[Tender & ennui]
No.16 "Kumori-zora" by Yumi Arai
Hi. Today's song is "Kumori-zora" (Cloudy sky) by "Yumi Arai".
This is a stylish, and ennui pop song in a Bossa Nova rhythm.
A very beginning song of a very talented singer-songwriter Yumi Arai, or Yumi Matsutōya in 1973.
Some links to the music shops offering song samples are located on the bottom of this page.
Few contents have been put away in a " ▼Memo " tab in each section, so please click it to read.
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Thank you.
1.Song data
| Title | Kumori-zora (Cloudy sky) |
|---|---|
| Artist | Yumi Arai |
| Album Title | Hikōki-gumo |
| Catalog Number | TOCT-10711 |
| Track No. | 2 |
| Duration | 3:02 |
| Released | 1973 |
| Publisher | Toshiba EMI |
| Lyricist | Yumi Arai |
| Composer | Yumi Arai |
| Arranger | Y. Arai & Caramel mama |
- About the creators
Yumi AraiSong creator
The name of "Yumi Arai" is credited on this album as a lyricist, composer, and arranger.
She is also a performer of this song, then we would like to come back to her later in "About the artist" section.
Yumi Arai & Caramel mamaArrangers
"Yumi Arai" & and a pop-rock band, "Caramel mama" were credited as Arrangers.
We are going to talk about "Yumi Arai" in a later section, then we would like to touch a bit about a unique pop-rock band "Caramel mama" (renamed "Tin pan allay" later).
Successor band
"Caramel mama" was virtually a successor band to a legendary rock group "Happy end", since the 2 core members of the band, namely, "Haruomi Hosono", and "Shigeru Suzuki" were participating.
They invited 2 other skilled musicians to the band, in other word, a keyboardist "Masataka Matsutōya", and a drummer "Tatsuo Hayashi".
Then, a unique rock instrumental band "Caramel mama" was formed.
Tin pan allay
"Caramel mama", renamed the band "Tin pan allay" in 1974, and continued activities until the late '70s. And, left 2 albums while they were active.
Contrary, the band had involved in at least 15 albums of 11 (could be more) different artists, as a backing band, and the producers.
Therefore, they are often called as the music creators, rather than a rock band.
Tin pan
In the late '70s, the band came to a natural end, because each of the members became busier on their individual business.
Since then, the band suspended its activity. so, we had understood they would have been no longer active.
But interestingly, the band suddenly came back in 2000 as "Tin pan", and released a new album titled "Tin pan".
The keyboardist "Masataka Matsutōya" wasn't ready to join on this occasion. That was why the band name was "Tin pan", missing "alley".
But in the 2010s, there seems some opportunities that 4 of them join, and show their performance.
Video clip
Finally, we would like to introduce a digest of "Akiko Yano's Satogaeru concert" held in 2014 with "Tin Pan".
"Akiko Yano" has to do with the members of "Caramel mama", since she recorded few songs with them for debuting around 1973.
Even after the debut of "Yano", they are keeping in close contact, and helping each other to create the most exciting music like "Yellow Magic Orchestra".
So, the members of "Tin pan allay" are like team mates, but also like her elder brothers she feels comfortable.
If you like, please listen.
(By the way, "Tin Pan" is the other name of "Tin Pan allay" when "M. Matsutōya" is not able to join.)
* "Sato-gaeru concert"by "A.Yano + Tin pan"
Cover art today
- Sound impressions
Modern & ennui
It's a stylish, but little sentimental & ennui pop song in a Bossa Nova rhythm.
Bossa rhythm
The drums, bass, acoustic & electric guitar, keyboard, acoustic piano, and the percussion join, and start an undecorated, but stylish introduction.
In the main melody, the acoustic guitar, Bongo, and triangle also support "Yumi Arai"s pure and natural vocal, together with her own piano accompaniment.
And the repeating Bossa rhythm, and soft attacks of the percussions create a Bossa rhythm atmosphere.
In the bridge, we can listen a brief, but beautiful solo play of the alto flute.
The player was a known saxophonist, and flutist "Akira Miyazawa". He had once appeared on the albums of "Mal Waldron", or "Toshiko Akiyoshi" as a guest player.
Chic
Seemingly, the sound of this album is designed to be not decorative, but smart, natural, and chic as far as we listen.
In the early '70s, the pop music tended to be either too gorgeous, or too rugged, and there weren't a music moderately smart and elegant.
So, it is just our guess, but "Yumi Arai" was wishing to create the music like such.
- Reference
- About the artist
Yumi AraiA pioneer of the modern J-pop
"Yumi Arai", or perhaps more well-known as "Yumi Matsutōya" is a singer-songwriter, lyricist, and composer active since 1971.
One of the most prominent & artist in the J-pop since the '70s, and has accomplished many great things until now.
"Arai" debuted in 1972 with a single "Henji-ha iranai"(No need to reply). Since then, 41 singles, and 38 original, 2 live, and 9 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Yumi Arai)
Early period
"Arai" began to learn the piano when she was 6 years old.
But her little more serious music activity was started when she was 14, and began to interact with more musical friends.
In 1971, "Arai" debuted as a professional composer by offering a melody to a known pop vocalist, "Katsumi Kahashi", who is also an ex-member of popular rock band, the Tigers.
In 1972, "Arai" released her first single "Henji-ha iranai"(No need to reply), and in November 1973, he first album "Hikōki-gumo", which we are introducing today, became on-sale.
In the very beginning, her album did not become a hot topic. But soon, some fashion-conscious people, or influencers like radio personalities noticed the value of this album, and began to talk about it more.
And thanks to their push, her visibility was increased quickly.
"Arai" began to release a new album every year after the first one.
Every time she release a new song, her popularity had risen . And she had already been one of the top singer-songwriter when she released her 4th album "14 ban-me no tsuki" (The 14th moon) in 1976.
In private, "Arai" married with "Masataka Matsutōya" in 1976, who is a keyboardist of popular rock band "Tin pan allay", and had been supporting "Arai"s music since she had debuted.
"Arai" took her partner's family name when she got married. Since then, she has been called as "Yumi Matsutōya".
Full speed
From 1978 to 1983, she increased the speed of album release further, and achieved to introduce 2 albums every year for this 6 years.(except 1982)
Actually, the albums released in this period are all really well made, though they didn't top the charts.
We think her works in this period made her one and only, outstanding singer-songwriter.
Super star
Around 1981, "Yumi Matsutōya" was already not just a singer-songwriter, but a kind of cultural icon.
Whenever she released a new album, it always went straight to the top of the chart.
In fact, her 17 consecutive albums released from 1981 to 1997 were all ranked the 1st in the album chart.
It has been a record in the J-pop, and still unbeaten.
From 2000 and onward
Even a new millennium started, her exceptional popularity remained unchanged.
She has been constantly releasing new album and the best album, and they are almost always climbing to the top of the charts.
In parallel, she has been holding number of concerts pretty regularly like she was used to do.
But, she is is always changing a style of her concert according to the audience who are slightly more matured than earlier.
As a songwriter, she is continuously active, and offering many songs to the various artists.
And in 2013, she received a Medal of honor from the government for her long time contribution to the popular music.
Recent
She is constantly writing songs, or releasing albums.
In 2018, she released a best album comprises of 3 disks.
And it was soon topped the chart as if it is a reserved sheet for her.
Monster
In a sense, "Yumi Matsutōya" is a monster (sorry) artist. She has been a top singer's position for 45 years since debut.
She is definitely one of the pioneer established a sophisticated urban pop music style in the J-pop, and has been a model of a female singer-songwriter.
Great musician.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Yumi Arai)
(Ref: musicman-net.com,
Interview Masataka Matsutōya, 29-10-2010)🇯🇵
(Ref: yahoo news,
Yumi Matsutōya Interview, 10-04-2018)🇯🇵
(Ref: tfm.co.jp,
Sakanaction x Yumi Matsutōya 03-05-2018)🇯🇵
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Yumi Matsutōya)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, this is s trailer of her best album titled "Yuming-karano koi-no uta" (Love songs from Yuming) released in 2018 for celebrating her 45th anniversary.
It is a set of 3-albums, and this trailer is introducing the part-1 (disk1), "Pure Eyes".
"Pure Eyes" is focusing on the delicate line-up of her earlier albums.
If you like, please listen.
* "The 45th anniversary" by "Yumi Matsutōya"
- Samples from online music stores
About the samples
Please go to the page below, and just play or click track No.2.
Trial button is on the left side of the song title.
AD :
Free listening samples
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
Apple Music(jp)
(You can still listen this song by clicking the banner. Please select track No.2 once the page is open.)
8. Japanese Letters
| Song Title | 曇り空 (Kumori-zora) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 荒井由実 (Yumi Arai) |
| Album Title | ひこうき雲 |
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