Junko Yagami -- Mellow Cafe (Album)

Recently, I provided some lyrics to the title track from Junko Yagami's（八神純子）15th album, "Mellow Café" and listening to the album once more after so long, I've decided to cover some more of the release this time around.

Released in September 1992, my first impression of "Mellow Café" the album was that it was a mix of pop and light R&B almost all created by Yagami and her husband John J. Stanley. Case in point is "Housenka"（鳳仙花...Garden Balsam） which was also co-written by Jun Asami. It's a classy light and mellow number about a woman waiting for someone at some dining establishment; perhaps it's a first date with someone that she had long been pining for or it's a reunion with an old flame in the hopes that things can be re-kindled.

"Eurasian" is one of the tracks that I remember quite clearly from the album, and it sounds like an update to that exotic kayo that was the thing in kayo kyoku in the late 1970s. Kinda imagine a Ferrari racing along the Silk Road. That dramatic timpani and Yagami's haunting vocals in the refrain do it for me.

(Sorry but the video has been taken down.)

I'm not sure what sub-genre of R&B "Sympathy" would belong (calling Marcos V.) to, but with the beats in there, I kinda wonder whether Yagami was going for something along the lines of C&C Music Factory. This track immediately follows the heartwarming "Mellow Café" and it even references that song near the end. It seems like a response song although the response may not be the happiest one.

(cover version)

My final song for this article is "Sayonara Natsu no Hikari"（さよなら夏の光...Farewell, Summer Light）, and with those first two words, I kinda figured that this would be a tune about a couple going off in separate directions. And indeed, I think it is. However, from that cheerful music, it looks like the split is an amicable one, done over a nice dinner and drink in tropical climes. Still, Yagami states that the love is still there although the romance is done.

"Mellow Café" is far from her City Pop days and nights including the song that has gotten her all sorts of recent international popularity, "Tasogare no Bay City"（黄昏のBAY CITY）, but it is Junko Yagami after all, so I think this particular early 90s entry is still plenty solid pop.