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.

Thursday, October 5, 2023

Yoshie Nakano, Yu Sakai & Shuri -- Happy Boogie(ハッピー☆ブギ)

 

A few days ago, another NHK morning serial was launched and has been the case in the past, "Boogie Woogie"(ブギウギ)is based on a fictionalized account of a real-life celebrity (with the names changed to prevent any complaints). During the pandemic, there was the drama "Yell"(エール)which was based on the kayo kyoku songwriter Yuuji Koseki(古関裕而).

"Boogie Woogie" shows the life and times of the brassy singer Shizuko Kasagi(笠置シヅ子)whose trademark song was "Tokyo Boogie Woogie"(東京ブギウギ), and as you can see above, the production staff didn't waste any time making that point clear right from Episode 1. That is indeed Shizuko Kasagi Suzuko Fukurai(福来スズ子)performing the famous upbeat kayo kyoku from 1947. Pretty darn happy way to start one's day.

I also saw the opening credits to "Boogie Woogie" and I was impressed with the different animation styles being used. Even the design of the title looking like four people cutting up the rug is fantastic. And the wonderful thing is that the music for the series is created by Takayuki Hattori(服部隆之), the grandson of the composer of "Tokyo Boogie Woogie", Ryoichi Hattori(服部良一).

Grandson Hattori was also responsible for the theme song "Happy Boogie" and it fulfills both words very well in the sound. I was automatically attracted of course by the jazz but also by the three singers behind it: Yoshie Nakano(中納良恵)of bohemian jazz and indies group Ego-Wrappin', Yu Sakai(さかいゆう) who's often collaborated with Tomita Lab(冨田ラボ), and actress/singer Shuri(趣里). Could get people dancing from the breakfast table.

The Hattoris aren't the only intergenerational celebrity association in "Boogie Woogie". Main actress Shuri happens to be the daughter of Candies' Ran Ito(伊藤蘭)and actor/singer Yutaka Mizutani(水谷豊)whose character has continued to solve crimes in the long-running "Aibou"(相棒).

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