Hanae/The Tempters -- Kamisama Onegai （神様お願い）

Strangely enough, I'm writing this article on March 16 2015 instead of the original June 9 2013. Apparently, due to some weird glitch, the original article got erased and superimposed by the other Hanae article on the opening theme to "Kamisama Hajimemashita". Well, that was pretty annoying but as they say in Japan, sho ga nai.

Anyways, I am talking about the ending theme to the original first season of the anime "Kamisama Hajimemashita"（神様はじめました）, "Kamisama Onegai" (Please, God) sung by whispery-voiced Hanae（ハナエ）. Released as the coupling song to her 3rd single, "Kamisama Hajimemashita" in November 2012, according to the J-Wiki article, the singer wasn't too thrilled about how the recording for this particular B-side went, although I think the song isn't bad at all, especially when she puts out that "Ah, ah-ah, ah...". Well, to each his/her own. In any case, the whole single managed to peak at No. 20 on Oricon.

At the time I heard Hanae singing "Kamisama Onegai", I hadn't been aware that this was actually a cover of the original song by Group Sounds band The Tempters. The band had a three-year run from 1967 to 1970 and their "Kamisama Onegai" was their 2nd single released in March 1968. Written and composed by the leader, Yoshiharu Matsuzaki（松崎由治）, the song had quite the psychedelic guitar sound as would befit the times. It managed to break into the Top 10 and peaked at No. 2.