A bit early in the week for some of the funk and groove perhaps but that's OK. KKP contributor JTM has often espoused the talents of a Japanese singer, GWINKO, so I was able to write about "Yokubari na Weekend"（よくばりなウィークエンド）. This singer is definitely one example of late 80s/early 90s funk and groove in Japan, and the video for "Yokubari na Weekend" provided the most entertaining trip to the mall that I've seen in a while.
The song was also included in GWINKO's 4th album "I'm In" from July 1990, and the lead track for the album is "Natsu no Owari, Chikazuita Sora" (The End of Summer, The Approaching Sky). This is another bouncy R&B tune which starts with some smacking drums before GWINKO sings about some stormy clouds hovering a relationship which ends with one of the couple being dumped on the beach. I didn't think that breakups ever deserved their own choreography considering all of that wonderfully funky bass and light tripping on the piano. I'm pretty sure if GWINKO had ever decided to get a music video for "Natsu no Owari, Chikazuita Sora", it would have had plenty of beach blanket boys and girls dancing on the sand.
"Natsu no Owari, Chikazuita Sora" was written by Junko Ohyama（大山潤子）, who also took care of the aforementioned "Yokubari no Weekend", while Yoichiro Kakizaki（柿崎洋一郎）came up with all that funky music.
I finally got around to ordering her 12" Christmas single, Sweet Heart, from 1987. It's inoffensive. Her later stuff appears to be a little better. I mainly just wanted a picture disk. I got the Onyanko Club picture disk as well, which is slightly better, musically speaking. It's awfully cool seeing the records on the turntable, though. My daughters were all impressed. :D
ReplyDeleteHi, Scott. Hope you and your family are doing well. Always nice to show the next generation how we used to listen to music back in the day (pre-Walkman). It's kind of a Pepperidge Farm moment!
ReplyDeleteI own Teenage Beat, EVERY GIRL, and Tokyo Uki Uki Girl. Tokyo Uki Uki Girl is my favorite- her R&B sound was at its full maturity and she had some fun New Jack Swing influences. I really love ハートが奇跡を待っている from that album.
ReplyDeleteHi, Rebecca and thanks for your recommendations. I just listened to "Heart ga Kiseki wo Matteiru" and it's a fun start to "Tokyo Uki Uki Girl". I can definitely hear the New Jack Swing in there. Reminds me a bit of Kylie Minogue's "I Should Be So Lucky".
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