[Buoyant & lively]
No.116 "Positive" by Miho Morikawa
Hi. Today's song is "POSITIVE" by "Miho Morikawa".
We initially posted an incomplete article due to the delay of writing, but now (3/Dec) it has been replaced with the finished version.
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1.Song data
| Title | POSITIVE |
|---|---|
| Artist | Miho Morikawa |
| Album Title | VOICES |
| Catalog Number | TOCT-6876 |
| Track No. | 8 |
| Duration | 4:07 |
| Released | 1992 |
| Publisher | Universal Music |
| Lyricist | Junko Satō |
| Composer | Tsukasa Nishi |
| Arranger | Satoshi Nakamura |
- About the creators
Junko SatōLyricist
"Junko Satō" is a lyricist and photographer active since 1984.
As a lyricist, she has been writing mainly for the popular music artists. But notably, she has written more for young women singers among them.
Songs for young women
Since debut, she offered songs to the popular young female artists, namely "Yuki Saitō", "Hiromi Iwasaki", "Shōko Sawada" or , "Miho morikawa".
Among them, she has been provided many song especially for "Morikawa".
Real story
Today's song "Positive" was written as a theme music for a popular anime series "Ranma 1/2 Nettōhen"(batttle heat series) in 1991.
And, its really cheerful, and encouraging lyrics, written by the lyricist "Satō, is well known.
Interestingly, (not interesting for Satō of course), she was at rock bottom because of her very recent lost love, when she received an order for this new song.
So, she initially declined the order because she was feeling heartbroken. But the customer was so keen, and she finally accepted an offer.
She wrote a really cheerful, sympathetic, and supportive lyrics primarily to heal herself.
Then, the taste of lyrics is, in other word, real and raw.
So, there are many fans for this song.
According to an article, a famous and influential idol star "Shōko Nakagawa" was truly helped by this song when she was having a tough time.
(Ref: ksptest.weebly.com, Junko Satō)🇯🇵
(Ref: morikawamiho.com,
best-collection-songwriter-meeting)🇯🇵
Tsukasa NishiComposer
"Tsukasa Nishi" is a singer-songwriter, lyricist, composer, arranger, vocalist and backing vocalist.
Honey & B-Boys
"Nishi" started his music career by teaming up a pop band, "Honey & B-Boys" with 3 other members, namely "Kazuhito Murata", "Keisuke Yamamoto", and "Eri Hiramatsu".
In fact, "Honey & B-Boys" was basically a special session band formed by "Kazuhito Murata". But the sound of the band is fairly different from unique "Murata" world. It is more like a mixture of the individual's color.
So, in that sense, this is a successful album. If you have a chance, please listen. (There are no readily available source at the moment.)
Solo activity
After the finish of the band activity, he started as a solo singer by making his first album "Precious moment" on sale in 1989.
Since then, he has released 16 singles and 16 albums until now.
In parallel, he offered quite a few of songs to various other artists.
And also, he has written a lot of theme music for TV commercials.
Satoshi NakamuraArranger
"Satoshi Nakamura" is a composer, arranger, saxophonist and keyboardist active since 1974.
Professional
"Satoshi Nakamura" started his career in 1974 by took part in a distinctive progressive rock group "Anzen band" (Safety band) as a saxophonist.
Since then, he joined with a few of notable session bands including, "Yonin Bayahsi", "Horn spectrum", "Takayuki Ino-ue & Water band" and "Prism".
Around mid '80s, he began to receive more requests for song arrangements or compositions.
Thereafter, he has been busy also as a song creator.
But recently, he is re-accelerating his activity as a musician. And participating a number of live sessions.
(Ref: Wikipedia, Satoshi Nakamura)
(Ref:urawarocks.net, Satoshi Nakamura)
Video clip
Finally, here is a live clip of a popular fusion band "Prism". The concert was held in Shinjuku, Tokyo in 2007, as their "30 years anniversary".
And "Satoshi Nakamura" participated in this live as a saxophone player.
* "PRISM 30th anniversary LIVE"
Cover art today
- Sound impressions
Buoyant & lively
This is a perky and lively pop-rock in fast speed in 16th note rhythm.
Dynamic and thrilling
The drums, bass, percussion, electric guitar, string synthe and the horn section start dynamic and thrilling introduction, then the vocal start singing the main melody.
From beginning to an end, this refreshing and active rhythm continues. A saxophone solo in the later bridge is worth to listen.
Good chorus
One remarkable feature of this song is a little funky beautiful chorus. It strongly support the powerful vocal of "Morikawa"s in the most part of main melody.
As a matter of fact, "Tsukasa Nishi", a composer of this song, has been a chorus specialist for a long time.
So, we imagine if he had contributed on the chorus arrangement of this song.
- Reference
- About the artist
Miho MorikawaRock 'n' Roll Angel
"Miho Morikawa" is a rock & pop singer. and an associate professor at the music college active since 1985.
She debuted in 1985 with single "Kyō-shitsu"(Classroom). Since then, 32 singles, and 20 original, 4 live, and 4 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Miho Morikawa)
Debut
"Miho Morikawa" began her pre-career in 1981 when she was 13.
Since the, she eagerly challenged the various major song contests. And finally in 1983, she won the 1st prize at "The 2nd, Yamaha vocal audition 'the debut'" which 10,000 contestants entered a competition.
In 1985, she debuted as a new idol star from Yamaha with a single "Kyō-shitsu"(Classroom), and dived into the show business.
from Idol star to rock angel
The entertainment agency she belonged to first had an intention to promote her as a popular idol star through mass media. So, they had provided sparkling and colorful songs and promotion plan, which might suit for a female idol star, for her.
On the other hand, she was wishing to sing more dynamic and lively Pop rock line. So, they started to adjust her direction gradually.
Regardless to the type of song she sang, her popularity was growing in the mid '80s. And in 1987, rock-based 2 singles became series hits. And "Morikawa" succeeded to establish a rock singer image in exchange for an impression as a young idol star.
And after this, her popularity increased further, and began to be called as "the queen of school carnivals" often.
Anime songs
"Miho Morikawa" has not sung so many Anime theme music. It might be only 2 as far as we know.
But the Anime series she sang theme songs were both still very popular, her songs are also loved by a lot of fans.
One is titled "Blue water", which is used in a popular marine adventure SF anime "Fushigi-no umi-no Nadia" (Nadia, The Secret of Blue Water）on-aired in 1991.
It is a song like this.
(Morikawa's original version is not available. This is a cover version by Eri Kawai in 2002.)
"Blue water"(2002)
by Eri Kawai
(You can still listen these songs by clicking the banner. Please select the track No.11 once the page is open.)
"Ranma ½"
And the other is this one.
Today's song "Positive" was adopted for a theme music for a popular love comedy Anime series "Ranma ½" drawn by "Rumiko Takahashi" in 1991.
Because the popularity of "Takahashi" comic is in totally different class, so this song has been a favorite choice for anime fans for a long time.
Please give it a try if you like
- Samples from online music stores
About the samples
Availability
An issue is, "Miho Morikawa's album "Voices" featured today is not available from any vendors at the moment. And the song "Positive" is not included in her best albums either.
(There is a 21st century version of "Positive" exist, but the arrangement is different.)
So, current only source is itunes who keeps it available in single CD format.
Interestingly, it is more accessible as an anime song, namely a theme music for "Ranma ½".
It is an omnibus album and not a "Morikawa"s CD, but still the only access route for today's song "Positive".
Please click the track Number 14 at the transfered page.
Trial button is on the left side of the song title.
AD :
Free listening samples
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
Apple Music(jp) (Track No.3)
8. Japanese Letters
| Song Title | POSITIVE |
|---|---|
| Artist | 森川美穂 (Miho Morikawa) |
| Album Title | VOICES |
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