[Calm & moderated]
No.97 "Umi" by Minako Yoshida
Hi. the 16th of July this year was the National holiday called "Umi-no-hi (Marine Day)" in Japan. It's been more than 20 years since it was introduced in 1996, but we Japanese nationals are still not sure about the purpose of this day.
Anyway. today's song is "Umi" (An ocean) by "Minako Yoshida". This is a nice song. We are sure.
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 | Umi (An ocean) |
|---|---|
| Artist | Minako Yoshida |
| Album Title | LET'S DO IT -Ai ha omou mama- |
| Catalog Number | MHC7-30016 |
| Track No. | 4 |
| Duration | 3:59 |
| Released | 1978 |
| Publisher | Alfa |
| Lyricist | Minako Yoshida |
| Composer | Minako Yoshida |
| Arranger | Gene Page |
- About the creators
Minako Yoshida
Minako Yoshida is a talented singer, lyricist, composer and arranger in the popular music field of Japan.
She has been a very creative, and unique singer-song writer since debut in 1973. Her contribution to J-pop is enormous, and respected as one of the '70s revolutionary musician.
She is also known as a front-runner of the Pop and funk music in Japan since the late '70s when It was not very well understood.
Now there are many followers in the category, but she is revered as a trailblazer of their music in Japan.
She is today's main cast and we would like to come back on her in a later section.
Gene Page
Gene Page was an American conductor, composer, arranger and record producer active from the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s.
He had worked with super stars like "Jefferson Starship", "Whitney Houston", or "Elton John", and took part in more than 200 of gold and platinum records.
On this album, he participated as an producer, and also provided song arrangements for most of the songs.
His approach was typical '70s American pop sound, though it was rather different from the funky line which Minako was pursuing at that time.
But as a '70s pop album, this is s very good quality, and enough to prove his talent.
We think this record became a unique accent among a little consistent Minako's discography.
Cover art
- Sound impressions
Calm & comfortable
This is a relaxing pop music in comfortable 8-beat rhythm.
The guitar, electric piano, bass, percussion and horns start the introduction softly, and the drums, vocal joins.
A beauty of this song is the strings. In the most part of melody, a variation of strings sound are arranged.
In the bridge, there is a remarkable saxophone solo.
Basically soulful & powerful "Minako Yoshida"s vocal is well controlled on this song, and bringing much relaxed atmosphere.
- Reference
- About the artist
The vanguard of the Japanese Pops & Funk
Minako Yoshida debuted in 1973 with single "Neko"(A cat). Since then, 14 singles, and 21 original, 2 live, and 12 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia, Minako Yoshida)
A member of the pioneers
The '70s was a decade, which quite a few of brilliant musicians who established the basement of the modern J-pop, were debuted.
Minako Yoshida is also one of them. She took a key role for making Japan's pop music more stylish, and expand the field of J-pop much, through working closely with superb musicians of the same period, like the members of "Happy end" or "Tatsuro Yamashita".
Like many others, she started her music career in her high school days as an amateur.
According to the Wikipedia, one day, she got to know with "Haruomi Hosono" and "Takashi Matsumoto", the members of legendary rock group "Happy end" when she was 16.
"Hosono" and "Matsumoto" soon noticed her talent for music, and recommended her to seek out.
She soon began to sing as an amateur musician. And in 1973, when she was 20, the 1st album "Tobira no fuyu" (A winter of the door.) finally released by having a support from "Haruomi Hosono" as a producer.
By this album, she opened her own music world.
Japan's Laura Nyro
"Minako Yoshida" used to be called as "Japan's Laura Nyro" when she released the 1st album, because of her voice and bluesy & folky melody.
#Laura Nyro, Stoned Soul Picnic
But it seems her basic direction of music was more on the Gospel, funk side.
From the 2nd album, her music increased the soulful funky taste, and it has been a style of her sound.
For the outsider's eyes, the soul or Pop & funk are the cozy positions to put her musics. Actually, people once called her as the "queen of funk". But according to some interviews, it does not really fit with her feeling since she is just creating a music she likes, regardless to the genre.
So, it maybe good to call them as Minako's music rather than try to name them as "funk", "soul" or others.
(Ref: Wikipedia, Minako Yoshida)
We would like to have a break before the text become too long. Let us continue the article about her for the next time.
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)
4
8. Japanese Letters
| Song Title | 海 (Umi) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 吉田美奈子 (Minako Yoshida) |
| Album Title | LET'S DO IT 愛は思うまま (Ai-ha omou-mama) |
Comments