Along with a lot of the other singer-songwriters of the time, love in all of its manifestations, good or bad, was a favourite topic for one of my favourite chanteuses, EPO.
Over here, EPO takes on the green-eyed monster that is jealousy through "Mugon no Jealousy" (Jealousy Without A Word) which was a track on her 5th album "Vitamin E-P-O" from April 1983. Not sure if the protagonist here is going after a past love or a love-yet-to-be, but the person is bent out of shape about the target of his/her affections perhaps getting together with a new love.
The notable thing about "Mugon no Jealousy" is the music by EPO herself. It has that sort of funky rumble that I had initially couldn't quite place but then I took a look at the comments for the video above, and one person remarked that it felt absolutely like The Spinners' "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love", so perhaps some late Motown in there. Not so certain that it's an absolute thing but I got at least a hint of it. What I did pick up on was near the end when the melody got some choppiness a la Chuck Mangione's "Feels So Good", so perhaps Motown going into fusion.
Kunio Muramatsu（村松邦男）from Sugar Babe did a cover of "Mugon no Jealousy" for his debut solo album "Green Water" which came out some months after "Vitamin E-P-O" in September 1983. Titled simply "Jealousy", he replaced EPO's lyrics with his own, and it sounds more like a City Pop tune to my ears with that horn section. Muramatsu has a softer delivery here in contrast with the original singer's oomph.
"Mugan No Jealousy", I think sounds more like the Spinners' other song, "I'll Be Around": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2BYA-U2j8c . If Thom Bell was the producer then I think this is Philly soul.
ReplyDeleteRoelM
Made a typo error with the song's title ...
ReplyDeleteRoelM
Hi, RoelM.
DeleteYep, I wasn't entirely convinced that "Mugon no Jealousy" sounded like the softer "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" so kudos on finding something more similar. Are you into the more urban contemporary stuff?
If contemporary as in contemporary with the Spinners' music, then I can say I like Sweet Soul from the 70s and Philly Soul in general. I don't know if you classify that as urban ...
DeleteRoelM
I've read that Philly soul was the result of a quest for urban and urbane black music. I get the impression that Japanese city pop had a spirit similar to that of Philly soul in this respect.
DeleteRoelM
Hi again.
DeleteYeah, I would go with soul as an urban genre. I'm not an expert on Philly soul by any means but from what little that I do know, I would agree that there was a certain a free spirit or joy with the genre. City Pop of the 70s and 80s also had an inviting spirit as if the singers were the ticket-takers to bring listeners over to the arena of big-city magic and success.
This is one of my favorite EPO songs, right up there with her version of Ginji Itoh/Sugar Babe's こぬか雨(konuka Ame).
ReplyDeleteThe subtle "dragging" of the phrases in her singing as well as in the band's playing is so on the spot. It is rare to hear this kind of groove in Japanese pop. I think my point becomes apparent when you compare Muramatsu's version with hers.
Hello, Kaz.
DeleteYep, I think "dragging" is a good expression to use here for EPO's technique. It really makes "Mugon no Jealousy" stand out.