J-Canuck's Other Beloved Five J-Xmas Songs

 

For my final article on Christmas Eve 2022, I've decided to do an Author's Pick to not only commemorate KKP's Xmas season but also to note once again that we've been around for 10 years. Mind you, it was actually around 9 years ago that I put up my "Top 5 J-Xmas Songs" with familiar names such as Tatsuro Yamashita（山下達郎）and Junichi Inagaki（稲垣潤一）. Since the end of 2013, though, we've gained knowledge of many other J-Xmas tunes and as of this writing, there are over 200 entries for "Xmas" in Labels.

As such, I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to give out my personal alternative list of favourite J-Xmas songs as a sequel to the original 2013 list. Again, I'm going with five songs but they aren't in any particular order.

1. Midori Karashima -- Silent Eve （サイレント・イブ）

Yeah, this would be the one to decompress with...preferably with a cup of chamomile tea after that arduous round of Christmas shopping. The lyrics by the Sensei (Karashima's nickname) are on the melancholy and lonely side of Christmas songwriting in Japan but that beautiful string-and-piano arrangement can't be beat.

2. Akiko Kobayashi -- Stardust Memories

Again, the lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto（秋元康）aren't particularly happy ones, but "Stardust Memories" is quite an upbeat tune for the mellow-voiced Kobayashi. Instead of focusing on those words, focusing on the melody by the singer can bring images of having fun in the snow and/or finishing up the Xmas shopping and stopping in for a cup of coffee.

3. Seiko Matsuda -- Pearl-White Eve

Seiko-chan（松田聖子）has come up with Xmas songs in the past but it seems with her 1987 album "Snow Garden", she came up with some of her most refined tunes for the happy season. "Pearl-White Eve" is the favourite one for me because it combines some old-fashioned arrangements and contemporary pop. The singer sounds absolutely innocent although as my university buddy pointed out that at the end of the song, Matsuda sings that she will wrap herself up in her pink pyjamas and she'll be the present for her lover. Hey, I will not judge.😇

4. Reimy -- Pocket no Coin (ポケットのコイン）

As I mentioned in the original article for Reimy's（麗美）kittenish and adorable "Pocket no Coin", I don't think that it was ever meant to be a Christmas song. However, after those images of Christmas markets and couples quickly insinuated themselves into my mind after first hearing it, I just had to treat it as Xmas-friendly. Now, I've also realized that the cordial and languid arrangement can make it into Fashion Music territory.

5. Mariya Takeuchi -- Kon'ya wa Hearty Party （今夜はHearty Party)

Well, let's finish this list with a "party hearty" one since that is yet another lyrical theme for J-Xmas. Plus, we do have Tatsuro Yamashita on the first list, so we gotta have his wife here for the follow-up. As much as it might be strange to go nuts on Christmas Eve with the heavy drinking, camaraderie and Kentucky Fried Chicken, that's the thing about December 24th in Japan. A lot of folks simply Wang Chung that night.

Anyways, if you're not showing up on the blog on the 25th because of all those Yuletide obligations, let me speak on behalf of everyone here on KKP and give my hearty wishes for a Merry Christmas. Don't drink and drive!