Tatsuro Yamashita/The Kingtones -- Touch Me Lightly

After all of the excitement from last night's final game of the NBA season, thanks to the Raptors, perhaps tonight should be a mellower affair.

(cover version)

Nothing like a song of seductiveness and style, and who better than the master himself, Tatsuro Yamashita（山下達郎）? His "Touch Me Lightly" from his October 1979 "Moonglow" album is the perfect make-out tune for those couples who like that City Pop/J-AOR with their romancing. Take it nice and slow here.

"Touch Me Lightly" provides a nice contrast with the summery "Let's Kiss The Sun" and the shuffle-happy "Funky Flushin'" from the same album. It's good to have that cool-down track amidst all of the uptempo fun.

Originally, though, "Touch Me Lightly" was a Tats song given to The Kingtones（ザ・キング・トーンズ）for their 1978 album "Resurrect ~ Ginga kara no Kikan"（レゼレクト 銀河からの帰還...Return from the Galaxy）, and I have to admit that having listened to the original version, it's awfully difficult to decide which one is the definitive take. That arrangement which starts out sounding like a 1970s soul song with an addition of a French accordion and bluesy sax along with Masato Uchida's（内田正人）vocals is simply irresistible. It makes it all the more poignant since Uchida passed away at the age of 82 earlier this year in February.

A soulful lullaby is what I would consider this song. I've referred to "Resurrect" last month as well because of another track "Let's Dance Baby" which is another one penned by Yamashita.