When it comes to the folk duo Gamu（雅夢）, most listeners of Japanese pop music of the past will quickly recollect their debut single and biggest hit, the wistful "Ai wa Kagero"（愛はかげろう）from September 1980.
Well, vocalist and songwriter Kazuto Miura（三浦和人）went really dramatic with his group's 2nd single "Kanashikute" (I'm Sad/I Miss You) from February 1981. Man, starting with that epic pipe organ, it almost sounded like a particularly mournful take on Albinoni's "Adagio in G Minor". What has just been wrought here, I initially thought. Mind you, the folk ballad quickly simmers down to a melancholy piece about being alone after a breakup with the home that used to be for two now an emptier space for one. Nope, I really don't think this will be played at any wedding receptions.
I figured that for an A-side so almost overwhelmingly sad, the B-side has just got to be a whole lot more optimistic for balance's sake. And sure enough, although there is some of that romantic ache in "Yume de Aitai kara" (Because I Want to See You in My Dreams), there is also more hope in this tenderhearted tune. Miura and songwriter Haruaki Kato（夏冬春秋）co-wrote the lyrics while Miura took care of the languid melody.
Now This song is striking and gorgeous. If there are more songs out there like this absolutely do not mind learning about more Kanashi/kanashimi songs!
ReplyDeleteYes, the irony is not lost on me that I wrote about this one yesterday just after writing an Author's Picks on Kanashii Kayo.
DeleteJ-Canuck, it continues to surprise me how catchy and cool some of these supposedly 'sad' songs are! Like, for example, the lyrics to Anri's 「悲しみがとまらない」paint a really terrible picture, but the beat and arrangement are uplifting enough to dance to. On the other hand, if you listen to American blues or sad country music, you may come away feeling depressed.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a trope for the kayo kyoku period that if one doesn't understand the lyrics of a song from that era, one would think that it's a very upbeat tune when in fact, it's not. That's perhaps one reason that enka and country music have been compared with each other.
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