…and you knew THIS was coming too, right? Pink Lady were huge in the latter half of the 70’s, and “U.F.O,” released in December 1977, was their best selling single. I’m not ashamed to say I know most of those dance moves. Of course that’s part of Pink Lady’s...
Classic J-Pop
Japanese pop from the early 90’s and earlier.
Japanese Song of the Day – “Sukiyaki,” or “ue wo muite arukou (I’ll Walk Looking Up)” by Kyu Sakamoto
Well, you all knew this one was coming. 🙂 First off, if you’re curious about more of the history behind this song and Kyu Sakamoto’s career, PLEASE get yourself a copy of “Sayonara Amerika, Sayonara Nippon” by Michael Bourdaghs. It’s a great history of Japanese popular music from World...
Japanese Song of the Day – “ii hi tabidachi (Departure on a Lovely Day)” by Momoe Yamaguchi
I’ve mentioned Ms. Yamaguchi before, as the songwriter for “LA SAISON” by Ann Lewis. She didn’t write this song, but it’s a track that to me exemplifies Japanese pop music in many, many ways. Musically and lyrically, this song is what Japanese pop is all about for me: nostalgia,...
Japanese Song of the Day – “yume no naka e (Into a Dream)” by Yousui Inoue
I said he was going to come up – and here he is! The lyricist behind Anzen Chitai’s hit “WINE RED no kokoro,” singer-songwriter Yousui Inoue. Inoue-san is a rock/pop/folk singer, lyricist, and composer who’s been around since the early 70’s. He’s pretty well-known for not just his songwriting,...
Japanese Song of the Day – “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence” by Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto was part of the group Yellow Magic Orchestra, who I mentioned a few days ago. This time, I want to focus on him specifically. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence was a 1983 film directed by Nagisa Oshima about prisoners in Japan during World War II, examining how soldiers...
Japanese Song of the Day – “ZERO” by B’z
I apologize for being less that professional on this post. B’z are my favorite band. But before you turn away and shun my opinion as biased and unreliable, a few facts: -B’z have been active as a band for 25 years. -They are the best-selling artist in Japan with...
Japanese Song of the Day – “roppongi shinjuu (Pact Suicide in Roppongi)” by Ann Lewis
Because more chick rock is always a good thing! The half-Japanese Air Force baby started off as an idol singer better known for posing in magazines than music, but after a short hiatus in which she got married & had a son, she relaunched her career with the hit...
Japanese Song of the Day – “Behind the Mask” by Yellow Magic Orchestra
Yellow Magic Orchestra were a group of extremely talented musicians who pioneered Japanese electronic music in the late 70’s. Their influences obviously included Electronic music acts like German group Kraftwerk, but there was a good deal of independent experimentation by the members of the group, who were tired of...
Japanese Song of the Day – “YOU MAY DREAM” by Sheena and the Rokkets
There were some awesome chick rockers coming out of Japan in the 80’s. Sheena and the Rokkets debuted in 1978 opening for Elvis Costello during his Japanese tour. This song is their second single, released in 1980, and is a frequently covered one. The album on which this song...
Japanese Song of the Day – “WINE RED no kokoro (Wine-Red Heart)” by Anzen Chitai
So I was thinking to myself, why not post about a Japanese pop or rock song I like every day? It would get me in the habit of posting regularly, and I could teach everyone something. Fun times! This is Anzen Chitai’s late 1983 single “WINE RED no kokoro.”...