Osaka Songs

 

Well, the Osaka Expo is now fully underway. Back last week, I posted a Kaori Mizumori（水森かおり）enka in commemoration of the event, and earlier today, NHK's "Uta Con"（うたコン ）provided a song festival for Osaka in tribute as well. I realized then that I may not have put up a list of Osaka-based kayo kyoku on KKP as of yet, and checking some of the key files, I apparently have not done so. Therefore, without further ado, here are some of those songs, a few of which were featured on "Uta Con".

(1976) Senri and Mari Unabara -- Osaka Rhapsody （大阪ラプソディー）

(1986) Takajin Yashiki -- Yappa Sukiyanen （やっぱ好きやねん）

(1981) Harumi Miyako & Tadashi Miyazaki -- Futari no Osaka （ふたりの大阪）

(1982) Masaki Ueda -- Osaka Bay Blues

(1979) BORO -- Osaka de Umareta Onna （大阪で生まれた女）

And of course, we gotta pay tribute to the 1970 Expo in Osaka.

(1967) Haruo Minami -- Sekai no Kuni Kara Konnichiwa (世界の国からこんにちは）

Harumi Miyako & Tadashi Miyazaki -- Futari no Osaka （ふたりの大阪）

I've often seen enka legend Harumi Miyako（都はるみ）swathed in a kimono singing some of the most achingly tenderhearted ballads. However, with "Futari no Osaka"(Osaka for Two), she literally let her hair down and traded the Japanese garb for a Western dress for a night on the town with the late Tadashi Miyazaki（宮崎雅）.

Released as Miyako's 83rd single (since her 1964 debut) in September 1981, the song was written by Osamu Yoshioka（吉岡治） and composed by Shosuke Ichikawa（市川昭介）. I've enjoyed listening to "Futari no Osaka"since it has that slightly tangoesque rhythm that often inhabits some of my favourite enka songs. It also reminds me of that bright nighttime city life that I've seen both in Osaka and Tokyo with the vertical signage advertising the tightly-packed bars and restaurants, and the alcohol-jolly corporate workers stumbling along the streets. However, aside from the title being quoted in the lyrics and a couple of mentions of the Osaka landmarks of Midosuji（御堂筋） and Yodoya Bridge（淀屋橋）, the song really focuses on the bittersweet last dance between two lovers before they part permanently.

This is one of the many televised performances of "Futari no Osaka" with Miyako performing the duet this time with Hiroshi Itsuki（五木ひろし）.

I was a little surprised to hear that the song didn't make its way onto the yearly Oricon rankings, but for the reasons given above, "Futari no Osaka" still resonates with me all these years later.