Credits

I would like to give credit where credit is due. Videos are from YouTube and other sources such as NicoNico while Oricon rankings and other information are translated from the Japanese Wikipedia unless noted.

Friday, April 23, 2021

Tatsuhiko Yamamoto -- Matenro Blues(摩天楼ブルース)

 


Another nice and relaxing ballad by singer-songwriter Tatsuhiko Yamamoto(山本達彦)who I think is one of the relatively hidden treasures for J-AOR and City Pop. I believe that I've noted this before but his delivery seems to mix in some of the vocals of his contemporaries, Junichi Inagaki(稲垣潤一)and Yasuhiro Abe(安部恭弘).

From his February 1982 album "I Love You So" is the final track "Matenro Blues" (Skyscraper Blues) which indeed has that bluesy feel replete with soft keyboards, harmonica and of course Yamamoto's soothing voice. Accompanying his melody is Masami Sugiyama's(杉山政美)lyrics which are happily not a downer at all and actually show an emerging romance in the big city. Perhaps in reflection of the title, the couple is up at the top of those tall buildings in the West Shinjuku area during the evening.

The video below is a live performance of "Matenro Blues" by Yamamoto from his 1987 album "Alive and Well". Hopefully, all of you are, too.



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