Yume Suzuki -- Kimi wa Boku janai（君は僕じゃない）

 

Back in 2022, I posted an article for the first time regarding singer-songwriter Yume Suzuki（鈴木結女）because I liked the cut of her jib when it came to her song "NITE FLITE", a track from her April 1994 4th album "Conversation". The synth-horns of that time which also imbue that particular song by Suzuki were quite the symbol of champagne-and-caviar City Pop going well into the 1990s, although by that point, with the Bubble having collapsed, it was perhaps more sparkling wine-and-salmon roe.

Still, even if the economy hasn't been what it used to be in the high-flying latter half of the 1980s, the urban contemporary music in the final decade of the 20th century in Japan apparently hadn't gotten the memo yet. The Suzuki-penned "Kimi wa Boku janai" (You Ain't Me) has a title that is just as brassy as those synths. Yup, the swinging City Pop is in there and on further listening, I can also pick up a little New Jack Swing kicking in there. The number by the way is a track on her May 1995 first BEST compilation, "Singles & More", and since I couldn't find "Kimi wa Boku janai" in any of her previous albums, I guess it was part of the "More" as a new tune.

Yume Suzuki -- NITE FLITE

 

As much as I've loved the City Pop of the 1970s and 1980s, each decade represented by its own distinctive arrangements, I think that there is love to be had too for the urban contemporary material in the 1990s. Moreover, there have been songs represented on the blog by folks such as Masayuki Suzuki（鈴木雅之）and Michiru Kojima（児島未散）.

I think that one musical instrument that has helped distinguish the City Pop among those three decades is the keyboard whether it be the Fender Rhodes or the synthesizer. This is solely my opinion, but I think the 1990s version of City Pop has been characterized by synthesizers that enjoy emulating the brass section. I mean, it's obvious that it is a synthesizer pretending to be a battery of trumpets but still it has its own aural sensation adding to that urban contemporary melody.

And that comes out in Tokyo singer-songwriter Yume Suzuki's（鈴木結女）"NITE FLITE", a track on her April 1994 4th album "Conversation". I don't remember when and how I found out about it but whenever I see a title like that, I kinda figure that there has got to be something urban and contemporary about that number. Plus, Perfume's "Night Flight" is also very cool although it's in another genre altogether. But getting back to "NITE FLITE", this song written by Arisu Sato（佐藤ありす）and composed/arranged by Suzuki and keyboardist Masao Kuzuba（崩場将夫）has got plenty of groove and brass to power through a night out on the town.

Suzuki debuted with her first album while in her junior year of university in 1991 after which she has released over fifteen singles up to 2015, several of which have been used for the anime "Ninku"（忍空）. Nine albums have been released as well including a BEST compilation. Another piece of trivia that I got from her J-Wiki file is that for much of the 2000s, she and her family had been residing in my hometown of Toronto and then San Diego. I just hope that it wasn't the winters that scared her off down south...although I wouldn't blame her if they did.