Masahiko Kondo -- TOKYO - L.A. - N.Y.

 

Usually when it comes to 80s teen idol Masahiko "Matchy" Kondo（近藤真彦）, good ol' high school rock-n'-roll and kick steps are the phrases that coalesce in my memories.

City Pop doesn't pop up though most of the time for this third of the Tanokin Trio. Mind you, he did record "Eien ni Himitsu sa"（永遠に秘密さ）in 1984 which was a Tatsuro Yamashita（山下達郎）creation. And even earlier, he came up with the subject of this article, "TOKYO - L.A. - N.Y.", a track from his 4th original album "Rising" from April 1983. 

Just from reading the title, "TOKYO - L.A. - N.Y." sounds like a fine title in City Pop circles and that's what it is. It's a thick slice of urban sophisticated pop written by Hisashi Suzuki（すずきひさし）and composed/arranged by Koji Makaino（馬飼野康二）with a devil-may-care Doobie-ish rhythm, sharp horns, shimmering strings and wailing electric guitar. Those lyrics also fulfill another common theme of kayo kyoku: that of a fellow leaving everything behind in his native Japan including a now-former flame to head overseas for an unknown but exciting future. And this time, the final destination is clear: the amazing Big Apple! The lad doesn't intend to return and as they say, if one can make it in New York City, then he can make it anywhere.