The summer has definitely arrived here although I'm keeping things cool by closing the blinds in my room. It may look rather dark and depressing then but the temperature is quite nice.
It's been a good long time since I've written anything about the actress-turned-singer-songwriter Yuko Ando（安藤裕子）. And on a day like today, something Harajuku cafe-friendly would be nice. That's what I think of her "Sally", the title track from her very first release (a mini-album) as a singer in July 2003. Written and composed by Ando with Ryuji Yamamoto（山本隆二）also helping out in the music, "Sally" has got that indie-ish down-to-earth quality, the type of music to which you can sip your cup of coffee while people-watching. The video featuring the various scenes and looks of the very photogenic Ando herself helps in that regard.
Never mentioned this in past articles about her before I believe, but whenever I hear her, I get all these vibes of Ringo Shiina（椎名林檎）, Bonnie Pink and even Akiko Yano（矢野顕子）with that last singer probably due to some of the vocal gymnastics Ando employs. I will have to give her music another hear-see.
"Sally" was also included in Ando's first full album "Middle Tempo Magic" which was released in September 2004. The song was used as the ending theme for TBS's broadcast of the Taiwanese drama "Meteor Garden" from 2001, an adaptation of the manga "Hana yori Dango"（花より男子...Boys Over Flowers）. Although "Sally" the mini-album apparently didn't chart, the later "Middle Tempo Magic" got as high as No. 64 on Oricon.
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