG13g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1Rv2dArPVk love this song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgou_xIbSaI
anyway feel free to check this out in your own time, i may be going overboard with the links but i never get to talk to anyone about these vocalists so this blog is great, ttyl
There’s one rare song by Nakahara titled ’Shinu Hodo Ai Tai’ which is worth listening. The beat is very much of a late 70s funky music. Really cool music arrangement.
I found a karaoke version of 「死ぬほど逢いたい」on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxIQyYNpvT4. You're right...it is a nice song; quite stylish City Pop and it reminds me of Akira Terao's "Ruby no Yubiwa". https://kayokyokuplus.blogspot.com/2012/03/akira-terao-reflections.html
I only wish that I could hear the original to talk about it.
hey freind, thanks for the mind blowing uplaods!! any chance of some rie nakahara albums? i have killing me, yume tsudzure(?) her golden best, i know she has an album called lady and another called vivid, its impossible to get them online, any chance of these at all, rie nakaharas vocals are amaizng
ReplyDeleteHowdy, Laurence, and thanks for the post. I'm afraid I only know the one song by Nakahara, and I think she sang another one for the anime, "Kimagure Orange Road" back in the late 80s. But I'd like to explore a bit more about her. In particular, there is "Killing Me", her 2nd album.
ReplyDeleteI checked Amazon.jp (as probably you did as well), and yep, outside of "Killing Me" and some of her BEST compilations, I can't seem to find any other albums out there by her. However, if you or a friend of yours is planning to head to Tokyo in the near future, I know some places that you can search for the old and rare discs.
Oh, and let me know which songs you would recommend by her!
hey friend, i have managed to download and listen to a few of her albums as well as listen to everything off you tube and download it over the past year, i am simply a huge fan of hers, amazing voice, lots of very experimental songs that still stick to easy to listen format, songs i would recommend are definitely these...after you check them out heres a link to download some albusm i found, hope it still works, it think there mihgt be some detours invovled but i defo got them, if its too much trouble just ask me and ill upload them somwhere for u, i would put this women's voice up there with akina nakamori,
ReplyDeletehttp://forum.leit.ru/index.php?action=printpage;topic=1487.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdDRduc9-iU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AvI5ump3cw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hOBqEyS2TE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrks5T40bAM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHlFwaupfg4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzNR7Z57Gow
Thanks kindly, Laurence. I'll have to take a listen to them. There's always something great about a rich voice. Akina and Rie and Kahoru Kohiruimaki have them.
ReplyDeleteBTW, how did you get into kayo kyoku in the first place? Just curious.
indeed, i am a huge fan of rich voices, and i must check out kahoru because ive never heard of her, to be honest i cant recall how i came across it, but im so very glad i did, sometimes its still hard to believe the things we can do with teh internet, i mean, we are spoiled for choice, if you come across any more Japanese female vocalists with rich voices id love to here them, i love keiko terada from show ya, she has great range and very unique vocals, looking forward to frequenting this blog!
DeleteI've taken a listen to "Asa Made Issho Ni" and "Shake Shake". Rie has that lovely ability to shift from straight-ahead kayo kyoku to more soul stuff like that first song. "Asa Made Issho Ni" makes for a nice addition to City Pop.
ReplyDeleteMariko Takahashi and Akiko Kobayashi might be another couple of singers you may want to try as well.
thanks alot ill check them out, let me say this, i highly advise you too sift through ries stuff, because there are many outstanding gems that i could have easily skipped , check out . Gingakei Made Tonde Ike., a great tune and i have a live of it for u http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdDRduc9-iU , also this is a great soul inspired but very Japanese tune http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tq7jSHW3OA that showcase her lovely voice, thanks again for those links, have you ever heard mariko tone? amazing voice, and once you find the right songs, some of the best 80s funk and ballads, ill link u two a few vids below,
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_Qfnu7BIAA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9MP6WhZtO8
the second song form this live is great
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th1eHulG13g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1Rv2dArPVk
love this song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgou_xIbSaI
anyway feel free to check this out in your own time, i may be going overboard with the links but i never get to talk to anyone about these vocalists so this blog is great, ttyl
There’s one rare song by Nakahara titled ’Shinu Hodo Ai Tai’ which is worth listening. The beat is very much of a late 70s funky music. Really cool music arrangement.
ReplyDeleteHello there.
DeleteI found a karaoke version of 「死ぬほど逢いたい」on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxIQyYNpvT4. You're right...it is a nice song; quite stylish City Pop and it reminds me of Akira Terao's "Ruby no Yubiwa". https://kayokyokuplus.blogspot.com/2012/03/akira-terao-reflections.html
I only wish that I could hear the original to talk about it.