[Soft & nostalgic]
No.89 "Otona no kaiwa" by Yukiji Asaoka
Hi. Today's song is "Otona no kaiwa" (A conversation between adults) by "Yukiji Asaoka".
This is a warm & nostalgic pop song of the '70s, but with a smart impression. The performer was a very popular singer & actor, "Yukiji Asaoka" who was loved much by the Japanese people.
If you like, please listen.
Some articles have been put away in a "Memo" tab in each section, so please click it to read.
If the "Memo" tab does not open, please enable the Java script in your browser.
Thank you.
Index
1. Song data
| Title | Otona no kaiwa (An adult talk) |
|---|---|
| Artist | Yukiji Asaoka |
| Album Title | GOLDEN BEST Yukiji Asaoka sings Kyōhei Tsutsumi |
| Catalog Number | MHCL-182 |
| Track No. | 10 |
| Duration | 2:48 |
| Released | 1971(song) |
| Publisher | Sony Music House |
| Lyricist | Rei Nakanishi |
| Composer | Kyōhei Tsutsumi |
| Arranger | Kyōhei Tsutsumi |
- About the creators
Rei Nakanishi
Rei Nakanishi is one of the most prominent lyricist in Japan active since mid '60s.
He started his professional career in 1963 as a translator for French pop music. But soon he began to write original lyrics in Japanese, and released amazing number of big hit songs only within 4-5 years.
According to tapthepop.net, Rei Nakanishi has written 4000 lyrics for 25 years from 1964. And the 30 songs became million sellers.
Kyōhei Tsutsumi
Kyōhei Tsutsumi is also one of the most influential and revered composer of modern J-pop, particularly in the main stream pop music category.
He started his professional career in 1967. Since then, he has written hundreds of hit songs, and holding a title of the biggest-selling composer in J-pop history.
Cover art
- Sound impressions
Soft & nostargic
This is a fairly soft, nostalgic early '70s pop music in comfortable speed.
The Clarinet, trumpets and the vibraphone start the introduction and the drums amd the bass quickly join.
In the middle of the song, the strings also participate and give a richness to the melody.
"Yukiji Asaoka"s voice is often more alluring but sounds very cute on this song.
- Reference
- About the artist
Great singer and actress
Yukiji Asaoka was a popular singer, actress, a master of Classical Japanese dance, and one of the 1st generation TV character active since mid '50s.
In a sense, her career was almost parallel with the development of the television in Japan. So, we would like to talk a bit on this point.
Yukiji Asaoka started her career in 1950 by entering high quality actors academy named "Takarazuka music school".
This school is actually a training center for a famous all-female musical theater troupe "Takarazuka Revue Company".
All the trainee will learn legitimate style singing and dancing for 2 years, and basically, all the graduates will join "Takarazuka Revue Company" straight away.
Takarazuka
"Takarazuka Revue Company" (usually called "Takarazuka") is one of the most well known all-female musical theater troupe have more than 100 years history.(est 1913).
They perform gorgeous musicals throughout the year, and very popular particularly for women.
Here are some official video clips of their recent musicals.
* The Poe Clan
Here is a Japanese style musical as well.
* Sekkashou
As you she, their performance is high level. All the members of "Takarazuka" are regarded as qualified for singing, dancing and acting.
To be a TV character
Interestingly, the debut of Yukiji Asaoka (1955) was almost coincided with the start of television broadcasting in Japan(1953).
In the early days of television, there were no video recorders at all. So, all the programs were sent out in live, even a music show or drama series.
Convenient live performer
Under such environment, TV productions were always looking for performers who can sing, dance, and act perfectly even in live conditions.
In this context, a newly debuted Jazz singer "Yukiji Asaoka" who trained at "Takarazuka" was exactly the kind of person they were searching for. Then she quickly becaome a character of the earliest days of television.
(Ref: cinematoday, Yukiji Asaoka)
Moving "Yukiji Asaoka"
Since then, she had been a top star for more than 50 years until her last day, in other word, April 2018.
Here is a recent interview clip when she participated in a TV advertising film. The woman in the middle is "Yukiji Asaoka".
* Sekkashou
(Ref: Wikipedia, Yukiji Asaoka)
By the way, there are no well summarized data for her discography so far.
We would like to chase the information if we find some.
- Samples from online music stores
About the samples
Please go to the page below, and just play or click track No.10.
Trial button is on the left side of the song title.
AD : Free listening samples
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
Tower records online
hmv.co.jp
8. Japanese Letters
| Song Title | おとなの会話 (Otona no kaiwa) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 朝丘雪路 (Yukiji Asaoka) |
| Album Title | GOLDEN☆BEST 朝丘雪路 筒美京平を歌う (Asaoka Yukiji Tsutsumi Kyōhei wo utau) |
Comments