However, when Fukuda had appeared on a recent episode of Kayo Concert singing the same song, I decided to have another listen to it and figure out why 'Toge Goe' has been floating up and down within the Top 20 in the En-kayo charts for the longest time - it has been more than 2 months since I've started checking the Oricon rankings for such songs, and every week I see it in there with its highest position being 1st place... and 6th place when it came to the regular Oricon charts.
Anyway, the first singer that came to mind when Fukuda opened his mouth was the late Enka-Rokyoku master, Haruo Minami (三波春夫), especially when hitting the higher notes! Hence my current appreciation for Fukuda. Some research later brought to light the reason for his powerful delivery. Turns out this Iwate native has a background in Min'yo, starting at age 23. But he only made his debut 13 years later in 2012 after emerging victorious at the 25th Japan Min'yo Festival. Hmm, no wonder his performance of Minami's 'Otone Mujou' (大利根無情) was spot on.
'Toge Goe' was written by Kyosuke Kuni (久仁京介) and composed by Akito Yomo (四方章人). This is the same duo who spawned Fukuda's debut hit 'Nanbu Semi Shigure' (南部蝉しぐれ). And the song did so well that it got awarded the Golden Disk in July for selling more than 100 000 copies - it already sold about 130 000 copies 2 weeks after its release (2nd April 2014). This guy is really on a roll here!
amazon.co.jp
Hi, Noelle.
ReplyDeleteDuring my trip to Tokyo, my parents' lone request for music was the subject of your article today. They've become Fukuda fans over the last couple of years, and I was able to find the CD with ease at a CD shop nearby my hotel.
I have to agree that Fukuda has the chops for enka...he's got a pretty vibrant vibrato. And any time he appears on "Kayo Concert", my family gives him our complete attention.
The strange thing is that he looks almost like a former student of mine from Nippon Oil. He's got the same face and diminutive stature. I'm rather wondering if he's gotten teased by his colleagues over the resemblance.
Hi J-Canuck,
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised if your parents are Fukuda's fans. His voice is good for the genre, especially when it comes to songs like his 'Toge goe'. Knowing the guy's current popularity, it'd be easy to find his CDs in most CD shops... like Kiyoshi Hikawa CD easy.
Unfortunately, unlike your parents, mine actually frown when Fukuda is on... not because they recognize him, but because of the way he warbles and that vibrato of his. And since it took me a while to get used to this style of Enka, they ain't going to like it, or Fukuda for that matter, anytime soon.
Hi, Noelle.
DeleteI've never spoken with my parents about why love Fukuda so much but I gather that it may be due to him sounding like the enka singers of old....his min'yo background is probably the key here.
My parents also have their dislikes. My mother especially has no love for Aki Yashiro or Momoe Yamaguchi. Strangely enough, I've been pretty open to everything enka has had to offer.