It's been a little over a year since the passing of guitarist Makoto Ayukawa（鮎川誠）at the age of 74 while his fellow bandmate and partner in life, Etsuko "Sheena" Ayukawa（鮎川悦子）left this mortal coil a little over nine years ago. But as cliché as it sounds, I'm sure that the music of Sheena & The Rokkets（シーナ&ザ・ロケッツ）has been living on within the survivors of the band and their fans.
Recently, I found this follow-up single to their 1980 hit "You May Dream". "Baby Maybe", which was written and arranged by Sheena and Makoto respectively with Yellow Magic Orchestra's Yukihiro Takahashi（高橋幸宏）, was released in October 1980, a little over ten months following the release of "You May Dream". To me at least, "Baby Maybe" sounds like a 1950s rock n' roller given that New Wave sheen with the synths and what also makes it work is Sheena's cute-as-a-button delivery. No, I'm not saying that she was being an aidoru about it; more like Marilyn Monroe.
The song was also a part of Sheena & The Rokkets' 3rd album "Channel Good"（チャンネル・グー）which came out on the same day as the single. And yep, the video below does have that 1950s look. They sure don't make music videos like those anymore.
What a timeless legacy Sheena & The Rokkets have left us! Their 1980 hits "You May Dream" and "Baby Maybe," with that perfect blend of nostalgic '50s rock n' roll and New Wave sheen, continue to resonate today. They created a truly unique sound.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Sheena & The Rokkets were one of a kind, to be sure.
Delete