Credits

I would like to give credit where credit is due. Videos are from YouTube and other sources such as NicoNico while Oricon rankings and other information are translated from the Japanese Wikipedia unless noted.

Friday, June 27, 2025

Etsuko Yamakawa -- UTOPIA

 


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.

2 comments:

  1. Is UTOPIA a brand new single or is it self cover of one of her older songs?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My 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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