[Tender & breezy]
No.3 “Carnaval” Saki Takaoka
Hi. Today's song is "Carnaval" (Carnival) by "Saki Takaoka".
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Index
1. Song data
| Title | Carnaval |
|---|---|
| Artist | Saki Takaoka |
| Album Title | Golden best |
| Catalog Number | VICL-63442 |
| Track No. | 14 |
| Duration | 4:26 |
| Released | 1991(Single) 2009(album) |
| Publisher | Victor entertainment |
| Lyricist | Anjyu Mana |
| Composer | Kazuhiko Kato |
| Arranger | Kazuhiko Kato |
- About the creators
Anjyu ManaLyricist
"Anjyu Mana" is a popular lyricist active since mid '80s. She has written quite a few songs for the various artist in the pop music scene.
She has also offered a few songs for the singers like "Hiroko Kasahara" or "Megumi Hayashibara" who are also very popular in Anime music scene.
Since the debut of "Saki Takaoka", "Anjyu Mana" has been participating the music production of her.
In fact, "Takaoka"s debut song "Mayonaka no Sabrina" (Midnight Sabrina) was written by "Mana".
She is known as a excellent writer for love songs. But she is also very good at kid-friendly songs.
One of the clear example of such kids song is "Rajah Maharajah", which was originally written for a unique new wave artist "Jun Togawa". But the sample her version does not seem to be available.
So, here is a link for another popular version sang by "Motoko Kumai". If you like, please listen to.
Kazuhiko KatoComposer & Arranger
"Kazuhiko Katō" was a competent composer, arranger, guitarist singer-songwriter and music producer in the J-pop.
He himself had been a known singer in the Japanese pop scene. And yet at the same time, he'd been a capable music producer.
Since the debut of "Saki Takaoka", he participated as a music producer to her.
"Katō" devoted his energies to promoting the singer. So, in a sense, we are listening Katō's music through an excellent performer "Takaoka".
That maybe also a reason why her earlier albums still maintain some popularity even they were released in the early '90s.
(Ref: Wikipedia, Kazuhiko Kato)
For more information about "Kazuhiko Katō", please have a look at one of our post linked in below if you like.
Cover art
- Sound impressions
Tender & breezy
This seems to be a tender and breezy pop song in Latin feel sound with Samba like rhythm.
The introduction begin with an impressive collaboration by the percussions and the flute, supported by the drums, bass and the electric piano.
After joining the steel acoustic guitar, "Saki Takaoka" begin to sing in charming voice.
In the verse, male chorus participate and the sound become richer.
Then in the bridge, the sax and Latin percussions play in a real Samba rhythm and create a festive air.
Cabasa
In the introduction, there is a impressive rattling sound ("Shaka-shaka" in Japanese) from a percussion, and it might be the Cabasa.
Here is a video clip showing how to play the Cabasa.
* How to play the Cabasa
- Reference
- About the artist
Saki TakaokaFree-spirited beauty
"Saki Takaoka" is a popular female actor, model, and a singer active since 1988.
"Saki Takaoka" started her professional career as a model in April 1988.
Almost at the same time, she debuted as a singer with a single titled "Mayonaka no Sabrina" (Midnight Sabrina).
Mayonaka no Sabrina
(Original version, 1988)
Since then, 7 singles, and 7 original, and 1 best album have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Saki Takaoka)
As a female actor
In 1989, she debuted with an action movie titled "CF girl" at the age of 15.
In 1994, she starred in a semi-fictitious samurai film directed by "Kinji Fukasaku" who was one of the most revered film director in Japan.
This movie won the 18th Japan academy award in 1995. By participating in this movie, "Saki Takaoka" earned 7 different honorable awards.
Since then, she has been constantly appearing in various movies, as well as the TV series and varieties until now.
And not just movie and TV, she is continuing performing in theaters since 1988, though there was a break from 1993 to 2004.
So, it seems she is enjoying a life as a female actor.
As a singer
Since her first album "Sabrina" became on sale in 1989, she constantly released 4 more of superb albums almost every half a year until 1991.
From those albums, we can feel the earnestness of the staff especially "Katō".
The songs are not really a pop tune of that time, but all the songs contain the essence of "Katō"s music, which is elegant, fashionable, and wonderful.
So, the stop of the album release was an unexpected thing, though in a sense it was understandable.
Luckily after 22 years, she has come back as a singer in 2014.
This time, she is singing a vocal Jazz with acoustic backing. It fits nicely with her present self.
We would like to support her as long as she sings.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Saki Takaoka)
"Saki Takaoka" & Jazz
Lastly, here is a music clip of "Saki Takaoka" singing a vocal Jazz with a piano Maestro "Yōsuke Yamashita" in 2015.
"Yōsuke Yamashita" is a close friend to her late father who was a owner of a popular Jazz spot called "Airegin" in Yokohama.
And "Yamashita" has been watching her grow after her father passed away in 1979, according to Wikipedia, and others.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Saki Takaoka)
(Ref:lentracte.jp, Yokohama Airegin)
* "Saki Takaoka" & Maestro
- Samples from online music stores
About the samples
Please go to the page below, and just play or click track No.14.
Trial button is on the left side of the song title.
AD : Free listening samples
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
Apple Music(jp)
14
8. Japanese Letters
| Song Title | カ・ル・ナ・バ・ル (Carnaval) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 高岡早紀 (Saki Takaoka) |
| Album Title | ゴールデン☆ベスト (Golden best) |
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