J-Canuck here. Well, we've come to the 100th and final song in Yutaka Kimura's series of City Pop masterpieces that began all the way in the spring of 2023 with Hiroshi Sato（佐藤博）and Wendy Matthews' "I Can't Wait". And it seems rather poignant and appropriate that the long list finishes with another song that was one of the first that I encountered when I got into the whole City Pop thing years ago. Anyways, let's get you reading the final entry.
Number: 100
Lyricist: Akiko Matsushita
Composer: Makoto Matsushita
Arranger: Makoto Matsushita
From Matsushita's 1981 album "First Light"
Getting away from the rat race of city life, you take the highway and head to the ocean. What awaits you are the hot sands and summer love...this is the scenario in "One Hot Love", and it's not an exaggeration to say that it's the once-in-a-lifetime masterpiece by Makoto Matsushita（松下誠）. The tight sound of the Doobie Brothers-like blue-eyed soul in the latter half and the bouncing chorus line really get me excited.
The above comes from "Disc Collection Japanese City Pop Revised" (2020).
Fireminer here! Nice job with wrapping up this very interesting series! And it makes sense for someone to pick One Hot Love as the last song. It may not be the best City Pop song, but it does fit well what people think a City Pop song is.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Fireminer! I was kinda surprised that early on, I'd mentioned that I would see how things went about continuing on the series but really, there was no way that I could stop until I reached No. 100.
DeleteThere are at least a few notable individuals named **Makoto Matsushita**, but the most widely recognized figure with this name—especially outside of Japan—is the Japanese guitarist and composer associated with the “city pop” and jazz-fusion movements that flourished in the late 1970s and 1980s. Below is a brief overview focused on the musician Makoto Matsushita:
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Early Career and Background
- **Musical Roots**: Makoto Matsushita studied music formally and honed his skills as both a guitarist and composer. His refined technique and ear for melodic composition set him on a path to become a studio and session musician.
- **Session Work**: Before releasing his own material, Matsushita contributed as a guitarist and composer to various projects, showcasing his versatility in pop, rock, fusion, and jazz settings.
“City Pop” Era
- **City Pop Context**: In Japan, the late 1970s into the 1980s saw a surge of music now commonly labeled “city pop.” Blending elements of pop, funk, R&B, jazz-fusion, and soul—with glossy production and breezy, cosmopolitan themes—city pop captured the feeling of Japan’s economic boom years.
- **Solo Debut, *First Light* (1981)**: Matsushita is best known for his 1981 album *First Light*, a prime example of city pop/jazz-fusion crossover. The album features:
- **Smooth Guitar Work**: Clean, intricate solos and funk-inspired rhythm lines. - **Jazz-Fusion Elements**: Complex chord progressions and harmonic textures influenced by jazz. - **Polished Production**: A sophisticated studio sound that was typical of Japanese pop-fusion in the early ’80s.
- **Cult Popularity**: Though *First Light* enjoyed modest success upon its initial release, it eventually attracted renewed global attention decades later when collectors and music enthusiasts—drawn by the city pop resurgence—rediscovered the album online and through reissues.
## Later Activities
- **Ongoing Involvement**: Beyond his solo career, Matsushita has continued to perform, produce, or arrange for other artists, though detailed public information about his more recent activities can be sparse.
- **Legacy**: Today, *First Light* remains the centerpiece of his discography. Its blend of funk, pop, jazz, and smooth instrumentation continues to resonate with fans who appreciate the warm, relaxed “summer-night” vibe characteristic of the city pop genre.
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### Other Individuals Named Makoto Matsushita
- **Academia/Research**: There are researchers and academics named Makoto Matsushita in fields such as mathematics or engineering. If you are seeking information about one of them, you may want to specify the field or institution for more precise details.
In summary, if someone mentions “Makoto Matsushita” in a musical context—especially in relation to Japanese city pop—it almost certainly refers to the guitarist and composer whose album *First Light* has become a sought-after classic among fans of 1980s Japanese pop and jazz-fusion.
Thanks, Showa Man on your information on Matsushita.:)
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