[Soft & cute]
No.108 "Hello Mr. Monday" by Momoko Kikuchi
Hi. Today's song is "Hello Mr. Monday" by "Momoko Kikuchi".
"Momoko Kikuchi" was a top idol star of the '80s, and still a popular actor and TV character. And this soft & warm pop song was released in the latest part of her idol era, perhaps as a feeler for her music style in the fture.
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 | Hello Mr. Monday |
|---|---|
| Artist | Momoko Kikuchi |
| Album Title | Miroir |
| Catalog Number | VPCB-80407 |
| Track No. | 8 |
| Duration | 4:11 |
| Released | 1991 |
| Publisher | Vap |
| Lyricist | Momoko Kikuchi & Reiko Yukawa |
| Composer | Momoko Kikuchi |
| Arranger | Jun-ichi Kamiyama |
- About the creators
Momoko Kikuchi & Reiko YukawaLyricist
Two people are creditted as lyricists of the song.
Among them, "Momoko Kikuchi" is the singer of this song, and we are going to cover her later in the "About the artist" section.
So here, we would like to introduce little about Ms. Yukawa.
"Reiko Yukawa" - Talented music writer
"Reiko Yukawa" is a lyricist, music writer (critic), radio personality, translator and a powerful publicist for music therapy active since mid '50s.
Additionally, she has been a chairperson emeritus of "The Japan Lyricists Association" after retiring from the chairperson's position in 2012.
She started her career as a female actor. And appeared on several movies mainly in the 50s.
In 1960, she debuted as a music writer at a popular magazine.
It seems she was really competent and lucky for being a music writer. From this time, she has been one of the brightest music writer.
Interview with the Beatles
One of the most well known, and shining episode on her career is an interview with the Beatles in Tokyo in 1966.
Since the first record was released in 1962, the Beatles became a cultural phenomenon, and was causing a panic in all over the world.
On high alert
In 1966, the 1st concert of the Beatles in Tokyo was announced.
Japanese police went on unprecedented high alert for the Beatles.
Highways were closed for the Beatles to transport them safely from the airport to the place to stay.
The building was then blocked, and the members were confined to the hotel for avoiding a chaos. And only very limited staff were permitted to enter.
At this point, "Reiko Yukawa" was a formal reporter commissioned by a leading newspaper. But she did not have any special permission to access the hotel, nor approval to interview.
Success
She appealed a help to the promoter. And luckily, she was asked to run a errand for him to hand custom armbands to the members of the Beatles in their room.
She utilized this fortune to interview with members, and wrote an excellent exclusive article.
Front-line reporter
No need to mention, she became a popular writer from this article. Since then, she has been a front-line reporter for more than half a century.
Please allow us to temporary halt the topics on her now, and write again at the next opportunity.
(Ref: Wikipedia, Reiko Yukawa)
(Ref: lifedesign.ne.jp, R.Yukawa x M.Taniguchi
Special talk, 2014-04-25)
Momoko KikuchiComposer
We would like to come back on her later in the "About the artist" section, since she is the singer of this song.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Momoko Kikuchi)
Jun-ichi KamiyamaArranger
"Jun-ichi Kamiyama" is a composer and arranger active since the early '70s.
They say that he has written more than 400 of the theme song for TV advertising, and 150 for the TV series.
Additionally, he is also active as a music director for classical music, and arrangement for popular songs as well.
Nature music
He is also well known as a nature music composer based on his respect for mother nature.
The series of nature music CDs has been released by him, and from long time ago, he has kept up his interest to the healing power of music.
Interestingly, Ms. Reiko Yukawa, who is a "powerful supporter of music therapy", "board member of the Japanese Music Therapy Association", and "the co-lyricist of this song", is his aunt.
Cover art
- Sound impressions
Soft & cute
This seems to be a soft and cute idol pop song, in comfortable middle speed with a faint trance-like, disco-like rhythm.
The bass, drums, electric & acoustic guitar, electric piano, percussion and a unique wind synthesizer sound form an ensemble, and begin a very relaxed introduction on the 8th note rhythm.
Quickly after the song start, string synthesizer joins, and make sound richer. A beautiful solo of the wind synthesizer can be heard in the bridge.
This whispering and relaxing cute voice is a typical character of "Momoko Kikuchi". Whatever songs she sings, you can enjoy the same taste.
In a sense, she is a very safe & stable singer in the popular music scene.
- Reference
- About the artist
Momoko KikuchiMomo-chan
"Momoko Kikuchi" is a singer, idol star, female actor, and a narrator active since 1983.
In 2012, she earned a master's degree on labour policy. And now teaching at her alma mater.
Momoko Kikuchi debuted in 1984 with single "Seishun no iziwaru" (Unfriendly teenage years). Since then, 12 singles, and 7 original, plus 8 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Momoko Kikuchi)
Debut
She started her professional career from a cast of a radio drama, in 1983, when she was 15.
Just a month later, she debuted as a featured model of a monthly photo magazine "Momoko".(Obviously, it was intentionally titled.)
And soon, she became popular among the young.
Became popular
In 1984, she starred in a juvenile comedy film. And almost at the same time, her first single referred in the above were released.
Both the movie and debut song accepted well. And the popularity of "Momoko" surged in all over Japan.
An enormous idol star
Actually, her popularity was tremendous. In the New Year's Eve of 1984, she was given a New face awards of the Japan record awards.
And from 1985 to 1987, her 7 straight singles rose to the top of the chart.
We don't have a handful data, but guess it has been a rare achievement in the J-pop.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Momoko Kikuchi)
"RA MU"
In 1988, she started a band activity with her exclusive backing group "RA MU".
The band performed "Diana Ross" or "Whitney Houston" like dance-able R&B.
They were so nice, but too far ahead of their time, for selling in the "not-so-progressive" Japanese market. (You might be interested in their approach to the own style of music.)
Then, she could not continue the band beyond 1989.
"Ai-wa kokoro-no shigoto-desu"(1988)
(Love is a sacred job)
(You can still listen this song by clicking the banner. Please select the track No.1 once the page is open.)
After 1989
She moved her center from singing to acting. Then, she was having a full and busy life.
But in 1994, she announced to marry with a professional sportsman, and left from an entertainment business.
Come back
In 2008, after finished the period of child-rearing, she has come back as a regular commentator in a TV variety for families.
Since then, she is taking part in a lot of different activities in both entertainment and academic fields.
Next time
Now, we would like to finish today's article before getting too long.
Please kindly allow us to continue on her at 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.8.
Trial button is on the left side of the song title.
Sample link on Apple music is still listenable by clicking the banner. Once the album page open, please click the play button of track No.8. Samples (90sec) are free.
AD : Free listening samples
8. Japanese Letters
| Song Title | ハロー・ミスター・マンディー (Hello Mr. Monday) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 菊池桃子 (Momoko Kikuchi) |
| Album Title | Miroir - 鏡の向こう側に (Kagami-no mukou-gawa-ni) |
Comments