Anri -- Honeymoon Shuttle（蜜月船）

 

It looks like it's the Sato-and-Masaki day today. I've just finished the article on Masayuki Suzuki's（鈴木雅之）"Tandem Run" which was written and composed by Yui Masaki（真沙木唯）and Hiroshi Sato（佐藤博）respectively, and while I was in the middle of finding out the basic information about that song, I found a brief report on Masaki's creations. The first song at the top of the list was "Honeymoon Shuttle" by Anri（杏里）.

Now, as for those Martin fans who have just read about "Tandem Run", I did have to give belated birthday greetings, but I was much better with Anri since I did give those right on her birthday on August 31st via the article for her "Namida wo Umi ni Kaeshitai"（涙を海に返したい）. Anyways, as I mentioned off the top, it's indeed a Sato-and-Masaki day since the two of them had also been behind this dreamy Anri song "Honeymoon Shuttle" from her 1986 album "Mystique". The kanji which could be read as "Mitsugetsu Sen" or "Mitsugetsu Bune" is always sung as "honeymoon shuttle"  by the singer.

However, the reason that I chose to write about this Sato-and-Masaki-penned number immediately after a Sato-and-Masaki-penned one for Martin is not because of the commonality in songwriters. It was actually because "Honeymoon Shuttle" isn't only another lovely Anri tune but it also sounds quite different in my estimation when compared to the songs that she was recording during that decade with folks like Toshiki Kadomatsu（角松敏生）. Even its trackmate on "Mystique", "Morning Squall"（モーニング スコール）, has some of that Kadomatsu feeling although the composer and arranger are different.

Actually, "Honeymoon Shuttle" is a romantic Latin-tinged song that sounds so Sato. In fact, I think that if it hadn't been for Wendy Matthews living large on his amazing "Awakening" album, Anri and "Honeymoon Shuttle" could have fit right in as a track there. Sato and Masaki created "Tandem Run" to fit the Martin style but for this Anri tune, it was the other way around. Incidentally, regarding the lyrics, I thought that the narrative was a happy one but then by the end, I realized that despite the honeymoon nature of the music, there was that cold and musty smell of breakup. I'm not sure why the word "honeymoon" was even included except to further dig the toothpicks under the fingernails to stress the message that what could have been didn't happen. I guess Masaki and Sato were in their own Blue period at the time.

Masayuki Suzuki -- Tandem Run

 

And welcome to another sunny Sunday edition of "Kayo Kyoku Plus". The age of 60 is an important one in Japan since the birthday is known as kanreki, a sign that one has gone through the Chinese zodiac five times and is seen as a rebirth for the individual. Still, like in Canada, Japan's Old Age Pension clicks in from 65 years of age. 

Well, guess who turned 65 on September 22nd? It was none other than the King of Love Songs, the Count of Charisma and the Sultan of Soul in Japan himself (the last two titles are mine alone), Masayuki "Martin" Suzuki（鈴木雅之）. Yup, this guy is now technically a senior citizen! This is a fellow who can probably dance orbits around me (and considering my girth, the vocabulary is accurate here) and he's now able to pick up his OAP cheques.

While we "Kaguya-sama" anime fans wait for a third season next year and therefore, hopefully, another Martin opening theme extravaganza, allow me to introduce another track onto the blog from his April 1988 album, "Radio Days", to join "Misty Mauve" and "Hohoemi wo Machi nagara"（微笑みを待ちながら）among others. "Tandem Run" will have new fans of Martin swooning with its cool and upbeat soulfulness and some of that city-zipping sophisti-pop feeling.

Keyboardist Hiroshi Sato（佐藤博）was responsible for the music and arrangement while Yui Masaki（真沙木唯）came up with the lyrics about a fellow giving his goodbyes to a woman and a relationship after a great run in the city via a car (I'm assuming nothing less than a sporty version of Audi would have sufficed here). Just from the description, the guy seems like a blasé Humphrey Bogart type who has acknowledged the good times but when it's time to say adios, it's time to say adios (although it's uncertain who initiated the breakup). The only couple that really stays is Bogie and his Audi. Somewhat cold, but dang, I love the music by melody magician Sato.