Tulip -- Koi no Dracula（恋のドラキュラ）

From Good Free Photos

Indeed, the annual bewitching hour is almost upon us. My community is supposed to be holding a brief Halloween party for the kiddies later this afternoon. Additionally, I gather that will be devoting some of the posts this coming Tuesday to Halloween-themed songs. Last night, I received a comment from a student at the University of Maryland last night that a radio station associated with his alma mater, WMUC, had devoted an episode to Japanese Halloween-themed music which was surprising and wonderful. My many thanks to that commenter for that playlist.

One of the songs that was on the WMUC playlist was Tulip's（チューリップ）"Koi no Dracula" (Dracula of Love). The B-side to the folk group's 15th single "Yakusoku"（約束...Promises） from October 1978, it's about as playful a pop song that I have ever heard from Kazuo Zaitsu's（財津和夫）wholesome band, and the whole Dracula thing is more analogous than literal. Therefore, there is no master vampire making blood withdrawals; the only stake being thrust anywhere is Cupid's arrow into some poor sap's chest on seeing a fetching young lady. Zaitsu was responsible for words and music. Good choice in starting KKP's annual Halloween thing with Tulip since it's been about a year since I posted about them.

Considering what I've just posted above, I couldn't help but be reminded of Frank Langella's more romantic take on "Dracula" from 1979. More familiar with his older and crustier character roles in recent movies, I've had to be reminded that Langella cut quite the dashing young figure in that movie.