[Rhythmic & buoyant]
No.81 "Byaku-ya" by Wink
Hi. Today's song is "Byaku-ya" (Midnight sun) by "Wink".
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Index
1. Song data
| Title | Byaku-ya (Midnight sun) |
|---|---|
| Artist | Wink |
| Album Title | Each Side Of Screen |
| Catalog Number | XQJX-1047 |
| Track No. | 4 |
| Duration | 4:48 |
| Released | 1992 |
| Publisher | POLYSTAR |
| Lyricist | Rui Serizawa |
| Composer | Junko Hirotani |
| Arranger | Satoshi Kadokura |
- About the creators
Rui Serizawa
"Rui Serizawa" is a talented lyricist active since 1980s.
He is a fairly prolific poet and offered hundreds of lyric for the artist in almost all genres of J-pop even for animes.
It seems his wikipedia page has been removed. We would like to update the information if there are any suitable ones.
Junko Hirotani
Junko Hirotani is a singer-songwriter, composer, and a professional backing vocalist has taken part in so many recordings of the diverse artists.
She debuted in 1979 with single Michi(road). Since then, 8 singles and 3 albums has been released until now.
In 2002, she and her partner "Yasuhiro Kido" formed a unit named "Kira", and continuously presenting many beautiful songs.
(Ref: Wikipedia, Junko Hirotani)
Our writer "Satsuma" is in fact a long time fan of her since debut. We would like to post a review of her song possibly in other opportunity.
Satoshi Kadokura
Satoshi Kadokura is an arranger, composer, producer and keyboardist since 1980s.
He has been active in various music field, and participated in a lot of popular music as an arranger.
One of his memorable arrangement work is a song titled "Sekaini hitotsu-dake no hana" (Only one flower in the world) for a popular male vocalist group "SMAP" in 2003.
This song sold more than 2 million disks. It must be one of the Japan's sales record.
He is also known as a pioneering game music composer. For example, the "Metal Max (Saga)" is a title for a long lasting RPG series since 1991, and he has been participated as a composer since beginning.
Cover art
- Song image & Lyrics
This seems to be a passionated love song.
A couple is enjoying a private night in somewhere in a calm place.
A twilight time is now ending, and a long tender night is ready to begin.
A reflection of the moon touched a woman's heart, and melted in the glass. She feels she can't sleep tonight.
White night
A literal translation of "Byaku-ya" (白夜) is "White night". We could not find the origin of this word, but it must be from outside Asia, since a "White night" cannot be seen in the region.
For the Japanese, the word "White night" might have a romantic, dramatic, quiet and sleepless nightly image of far north. The word "aurora" possibly have similar likeness too.
So, in this song, it seems its intimate, dramatic and nocturnal feeling is emphasized more for the word "Byaku-ya" than an actual "midnight sun", and illustrating a peaceful happy night of a couple.
Here is a sample clip of Jō Hisaishi's piano instrument "White night", played by "sonson-pianolove". Hope it would help you to make out our image for a "White night".
* White night - Jō Hisaishi
Link to the lyrics
- Sound impressions
Light & bouyant
This is an up-tempo, light & bouyant pop music in 16-beat rhythm.
Impressive chorus and the bongo, triangle, electric guitar plus the keyboard start the introduction, then the bass and drums quickly join.
This comfortable high-speed ensemble smoothly lasts until the end of the song. It is felt finishing so quickly, then difficult to believe the playing time is almost 5 minutes.
Vocal & chorus
As a style, the two vocalists of wink sing a song less emotional way normally. But in this song, their vocal is quieter than usual, and sounds more alluring.
The performer of the beautiful backing chorus is Junko Hirotani. Her chorus always adds a huge value to the song, and she achieves this high quality job amazingly safely at any time.
- About the artist
Debut
"Wink" debuted in 1988 with single "Sugar Baby Love". Since then, 25 singles, and 15 original, 1 live, and 12 best albums has been released until now.
"Wink" is a popular vocal unit of "Shoko Aida" & "Sachiko Suzuki", but has suspended their activities since 1996.
Both were originally the queens of a beauty contest hosted by a photo magazine.
It is said that they were individually having a lessons to be a singer after recruited as a trainee. But in one audition day, they happened to meet each other and sang a song together.
That seems to be a start of "Wink" according to someone.
Can't stop loving
First half of the debut year, they had a bit of trial time. But the 3rd single they released in the late '88, which was a very good dance-pop, became a smash hit, and sold more than half a million disks.
And they quickly recognized as a top idol star in the main stream J-pop category.
Here is the song titled "Ai ga tomara-nai (Can't stop loving) - Turn it into love".
* Ai ga tomara-nai - Wink
Dancing marionette
As you can see, they almost always sang a song in this impassive poker face even on TV. So, we all believed it was a kind of rendering for featuring them.
However, they told the truth in the later interview, that they really tried to smile in front of the people or cameras, but they couldn't. Because they tended to feel too much tension in front of the audience, and were often showing cold faces.
In any case, everyone understood them as a dancing marionette like unique group, and it was surely an advantage for them.
So, we never know what becomes a seed of happiness.
We would like to post their song again in the next opportunity. Thank you.
- Samples from online music stores
About the samples
Please go to the page below, and just play or click track No.4.
Trial button is on the left side of the song title.
AD : Free listening samples
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
Apple Music(jp) (Track No.4)
8. Japanese Letters
| Song Title | 白夜 (Byaku-ya) |
|---|---|
| Artist | Wink |
| Album Title | Each Side Of Screen |
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