Last month, I was surprised and delighted to discover that microphone-reticent singer-songwriter Etsuko Yamakawa(山川恵津子), who had basically only made her lovely vocals known through her contribution to Tohoku Shinkansen(東北新幹線)in 1982, had released a digital single about a year ago in July called "Do Yah!". The song was a bouncy reflection of what Bubble Era City Pop was all about.
Well, about a month after that release, the lady released another single online called "UTOPIA". As provided by lyricist Yukako Niizuma and composer/arranger Yamakawa, it's more of a woozy midnight stroll along a park. Perhaps that late-night walk in Tokyo is perhaps a utopia indeed. There's a combination of Burt Bacharach-friendly bossa nova and Kirinji(キリンジ)enveloped in a Neo-City Pop film when I listen to this smooth-as-Baileys song. Of course, Yamakawa's kittenish vocals are still the chef's kiss.
Is UTOPIA a brand new single or is it self cover of one of her older songs?
ReplyDeleteMy impression is that it's a new song since I have never heard of Niizuma before. Have you heard an older version of it?
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