“Glass no ECSTASY” is, without a doubt, one of my guilty pleasures!!!
Akiho Sendo (千堂あきほ)
was one of those beautiful aidoru singers from the early 90s who shared an “OL-style of look” with tons of
sensuality, as was the case of Minako
Tanaka (田中美奈子) and Chisato Moritaka (森高千里), for example.
Akiho,
though, was a very bad singer, and
it’s quite synthomatic to think about how was possible that people thought she
could be a successful singer... yes, yes, we all know how vocal talent is not
the most important thing when it comes to aidoru
singers, but, at the same time, I really try to understand how in such a dark period for aidoru singers (late 80s/early 90s) they started promoting girls
with dubious talent like Akiho Sendo and Aya
Sugimoto (杉本彩) based solely on beauty and sensuality.
Reflexions
aside, “Glass no ECSTASY” became one of my favourite trash pop songs since I
first listened to it back in 2013. Somehow, I really like the singalong chorus
and the generic arrangement
comprised mostly of “synths trying to be
horns”. As for Akiho, the studio recording does its job covering most of
her flaws, but the live performances, just like the one posted at the
beggining, is pure shame for the girl. In fact, she was lucky to have some
recorded background vocalists accompanying her during the choruses, because if
they were relied solely to her, the disaster would be even bigger.
As
usual when it comes to aidoru music produced in Japan during the late 80s/early
90s, I hear some similarities between “Glass no ECSTASY” and some Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) productions,
and that’s probably because of the “fake horns”.
Also,
although not an example of singer, Akiho was an actress and tarento. Personally, the only work
I’ve watched from her was the great “Tokyo
Love Story” (東京ラブストーリー), aired in 1991. She had a secondary
role in the drama, but it was nice to see her somewhere else than on a singing
stage.
Hi, Marcos.
ReplyDeleteYep, I just watched the video....and I can only imagine what a duet between her and Nakai-kun of SMAP would sound like. Nice melody, though, and seeing that it was Chika Ueda who was behind it, I wasn't too surprised. I would be interested in hearing the original recorded version someday to see how it compares with the version she performed on stage.
I know that Sendo appeared in a number of dramas in the 90s but I only remember her from "Tokyo Love Story" as the mopey medical student, and also for one blooper on a late-night show when she was in her stiletto heels and then she suddenly fell down much to her great embarrassment, and to the audience's great thrill.
It would be the end of the world if Nakai and Akiho decided to sing a duet together. Something like Akina's "Nanpasen" would be even more dreadful.
DeleteAbout the original studio recording, even if it's not perfect, I think is way more bearable than the live singing. I can rip it from my single and send the link to you by e-mail if you want.
Hi, Marcos.
DeleteOh, I don't even want to imagine that duo behind something like "Nanpasen"...now, that would truly be a shipwreck. However, I would be interested in hearing the original recording, so yes, please send over the link. Thank you kindly. :)
I just sent a download link to your e-mail. =)
Delete