I think it was just ten days ago that I put up a Mariya Takeuchi（竹内まりや）Xmas song. Looks like she's the one that still keeps on giving. Just thought of it right now...what do the Yamashitas (Mariya and Tatsuro) do on a normal Christmas Day? Are they busy in the studio coming up with more music or do they enjoy a quiet Yuletide with family or with a generous heaping of friends?
Well, while we're munching on that thought like a mouthful of turkey and stuffing, I can provide another Mariya Xmas tune via "Special Delivery ~ Tokubetsu Kokuubin". No worries on the Japanese; it's just the direct translation of the English. This was actually Takeuchi's 8th single from September 1981 and a track on her 5th studio album "Portrait" which was released a month later.
Since it was still relatively early in her career, "Special Delivery", which was written and composed by the singer with Yamashita arranging everything, has that 50s/60s American pop beat that used to imbue a lot of her music at the time. Just the whole thing seems to describe that giddy young lady hopping, skipping and jumping toward the mailbox with that letter for her beloved, presumably overseas currently, in the hopes that he will be back for the Holidays. If she had actually performed "Special Delivery" on a show, it would have had plenty of happy-go-lucky choreography.
Well, no choreography perhaps but she does look quite appropriately seasonal here and nice shoutout to an old Xmas classic, too.
I might have mentioned before, but of all her Christmas songs, this is my favorite. There was a really affordable copy of the 45 up for auction a couple weeks ago. I forgot to bid and missed out, otherwise I'd have received it today.
ReplyDeleteHi, Scott. I think you did mention this. Too bad that you couldn't get the 45 but the album, "Portrait", is up at CD Japan. I discovered a pretty nice Shizuka Kudo Xmas song today on YouTube. I may cover that one as the last Xmas entry for this year.
DeleteAnyways, I hope that you and your family have a Happy and Safe Xmas.