Chigiri Akiyoshi -- Boku ga Inakute mo（僕がいなくても）

Amazon.jp

 

I figure that this coupling song, "Boku ga Inakute mo" (Even If I'm Not Here), on the late Chigiri Akiyoshi's（秋吉契里）July 1997 3rd single "Atsukunarakya Dame Kore mo Koi dakara"（熱くならなきゃだめ これも恋だから...It Has to Be Passionate, Cause This is Love, Too） can be compared to a lot of different songs from the United States. However, when I first heard this mix of country and rock, I suddenly got these vibes of the earliest incarnation of Steely Dan such as with their "Do It Again". Great guitar solo, by the way.

Written and composed by Akiyoshi, "Boku ga Inakute mo" has got a really cool rhythm underlying the singer-songwriter's steady but fervent vocals. And perhaps it's one more outta-left-field observation from me, but the chorus even strikes me as having a bit of kayo kyoku although it's represented by some of that roots rock guitar and bass.

Chigiri Akiyoshi -- Happy Birthday For You

Wikimedia Commons

I was wondering who was celebrating their birthday today on October 25th and the only person that I recognized quickly enough in the long list on Wikipedia was legendary artist Pablo Picasso who would have been 144 (he actually passed away in 1973) on this day. If you wish, you can take a look at his works on WikiArt.

Almost two years ago, thanks to a tip from commenter Robert, I posted a song by the late singer-songwriter Chigiri Akiyoshi（秋吉契里）titled "Unmei no Tobira"（運命の扉）which was released back in December 1997 on her debut album "Sonzai"（存在...Existence）. Well, I also found her debut single from February that year, "Happy Birthday For You". It's quite the rollicking country rock tune although I'm not sure whether she had meant it to sound like a country song. There is no mention of her on J-Wiki pursuing a country line of music and country musicians haven't been all that plentiful or popular in Japan but there is something in the arrangement as I hear it here that makes me think Akiyoshi would have been pretty welcome in Nashville.

In any case, if any of you viewers are celebrating a birthday today, enjoy your day with your friends and family!🎂

Chigiri Akiyoshi -- Unmei no Tobira（運命の扉）

 

Happy Boxing Day! I don't personally take part in the mad dash for sales at the shopping malls but hopefully some of you have found some good products for those low, low prices, and at the same time, given some lunch time business to restaurants. For me, I'm just tuckered out from seeing, reading and hearing about all the consumer craziness, and there's nothing that I've really wanted to buy during Boxing Day.

Anyways, to begin this final week of the year between Christmas and New Year's, commenter Robert informed me some days ago about a singer-songwriter by the name of Chigiri Akiyoshi（秋吉契里）. I'd never heard of her before but Robert felt that her short discography was worth exploring. One suggestion he had was the above song titled "Unmei no Tobira" (Destiny's Door) which was the final track of her debut album "Sonzai"（存在...Existence） from December 1997.

Written and composed by Akiyoshi, this is a ballad with that touch of country blues as she heartfully sings about not losing hope and gaining reassurance from friends. That titular door can appear and open to new possibilities. Akiyoshi's vocals reminds me a bit of ZARD's singing back in the day.

Akiyoshi began her career in early 1997 and released a total of two albums and seven singles up to 1999. Sadly, she would lose a battle with cancer in September 2004. Although her birth date was never revealed, it's assumed that she passed in her mid-30s.