I already have several KKP articles in which singer-songwriter Hiroko Taniyama（谷山浩子）is involved either as the main singer or as a contributing songwriter to another singer's work, and so maybe I have already mentioned this. Like Taeko Ohnuki（大貫妙子）, she's someone that I had heard in the wind over the years but didn't really know any of her material. Over the past several years, I've gotten to know Ohnuki very well and I'm now proud to say that I have her first several albums. The same cannot be said about Taniyama; I have yet to own a single album of hers so I'm still getting to know her.
This song, "Glass no Kyojin" (Glass Giant), which started life as a B-side to Taniyama's August 1986 18th single "Yuuyake Ringo"（夕焼けリンゴ...Sunset Apple）, definitely has my attention. Now, there are apparently two different versions of the song, the original B-side and an album version which belongs to her 12th album, "Mizutama Jikan"（水玉時間...Polka-Dot Time）, which was released just a couple of months following the aforementioned single. I don't know which is which but the two versions are bracketing these paragraphs.
The one above, which was set up by YouTuber Avie Yahika well over a dozen years ago, is notable for its rich but lonely piano and a bohemian saxophone. Taniyama's lyrics seem to highlight a theme of deep sadness brought about by the termination (intentional or not) of a relationship (romantic or not) and the wish of becoming a huge skyscraper-like figure towering above all, beyond the need for emotions or companionship.
The one below has a lusher Fashion Music arrangement with strings and oboe or bassoon backing Taniyama, and it made me wonder whether the singer had ever collaborated with Joe Hisaishi（久石譲）or anyone at Studio Ghibli, because this "Glass no Kyojin" seemingly sounds perfect for one of Hayao Miyazaki's（宮崎駿）animated features. The other remarkable point is that Taniyama wasn't responsible for the melody. It was actually Kenjiro Sakiya（崎谷健次郎）, someone that I would usually associate with City Pop. But then again, Hisaishi, someone that I would usually associate with those orchestral Studio Ghibli pieces, has given his own contribution to the urban contemporary.
Okay! While Hiroko Taniyama clearly does not have the vocal range that Uta Hikaru has, I can't escape the feeling that if Uta Hikaru had have been active in 1986 that her music might have sound something like this.
ReplyDeleteJust to make sure...you are talking about Hikaru Utada?
DeleteThank you for confirming. Yes, that's right! I meant Utada, not uta a mistake on my part!
ReplyDeleteYeah I really wish they use this song in a future Ghibli movie... Such a nice song.
ReplyDeleteKinda wondering if she actually did make one somewhere down the line.
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