[Light & breezy]
No.95 "The Gift" by Megumi Hayashibara
Hi. Today's song is "The Gift" by "Megumi Hayashibara".
It's a light and breezy nice pop song by "Megumi Hayashibara", who has been a pop singer, and a voice actor since the late '80s'.
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 | The Gift |
|---|---|
| Artist | Megumi Hayashibara |
| Album Title | Iravati |
| Catalog Number | KICS-91158 |
| Track No. | 6 |
| Duration | 5:04 |
| Released | 1997 |
| Publisher | King records |
| Lyricist | Seishi Lee |
| Composer | Toshiyuki Ohmori |
| Arranger | Toshiyuki Ohmori |
- About the creators
Seishi Lee(?)Lyricist
The name of the lyricist, or lyricists are credited as "Seishi Lee(?).
And the name of the writer for the English part of this lyrics is stated as "Mamie.D.Lee".
Need more information
We have been searching for information on the lyricist(s), but there aren't many on the inter-net.
Even the correct reading of the "Kanji" letters of Mr(likely), "Seishi Lee(?)"s name is unclear. That is why we are adding a (?) mark after the name.
So, we would like to update if there are any new findings.
(Ref: Wikipedia, Seishi Lee)
Toshiyuki OhmoriComposer&Arranger
"Toshiyuki Ōmori" is a composer, arranger, active mainly in incremental music, and TV anime series since the late '80s.
Evangelion
He has arranged, or composed many songs since debut.
Among them, a particularly notable work might be an arrangement of "A Cruel Angel's Thesis", which is a main theme for a popular TV SF anime series, "Neon Genesis Evangelion".
And the song was performed by a popular singer, Yōko Takahashi.
Rei Ayanami
On the "Neon Genesis Evangelion" series, a mysterious heroine, "Rei Ayanami", takes key role in the story.
Interestingly, the voice actor for "Rei Ayanami" was today's main cast "Megumi Hayashibara", throughout the series.
Such personal relationship, brought up through the work, might have some effects in the album production of "Hayashibara"s.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Toshiyuki Ohmori)
Video clip
Finally, here is a video clip of a recording scene for "Yumi Matsuzawa"s new album, "Ei-en no seed" (An eternal seed) in 2018.
In 1996, a pop singer "Yumi Matsuzawa" debuted by singing a song titled "You get burning".
"You get burning" was recorded as a main theme for a unique SF Robot anime series, "Kidō sen-kan Nadeshiko" (Martian Successor Nadesico).
And, the composer of this song was Toshiyuki Ohmori.
(In addition, "Megumi Hayashibara" also voice-acted as "Hisagon" on the movie version of the series.)
(Nadesico, or "Yamato Nadesico" is a historic, and a beautiful title of a Japanese woman.
In 2018, "Matsuzawa" released a new album, and "Ohmori" offered some new songs for her.
If you like please listen.
* "Ei-en no seed" & "Yumi Matsuzawa"
Cover art today
- Sound impressions
Buoyant & rhythmic
This is a light & rhythmic pop song in comfortable up-tempo in 8th note rhythm.
Breezy
A warm & unique steal drum sound start a merry introduction. Then the drums, bass, acoustic & electric guitars, percussion and the keyboard join en ensemble.
In the bridge, a nice and cool trumpet solo generates a nice stylish atmosphere.
And the rich backing chorus, and short but impressive play of marimba also makes the sound gorgeous.
Itako-seiyū
"Megumi Hayashibara" is known by her unique skill to create dozens of different voices very realistically depending on the character.
So, she is often called as "magical voice", and we are sometimes puzzled which is her true voice.
In fact, she kiddingly calls herself an "Itako-seiyū", which means a voice actor like a Shaman, or spiritualist.
But on this song, it seems she is singing naturally in her normal voice.
In a sense, it is a fresh experience.
- Reference
- About the artist
Megumi HayashibaraLeading voice actor & pop singer
"Megumi Hayashibara" is a voice actor, pop singer, narrator, radio personality, lyricist, and essayist active since 1986.
Perhaps, she is one of the spearhead who made it a commonplace that the voice actors being a singer at the same time.
As a singer, she debuted in 1989 with a single "Yakusoku-dayo" (It's a promiss, OK?). Since then, 42 singles, and 18 original, 1 live, and 5 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Megumi Hayashibara)
Debut
"Megumi Hayashibara" began to think to be a voice actor when she was a student of an elementary school.
As a realistic career choice, she got into a nursing school after graduating from high school.
At the same time, she auditioned a scholarship for a professional voice actor training school, and won.
Since then, she went to both schools for 3 years.
And after completed the curriculum of both schools in 1988, she was granted a nursing license, and a voice acting role for the main character in an anime series "Machine Hero Wataru" at one time.
While saying so, her debut as a voice actor dates back to 1986.
She got a role for a kindergartener in an anime series "Maison Ikkoku".
It is regarded as her debut according to Wikipedia.
An important player behind the scenes
In fact, "Megumi Hayashibara" is a notable voice actor, not just because of her popularity, but as a pioneering voice actor as well as a singer.
In other words, she is perhaps a first apparent case of a voice actor who is also a pop star, rather than a staff behind the scenes.
Traditionally, or as a custom, the voice actors often refer to themselves as members of an animation production team, namely, the voice acting is a backstage role.
It is perhaps partly a professionalism, and partly a modesty.
But because of this perspective, voice actors tended to hold back themselves from exposing too much, since the stars of anime movies were the characters.
And the majority of anime fans, who were mostly children, had no particular interest for who is acting the voice of character, until the mid 70s.
By the way, there is a very good article about the history of Japanese voice actors (Seiyū). (en.wikipedia.org, Voice acting in Japan.)
It might be useful to get an overview. If you like please have a look.
Young adults as anime fans
From the late '70s to the early '80s, some SF anime movies, for example "Mobile suit Gundam", began to gain more popularity among juvenile.
Then, in the mid '80s, love comedy, or fantasy anime movies targeting young adults started to be produced, and quickly became popular.
And perhaps this was the timing, when the interest of the fans to the voice actors became more apparent.
Start as a singer
In 1986, "Megumi Hayashibara" started her voice acting career under such environment. Soon, she caught on among fans, and came to act bigger roles.
In 1989, a producer at a record company found a talent from her for singing, and offered for her to release records as a pop singer.
"Hayashibara" was not very keen for this initially. Since she was actually an orthodox, traditional type voice actor, and put a value on being a backstage professional.
But because of powerful encouragements from the producer, she released an album, and bit by bit, she expanded activities as a pop singer.
And now, she is one of the most well known pop singer. There must be some listeners who doesn't know she is a voice actor, we imagine.
Recent
So, because of her policy. she had been a rare popular singer, who was not holding any type of live concert, except for singing at some events related with her radio program.
But in 2017, she had her 1st live concert after 28 years from debut.
The live recording of the concert has been released in Blue-ray, DVD and Digital album format in 2017.
Digital album is available from major digital music shops on the inter-net.
Next time
We would like to introduce some more topics about her in the next post.
Thank you.
(Ref: Wikipedia, Megumi Hayashibara)
(Ref: spice.eplus.jp,
Megumi Hayashibara interview, 28-12-2018)🇯🇵
(Ref: entertainmentstation.jp,
Megumi Hayashibara interview, 27-12-2017)🇯🇵
(Ref: natalie.mu,
Megumi Hayashibara interview, 27-12-2017)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, this is a video clip of "Megumi Hayashibara"s song Aozora" (Blue sky).
The songs is selected from her special album "With you" released in 2017, paying tribute to the 13th memorial of her friend singer "Ritsuko Okazaki", who departed in 2004 at 44.
It is a nice gentle slow ballad.
If you like, please listen.
Ruins
On this video, some deserted images of ruins will appear.
It is actually a industrial heritage site in Nagasaki-prefecture called Gunkan-jima.
Gunkan-jima (Warship island, because of its appearance.) used to be a coal complex in a small island off the coast of Nagasaki peninsula, but abandoned in 1974 due to a closure of the coal mines.
The video will introduce the singer in an uninhabited town in birds-eye view.
That is basically everything, but we have a bit of concern if there is anyone who might be sensitive for the scenery of a ruined, or demolished town.
Otherwise, please have a look at the promotion video of "Hayashibara".
Thank you.
* "Aozora (Blue sky)" by "Megumi Hayashibara"
- Samples from online music stores
About the samples
Please go to the page below, and just play or click track No.6.
Trial button is on the left side of the song title.
AD :
Free listening samples
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
Apple Music(jp)
6
8. Japanese Letters
| Song Title | The Gift |
|---|---|
| Artist | 林原めぐみ (Megumi Hayashibara) |
| Album Title | Iravati |
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