Even though “Stardust Eyes” was used as the opening theme for the Ronin Warriors (鎧伝サムライトルーパー) anime in 1988, I first came across this song through Hiroko Moriguchi’s (森口博子) “Kure Isogu Machi” (暮れ急ぐ街), which is basically the same song, but with different lyrics and arrangement.
The thing is, since Moriguchi originally sang “Samurai
Heart”, the second opening theme for the same anime, she also recorded a
version of “Stardust Eyes”, which was included in her 1989 album “Prime Privacy”. So, after reading this album’s liner notes, I've finally discovered that an original
version of the song, recorded by underground aidoru Mariko Uranishi (浦西真理子),
existed.
Released as a single in August 1988, Mariko Uranishi’s “Stardust
Eyes” sounds like your typical 80s anisong, if it wasn’t for one detail: the
arrangement is a very direct copy of Pet Shop Boys’ “It’s A Sin”, with
everything included, like the thunderstorm sounds, for example. But I’ll not
lie here… I loved the combination of the overtly dramatic electronic
arrangement with the graceful melody in the chorus and Mariko Uranishi’s weak
aidoru vocals. It was just a dreamy combination in my book, so I’m glad I’ve
finally discovered this song.
As I could see, Mariko Uranishi didn’t release any other
single, nor album, but she did some nude photo shoots and AV movies at some point. Well,
everybody has bills to pay, I think. Also, Hiroko Moriguchi’s “Kure Isogu Machi”
isn’t available on YouTube, which is a pity, since it’s a pretty nice and more
down to earth version of the very over the top and 80s-sounding “Stardust Eyes”. In fact, even a third version of “Stardust Eyes” exists, this time the more
rock-friendly “DEAD END LOVE” by composer Yasuhiko Shigemura (茂村泰彦), but,
just like Moriguchi’s version, it’s not on YouTube.
Lyrics for “Stardust Eyes” were written by Yoshiko
Miura (三浦徳子),
while music was composed by Yasuhiko Shigemura. As for the arrangement,
Michiaki Katou (加藤みちあき) was
the responsible.
Mariko Uranishi
Hi, Marcos.
ReplyDeleteBeing a PSB fan myself, I could quickly catch onto the resemblance with "It's A Sin". I can also imagine that it was probably not the only song by Pet Shop Boys that songwriters borrowed from. Around the same time, songwriters for Yoko Oginome took the riff from Level 42's "Lessons In Love" for one of her songs, to my great shock.
Hi, J-Canuck.
DeleteAs it seems, it was a common practice in Japan during those times. Just recently, I discovered that one of my favorite Momoko Kikuchi's songs, "Mystical Composer", is very similar to Jaki Graham's "Round and Round". Apparently, Tetsuji Hayashi liked that song a little bit too much...
To be quite honest, I like these 'borrowings' stories a lot, so I don't have a big problem with them. Like you, I'm also a PSB fan, so I was quite happy that this iconic instrumental section of "It's A Sin" was used in this little aidoru tune.
Mariko Uranishi is an interesting person. She was/is not a singer. She was what is now called a Gravure idol but at the time she was in the business, that name did not exist. I am not sure how she was picked to sing the first Ronin warriors theme and ending songs but she actually sounds pretty good. There was a video on Youtube with her singing the theme song Stardust Eyes on some TV show in Japan but it has long been removed. The only way to get her two songs is ether by buying the rare Ronin warriors sound track in CD, or the even rarer Stardust Eyes/Faraway CD single or the rare 45 rpm (7 inch) record. I have the 45 rpm record in my collection. It came along with a bunch of other things from Mariko Uranishi such as magazines and phone cards (apparently a sexy woman in a bathing suit picture on a phone card was a thing in Japan back then ). I guess the original owner of the stuff was a fan of hers. Despite the severe glaring woman in your picture (which is the back cover of the 45 rpm record) a quick look at one of her photo books(yes these were actually hardback style books that had mostly pictures of her posing in conventional clothing (sweaters and jeans)) shows a smiling woman that seems to be enjoying what she was doing. I am not sure where she is now but she retired in 1994
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