Ryuichi Sakamoto/Miku Hatsune -- Front Line（フロントライン）

 

Found out through Twitter earlier today that yesterday (January 17th) was Ryuichi Sakamoto's（坂本龍一）70th birthday so let me wish him a belated birthday, and I certainly hope that he has gotten better since that cancer diagnosis last year. The fact that he has recently worked with Mondo Grosso to get a new song out is perhaps a good sign.

I never heard of The Professor's "Front Line" before. This was his 2nd solo single from April 1981 (following "War Head") and the first thing that I noticed was how the opening rhythm reminded me a little of Yellow Magic Orchestra's "Tong Poo"（東風）through a synthesizer with Southeast Asian ideas. With the original lyrics, melody and arrangement by Sakamoto, the English lyrics were made by YMO associate Peter Barakan. The J-Wiki article also mentions that fellow YMO member Yukihiro Takahashi（高橋幸宏）is on the drums.

With all affection and admiration for this amazing musician, I think that he has been a far more effective songwriter than a singer, but having said that, "Front Line" is another fun synthpop Sakamoto earworm for my memories. In an odd way, this particular single can be a cousin to YMO's "Perspective" (1983) which also had The Professor and Barakan collaborating on it. Whereas the latter had those beautiful older-and-wiser-but-sadder sentiments, "Front Line" seems to have the protagonist from "Perspective" in an earlier period of life as a more optimistic, happier and cockier fellow.

Judging from those "Front Line" lyrics, Sakamoto is a music warrior fully dedicated to the battle and staving off any affections for his lady love until the war is won. If it hadn't been for the express description of the music warrior in the chorus, I would have said that this was the ideal quirky song for any of The Avengers.

Miku Hatsune（初音ミク）gave her own rendition of "Front Line" and yup, I enjoy her vocalization. For those who may not know Peter Barakan, he has been the host for the long-running "Japanology Plus" program on NHK World.