With Kingo Hamada and Mariya Takeuchi（濱田金吾・竹内まりや）earlier today, we were talking about original and cover when it came to their "Lonely Wind". Now, we come to a cover of a cover.
One of the earliest Japanese pop songs that I fell for when I really got into kayo kyoku in the early 1980s was Circus'（サーカス）"Mr. Summertime", thanks to that episode of "Sounds of Japan" on CHIN-FM here in Toronto. However, I wouldn't find out for years that the 1978 hit for the vocal group was actually a cover for Michel Fugain's "Une Belle Histoire" in 1972. By the way, I never mentioned it in the original Circus article, but Machiko Ryu（竜真知子）had been responsible for the Japanese lyrics.
Well in 2008, the duo paris match performed their own cover of "Mr. Summertime" for their February 2008 7th album "Flight 7". Compared to Circus' take, this one has a bit more oomph thanks to a rocking Shibuya-kei organ and an electric guitar. At the same time though, there is some lightness thanks to Mari Mizuno's（ミズノマリ）tender vocals. Basically, when compared to the relaxing Riviera vacation that I envision when I listen to "Mr. Summertime" 1978, this version thirty years later has a bit more of spy intrigue and jet-setting adventure perfect for a 1960s caper.
Here, again you have left your readers with another hard choice. However, after listening to Original song 1972, first Japanese cover 1978, and second cover 2008 I have come to one conclusion actually the same conclusion that Miguel and Tulio came in "the Road to El Dorado": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSCGoefBO7Q
ReplyDeleteGood with me, too. :)
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