Kei Ogura -- Shiosai no Uta（しおさいの詩）

 

For the second time in as many weeks, NHK's "Uta Con"（うたコン）was the setting for a major singer to give his farewells. Last week, it was enka singer Kiyoshi Hikawa（氷川きよし）who waved goodbye for an indeterminate time from his singing, and just tonight it was singer-songwriter Kei Ogura's（小椋佳）turn. I'd mentioned in an earlier article this year that Ogura would be wrapping his career up by the end of 2022, although I found out that he will be giving one last concert in January 2023, perhaps on his birthday on the 18th when he turns 79.

I couldn't find any footage on YouTube of his appearance on the show tonight (and most likely, it would be given the cease-and-desist order by NHK when found out). Ogura has had to sit for his performances in recent times and his voice has become softer and a bit shaky, but I think that has added to the wistfulness of his singing. On "Uta Con", he performed some of his old chestnuts: "Ai San San" (愛燦燦), "Ore tachi no Tabi"（俺たちの旅）and "Saraba Seishun" （さらば青春）.

I wanted to pay tribute to Ogura and sure enough, I was fortunate enough to come across his debut single "Shiosai no Uta" (The Song of the Roar of the Sea) which was released in February 1971. If I'm not mistaken, the Tokyo-born singer was then working as a bank officer so I can only imagine what his fellow workers thought of this unassuming colleague of theirs possessing such an amazing voice and songwriting ability. 

Written and composed by Ogura, the lyrics tell of a man standing by the sea. Having gotten old over the decades, he starts staring at the roiling ocean and wonders about the years gone by and perhaps of friends and family gone by as well. It is a poignant song that is powerfully delivered. "Shiosai no Uta" was also included on Ogura's 3rd album "Samayoi"（彷徨...Wandering） which came out in March 1972. Having hit No. 2 on the Oricon weeklies, I think that this is the first example of a song or an album posted on "Kayo Kyoku Plus" that got onto the yearly rankings in multiple consecutive years. "Samayoi" hit No. 10 in 1974, No.3 in 1975, No. 6 in 1976, and No. 34 in 1977.

All my best to him once he finally retires.