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.

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Nami Shimada -- Uchiki na Cupid(内気なキューピッド)

 

Going back to almost a decade ago, former KKP contributor Jari Lehtinen provided a detailed article on former aidoru Nami Shimada(島田奈美)from the 1980s via one of her later tunes, "Onegai Kiss Me Again", when she had already gone for a more dance beat-friendly sound. By that point, I believe that she was going by her real name of Naoko Shimada(島田奈央子).

Jari also did mention an earlier 5th single, "Uchiki na Cupid" (Shy Little Cupid), which was released in May 1987. This was more of the typical aidoru sound but I did go "Ah, naruhodo" when I realized that the melody and lyrics were created by City Pop chanteuse EPO. In fact, that background chorus is her voice. Nobuyuki Shimizu(清水信之)was responsible for the arrangement. In typical aidoru fashion, EPO's lyrics relate a young lady's wishes for that titular cupid to drop some magic powder on her so that she can find the man of her dreams who's gone off to college somewhere (perhaps private detectives were rather expensive on her budget).

"Uchiki na Cupid" peaked at No. 7 on Oricon which was the highest ranking that she earned on the Top 10 list. Jari has already mentioned that Shimada did go onto a plethora of other activities including being a DJ and a music journalist as well as hosting a jazz programme on radio. The video below has her guesting on another jazz show.

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