Masayuki Suzuki -- Bayside Serenade （ベイサイド・セレナーデ）

I bought Masayuki Suzuki's（鈴木雅之） "Bayside Serenade" somewhere in Tokyo during one of my monthly sojourns from Gunma. At the time I got it, I was staying at my old friend's apartment in Itabashi Ward for the weekend, and he was kind enough to let me play the CD single on his component system. Well, my friend's place was small but pretty darn chic-looking, so hearing the jazziness from this song helped complement the mood. Mind you, Itabashi Ward is nowhere near Tokyo Bay, but looking out the window during that evening, the song certainly fit the bright lights and big city of Shinjuku.

"Bayside Serenade" is Martin's 10th single and was also a track on his 4th album, "Mood". The single was released in September 1990, and the music has all the sumptuousness of a luxurious night out on the town in that fine convertible going on the Bayside Highway. The music was provided by Ichiro Hada（羽田一郎）, a composer/producer who had started a band with J-R&B singer Toshinobu Kubota（久保田利伸）during their university years, while the lyrics were by Chinfa Kan（康珍化） who has been behind a number of songs by Omega Tribe and Anri（杏里）. "Bayside Serenade" may have that feel of a decadent and expensive Saturday evening, but in terms of the lyrics, Suzuki is wringing his hands in frustration at his lady love until it's time to take her home as usual. It's rather hard to imagine a guy who looks that icy-cool losing it over a woman, though.

The song peaked at No. 74 on Oricon. It may not have hit the big heights as some of his other songs, but it still makes for a nice musical companion on the car stereo if you're driving down by Odaiba. One point about Suzuki, though. He is indeed a nattily-attired fellow, but if a lot of folks saw someone dressed like that pounding the pavement in Roppongi or Shinjuku, they'd most likely make a beeline over to the other side of the street. However, Martin is apparently quite the gentleman.

Masayuki Suzuki -- Bayside Serenade