Yumi Matsutoya & Takao Kisugi -- Corvett 1954

From Tower.jp

One of the most intriguing album covers that I've ever seen from the world of Japanese pop music has been Yumi Matsutoya's（松任谷由実）1978 album "Ryusenkei '80"（流線形'80...Streamline '80）. That old-style automobile flying in the night sky over a seashore was daunting enough that I had to wonder whether it was simply begging for psychoanalysis. Was it reflecting the Japanese desire to travel beyond their nation's shores in the lap of luxury?

Well, that car is most likely the topic of one of the tracks in "Ryusenkei '80", "Corvett 1954". And yep, there are a couple of things about that title that the fans of the iconic Corvette may want to confront Yuming（ユーミン）over. One is of course the spelling of that title but that is how it was officially placed in the album. The other thing is something we have to go spelunking a little deeper into the J-Wiki article for "Ryusenkei '80". Apparently, Yuming had meant it to be titled "Corvett 1953" initially, after the first-generation Corvettes by Chevrolet that year but in the recording studio, the enunciation of that year didn't go smoothly at all so they just went with 1954. I read though that the actual 1954 models didn't do all that well.

All that aside though, "Corvett 1954" is the song that dreams are made of if folks crave of the calm, reassuring and domesticated well-to-do life as sung by both Yuming and singer-songwriter Takao Kisugi（来生たかお）. There is a bit of Bacharach and perhaps some of that 1950s commercial jingle in Masataka Matsutoya's（松任谷正隆）arrangement for this ménage à trois: a man, a woman and the Corvette. Just imagine heading back home leisurely late at night after a wonderful soirée or dinner party at the Andersons on Long Island while the babysitter has already put the kids to bed.

(5:13)

The word "ryusenkei" is included in Yuming's lyrics so perhaps "Corvett 1954" may also be the title track for the album to match the picture of the car on the album cover. In any case, "Ryusenkei '80" peaked at No. 4 on Oricon.

Do enjoy this video on the history of the Corvette from PD Evolution.