Tetsuo Saito -- Itsumo Music（いつもミュージック）

Through an old friend of mine, I heard that another mutual friend, when he was first courting his girlfriend, traveled hundreds of kilometres with his guitar by train to her family's house so that he could serenade her. I thought that stuff like this only happened on TV and in the movies. Past my initial shock, I ended up not asking what the fellow sang for her, but whatever it was, it was successful. They've been married for many years now.

I'm fairly certain, though, that it wasn't a City Pop tune. That was saved by singer-songwriter Tetsuo Saito（斉藤哲夫）who's far more famous for a song that was once used as a commercial tune for a Minolta camera. In that article for "Ima no Kimi wa Pikapika ni Hikatte" (いまのキミはピカピカに光って), I mentioned that Saito had been known as a folk and New Music singer back in the 1970s.

Well, the same year (1980) that his big hit came out, Saito also put out an album in July called "Itsumo Music" (Always Music). I don't know what the overall genre or genres are in this one, but the title track definitely has that urban contemporary intent in mind. Plus, Saito's lyrics seem to be calling out for his lady love in serenading fashion. He probably would have needed that rhythm section underneath her window sill, though. For a fellow who was into folk/New Music, he really does show his inner cool funkiness here. That underlying beat is relentless! And what is also catchy is how he enunciates music.

Tetsuo Saito -- Ima no Kimi wa Pikapika ni Hikatte (いまのキミはピカピカに光って)

Bringing in a bit more summer to you through this song and the commercial that it will eternally be attached to. Yoshiko Miyazaki（宮崎美子）is a veteran actress and tarento who I've seen as this very smiley and kindly presence on the various shows she's appeared on. However, her default image will always be the one she presented on a Minolta commercial way back in 1980 while in her early 20s. It's the one where she stripped off her T-shirt and jeans to reveal her buxom figure in a blue bikini. It's often the case that when she appears on a variety show, that particular commercial will be shown.

Of course, there is that campaign song which came with the ad titled "Ima no Kimi wa Pikapika ni Hikatte" (You Are Now Sparkling) by singer-songwriter Tetsuo Saito（斉藤哲夫）. Categorized as a folk and New Music singer, Saito's June 1980 single though has much more of a mainstream summery pop feel to it. Written by Shigesato Itoi（糸井重里）and composed by Keiichi Suzuki（鈴木慶一）of The Moonriders, the singer delivers this hit as if he were just strumming away at his guitar while sitting by a palm tree and admiring Miss Miyazaki from afar.

I think the song and commercial are pretty much tied at the hip now and forever since whenever I see the latter, I will always hear the former. "Ima no Kima wa Pikapika ni Hikatte" peaked at No. 9 on Oricon.