[Soft & Elegant]
No.29 "Best friends" by Yuko Ishikawa
Hi. Today's song is "Best friends" by "Yūko Ishikawa".
This is a soft & elegant pop song performed by a popular folk & pops singer, "Yūko Ishikawa".
If you like, please listen.
Links to the music shops, offering song samples, are located on the bottom of this page.
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Song data
| Title | Best friends |
|---|---|
| Artist | Yūko Ishikawa |
| Album Title | Feria no Koibito |
| Catalog Number | VICL-63140 |
| Track No. | 5 |
| Duration | 4:06 |
| Released | 1983 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Yūko Ishikawa Lyricist & composer
"Yūko Ishikawa" is a lyricist & composer, and also the singer of this song.
So, we would like to come back to her at "About the artist section" later.
Shirō Sagisu Arranger
"Shirō Sagisu" is a composer, arranger, and music producer active since around 1978.
He has participated in hundreds of albums of various artists.
One of the most well known arranger in the J-pop.
Early times
"Shirō Sagisu" was born in Tokyo in 1957.
His father "Souji Ushio" was a famous SF movie producer, and his uncle , "Masayasu Sagisu" is also a known TV animation producer.
So, in a sense, he was grown in a lucky circumstance.
"Sagisu" began to learn the piano, and the violin from the childhood.
He develop a passion for learning music theory, and already in junior high school, he was composing, and arranging melodies.
"Sagisu" continued to learn music throughout his student period.
And in 1978, "Sagisu" finally debuted as a professional musician, by participating in a later super fusion band "The Square"s first album, "Lucky Summer Lady", as a support keyboardist & arranger.
Neon Genesis EVANGELION
Since then, "Sagisu" has written, or arranged hundreds of melodies to the various artists, TV drama, and anime series.
Among them, a 1995 SF anime series, Neon Genesis EVANGELION is a famous one.
He has been writing, and arranging the screen music of this series from the beginning to the latest release.
For more detailed information, please have a look at the references below.
-
(Ref: www.ro-jam.com,
Shirō Sagisu)🇯🇵
Video clip
Lastly, here is a music clip of a popular TV anime series, "BERSERK"'s main theme, "Meimoku no kanata" (A far-off look in closed eyes) performed by a singer-songwriter, "Nagi Yanagi".
The composer is "Shirō Sagisu". A ceremonial, and solemn arrangement is a typical "Sagisu sound."
If you like, please listen.
* Reminding
You might be recommended by Youtube an English version of this song, after you play the below video.
But different from this one, the English version video clip might be a little too violent for some audience, particularly for children.
So, please be reminded to pay attention to it, if you think it might not be suitable for you. Thank you.
Cover art today
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Elegant & gentle
This is a light & mellow pop song in a moderated speed.
Airy
The acoustic guitar, mandolin, marimba, accordion , and castanets begin a sunny, and airy introduction.
There is a occasional fills of the Grand harp, and adding a classy taste.
"Yuko Ishikawa"'s pure and clear voice is a lot attractive.
Feria no koibito
Interestingly, "Feria no Koibito" (Lovers on feria) is one of the most popular album of "Yuko Ishikawa", among the new & old fans of her. And often get a premium price at the used market place.
We don't know why, but agree it is very much "Yuko Ishikawa" like album, in other word, cute and elegant.
By the way, "Feria" is a series of annual local festivals held in Spain, according to Wikipedia.
We have never seen "feria" in Spain, but wish to see it one day.
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Yūko IshikawaStar from Popcon
"Yūko Ishikawa" is a singer, songwriter, lyricist, composer, and used to be a popular radio personality, active since 1979.
"Ishikawa" debuted in 1979 with a single, "Jin-chou-ge" (Winter daphne). Since then, 24 singles, and 17 original, 4 Videos (or DVDs), and 19 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Yūko Ishikawa)
Early times
According to wikipedia, "Yūko Ishikawa" passed an audition to a local children's choir when she was an elementary school child.
In general, to join a reputed children's choir, like she passed, is highly competitive, and a narrow gate.
As stated by wikipedia, the rate of competition was 100 to 1 at that time.
Then, she started playing the guitar at a middle school. And formed an amateur folk duo when she was a high school student.
And after entering a college, she joined a pro-minded amateur band "Fantastic".
The group won the regional preliminary, and "Ishikawa" was scouted by "Yamaha" for a special vocal training course.
Then, she entered a final contest of "Yamaha Popular Song Contest" (Pop-con) in 1978.
Eventually, she couldn't win the grandprix. But received an offer from record companies. And in 1979, she started her career as a singer-songwriter, by releasing the first single, "Jin-chou-ge" (Winter daphne).
Pop-con
From the early '70s to the mid '80s, there was a famous music contest for amateur musicians, and it was called "Pop-con" (Yamaha popular song contest).
And so many brilliant singers & groups, like "Miyuki Nakajima, or "Chage & Aska", etc, were discovered, and debuted from Pop-con.
In it's 15 years history, "Yūko Ishikawa" seems to be one of the most impressive singer for everyone, and often mentioned as a memorable artist.
So, we would like to touch just a bit on "Pop-con".
"Pop-con" is a short name of "Yamaha popular song contest" held from 1969 to 1986.
It was an "open to the public" music contest sponsored by a leading music instruments manufacturer, "Yamaha".
Thousands of young musicians participated in the contest from all over Japan, because the winner of the contest is promised to debut as a professional.
And so many brilliant musicians were discovered, and obtained a chance to start their career as a professional artists through the competition.
From the '60s to the '80s, people was thinking that "Becoming a musician" was just like a game changer of their life.
Once their song becomes a big hit, they soon will be celebrities, end able to earn the unimaginable big income...
It might be a little exaggerated. But "music" was attractive enough to invite talented young to the entertainment business at that time.
However, the music industry was traditionally a bit closed world. And scouting, recruiting, and promoting musicians were happening in unclear backstage.
So, there were no established access route to the music scene for the ordinarily young who wish to be a musician.
Under the circumstances, "Yamaha music foundation" provided a very open, and very fair access route to the music scene in contest style. It was the "Pop-con".
Naturally, thousands of the most talented young musicians were gathered from all over Japan, and developed through competition.
That was why so many great singers, or bands were born from "Pop-con". "Yūko Ishikawa" is certainly one of them.
Cinderella summer
"Yūko Ishikawa" quickly became a popular singer. And in 1981, her 7th single record, "Cinderella summer" became a smash hit. This song was also used for JAL (Japan Airlines)'s commercial jingle and, by this song, her name become widely known.
"Ai"-land for the two of us
"Ishikawa" had been constantly releasing new singles, and having a busy life as a popular singer.
In 1984, she again was named to sing a commercial song for JAL. But this time, as a member of a duet.
"Ishikawa" tagged a duet team with a popular vocalist "Chage" of a pop group,"Chage & Aska", and performed a new song titled, "Futari no 'Ai'-land" written by "Chage".
Happy, lively, and up-tempo song like this was actually rare in "Ishikawa"'s song line-up. But, this song became a big hit, and made "Ishikawa"'s life ar more busier.
By the way, the word "Ai-land", in the song title, is a coined word made from a Japanese word "Ai" (means Love), and the word "island".
So, it simply means "Love island", We believe.
Marriage & recent
It was really a bit sudden, but in 1990, "Ishikawa" announced her retirement from singing. Fans were frozen in disbelief, but understood her decision.
In 1994, "Ishikawa" married with her boyfriend. And soon they welcomed a new member to the family.
"Ishikawa" had been concentrated to keep her family well, and was not appearing in public for a long time.
But in 2016, she appeared on stage for the first time in 26 years, at "Forever Friends, Forever Cocky Pop" concert as a cast member. ("Cocky Pop" was a name of a radio program on Pop-con.)
"Forever Friends, Forever Cocky Pop" concert seems to be so popular, and had been continuously held every year since the beginning.
"Yūko Ishikawa" is also appearing the concert regularly, so if you have a chance, please join.
Video clip
Finally, here is a old familiar video clip of "Nagisa no chikai" (A promise on the beach), which was another duet song performed by "Yūko Ishikawa & Chage" in 1984.
This was a coupling song in their hit single "Futari no 'Ai'-land".
It's a classical triplet ballad in a comfortable speed.
If you like, please listen.
Music Samples
5
(試聴する)
AD: Listening samples (Free)
hmv.co.jp
TOWER RECORDS ONLINE (No sale)
billboard-japan.com(No sale)
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | ベストフレンズ(Best friends) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 石川優子(Yūko Ishikawa) |
| Album Title | フェリアの恋人(Feria no Koibito) |
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