Shizuko Kasagi -- Hey Hey Boogie（ヘイヘイ・ブギ）

 

Over the last number of days, I've been getting into recording some of the programs from TV Japan for posterity since as all viewers will know, the specialty channel will end its broadcasting history as of March 31st. But from March 20th, the new Internet streaming service Jme will be going into operation as the inheritor of Japanese television supply for the masses in North America.

If I were to tape any "Uta Con"（うたコン）episodes, I should have done so tonight since everyone put on quite a show, opening with their tribute to the current NHK morning serial "Boogie Woogie"（ブギウギ）which will be ending its own run at the end of March. Apparently, "Uta Con" won't be returning until April which is when Jme will be in full service but TV Japan has assured us that the weekly music program will be available on the new platform.

Getting back to "Boogie Woogie", it's been the fictionalized story of the legendary Queen of Boogie Shizuko Kasagi（笠置シズ子）and her career. I've been getting to know her for the big hits of "Tokyo Boogie Woogie"（東京ブギウギ）and "Jungle Boogie"（ジャングル・ブギー）, both done in 1948, a year in which all of her records had the word "boogie" in the titles.

In between those two songs was "Hey Hey Boogie", which was performed on "Uta Con" tonight by actress Sakura Kiryu（吉柳咲良）, who will actually be making her debut on "Boogie Woogie" in the last several episodes as the new ingenue, and the singing group Junretsu（純烈）. Enjoying what I had heard there, I looked up the original version by Kasagi and gave that a listen. Written by Ko Fujiura（藤浦洸）and composed by Ryoichi Hattori（服部良一）, who had taken care of every other boogie song for the singer, the Queen of Boogie continued her streak of flamboyance and good feelings through her performance. I'd say that the song may especially be good for laughter therapy.

(1:50)