KAN -- IDEAS the very best of KAN

 

From Amazon.jp

Recently, while I was perusing JTM's gift of albums, I came across singer-songwriter KAN's 3rd compilation of BEST hits, "IDEAS the very best of KAN" which was released in November 2007 to commemorate his 20th anniversary in the music business. Remembering him especially during my first stint in Japan between 1989 and 1991 because he had his first big hit with "Ai wa Katsu" in the middle of my sojourn, he looked like a stylish representative of the young Japanese hipster of the time with that clean-cut and short hairstyle while garbed in a modern form of a Zoot suit. Nowadays, his photos seem to show him as the slightly crumply middle-aged CEO of a company.

I knew that Kan Kimura  (木村和）was a huge fan of Billy Joel in terms of The Piano Man's vast discography beginning from the 1970s, but on listening to the concentration within "IDEAS", I now believe that KAN also admired some of Joel's contemporaries, too. First though, let's take a look at the lineup on "IDEAS". The songs were written, composed and arranged by KAN and Shingo Kobayashi（小林信吾）assisted in arrangement.

1. IDEA (new song)

2. Songwriter

3. Iezu no I LOVE YOU (言えずのI LOVE YOU)

4. Saint Petersburg ~ Dajare Otoko no Kanashiki Hitori Tabi (サンクト・ペテルブルグ〜ダジャレ男の悲しきひとり旅〜)

5. Happy Time Happy Song

6. MAN

7. Propose (プロポーズ) (new version)

8. DISCO 80's

9. Hoshikuzu no Kaerimichi (星屑の帰り道)

10. Nagagutsu (長ぐつ)

11. Mayumi (まゆみ)

12. Ai wa Katsu (愛は勝つ)

13. Sekai de Ichiban Suki na Hito (世界でいちばん好きな人)

14. Saru to Inu no Salsa (猿と犬のサルサ)

15. Curry Rice (カレーライス)

16. KAN no Christmas Song (KANのChristmas Song)

17. Go-juu Nen Go mo (50年後も)  (new version)

As listed above, the first track "IDEA" is the lone totally new song on "IDEAS", and although I got the thought through the orchestral strings that there was some Beatles (another band that KAN admires) action in there, I realized that the artist was adapting Pachelbel's "Canon" (or should I say "Kanon"?). On first listen, it does come across as being quintessentially KAN with the laidback and bouncy rhythm and the nimble vocals that he does as a half-rap/full rap.

"Saint Petersburg ~ Dajare Otoko no Kanashiki Hitori Tabi" (A Punny Guy's Sad Solo Trip) was KAN's 24th single from February 1998. I've probably mentioned this in a past KAN article, but back in those days that I saw him frequently on television, the singer struck me with that innocent puppy-dog demeanor in the good suit as the good-hearted if socially awkward best buddy to the male lead in a rom-com. Therefore, I think that subtitle for the heartwarming and somewhat comical "Saint Petersburg" is very apt for KAN as he plays a fellow going on a trip through Europe and Russia to perhaps heal himself following the end of a relationship. On one level, there is the story of his vacation on the plane and in those far-flung places and on another, there are those puns that he flings here and there which had me feeling pretty drafty. Musically, I not only got Beatles but also Electric Light Orchestra.

KAN's 26th single from February 1999, "Happy Time Happy Song" is arranged almost like a child-loving toy march as the fellow acts like a teacher getting his young charges together one last time before they take off into the world. Just like Mr. Chips, he acts all wise, reassuring and beneficent about giving one piece of advice that the good times will come...before he tells them that he's really just a little ol' songwriter who would like the kids to spend that 3000 yen on his CD. Methinks that in another life, KAN would have done stand-up.

My favourite song on "IDEAS" is "DISCO 80's" which was a track on KAN's May 1996 10th album "MAN". The tune itself isn't so much disco in its melody as it is a happily nostalgic reminder of what the discos were like and how much everyone enjoyed themselves back in that decadent decade. He even throws out some of those famous dancehalls in Tokyo such as Lexington Queen, and even the bands Kool and the Gang and Earth Wind and Fire. I guess that it is my favourite because I had my own similar enjoyment as an undergraduate in Toronto in those halcyon days.

"Hoshikuzu no Kaerimichi" (The Stardust Way Home) is one ballad that doesn't seem to have any of those Beatles or Billy Joel influences. In fact, I'd say that it has more in common with a lullaby and a sad kayo from the 1970s. And indeed, it's a bittersweet number involving a soon-to-be ex-couple as they take one more walk down a well-worn path before leaving each other's company forever. This song first came out as the final track of KAN's November 1994 9th album, "Shinonome"（東雲...Daybreak） which peaked at No. 21 on Oricon.

One more song that I'll add here is the poignant "Curry Rice". At first, I had assumed that KAN's 30th single from February 2006 was going to be one of his happy-go-lucky silly songs, but instead, it's a middle-of-the-road tune with a touch of 70s soft rock about the regret-filled aftermath from a romantic spat. One of the pair storms out with no hint of when she will be back while the other is left in self-flagellating mode. As a peace offering, he decides to heat up some curry from the fridge for her while contemplating how to make it up to her when she (hopefully) returns home. Even if it ends up cooling down again, he'll just heat it up. Curry is good that way. The song was used as the theme for the TBS drama "Sento no Musume!?"（銭湯の娘!?...The Bathhouse Daughter!?）.

"IDEAS the very best of KAN" went all the way up to No. 38 on the album chart. Listening to his BEST compilation, I got the impression that KAN is really inspired by and loves his musical heroes from his past. Billy Joel is the Piano Man but KAN is truly the Pop Man of Japan.