[Song Review #112] "Hoshi-no dance-wo mini-oide" by Yumi Tanimura
Hi. Today's song is "Hoshi-no dance-wo mini oide" (Why don't you come and see the dance of the stars?) by "Yumi Tanimura".
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Index
1.Song data
| Title | Hoshi-no dance-wo mini oide (Why don't you come and see the dance of the stars?) |
|---|---|
| Artist | Yumi Tanimura |
| Album Title | BELIEVE IN |
| Catalog Number | 32DH-833 |
| Track No. | 4 |
| Duration | 3:22 |
| Released | 1987 |
| Publisher | CBS Sony |
| Lyricist | Hiroshi Yamada |
| Composer | Yoshimasa Inoue |
| Arranger | Masao Ōmura |
- About the creators
Hiroshi YamadaLyricist
"Hiroshi Yamada" is a lyricist, guitarist and a member of "Gueen"(tribute band)" active since mid '80s.
Hit song maker
He started his professional career by offering some lyrics for a solo album of "Daizō Koshiba" in the late '80s,
Since then, he has written more than 2000 lyrics, and offered them to dozens of musicians. And quite a few of them became hit songs.
The information about him is pretty limited, then we would like to update in the future if we find anything new.
(Ref: Wikipedia, Hiroshi Yamada)
Video clip
Finally, here is a music clip of "Mokuren-no namida" (Tears of Magnolia) by Stardust revue in 1993. One of the popular song which "Hiroshi Yamada" wrote.
This is a fairly sentimental song, but long supported by fans. If you like, please listen.
* "Mokuren-no namida" (Tears of Magnolia)
Yoshimasa Ino-ueComposer
"Yoshimasa Ino-ue" is a composer, arranger, keyboardist, and a singer-songwriter active since 1979.
He has a long experience in music. But now a days, he is more famous as a songwriter for a super idol group "AKB48".
"Cosmic invention"
He started his professional career by becoming a keyboardist of a pop band "Cosmic invention" which all the 5 members were boys & girls of Junior high school age.
The band was actually quite nice, and their performance was certainly at the professional level.
There are many video clips on Youtube, so, if you like please have a look.
Here is one of their hit song titled "Computer obaa-chan" (Grandma is like a Computer) in 1981, which is still popular and often covered or tributed.
To listen the sample, please click the image below. After moved to the Amazon page, please press play.(Free)
As a composer
In 1985, after the band was broke-up, he started new career as a composer.
And in 1988, one of his song offered to other artist topped the chart for the first time in life.
Support for AKB48
In 2005, a producer of newly formed idol group namely "AKB48" requested "Ino-ue" to write some suitable songs for them to debut.
Since then, he has been deeply participating with this "monster" idol group. And quite a few of his songs has been ranked high in the music chart.
It seems he is still having a busy days even now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Yoshimasa Inoue)
Video clip
Finally, here is a music clip of "Manatsu-no sounds good" ("Sounds good" in mid-summer) by Yoshimasa Inoue in 2015.
The song was originally offered for "AKB48" in 2012, and it was given the Grand prix of the 54th Japan Record Awards.
*
"Manatsu-no sounds good"
("Sounds good" in mid-summer)
Masao ŌmuraArranger
"Masao Ōmura" was a talented composer, arranger and keyboardist active from 1978 to 1998.
He was a very well known hit song maker, and has been a true legend everyone can agree.
The list of songs he arranged or composed is just like a jewelry box. They are all shining hit songs, and are dazzlingly beautiful.
Nemu music academy
He started his music career by entering "Nemu music academy" in 1970 which has been run by "Yamaha music foundation" since 1970.
After the graduation in 1972, he joined with Yamaha in Kyūshū, and began to work as a professional staff.
In 1978, he decided to leave Kyūshū for working more seriously as a composer and arranger in Tokyo.
"Mizuiro-no ame"
Soon after moved, he participated with "Junko Yagami" 's new single titled "Mizuiro-no ame" (Rain in aqua blue) as an arranger.
At that time, "Junko Yagami" was a hope for "Yamaha music foundation", and they were happy to devote all of their best resources to her.
"Mizuiro-no ame" (1978)
(Rain in aqua blue)
by Junko Yagami
Luckily, this song became a big hit. And the people in music business recognized "Ōmura" 's outstanding ability.
Since then, he was involved in hundreds of arrangement for various musicians, and created amazing number of super hit songs.
That maybe the reason why he is often called as "talented" or "legend".
Cover art today
- Sound impressions
Mellow & elegant
This seems to be a mellow and elegant pop song in a moderated speed in Bossa nova like rhythm.
After the bass signals the opening, the drums, electric guitar, acoustic guitar(Ovation?), keyboard, percussion, chorus, and marimba join, then start the introduction.
In the birth, the strings participate, and make sound more elegant.
And in the bridge, we can listen a nice acoustic guitar solo.
The vocal of "Tanimura" is pure, clear and beautiful.
Charming album
"Believe in" is the debut album for "Tanimura", but we feel this is one of the best disk in her discography.
Perhaps, the professionals around her could more freely brought out her charm on this album, since she was a newbie. (it may not be easy once the artists established their own style.)
So, this album contains a lot of unknown beauty of her.
Our impression is like that. If you like please listen.
She looks young...
It seems that Asian women often look young for the people outside Asia. But even for us, her picture in this cover art looks quite young.(No makeup?)
But actually, she was 20+α years old at this time, since she was about to graduate from university.
So, she was a little bit of exception we can say.
- Reference
- About the artist
Yumi TanimuraCrystal voice
"Yumi Tanimura" is a singer-songwriter, keyboardist, radio personality, and essayist active since 1987.
According to her, she is a "Pianist and songwriter who can sing and dance*".
Anyway, she is regarded as one of the most prominent singer in the "girl's pop movement" of the '90s.
As a singer, she released her first single "Not For Sale" in 1987. Since then, 28 singles, and 12 original, 8(DVD) live, and 7 best albums have been on-sale until now.
Her beautiful voice, and pop melodies with delicate lyrics are still quite popular among the fans in their 40s to the 50s now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Yumi Tanimura)
* "(who) can sing and dance" ("Utatte odoreru" in Japanese) is a joke tag once popular in Japan. It was used for describing his or her jobs, and applicable for any kind of occupation. (like "a dentist can sing and dance", or "a confectioner can sing and dance", and so on.)
So in this case, her self-introduction is a double joke, since she is actually a "Pianist and songwriter who can sing and dance", though she is too famous as a pop singer.
And a smart use of little old-fashioned phrase is humorous too.
Debut
"Yumi Tanimura" started her professional career as a character for a TV variety show in October 1987.
Soon after that, she released her 1st single and album at the same time, and began her life as a singer.
Become popular
She gradually gained popularity through frequent appearance on the media since debut.
And in 1989, her 4th single "Ganbare broken heart" (Come along. My broken heart.) became a hit song, and she attained a position as a popular singer.
Sound creation
She had released a new album roughly every year from 1987 to 1998.
From the 1st to the 6th, many individual creators were participated for her album production.
And from the 7th to the 11th, the albums are basically consisted of the songs written by her.
The taste of the albums are apparently different. So, please check with them by yourself if you like.
Crystal voice
"Yumi Tanimura" has been famous with her super clear soprano voice, which has attracted a lot of fans.
Interestingly, it seems this attractive voice had been a hang-up for her according to her essay.
For us, her voice is a pleasant high pitched one. But for her, it had been a "funny, falsetto like" voice, until she won the 1st place at a song contest in 1986.
So, we would like to express our thanks to the panel of judges for discovering her.
Here is an example of her high-pitched voice.
"Tokimeki-wo believe"(1992)
(I believe my passion.)
After 1998
In September 1998, she announced to take a break in her radio show.
Afterwards, she spent almost 2 years for her private life. (There was just a few of ad-hoc concerts though.)
And in 2000, she resumed her activity. Since then, she's been working in her own pace until now.
Other topics
In 2002, she married with a prominent businessman. (former CEO of Apple computer Japan.)
Then, she has become a bit of celebrity, but it seems she is managing both her work and family well.
Now, she is appearing once a week on her radio program as a personality.
And holding a compact sized concert occasionally in big cities.
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Yumi Tanimura)
- 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 | 星のダンスを見においで (Hoshi-no dance-wo mini oide) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 谷村有美 (Yumi Tanimura) |
| Album Title | BELIEVE IN |
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